Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 48.djvu/235

Rh of life, filled with malignant purposes, and demanding constant worship to propitiate them. Thus the Indians of Carácas, in Venezuela, north of Brazil, while believing in good spirits, render all their worship and offer all their sacrifices to a great evil spirit, and do so because they feel that the good spirits are naturally friendly and do not require to be lured on to perform beneficent actions.

Sir John Lubbock's quotation from Ross as to the Eskimo is equally lacking in thoroughness. Here is his quotation in full: "Speaking of the Eskimo, Ross says: 'Ervick, being the senior of the first party that came on board, was judged to be the most proper person to question on the subject of religion, I directed Sacheuse to ask him if he had any knowledge of a Supreme Being; but, after trying every word used in his language to express it, he could not make him understand what he meant. It was distinctly ascertained that he did not worship the sun, moon, stars, or any image or living creature. When asked what the sun or moon was for, he said, to give light. He had no knowledge or idea how he came into being, or of a future state; but said that when he died he would be put into the ground. Having fully ascertained that he had no idea of a beneficent Supreme Being, I proceeded, through Sacheuse, to inquire if he believed in an evil spirit; but he could not be made to understand what it meant.". . ."He was positive that in this incantation he did not receive assistance from anything; nor could he be made to understand what a good or evil spirit meant.'"

This quotation, standing as it does alone, is unintentionally unfair to Ross, for Sir John Lubbock either did not notice, or has forgotten to quote, words used by Ross elsewhere with reference to the Eskimo, although such words are very important. He says: "Although there is no proof whatever that this people have any idea of a Supreme Being, or of a spirit, good or bad, the circumstance of their having conjurers, and of their going to the moon after death, are of a nature to prevent any conclusion from being drawn to that effect; especially as it must be evident that our knowledge of their language was too imperfect to obtain the whole of their ideas on the subject."

It scarcely required these honest words of Ross, written, no doubt, to prevent mistakes being made, because in the quotation as given by Sir John Lubbock nothing can be clearer than the fact that Ervick did not understand the questions put to him. "I directed Sacheuse to ask him if had any knowledge of a Supreme Being, but after trying every word used in his own language to express it, he could not make him understand that he