152 BUKKAU Ol^' AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY Ibull. 03 



BELIEF AND MORALITY 



The link between religion and morality among the Fiu^gians is ap- 

 parently, as far as our evidence goes, a weak one. Most authorities 

 blankly assert or clearly imply that no such link exists at all (cf., e. g., 

 for the Yahgans, Th. Bridges, Tc, 239; Despard, h, 698; for the Onas, 

 C. Gallardo, 324, 326). Wliat, if any, religious significance is attached 

 to their numerous taboos is uncertain in most cases from the informa- 

 tion at present available. According to some authorities (cf. supra, 

 under Future Life) the future life is happj^ or unhappy, in accordance 

 wdth moral conduct on earth, but these statements need confirmation, 

 and, further, we need detailed data as to whether future happiness and 

 unhappiness follow automatically and impersonally or as a recom- 

 pense bestowed and a retribution meted out by a pei-sonal supramun- 

 dane being. 



Attention, however, may be called to the data furnished by Ad- 

 miral Fitz-Roy and his informant, Capt. Low (cf. supra, under Supra- 

 numdane Beings). Taking the facts as related by them, we have 

 here a higher being, albeit apparently an evil one, who punishes mur- 

 der. Admiral Fitz-Roy also states (a, 179) that the Fuegians believe 

 ' ' that the evil spirit torments them in this world, if they do wrong, by 

 storms, hail, snow, &c." Perhaps, too, the fact that after the murder 

 of Capt. Fell and his party the Yahgans believed that the moon 

 turned a blood-red color may have some bearing on the point in 

 question (Grubb, 139). 



CULT 



By cult is here meant all prayei-s and rites directed to supramun- 

 dane beings. Nonmoral prohibitions, supposed to emanate from 

 such beings, are classed as negative cult. Such prohibitions? can not 

 always be clearly distinguished from moral precepts on the one hand 

 and mere taboos on the other. 



Prmjer 



The Fuegians pray little, so little, in fact, that they are frequently 

 reported not to pray at all. Traces, however, of prayer are found 

 here and there in the Fuegian sources. 



A. Alacaluf. — Yerri Yuppon was invoked in times of distress or 

 danger (Fitz-Roy, a, 190). Capt. Low on three different occasions 

 witnessed the following ceremony: After a period of faniine, food was 

 finally obtained, but before partakuig of it an old man gave each 

 native a portion, "repeatedly muttering a short prayer, and looking 

 upward;" all kept silence during this ceremony (Fitz-Roy, a, 190-191, 

 195; Darwin, a, 1871 ed., 213-214). Capt. Low, however, did not 

 speak the natives' language, so there remains some uncertainty as to 

 whether the old man's muttered words were really a prayer or not. 



B. Chonos. — No data available. 



