210 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 
just as when a man dies his nephesh is supposed to go to 
people the unknown, but definitely apprehended, spirit-world 
which not only surrounds but pervades the present world. 
The question now naturally arises, Where do these people 
get the idea of the soul with which they believe all nature 
to be permeated? This leads up to the deepest, strongest 
origin of all belief, from which souls, spirits, ghosts in 
millions are ever rising. What are the impressions which 
are likely to be the most permanent or pregnant in those 
who possess an impressionable nature? Certainly those 
which affect them individually and definitely, such as sick- 
ness and death, hunger and thirst. Now it follows that such 
‘things as hunger and thirst, which are constantly occurring, 
do not affect the people so much as does death, which leaves 
a permanent effect; consequently the fear of nature is less 
than is the fear and horror of death and the dead. And 
here we find the origin of fetishism. The medicine-men are 
supposed to have a certain relationship with the departed ; 
and not only is it supposed that the spirits of the dead may 
animate them, but also that they may take up a more or less 
permanent abode in inanimate things, such as stocks and 
stones. All kinds of burial customs in vogue have really a 
religious origin. The thought is ever present that the soul 
does not immediately depart from the dead body; and in 
many cases we find that, owing to the belief that the spirit 
haunts the neighbourhood of a grave, votive huts are built, 
where food is offered periodically. A little higher in the 
scale, we come upon distinct evidence of the definite belief 
in a life after death filled up with active deeds. Thus, in 
Uganda and Unyoro, and in many other tribes, we find the 
belief deeply rooted that the spirits of departed kings and 
chiefs still rule the destinies of the nation, take part in its 
victories and in its defeats; and in these countries a still 
higher development has been reached, for they recognise a 
supreme Being as the creator of the universe, and lesser 
deities to whom is given the power of life and death. Soon 
after these ideas, the belief in rewards and punishments after 
death is attained; but none of these people, so far as I am 
aware, possess any idea of a Judge, who awards either praise 
