Gabb.] SUb [Aug. 20, 



and yet their priests give him twenty names, in their songs. Tliese 

 names, so far as I could ascertain, all refer to his qualities. One Bri-bri, 

 whom I had with me as a servant for over half a year, and from whom I ob- 

 tained much valuable information, particularly in regard to the language, 

 said to me, "Why do you foreigners ask us how many Grods there are ? 

 There is only one, and that is Si-hu'." 



The Devil, or devils, are minor personages, who receive no worship of 

 any kind. They are called, Bi, by the Bri-bris and Cabecars, Au in 

 Tiribi, AuJi in Terraba, and Ka-gro' in Boruca. The devil is generally 

 malevolent, but does not seem to be specially feared. Bi amoDg the Bri- 

 bris is a term also used for a variety of lesser devils, or evil spirits who 

 have special missions, like making peojple sick, &c. Some of these in- 

 habit the less frequented parts of the forests and mountains, and are 

 very jealous of their domains. Peoijle entering an unfrequented region, 

 make as little noise as possible. If they make the local Bi angry with 

 their noise, he will revenge himself by a shower or by causing somebody 

 to fall and hurt himself, or to be bitten by a snake, &c. A person who 

 has once been in these places can return with less risk, but all new-comers 

 must keep at least a comparative silence. Another class of beings inhabit 

 the rocks on the summits of certain mountain peaks. They live inside 

 the rocks, not among them, consequently their habitations are undis- 

 tinguishable to mortal eyes. They seem to have the same habits as 

 ordinary humans. One of these peaks, a mile or two across a caiion, in 

 front of a place called Sar-we, is thus inhabited according to the accounts 

 of the people of Sar-we. They told me of hearing singing, the beating 

 of drums, &c., coming from that direction. The configuration of the 

 hills is such that a glance showed me, that a drum beaten at certain of 

 the houses in the canon of Uren, would echo back from this hill to Sar-we 

 and thus account for the sounds. These people of the TT-jums, as the 

 naked peaks are called, are said to be the owners of the tapii-s whicli 

 I'oam through these solitudes. They are very jealous of their domains 

 and cause, by some occult means, the death of any one who dares ap- 

 proach their homes. I could not induce an Indian to accompany us to 

 the summit of Pico Blanco, partly on account of iu-ku-ru', and perhaps 

 more still for fear of the people of the JJ-juvi or peak. In addition to 

 these beliefs, they also believe in the efficacy of incantation by their Awas 

 or doctors, of whom more immediately ; and further in certain ceremo- 

 nies or observances of their own. I have seen a woman carefully collect 

 a bunch of some weed and taking it to the river wash her face, nock, 

 breast, and arms with it. This was to bring good luck to the men who 

 were at the time at work turning a stream to dry its bed, for the purpose 

 of catching fish. She had her reward ; hundreds of fish of 2 to 4 pounds 

 weight were captured, and of a quality as fine as shad. 



There is a peculiar wood, of which I shall have occasion to speak 

 further on, used only for walking sticks for the chiefs and more eminent 

 persons. The growing tree is unknown and it is only obtained by the 



