Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

reciprocal whipping as endurance test

reciprocal_whipping_as_endurance_test

A motif of the Initiation and Transformative Ordeal family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


guiana amerindian

  • Among the Indians of Guiana: Being Sketches Chiefly Anthropologic from the Interior of British Guiana DANTS, ROLLED A8 CARRIED IN QUIVER. / SHOULDEN-RUFF OF MACAW-FEATHERS. / PAIR OF WOODEN FLUTES. / ZZOLIAN HARP.; lines 12906-13014 confidence: medium

    Arawak paiwari feasts are described as having a strange painful dance, perhaps only funerary according to Schomburgk though the author doubts this; all male dancers stand in two rows, each holding a macquarie whip with a strong fibre lash.

    The Arawak macquarie dance includes reciprocal calf-lashing until weals and blood appear, and the author states it was probably devised to test endurance.

    read in the book