,illustration3 ,w4 ,b4 ,scott4 ,painter ,illman ,brothers ,engravers ,printers ,,progress ,,of ,,thought4 ,,engraved ,,expressly ,,for ,,error',s ,,chains4 ,,error',s ,,chains3 ,,how ,,forged ,,and ,,broken4 ,a ,,comparative ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,national1 ,,social ,,and ,,religious ,,errors ,,that ,,mankind ,,has ,,fallen ,,into ,,and ,,practised ,,from ,,the ,,creation ,,down ,,to ,,the ,,present ,,time4 ,,by ,,frank ,s4 ,,dobbins1 ,,late ,,resident ,,of ,,yokohama1 ,,japan1 ,,assisted ,,by ,,hon4 ,s4 ,,wells ,,williams1 ,,ll4,d41 ,,and ,,prof4 ,,isaac ,,hall1 ,,ll4,b41 ,ph4,d4 ,the former forty years resident in ,china1 late ,prof4 of ,chinese ,language and ,literature in ,yale ,college1 ,conn41 ,author of 8,the ,middle ,kingdom0 the ,standard ,lexico of ,china1 etc41 etc41 ,president of the ,american ,bible ,society1 etc42 the latter an eminent ,orientalist and late ,professor of the ,college of ,beirut1 ,syria1 now ,associate of the ,american ,oriental ,society and the ,london ,society of ,biblical ,archologyy ,associate ,editor of the 8,sunday-,school ,times10 etc4 ,,magnificently ,,illustrated4 ,,thirty-,,ninth ,,edition4 ,,willey ,,brothers ,,co41 ,,new ,,york4 #ahhf4 ,copyright1 ,,frank ,s4 ,,dobbins1 #ahhc4 ,,preface4 ,the story of the world's worship is a story of absorbing interest4 ,the odd and the curious1 the enchanting and the revolting are each factors of heathen devotion4 ,we well remember with what exhaustless interest we looked in childhood at strange pictures of idols and temples1 and listened to the reading of tales about the heathen4 ,when the celebrated ,dr4 ,alexander ,duff was a little boy1 his father was accustomed on ,sabbath afternoons to show him pictures of idols1 and to explain their histories4 ,so vividly did the pictures and their stories impress the boy1 that when he became a man he left ,scotland and went to labor for the heathen of ,india4 ,the subject is indeed intensely interesting4 ,every nation has its ,god1 or gods1 and its corresponding forms of worship4 ,nothing lies so close to the heart of mankind as its religious faith4 ,religion in some form is interwoven with the entire fabric of human history4 ,it concerns man's dearest pleasures1 his fondest hopes1 and his highest aspirations4 ,man must worship4 ,it is part of his nature to worship4 ,hence1 from the most civilized ,european to the half-civilized ,chinaman1 and even down to the degraded ,hottentot2 in all stages of man's existence1 among all races and classes1 some form of worship is found4 ,nothing surely can interest us more than the story of that faith in which our fellow-creatures have lived and died4 ,it is because the author believes that the subject of false gods and idol worship is so interesting1 and because he hopes to furnish some much-needed information on this topic1 that he has undertaken the present work4 ,there is no one book that covers this ground4 ,there are many volumes covering various phases of the religious systems of heathendom1 but there is not one that deals comprehensively with all religions1 extinct or existing1 except indeed it be those suited only to students and to learned men4 ,the aim in this volume is to present the subject in a popular style1 suited to the average reader of our land4 ,it is proposed to make a book to be read in the family and by the fireside4 ,the very best works of the most thorough students of the non-,christian religious systems have been consulted1 and the author has freely availed himself of the results of their labors4 ,if due acknowledgment is not always made of the aid thus received1 it is because he deemed it best not to multiply references and because he has so frequently found it necessary to translate scholastic and technical phrases used by these authors into language familiar to the general reader4 ,among those whose works the author has consulted are1 ,max ,mller and ,hardwicke on ,comparative ,mythology2 ,wilkinson on the ,ancient ,egyptians2 ,lenormant on ,assyria and ,babylon2 ,haug on the ,parsees2 ,monier ,williams on ,hinduism2 ,rhys-,davids1 and ,barthelemy ,st4 ,hilaire on ,buddhism1 and ,edwin ,arnold's paraphrase of ,buddha's life in his 8,light of ,asia20 ,humboldt on ,central ,america2 ,schoolcraft on the ,american ,indians2 ,wyatt ,gill and ,lord ,grey on the ,pacific ,islands2 ,legge1 ,edkins and ,s4 ,wells ,williams on the ,chinese2 ,griffis and ,sir ,edward ,reed on ,japan2 and ,stanley and ,livingstone on ,africa4 ,beside these he has derived great help from 8,the ,tour of the ,world with ,general ,grant10 and ,dr4 ,h4 ,m4 ,field's 8,from ,egypt to ,japan40 ,in addition he has consulted quite a host of other authors in works of travel1 and in the translations of various sacred books4 ,in all parts of his work the author has sought to present definite information1 carefully arranged1 truthfully told1 and clearly and interestingly stated4 ,he has aimed to show the origin1 development and spread of each non-,christian religious system2 and to give an account of their gods and goddesses1 temples1 shrines1 idols1 sacred places1 superstitious customs1 legends1 myths1 domestic worship and the innumerable peculiarities of their daily religious life4 ,the work is fully illustrated by accurate1 and in many cases1 expensive engravings4 ,the book is not made merely to sell4 ,sensational statements and mere padding have been neither added nor borrowed4 ,the author has not drawn upon his imagination in the least4 ,he has told a story which1 though sometimes stranger than fiction1 is nevertheless solid fact and not baseless fancy4 ,let it be remembered that this is a pioneer work4 ,the author has had to blaze his pathway through a trackless forest4 ,he has had no guide4 ,he sincerely hopes that by its perusal his readers will be led to an increased appreciation of the infinite superiority of ,christianity to all other religions2 and that they may find a deepened interest in the welfare of the heathen world4 ,it has been the purpose of the author and the publishers to place the subject-matter of this volume within the ready reach of all who consult it4 ,an exhaustive ,table of ,contents has been given therefore1 in which the chapter titles and all the sub-headings of the chapters will be found4 ,a full index of the proper names and principal topics of the book is also added1 by means of which it is believed any desired subject treated in the volume can readily be found4 ,by such means as these the book has been made as complete and as useful as patient labor can make it4 ,thanks are specially due to ,professor ,isaac ,h4 ,hall1 who not only gave careful consideration to the subjects specially under his care1 but who in addition read all the ,,ms41 and gave the benefit of his extended learning and excellent judgment at every point4 ,to ,professor ,s4 ,wells ,williams also1 the author desires to make public acknowledgment4 ,though burdened with many onerous duties1 yet he gave his closest attention to the chapters on those much misunderstood nations1 ,china and ,japan1 and from the rich stores of his own extensive and well-digested knowledge1 he made such suggestions as proved of inestimable value4 ,to the ,publishers1 who were ever ready to meet the author's largest desires1 his thanks are especially due4 ,without such generous support the volume must have fallen far below its present excellence4 ,indeed1 all concerned in the production of the book have proved themselves true helpers1 to whom author and readers alike will be largely indebted4 ,f4 ,s4 ,,dobbins4 ,,steel-,,plate ,,engravings4 ,,page ,,frontispiece1 #b ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,ten ,,thousand ,,idols1 #dg ,,hindu ,,fakirs ,,practicing ,,their ,,superstitious ,,rites1 #bag ,,the ,,hindu ,,mother1 #bcd ,,the ,,fulfillment ,,of ,,prophecy1 #dih ,a ,,scene ,,on ,,the ,,jumna ,,river1 #gfj ,,contents4 ,,page ,,preface1 #e ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations1 #ag ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,world',s ,,first ,,worship4 ,testimony of an old record and of language--,another witness3 comparative religion--,the story of the master thief--,the story of ,rhampsinitos--,the story of the poor mason--,the story of the shifty lad--,exodus of the nations1 #cc ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,whence ,,came ,,the ,,many ,,gods ,,and ,,idols8 ,sources of information--,the transition--,the first hymns and prayers--,where did idol-worship come from1 #dg ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,sacred ,,and ,,heathen ,,traditions4 ,traditions of ,creation--,traditions of the ,deluge--,the ,chaldean story--,the ,hindu tradition--,the ,chinese tradition--,the ,mexican legend--,the ,fiji-,islander's tradition--,american ,indian traditions--,the ,greek story--,chaldean story of the ,tower of ,babel--,what has the ,bible to say about idolatry8 #fc ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,subject ,,in ,a ,,nutshell4 ,methods of grouping religions--,dead religions and living religions--,original religions and reformed religions--,dead religions--,living worships--,the proposed treatment--,a concise view--,parseeism--,african religion--,western ,europe--,the ,southern migration--,buddhism--,china's religions--,shintoism in ,japan--,mohammedanism--,christianity's conquests1 #gg ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,land ,,of ,,the ,,sphinx4 ,hidden history--,the hieroglyphics--,some ,egyptian gods--,animal worship--,mummies--,the celebrated book of the dead--,egyptian worship1 #ic ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,chaldeans4 ,the great ,chaldean historian--,ruined monuments--,a library of brick books--,manners and customs--,the religion of ,assyria--,the supreme god1 ,ilu--,the ,assyrian triad--,the gods of the planets--,the great goddess ,ishtar--,the ,genii of ,assyria--,worship of the gods at ,babylon1 #aai ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,jews4 ,the plagues and ,egyptian idolatry--,the golden calf--,baal-worship1 #ach ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,greece4 ,origin of the world and of the gods--,the generations of the gods--,gods of the ,grecians--,specimen stories from ,greek mythology--,hermes and ,apollo--,the ,lotus-eaters and the ,cyclops--,hercules' twelve tasks--,the ,phidian ,jupiter--,grecian temples and worship of ,paul's day--,the city crowded with idols--,diana of the ,ephesians1 #aej ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,rome4 ,the ,etruscan religion--,the ,sabellian religion--,the gods of the ,romans--,father ,jove--,the ,matron goddess--,the goddess of schools--,the goddess of the hearth--,ceres and ,liber--,the gods of beginnings--,rome's lesser gods--,the ,roman empire1 #agc ,,chapter ,x4 ,,our ,,ancestors4 ,ancient ,britain--,the ,druids--,wonderful resemblance--,worship of the ,druids--,temple of the ,hanging ,stones--,human sacrifices--,the destruction of ,druidism--,who first brought ,christianity to ,britain--,paganism of the ,saxons--,saxon gods--,saxon sacrifices--,fairy-lore of ,western ,europe--,an ,elfin ,story--,the penitent ,nis--,nixes--,the ,peasant and the ,waterman--,the wonderful little pouch--,christianizing the ,saxons1 #ahe ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,india4 ,sketch of ,brahminism--,the gods of ,hinduism--,story of the ,sages' search--,can the gods die8--,sects of ,hinduism--,principles of ,hinduism--,human beings killed in sacrifice--,how ,hinduism regards woman1 #baj ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,hindu ,,temples1 ,,idols ,,and ,,worship4 ,idols and temples of ,juggernaut--,kali1 the ,goddess of ,blood--,temple ,decorations--,benares--,the sacred city of the ,sikhs--,cave-temples of ,elephanta and ,gwalior--,ganesha1 ,god of ,wisdom--,pagodas--,hindu washings for sin--,hindu holy men1 devotees and fakirs1 #bcb ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,hindu ,,sacred ,,books1 ,,fairy ,,stories ,,and ,,fireside ,,tales4 ,the ,vedic hymns--,the law-book of ,manu--,degradation of women according to ,manu's laws--,the burning of widows commanded by ,manu--,the god ,vishnu made man--,a ,sanskrit story-book--,the story of the terrible bell--,the story of the lion and the old hare--,the story of the ,brahmin and the pans--,the story of the recluse and the mouse1 #bhh ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,japan4 ,the sacred books of ,japan--,japanese story of creation--,the emperors descended from the gods--,the sun-goddess enticed from the cave--,shinto worship1 #cje ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,popular ,,gods ,,and ,,shrines ,,of ,,shintoism4 ,the seven household gods--,the sacred mountain--,shinto temples and gate-ways--,the sacred shrines of ,ise1 #cba ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,dark ,,continent4 ,african belief in a god or gods--,praying for rain--,the ,hottentots' god1 ,gounja-,gounja--,the ,bushmen's god--,zulu tradition of the origin of men--,good and bad spirits--,the spirit in the insect--,fetich worship--,a horrible fetich--,stanley and the ,africans' fear of fetich--,witchcraft1 #cda ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the 8,,great ,,spirit0 ,,of ,,america4 ,the ,indians of ,north ,america--,the ,great ,spirit--,worship of ancestors--,indian legends--,the 8,song of ,hiawatha0--,indian allegory of winter and spring--,alaskans' worship of evil spirits--,indian sun-worship--,amazon sun-worship--,the ,araucanians--,patagonia--,the ,aztecs--,ancient ,aztec idol--,the ,incas1 #cfb ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,idolatry ,,in ,,oceanica4 ,the depraved condition of the ,papuans--,the pagan ,polynesians--,traditionary origin of human priesthood--,polynesian notion of the sun and moon--,the fire-god's song1 #chg ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,the ,,karens ,,and ,,their ,,traditions4 ,the ,karens not idolaters--,worship of ,yuah--,a singular tradition--,the dog who ate the book--,funeral services--,mrs4 ,vinton's letter1 #dja ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,the ,,fire-,,worshipers4 ,zoroaster1 the ,prophet of ,ormazd--,zoroaster's worship of one ,god--,ormazd and ,ahriman--,finding of the ,zend-,avesta--,the ,parsee ,bible--,parsee worship1 #djg ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,the ,,chinese ,,philosopher1 ,,lao-,,tsze4 ,chinese contrarieties and language--,the three ,chinese religions--,the old boy--,the talisman of long life--,the visit of ,confucius to ,lao-,tsze--,the voyage in search of the talisman of long life1 #daf ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,the ,,taoist ,,sacred ,,books ,,and ,,gods4 ,the book of rewards and punishments--,some selections from the book of rewards and punishments--,the book of secret blessings--,the gods of the ,taoists--,the god of letters--,charms--,kwan-te1 ,god of ,war--,tsai-shin1 the ,god of ,riches--,taoist superstitions1 #dbh ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,confucius ,,and ,,the ,,classics4 ,the background of the picture--,the story of the sage's life--,teachings and writings of the ,chinese sage--,the wisdom of the sage1 #dde ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,confucian ,,temples ,,and ,,worship4 ,the worship of ,shang-te1 at ,peking--,temple of ,confucius--,examinations in the sacred books--,anecdotes of students--,how ,mencius's mother incited her son to study--,how a tired student was led back to his studies--,the little sage who hid fire to light his lamp--,an example of a studious ancestor--,the student with a round stick for a pillow1 #dfj ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,home-,,life ,,under ,,confucianism4 ,ceremony of turning the bridge-ladder--,worship of ancestors at a wedding--,mother1 ,goddess of ,children--,teaching a child to worship idols--,the story of ,ma-chu1 ,goddess of the ,sailors1 #dgh ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,buddha1 ,,the 8,,light ,,of ,,asia40 ,the story of ,gautama1 the founder of ,buddhism--,gautama's four visions--,the great renunciation--,gautama becomes an ascetic--,the 8,light of ,asia0 and the 8,light of the ,world10 #dih ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,the ,,buddhist ,,bible1 ,,the 8,,three ,,baskets10 ,,and ,,its ,,teachings4 ,the ,buddhist way of salvation--,what is ,nirvana8--,buddhist morals--,some of the 8footsteps of the law0--,buddhist beatitudes1 #eac ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,buddhism--,,the ,,buddhist ,,order ,,of ,,mendicants4 ,the ,sangha1 or ,buddhist ,brotherhood--,the initiation ceremony--,rules of the ,order--,daily life of a monk--,the three great ,buddhist councils--,buddhaghosha1 the famous monk and missionary--,the story of ,king ,kakavanna--,buddhist courtesies of the present day1 #ebb ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,india ,,and ,,ceylon4 ,the famous ,topes--,the great ,sanchi ,tope--,ceylonese ,buddhism--,the sacred ,bo-tree of ,ceylon--,reducing the ,tripitaka to writing--,buddhaghosha in ,ceylon--,a ,buddhist temple in ,ceylon--,the sacred ,ceylonese books1 #ecb ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,burmah4 ,the ,shway-da-gong pagoda--,the story of ,shway-da-gong--,other pagodas--,worship of nats--,a nat story--,superstitions of the ,burmese--,the funeral of a pongyee or monk1 #eee ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,,siam4 ,the celebrated ,wat ,chang pagoda--,temple of the ,emerald ,idol--,worship of the white elephant--,ruins of the great temple of ,nagkon ,wat--,some other temples1 #ege ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,,thibet4 ,sketch of the history of ,lamaism--,monks and monasteries--,temple at ,teshu ,lumbo monastery--,services at the ,h',lassa cathedral--,praying-wheels--,the mystic sentence of ,thibet--,the incarnation of ,buddha in the ,grand ,lama--,the ,lamaist ,bible1 #eih ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4 ,,china--continued4 ,pagodas--,chinese ,buddhist temples--,the worship of ,kwan-yin--,the worship of ,kum-,fa--,idols--,the ,temple of ,horrors--,monasteries--,a ,monk's ,monument--,chinese ,buddhist ,bonzes--,buddhist devotees--,ceremony of the ,water-lamps--,the ,do-nothing sect of ,reformed ,buddhists--,booldo1 the ,buddhism of the ,corens1 #faa ,,chapter ,,xxxiv4 ,,japan4 ,bodhidharma in ,japan--,the ,sun-child and his miraculous deliverance--,further history of ,japan--,buddhist sects in ,japan--,the ,protestants of ,buddhism--,kwanon's ,temple at ,asakusa1 ,tokio--,temple of ,shiba1 in ,tokio--,temple of five hundred gods--,the casting of a ,temple ,bell--,the ,colossal ,idol1 the ,kamakura ,dai ,butsu--,some ,japanese gods--,japanese ,festivals--,mount ,fuji-,yama--,customs concerning birth1 marriage and death--,some ,japanese superstitions--,religion of the ,ainos1 #fef ,,chapter ,,xxxv4 ,,mohammedanism4 ,extent of ,mohammedanism--,the ,arabian camel-driver who founded a great religion--,the ,prophet's youth and early manhood--,gabriel's message to ,mohammed--,the flight of ,mohammed--,converts made at the sword's point--,mohammed's successors1 the ,caliphs--,caliph ,omar--,the ,crusades--,the writing of the ,koran--,the teaching of the ,koran--,some selections from the ,koran--,mohammed's ,paradise--,the ,koran on the judgment1 #gai ,,chapter ,,xxxvi4 ,,mohammedan ,,mosques ,,and ,,worship4 ,worship in the ,mosques--,the dancing and howling ,dervishes--,the smart and smarting answer of a ,dervish--,daily worship--,the ,mosque of ,st4 ,sophia--,the ,jummah ,musjid at ,delhi1 ,india--,the ,taj ,mahal1 the 8jewel of ,india0--,pilgrimages and festivals--,conclusion1 #gda ,,chapter ,,xxxvii4 ,,winning ,,the ,,world ,,to ,,the ,,worship ,,of ,,the ,,one ,,god4 ,comparison of heathen religions and ,christianity--,why shall we give ,christianity to the world--,a flight over the