Girdles: their origin and development, particularly with regard to their use as charms in medicine, marriage, and midwifery / [Walter J. Dilling].

  • Dilling, Walter J. (Walter James), 1886-1950.
Date:
1913-14
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Girdles: their origin and development, particularly with regard to their use as charms in medicine, marriage, and midwifery / [Walter J. Dilling]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the Bantus of South Africa when a woman becomes pregnant she is required to appear before Nyambi, in order that the “imancra” inspired by the fetish may formally declare her condition, paint her, and put a girdle round her as an amulet for easy delivery. Not till this ritual has been enacted is she allowed to mention the fact of her pregnancy.1 A very curious girdle is that worn by the Shangaan women of Portuguese East Africa during pregnancy (see Fm. 3); it is of woven fibre, hinged in the middle so as to resemble a pair of calipers, If inch broad, xyths inch thick, and 14 inches long. It is composed of two rows of fifteen strands each, joined in the middle; at the hinge and both ends, thicker hempen-like cord is bound in rolls over two cylindrical pieces of wood; six of these cords at the hinge and four at each end are coloured blue. The strands are formed of three-ply twisted vegetable fibre, probably a grass of some sort. The small size of the girdle makes it difficult to understand how it was applied: it would hold on the thigh, but not on the abdomen, unless tied in position by a cord. I am unable to state whether there is any meaning in the numbers of the strands, but give them for the sake of reference.2 The natives of Old Calabar in Nigeria employ a sort of handkerchief, which is simply tied round the abdomen and twisted so as to form a cincture; it appears to be placed right over the hard contracting uterus. Lastly, to close the tour of the less cultured races, we find in Syria a broad bandage worn, and in Finland they compress the abdomen in tedious cases with a belt of some form.3 In historic times, and particularly amongst Catholic peoples, the belief in the efficacy of girdles in difficult labour has been, and probably still is, rife. They are usually connected with the name of some saint, who is then specially invoked by the temporary patient in order to obtain his intercession for the relief of the condition. I understand that Catholic priests are directed to warn their parishioners against the use of these religious emblems as amulets; but, as is well known, it is excessively difficult to stamp out a folklore belief. The use of these girdles must undoubtedly become 1 Bastian, “ Loango-Kiiate,” vol. i, pp. 173, 175 ; J. Hastings, “Encyd. of Religion and Ethics,” vol. ii, p. 366. - Anthropological Museum, Aberdeen University, Africa, No. 243, Cat., ]). 331. 3 Floss-Bartels, “Das Weil).,” vol. i, p. 857 ; vol. ii, p. 30. '