| Show FEAR TABOO IS contagious so eddystone islanders ascribe their ills to the charm how cure Is made many interesting facts with regard to tho the practice of and sorcery the imposition and removal of taboo and the belief in the infliction and cure of disease by rites among the natives of Blela melanesia nesia were related recently by dr W H R rivers in the second fitzpatrick lecture on medicine cinematic magic and religion at the royal college of 0 physicians says the london times in eddystone islands where doctor rivers spent several months some years ago nearly every disease is ascribed to the infraction of a taboo on the fruit of certain trees especially the cocoanut coco anut and betel vine the taboo as well as the sign by which it is known being called kenjo when anyone suffers from epilepsy or other convulsive seizure which is recognized as kiren gge he and Ns Ms friends consult one known to have the power of imposing the kenjo kir this man visits the patient ani and strokes him from the head downwards with four leaves called enyou some moss soot and scrapings of wood uttering the formu ula stroke away stroke down and away cease thou let the man live do not return they have given me a good ring the last clause of this formula and two in that used in removing the taboo refer to the fee the chief money of the island consisting of arm rings |