battle-field--,position of the ,christian army1 #gfg ,,index1 #ggi ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations4 ,,page ,colored ,map of ,world ,full ,page #cb ,ancient ,serpent ,idol #dh ,teraphim #eg ,dagon1 the ,fish-god #eh ,ancient ,serpent ,idol #ei ,group of ,altars #fj ,idol from ,hindustan ,full ,page #fa ,coin ,representing the ,deluge #ff ,comparative ,chart of all ,religions ,full ,page #ia ,ruined ,temples #ic ,rock ,temple of ,ibsambul1 ,restored #ie ,song of the ,threshers #if ,egyptian ,hieroglyphics #ig ,pasht1 the ,cat-headed ,god #ih ,one of the forms of ,isis #ii ,crocodile ,god #ajj ,scarabus #aja ,shrouding of the ,dead #ajc ,mummy ,case #ajc ,forms of ,mummy ,cases #ajd ,egyptian ,priestess #ajg ,avenue of ,sphinxes leading to a ,temple #aab ,gate-way of the ,ancient ,egyptian ,temple of ,karnak #aac ,the ,singing ,memnon #aad ,ruins of ,thebes ,full ,page #aae ,the ,sphinx and the ,pyramids #aag ,star ,worshipers #abj ,babylonish ,coffin and ,lid of ,green ,glazed ,pottery #abb ,assyrian ,cuneiform ,letters #abd ,robed ,statue #abe ,statue of ,oannes1 the ,king #abi ,adar ,strangling the ,lion #acj ,sargon's ,palace1 ,restored ,full ,page #acc ,human-headed ,eagle-winged ,assyrian ,bull #ace ,sculptured ,locust #aci ,goddess ,ashtoreth1 ,ishtar #ada ,phnician ,goddess ,astarte #adb ,the ,ammonite ,fire ,god ,moloch #adc ,jehovah's ,triumph over ,baal #adg ,image of ,jupiter1 by ,phidias ,full ,page #afe ,temple of ,diana of ,ephesus ,full ,page #agj ,medal of ,diana #aga ,jupiter ,tonans #agg ,janus #ahj ,ancient ,druidic ,worship at ,stonehenge1 ,england #aia ,gods of our ,saxon ,ancestors #aih ,sacrificial ,rites of the ,ancient ,british ,druids #bjb ,ancient ,hindu ,idol #baa ,devil ,worshiped in ,tennevelly #bac ,indra1 ,god of the ,atmosphere #bad ,the ,three ,chief ,hindu ,gods #bae ,bird's-eye view of the ,hindu ,temple at ,cawnpore #bai ,sculptured ,idols on a ,pillar #bba ,dying ,brahmin holding the tail of the ,sacred ,cow1 so as to enter ,heaven #bbc ,a ,caste-marked ,brahmin at his devotions #bbd ,god of ,hell1 from a ,hindu picture #bbe ,amadeo1 ,god of ,love #bbf ,teaching a child to worship ,ganesha1 the ,god of ,wisdom #bbh ,a child bringing an offering to the ,idol of a ,bull #bbi ,hindu ,woman #bca ,the most ,sacred ,temple of ,juggernaut at ,puri #bcc ,worship in the ,temple of ,krishna1 or ,juggernaut #bce ,hindu ,devotees dragging ,juggernaut's ,car and immolating themselves #bcf ,the ,idol ,juggernaut usually carried on the car #bch ,disrobing and disjointing ,juggernaut #bci ,the ,goddess ,kali #bdj ,idol of ,kali ,full ,page #bda ,a ,night ,feast of the ,bloody ,goddess1 ,kali #bdd ,goddess ,kali1 from a ,hindu ,picture #bde ,hindu ,notion of the ,universe #bdf ,golden ,temple of the ,hindus of ,umritsur #bdg ,entablature from a ,hindu ,temple #bdh ,children ,worshiping in ,temple at ,benares ,full ,page #bdi ,bas-relief from a ,hindu ,temple #bea ,causeway of the ,golden ,temple ,double ,page #bed-e ,great ,idol of the ,cave of ,mandar1 ,india #beh ,scene from ,cave of ,elephanta ,full ,page #bei ,cave of ,elephanta ,double ,page #bfb-c ,image of ,ganesha #bfe ,annual ,boat-festival of ,ganesha on the ,ganges #bff ,wayside ,idol of ,ganesha ,full ,page #bfg ,gate-way of ,madura ,temple #bgj ,pagoda of ,pondicherry1 famed for its ,sculpture #bga ,disused ,idols and sacred articles from ,ongole1 ,india #bgb ,bird's-eye view of ,pagodas and ,temple ,grounds1 ,madras1 ,india ,full ,pages #bgd-e ,hindus washing in the ,sacred ,river ,ganges at ,benares #bgg ,temple of the ,sacred ,fountain #bgh ,fakir of the ,immovable ,foot #bgi ,the ,holy ,man with the ,iron ,collar #bhj ,fakir of the ,long ,hair #bha ,a ,fakir1 who never helps himself #bhb ,a ,hindu ,holy ,man torturing himself by hanging from a hook #bhc ,fakir hanging to a limb #bhd ,devotee enduring fire #bhe ,fakir of the long nails ,full ,page #bhf ,hindu ,festival of the ,new ,moon #bhi ,guards of the ,hindu ,temple ,ayenar #bib ,hindu women rescued from their degradation ,full ,page #big ,the ten incarnations of ,vishnu #cjj ,the ,god created from ,izanagi's staff #caj ,jimmu ,tenno1 first emperor of ,japan #cac ,the ,mikado's coat-of-arms #cag ,raiden1 ,god of ,thunder1 with his string of drums #cah ,futen1 ,god of ,winds1 with his huge sack #cai ,daikoku1 the ,rice-god1 on his throne of rice-bags #cbb ,fukoruku ,jin1 the god who can bestow long life ,full ,page #cbc ,domestic ,altar of the gods of daily food and of rice #cbf ,hotei1 the ,god of ,happiness #cbg ,the ,sacred ,mountain1 ,fuji-,yama #ccj ,shinto ,shrine1 near ,yokohama1 ,japan1 with worshipers1 vessel of holy water1 etc4 #cca ,a ,tento1 or 8,heavenly ,lantern0 #ccb ,shrines of ,ise1 the most sacred place of ,shintoism #ccc ,interior of a ,shinto ,temple1 showing the arrangements for worship #cce ,ceremonial dance of the ,shinto ,priests #cch ,a lawyer of ,zululand #cdc ,king ,coffee's ,protecting ,god #cdf ,the ,priests' trick of raising an idol out of the earth #cdh ,a ,cazembe ,fetich ,man #cea ,decorated ,fetichist #ceb ,juju ,house or ,temple of ,skulls ,full ,page #cec ,idols with mirrors in their bodies #cef ,a ,witch ,doctor #ceg ,indian ,medicine ,man #cfc ,indian ,burial ,place #cff ,indian ,image #cfg ,sun-worship on the ,amazon ,double ,page #cgd-e ,ancient ,aztec ,idol #chj ,sun-worship among the ,peruvians #chc ,ancient ,peruvian ,temple of the ,sun #che ,a ,papuan ,fetich ,house #chh ,tattooed ,girl of ,oceanica #chi ,polynesian ,idol and its devotees #cij ,a ,fijian bure temple #cia ,idol of ,south ,sea ,islands #cib ,great ,idol of ,oceanica1 7six feet in height7 #cic ,hawaiian ,idol1 known as the ,poison ,god #cid ,idol from ,polynesia #cie ,new ,zealand ,moon-god #cig ,hawaiian ,war-god #cii ,christian ,karen ,girls #djd ,a ,parsee ,merchant of ,bombay #djh ,chinese ornaments with words of cheer #dag ,a ,chinese ,book #dah ,censer1 from a ,taoist ,temple #dbi ,ceremonies in a ,taoist ,temple #dcc ,the ,three ,pure ,ones #dce ,god of the ,kitchen #dce ,god of ,thunder #dce ,carrying the ,dragon #dcf ,dragon ,boat-races1 a ,chinese ,festival #dcg ,charm to ward off ,evil ,spirits from a ,bride #dch ,god of ,thieves #dch ,sword ,charm #dci ,kwan-te1 ,god of ,war #ddj ,taoists consulting the oracles at the magicians #dda ,stone pillars erected by the ,chinese to keep off evil spirits #ddb ,tall ,white ,devil #ddc ,short ,black ,devil #ddd ,traditional likeness of ,confucius #ddf ,monumental gate-way erected in honor of ,confucius #ddh ,temple of ,confucius1 in ,peking ,full ,page #dec ,chinese ,school-boys #dfj ,chinese ,joss-stick #dfa ,sacred ,altar of ,heaven1 at ,peking ,full ,page #dfe ,temple of ,agriculture1 at ,peking1 ,china #dfh ,bronze ,temple in honor of ,confucius ,full ,page #dgj ,chinese sitting-room #dgi ,ancestral ,tablet #dha ,chinaman burning prayers instead of saying them #dhb ,bringing home one of the souls of a dead man in his clothes #dhc ,ceremony of turning around the bridge-ladder #dhd ,chinese marriage procession ,full ,page #dhg ,worship of ancestors at a wedding #dhi ,chinese baby in its cradle #dia ,teaching a child to worship #dic ,offering sacrifice to the ,kitchen-god #dic ,god of ,gambling #dif ,idol of ,buddha #dih1 #eji ,religious meeting of the ,jains ,full ,page #ecc ,tope of ,sanchi ,full ,page #ecg ,capital of a pillar of gate-way of ,sanchi ,tope #eci ,gate-way of ,sanchi ,tope ,double ,page #edb-c ,roadway to a ,buddhist temple in ,ceylon #ede ,devil-dancers' mask from ,ceylon #edi ,buddhist ,temple in the ,island of ,ceylon #eea ,worship of ,buddha's ,tooth ,full ,page #eec ,shway-da-gong1 the great ,pagoda of ,rangoon1 ,burmah #eeh ,sacred ,garden attached to ,temple ,double ,page #efb-c ,pagoda at ,maulmain1 ,burmah #efe ,funeral procession of a ,buddhist ,priest #egc ,tower of ,wat ,chang ,pagoda at ,bangkok1 ,siam ,full ,page #egg ,funeral ,temple of wood1 bamboo and paper #egh ,the ,king of ,siam going to worship at the ,temple of the ,emerald ,idol #ehj ,temple of the ,emerald ,idol ,full ,page #eha ,ruined ,temple of ,ayudia1 ,altar of the1 ,siam ,full ,page #ehe ,siamese worshiping the ,white ,elephant #ehi ,tomb of a ,buddhist ,saint #eij ,ruins of the ,great ,temple of ,nagkon ,wat #eic ,statue of the ,leper ,king #eie ,a ,thibetan ,lad #eii ,monastery of ,hemis in the ,himalayas #fjj ,tartar ,woman #fja ,praying ,machine #fje ,praying ,wheel whirled in the hand #fjf ,stone with the mystic sentence1 8,om ,mani ,padmi ,hum0 #fjg ,mani ,padee1 a ,buddhist ,tomb in ,thibet #fjh ,a ,thibetan ,woman #fji ,chinese ,image of ,buddha #fab ,bronze ,lions ,full ,page #fac ,a ,chinese ,mandarin #fae ,chinese sale of prayers conducted by the ,priests #faf ,porcelain ,tower at ,nanking1 ,china ,full ,page #fag ,beating on a ,temple ,drum to attract the ,god #fbb ,chinese ,temple at ,san ,francisco ,full ,page #fbc ,the 8,three ,precious ,buddhas0 #fbe ,worship in the ,temple of the thousand ,lamas ,full ,page #fbg ,temple of ,kwan-,yin ,full ,page #fcj ,colossal ,gilded ,buddha #fcb ,altar of ,chinese ,pagoda ,double ,page #fcd-e ,the ,goddess ,ma-chu and her assistants #fch ,pagoda at ,tung-,cho ,full ,page #fci ,chinese ,idols #fda ,chinese ,buddhist's ,idea of ,hell #fdb ,goddess of ,mercy delivering a soul ,full ,page #fdc ,buddhist ,monument at ,peking ,full ,page #fdg ,priest at a ,praying ,wheel #fdi ,chinese ,bonze1 or ,priest #fej ,letting go the ,water-lamps #fec ,miraculous delivery of a ,bonze ,full ,page #fei ,shrine of ,kwanon #ffa ,interior of ,kwanon's ,temple ,full ,page #ffc ,the ,hiogo ,buddha #fff ,buddhist ,shrine at ,kobe #ffh ,japanese ,pilgrim in winter dress #ffi ,dining-room of a ,buddhist ,monastery #fgj ,religious festival in ,temple ,grounds ,full ,page #fga ,new ,year's frolic in ,japan ,full ,page #fge ,buddhist 8,nio10 or ,temple ,guard #fgg ,japanese ,picture of ,kwanon #fhj ,musicians of the ,temple at ,shiba #fhb ,torii1 or ,water ,gate of the ,temple of ,miyajima ,full ,page #fhc ,interior of the ,temple of ,shiba #fhe ,temple of the ,five ,hundred ,gods1 ,canton1 ,china ,full ,page #fhi ,belfry of the ,temple at ,osaka1 ,japan #fia ,street ,mountebanks in a ,new ,year's ,festival in ,japan ,double ,page #fif-g ,japanese idea of the ,judge of ,hell #gjj ,festival of ,foxes ,full ,page #gjc ,driving the devils out of the house on ,new ,year's ,eve with beans #gje ,a ,japanese ,matsuri1 or ,religious ,festival #gjf ,religious ,procession in ,japan ,full ,page #gjg ,fujisan1 from a village on the ,tokaido #gjh ,worship at the ,tomb of an ,ancestor ,full ,page #gac ,the ,flowing ,invocation #gae ,temple of the ,kaaba1 at ,mecca1 ,arabia #gbb ,mohammedan ,cemetery at ,mecca #gbg ,interior of a ,turkoman tent1 in ,western ,persia #gbi ,mosque of ,omar1 on the site of the ,jewish ,temple1 at ,jerusalem #gcj ,mohammedans praying before the ,mosque of ,omar #gca ,mohammedan ,mosque on the ,hooghly ,river1 near ,calcutta1 ,india #gdb ,exterior of ,mosque in ,persia ,double ,page #gdd-e ,interior of ,mosque at ,delhi1 ,india #gdg ,interior of ,mosque of ,st4 ,sophia #gdh ,a ,whirling ,dervish #gdi ,moslem ,boy studying the ,koran #geb ,mosque of ,st4 ,sophia1 at ,constantinople1 ,turkey #gec ,mosque at ,delhi1 containing a hair from ,mohammed's beard #gee ,entrance to the ,mosque at ,delhi #gef ,tower of the ,koutub1 ,india ,full ,page #geg ,taj ,mahal1 the tomb of the ,empress ,mumtaj ,mahal1 at ,agra1 ,india #gei ,interior-of the ,taj1 the tomb of ,mahal #gfb ,mohammedan ,feast of ,mohurrim #gfd ,two ,new ,zealanders3 the ,savage ,te ,wetere and the ,christian ,te ,kote #gfh ,a ,missionary home in ,burmah #ggd ,illustration3 ,,western ,,hemisphere ,,eastern ,,hemisphere ,,buddhists4 ,,fetichists4 ,,mohammedan4 ,,christians4 ,,hindoos4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,world',s ,,first ,,worship4 ,i have laid it down as an invariable maxim constantly to follow historical tradition1 and to hold fast by that clew1 even when many things1 in the testimony and declarations of tradition1 appear strange and almost inexplicable1 or at least enigmatical2 for so soon in the investigation of ancient history as we let slip that ,ariadne's thread we can find no outlet from the labyrinth of fanciful theories1 and the chaos of clashing opinions4--,f4 ,,von ,,schlegel4 ,there are many systems of worship in the world4 ,some of these are limited to single nations1 others extend themselves over different nations1 and in history we read of certain religions which no longer exist4 ,for instance--of those systems limited to a nation1 there is the worship of ancestors1 as taught by ,confucius1 in ,china2 the worship of the idol gods ,brahma1 ,vishnu and ,siva1 and a multitude of other gods1 more numerous than their worshipers1 in ,india2 and ,shintoism1 the nature-worship of ,japan4 ,of those which have extended to other lands1 there is the worship of the hero-saint1 ,gautama ,buddha1 in all southern and eastern ,asia2 and ,mohammedanism1 the fierce opponent of idolatry1 and the system of the prophet ,mohammed1 in ,india1 ,turkey1 ,egypt and in ,china4 ,of the dead religions1 there are those of ,egypt1 ,assyria1 ,greece and ,rome4 ,these are but a few of the many forms of worship that we find in glancing over the world's history1 or in looking at its present condition4 ,there are wide differences between these systems of worship and also many resemblances among them4 ,where did these systems all come from8 ,where and how did they start8 ,they differ very materially one from another4 ,some worship one ,god and have no idols1 others worship millions of gods and have multitudes of idols4 ,their temples are of different styles4 ,their sacred books and ceremonies are extremely varied4 ,can they have started from one source1 or did each start independently of the rest8 ,,testimony ,,of ,,an ,,old ,,record ,,and ,,of ,,language4 ,how shall we find out about this8 ,we have one record that will help us and upon which we can depend4 ,this is the oldest history of mankind4 ,there were a great many of these histories written later1 but for no one of them is there a tenth part of the evidence as to its being genuine1 which there is for this one old record4 ,it has been tested in every possible way and no flaw has yet been found4 ,ancient monuments and their inscriptions1 the oldest traditions of the most ancient peoples1 all confirm its statements4 ,but these monuments and the written histories of nations go back but a few thousand years1 and this one record is older than they all4 ,so traditions only remain to be compared with it4 ,no1 there is one thing left that is related to tradition4 ,it is language4 ,those who have studied the languages of the world and compared them with each other have something to say1 and it is this3 ,all languages can be grouped into families or classes of speech1 and all these families are seen to have started from one common source4 ,this1 too1 agrees with the story of that older record4 ,that tells how ,god made first a man and then a woman1 how that they were very good at the outset1 but soon became bad4 ,it goes on to tell how their children were very wicked1 and how ,god punished them by sending a great flood of waters which destroyed all but one family4 ,then this family increased1 and they too became wicked4 ,they finally planned to build an immense tower1 so1 perhaps1 that they should not be drowned again in a flood2 at any rate1 if this was not the reason1 it was for some other wicked purpose that they builded4 ,god was angry with their wickedness1 and to stop their building confused their language4 ,they had all spoken the same language before1 but now some spoke one and some another4 ,just here other histories begin1 and the stories in these and in the record we have referred to1 go on very much alike4 ,but the traditions1 which are older than the histories1 agree with the record1 as we shall see in a future chapter4 ,this record is the ,bible1 especially the first part of the ,book of ,genesis4 ,so here is found one answer to our question1--all religions grew out of one original system of worship4 ,,another ,,witness3 ,,comparative ,,religion4 ,there is still another way to get an answer4 ,place the religions side by side1 study their principles1 examine their legends1 and see if1 after all1 there are not resemblances beneath the surface4 ,let us strip them of those things which are the additions of a later day1 and of those things which the peculiar conditions of their countries1 climates and languages have added4 ,take for instance their legends or household stories4 ,some of these traditions are written in the inscriptions on the ancient monuments of ,egypt1 or especially of ,babylonia1 or in the sacred books and histories of the older nations2 others have been handed down by word of mouth4 ,it was long after these legends were old1 that even neighboring nations held any communications with each other4 ,it had been just as if a great high wall was built around each nation--a wall without gates4 ,so they could not have told these stories to each other4 ,then1 too1 some of these stories are told by nations thousands of miles apart4 ,the truth certainly is that before the several branches of the race separated from their common home1 perhaps on the table-lands of ,bactria1 they had many legends1 nursery tales and peculiar stories in common4 ,as they moved to the colder ,north1 or to the warmer ,south1 they carried these tales with them4 ,in course of time these came to be somewhat altered4 ,this change was in the dressing rather than in the tales themselves4 ,hence we find among the ,egyptians1 ,hindoos1 ,greeks1 ,germans1 ,spaniards1 ,norsemen1 stories which are so much alike that it is certain that they had a common origin4 ,take1 for instance1 the story of the ,master ,thief of the ,norsemen1 and compare it with the same story as told by other nations1 and we are led to the conclusion that it is part of a stock of nursery tales which were told before the dispersion4 ,let us remember that many collections of stories were not originated by the men whose names they bear1 but that these men simply gathered together legends and tales which they found already existing among the people4 ,thus 8,grimm's ,household ,tales0 is a collection of old ,german fireside stories4 8,the ,arabian ,night's ,entertainment10 the 8,hindoo ,hitopadesa10 8,dasent's ,popular ,tales of the ,norse10 and 8,old ,deccan ,days10 are collections of the same sort4 ,it will repay us to attend at some length to the various versions of one of these stories1 which will serve to illustrate many others of more momentous character4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,master ,,thief4 ,in the ,norse tale1 the ,master ,thief is a farmer's apprentice4 ,in his country there is an order or society of thieves1 and the apprentice wishes to join them4 ,the thieves promise to admit him to their society provided he can succeed in stealing an ox from his master as the master is driving three oxen1 one by one1 to market4 ,it must be done1 the thieves say1 without the master's knowledge1 and without hurting him4 ,the youth put a silver-buckled shoe in his master's way as he traveled along the road4 ,the farmer admired the shoe but passed on without touching it1 as an odd shoe would be of no service to him4 ,the thief cunningly picked up the shoe and ran around by another path so as to come out ahead of his master1 and place the shoe in the farmer's way again4 ,this time he stopped1 tied his ox to the fence1 and picking up the shoe before him1 went back to find its mate4 ,the lad then stole the ox and took it away to the thieves' council4 ,but they want to try him still further1 and direct him to steal a second ox from his master1 who is again driving to market4 ,disguising himself the lad put a rope around his body under his arms and hung himself to a tree at the roadside4 ,the farmer passed on1 barely