In troductio n. x i x 



integral part of the primitive train of reasoning I have 

 been trying to reconstruct and interpret. Hence it became 

 the custom in many places to put cowries in the grave 

 for the purpose of insuring to the dead a continuation of 

 existence. The fact that cowries, from their resemblance 

 to semi-closed eyelids, were often inserted into the orbits 

 of mummies to represent the eyes, may possibly have 

 played some part in giving definiteness to the ancient 

 conception of the fertilising power of the eyes, and to the 

 crop of beliefs concerning the evil eye and the power of 

 bringing good or bad luck, which are so intimately 

 associated not only with a glance of the eye but also with 

 cowry shells. These shells are commonly used for games 

 of chance, as well as for averting the evil eye. 



The development of the beliefs concerning the fertilis- 

 ing and animating powers of the eye and the influence 

 of the evil eye is a very complex story, which has not yet 

 been fully analysed and elucidated. But it seems probable 

 that the potency of the cowry as a charm against the evil 

 eye is to be attributed in part to the belief in its fertilising 

 and vitalising powers and especially in its therapeutic 

 efficacy. For as the vehicle of " soul substance " it was 

 supposed to be able to remedy troubles due to the with- 

 drawal of this essential element of healthy vitality. But 

 due importance must be assigned to the fact that the 

 assimilation of the virtues assigned to the cowry and the 

 Egyptian eye-amulet respectively may in part be due to 

 the fact that the cowry was actually used as a substitute 

 for the eye. 



But the use of cowries for bridal offerings and for 

 burial ceremonies led in some places to the offering of 

 very large collections of the shells, so as to increase the 

 beneficent influence expected of them. Among the 

 Baganda, for example, as many as two thousand five 



