TABOO AND GENETICS 125 



by herself. She is not permitted to partake of 

 any meat, including fish. If a woman at this 

 time touches or even approaches any medicine 

 which is about to be given to a sick man, it will 

 cause his death. (15). Amongst other Indian 

 tribes of North America women at menstruation 

 are forbidden to touch men's utensils, which 

 would be so defiled by their touch that their 

 subsequent use would be attended by certain 

 misfortune. The Canadian D6nes believe that 

 the very sight of a woman in this condition is 

 dangerous to society, so that she wears a special 

 skin bonnet to hide her from the public gaze 

 (16). In western Victoria a menstruous woman 

 may not take anyone's food or drink, and no 

 one will touch food that has been touched by 

 her. (17). Amongst the Maoris, if a man ate 

 food cooked by a menstrous woman, he would 

 be " tapu an inch thick." (18). Frazer quotes 

 the case of an Australian blackfellow who dis- 

 covered that his wife had lain on his blanket 

 at her menstrual period, and who killed her and 

 died of terror himself within a fortnight. (19). 

 Australian women at this time are forbidden on 

 pain of death to touch anything that men use 

 or even to walk on a path that men frequent. 

 (20). Among the Baganda tribes a menstruous 

 woman is not permitted to come near her hus- 

 band, cook his food, touch any of his weapons, 

 or sit on his mats, bed, or seat. (21). 



