76 



AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



arrival with his officiating implements, ordered him 

 to perform before us. Kalmuks are greatly under 

 the influence of their priests or "kaams," who are 

 supposed to live in close communion with spirits 

 whom they invoke, and through whose power they 

 receive the gift of prophecy. The invocation or 

 " Kamlanie " which we witnessed that evening", as 



KAI.MUK "YOUKT. 



we sat in a circle round the kaam, consisted of 

 the following" strange display. The priest knelt 

 down, holding" up a tambourine on which was 

 roughly carved in wood a diabolical figure, repre- 

 senting the spirit he usually invoked ; from this 

 instrument depended a quantity of coloured ribbons, 

 similar to those we saw attached to bushes and 

 odd-shaped trees. When wishful to consult a spirit 

 the Kalmuks generally attach a bit of ribbon to 



