Final answer:
Cannibalistic practices discussed by Montaigne include endocannibalism, a respectful mourning ritual among the Wari' people, and exocannibalism, where 'foreign' individuals were not seen as human but as prey. These practices show the complexity of food rules and cultural symbolism in human societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best description of the cannibalistic practices Montaigne discusses can be found in examining certain tribal societies, such as the Wari' people of western Amazonia in Brazil. They practiced two types of cannibalism: endocannibalism and exocannibalism. Endocannibalism was part of the mourning process to honor Wari' individuals who had died. In this practice, immediate family members would not consume the body, but rather it was arranged for non-kin and relatives by marriage to prepare and eat the deceased, which was seen as the ultimate act of respect and would allow the deceased's spirit to transform and return as animals to feed the living. Conversely, exocannibalism involved consuming those perceived as 'foreign' and was not considered cannibalism by the Wari', as such individuals were not seen as fully human but rather as prey.
Cannibalism has also been evidenced in other cultures, sometimes related to warfare or expansion, and in some cases associated with respect and kinship with the deceased, which is also seen in symbolic forms in certain religions. Despite varying interpretations by scholars about the nature and frequency of cannibalism, it is clear that these practices have formed a part of human history and cultural norms across different societies.