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Written by (anonymous)
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Saturday, 21 December 2002 |
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Page 3 of 4
ETHNOBOTANICAL DATA:
B. manicus has been mentioned in several popular books on psychoactive plants (Emboden 1972; 1979; Schultes & Hofmann 1979; 1992; Ott 1993; 1996; Rätsch 1998). The Kuma name for this mushroom, nonda gegwants ngimbigl or nonda gegwants nyimbil, means literally “left-handed penis” because of the shape of the stem which to the Kuma evidently is reminiscent of a man's penis (Reay 1977:67-68) The Kuma also believed that this mushroom must be picked with the left hand (Reay 1977:68).
B. manicus is one of six mushroom species considered to be responsible for komugl taï and ndaadl among the Kuma (Heim 1972:171). Komugl taï is “...the condition of persons allegedly affected by mushrooms... [and] signifies a 'shivering madness'” (Reay 1977:55). The term also refers to a 1949 cargo cult that the Kuma participated in (Reay 1977:55). In Yu Wi (Yoowi), the language of the Kuma, Komugl means “ear” and also “deafness” (Reay 1977:55; Heim & Wasson 1965:15). In other areas of Papua New Guinea where outbreaks of temporary madness also occur, the local term for the state of madness also often indicates “deafness” (Clarke 1973:199). Among the Kuma, the term komugl covers any kind of inability to comprehend, including permanent and temporary madness (Reay 1977:55; Heim &smp; Wasson 1965:15). Komugl is directly translatable into Tok Pisin (Pidgin) as “longlong” (“mad” or “madness”) (Reay 1977:55). Taï is the Kuma formal name for the Raggiana Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea raggiana). However, in the context of the cargo cult and “mushroom madness”, taï means “shivering” (Reay 1977:56). This is suggested to be based on the male Raggiana bird shivering to display his plumes (Heim & Wasson 1965:15; Reay 1977:56). Komugl taï then literally means “shivering deafness” in Yu Wi (Yoowi).
Ndaadl (daad) is the term for the condition of Kuma women during komugl taï and is also the name of the dance performed by the women (Reay 1960:139). Kuma women did not usually eat B. manicus (Reay 1977:67). B. manicus, however, could affect both men and women in the same way. In 1965 Reay (1977:67-68) observed a woman who was said to have eaten nonda gegwants nyimbil (B. manicus). This woman became aggressive like men affected by komugl taï and seized a spear and ran around threatening other women (Reay 1977:67-68).
CHEMISTRY AND ACTIVITY:
B. manicus has been reported to contain indolic substances (Heim 1965; 1972; 1978; Ott 1993:422; Rätsch 1998:688). Albert Hofmann detected trace amounts of three indolic substances in B. manicus (Heim 1965; 1978; Ott 1993:298&422; 1999). Heim (1972:173) has suggested that these indolic substances “...could be psychotropic”. As a result, Heim conducted three bioassays with B. manicus (Heim 1965; 1972; 1978). Three trials with “weak doses” (less than 60 mg (Ott 1993:298)) of B. manicus were attempted by Heim, who suggested that “...the amounts were insufficient to make any definite deductions” (Heim 1972:173). However, in the second trial, the ingestion of a powder made by crushing the flesh of B. manicus was followed by “...the appearance of several luminous, fleeting visions during the course of a dream” (Heim 1972:173; vide Heim 1965; 1978).
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