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Return to *History 8 Human Origins from Bone From a Dry Sea

11. importance of ritual challenge

Ritual challenge for Li's tribe is usually non-violent, almost never resulting in injury or death; "Greb shot vertically out of the water"(1). This is important because there are not many members of the tribe, making each member vital to the tribes survival. Encyclopedia Britannica defines ritual as "a specific, observable mode of behaviour exhibited by all known societies. It is thus possible to view ritual as a way of defining or describing humans"(1). The ritual of challenging a leader therefore designates Li's tribe as a society, but as as human.

12. consequences of not following ritual and customs

When ritual is not followed, serious events occur as a result. When "Greb wrestled him[Presh] down"(1). This action resulted in Presh breaking his foot. Soon after, the tribe expels Greb because he did not follow ritual. The leadership ritual had been followed for a very long time, and the tribe was not able to accept this change.

Lexie Farnell

Sources:

(1) A Bone From a Dry Sea by Peter Dickinson

(2) Encyclopedia Brittanica: http://www.britannica.com/topic/ritual