Montaigne approaches the topic of cannibals by first indicating that most people will identify things as barbarous based on the absence of use of the idea in one’s country. What makes something barbaric depends on the idea or presence of a perfect government or religion or culture. The intriguing lives of the people in the new world form the major basis of Montaigne discussion. These people reside in a pleasant and temperate land. Despite the temperate, sickness is unheard off among these people. Residing by the sea, the people have a direct and bountiful access to fish and flesh. Cooking applied involves boiling roasting and broiling. Montaigne notes that these people do not interact well with the outside world by virtue that they killed an explorer even before they had a chance to know him. Their housing (made of barks of trees) is simple yet has the capacity to hold even three hundred people. Wood is used to make cutting tools and also used to develop a grill for broiling their meat. Hanging from the roof are beds, which swing from side to side ( Montaigne et.al, 242 ).
Waking up is when the sun rises. These people indulge in only one meal at this time. During the rest of the day, they drink a liquid obtained from a particular root. The liquid has to be lukewarm. Instead of bread, they make a white compound from coriander seeds. Majority of the time during the day they dance, young men go hunting with bows and arrows while the women prepare drinks.
The only form education that is among these people involves the teachings of the old men the basic teachings involve courage to defeat their enemies and love towards their wives.
In terms of religion and beliefs, these people believe in the immortality of the soul. Those who act in favor of the gods are lodged where the sun rises. They have a priest whom they rarely see and who lives in the mountains. However, once the priests make an appearance in the village, they engage in celebrations and feasts. The priest educates them on morals, which only concern issues of courage in war and affection for their wives. Additionally, their seriousness in their religion is seen on the actions taken against any false prophets. For instance, they believe that a suitable punishment for false prophets is being cut into a thousand pieces. To the normal person this may seem as barbaric and an infringement of a person human rights (Montaigne, 486).
Approach to warfare by these cannibals is intriguing. In the war, the cannibals are naked and are armed with bows and arrows. As a sign of victory, a warrior has to bring the head of the defeated enemy. In cases where the enemy is captured, the cannibal feeds the enemy well until when he will eat the adversary as a sign of revenge and not for nourishment purposes. Even with the limited resources, as one might put it, these cannibals live more happily than most people do in other parts of the world (Cannibals, 641).
The number of wives also signifies man’s courage. The wives continue to look for more companions for their husbands as a means of showing and upholding their husbands honor. This concept in today’s world may seem archaic or vulgar to women, but it ensures that there is harmony in their lives of these cannibals.
Works Cited
De, Montaigne M, Charles Cotton, and William C. Hazlitt. Essays. Auckland: Floating Press,
1877. Internet resource.
De, Montaigne M. Michel De Montaigne - the Complete Essays. Boston: MobileReference.com,
2010. Internet resource.
Cannibals All!Applewood Books, 2008. Print.
