One of the strongest desires of human nature is the passion for some kind or another of alcoholic2 stimulants4. Intoxicating5 liquors are made by savages6 in primeval forests, and travellers in all parts of the world have found the natives conversant8 with the art of preparing some sort of stimulating9 liquor in the shape of beer, wine, or spirit. The ancient Egyptians had their beer and brandy, the Mexicans their aloe beer or pulque. Probably the art of preparing fermented10 drinks was in each nation discovered by accident. Berries soaked in water, set aside and forgotten, saccharine12 roots steeped in water and juices preserved for future use, have probably taught primitive13 man everywhere to manufacture stimulating beverages14. The influence of alcoholic drinks on the development of the human mind must have been very great. If primitive man has learned so much from his dreams, what has he not learned from the exaltation produced by medicinal plants and alcoholic infusions16? If the savage7 conceives the leaves of a tree waving in the breeze to be influenced by a spirit, it is certain that a medicinal plant or a fermented liquor would be believed to be possessed17 by a beneficent or evil principle or being. A poison would be possessed by a demon18, a healing plant by a good spirit, a stimulating liquor by a god. Plant-worship would on these principles be found amongst the earliest religious practices of mankind, and so we find it, although not to the extent we might have expected.
Some savage peoples worship plants and make offerings to the spirits which dwell in certain trees. It would seem that it is not the plant or tree itself which is thus venerated19, but the ghost which makes it its dwelling20. In classic times “the ivy21 was sacred to Osiris and Bacchus, the pine to Neptune22, herb mercury to Hermes, black hellebore to Melampus, centaury to Chiron, the laurel to Aloeus, the hyacinth to Ajax, the squill to Epimenes,” etc.100
47
Herbert Spencer thinks that plant-worship arose from the connection between plants and the intoxication23 which they produce. It is very remarkable24 that almost all peoples of whom we have any knowledge produce from the maceration25 of various vegetable substances some kind of intoxicating liquor, beer, wine, or spirit. As the excitement produced by fainting, fever, hysteria, or insanity26 is ascribed amongst savages and half-civilized27 peoples to a possessing spirit, so also is any exaltation of the mind, by whatever means produced, attributed to a similar cause. Supernatural beings they consider may be swallowed in food or drink, especially the latter.101
Vambery speaks of opium28-eaters who intoxicated29 themselves with the drug; that they might be nearer the beings they loved so well. The Mandingoes think that intoxication brings them into relation with the godhead. A Papuan Islander hearing about the Christian30 God said, “Then this God is certainly in your arrack, for I never feel happier than when I have drunk plenty of it.”102
Any one who reads the sacred books of the East for the first time, especially the Vedic hymns32, will be puzzled to say whether the Soma, which is referred to so often, is a deity33 or something to drink. If we turn up the word in the index volume of the Encyclop?dia Britannica, we are astonished to find such an entry as this: “Soma, a drink, in Brahminical ritual, iv. 205; as a deity, iv. 205; vii. 249.” The soma, speaking scientifically, is an intoxicating liquor prepared from the juice of a kind of milk-weed, Asclepias acida, sometimes called the moon-plant. In the Rig-Veda and the Zend Avesta (where it is called Haoma) it appears as a mighty35 god endowed with the most wonderful exhilarating properties. Herbert Spencer, in the chapter of the Sociology entitled “Plant-Worship,” gives some of the expressions used in the Rig-Veda concerning this fermented soma-juice.
“This [Soma] when drunk, stimulates37 my speech [or hymn31]; this called forth38 the ardent39 thought.” (R.V. vi. 47, 3.)
“The ruddy Soma, generating hymns, with the powers of a poet.” (R.V. ix. 25, 5.)
“We have drunk the Soma, we have become immortal40, we have entered into light, we have known the gods,” etc. (R.V. viii. 48, 3.)
“The former [priests] having strewed41 the sacred grass, offered up a hymn to thee, O Soma, for great strength and food.” (R.V. lx. 110, 7.)
“For through thee, O pure Soma, our wise forefathers42 of old performed their sacred rites.” (R.V. ix. 96, 11.)
