Cannibalism

Chapter XLVI

The prevalence of cannibalism, p. .—Various forms of it, p. .—Cannibalism due to scarcity or lack of animal food, p. .—To gourmandise pp. –557.—To revenge, pp. –559.—The practice of eating criminals, p. sq.—Cannibalism a method of making a dangerous individual harmless after death, p. sq.—Due to the idea that the cannibal, by eating the supposed seat of a certain quality in a person, incorporates it with his own system, pp. –562.—Cannibalism in connection with human sacrifice, p. sq.—The eating of man-gods, p. sq.—Other instances in which a supernatural or medicinal effect is ascribed to human flesh or blood, pp. –566.—Cannibalism as a covenant rite, p. sq.—Special reasons given for the practice of eating relatives or friends, pp. –569.—The cannibalism of modern savages represented as the survival of an ancient practice which was once universal in the human race, p. sq.—Criticism of this theory pp. –580.—Savages who feel the greatest dislike of cannibalism, p. sq.—Cannibals often anxious to deny that they are addicted to this practice, p. .—The rapid extinction of it among certain savages p. sq.—Even among peoples very notorious for cannibalism there are individuals who abhor it, p. .—The aversion to cannibalism may be due to sympathy for the dead, p. .—In the first instance it is probably an instinctive feeling akin to those feelings which regulate the diet of the various animal species, ibid.—The eating of human flesh regarded with superstitious dread, pp. –576.—The feeling of reluctance may be overcome by other motives and may be succeeded by a taste for human flesh, p. sq.—Early man probably not addicted to cannibalism, pp. –580.—Cannibalism much less prevalent among the lowest savages than among races somewhat more advanced in culture, p. sq.—Among some savages cannibalism known to be of modern origin or to have spread in recent times, p. sq.—The moral valuation of cannibalism, p. sq.