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30
things "sacred" or ^(tchâ-bool) (cf[?]. the corresponding Malay
term "taboo") is very prevalent, and applied in general
by men, rarely by women -- and then only in the men's
interest. The following are among some of the common[??]
examples of this:-
(a) The gins may have a row among themselves: one of
them will make certain things, utensils, food, etc sacred,
"taboo", to her husband or any male in the same primary
tribal sub-division as herself, and thus prevent her female antagonists from ever touching them etc.
(b) There may be ructions in the family circle, the
husband and wife having a "tiff". She may have gone
to all the trouble of preparing the day's food for
herself and children, when her husband will suddenly
tell her that certain foods are "taboo" to his
male and female offspring ^respectively -- she is thus prevented partaking of them.
The status quo remains with the little girls until they are
able to walk, with the little boys until they arrive at
the age suitable for undergoing the initiation ceremony.
(c) A man can make anything "taboo"
(d) Supposing a person breaks his promise and speaks
by name of his "pewul" (sect 22) he is punished by
having certain things of his, or certain dietaries to
which he might have been accustomed, made "taboo"
to his "pewul": he can no longer touch or eat them now.
(e) In cases of dispute, over a gin, among brothers, the
elder can be prevented taking her by making her
"taboo" to a younger one.
(f) The spot where any one has been buried ^and any "yerroo" country (sect. 14)^ is "taboo" from the women: only the males can go there
(g) The dilly-bag etc in which a mourning-string (sect. 4)
is placed, or ^[anything in] the hut in which the bark trough with its ghastly contents is placed, is strictly "taboo" also from the women.
"Taboo" is often relaxed by some of the very old men in favour of the young males when food happens to be extra scarce.[end of page]