The Ban of the Bori. Demons and Demon-Dancing in West and North Africa.
London: Heath, Cranton & Ouseley Ltd., ND [ 1914 ]. First Edition. Hardcover. Large thick octavo. 498pp. Original brown cloth with black titling and illustrations to upper board, gilt titling and black illustration to spine, colour frontis with tissue guard, b&w plates. Appendixes and index. Anthropologist Tremearne spent much of his career studying the people of Africa and produced this massive study of popular religion magic and folklore in North Africa, particularly the regions around Tunis and Tripoli, in the pre-First World War period. Contents: I. Introduction II. The Origin of the Hausa Colonies in North Africa III. Totemism and KIng-Killing IV. Totemism and King-Killing-continued V. Personal Enhancement and Dress VI. Habitations and Domestic Life VII. Habitations and Domestic Life-continued; VIII. Birth and Puberty; IX. Marriage and Divorce; X. Death and the After-Life; XI Magic. The Saints and the Magicians; XII. Magic in the House-Love Charms; XIII. Magic in the House-Self-Preservation; XIV. Magic in the Fields-Agriculture, etc.; XV. Magic in the Fields-Hunting, etc.; XVI. Superstitions and Omens; XVII. Pilgrimages and Festivals; XVIII. Bori- The Spirits and their Powers; XIX. Bori- The Temples and the Sect; XX. Bori-The Dances; XXI. Bori-The Mohammedan Spirits; XXII. Bori-The Mohammedan Spirits-continued; XXIII. Bori-The Black Spirits, XXIV. Bori-The Black Spirits-continued; XXV. Bori-The Fighting Spirits; XXVI. Bori-The Youths; XXVII. Bori-The Little Spots; XXVIII. Bori-The Spirits of the Forest, of the Waters, and of the Grove; XXIX. The Origins of Demons and Demon-Dancing; XXX. The Origins of Demons and Demon-Dancing-continued; Appendix I. Notes and References; Appendix II. Botanical Notes; Appendix III. A Comparison of the Bori, Index. Cloth well rubbed and unevenly darkened with some spot soil on rear cover, titling to spine a bit dulled, front endpapers are slightly split and front endpaper hinge very cracking (but holding firm), owner's name label on front blank, page edges darkened and foxed, pages toned and a bit thumbed. Despite obvious wear from use, internally clean & text unmarked. Overall a clean and serviceable Good + copy (no dust jacket). Item #69315
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