0053
The Sacrifice of First-Born Children
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Description
They offer their first-born son to the chief. On the day of the
sacrifice, the
chief goes to the place dedicated to that purpose. There he takes his
seat on a bench.
Not far off is a tree stump about two feet high and as many thick, in
front of which
the mother of the first-born son squats on her heels, her face covered
with her
hands in sorrow. One of her women friends or relatives then offers the
child to the
chief in worship. After the offering is made the women who have
accompanied the
mother dance in a circle around the stump with great demonstrations of
joy. In their
midst, singing the chief's praises, dances the woman who holds the child.
Near by stands a group of six Indians. They surround a magnificently
decorated man holding a club. It is he who will perform the sacrifice.
When the
dance ends, he takes the infant and kills it on the wooden stump in honor
of the
chief. I saw this ritual performed once while I was there.
Monday, 15-May-95 14:17:42 PDT
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