PLATE LII.
A SCHAMAN OF KAMTSHATKA.
P R E V I O U S to the introduction of the Greek church by the Russians,
all the inhabitants of Kamtshatka professed Schamanism. This Plate
exhibits one of those idolatrous priests, in the most grotesque dress.
These people, however, were not very religious, and paid but little.
respect to their own tenets, or veneration to a Supreme Being. This
want of any religious sense, as well as their constant desire of imitating
^vhatever they saw, were the two prominent causes of their so soon
becoming Christians; but they are consequently as bad Christians as
they M-ere Pagans. They neither love, nor fear, God. The idea of a
Providence is to them absurd, as all their perceptions are extremely
sensual; and they would rather die than not have that sensuahty
gratified. Polygamy is allowed ; and they have little or no ceremony
of marriage.
Before this slight account of this nation is concluded, it may
be as well to mention the hot springs and lakes, which are
found in this peninsula ; as they were omitted in the description to
Plate XLVIII. Opalski or Osernoi arc the most remarkable; they
occupy a valley about fifteen miles south of the village called Yavinsk,
and are surrounded by mountains; at the foot of one of which is the
largest hot spring; the circumference of it is about six fathoms, and
it boils up to a considerable height, and to such an excess, that a piece
of meat is soon boiled. The centre of it is like a large caldron, while
all round it bubbles rise up between large stones, it divides into two
streams, which run into Lake Osernoi. There are also several hotwater
lakes, some of tliem a hundred fathoms long and seven wide;
they are shallow, and only warm towards the bank; but m general
much hotter in the middle, and very deep. At one place there is a hot
and cold spring so close to each other, that a man might set a foot in
cach at the same time.
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