Book

The palm and the Pleiades: initiation and cosmology in northwest Amazonia

Cambridge University Press • (24) • Published In 1979 • Pages: xvi, 332 , plates

By: Hugh-Jones, Stephen.

Abstract

This monograph, an amended version of the author's doctoral dissertation, is based on fieldwork carried out among the Barasana Tukano Indians of the Vaupés area of Colombia between September 1968 and December 1970. In this study Hugh-Jones presents a detailed analysis of one particular ritual complex known as the Yurupary cult involving Fruit House and He House ceremonies of initiation. In his description of the elements of these ceremonies, the author delves deeply into Tukano religious symbolism and its relationship to myth and ritual. In addition to the above, various theoretical discussion are presented in the document which attempt '…to provide an empirical test for some of the grand generalisations that Leví-Strauss had offered concerning the structure of South American Indian mythology and its relation to Indian thought and culture' (p. xii). A selection of mythological text will be found at the end of this work.

HRAF PubDate

1998

Region

South America

Sub Region

Amazon and Orinoco

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 1996

Field Date

September 1968-December 1970

Coverage Date

September 1968-December 1970

Coverage Place

Barasana Indians; Vaupés region, Colombian northwest Amazon

Notes

Stephen Hugh-Jones

Based on author's thesis, Cambridge University, 1974, which was presented under title: Male initiation and cosmology among Barasana Indians of the Vaupés area of Colombia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 317-322) and indexes

LCCN

78005533

LCSH

Tukano Indians