18 HUMAN DISSECTION. ITS DRAMA AND STRUGGLE 



ercised to avoid inhaling any of the fumes generated by the process 

 of burning the body and all belongings. 



There is another concept that is highly important from the 

 standpoint of this discussion and that was a belief in reincarnation. 

 It has numerous variations but the one that is pertinent here is 

 that which holds that a spirit might return to its body making it 

 possible for life to start anew. When the mind of man became 

 more acute, it occurred to some, at least, that it was necessary to 

 protect and preserve the corpse for fear of being judged as ir- 

 reverent or in contempt. Therefore, the belief strongly developed 

 that mutilation of a body would mean irreparable damage to the 

 soul which flees from it. Some tribes believed so fully in this that 

 when warring on their enemies, they would first attack the ceme- 

 teries, raise and maim the corpses, thus damaging their souls. 

 Following this, they turned their attention to battling with the 

 living. 



Gifts to the dead originated in the belief that death was but 

 a journey to another world and that the dying expected such 

 ceremonies to be performed for them to expedite their travels, 

 neutralize any dangers on the way and make it easier to gain ad- 

 mission to the new world. Money, food, clothes, chairs for the 

 soul to rest on and messages and letters to carry to deceased friends 

 and patriarchs were buried with the body. Sometimes, slaves were 

 sacrificed so that they either could serve as valets for their master 

 or bring news to the population of the dead. The more powerful 

 and influential a person who died the more servants he deserved 

 to accompany his ghost. In many early tribes, wives were sacri- 

 ficed by burning or other methods, at the time of their husband's 

 death. A widow, of her own volition, depending on custom, might 

 strangle, poison or hang herself when her mate succimibed. This 

 practice is dying out in many places but burning of effigies in- 

 stead, occasionally occurs (Moore, '23). 



In summary, it might be said that to primitive man there was 

 no such thing as death. There was no word in his language which 

 meant "to die" but only "to be killed" (Brinton, 1899). To the 

 savage, all things lived on. A ghost could hover around familiar 

 spots and visit the living in their dreams; its voice could be heard 

 in the rustling leaves and falling waters. The aboriginal's reaction 



