Note 72 — Chapter II · Man and his Place in the Universe

Every man is supposed (it would appear from Malay charms) to possess seven souls72 in all, or, perhaps, I should more accurately say, a sevenfold soul.73 This “septenity in unity” may perhaps be held to explain the remarkable importance and persistency of the number seven in Malay magic, as for instance the seven twigs of the birch, and the seven repetitions of the charm (in Soul-abduction74), the seven betel leaves, the seven nights’ duration of the ceremony, the seven blows administered to the soul (in other magical and medical ceremonies), and the seven ears cut for the Rice-soul in reaping.75