Myth, Ritual and Religion, Vol. 2 of 2 (Classic Reprint)

The Science of Anthropology can .speak, with some confidence, on many questions of Mythology. Materials are abundant and practically undisputed, because, as to their myths, savage races have spoken out with freedom. Myth represents, now the early scientific, now the early imaginative and humorous faculty, playing freely round all objects of thought: even round the Superhuman beings of belief. JBut, as to his Religion, the savage by no means speaks out so freely. Religion represents his serious mood of trust, dependence or apprehension. In certain cases the ideas about superhuman Makers and judges are veiled in mysteries, rude sketches of the mysteries of Greece, to which the white man is but seldom admitted. In other cases the highest religious conceptions of the people are in a state of obsolescence, are subordinated to the cult of accessible

Table of Contents

Gods of the Lowest Races 1; Savage religion mysterious-Why tills is so-Australians in 168S- Sir John Lubbock-Roskoff-Evidence of religion-Mr Manning -Mr Howitt-Supreme beings-Mr Tylor's theory of borrowing-Reply-Morality sanctioned-lis nature-Satirical rite- "Our Father"-Mr Ridley on a creator- Mrs Langloh Parker - Dr Koth-Conclusion-Australians' religions; CHAPTER XIII; Gotjs of the Lowest Races • 34; Bushmen gods-Cagu,the grasshopper-Hottentot gods-''Wounded knee," a dead sorcerer-Melanesian gods-Qat and the spider- Aht and Maori beast-gods and men-gods-Ssmoan form of animal-gods-One god incarnate in many animal shapes-One for each elan-They punish the eating of certain animals; CHAPTER XIV; American Divine MythsGO; Novelty of the "New World"-Different stages of culture represented there-Question of American Monotheism-Authorities and evidence cited- Myths examined : Eskimo, Ahts, Thlinkeets Iroquois, the Great Hare-Dr Brinton's theory of the hare- Zuni myths -Transition to Mexican mythology; Mexican Divine Myths89; Kuropeau eye-witnesses of Mexican