按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； and each handful he divided into three parts。 The twentyseven portions of each grain were then thrown on a heap and all mixed up together。 The grain used had to be that which was first threshed and winnowed and which had been set aside and kept for this purpose。 A part of the grain thus mixed was employed to bake little loaves； one for each of the household； the rest was mixed with more barley or oats and made into beer。 The first beer brewed from this mixture was for the drinking of the farmer； his wife； and children； the second brew was for the servants。 The beer being ready； the farmer chose an evening when no stranger was expected。 Then he knelt down before the barrel of beer； drew a jugful of the liquor and poured it on the bung of the barrel； saying； O fruitful earth； make rye and barley and all kinds of corn to flourish。 Next he took the jug to the parlour； where his wife and children awaited him。 On the floor of the parlour lay bound a black or white or speckled （not a red） cock and a hen of the same colour and of the same brood； which must have been hatched within the year。 Then the farmer knelt down； with the jug in his hand； and thanked God for the harvest and prayed for a good crop next year。 Next all lifted up their hands and said； O God； and thou； O earth； we give you this cock and hen as a free…will offering。 With that the farmer killed the fowls with the blows of a wooden spoon； for he might not cut their heads off。 After the first prayer and after killing each of the birds he poured out a third of the beer。 Then his wife boiled the fowls in a new pot which had never been used before。 After that； a bushel was set； bottom upwards； on the floor； and on it were placed the little loaves mentioned above and the boiled fowls。 Next the new beer was fetched； together with a ladle and three mugs； none of which was used except on this occasion。 When the farmer had ladled the beer into the mugs； the family knelt down round the bushel。 The father then uttered a prayer and drank off the three mugs of beer。 The rest followed his example。 Then the loaves and the flesh of the fowls were eaten； after which the beer went round again； till every one had emptied each of the three mugs nine times。 None of the food should remain over； but if anything did happen to be left； it was consumed next morning with the same ceremonies。 The bones were given to the dog to eat； if he did not eat them all up； the remains were buried under the dung in the cattle…stall。 This ceremony was observed at the beginning of December。 On the day on which it took place no bad word might be spoken。
Such was the custom about two hundred years or more ago。 At the present day in Lithuania； when new potatoes or loaves made from the new corn are being eaten； all the people at table pull each other's hair。 The meaning of this last custom is obscure； but a similar custom was certainly observed by the heathen Lithuanians at their solemn sacrifices。 Many of the Esthonians of the island of Oesel will not eat bread baked of the new corn till they have first taken a bite at a piece of iron。 The iron is here plainly a charm； intended to render harmless the spirit that is in the corn。 In Sutherlandshire at the present day； when the new potatoes are dug all the family must taste them； otherwise the spirits in them ＇the potatoes＇ take offence； and the potatoes would not keep。 In one part of Yorkshire it is still customary for the clergyman to cut the first corn； and my informant believes that the corn so cut is used to make the communion bread。 If the latter part of the custom is correctly reported （and analogy is all in its favour）； it shows how the Christian communion has absorbed within itself a sacrament which is doubtless far older than Christianity。
The Aino or Ainu of Japan are said to distinguish various kinds of millet as male and female respectively； and these kinds； taken together； are called the divine husband and wife cereal （Umurek haru kamui）。 Therefore before millet is pounded and made into cakes for general eating； the old men have a few made for themselves first to worship。 When they are ready they pray to them very earnestly and say： 'O thou cereal deity； we worship thee。 Thou hast grown very well this year； and thy flavour will be sweet。 Thou art good。 The goddess of fire will be glad； and we also shall rejoice greatly。 O thou god； O thou divine cereal； do thou nourish the people。 I now partake of thee。 I worship thee and give thee thanks。' After having thus prayed； they； the worshippers； take a cake and eat it； and from this time the people may all partake of the new millet。 And so with many gestures of homage and words of prayer this kind of food is dedicated to the well…being of the Ainu。 No doubt the cereal offering is regarded as a tribute paid to a god； but that god is no other than the seed itself； and it is only a god in so far as it is beneficial to the human body。
At the close of the rice harvest in the East Indian island of Buru； each clan meets at a common sacramental meal； to which every member of the clan is bound to contribute a little of the new rice。 This meal is called eating the soul of the rice； a name which clearly indicates the sacramental character of the repast。 Some of the rice is also set apart and offered to the spirits。 Amongst the Alfoors of Minahassa； in Celebes； the priest sows the first rice…seed and plucks the first ripe rice in each field。 This rice he roasts and grinds into meal； and gives some of it to each of the household。 Shortly before the rice…harvest in Boland Mongondo； another district of Celebes； an offering is made of a small pig or a fowl。 Then the priest plucks a little rice； first on his own field and next on those of his neighbours。 All the rice thus plucked by him he dries along with his own； and then gives it back to the respective owners； who have it ground and boiled。 When it is boiled the women take it back； with an egg； to the priest； who offers the egg in sacrifice and returns the rice to the women。 Of this rice every member of the family； down to the youngest child； must partake。 After this ceremony every one is free to get in his rice。
Amongst the Burghers or Badagas； a tribe of the Neilgherry Hills in Southern India； the first handful of seed is sown and the first sheaf reaped by a Curumbar； a man of a different tribe； the members of which the Burghers regard as sorcerers。 The grain contained in the first sheaf is that day reduced to meal； made into cakes； and； being offered as a first…fruit oblation； is； together with the remainder of the sacrificed animal； partaken of by the Burgher and the whole of his family； as the meat of a federal offering and sacrifice。 Among the Hindoos of Southern India the eating of the new rice is the occasion of a family festival called Pongol。 The new rice is boiled in a new pot on a fire which is kindled at noon on the day when； according to Hindoo astrologers； the sun enters the tropic of Capricorn。 The boiling of the pot is watched with great anxiety by the whole family； for as the milk boils； so will the coming year be。 If the milk boils rapidly； the year will be prosperous； but it will be the reverse if the milk boils slowly。 Some of the new boiled ri