The Covenant of Salt / As Based on the Significance and Symbolism of Salt in Primitive Thought

d as in some sense interchangeable in their natures, qualities, and uses. And in this, as in ma

tist, writing of his travels in eastern Equatorial Africa, tells of the habit of the Masai people of drinking the warm blood fresh from the bullocks they kill; and this he characteriz

satisfy the natural craving for salt, while vegetable diet without salt caused indigestion.[36] In portions of China, also, where salt is not o

every period, in every part of the world, and in every climate, there are people who use salt as well as those who do not. The people who take salt, though differing

ferent naturalists who have lived among flesh-eaters in various parts of northern Russia and Siberia. The Samoyedes, when dining off reindeer flesh, dip every mouthful in blood before eatin

cription of the Talmud, for the purpose of absorbing the blood not drawn out from the main bloodvessels. At the close of two hours from the slaughtering, the meat is washed for cooking. Whatever

s employed by a scientist, it is not to be wondered at that they are confused by those who fail to no

ld; among these the one best known and most widely used and valued is sodium chloride, or what is popularly known as "

n the tears, and in the perspiration, of mankind. Later scientific experiments have confirmed ancient and traditi

cal and surgical direction it is now customary in the hospitals to keep on hand a warm solution of salt to inject into the veins or tissues of persons brought in sinking from a sudden loss of blood. Whatev

recent experiments have shown that a saline solution is even safer and more efficacious than the warm blood from another life; now, therefore, this has largely taken the place of blood in supplying the waste occasioned by severe hem

immediate ancestor, and that Toutug, or Toumuk, a grandson of Japheth, discovered salt as an article of diet by accidentally dropping a morsel of food on to salt ea

for their color and vitality on the presence of salt, and recent scientific experim

ger. The blood first loses inorganic material, then the organs. The total loss is very small in proportion to the quantity still retained in the body; but it is sufficient to cause the death of a pigeon in three weeks, and of a dog in six, with marke

untains, and was besieged by the Turks, the latter failing to subdue the former by ot

blood, "the chief of which is common culinary salt, ... is the cause of the red color, of the fluidity, and of the stimulating property, of the vital current." Dr. Stevens claimed

es the wound to the very bottom; he then stuffs it with common salt, and after this it soon heals, without producing any effect on the general system.'" In view of the fact that it might be objected that the salt is not the essential means of cure, but is an addition to the curative treatment,

re the condition of the blood seems to be a main source of evil. Aside from the question whether the claims of Dr. Stevens have been substantiated by later researches and experiments, his

ts blood, stood all by itself in the history of medicine, it would have less importance than it has in a formal treatise of this kind; yet even then it would s

e to salt as a cure of leprosy,[48] whereas blood transfusion and blood bathing was the traditional treatment of that disorder.[49] Pliny also speaks of salt itself, and of salt fish in large quantities, as a suppose

"the vital importance of common salt for our whole physical and social life." He claims that of all the constituents of our life's blood "there is none which can possibly surpass common salt in

ther opium or alcohol. This claim is based on the idea that a lack of salt by the common people of India tends to a deterioration of blood and consequent loss of life. Asiatic cholera is said to be promoted by the lack of salt in

a sense interchangeable, while the more careful observers in the world of science have rather grown toward this t

uivalent of blood, and the original and the substitute being sometimes employed together as if to intensify the symbolism. Stanley tells

e stepped over by the guest, as a mode of adoption, or of covenant-making.[56] When such a guest comes unexpectedly, and there is not time to obtain an animal for the welcom

as been thus sacrificed. More frequently it is a lamb that is the sacrifice. If there is no lamb available, a fowl or a pigeon is thus offered. The essential factor in every case is the blood, the life, outpoured. If, however, no actual blood i

blood covenant' so far as I know. The custom is, if two persons are desirous to become firm friends or brothers they drink together sa

of union, is still recognized and practised,[58] the covenant of salt is also well known, not only as between new comers who are to enter into a mutual alliance, but as bringing into union friends who would be as one.

ance of fidelity from the shaykh, "he immediately drew his sword," says Sir Frederick, "placed some salt upon the blade, and then put a portion of it into his mouth, and desired me to do the same; and 'Now, cousin,' said he, 'your life is as sacred as my own;' or, as he expressed

ment of Ennius[61] to "salsus sanguis" (salted blood, or briny blood). It would seem that as the Jews held that the blood is the li

Among these the Elkesaites and the Ebionites employed bread and salt instead of bread and wine.

n this connection, that the very words, in Latin, for sal

blood is used for salt among some primitive peoples as an essential accompaniment of food. These facts b