VOMITING AS A RELIGIOUS RITE. In the celebra tion of the festival of first-fruits among the Creek Indians of North America, vomiting appears as a rite of purifica tion. In order to purge their sinful bodies, the men drank a bitter decoction of button-snake root which caused vomiting. The same practice is still observed by the Yuchi Indians of Oklahoma. The rite is supposed to have been instituted by the Sun. " He taught the Indians to steep the button-snake root and the red root in water and to drink the decoction, in order that they might vomit and so purify their bodies against sickness during the ensuing year. They think that if they did not thus purge themselves before eating the new corn, they would fall sick. The chief of the town is charged with the solemn duty of preparing the nauseous concoction, and he is assisted by four boys who have been initiated into the mysteries. The pots containing the stuff are decorated on the rim with a pattern representing the sun, and they stand east of the fire near the middle of the public square. The order of drinking is regulated by the rank of the drinkers. . . . When they feel the
inward workings of the draught, they step out of the square and discharge the contents of their stomachs in a place set apart for the purpose " (J. G. Frazer, Spirits of the Corn, 1912). At a public religious ceremony (agri cultural) in Santo Domingo, West Indies, the partici pants, in order to attain a condition of ceremonial purity, made themselves vomit by thrusting sticks down their throats. Afterwards " bread was offered to the idol and then distributed by the priests among those present, who took it home and carefully preserved it until the next year as a powerful amulet against fire and hurri canes " (T. A. Joyce, C.A.TV.I.A.). Originally at least, those present would seem to have eaten some of the bread. This would account for the purification of the body by vomiting.
VOR. One of the deities of the Ancient Teutons. The goddess Von, who belonged to the retinue of Frija (q.v.) and Freyja (q.v.), is represented as a goddess of vows and oaths.