In Asia there is the well-known and elaborate animistic creed of the Chinese and of the Japanese, to be in part illustrated in subsequent sections. In popular Indian belief, as found in the Panjab, there is no essential difference between various orders of beings endowed with immortality, such as ghosts and spirits on the one hand, and gods, demi-gods, and warriors on the other; for whether in bodies in this world or out of bodies in the invisible world, they equally live and act--quite as fairies do.[116] Throughout the Malay Peninsula, belief in many orders of good and bad spirits, in demon-possession, in exorcism, and in the power of black magicians is very common.[117] But in the _Phi_ races of Siam we discover what is probably the most important and complete parallel to the Celtic Fairy-Faith existing in Asia. According to the Siamese folk-belief, all the stars and various planets, as well as the ethereal spaces, are the dwelling-places of the _Thévadas_, gods and goddesses of the old pre-Buddhist mythology, who correspond pretty closely to the Tuatha De Danann of Irish mythology; and this world itself is peopled by legions of minor deities called _Phi_, who include all the various orders of good and bad spirits continually influencing mankind. Some of these _Phi_ live in forests, in trees, in open spaces; and watercourses are full of them. Others inhabit mountains and high places. A particular order who haunt the sacred trees surrounding the Buddhist temples are known as _Phi nang mai_; and since _nang_ is the word for female, and _mai_ for tree, they are comparable to tree-dwelling fairies, or Greek wood-nymphs. Still another order called _Chao phum phi_ (gods of the earth) are like house-frequenting brownies, fairies, and pixies, or like certain orders of _corrigans_ who haunt barns, stables, and dwellings; and in many curious details these _Chao phum phi_ correspond to the Penates of ancient Rome. Not only is the worship of this order of _Phi_ widespread in Siam, but to every other order of _Phi_ altars are erected and propitiatory offerings made by all classes of the Siamese people.[118] Before passing westwards to Europe, in completion of our rapid folk-lore tour of the world, we may observe that the Persians, even those who are well educated, have a firm belief in _jinns_ and _afreets_, different orders of good and bad spirits with all the chief characteristics of fairies.[119] And modern Arabs and Egyptians and Egyptian Turks hold similar animistic beliefs.[120]