Montsame, the Mongolian news service, charmingly reports:

SPIRITS OF ANIMALS, TOTEMS, ANIMAL GUIDES, AND HUNTING

Ulaanbaatar. March 27. /OANA-MONTSAME/ The world of the forest and waters is the home of wild animals upon which man relies to survive. Animals are called amitan, "having an ami soul", because like human beings they possess an ami body soul which provides the breath and warmth of the living body. Ami souls of animals usually reincarnate as newborn members of their species, so deer return as more deer, seals return as seals, or bears reincarnate as bears. Since they have souls animals are considered to have personalities, language, and even psychic abilities just like humans. The master spirit of all the hunting animals is known as Bayan Ahaa (rich older brother). Hunters appeal to him for fortune in finding game. The highest ranking animals of the wild are the Siberian tiger, the snow leopard, and the bear. Buryat call the tiger Anda Bars (best friend tiger) and pray to him for good hunting. In much of Siberia the bear is seen as a master of the animals and revered as an ancestor. Many Siberian tribes have special ceremonies for honoring the bear after he is killed. Because animals possess reincarnating souls, there are many rules regarding the killing of game so that their souls will not be offended. Otherwise, they may become angry and refuse to return to the tribal hunting grounds or tell other animal spirits to stay away. When a large animal is killed or a large fish is caught, the hunter or fisherman may cry over its death to appease the animal spirit. Hunters also apologize to animals when they are killed, saying that they needed to take the meat and hide for their survival. Domestic animals are also killed in a respectful manner. Heads are not chopped off because cutting the throat injures the ami soul. The head, throat, lungs, and heart, which are collectively called the zuld, are the residence of an animal's ami and should be removed from the body as one piece. When an animal is killed for a sacrifice the hide and the zuld are hung up on poles pointing to heaven. After bears are eaten the skull or sometimes the whole skeleton is placed on a pole or platform in the forest. to be continued………..