31 



the ordeal. He is presented with the appurtenances 

 of a man, such as hunting and fishing tackle, and 

 weapons, such as spears, shield, etc., and of these the 

 youth is extremely proud. Then comes the most im- 

 portant event namely, the initiation into the secrets 

 of the tribe. The boy is also taught by some elders 

 of the tribe the functions of sex and of his duties 

 to his kin. The rejoicings often take the form of 

 ceremonial dances, which sometimes have a religious 

 significance. At this period of initiation the sexes 

 are kept strictly separate, any breaking of this rule 

 being severely punished. 



The girls in their turn also have various ordeals 

 and rites to go through, but these differ in character 

 from those of the boys. As soon as the girl notices 

 the first sign of the menstrual period, she must inform 

 her mother of the fact. No secret is made of this 

 change in the life of the young girl. On the contrary, 

 it is announced with great rejoicings that she has 

 now reached womanhood. The girl henceforth wears 

 a special costume or ornaments (Fig. 17 and 18). 

 In Japan, on attaining puberty, the girl for the first 

 time dresses her hair with a special pin for this pur- 

 pose. In some tribes (South Sea Islands, Caroline 

 Islands, etc.) a hut is built for her apart from the 

 rest, which she must enter as soon as she is aware of 

 the onset of the period, and where she has to remain 

 for a certain time, which varies in different tribes. 

 Some foods are now "taboo "that is, forbidden to 

 her; she must not touch or eat them. Sometimes 

 she has to sit or lie in certain positions, another 

 woman perhaps watching her to see that she does so 

 even when asleep. 



