Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-11-15
PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PHENOMENA.
IT Is known that there are people
who, although only slightly advanc-
ed on the scale of civilization, are
in possession Of secret arts by which
they temporarily suspend the fune-
tons Of their senses and put them
selves in q position to see what is
not actually present to them The
Laps Of Scandinavia are noted for
such arts, whether deservedly OF
not. And some tribes ON the north
coast Of Asia still more so.
A Russian traveller, Mr.. hIaijus.
chin, who accompanied wraRsel on
his Attic expedition in 1920 witness
ed a weird scene in those high lat
itudes. From his minute descrip'
ton we give a few extracts:
On August 80, 1870, e576 verst-
separated US from Petersburg. was
in the most vretched city ofthe world
Werehoj4nsk, AID tried to celebrate
the birthday OF the emperor. With
nv Cossacks and a couple Of Jakuts As
guides. marched along the shore Of
Tabalog aud came at length 10 place
called the DEVILS Juria, where lot
Of Tungusians met US and would pre-
vent our progress. But we succeeded
in gaining an entrance in the Jurta
and could view the scene that was
enacted there.
In the middle Of the jurla a bright
fire blazed round which were placed
black sheep skins IN a circle on these
Shaman walked round and round
with firm steps while he muttered
some mystic words. His long black
hair covered his face and behind this
veil a pair OF g owing eyes sparkled.
His dress was a long talar Of skin,
covered with strings, amulsJs, chains.
shells, brass and iron pieces. In his
right hand he held a kind OF drum OF
rather rambourine, aud in the left, a
bow. He looked fearful. The-congre-
CATION sat quiet around him. The fire
went down gradually. It becrme dark
The Shaman threw himself on the
ground and lay there for five minute
motionless. Then he commeneed to
groan. II sounded as il different
voices were emanating from him.
After little while the fire was again
kindled. The flames circled Justify
upwards. and the Frustrated form
sprang 20 his feet. He placed one end
OF his bow on the ground and held the
other end in his hand, running round
and round with velocity that was
truly astonishing. Suddenly he
stopped and made various mystic
signs with his hands in the air. Then
he seized his drum and played it.
while he made the most curious move
menrs with his body. While perform
ing these ceremonies, the Shaman
smoked several pipes OF tobacco and
drank between each a glass Of brandy.
Again he fell motionleSs to the ground.
Two men now ran and Aourished two
large knives over his head. This
seemed TO bring him to life. He was
lifted up. His appearance was revolt
ing. His eyes were staring and his
face red. HIS whole body shivered.
Once more he commenced his circular
motion round ;he bow, but he soon
fell to the ground, and was told that
he was now prepared TO answer any
question thst might be put to him.
1 asked him questions concerning
our expedition. / was confident that
none in the whole company had the
slightest idea Of it, yet he answered
all my questions in a kind o, oracle
style, but with a certainty and ASSN
ance as il he were fully acquainted
with all its details
How long will our expedition last?r
I asked.
"MOre than three yesrs.
"Shall We accomplish anythin.?"
More than expected at home"
Shall we all remain weIl?"
"All. except yourself, and YOU will
not be sick.u
To a question about where Lieu
tenant AnjOu was, he answered: He
IS now three days journey from
BIlne, where he has saved himself
with great difficulty from a terrible
Storm"
All these answers were afterwards
in every detail. All our people
we're well during the voyage. excep:
myself. I suffered some from a cut in
finger. The Shsman also spoke of
ny intended bride aud her great blue
yes,to the wonder Of his congregation
Who had never seen any but small.
lark eyes common to the people in
hose regions
AS soon as everybody had satisfied |
lis curiosity, the Shaman recovered |
a process that seemed |
0 be accompanied by physical pain. |
he inhabitants said that the devil |
Tas now departing.
Analogous 10 The faculty of per
Giving distant things or events as if
hey were present, Is the faculty of
future events as if they
ad already happened. The posi-
ility Of this IS certainly established,
Though perhaps more difficult to
xplain. The argument against the
disability of fore-knowledge hss
cen stated already by Faustus
Ocinus, who contends that not
ven God can know anything
He admits that God
nows what is movable, but the
lture, he says, does not
Hist and can, consequently, not be
q En, since knowledge pre-sup-
oses something to be known. Leib-
itz furnishes the true answer TO
lis when in his "Theo Iicev he
Iys: SIT is as certain that the
Iture will take place as it is that
lie past has taken place. II was as
ue-a hundred years ago that
Uuld write today as ii viii be after 4
hundred years that / wregs to- t
~ \
It must be remembered that O