1898.] P. 0. Bodding — Tahoo amongst the Santals. 5 



5. Note on the Long-snouted Whip-snalce, with Exhibition of Specimen 

 and Drawing. — By F. Finn, B.A., F.Z.S., Deputy Superintendent of the 

 Indian Museum. 



The paper will be published in the Journal, Part II. 



6. On Tahoo and customs connected therewith amongst the Santals, — 

 By The Rev. P. 0. Bodding, Mohulpahari, Santal Parganas. 



Abstract. 



The custom of tabooing certain names, animals, things, etc., is 

 found amongst the Santals. 



Names are tabooed in the following cases : certain brothers and 

 sisters-in-law, viz., (1) a man and his younger brother's wife, (2) a 

 man and his wife's younger brother's wife, (3) a woman and her 

 younger sister's husband, and (4) a woman and her younger brother's 

 wife ; and husband and wife are prohibited from mentioning each other's 

 names, not only when they are speaking to or of each other, but always 

 when they may have to mention these particular names. 



The custom is very strictly observed, the breaking of it beino* — 

 so far as regards brothers and sisteis-in-law — considered a great sin, 

 which the Santals believe will be punished both in this world and the 

 next. 



The manner in which they seek to avoid naming these particular 

 names is curious and fanciful ; as far as can now be ascertained the 

 custom has not, however, had any influence on the vocabulary of the 

 Santal language; a result of this custom is, that the Santals very 

 frequently get second names, — although not from this cause only, — and 

 these second names are then constantly used. 



The Santals consider this custom as a special manner for the 

 relations mentioned honoring each other, that is to say, they are to 

 consider each other as sacrosanct, and according to their notions the 

 custom is also mutual honoring ; but as certain other relations between 

 whom an analogous honoring should be expected, do not observe this 

 custom, it seems clear, that this peculiar honoring has a deeper cause. 



Besides not naming each other's names these brothers and sisters- 

 in-law have various rules imposed on them which all are to prevent 

 these relations from seeing each other in any too familiar position and 

 from indulging in any familiarity towards each other, i.e., to prevent 

 them from being tempted to sexual sin with respect to each other. 



Now the Santals buy their wives, and the wife is the property of 

 her husband. As will be shown in the paper, there are many circum- 

 stances which seem to indicate, that the tabooing of names between these 

 brothers and sisters-in-law, and all customs imposed on them in order to 



