Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-10-02
AMONG THE MITES.
Cnriees HHs.er,titseas and iseisefs g.,s,,oz
Among The satiyes Of Ala.l.n.

Cnfiees snsetsiitseas aHd ise,.efs g~,s.ioD
Among The satiyes Of Alaslsa.
a belief IN the presence Of evil spirit,
constitutes the esly religious idea
among the Mites. There arc aycong
them Individuals called toonrachs eor,
responding to the shamau Of fhe sibe-
ran tribes If a person Il sick before
the whaling season commences. or a
chic g bora before go.ag on a joErney
or building a hoHse, the services IF ff,e
saaman u called into rcqnisition. Tho
lnodus oprrahdi in every ease Is SINH
AR The slaman. afler long spell Of
siiencc, suddenly begins to roll his
eyes, conYdsiVe shakes preyaGe his
frame, and he gives utterance to yari-
Gus groans and signs iuteiInineled with
sentences pertaining to the subject
upon which he is engaged. During Cha
time OF his performance continuous
beating upon drum is kept IN.
Toward the end paroxysms, or rather
commissions Of cxuitafion similar e.
what have been described as PREVAILING
at the lnalc of shaker fneetjng are
exhibited by the shanan. Fr0tI,
exudes from his mouth. bis eyes glare
and ioll, and his whole frame Is cor
toltcd. Precipitation pours from hi.
face, ard be is entirely exhausted. The
loud invocationg to the evil spirits Ia,
yaeate the body Of 6he sick person or to
drive them away from the sen to ena-
bic the whales or seals n arrive. be-
come gradually subdued. diving away
INTO incoherent mutterings. Then
after awhile he regains his composure,
complacently smokes bis pipe, and re-
ceiyes his pay for services performed.
If the operation is performed over a
sick person and recovery does not Gu
sue the payment made is returned, a
custom that might be adyantaeeously
adopted among civilized persons.
Some curious superstitions are also
to be noted. If a person is sick, iron
tools, such as axes or knives, can not
De used in the house. Upon a man :
grave his sled Is placed, but broken 10
pieces, and his kyack meets similar
usage. Furs, spears and rifles are also
deposited, while if the individual has
killed many whales the long iawbones
Of the hslaeia are placed in an upright
position to mark the spot. Those peo-
pie bury their dead upon the ground.
raising number Of pieces Of driftwood
in the shape of tent over the remains.
Owing to this insecure mode Of burial
the wood soon falls down and affords
entrances to foxes and dogs, which
make havoc with the body. But Eule
regard is paid TO the burial places.
although these Mates are very much
incenacd Whenever attempts are made
to take away any skulls or bones from
7 the grayeyards They also make q
long detour in passing the resting place
of the dead. and viii on no account
touch any thing once deposited at a
burial.
4 woman's grave has her clothing,
sewing gear and various household
utensils placed upon it, One Of She
most peculiar acts I heard Of took place
in the month of May, during tho
whaling season. at Point Hope !
woman died and her body was carried
out to the edge Of rh- ice. T6ree oil
women cut her heart out. wrapped it IN
covering Of seal iatestincs and threw
! it into the sea through hole in the doe
This was done IN order to bring good
luck to the catch.-Aias5G Cor. Sz'
4 Francisco Chronicle.