“Soma—do thou enter into us,” etc.
Dr. Muir calls Soma48 “the Indian Dionysus.”
In Peru tobacco “has been called the sacred herb.”
Markham says, “The Peruvians still look upon coca with feelings of superstitious43 veneration44.” In the time of the Incas it was sacrificed to the sun. In North Mexico, Bancroft says that some of the natives “have a great veneration for the hidden virtues45 of poisonous plants, and believe that if they crush or destroy one, some harm will happen to them.” “And at the present time,” says Mr. Spencer, “in the Philippine Islands, the ignatius bean, which contains strychnia and is used as a medicine, is worn as an amulet46 and held capable of miracles.” The Babylonians seem to have held the palm-tree as sacred, doubtless because fermented palm-juice makes an intoxicating drink.
The Palal, the supreme47 pontiff of the cow-religion of the Toda people of the Neilgherries, is initiated48 with incantations, and the smearing49 of his body with the juice of a sacred shrub50 called the tude.103
He also drinks some of the extract mixed with water. He is purified by soaking himself with the juice of this plant, and in a week has become a god; he is the supreme being of the Todas. This transmutation is suggestive of the sacred soma.104
The aborigines of the Amazon make an intoxicating drink from wild fruits, which they use at their dances and festivals.105 The people on the Rio Negro use a liquor called “xirac” for the same purpose. The Brazilian Indians have their “caxiri,” which is the same thing; it is a beer made from mandiocca cakes. This mandiocca is chewed by the old women, spat51 into a pan, and soaked in water till it ferments52. The Marghi people of North Africa have an intoxicating liquor called “Komil,” made of Guinea-corn, which Barth said tastes like bad beer, and is very confusing to the brain.106
The Apaches make an intoxicating liquor from cactus53 juice, or with boiled and fermented corn. Their drunkenness is a preparation for religious acts.107
The Kolarians of Bengal believe that the flowers of the maowah tree (Bassia latifolia) will cure almost every kind of sickness. “Not a cot,” says Reclus,108 “but distils54 a heady liquor from the petals55; not a Khond man who does not get royally drunk.”
The people of the Nepal Himalayas make a beer from half-fermented millet56, which they call Murwa; it is weak, but very refreshing57. Hooker says the millet-seed is moistened, and ferments for two days; it is then put into a vessel58 of wicker-work, lined with india-rubber gum to make49 it water tight; and boiling water is poured in it with a ladle of gourd59, from a cauldron that stands all day over the fire. The fluid, when fresh, tasted like negus.109
The fermented juice of the cocoa-nut palm makes an intoxicating toddy, of which some birds in the forests round Bombay are as fond as are the natives themselves.110
The natives of Tahiti made an intoxicating drink by chewing the fresh root of the “ava,” a plant of the pepper tribe (Piper methysticum), long before Europeans taught them to ferment11 the fruits of the country about the year 1796. The chewed root was rinsed60 in water, and by fermentation a drowsy61 form of intoxicating liquor was produced of which the natives were extremely fond. They now prefer gin and brandy. The effects of ava or kava intoxication are said to be somewhat similar to those of opium. The Nukahivans drink kava as a remedy for phthisis; it would seem to be of real value in bronchitis, as a chemical examination of the root shows it to contain an oleo-resin probably somewhat akin34 to balsam of Peru or tolu. It is an ally of the matico, and in its nature and operation closely resembles cubeb and copaiba, which are used to produce a constriction62 of the capillary63 vessels64.
Cascarilla bark and other barks of the various species of croton, of the Bahama and West India Islands, have valuable stimulant3 properties universally recognised in modern medicine. They are used in the treatment of dyspepsia and as a mild tonic65.
The Carib races were fully66 conversant with the valuable properties of these drugs; the native priests or doctors used the dried plants for fumigations and in religious ceremonies; and curiously67 enough at the present day cascarilla bark is one of the ingredients of incense68. An infusion15 of the leaves was used internally in Carib medicine, and the dried bark was mixed with tobacco and smoked, as is often done in civilized lands.
