What might be called mixed or compound mutilations are
practiced by the New Zealanders, East Africans, Kondes, Kukas,
and Calmucks. Among those practising simple but severe
mutilations are the New Caledonians, the Bushmen, and some
indigenous Australians. Those tribes having for their customs the
practice of compound major mutilations are the Fiji Islanders,
Sandwich Islanders, Tahitians, Tongans, Samoans, Javanese,
Sumatrans, natives of Malagasy, Hottentots, Damaras, Bechuanas,
Kaffirs, the Congo people, the Coast Negroes, Inland Negroes,
Dahomeans, Ashantees, Fulahs, Abyssinians, Arabs, and Dakotas.
Spencer has evidently made a most extensive and comprehensive
study of this subject, and his paper is a most valuable
contribution to the subject. In the preparation of this section
we have frequently quoted from it.
The practice of self-bleeding has its origin in other
mutilations, although the Aztecs shed human blood in the worship
of the sun. The Samoiedes have a custom of drinking the blood of
warm animals. Those of the Fijians who were cannibals drank the
warm blood of their victims. Among the Amaponda Kaffirs there are
horrible accounts of kindred savage customs. Spencer quotes:--"It
is usual for the ruling chief on his accession to be washed in
the blood of a near relative, generally a brother, who is put to
death for the occasion.
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