THE LOLOS OF KIENTOHANG, WESTERN CHINA—LEGENDRE. 579 
direct intervention of spirits as the agents of all their misfortunes 
even of sickness, but, on the other hand, there is that skepticism of 
ancient civilizations which disdains to give alms to the deities by 
prayer or to erect temples or altars, or to prostrate or humiliate 
themselves; they despise fetiches and incense. 
Every Lolo is possessed of a soul, a living and active though imma- 
terial substance, impalpable, and invisible. At the death of the one 
which it animates, what becomes of this soul? If it has broken no 
sacred law, it remains in a condition of transitory rest, not really 
unhappy, but without joy, without positive happiness. It will expire, 
on the contrary, if it has done evil or violated the precepts of the 
traditional morals of its race. J must tell you that the Lolo shows 
but little respect for his deities; it is so little even in the case of the 
good ones, from whom he has nothing to fear, that he considers them 
as mere guardians of the body, protectors or aids of the lowest order. 
Does he not say in the ritual chants preserved by the sorcerer 
priests: ‘‘May the good spirits go before you that the nail of your 
toe be not bruised! May the good spirits precede you, clearing 
obstacles, that the nail of your hand be not bruised!” Thus is 
chanted the celebration of marriage. They also add: ‘“ Protect by 
day, watch by night! May the good spirits hearken to you, that not 
one of your hairs may fall!” 
ORIGIN OF THE LOLOS—-TRADITIONS. 
Father Martin gives the following versions on the origin of the first 
Lolo: 
1. In very ancient times a man fell from the sky to the earth; he was naked. Then 
there fell another man and a woman and these two were married. The legend is silent 
as to what became of the first man. Then the the herb “‘jegu” grew, then ferns. 
Soon there were born a bear and an ape. Thus was made the human race, for the 
bear, man, and the monkey are of the same nature. 
2. Man appeared on the earth, and there were born from him the bear and the mon- 
key. The legend does not explain this reversed Darwinian theory. ; 
8. First fell a white man, then a black man, then a red man; they had no clothes, 
but dressed themselves with leaves. These men remained a certain time, then dis- 
appeared. The sky then sent a couple that brought into the world two sons who, 
deprived of wives, could naturally not have posterity. Again the earth found itself 
without a single human representative. Then there came a new man, who also died 
without posterity. A woman then appeared, a sort of harpy, who remained childless. 
Finally there fell from the sky “‘Qmou,’’ who left 10 sons and daughters, and thus 
the entire earth was peopled. 
Deluge.—‘‘When man, increasing and multiplying, had invaded the 
entire world, then burst forth the deluge. On all sides the water 
gushed forth, from mountains, rivers, clouds, and fields. Al man- 
kind died except one brother and his sister of the ancient line of Omou. 
They cut down a tree (Hloecocca vernicifera), the sap of which is 
