ABSTRACT
The spirits of the Forest, Yan Dowa, which are danced in Tunis, are the Lion, the Hyena, the Elephant, and with these is classed the Dog, because he chases them when they are near to the house. Probably they were much more numerous at one time, for there seems to be but little doubt that they were totems. Thus in the photograph, we see Zaki (or Zaiki), and Bultu in front, and Kare (or Karre) behind, watching them. These spirits seem to be the personal bori of the animals themselves, for they are supposed simply to bite and claw their victims as the real animals would do—though no marks need be visible, for the gnawing and tearing might be internal. The idea is seen in the case of the boy which the donkey bori caused to roll upon the ground. If this is so, it is more easy to understand the connexion between the totem and the bori (as Salah put it), for, according as the bori of the animal was pleased or offended, so would the totem animal itself treat its worshippers well or ill. The same would apply to the bird bori mentioned later, and to the tree bori which We have already examined. I was told that at one time many more animals were represented at the dance than there are now, and, as has been seen in the initiation rites of the Fittan Fura, instruction in the bori dances was given during the time that the children were being taught how to approach their totems.
