Lang that in the education of mankind Totemism has played a part everywhere. Hence the present writer rejects the opinion of A. Frazer clearly shows that there are sacred animals and plants which are not totems and Levy denies to Totemism any role among the early Hebrews. Evidence from animal names is now admitted to be a precarious support for the Totem theory. Zapletal has opened up anew this problem, and questions Smith’s conclusions. Robertson Smith holds that Totemism lies at the basis of the Semitic religions. Loret maintains that Totemism existed among the early Egyptians, but evidently confounds this belief with animal-worship. It is doubtful whether Totemism existed among the Aryan races, and the facts alleged can be explained by idolatry. de l’histoire des religions, XXXVIII, 1898) Renel, among the Romans (Cultes militaires de Rome, Lyons, 1903). Mauss says it does not exist in all savage races of our day (Année sociologique, IV, 1899-1900) Reinach maintains that it existed among the Greeks and Celts (Cultes, Mythes et Religions, II, Paris, 1905) Gomme, in the British Isles (Archaeological Rev., III, 1889) Thomas, in Wales (Rev. Traces of it are found in South Africa, in the Polynesian Islands, and among the Dyaks of India. Totemism is widespread and developed among the American Indians and the aborigines of Australia. The totem is most frequently an animal species, more rarely a plant, occasionally an inanimate object, e.g.
Frazer mentions sex Totemism, but that is peculiar to Australia. When it exists between a clan and a natural class we have clan Totemism. If the union exists between an individual and a class of natural objects, we have individual Totemism. The conviction of the intimate union constitutes the religious aspect of Totemism the customs which result therefrom form its sociological aspect. the totem, by which the former regard the latter as identified with them in a mystical manner and in a peculiar sense their own belongings, so that they bear the name of the totem and show this belief in certain customs.
It is defined as the intimate relation supposed to exist between an individual or a group of individuals and a class of natural objects, i.e. Totemism constitutes the group of superstitions and customs of which the totem is the center. Long) the original signification was apparently a person’s family or tribe, and in a narrower sense his belongings. Totemism, from ote, root ot, possessive form otem, in the Ojibway dialect of the Algonquin stock of American Indians by some authorities spelled dodeme (Father de Smet), todem (Father Petitot), Toodaim, dodaim, totam (J.
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