Anacreontic poetry and Bacchic rites were merely intellectual developments of sentiments which the savage feels and expresses in a coarse animal way, just as the alderman’s sense of gratification and perfect contentment after a civic69 banquet is not altogether different in kind from that felt by a replete70 quadruped.
Alcoholic intoxication must have produced in primitive man visions far surpassing those of his pleasantest dreams, and his brain must have been filled with images, sometimes pleasant, sometimes horrible, of a more pronounced character than those which visited him in sleep. At such times would come some of the visitants from the world of imagination to the mind of primitive man which have had the most50 important influence on his intellectual development. The drinking customs of our working classes of the present day are in a great degree prompted by the longing71 which man in every condition has to escape for a while from the squalid, material surroundings of daily life into the ideal world of intellectual pleasures, however low these may often be. “A national love for strong drink,” says a competent authority,111 “is a characteristic of the nobler and more energetic populations of the world; it accompanies public and private enterprise, constancy of purpose, liberality of thought, and aptitude72 for war.” Tea, haschish, hops73, alcohol, and tobacco stimulate36 in small doses and narcotise in larger; there have been cases known of tea intoxication.112
The desire of escaping from self into an ideal world, a world of novelty and pleasures unimaginable, had much to do with the festivals in Greece in honour of Dionysus; it was in some places considered a crime to remain sober at the Dionysia; to be intoxicated on such occasions was to show one’s gratitude74 for the gift of wine.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
rites
|
|
| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
alcoholic
|
|
| adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
stimulant
|
|
| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
stimulants
|
|
| n.兴奋剂( stimulant的名词复数 )；含兴奋剂的饮料；刺激物；激励物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
intoxicating
|
|
| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
conversant
|
|
| adj.亲近的，有交情的，熟悉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
stimulating
|
|
| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
fermented
|
|
| v.（使）发酵( ferment的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
ferment
|
|
| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
saccharine
|
|
| adj.奉承的，讨好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
beverages
|
|
| n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
infusion
|
|
| n.灌输 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
infusions
|
|
| n.沏或泡成的浸液（如茶等）( infusion的名词复数 )；注入，注入物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
demon
|
|
| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
venerated
|
|
| 敬重（某人或某事物），崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ivy
|
|
| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
Neptune
|
|
| n.海王星 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
intoxication
|
|
| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
maceration
|
|
| n.泡软，因绝食而衰弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
insanity
|
|
| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
civilized
|
|
| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
opium
|
|
| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
intoxicated
|
|
| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
hymn
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hymns
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
deity
|
|
| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
akin
|
|
| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
stimulate
|
|
| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
stimulates
|
|
| v.刺激( stimulate的第三人称单数 )；激励；使兴奋；起兴奋作用，起刺激作用，起促进作用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
immortal
|
|
| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
strewed
|
|
| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
forefathers
|
|
| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
superstitious
|
|
| adj.迷信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
veneration
|
|
| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
amulet
|
|
| n.护身符 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
initiated
|
|
| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
smearing
|
|
| 污点，拖尾效应 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
shrub
|
|
| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
ferments
|
|
| n.酵素( ferment的名词复数 )；激动；骚动；动荡v.（使）发酵( ferment的第三人称单数 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
cactus
|
|
| n.仙人掌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
distils
|
|
| v.蒸馏( distil的第三人称单数 )；从…提取精华 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
petals
|
|
| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
millet
|
|
| n.小米，谷子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
refreshing
|
|
| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
gourd
|
|
| n.葫芦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
rinsed
|
|
| v.漂洗( rinse的过去式和过去分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
drowsy
|
|
| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
constriction
|
|
| 压缩； 紧压的感觉； 束紧； 压缩物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
capillary
|
|
| n.毛细血管；adj.毛细管道；毛状的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
vessels
|
|
| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
tonic
|
|
| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
incense
|
|
| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
civic
|
|
| adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
replete
|
|
| adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
aptitude
|
|
| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
hops
|
|
| 跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |