190 



RELIGIOUS IDEAS.. 



and he afterwards proved to be acquainted with all the natives 

 met with along the coast as far north as the parallel of 47°. He 

 was always glad to see the various parties of Indians whom 

 they met, and was invariably well received by them. Per- 

 fectly acquainted with every part of the coast, he was able 

 to point out excellent harbours, as well as the best seal ' rooke- 

 ries.' Niqueaccas and the boy Bob were of the same tribe ; 

 but whenever he was spoken to about eating people, he became 

 sullen, and not a word could be obtained from him. He spoke 

 English very fairly before leaving the vessel in his own country, 

 after being with Mr. Low fourteen months. 



The people of this tribe* are by no means without ideas 

 of a superior Being. They have great faith in a good spirit, 

 whom they call Yerri Yuppon, and consider to be the author 

 of all good : him they invoke in time of distress or danger. 

 They also believe in an evil spirit, called Yaccy-ma, who 

 they think is able to do all kinds of mischief, cause bad 

 weather, famine, illness, &c. : he is supposed to be like an 

 immense black man. After being hard pressed for food, and 

 then obtaining a good quantity, much form is observed in dis- 

 tributing the first supplies. Mr. Low witnessed a ceremony of 

 this kind, during which the greatest order prevailed. The 

 whole tribe was seated round a fire, and the oldest man gave 

 each individual a share, repeatedly muttering a short prayer, 

 and looking upwards. Not one of the party, although nearly 

 Starved, attempted to touch the food, a large seal, until this 

 ceremony was ended : one share was offered to Mr. Low. At 

 another time, on Madre de Dios Island, after having been 

 detained in port upwards of three months, owing to very bad 

 weather, during which time the natives were almost famished, 

 being unable to reach the outer rocks in quest of food, Mr. 

 Low went with his boats and procured a few seals, taking an 

 Indian in each boat. At his return the carcasses of the seals 

 were sent ashore, but not one of the natives, ravenous as they 

 were, attempted to touch a morsel until all was landed, till the 



* Chonos. See page 194. 



