NO. 6 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I914 



79 



The first reason given by Wa-thu-xa-ge for refusing to recite the 

 rituals and to sing the songs is, that he feared to make mistakes which 

 would expose him and his family to punishment through super- 



Fig. 77. — Wa-thu-xa-ge of the Tgi-zhu Wa-shta-ge, a peacemaking gens. 



natural means ; second, that the man who introduced the new religion, 

 above referred to, forbade those who took up the new faith to give 

 any further thought to the ancient rites, which he told them were the 

 inventions of Ts'a-to n -ga, the Great Serpent, to lead the people 



