But the ceremonial eating of the domestic animal, which was the tie subsequently uniting the members of the tribe, [154] cannot be satisfactorily explained except on the hypothesis that it was evolved from the customary eating of the totem-animal.

Primitive savages would only feel affection towards the animals which they ate, just as the affection of animals is gained by feeding them.

The objection might be made that savages could not feel affection and kinship for an animal which they killed and ate, but no doubt exists that they do.
"In British Columbia, when the fishing season commenced and the fish began coming up the rivers, the Indians used to meet them and speak to them.

They paid court to them and would address them thus: 'You fish, you fish; you are all chiefs, you are; you are all chiefs.' Among the Northas when a bear is killed, it is dressed in a bonnet, covered with fine down, and solemnly invited to the chiefs presence." [155] And there are many other instances.

[156] Savages had no clear realisation of death, and they did not think that the life of the animal was extinguished but that it passed to them with the flesh.