A STUDY OF TRADITION IN STORY
CUSTOM AND BELIEF: BY
Edwin Sidney Hartland
F.S.A
VOL. II.
THE LIFE-TOKEN
Published by David Nutt
in the Strand, London
1895
Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty
The discussion of the Life-token has proved so important, going downto the very foundations of the savage philosophy of life, that I havefound it impossible to bring to a close this study of the Legend ofPerseus within the compass of two volumes. A third, however, willcomplete the task, and will also include a supplementaryBibliographical List and an Index.
I desire to add to the names of friends who have so kindly extended tome their assistance in various ways, those of Mr. Edward Clodd, nowpresident of the Folklore Society, the Rev. W. Gregor, LL.D., Mrs.Fanny D. Bergen, M. J. D. E. Schmeltz, the learned Curator of theEthnographical Museum at Leiden, and editor of the InternationalesArchiv, and Mr. W. R. Paton. To Mr. W. H. D. Rouse I have hadoccasion to refer so frequently for assistance of various kinds,constantly and ungrudgingly rendered, that I hardly know how to thankhim.
Highgarth, Gloucester,
May 1895.
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The Life-token in Tale and Custom
Two classes of life-tokens; the one, originally connected with thehero; the other, arbitrary—Examples given in previouschapters—Examples from märchen outside the Perseus cycle—Themagical mirror—The Life-token in mirror and well—Tokens ofFidelity—Connection of the Life-token and External Soul—BirthCeremonies—Planting of trees and other life-tokens incustom—Divination.
Witchcraft: Sympathetic Magic
Folktale incidents presenting the divisibility of a person, continuedsympathy of severed portions of a person with the bulk, and theendowment of the severed portions with consciousness—Modes ofwitchcraft—Witchcraft upon objects identified with thevictim—Severed portions of the body—Footprints—Food—Dress—Objectsmore remotely associated with the victim—Witchcraft upon arbitraryobjects—Name—Defences against witchcraft.
Witchcraft: Philtres—Preventive and remedial Leechcraft
Different kinds of love-potions—Hair and other substances taken fromthe body—Clothing—Footprints—Dangers {vii} of carelessness oversevered parts of the body—Cure for warts—Doctrine ofTransplantation—Mistaken applications of—Doctrine ofSympathy—Remedies derived from the dead—“A hair of the dog that bityou.”
Sacred Wells and Trees
Ceremonies at wells and trees in the British Islands—On the Continentof Europe—Nails driven into trees and images—Analogous riteselsewhere—Usual explanations discussed—Rites at cairns—True meaningof the rites—Dedication of hair at sacred shrines and graves—Othervotive offerings.
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