Note 319 — Chapter XVI · THE ORIGINS OF SELF-DECORATION

Kleinpaul, Sprache ohne Worte, p. 275. Cf. also the obscene and indecent character of the devil dances on Ceylon—Sirr, Ceylon, ii. p. 52. To the same superstitious motives we may perhaps also ascribe the occurrence of improper dances and pantomimes at funerals, i.e. at an occasion when there is especial reason to fear the influence of malignant spirits. For instances of such funeral ceremonies see Laing, Travels, p. 368 (Soolimas); Metz, Neilgherry Hills, pp. 77, 78 (Badagas); Waitz, Anthropologie der Naturvölker, vi. p. 407 (Polynesia). The interpretation of these peculiar rites must, however, necessarily be only hypothetical. For other explanations of them see Réclus, Les Primitifs, p. 242, and Svoboda, l.c. i. p. 557.