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 them a deadly sin, and even punishable with death. The homosexual relation, on the other hand, was not only harmless, but even commendable. It appears that in all the Buddhist sects in Japan, except the Shinto, celibacy is enforced upon priests, but homosexual relations are not discouraged.

In Hindu mythology, Brahm is often represented as two-sexed. Originally he was the sole Being. But, "delighting not to be alone he wished for the existence of another, and at once he became such, as male and female embraced (united). He caused this his one self to fall in twain."

A Russian traveler by the name of Dawydow writing about 1800, reported that among the Konyagas of Alaska, in the island of Kadiak, there were here men with tatooed chins, who work only as women, who live with the womankind, and like the latter, have husbands, and not infrequently even two. These inverts were called Achnutschiks. They were held in the highest regard in the community, and were generally considered wizards. The native who possessed an Achnutschik, instead of a female wife, was envied. When the parents regarded their son as effeminate in appearance or bearing they often dedicated him in early childhood to the vocation of an Achnutschik. In case parents were disappointed with a son when a daughter was desired, they sometimes made their new-born son an Achnutschik.

Referring to the Pelew Islanders, Frazer (Adonis, Attis and Osiris) attributed the adoption by the priests of female attire to the fact