The subjects of this study comprise a tribe, or, more properly, a confederation of approximately fifty or so tribes, dwelling in a limited area between the Cree tribe of Canada and the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico.  Little is known with any certainty of their origin, though tradition holds that they came from somewhere to the east. According to the Nacirema tribal mythology, their nation was originated by a culture hero, Geowahs, from whom all claim to be descended. He is otherwise known for two great feats of strength -- the throwing of a metal trading token across their Sacred River, and the chopping down of a Sacred Tree in which the Spirit of Truth resided.
        The Nacirema culture is characterized by a highly developed market economy, presided over by two powerful totem animals, the Bull and the Bear.  From the notes which have come down to us it appears that one of their economic rituals involves the eating of dogs in order magically to generate an increase in income.  Many pride themselves on the cutting of throats in the name of their totem animals, contributing to what they call "the lifeblood of the nation."
           Almost all members of these tribes partake daily of a ritual meal, consisting of the mangled embryos of unborn birds, burned in a sacrificial vessel. This is accompanied by burned strips cut from the underbellies of certain animals which are otherwise considered unclean and untouchable. They also prepare a paste of the crushed seeds of a species of grasses, which they burn lightly, and burn again, then smearing it with fat rendered from soured milk. This ritual feast is frequently accompanied by a libation of a chemically prepared liquid in which some species of burned bean has been steeped to extract its magical properties.
        While much of the people's time is devoted to economic activity, a large part of the fruits of these labors and a considerable portion of the day are devoted to ritual activity. The prime focus of this activity is the human body, the appearance and health of which loom as a dominant concern. While such concern is certainly not unusual, its ceremonial aspects and associated philosophy are unique.
           The fundamental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly, and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. Incarcerated in such a body, Man's only hope is to avert these characteristics through the use of ritual and ceremony. Every household has one or more shrines devoted to this purpose. The more powerful individuals in the society have several shrines in their homes, and, in fact, the opulence of a house is often referred to in terms of the number of such ritual centers it possesses. While each family has at least one shrine, the rituals associated with it are not family ceremonies, but are private and secret. The focal point of the shrine is a box or chest which is built into the wall. In this chest are kept the many charms and magical potions without which the native believes he could not live. Beneath the charm-box is a small font. Each day every member of the family, in succession, enters the shrine room, bows his head before the charm-box, mingles different sorts of holy water in the font, and proceeds with a rite of ablution. An important part of this ritual consists of thrusting into the mouth a magical wand tipped with boar's bristles, natural or artificial, and moving it in a series of mystical movements which are thought to dispel the influence of evil spirits and prevent their entering the body through the mouth.
           The Nacirema people have an almost pathological horror of and fascination with the mouth, the condition of which is believed to have a supernatural influence upon all social and societal relationships. Were it not for the rituals of the mouth, they believe that their teeth would fall out, their gums bleed, their jaws shrink, their friends desert them, and their lovers reject them.
          In addition to the private mouth rites, the Nacirema seek out a Holy-Mouth-Man once or twice a year. These practitioners have an impressive array of paraphernalia, consisting of a variety of augers, awls, probes, and prods. The use of these objects in the exorcism of devils involves almost unbelievable ritual torture, including the application of magical materials to the teeth in hopes of further protecting the client from the diabolical influences of evil spirits, and of attracting members of the opposite sex.
           Besides the Holy-Mouth-Men, the Nacirema also regularly consult tribal Shamans or Medicine Men. These Medicine Men occupy a very high position of both power and influence in the society, and their opinions often supersede tribal law. In exchange for astoundingly large sums, they bestow upon their followers magical charms or talismans, inscribed upon slips of consecrated paper in an arcane magical language intelligible only to the Medicine Man himself, or to the herbalist who follows the instructions of the Medicine Man.
           Protected from the malignant influences of demons by his magic talisman, his spirit strengthened by his ritual mouth torture, the Nacirema then returns to his daily economic rituals.