White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-08-24
zUNI INDIAN TRIBE
HOLDS TOAD SACRED
Many People Show Rever-
ence to Animals.

w
Zuni Indian tribe of New Mexico
that many of the tribesmen possess
sacred toads which they carry in hol.
low reeds, recall the sacred character
of many animals in various parts of
the world" says bulletin from the
Washington ID. CO. headquarters Of
the National Geographic society.
"Benares, India, the holy city OF
the Hindus, might be called the cap
ital' of sacred animal world. In the
narrow congested streets travellers
are jostled about by the crowds who
bow and give way to sacred overfed
cows and white bulls.
Sacred Monkeys at Benares.
"Pious Hindus please their gods by
throwing clothing, trinkets and other
offerings upon the animals until all
but their hoofs are concealed. Now
and then sacred ape passes and Is
accorded the same respect; and in the
so-called Monkey temple and its
courtyard, swarms of sacred monkeys
are fed and petted by visiting pill.
grims. Perhaps the fruit and vege
table stands bordering the city side
walks suffer most from the pious
Quadrupeds. AS the animals consume
the merchandise the owner must per.
NIT 1t with smile.
Creeping things such as lizards
and snakes are held sacred by the
natives of the South Sea Islands.
Snakes are also holy among the ma.
tives of Nigeria whose three gods are
the serpent, the tall tree and the sea-
The serpent, however, is the most
honored among them. They build
snake temples in its honor and the
tribesmen's bodies are marked with
crude figures Of reptiles.
"Since ancient times the Cambo.
dams of French Indo-C China have lined
their highways and adorned their
temples with monumental figures of
Maya, sacred seven-headed cobra.
Wagging tails of the huge reptile ex.
tending from the gables of many Cam
bodian buildings resemble spiral light.
ming rods.
among the natives of Madagascar
there is class distinction of the de-
ceased. 1t is believed that the souls
of fellow tribesmen are reborn in boa
constructors, crocodiles and cells. The
boa constructor represents the soul of
nobleman. Instead of killing the
reptile, the natives go down on their
knees when they encounter. one in the
wilderness. Natives have been known
to spread silk cloth in the path of
boa constructors that have come into
villages.
1.-THE souls Of Madagascar common
ers, according to the belief of some
tribes, are reborn in crocodiles while
low class tribesman must be content
with the life of an eel after death.
Eels are also held sacred by some
tribes of the Philippines. Other Fill.
pinos believe their souls are reborn
in the form of scorpions and insects.
These are never killed.
"The American would lead mis-.
cradle existence in Assam. Here some
of the natives dare not kill the house
fly for fear of destroying some of their
They likewise respect the
butterfly. Some of the rivers in Up
per Burma would make splendid fish.
ing grounds, but one fish might mean
death to. the fisherman for the natives
in this region believe their dead rea.
tives come to life in fishy form Ro-
dents and climbing animals are held
sacred in eastern Cochin, China.
The Dog Has Its Day.
"'Poor pussy is not poor nor does
she need nine lives among the Mangs.
q low Indian caste who regard the cat
as a sacred animal. Their most sol.
emn oath is shown by the s; cred cat.
Another caste of India calico the Mao
das swear by the sacred dog or COW.
The Solomon islanders can male
any animal sacred among their rela.
tives. When trbesman is about to
die, he calls his relatives to his death
bed and tells them What sort OF an
animal he wishes to receive his soul
1t may be a bird, butterfly or q
shark. Whatever 1t is. the creature
named henceforth is held sacred.
'Tigers are seldom killed by Ger.
tain Sumatran tribes. If one is killed
accidentally or in self-defense, the
dead animal receives an apology for
1t might have contained the soul OF
one of the killers relatives. The deer
Is sacred animal among some of the
Borneo tribesmen while II New
Guinea fish and pigs are shown the
same respect. Among the Tudns ct
southern India. sacred buffalo Is
killed during an elaborate ceremony.
roasted on a sacred fire, and his car
:ass tremendously Toasted upon
"rhe Valans. u fishing caste in
southern India. hold a cock festival
yheL they offer up sacred cocks. seek.
ng immunity from disease in AlnIa
oar. India. the dev0ul Hindus carry
sacred cocks on pigrimages as the
of Kali carry sacred goats
The more sacred animals they can de.
liver at the holy places. the greater
will be their religious reward
"Camels were sacred among the |
Arabs In ancient times. Sqllawkine
geese once frustrated an attack upon |
Rome and the fowls were later held
n q certain veneratiOn.
THE owl symboliZed one OF the
,ods of the Mayans. Among the
syrians the dove was the hottest of
,irds Sacred doves are said to be kept
It Mecca today. In Russia the peasants
all the dove the bird of the Holy
ihOst.
1.-THE famous white elephants OF