noticing the lad4 ,he was so much troubled about the loss of his ox that he did not think of rendering assistance4 ,the lad then untied himself1 and running by a roundabout way came out on the road ahead of the farmer and hung himself as before4 ,again the farmer passed by unconcernedly4 ,again the thief hung himself4 ,this time the farmer thought himself bewitched1 and returned to see if the other two lads were still hanging4 ,his second ox was now left tied up and the lad then led it also away4 ,the thieves then said that if he would steal the third ox from the farmer1 now on his guard against tricks1 he should be their master4 ,going into a piece of woods along the road1 as his master was passing by with the third ox1 he imitated the bellowing of oxen4 ,the farmer now hurried away to catch his lost cattle1 leaving the third one to fall into the thief's hands4 ,the thieves thereupon took him into their council1 but determined 7as he shrewdly provoked them to do7 to outdo the young thief1 they went away to carry out their plans4 ,the lad then returned his master's oxen1 and carried off all the valuables and goods which the thieves had stored away4 ,soon after he married his master's daughter4 ,this story was told in ,western ,europe1 probably long before ,herodotus heard the story of the ,egyptian thief and wrote it out1 or before the ,hindoo tale of ,karpara and ,gata was made known outside of ,india4 ,the tale of the ,forty ,thieves in the ,arabian ,nights also bears a close resemblance to these4 ,the ,spanish legend of the ,poor ,mason may have been borrowed from any one of these4 ,compare the main points of these stories with those of the tale of the ,master ,thief4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,rhampsinitos4 ,rhampsinitos1 an architect1 built for the ,king of ,egypt a treasure-house with a secret entrance4 ,this secret1 at his death1 the architect told to his two sons4 ,they thereupon helped themselves to the king's treasures4 ,as the king noticed how his treasures were gradually decreasing1 he placed a trap in the entrance to the treasure-house4 ,the younger brother was caught in the trap1 and seeing that he could not escape1 he begged his brother to cut off his head so that the king might not know that the architect had told the secret1 and that the brother might not get into trouble4 ,so the king found the headless body1 and of course could not recognize the thief4 ,but to find out who he was1 he had the body exposed in a public place1 and ordered the guards to arrest any person who should mourn for the dead man4 ,the mother saw and recognized the body1 and threatened to tell the king1 unless the elder son should bring the body home4 ,the son then filled some skin bottles with wine1 and loaded them upon asses4 ,as he rode by the guards1 he slightly loosened the mouth-string of the sacks1 and the wine began to run out4 ,the guards1 pretending to help him1 helped themselves to the wine4 ,after tying up the skins1 the youth asks them to sit down and drink wine with him4 ,they do so1 and are soon overpowered by it1 and fall asleep4 ,he then carried away the body4 ,soon after he was married to the princess1 for the king sought to honor this ,master ,thief1 and he was held to be the cleverest man of the cleverest people4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,poor ,,mason4 ,in the ,spanish story of the ,poor ,mason a priest wished him to build a secret hiding-place for his treasure4 ,in order that the mason might not know how to get at the treasure1 should he be so inclined1 the priest blindfolded him from the time of leaving his own home till he arrived at the treasure-house1 and again blindfolded him on his return4 ,so the mason knew the secret of the priest's hidden treasure1 but did not know where the house was in which it was secreted4 ,the priest finally died4 ,the house was then said to be haunted4 ,the landlord could not find a tenant4 ,at last he happened on the poor mason1 and offered him the house rent free4 ,as soon as the mason entered it1 he saw that it was the house where the wealth was stored1 and where he had worked4 ,he kept the secret to himself1 until like the ,egyptian architect1 he told it on his death-bed to his son4 ,in the story of ,trophonius and ,agamedes1 which ,pausanius tells1 the two masons built the treasury of the king1 so that one stone in the wall could be removed from the outside4 ,the king found his wealth growing less1 and set a trap for the thief4 ,agamedes was caught and ,trophonius cut off his head4 ,in the ,hindoo story of two brothers1 ,gata and ,karpara1 not only treasure is stolen by means of a secret entrance to the king's palace1 but also the princess1 the king's daughter4 ,karpara was finally found out1 was put to death1 and as it was desired to catch the other thief1 his body was exposed4 ,the guards were ordered to seize any one who might mourn the death of ,karpara4 ,the word 8,karpara0 means a gourd or melon4 ,gata1 ,karpara's brother1 in order that he might mourn as ,hindoos feel bound to do and yet not be caught1 loaded some asses with melons1 and as he passed the body of ,karpara1 contrives to have his load slip off1 crying1 as the gourds fell to the ground and burst1 8,alas6 for my precious ,karpara60 ,the guards supposed1 of course1 that he referred to his gourds1 and so did not arrest him4 ,afterwards they perceived the trick that had been played upon them1 and told it to the king4 ,he then1 by royal proclamation1 offered the princess in marriage to the clever thief if he would but come and claim her4 ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,shifty ,,lad4 ,the historian of ancient ,scottish legends records a tale which resembles in many points the tales mentioned above4 ,in the ,scottish story1 the ,shifty ,lad goes through his apprenticeship1 not among a company of thieves1 but under the sole charge of the ,black ,rogue1 of whom he at last rid himself by getting him to try the pleasant sensation of being hung by the neck4 ,the trick answers to that of the ,norse thief1 but the mode of effecting it differs widely4 ,having disposed of his master1 he engages himself to a carpenter1 whom he persuades to break into the king's storehouse4 ,the advice of the ,seanagal1 whom the king consults1 is that a hogshead of soft pitch be placed near the entrance4 ,the wright1 again making the venture1 sinks into the pitch1 and the ,shifty ,lad1 stepping in on his shoulders1 takes as much as he can carry1 and then sweeping off his master's head1 leaves the body in the hogshead4 ,again the ,seanagal is consulted1 and his answer is 8that they should set the trunk aloft on the points of the spears of the soldiers to be carried from town to town1 to see if they could find any one at all that would show sorrow for it40 ,as they pass by the wright's house1 his wife screams1 but the ,shifty ,lad cutting himself with an adze1 leads the captain of the guard to think that the cry was caused by sorrow at his own hurt4 ,the body is then by the king's order hung on a tree1 the guard being ordered to seize any one who should venture to take it down4 ,the lad driving before him a horse loaded with two kegs of whisky1 approaches the soldiers1 as though he wished to pass them stealthily1 and when they catch the horse's bridle1 he runs off leaving the men to drink themselves to sleep1 and then returning takes away the wright's body4 ,this exploit is followed by others which occur in no other version2 but the final scene is a feast1 at which1 according to the ,seanagal's prediction1 the ,shifty ,lad asks the king's daughter to dance4 ,the ,seanagal upon this puts a black mark upon him1 but the lad1 like ,morgiana in the story of 8,ali ,baba and the ,forty ,thieves10 discovering the mark1 puts another on the ,seanagal and on twenty other men besides him4 ,the king is then advised to say that the man who had done all these tricks1 that had been so well done1 must be exceedingly clever1 and that if he would come forward and give himself up he should have the princess for his wife4 ,all the marked men accordingly claim the prize2 and the craft of the ,shifty ,lad is once more called into practice1 to secure the maiden for himself4 ,from the comparison of these popular tales with each other we can see their common origin4 ,nations so widely separated as the ,norsemen1 ,hindoos1 ,spaniards1 ,egyptians and the early inhabitants of ,scotland1 could not have borrowed these stories from each other4 ,their resemblances--a thief of wonderful cunning1 his successes and escapes1 and final honor--all point to the fact that they are but different versions of the same story4 ,this one story could not have been communicated by one nation to the others1 and as the only way to account for the resemblances we are shut up to believe that the nations long ago all lived in one home1 from which they afterward separated to go to the different lands of their final settlements4 ,when we add to this evidence1 that from the sameness in the ideas of ,god held by the different nations in their descriptions of ,his power1 and even in the very names by which they designated ,god1 we are carried back to the early worship of the race1 and we see from all these evidences that1 originally1 man worshiped one ,god4 ,the human race did not begin life on the earth as a savage1 or as a child1 and was not developed from this condition to a higher state of intelligence2 but man began life as a full-formed1 mature1 intelligent creature4 ,from this high vantage ground he has descended1 first1 to the worship of many gods1 and later on1 of idols4 ,such degeneration has often happened in the history of the world4 ,the descendants of powerful nations have1 in the lapse of years1 become far inferior to their ancestors4 ,for example1 the ancient ,egyptians have left monuments whose construction baffles us4 ,we cannot imagine how they have raised and posed the immense stones1 nor can we ascertain the purpose of