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！
The soul of a sleeper is supposed to wander away from his body and actually to visit the places； to see the persons； and to perform the acts of which he dreams。 For example； when an Indian of Brazil or Guiana wakes up from a sound sleep； he is firmly convinced that his soul has really been away hunting； fishing； felling trees； or whatever else he has dreamed of doing； while all the time his body has been lying motionless in his hammock。 A whole Bororo village has been thrown into a panic and nearly deserted because somebody had dreamed that he saw enemies stealthily approaching it。 A Macusi Indian in weak health； who dreamed that his employer had made him haul the canoe up a series of difficult cataracts； bitterly reproached his master next morning for his want of consideration in thus making a poor invalid go out and toil during the night。 The Indians of the Gran Chaco are often heard to relate the most incredible stories as things which they have themselves seen and heard； hence strangers who do not know them intimately say in their haste that these Indians are liars。 In point of fact the Indians are firmly convinced of the truth of what they relate； for these wonderful adventures are simply their dreams； which they do not distinguish from waking realities。
Now the absence of the soul in sleep has its dangers； for if from any cause the soul should be permanently detained away from the body； the person thus deprived of the vital principle must die。 There is a German belief that the soul escapes from a sleeper's mouth in the form of a white mouse or a little bird； and that to prevent the return of the bird or animal would be fatal to the sleeper。 Hence in Transylvania they say that you should not let a child sleep with its mouth open； or its soul will slip out in the shape of a mouse； and the child will never wake。 Many causes may detain the sleeper's soul。 Thus； his soul may meet the soul of another sleeper and the two souls may fight； if a Guinea negro wakens with sore bones in the morning； he thinks that his soul has been thrashed by another soul in sleep。 Or it may meet the soul of a person just deceased and be carried off by it； hence in the Aru Islands the inmates of a house will not sleep the night after a death has taken place in it； because the soul of the deceased is supposed to be still in the house and they fear to meet it in a dream。 Again； the soul of the sleeper may be prevented by an accident or by physical force from returning to his body。 When a Dyak dreams of falling into the water； he supposes that this accident has really befallen his spirit； and he sends for a wizard； who fishes for the spirit with a hand…net in a basin of water till he catches it and restores it to its owner。 The Santals tell how a man fell asleep； and growing very thirsty； his soul； in the form of a lizard； left his body and entered a pitcher of water to drink。 Just then the owner of the pitcher happened to cover it； so the soul could not return to the body and the man died。 While his friends were preparing to burn the body some one uncovered the pitcher to get water。 The lizard thus escaped and returned to the body； which immediately revived； so the man rose up and asked his friends why they were weeping。 They told him they thought he was dead and were about to burn his body。 He said he had been down a well to get water； but had found it hard to get out and had just returned。 So they saw it all。
It is a common rule with primitive people not to waken a sleeper； because his soul is away and might not have time to get back； so if the man wakened without his soul； he would fall sick。 If it is absolutely necessary to rouse a sleeper； it must be done very gradually； to allow the soul time to return。 A Fijian in Matuku； suddenly wakened from a nap by somebody treading on his foot； has been heard bawling after his soul and imploring it to return。 He had just been dreaming that he was far away in Tonga； and great was his alarm on suddenly wakening to find his body in Matuku。 Death stared him in the face unless his soul could be induced to speed at once across the sea and reanimate its deserted tenement。 The man would probably have died of fright if a missionary had not been at hand to allay his terror。
Still more dangerous is it in the opinion of primitive man to move a sleeper or alter his appearance； for if this were done the soul on its return might not be able to find or recognise its body； and so the person would die。 The Minangkabauers deem it highly improper to blacken or dirty the face of a sleeper； lest the absent soul should shrink from re…entering a body thus disfigured。 Patani Malays fancy that if a person's face be painted while he sleeps； the soul which has gone out of him will not recognise him； and he will sleep on till his face is washed。 In Bombay it is thought equivalent to murder to change the aspect of a sleeper； as by painting his face in fantastic colours or giving moustaches to a sleeping woman。 For when the soul returns it will not know its own body； and the person will die。
But in order that a man's soul should quit his body； it is not necessary that he should be asleep。 It may quit him in his waking hours； and then sickness； insanity； or death will be the result。 Thus a man of the Wurunjeri tribe in Australia lay at his last gasp because his spirit had departed from him。 A medicine…man went in pursuit and caught the spirit by the middle just as it was about to plunge into the sunset glow； which is the light cast by the souls of the dead as they pass in and out of the under…world； where the sun goes to rest。 Having captured the vagrant spirit； the doctor brought it back under his opossum rug； laid himself down on the dying man； and put the soul back into him； so that after a time he revived。 The Karens of Burma are perpetually anxious about their souls； lest these should go roving from their bodies； leaving the owners to die。 When a man has reason to fear that his soul is about to take this fatal step； a ceremony is performed to retain or recall it； in which the whole family must take part。 A meal is prepared consisting of a cock and hen； a special kind of rice； and a bunch of bananas。 Then the head of the family takes the bowl which is used to skim rice； and knocking with it thrice on the top of the houseladder says： Prrrroo！ Come back； soul； do not tarry outside！ If it rains； you will be wet。 If the sun shines； you will be hot。 The gnats will sting you； the leeches will bite you； the tigers will devour you； the thunder will crush you。 Prrrroo！ Come back； soul！ Here it will be well with you。 You shall want for nothing。 Come and eat under shelter from the wind and the storm。 After that the family partakes of the meal； and the ceremony ends with everybody tying their right wrist with a string which has been charmed by a sorcerer。 Similarly the Lolos of South…western China believe that the soul leaves the body in chronic illness。 In that case they read a sort of elaborate litany； calling on the soul by name and beseeching it to return from the hills； the vales； the rivers； the forests； the fields； or from wherever it may be straying。 At the same time cups of water； wine； and rice are set at the door for the ref