448 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



behind him m the tshum and whispered the words in his ear. He 

 also informed us that, by his own art, or by the grace bestowed 

 upon him, which even his conversion to Christianity could not 

 weaken, he could reveal what was hidden, find what was stolen, 

 recognize diseases, prophesy the death or recovery of the sick, see 

 and banish the ghosts of the dead, work much evil, and prevent 

 much evil, but that he did nothing but good, because he feared the 

 gods; he gave us a clear and detailed, if not quite correct picture 

 of the religion of the Ostiaks and Samoyedes; he assured us that 

 all his people, as well as the Ostiaks, came to him in their troubles 

 to ask advice, or to have the future unveiled, and that they did not 

 doubt, but trusted in him and believed him. 



The last statement is not correct. The great mass of the people 

 may regard the shaman as a wise man, perhaps even as an inter- 

 mediary between men and the gods, and possibly as the possessor 

 of mysterious power; but many believe his words and works as 

 little as other races do those of their priests. The real faith of the 

 people is simpler and more child-like than the shaman approves of. 

 It is here tis elsewhere; the priest, or whoever acts as such, peoples 

 heaven with gods, and councillors and servants of the gods, but the 

 people know nothing of this celestial court. 



According to the belief of the people there is enthroned in 

 heaven Ohrt, whose name signifies " the end of the world". He 

 is an all-powerful spirit, who rules over everything but Death, and 

 he is benevolently inclined towards men. He is the giver of all 

 good, the bestower of reindeer, fish, and furred animals, the pre- 

 venter of evil, and the avenger of lies, severe only when promises 

 made to him are not fulfilled. Feasts are held in his honour, 

 sacrifices and prayers are offered to him; the suppliant who pros- 

 trates himself before a sacred symbol thinks of him. The symbol, 

 called a longch, may be of carved wood, a bundle of cloth, a stone, 

 a skin, or anything else: it possesses no powers, affords no protec- 

 tion, it is in no sense a fetish! People assemble before a longch, 

 place it in front of the tshum, lay dishes of fish, reindeer flesh, or 

 other oflfering before it, place valuables before it, or even pack 

 them inside it; but they always look up to heaven, and both 



