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Cannibals

           Thesavagesbeganbyeatinghumanfleshtoappeasethedemandsofanappetiterarelysatiated;subsequentlythepriestsregulatedandsatisfiedthemonstrouscustom.Whatwasameal,wasraisedtothedignityofaceremony,thatisall.

           Besides,intheeyesoftheMaories,nothingismorenaturalthantoeatoneanother.Themissionariesoftenquestionedthemaboutcannibalism.Theyaskedthemwhytheydevouredtheirbrothers;towhichthechiefsmadeanswerthatfisheatfish,dogseatmen,meneatdogs,anddogseatoneanother.EventheMaorimythologyhasalegendofagodwhoateanothergod;andwithsuchaprecedent,whocouldresisteatinghisneighbor?

           Anotherstrangenotionis,thatineatingadeadenemytheyconsumehisspiritualbeing,andsoinherithissoul,hisstrengthandhisbravery,whichtheyholdarespeciallylodgedinthebrain.Thisaccountsforthefactthatthebrainfiguresintheirfeastsasthechoicestdelicacy,andisofferedtothemosthonoredguest.

           Butwhileheacknowledgedallthis,Paganelmaintained,notwithoutashowofreason,thatsensuality,andespeciallyhunger,wasthefirstcauseofcannibalismamongtheNewZealanders,andnotonlyamongthePolynesianraces,butalsoamongthesavagesofEurope.

           "For,"saidhe,"cannibalismwaslongprevalentamongtheancestorsofthemostcivilizedpeople,andespecially(iftheMajorwillnotthinkmepersonal)amongtheScotch."

           "Really,"saidMcNabbs.

           "Yes,Major,"repliedPaganel.

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