KAMCHATKA. 



261 



have long since been converted to the Greek Church, but it is supposed that bap- 

 tism has not fully effaced all traces of Shamanism. Formerly they had many 

 gods, the chief of whom was Kutka, the creator of heaven and earth. But far 

 from honoring Kutka, they continually ridiculed him, and made him the con- 

 stant butt of their satire. Kutka, however, had a wife, Chachy, who was en- 

 dowed with all the intelligence in which her spouse was supposed to be defi- 

 cient, and who, as is the case in many mortal housekeepings, was constantly ex- 

 erting her ingenuity in repairing the blunders of her lord and master. 



I 



