SHAMANISM  , the name commonly given to the

religion of the Ural-Altaic peoples . Properly speaking, however, there is nothing to distinguish Shamanism from the religions of other peoples in a similar stage of culture . On the other hand, the shaman or priest (Tungus saman, Altain Turk kama, cf . Russian kamlanie) performs duties which differ in some respects from those of the ordinary magician; one of his main functions is to protect individuals from hostile supernatural influence . He deals both with good and bad spirits; he also performs sacrifices and procures oracles . The drum (tungur) is an important instrument in his ceremonies; it may be assumed that in many cases the effect of the preliminary performances is to induce autohypnotic phenomena . The shaman's office is held to be hereditary and his chief assistants are ancestral spirits . See Radloff, Aus Sibirien, ii . ; C. de Harlez, Religion nationale des Tatares orientaux; Hiekisch, " Die Tungusen," Mitt. der anthropologischen Gesellschaft, Wien, xviii . 165-182; Revue de l'histoire des religions, xl . 321, idyl 51 .