arndt@lymph.DEC (12/08/84)
We've all heard the story of the weary traveler who puts up at the igloo for a good nights rest and gets to sleep with his host's wife. Now for the 'real' low down. Rosebury quotes Bourke about the Chukchis of Siberia: (The Chukchis) " . . . offer their women to travelers; but these latter, to be shown worthy, must submit to a disgusting test. The girl or woman who is to pass the night with her new host gives him a cup full of her urine; he must rinse his mouth with it. If he has the courage to do so he is looked upon as a friend; if not, he is treated as an enemy of the family." (From: Theodor Rosebury,LIFE OF MAN,NY:Ballantine,1971,pp129f) And you thought it all started with Gloria and Bella! Maybe we CAN get on without the ERA! Keep chargin' Ken Arndt
jss@brunix.UUCP (Judith Schrier) (12/13/84)
Sorry, Ken, but I think Rosebury has misinterpreted that "disgusting test". In some cultures, urine simply is not considered a disgusting substance. It has various uses. A friend of mine did a senior honors thesis some years ago in anthropology on the uses of urine in various cultures. I don't remember many, but hair dressing is one. Recall that former Prime Minister Desai of India drank some of his own urine each morning, as a health measure. judith brunix!jss