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PLATE XXXVL
A FEMALE SCHAMAN.
T , I E ni,merous Pagan nations, who inhabit the vast extent of the
Kussian empire, are distingnished by three distinct kinds of idolatrythose
who profess Sehanianism, those who are folloM-ers of the Lama
and those under the government of the Brahmins. The first of thesei
seets, with ,ts various branches, is by far the most numerous, as well
as the most ancient, and is in fact the foundation of the other two
and also the multitude of lesser seets, into which Paganism branches'
Among the Russian nations, however, Schamanism, from varions
causes, is now become a mass of unintelligible contradictions, idolatrous
absurdities, and the grossest superstitions. In every part of the empire,
M-here Schamanism prevails, the M-omen are regarded as an inferior
race ot beings; the men beUeve them to have been created merely for
sensual gratification, for preserving the population of the earth, and for
domestic duties; their treatment of them is eonsequentlv veiT severe
and their opinion of them made up of contempt and neglect Notwith '
standing all this, the women are admitted into the religious orders
ami become priestesses, who are as much venerated as^ the priest^
themselves, and have equal power. The people suppose, that particular
mdividuals are appointed by the Deity for this oftice, and if a new-born
clnld IS subject to cramps, convulsions, and n.any other diseases, they
consider it as peculiarly fitted for religious duties. Both the priests .nd
pncstesses are taken from the mass of the people, and are not d.stin,
guished from the rest, but by their singular mode of dress, and a more
extended acquaintance with the tenets of their religion. Thev .re
neither enjoined eehbacy nor any peculiar mode of li^ ing ; nor bavé they
a sufficient income, on which to live, without following the occupations
ot the other inhabitants. The knowledge, liowever, which even tl.-
best instructed have of their religion, is not much; it is frequently
obscure, imperfect, and contradictory. The difierent nations, where
fecliamanisin prevails, have diiferent idolatrous ceremonies; and the
Schamans, or priests, even among the same nations, sometimes differ
HI their various ceremonies. Of these ecremonies it is impossible, in a
work ot this nature, to enter into the detail.
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