HAIR BOBBING NATIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1926, Page 1

HAIR BOBBING NATIVES

OIRLS IIAII! BURNED TO THE NECK. Bobbing and shingling of women’s bair is a new fashion in this country, but lias long been a social and religous custom in some ol' the primitive tribes. This ceremony of hair-cutting was described by Mr F. A. Mitchell Hedges, the explorer, in a talk on his recent journeys with Lady .Richmond Brown through little known regions in the north of South America, broadcast in London recently. The ceremony takes place at the transitional stage from girlhood to womanhood, a closely cropped head signifying that the girl has reached marriageable age. On the day appointed by the witchdoctors, the chief, his headmen, and iho, entire population arrive. A priestess lias the immediate supervision of the young girl, who is placed in a large hole dug in a corner of a dwelling. The hole is then filed in to the girl's shoulders. After a chant by the whole assemblage the priestess sprinkles the girl with water, then, placing a half calabash over her head, burns off a small piece of hair with a red-hot ember, which is afterwards buried in the earth.

Again a chant breaks out, and another piece of hair is burnt off. Ibe burying of the ember each time, and the throwing on of cold water, are intended to symbolise the trials and troubles the girl will have to encounter; and the chanting and singing the pleasures that lie before her. “I witnessed one of these ceremonies,” said Mr Hedges. ‘‘The girl was buried for over six hours, and when she was released from her cramped position she was unable to stand, and had to be carried to a hammock.” In some little known tribes a nmnl>er of marriageable girls stand in n row, then dart off into the jungle. The youth gives chase a lew minutes latei. and by tribal law each girl is the wife of her captor. In one uttcrlv degenerate Hi he it was the girl who chose the youth He was simplv seized, carried to her home, and. after certain rites had been performed, they were man ami wile. Thenceforth, for the rest of bis life lie bad no will of bis own, and did nothing until first ordered by tin. woman. , , • ,r Many tribes believe that the spirit ot those who die makes its way at night to a river, where a dugout is uniting for it. in which another spirit is seated It is conveyed to a place where the river hranel.es out into a number of streams, and there a . r ; re “‘ stands, and indicates which it must take. Finally the sp rit arrives at a celestial village, i s • holla where forever afterwards it docs nothing but eat and drink m « stiltc of perfect happiness. r _