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when the priest foretells future events,' when he declares the causes of diseases, 2 detects evildoers, or casts out evil spirits. 4

The observation that an ecstatic disposition is universally associated with priesthood draws our attention to the fact that really insane persons are also, in many cases, looked upon with superstitious awe. The notions of savages regarding lunacy show their inclination to attribute to spiritual possession such phenomena as they cannot otherwise account for. The only distinction which

30 (Siberian peoples). Livingstone, Missionary Travels, p. 87 (Makololo). Kingsley, West African Studies, pp. 145 sq. (Natives of the Gold Coast). Веніаминовъ, Записки объ островахъ Уналашкинскаго ОтдBла, i. 72 (Thlinkets). Dall, Alaska, pp. 144 sq. (Máhlemut tribe).

Lisiansky, A Voyage round the World, p. 208 (Kadiak Islanders).

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Malcolm

See Dalton, Ethnology of Bengal, pp. 213 sq. (Santals). 'Essay on the Bhills,' in Trans. Roy. As. Soc. i. 77. Hodgson, 'Kócch, Bodo and Dhimál People,' in Jour. of the As. Soc. of Bengal, xviii. 730. Forsyth, The Highlands of Central India, pp. 363 sq. (Bygas). Krohn, Suomen surun pakanallinen jumalanpalvelus, pp. 88, 90 (Siberian tribes). Cheyne, Western Pacific Ocean. p. 121 (Bornabi Islanders). Codrington, Melanesians, p. 209. Holub, Seven Years in South Africa, ii. 229 sq. (Masupia tribe). Ellis, Tshi-speaking Peoples, p. 121. Beecham, Ashantre, p. 199. Bancroft, Works, i. 707 (Chontales).

2

See Maclean, Kafir Laws and Customs, p. 81. Каратановъ, Поповъ and Потанинъ, 'Качинскіе Татары, in Извѣстія Геогр. Обш. xx, 6. p. 632 (Tartars). Emerson Tennent, Ceylon, i. 540 sq. Marco Polo, The Kingdoms and Marvels of the East, ii. 53 sq. (People of Zardandan). Alcedo, Dictionary of America and the West Indies, i. 414 (Araucanians).

3

See Shooter, Kafirs of Natal, p. 174. Holden, Past and Future of the Kaffir Races, p. 288. Rowley, The Religion of the Africans, pp. 134 sq. (Marganja tribe). Bastian, Ein Besuch in San Salvador, p. 92. 4 See Allen and Thomson, Expedition to the River Niger, ii. 213 (Edeeyahs). Radloff, Aus Sibirien, i. 377 (Tartars). Turner, 'Ethnology of the Ungava District, Hudson Bay Territory,' in Smithsonian Reports, xi. 195 sq. (Eskimos).

they make between insanity and ecstasy seems to be that the former state of mind is ascribed to a permanent, the latter to a more casual, possession by a spirit. As to insanity, however, the opinions of different peoples vary to a certain extent, but, in the main, the difference only refers to the character of the spirits that take possession of a man. Some peoples believe the insane. to be under the influence of demons, while others assume that they are inspired by good spirits.

In conformity with the latter idea great veneration is paid to the insane, who are also sometimes thought to possess the spirit of prophecy. By the modern Egyptians an idiot or a fool is usually looked upon »as a being whose mind is in heaven, while his grosser part mingles among ordinary mortals; consequently, he is considered an especial favourite of heaven. Whatever enormities a reputed saint may commit- such acts

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de not affect his fame for sanctity.» 2 Among the Arabs proper also, insanity, »if not of a very violent and dangerous nature, is commonly regarded quality that entitles the subject of it to be esteemed as a saint; being supposed to be the abstraction of the mind from wordly affairs, and its total devotion to God.» 3 The inhabitants of Mocha venerate mad people of either sex, believing them to be inspired, or actuated by a

1 Such instances are given by Riedel, De sluik- en kroesharige rassen tusschen Selebes en Papua, pp. 181, 239, 267, 305, 327, 357 sq., 394 and 452 (Peoples in the East Indian Archipelago). Marsden, The History of Sumatra, p. 191. Turner, Nineteen Years in Polynesia, p. 221 (Samoans). Codrington, 'Religious Beliefs in Melanesia,' in Jour. Anthr. Inst. x. 284 (Bank's Islanders). Fison and Howitt, Kamiraloi and Kurnai, p. 250. Reade, Savage Africa, p. 250 (Equatorial Africans). Пржевальскій, Отъ Кяхты на истоки Желтой рѣки, р. 430 (Natives of East Turkestan).

