Pagan Beliefs and Customs. Description of the Yakutian Custom of Sacrifice

G.F. Mueller, translated and published by A.Ch. Elert

A significant place in the expedition notes of G. F. Mueller is given to the characteristic of the religious culture of the Siberian aboriginals, their world views. The traveler’s notes represent the following materials in the most profound manner: deities and spirits, their influence over people’s fate; shamans as the intermediaries between people, deities and spirits; human and animal soul; conception of disease and death; funeral cult and the other world; totem, trade, kin, and family cults; cult of the horse; magic (for medicinal, amorous and other purposes); various fortune-telling and divination.

Like many other travelers, he was especially interested in Siberian shamanism. During his journey through Siberia, Mueller met dozens of shamans, was present at the sessions of their chanting and at the sacrifices performed by them. Some of the shamans he visited, others invited to town for inquiries; as a rule, they answered frankly, giving very detailed information on different aspects of shamanic world views and customs...

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