Part Two – Death | 690 Frazer brings a number of examples, from diverse sources, on how primitive tribes sought to prevent the ghosts of women who died in childbirth from returning as an evil and dangerous spirit . In the Punjab some “drive nails through her head and eyes, while others also knock nails on either side of the door of the house . ” ( ibid . p . 76, referring to M . A . Rose, “Hindu Birth Observances in the Punjab,” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, pp . 225 et seq . ) . The Oraons of Chota Nagpur carry her body as far 907, 37, away as they can, and on arrival at the burial - place, “they break the feet above the ankle, twist them round, bringing the heels in front, and then drive long thorns into them” ( p . 79, referring to Rev . P . Dehon, “Religion and Customs of the Uraons,” Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, / 9, Calcutta 906, pp . 39 et seq . ) . Could this be the source of the renaissance notion of the “Homeo pedibus averis” found illustrated i...
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