2 Lane, Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, p. 227.

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prophetic spirit, and in certain parts of South Arabia. the mentally afflicted are held as saints, anything being allowable to them. 2 Dr. Westermarck informs me that the Moors of Morocco consider idiots and madmen as being under the influence of superior powers and divinely inspired.3 In his description of the people of Minahassa in Celebes, Dr. Hickson says that »lunatics and idiots are held in high honour, as being specially favoured by the gods; and those who suffer from the many forms of hysteria and epilepsy are believed to possess the gift of prophecy.>> In Hawaii lunatics were often objects of contempt and even cruelty, but occasionally they were »treated with attention and respect, being supposed to be inspired by some god.» Among the Maoris of New Zealand insanity is stated to be almost unknown, but » any person thus afflicted is said to have the Atua (supernatural power) within him, or to have received the spirit of prophecy.» Codrington, mentioning the inhabitants of the Leper's Island, says that when a lunatic spoke, »it was not with his own voice, but with that of the dead man who possessed him; and such a man would know. where things were hidden; Thus the possession which causes madness cannot be quite distinguished from that which prophesies, and a man may pretend to be mad that he may get the reputation of being a prophet.>> Lunatics among the Indians of Guiana are regarded with great awe by the people on account of

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1 Hamilton, 'A New Account of the East Indies,' in Pinkerton, A

General Collection of Voyages and Travels, viii. 280.

2 Maltzan, Reise nach Südarabien, p. 348.

3

Cf. Lemprière, 'Tour to Morocco,' in Pinkerton, op. cit. xv. 694.

+ Hickson, A Naturalist in North Celebes, p. 259.

5 Jarves, History of the Hawaiian Islands, p. 44.

• Polack, Manners and Customs of the New Zealanders, ii. 101.

7 Codrington, Melanesians, p. 219.

the universal conviction that they stand in intimate communication with the gods, for which reason their doings and utterances are also held to imply manifestations of the gods. To the Buryats, insanity indicates a close connection with the highest beings. 2

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From the dispositions which are thought to qualify a person for priesthood we shall now turn to the initiation of a neophyte into the sacerdotal office. As a rule, candidates for the profession of a priest or wizard have to undergo a preparatory instruction which is imparted by some expert practitioner. Thus, according to Mr. Andersson, a Namaqua who wishes to make himself a witch-doctor of any importance is required to be previously instructed by one who is well versed in the mysteries of the black art. 3 To become a member of the priesthood among the Tshi-speaking peoples in West-Africa a long noviciate is necessary, during which the novices are instructed by the priests in the secrets of the craft. * And among the Yoruba-speaking peoples, seminaries for youths and girls who devote themselves to the priestly office are a regular institution. The Rev. J. Shooter tells us that the priestly aspirant among the Kafirs of Natal, after having manifested his divine inspiration, » goes to a prophet; and presenting him with a goat, seeks to be instructed in the mysteries of the profession. >> A Buryat who wishes to prepare himself for the profession of a shaman attaches himself as a pupil to one already

1

Schomburgk, Reisen in Britisch-Guiana, ii. 54.

2 Кулаковъ, "Буряты Пркутской Губерніи, in Извѣстія В.-Сиб. Отд. Геогр. Общ. xxvi, 4-5. р. 138.

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thoroughly versed in the same. 1 Similar statements are made about the Yakuts 2 and Lapps," as also concerning the Sea Dyaks. + 4 In New Zealand, »the knowledge of the priests is handed down from father to son; and the youths undergo a regular course of instruction.» 5 The Australian wizards are said to »supplement spiritual endowments with arts acquired from aged magicians.» 6 A Waraus, in Guiana, becomes a sorcerer or doctor by being instructed by some professor of that art.? Boys of the Panama Indians destined to be sorcerers are Instructed in the office. Among the Huichols a young man sometimes asks an older shaman for information, although there is no regular system of teaching." Anahuac, in ancient Mexico, there were colleges or seminaries for priestly novices. 10 In order to acquire the power of prophecy and to become able to produce supernatural manifestations, it was necessary among the Algonquian tribes to receive instruction from some one of reputed skill. "1 The Eskimo novices are trained by their older and more experienced colleagues. 12

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It is not always, however, that a preparatory instruction is necessary for becoming a priest. Although

ii. 84.

1

Шашковъ, "Шаманство, in Записки Геогр. Общ

2 Припузовъ, ’Шаманство у Якутовъ, in Извѣстія В.Сиб. Отд. Геогр. Общ. xѵ. 65.

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Ling Roth, 'Natives of Borneo,' in Jour. Anthr. Inst. xxi. 115.

5 Dieffenbach, Travels in New Zealand, ii. 119.

6 Bonwick, 'The Australian Natives,' in Jour. Anthr. Inst. xvi. 209.

7 Brett, Indian Tribes of Guiana, p. 362.

8

Bancroft, Works, i. 777.

9 Lumholtz, Unknown Mexico, ii. 236.

10 Bancroft, op. cit. ii. 201.

11 Hoffman, "The Menomini Indians,' in Smithsonian Reports, xiv. 62.

12

Astrup, Blandt Nordpolens Naboer, p. 283.

moliv, p. 240.

Nansen, Eski

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