New-York tribune., 1896-10-24
III +.

Belief in witchcraft is practically universal
among tire Thlinkets az II has been driven
from the minds of some by the missionaries
teachings The iEcarnate centre OF that creed is
the shaman an uncanny and uncomfortable
creature. rather more akin to the South African
witch doctor than TO the American Indian me1i-
cine man. He has. II is true lost much Of his
Od-time prestige, but Is still highly important
parsonage He is called upon in cases of Ill
ness. to exercise the evil spirits. Like thrifty
oueck he requires pay In advance, but with the
proyIso that he Is to return 1t II he does not
the patient. Not only that, but If the patient
dies the shaman is held accountable, a con-
dition every true quack will deem outrageous.
The shaman is not, however. TO be caught nap
ping. The moment his patient dies. or IL evil
IDENTIFY dying. he turns upon some third person
and accuses him Of having exercised evil
spell. The latter Is thereupon seized and put to
torture. sometimes to death, while the shaman.
Of course. goes free.
The shaman is required TO undergo many
dreadful ordcals to spend much time in fasting.
TO confine himself to certain kinds of food. and
in general to lead most forlorn existence. At
his death his body Is not burned are those of
other Thlinkets. The belief is that II cannot be
burned. 1t is instead placed in hut. or cabin,
with elaborate ceremonies. and the spot is
thereafter regarded as sacred 1t Is interesting
by-the-way. TO observe that the shamans body
is placed in the hut in exactly the attitude adopt
ed by the Aztecs for their dead, namely in a
sitting posture, with the knees drawn up almost
to the chin.
Burial is now 10 some extent supplantng
cremation among the Thlinkets, through the eff
forts Of the missionaries. who, for some curious
reason, teach that 1t Is un-Christian. They may
properly enough object TO the reasons for crema-
ton as n-Christian. The Thlnkets believe in
the Immortality Of the soul entirely independ
emily Of the body. but they believe also that
the future state of the soul depends largely upon
the way in which the body that is, the dead
body. is treated Burning is practised. therefore.
to insure the warmth and comfort of the soul
in the next world; and for similar reason. food,
drink, clothing and weapons are given to the
dead This feature Of Thlinket faith Is set forth
most graphically by the authors In the narra-
tive of one Mustak, whose soul. it is claimed.
| left his body and visited the other world for two
| DAYS. and then returned 20 relate its expert
ences:
| THE path to the river led over a steep hill
| choked with briers and devils CLUB. Without
! thick shoes and stockings ] could not have made
| my way at all Beasts OF the forest attacked me
on every side but my war paint and brave knife
| soon frightened them away. ] reached the river
and shouted with all my might A boatman
responded to my call, and in a few minutes APP
| peared and conveyed me across the stream 10
spiritland.
| In great haste set out to find my uncle To
| my surprise, ne did not seem glad to see me;
| looked at me sorrowfully. and almost thought
| reproachfully. and said:
| my nephew. what has brought you here?
| Are you hungry? Do not eat, / beg of you.
| Hurry back. as fast ever you can. TO the
| good home you have left"
| II turned my back on him. somewhat indg-
| nant. and proceeded alone to make the rounds
| Of the village. There were four rows Of houses
| found, and those longest dead lived in the
| last tier Before each row dropped a blanket
| as passed. Such misery never dreamed of.
] Spiritland is full OF unhappy ones: Each house
had Its fireplace but only those whose bodies