many of their buildings4 ,we talk of 8lost arts0 and 8lost civilizations40 ,we know that it has often happened that educated colored people from the southern ,united ,states1 have sunk to the low level of the people of ,africa when they have returned to the land of their fathers4 ,from the ,bible narrative1 as well as from the most ancient traditions of heathen nations1 we learn that at the first1 man held close intercourse with ,god and that he held this pure worship during many centuries4 ,the traditions of ancient nations confirm the ,bible account of the high position of man at the outset4 ,in the ,avesta1 the sacred book of the ,parsees1 who are known also as fire-worshipers1 we are told that the first king1 ,jemshid1 and his subjects1 after living for a time in the original home of the race of mankind1 removed to a secluded spot not far distant4 ,here1 there 8was neither overbearing nor mean-spiritedness1 neither stupidity nor violence1 neither poverty nor deceit1 neither puniness nor deformity1 neither huge teeth nor bodies beyond the usual measure4 ,the inhabitants suffered no defilement from the evil spirit4 ,they dwelt among odoriferous trees and golden pillars2 these were the largest1 best and most beautiful on earth2 they were themselves a tall and beautiful race40 ,the ,mexicans tell of the 8golden age of ,tezenco40 ,the ,peruvian tradition begins with the story of the two children of the ,sun1 who established a civilized country on the banks of ,lake ,titicaca4 ,hesiod records the ,greek tradition thus3 8,the immortal gods1 that tread the courts of heaven1 ,first made a golden race of men4 ,like gods they lived1 with happy1 careless souls1 ,from toil and pain exempt2 nor on them crept ,wretched old age1 but all their life was passed ,in feasting1 and their limbs no changes knew4 ,nought evil came them nigh2 and when they died1 ',twas but as if they were overcome by sleep4 ,all good things were their portion3 the fat soil ,bare them its fruits spontaneous1 fruit ungrudged ,and plentiful2 they1 at their own sweet will1 ,pursued in peace the tasks that seemed them good4 ,laden with blessings1 rich in flocks1 and dear ,to the great gods40 ,the ,chinese and ,hindoo traditions also point back to the beginning of the history of the human race as a time of happiness and perfection4 ,in those early ages man lived a long life1 and so the early worship of the one ,god could be handed down from age to age with scarce a chance of change4 ,thus we are brought down to the time of the ,deluge4 ,while there was a general tendency to evil on the part of all the descendants of ,adam1 ,god preserved some pure characters1 such as ,enoch and ,noah1 who kept the truth from utterly perishing from off the earth4 ,on account of the increasing wickedness of mankind1 ,god sent the ,deluge1 which destroyed all the race1 ,noah and his family alone excepted4 ,this we learn not only from the ,bible1 but from ,chinese1 ,hindoo1 ,egyptian1 ,greek and ,mexican traditions4 ,soon after this deluge1 the descendants of ,noah multiplied greatly1 and on account of their wicked attempt to build the tower of ,babel1 ,god confused their language4 ,thus the great dispersion of nations was brought about1 through their inability to communicate with each other by means of speech4 ,they separated inevitably from each other4 ,,the ,,dispersion ,,of ,,nations4 ,somewhere to the north of ,persia1 in the land of ,khiva1 was probably the second cradle of the race4 ,this land is now the central meeting place of empires2 here1 ,russia from the north1 ,england1 through ,india1 from the south1 and the ,european powers from the west are coming together4 ,this was the point of departure whence the nations started for their future homes4 ,from the three sons of ,noah came the nations by whom the whole earth was overspread4 ,let us keep in mind that ,noah's worship of ,god was pure1 that he preserved the true faith in ,jehovah1 that he handed this to his sons1 and that the degeneration into the worship of many gods and idols took place later in history4 ,the religion of the world was still one4 ,not that all men accepted it1 for many wickedly rebelled against it1 but the knowledge of the true ,god was too fresh in their minds for them to set up other gods for themselves4 ,not only this1 but while they were all together1 each new generation received instruction from those who did worship ,god in the right way4 ,it was only when they were scattered and left solely to their recollections of these teachings2 that their religions began gradually to differ from that which they had known when together4 ,then1 also1 the peoples began to differ from each other2 then those who went to the cold north or warmer south1 to the isles of the sea or to inland hills and valleys1 gradually changed their habits of life and worship according to their surroundings4 ,from the mountains of ,armenia1 where ,noah landed from the ark1 the streams of population poured forth to all parts of the world2 north-west to ,europe1 west to ,asia ,minor1 south-west to ,egypt and ,africa1 south to ,arabia1 south-east to ,persia and ,india1 and east to ,china4 ,of course1 this was not the work of a day4 ,it took ages for the nations to reach the more distant lands2 ages for them to become settled in their new homes2 ages for them to people these lands densely4 ,hundreds of years after the deluge1 some of the peoples who reached the western shores of the ,pacific ,ocean1 and who ventured on its waters1 were carried away on the stream whose currents sweep to the north1 then to the east1 and thence down again to the south4 ,it has happened in the last few centuries that ,malays and ,japanese sailors have thus been swept away by the ,kuro ,shiwo 7,black ,stream74 ,thus1 in all probability1 the continent of ,america was peopled4 ,thus the present ,japanese nation originated from the mixing of these ,malays from south-eastern ,asia and the ,ainos1 the nation which had made its way overland to ,japan4 ,in the languages and traditions of these nations1 even after they were well settled1 are to be found traces of ,monotheism4 ,not distinct and clear1 it is true1 for the ,polytheistic worship of after ages has destroyed to a great extent these indications of the early worship of one ,god1 and yet in almost all systems of religion a supreme place is given to some one ,deity1 who is above all the others1 and who is recognized as the ruler of all4 ,illustration3 ,illman ,brothers1 ,engravers ,printers4 ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,ten ,,thousand ,,idols ,,in ,,japan4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,whence ,,came ,,the ,,many ,,gods ,,and ,,idols8 ,the fair humanities of old religion1 ,the power1 the beauty and the majesty4 ,they had their haunts in dales or piny mountain1 ,or forest by slow stream1 or pebbly spring1 ,or chasms and watery depths4 ,,samuel ,,taylor ,,coleridge4 ,we have seen that the first worship of the world was of one ,god4 ,we have watched the world in its processes of changing as the nations were separated from each other4 ,we have found that not long after the settlement of the nations in their new lands the worship of many gods appeared1 and with this worship1 or soon after it began1 the worship of idols appeared also4 ,the number of gods and their idols multiplied rapidly1 until they numbered hundreds of millions4 ,there were gods of every name and shape2 gods of heaven1 earth1 and hell2 gods of occupations and employments2 gods of every living creature1 and of many inanimate things4 ,where did they come from8 ,where and when did that great change occur1 when man ceased to worship one ,god and began to multiply his gods and idols8 ,how did it come about8 ,what influences produced the change8 ,why was the world permitted to wander so far from the truth8 ,all these1 and a hundred kindred questions come to us at this time4 ,can we answer any of them8 ,the sources of information are not very numerous4 ,the course of ages has destroyed1 or at least altered1 many of the early records4 ,it is like those old manuscripts from which some economical scribe has rubbed out all the writing originally there1 to make way for his own work4 ,can these faded palimpsests be restored8 ,we must look down beneath these uppermost records1 beneath the traditions1 legends and sacred writings of later ages1 and we can then discover1 but faintly traceable it is true1 but still worthy of trust1 some dim outlines of the introductions of ,polytheism4 ,in the last fifty years1 wonderful treasures of information have been brought to light1 and scholars skilled in ,eastern learning have been raised up to aid in bringing this information more fully to the ,western world4 ,english1 ,german and ,american students have given us the sacred books of ,hindus1 ,parsees and other peoples1 and the story of their work is intensely interesting4 ,illustration3 ,,ancient ,,serpent ,,idol4 ,,sources ,,of ,,information4 ,the ,vedas1 the sacred books of the ,hindus1 are the oldest existing sacred writings1 excepting those from which ,moses compiled the earlier chapters of ,genesis4 ,in these ,vedas there is little of the confused mass of mythological statements1 gross superstitions and the hosts of gods of later ,brahminism4 ,here is presented a picture of the simple nature-worship of the people of ,india in their earliest history4 ,having been composed so soon after the dispersion of the nations1 or rather the hymns contained in it having been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation1 it is a very valuable source of information just here4 ,before the beginning of this century the ,vedas were almost unknown to ,european scholars4 ,since that time great attention has been devoted to the subject1 especially since ,max ,mller went to ,england to seek the aid of ,englishmen1 and more particularly of the ,east ,india ,company1 in publishing his translation of the ,vedas4 ,at present we can read them