rm to the
man. Women wear a pubic shield, held in place by a string. The
conjecture immediately suggests itself that the girdle or string about
the loins was anterior to any covering for the genitals. This conjecture
is confirmed by the cases in which the girdle is used to cover the
umbilicus, while nothing else is covered, for which there is a reason on
account of the connection of the umbilicus with birth, life, and
ancestry.[1423] The primitive notion about the genitals is that they are
the seat of involuntary phenomena which are to be referred to superior
agents. Hence, more than any other part of the body, they are daimonic
and sacred (mystery, passion, reproduction). This notion is an
independent cause of rules about the organs, and of superstitious ways
in reference to them, including concealment.[1424] Waitz recognized in
this idea the reason for covering the organ, or the part of it which was
believed to be efficient. "Perhaps," he says, "we stand here at the
first stage of human clothing,"--a suggestion which deserves more
attention than it has received.[1425]

+457. The girdle and what it conceals.+ Very many cases can be cited in
which a girdle is worn, but nothing for concealment, unless it be of the
umbilicus. In the Louvre (S. 962) may be seen a statue of a deformed
primitive god of the Egyptians, Bes, who wears a string around the waist
and nothing else. A girdle is often used as a pocket, without any
reference to decency.[1426] Convenience would then lead to the
suspensorium arrangement or the pubic shell. Also from the girdle was
hung any swinging glittering object to avert the evil eye from the
genitals. There was no concealment and could be no motive of modesty.
The aborigines of Queensland never cover the genitals except on special
public occasions, or when near white settlements. The men wear the case
only at corroborees and other public festivals.[1427] On Tanna (New
Hebrides) it is thought dangerous for a man to see another without any
concealment.[1428] The Indians on the Shingu show that such covering as
they wear has no purpose of concealment, for it conceals nothing.[1429]
The device of the East Greenland Eskimo is also evidently for utility,
not for modesty.[1430] In order to escape flies, Brunache and his
companions took refuge under a tree which is shunned by flies. It is
from this tree that the women pluck the bunches of leaves which they
wear dangling before and behind.[1431]

+458. Mo