Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/424

 370 Reviews.

painting the body, preference being giving to colouring in red, which arouses vigour by direct psychological as well as associative action, or because it disguises the flow of blood ; by tattoo marks simulating actual wounds ; and by badges, honorary names, and titles. Such distinctions confer the right to possess a wife or wives. On the other hand, cowardice or inefficiency involves degradation and contempt on the part of women.

The next step is the recognition of the power of wealth, or rather, among the most primitive races, of the influence derived from liberality and hospitality. This leads to polygamy, which adds to the importance of the husband by the possession of additional workers in the household, gain from dowries, and connec- tions with powerful alien families or tribes. When this stage is reached, the richer and more influential families begin to inter- marry only among themselves.

Such a condition of things results in division of labour and the gradation of industries, some being regarded as creditable, and others as disgraceful. In the latter class fall occupations such as that of the executioner with its attendant taboos, or those con- nected with dead bodies, such as the work of the butcher or tanner. Cookery and agriculture become discredited because they are primarily the duty of women, and considerations of the same kind may have led to the contempt exhibited towards the potter, weaver, minstrel, and singer. The causes of the low position assigned to the blacksmith are considered in more detail, with the result that his association with iron, a magical substance, suggests his possession of uncanny powers which sometimes causes him to be despised, and sometimes feared or esteemed.

The problem of caste is only casually examined, the suggestion being that it is usually due to the clash of different ethnical groups.

From this summary of his conclusions it will be seen that in his short pamphlet Dr. Landtman covers a vast field of enquiry. There is nothing specially novel in his treatment of the subject ; but his remarks are often acute and suggestive, and they are supported by citations from a wide course of reading. We find here, in fact, a useful summary of some departments in a very complicated subject. There are, as might have been expected.