for ourselves in tolerably accurate translations4 ,until within a hundred years1 there was no direct way of learning of the faith1 and manners1 and customs of ancient ,persia4 ,it was known that there was an authoritative record of the earliest ,persian religion1 a ,bible of the ,parsees1 but no ,european had ever read it4 ,in #aged1 a young ,french student of ,paris1 chanced to see a few lines of an ancient manuscript in an unknown language4 ,he at once determined to go to ,persia1 or ,india1 whence the manuscript had come1 and to learn more about it4 ,as he could not secure the means for the journey1 in any other why1 he enlisted as a private soldier to go to ,india4 ,just before sailing1 however1 he received the means to go1 and his discharge from the army4 ,he traveled through ,india until he came to the borders of ,persia4 ,from some ,parsee priests he learned the language1 and gained some slight knowledge of the ,zend-,avesta1 the ,parsees' ,bible4 ,he pursued his investigations for four years more1 and then published his translation of the ,avesta4 ,but his work was incomplete1 and while he rendered a great service to the world in showing the way to a knowledge of the ,avesta1 it was left for later scholars more fully and accurately to prepare the translation of the book4 ,the ancient ,egyptian sacred books have been almost wholly lost1 it is believed4 ,just enough remains to give us the outlines of their early worship4 ,another source of information is the ancient monuments4 ,it was the custom of ,oriental people to preserve important parts of their history by engraving and carving descriptions of them on their memorial stones4 ,when it is remembered that all knowledge of the characters or letters in which these inscriptions are made had faded away1 we can see how difficult the task of explaining them must have been4 ,by careful comparisons and patient investigations methods of interpreting them were devised4 ,these were severally tried2 if found not to be capable of successful application they were rejected2 and thus one plan after another was tried until the right one was found4 ,some of the inscriptions were in the form of pictures with combinations of syllables added1 or hieroglyphics1 as they are called4 ,from these monuments a great deal has been learned about the early history and worship of the nations4 ,from these sacred books1 the traditions of the nations1 and from tracing back the development of religions with the aid of monumental inscriptions1 we get a tolerably clear picture of the passing from the worship of the one ,god into the worship of many gods and idols4 ,this change took place gradually1 not abruptly4 ,it was a result of the natural degeneration of the race4 ,there were certain depraved tendencies of the human heart which brought it about4 ,it was a work of time to develop these and give them full play4 ,we must keep in mind these facts and the condition of the human race just at this time1 if we would correctly apprehend this change and its slowly-moving but efficient causes4 ,,the ,,transition4 ,the worship of one ,god passed into the worship of the powers and objects of nature4 ,this grew out of a natural awe at the sight of the mighty forces evidently at work and yet inexplicable to the nations in their uncultured state4 ,their habits of life were simple4 ,while they journeyed1 as they tilled their fields1 or fed their flocks1 their attention was drawn to the sky1 now clear1 now cloudy2 to the sun1 now shining in beauty1 now obscured in the darkness of night2 to the day-dawn and the sunset1 to the resurrection of vegetable life in the spring1 the growth of crops through the heat of summer1 the ripening harvests of autumn1 and the cold of winter and the barrenness of earth4 ,they gazed in awe upon the storms2 upon the lightning as it glared in the midst of the dark1 black clouds2 upon the tall trees bending beneath the strong winds2 upon the mountains shaking in the earthquake or vomiting their contents with rumblings1 and flame1 and smoke4 ,they listened in astonishment to the noise of thunder1 to the whistling1 and sighing1 and roaring of the wind4 ,with wonder they saw the earth into which they cast their seed return it to them in the manifold harvest2 they watched the fruits and grains mature and ripen4 ,all about them mysterious processes were going on1 which they could not comprehend4 ,were these processes moved by a ,strong ,arm8 were they under the control of a ,mighty ,power8 or were they self-moved and guided by their own inner1 hidden forces8 ,contact with nature kindles the imagination4 ,in early days almost all of the nations were herdsmen and agriculturists4 ,their dwellings were simple and such as each could erect for himself2 their food was such as each could provide for himself by the chase1 or from his own flocks or from his own fields4 ,a few were selected to be the rulers of the rest1 or to pursue some simple mechanical pursuits4 ,but the majority were brought into the closest contact with nature4 ,their poetic imaginations began to see life in nature's powers and objects1 they began to personify these and then to people them with creatures of their own minds' making4 ,they saw reflected their own passions and conditions in the events of nature4 ,they credited the beings dwelling in the skies1 or storms1 or stars1 with feelings1 passions1 quarrels like their own4 ,when the sky was clear1 when the winds were gentle1 when the seas and lakes were unruffled in their calm repose1 when the destructive powers of nature were at rest1 they imagined that these beings were at peace among themselves4 ,but when the skies were overcast1 when the winds arose in fury1 when earth and sea were convulsed1 these beings were angry and at war with each other4 ,finding themselves unable to contend with these strong powers1 unable to resist their overwhelming influences1 they gradually recognized the beings dwelling in them as superior to themselves1 and their awe and mystery led them to give these superior beings the place of gods4 ,they could not prevent the sun from taking his departure at the close of day4 ,they could not resist the strong force of wind or wave4 ,they were mere driven chaff2 as pygmies whom these giants could easily overthrow2 as creatures of a day in the presence of these1 seemingly1 ever-enduring beings4 ,so man passed from the worship of ,god to the worship of the works and forces which ,god had made2 from reverence for the ,creator to reverence for the created4 ,,the ,,first ,,hymns ,,and ,,prayers4 ,reverence for the gods was not merely a silent observance and awe-stricken contemplation of the great powers at work in nature4 ,the observers felt that these beings held some relation to themselves1 and that praises1 prayers and offerings would not only be acceptable to the gods1 but that they were really demanded in order to avert the anger of the gods or secure their favor4 ,hence the earliest literature of the race is devoted to singing the praises or invoking the aid of the gods4 ,priests were soon selected to represent the people at the seasons of sacrifice and to give themselves more continually to prayer than would be possible to men generally4 ,the worship of these early days was exceedingly simple and the priests possessed no unusual powers4 ,as ,whittier has expressed it3 8,the morning twilight of the race ,sends down these matin psalms2 ,and still with wondering eyes we trace ,the simple prayers to ,luna's grace1 ,that ,vedic verse embalms40 ,the ,american ,indians1 the ,aztecs of western ,south ,america1 the early ,hindoos1 the ,chinese and the ,parsees all exhibit in their sacred writings this nature-worship4 ,traces of it are still to be seen in the ,parsees' worship of the sun1 in the worship of heaven and earth among the ,chinese1 in the ,indians' reverence for the ,great ,spirit1 in the ,peruvian sun-worship and in many other features of worship among the heathen nations of to-day4 ,let us look at some specimens of early religious poetry4 ,the first is from ,monier ,williams' translations of the ,vedas4 ,varuna is the god of the 8moisting sky10 ,agni is the god of fire1 ,srya1 the sun-god1 ,indra the atmosphere-god4 8,the mighty ,varuna1 who rules above1 looks down ,upon these worlds1 his kingdom1 as if close at hand4 ,when men imagine they do aught by stealth1 he knows it4 ,no one can stand1 or walk1 or softly glide along1 ,or hide in dark recess1 or lurk in secret cell1 ,but ,varuna detects him1 and his movements spies4 ,two persons may devise some plot1 together sitting1 ,and think themselves alone2 but he1 the king1 is there-- ,a third--and sees it all4 ,his messengers descend ,countless from his abode1 forever traversing ,this world1 and scanning with a thousand eyes its inmates4 ,whate'er exists within this earth1 and all within the sky1 ,yea1 all that is beyond1 ,king ,varuna perceives4 ,the winkings of men's eyes are numbered all by him3 ,he wields the universe as gamesters handle dice4 8,indra1 twin-brother of the god of fire1 ,when thou wast born1 thy mother ,aditi1 ,gave thee1 her lusty child1 the thrilling draught ,of mountain-growing ,soma--source of life ,and never-dying vigor to thy frame4 ,thou art our guardian1 advocate and friend1 ,a brother1 father1 mother--all combined4 8,most fatherly of fathers1 we are thine1 ,and thou art ours4 ,oh6 let thy pitying soul ,turn to us in compassion when we praise thee1 ,and slay us not for one sin or for many4 ,deliver us to-day1 to-morrow1 every day4 ,vainly the demon dares thy might2 in vain ,strives to deprive us of thy watery treasures4 ,earth quakes beneath the crashing of thy bolts4 ,pierced1 shattered lies the foe--his cities crushed1 ,his armies overthrown1 his fortresses ,shivered to fragments2 then the pent-up waters1 ,released from long imprisonment1 descend ,in torrents to the earth1 and swollen rivers1 ,foaming and rolling to their ocean-home1 ,proclaim the triumph of the ,thunderer4 8,agni1 