140 
burial, &c. ? 230. Is new fire made on special occasions ? and 
by whom and how ? 231. Is it customary to turn to the east 
or west, to sleep in this direction, or to bury corpses so? 
232. Are religious dances, pantomimes, processions in masks 
or disguise, &c., in use? 233. Are games practised with a 
religious significance ? 234. Is the installation of a chief or 
king a religious act ? 235. Is any religious ceremony used 
in treaties or alliances ? 
E. B. T. 
No. XXVIII.—MYTHOLOGY. 
The collection of mythic stories among the lower races may 
be conveniently carried on with a view to several points of 
interest. It is desirable to take them down verbatim from 
the lips of a skilled storyteller, as they thus form specimens 
of the language in its best form, exhibiting native metaphor, 
wit, and picturesque diction. They should be copied out with 
an exact translation between the lines or on the same page. 
As to the subject-matter of mythic legends, they contain the 
ideas of the people on religious subjects, names of gods, &c., 
often in more original and exact forms than those used in 
common conversation. Beal traditions of historical events 
and names often appear in them, and mentions of old arts, 
customs, and states of society, which are historical material of 
high quality ; incidental remarks in them show the moral and 
social state of the people, often with curious contrasts between 
old times and new. The episodes, jests, &c., in mythic legends 
should be particularly noticed when they correspond to those 
known in the legends or folk-lore of other races, for such 
evidence throws light on the connection or intercourse in former 
times between the two races. For this end it is especially desir¬ 
able to separate all matter which might have been borrowed 
from the religious and other traditions of the Christians, 
Moslems, Buddhists, &c., so as to leave the native mythology 
as pure and genuine as possible. It would thus be a serious 
