160 
vide for himself ? 24. Is there any restriction placed upon 
certain kinds of food 1 and why ? 25. How long does this 
taboo last ? is the release gradual ? 26. Is there any cere¬ 
mony on the raising of the taboo from any particular animal ? 
27. What are the privileges of the initiated ? 28. Is initia¬ 
tion essential before marriage in both men and women ? 29. 
Are any phallic symbols carried or worn during the cere¬ 
monies ? 30. Is there any suggestion of Phallic worship ? 
C. H. E. 
No. XL.—TOTEMISM. 
* 
Totemism is the name given to a religious and social system 
which has been found amongst savages in many parts of the 
world, especially Australia, North America, and Africa. A 
totem is a sacred object, generally an animal, less often a 
plant or inanimate object, of which the whole species is 
revered by a tribe or clan. The tribe or clan generally takes 
its name from the totem. Thus if the totem is a wolf, the 
tribesmen or clansmen call themselves Wolves, and they w T ill 
not kill or injure wolves or eat wolfs flesh. Often the clans¬ 
men think that they are descended from the totem, but some¬ 
times they explain their connection with the totem in other 
ways. Where totemism exists in full force, a man may not 
marry a woman of the same totem as himself ; thus if he is a 
Wolf he may not marry a Wolf, but may marry a Bear, &c. 
Where this rule of exogamy (fa., marrying out of the clan) 
exists, we necessarily have two or more totem clans existing 
side by side ; generally there are many different totem 
clans living together. In some clans the children are of their 
mother’s totem ; thus, if the father is a Wolf and the mother 
is a Bear, the children will be Bears. In other clans children 
are of the father’s totem ; thus, if the father is a Eaven and 
the mother a Dog, the children will be Eavens. 
