ABSTRACT
Thenationsunderconsiderationknownoother worshipthanthemagicalrites,nopriestsbuttheir sorcerers.TheUgricandAltaictribeshavetheir Shamans;'theMongols,withtheBuddhistLamas, keepthepriestsofmagicfromtheirancientworship, whichtheycallabysses.'AsIsaidbefore,these magicians,whotaketheplaceofthepriests,are atoncediviners,exorcists,andphysicians,thaumaturges,andfabricatorsofamulets.Theydonot performthefunctionsofaministerofworshipas apermanentandsettledthing."Theyareonly calleduponincasesofnecessity,"saysM.Maury,3 "buttheyexercise,nonetheless,aconsiderable poweroverthenationswhomtheygovernassacred ministers.Theirpower,particularlytheirresentment,ismuchfeared,whiletheirknowledgeisas blindlytrusted.Theseenchantershave,asarule, somethingintheirlookandattitudethatinspires fearandactsupontheimagination.Thisresultsno doubtfromthecarewhichtheytaketogivetotheir physiognomyanimposingorsavagelook,butthis particularexpressionisperhapsstillmoreoftenthe effectoftheover-excitedstateinwhichtheyarekept bytheritestowhichtheyhaverecourse;theymake useofvariousstimulantstoexcitetheirfaculties andproduceanartificalmuscularforce,andto causehallucinations,convulsions,anddreams,which theyconsidertobeadivineenthusiasm,fortheyare
thedupesoftheirowndelirium;butevenifthey perceivetheworthlessnessoftheirpredictions,they stillallthesameclaimtobebelieved."
