50 
No. XXX.—[RELIGION, FETISHES, 8c c. 
By E. B. TYLQB, Esq., F.R.S. 
It is often a matter of difficulty to obtain precise information 
as to the religion of an uncivilized people, who conceal their 
doctrines for fear of ridicule, and will purposely put the 
inquirer off the track. After long and friendly intercourse, 
however, a clue may generally be obtained; and when some¬ 
thing is known, it serves as a means of raising further ques¬ 
tions. It is especially desirable to watch for religious cere¬ 
monies, such as prayer, sacrifice, festivals, &c., as the native 
religion may be more easily learnt from the explanations of 
these acts, than by an attempt to obtain answers to questions 
on abstract doctrine. It is now difficult to find any religion 
which has not borrowed ideas from the civilized world; all 
that can be done is to ascertain, so far as possible, whether 
these have been introduced within the memory of the relater. 
Information should be obtained from as many sources as 
possible, so that the peculiarities of individuals should not be 
mistaken for the general doctrine of the nation. The accounts 
of missionaries are of the greatest value; but the impartial 
inquirer should be careful not to be led away by their descrip¬ 
tions of heathen deities as “ devils,” and their tendency in 
other matters to view native religions as essentially products 
of imposture and wickedness, instead of representative stages 
of theological and moral development in the course of civiliza¬ 
tion. 
There is great difficulty in determining how far religions 
exercise a moral influence over the ordinary lives of believers. 
In many religions, the moral element seems hardly to enter at 
all; in others the strict performance of ceremonies seems held 
to atone for selfish and wicked lives; a fair way of classing 
religions as high and low is according to how far they incul¬ 
cate morals, promise divine favour to the just and good, and 
threaten divine punishment against evildoers. The influence 
of each religion on morals in every nation demands careful 
and unprejudiced observation. 
Souls. —1. Is something of the nature of a human soul be¬ 
lieved in? 2. What is its name? is it associated with the 
breath, shadow, &c. P 3. Does it depart when the body 
dies ? 4. Does it go away from the body in sleep, trance, &c. ? 
5. Are any ceremonies performed to bring back the soul when 
