AT THAT TIME - LONG AGO As we advance in so many scientific ways to make this world a better place for Mankind, we are, at the same time, constantly honing those terrible blades of destruction which cause death and rob us of us of the fruits of our labor.
We have, in recent times, witnessed the return of beheading as as a part of of wartime activities. We have never made use of it in our history insofar as we have no records would show it having used as a means of[ punishment. We have, it seems, long associated beheading with savagery. One could argue, of course, that he is very little difference between been beheading and hanging insofar as end results are concerned. We have had instances of both in our dealings – the Aztec, Mayan and other earlier tribal divisions who must have been in disagreement at some time or other.
One tribal unit living in the Timor region of south Asia – the “Mauberes” - had a well-established custom of severing the human head from the human torso as an act of love, respect and faith.
Mauberes tribesman were never head hunters. Their general practice of cutting off of heads was never used a symbol of victory or conquest or as token marking a time of armistice. They did it as a
religious act. They believed that the head was the resting-place of the soul. If the head remained attached to the body the soul would be abandoned fore
It was a religious act and it was done with much ceremony. It was done whenever there was a dead adversary. The warrior had to stand erect, feet widespread and raise his sword and with one mighty blow he severed the head from the body He then cleaned the head, placed above he smoking flames facing the sun and the ceremony
became a dance for those attending. The ceremonies were enriched with more prayers, more dances and endless chants. The name of the dead man was intoned and final prayer was made asking that he might find a peaceful dwelling place. The onlookers were exhorted to join as a frenzied chorus repeating that prayer so people other islands in the Great Sea might share in honoring the dead warrior. If a time of peace was being established the collected heads were
were returned to their proper family group.
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 8-22-06 [c420wds]
