The Magical and Ceremonial Uses of Fire (Folklore History Series)

Winifred S. Blackman

Description

Since the dawn of time fire has been the source of awe, respect and reverence. In this unusual book find how fire was used in the rituals and beliefs of many different cultures. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Sujets

• Social Science
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Mythology
• Folklore

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 07 septembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781473352339
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Magical And Ceremonial Uses Of Fire
By
Winifred S. Blackman
Contents
THE MAGICAL AND CEREMONIAL USES OF FIRE .
THE MAGICAL AND CEREMONIAL USES OF FIRE.
BY WINIFRED S. BLACKMAN .
( Read at Meeting of May 17th , 1916.)
T HERE are no existing races without a knowledge of fire. On the other hand, the Andamanese are the only people certainly known to be without the art of producing it. Recently, however, in a very interesting book dealing with some of the tribes on the Amazon, it has been stated that fire-making is unknown to the tribes on the south of the Japura; though this knowledge is not lacking among the people north of that river. 1 Such statements have, indeed, been made by other travellers from time to time in the past; but these have since been found to be false. The cause of error was doubtless lack of knowledge of the more primitive methods employed in making fire. Also, since many of these methods are more or less laborious, the people concerned would refrain from making fire more frequently than could possibly be helped; and so, to avoid unnecessary work, care was taken not to let the fires go out.
How great is the care exercised to prevent the extinction of fires, even in a country where fire-making is well understood, is to be gathered from an example given by Dr. Haddon from the Torres Straits. A charm in the shape of a pregnant woman was placed near the fire whenever the people were obliged to leave their houses for a time. The spirit belonging to this figure attended to the fire and saw that it did not go out. Looking after the fire is woman s work, and a woman in the condition represented by the image would not be so likely to be tempted to leave her home and neglect the duty of keeping the fire alight. 1 If, by some accident, the fire in one hut went out, a fresh supply was obtained from a neighbour. When travelling has to be done torches are often carried, these being sometimes made of resinous wood which will smoulder for days.
There is no direct evidence to show how man first arrived at the knowledge of making fire for himself. Possibly nature first supplied him with this very necessary commodity. The volcano, and the lightning flash, very probably gave man his first introduction to fire. Fire obtained from such sources might thereupon have been deliberately preserved by man for domestic purposes. Fire obtained from lightning is still highly valued among some primitive people. Thus the Kagoro of Nigeria think that fire originated in the world from lightning. Hence at the present day, if any tree or house is struck by lightning and set on fire, the people immediately extinguish their own fires, and with bundles of grass in their hands hasten to the spot where the lightning fire is burning, carrying back the fire obtained from it to rekindle that on their own hearths. Anyone who failed to do this would be thought to possess black magic. There is evidently some special virtue attached by them to this fire coming, as it were, straight from heaven. 2
It would presumably take a very long time for early man to learn how to make his own fire; and what he had obtained from nature s sources would be very carefully guarded and kept alight, as the supply would be so uncertain. This may be one of the reasons for the custom in vogue up to the present time among many primitive peoples of keeping at any rate one fire in a tribe constantly burning, necessitating the setting apart of certain individuals who must devote themselves to this task.
Seemingly, then, we can never know when and how man learnt to make fire. It is a question which has exercised the mind of primitive man himself, and accounts for the hundreds of myths found all over the world that try to explain how fire came to men. In some cases these myths do suggest a quite possible origin. In hot, dry countries two branches of dry wood rubbed together in a wind might easily start a fire, the dried leaves forming the tinder; and, indeed, this has been actually known to happen. Correspondingly in Borneo we find a myth purporting to give the origin of fire. There had been a great flood, and every one, except a woman, had been drowned. For company she had a dog, a rat and a few other small animals, these being the only survivors from the deluge. The dog was discovered to have found a warm corner for himself near a creeper, which, being swayed by the wind, was rubbed against a tree, producing warmth by the friction. This gave the woman a hint, and, by rubbing a creeper on a piece of wood, she produced fire for the first time. 1
Or again, we are reminded of the Song of Hiawatha, where the Master of Life came down and
Breathed upon the neighbouring forest,
Made its great boughs chafe together,
Till in flames they burst and kindled.
So much must suffice as regards the obscure subject of the origin of fire.
And now, before beginning to discuss the magical and ceremonial value attaching to fire, it will be well to pass in review some of the various methods employed for the production of fire by primitive peoples of the present day, and also, as far as is known, by those of the past. I may take this opportunity of acknowledging my debt to the many kind suggestions of Mr. Henry Balfour, of the Pitt-Rivers Mission, Oxford.
1. By Friction between Two Pieces of Wood .
( a ) Drilling method (a rotary process). Judging from its very wide geographical distribution, this method of making fire seems to be most primitive. A horizontal piece of wood, generally called the hearth, is placed on the ground, and is retained in position sometimes by the feet or foot of the performer, sometimes by an assistant who holds it down with his hands. Shallow holes are made in the hearth, mostly along the edge, with a vertical channel at the side of each for the collection of charred dust. One end of a spindle, usually made of harder wood than that of the hearth, is placed in one of these holes, the operator twirling it between the palms of both hands. A certain amount of pressure must be brought to bear, this pressure varying according to the kind of wood used. The rapidity of the drilling movement is gradually increased, the hands moving up and down the stick without a break. Sometimes two, or even three, people are employed, one relieving the other. The hot dust accumulates in a conical heap, and sometimes the tinder, of dry leaves, moss, and so forth, is placed under it. At the psychological moment the operator blows on the hot dust, and thus sets fire to the tinder. Fire can sometimes be obtained quite quickly by this method. It largely depends on the kinds of wood used, on its dryness, and on the skill of the operators. Owing to the perishable quality of wood, no trace of such methods can well be found in prehistoric sites.