island of Wetar it is thought that if a man or a lad comes upon a woman’s blood he will be unfortunate in war and other undertakings, and that any precautions he may take to avoid the misfortune will be vain.[1] The people of Ceram also believe that men who see women’s blood will be wounded in battle.[2] Similarly the Ovahereró (Damaras) of South Africa think that if they see a lying-in woman shortly after child-birth they will become weaklings and will be shot when they go to war.[3] It is an Esthonian belief that men who see women’s blood will suffer from an eruption on the skin.[4]
Again, the reason for not passing under dangerous objects, like a vine or women’s blood, is a fear that they may come in contact with the head; for among primitive people the head is peculiarly sacred. The special sanctity attributed to it is sometimes explained by a belief that it is the seat of a spirit which is very sensitive to injury or disrespect. Thus the Karens suppose that a being called the tso resides in the upper part of the head, and while it retains its seat no harm can befall the person from the efforts of the seven Kelahs, or personified passions. “But if the tso becomes heedless or weak certain evil to the person is the result. Hence the head is carefully attended to, and all possible pains are taken to provide such dress and attire as will be pleasing to the tso.”[5] The Siamese think that a spirit called Khuan, or Chom Kuan, dwells in the human head, of which it is the
- ↑ Riedel, De sluik-en kroesharige rassen tusschen Selebes en Papua, p. 450.
- ↑ Riedel, op. cit. p. 139; cp. id. p. 209.
- ↑ E. Dannert, “Customs of the Ovaherero at the Birth of a Child,” in (South African) Folk-lore Journal, ii. 63
- ↑ F. J. Wiedemann, Aus dem innern und äussern Leben der Ehsten, p. 475.
- ↑ E. B. Cross, “On the Karens,” in Journal of the American Oriental Society, iv. 311 sq.
