I860.] Religion &c. among the Karens. 197 



Some G-erman critics say, that " Psyche, in Homer, signifies only the 

 breath and the life ; never, as in the language of later times, the spirit 

 or soul. Yet it goes to Hades and continues to live there." There is 

 something like Psyche, as thus defined, in Karen Psychology ; yet in 

 many points more like the genius of the Latins ; but differing as it 

 does from both, it will be better in this paper to designate it by its 

 native name ; and explain it by its attributes. The Pwas call it La, 

 the Bghais Lai, the Sgaus Ka-la, and the Eed Karens Yo. 



This La, existed before man was born, comes into the world with 

 him, remains with him until death, lives after death, and for aught 

 that appears to the contrary, is immortal. Yet no moral qualites are 

 predicated of it. It is neither good nor bad, but is merely that which 

 gives life to mortality. 



The Las of a part of the dead remain on earth and become mischiev- 

 ous spirits ; others go to Hades, where they are employed as on earth ; 

 others go to hell, where they suffer punishment ; while others go to 

 the Deva heavens, where they enjoy happiness. 



Although in this state, the La and the man himself, the Ego, are 

 said to be distinct ; yet in nearly all the representations of the future 

 state, the man seems to be absorbed in the La ; and inconsistent as it 

 is with previous representations, it then appears equivalent to the soul. 



Sometimes it is spoken of as the man, before being united with the 

 body. Thus a Bghai writes : 



" The elders say : ' The Grod of the whole human race resides at 

 the foot of the sun, at the foot of the moon ; and people who are born 

 are sent by God, and people who die are called back by Gfod.' 



" Men at the beginning are in the presence of God, and he sends 

 them forth ; but before sending them, he tries their courage. He 

 takes a sword and lays it across an abyss as a bridge, with the edge 

 uppermost, and orders them to walk over it. Those who dare to 

 walk across it, are bold ; and God sends them into the world men. 

 Those who, after being urged two or three times, dare not go, God 

 sends into the world women. 



" When Grod sends them forth, he gives commands in relation to the 

 times and the seasons of their return. It is related that a prophet, or 

 necromancer, looking into the world of spirits, on one occasion saw 

 seven men and two women coming into the world, and he heard them 

 talking with each other. The first man said, ' God has ordered me to 



