I.--The three theses of animism: Genesis of the idea of the soul; Formation of the idea of spirits; Transformation of the cult of spirits into the cult of nature 49 II.--Criticism of the first thesis--Distinction of the idea of the soul from that of a double--Dreams do not account for the idea of the soul 55 III.--Criticism of the second thesis--Death does not explain the transformation of a soul into a spirit--The cult of the souls of the dead is not primitive 60 IV.--Criticism of the third thesis--The anthropomorphic instinct--Spencer's criticism of it; reservations on this point--Examination of the facts by which this instinct is said to be proved--Difference between a soul and the spirits of nature--Religious anthropomorphism is not primitive 65 V.--Conclusion: animism reduces religion to nothing more than a system of hallucinations 68 CHAPTER III LEADING CONCEPTIONS OF THE ELEMENTARY RELIGION--(_continued_) II.--_Naturism_ History of the theory 71 I.--Exposition of Max Müller's naturism 73 II.--If the object of religion is to express natural forces, it is hard to see how it has maintained itself, for it expresses them in an erroneous manner--Pretended distinction between religion and mythology 78 III.--Naturism does not explain the division of things into sacred and profane 84 CHAPTER IV TOTEMISM AS AN ELEMENTARY RELIGION I.--Brief history of the question of totemism 88 II.--Reasons of method for which our study will be given specially to the totemism of Australia--The place which will be given to facts from America 93 BOOK II THE ELEMENTARY BELIEFS CHAPTER I TOTEMIC BELIEFS _The Totem as Name and as Emblem_ I.--Definition of the clan--The totem as name of the clan--Nature of the things which serve as totems--Ways in which the totem is acquired--The totems of phratries; of matrimonial classes 102 II.--The totem as emblem--Totemic designs engraved or carved upon objects; tatooings or designs upon the body 113 III.--Sacred character of the totemic emblem--The churinga--The nurtunja--The waninga--Conventional character of totemic emblems 119 CHAPTER II TOTEMIC BELIEFS--(_continued_) _The Totemic Animal and Man_