thou art a sage1 a priest1 a king1 ,protector1 father of the sacrifice4 ,commissioned by us men1 thou dost ascend ,a messenger1 conveying to the sky ,our hymns and offerings4 ,though thy origin ,be threefold1 now from air1 and now from water1 ,now from the mystic double ,arani1 ,thou art thyself a mighty god1 a lord1 ,giver of life and immortality1 ,one in thy essence1 but to mortals three2 ,displaying thine eternal triple form1 ,as fire on earth1 as lightning in the air1 ,as sun in heaven4 ,thou art the cherished guest ,in every household--father1 brother1 son1 ,friend1 benefactor1 guardian--all in one4 ,deliver1 mighty lord1 thy worshipers1 ,purge us from taint of sin1 and when we die1 ,deal mercifully with us on the pyre1 ,burning our bodies with their load of guilt1 ,but bearing our eternal part on high ,to luminous abodes and realms of bliss1 ,forever there to dwell with righteous men4 8,behold the rays of ,dawn1 like heralds1 lead on high ,the ,sun1 that men may see the great all-knowing god4 ,the stars slink off like thieves1 in company with night1 ,before the all-seeing eye1 whose beams reveal his presence1 ,gleaming like brilliant flames1 to nation after nation4 ,srya1 with flaming locks1 clear-sighted god of day1 ,thy seven ruddy mares bear on thy rushing car4 ,with these thy self-yoked steeds1 seven daughters of thy chariot1 ,onward thou dost advance4 ,to thy refulgent orb1 ,beyond this lower gloom1 and upward to the light ,would we ascend1 ,o ,sun1 thou god among the gods40 ,the ,samoyedes thus addressed ,jumala1 the god of the air3 8,harness now thyself1 ,jumala1 ,ruler of the air1 thy horses6 ,bring them forth1 thy rapid racers1 ,drive the sledge with glittering colors1 ,passing through our bones1 our ankles1 ,through our flesh that shakes and trembles1 ,through our veins which seem all broken1 ,knit the flesh and bones together1 ,fasten vein to vein more firmly1 ,let our joints be filled with silver1 ,let our veins with gold be running60 ,the principal ,chinese deities are called ,tien-,chi1 or ,heaven and ,earth4 ,confucius preserved in his writings the ancient worship of these gods4 ,the ,mongolians also worshiped the ,teng-,ri1 or god of the sky4 ,the ,chinese have for centuries believed in 8celestial spirits10 as they call them1 spirits of the sun1 and moon1 and stars2 spirits of clouds1 winds1 rain and thunder2 spirits of mountains1 fields1 rivers1 grains and trees4 ,all these were reverenced as gods4 ,so the ,egyptians worshiped natural objects and powers4 ,indeed1 every one of the religions which existed in antiquity1 and of which anything is known1 possessed nature-worship as their primary element4 ,the ancient religions which continue unto this day1 also possess this characteristic1 and though covered with the dbris and overgrowth of centuries of superstitious teachings1 still it is to be distinctly traced4 ,,where ,,did ,,idol-,,worship ,,come ,,from8 ,thus far we have no trace of any other than the direct worship either of ,god2 or of the invisible spirits1 or gods1 that were supposed to dwell in the objects of nature2 or of those objects themselves4 ,as yet no attempt had been made to represent them by images or idols4 ,when1 where and how did the worship of idols take its rise8 ,these are questions difficult to answer4 ,in the ,bible the first distinct traces of idolatry are found in ,genesis xxxi1 #ai1 where we read that 8,rachel had stolen the images that were her father's40 ,these images1 or idols1 or gods1 as both ,jacob and ,laban term them1 were the teraphim or luck-givers4 ,they had a human head and were used in divination or fortune-telling4 ,they were consulted as oracles4 ,but these could hardly have been the first idols1 for their idea was too well developed4 ,there must have been a gradual introduction of idols and of the idea of making representations of the gods4 ,the account in ,genesis1 just referred to1 speaks as though it were no unusual thing to have gods2 there is no expression of strangeness at the occurrence1 nor anything that would indicate that these were the first known idols4 ,what follows is suggested as the probable line of development in the idea of idols1 but so far as is now known1 there is no way of definitely determining the question4 ,illustration3 ,,teraphim4 ,finding it difficult to fasten their thoughts on invisible1 intangible beings1 men1 at the beginning1 probably sought to aid their worship by selecting some object to represent the being worshiped4 ,this object was not to be worshiped in and for itself1 but1 simply1 as an aid to devotion1 representing the being worshiped4 ,then1 gradually1 the worship was transferred to the object and withdrawn from the being represented4 ,or1 it may be that the being worshiped was supposed in some manner to dwell in the idol1 and was worshiped thus4 ,or1 it may be that meteoric stones were regarded as images of the gods sent down from the heavens4 ,or1 it may have been in several of these ways1 or in all combined4 ,the sthetic tastes of men would soon lead them to give a more shapely appearance to the meteoric masses of stone1 and then1 as these must of necessity be scarce1 copies of them were sculptured4 ,as men became more and more accustomed to these idols and less and less spiritual in their worship they would venture to give expression to their ideas of the unseen gods4 ,other materials were used and1 as might be required by the materials1 other shapes were of necessity given4 ,at first1 it would seem1 that only representations of animals were attempted1 then1 as in the teraphim1 the head of man was attached to various animal forms1 as also in ,dagon1 the fish-god1 which was a human figure1 terminating in a fish4 ,illustration3 ,,dagon1 ,,the ,,fish-,,god4 ,when this introduction of idols occurred1 we cannot tell2 probably1 not long after the worship of nature had become established1 and the worship of one ,god had been generally forgotten4 ,not very much more than one hundred and fifty years elapsed between the death of ,noah and the birth of ,jacob1 so that in all probability idols had not long been in use when this incident of ,jacob and ,laban took place4 ,not long after this time the full human figure was used in idol representations1 and in a short period a collection of idols would have represented almost every conceivable object1 and being1 and creature of the wild fancy of man4 ,these were made of all manner of materials1 of all shapes and sizes4 ,the highest conceptions of art were lavished on some of these idols1 and at the same time the rudest notions of the most barbarous nations were also expressed in them4 ,the word idol originally meant simply an image1 and only in after ages was an idol regarded as itself a divine thing or being1 rather than merely an image of it4 ,illustration3 ,,ancient ,,serpent ,,idol4 ,thus we have traced the worship of the world down through the ages of antiquity4 ,we have had to rely upon other than merely historic sources of information4 ,we have seen the gradual introduction of ,polytheism 7many gods' worship71 and of idolatry 7the worship of visible forms74 ,for the rest of our way the light shines more and more clearly4 ,historic times are now reached1 and we shall find much less difficulty in tracing the stories of religions3 and we shall also find data from which we may reason back1 and so find confirmation of what has thus far been of necessity somewhat shadowy4 ,illustration3 ,,group ,,of ,,altars4 ,,roman4 ,,assyrian4 ,,egyptian4 ,,egyptian4 ,,assyrian4 ,,babylonian4 ,,grecian4 ,,grecian4 ,,persian4 ,before passing to these1 however1 we shall turn aside for a little to consider the testimony which ancient heathen records and traditions furnish on the genuineness of the ,bible history1 and also to notice the singular system of ,hebrew worship1 standing alone like a green oasis in the weary wastes of heathenism4 ,illustration3 ,,idol ,,from ,,hindustan4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,sacred ,,and ,,heathen ,,traditions4 ,what appears to be of most importance is1 the fact1 attested by the hieroglyphic paintings of the ,mexican1 as well as by the tales now current in all quarters from the ,arctic ,ocean to ,cape ,horn1 that one of these great periods1 called 8the ,age of ,waters10 closed with a convulsion1 the account of which1 in all its broader outlines1 is remarkably akin to the ,mosaic record of the ,deluge4--,,archdeacon ,,charles ,,hardwick4 ,from time to time during the past half century travelers have unearthed traditions from among heathen nations concerning the early history of the world4 ,they have deciphered inscriptions1 found the key to the hieroglyphics1 or writings whose letters were yet pictures in form1 and1 by questioning1 learned from the heathen peoples themselves of traditions and legends which bear upon the prominent events of early history4 ,these narratives are from a variety of sources and from peoples differing widely in locality1 language and civilization4 ,they are matters of curious interest1 and they serve to confirm the ,biblical stories of the creation1 deluge1 dispersion of the races and other events4 ,they agree to a great extent among themselves1 just as far as is really possible considering the changing circumstances of the peoples who hold them4 ,but they serve another and more important purpose to us just here4 ,they throw much light on the early history of the religions of which they form a part4 ,they confirm the idea of the original unity of the race and of the early existence of one religion for the world4 ,the oldest civilizations of the world are1 respectively1 those of ,egypt1 ,babylon1 ,phenicia1 the ,hindu and the ,greek4 ,among each of these the traditions of the early events referred to above are found4 ,almost1 though not quite1 all the nations of the world try to give some account of the origin of the world and of nations4 ,many of the uncivilized peoples1 as the ,indians of ,america1 the ,mexicans and the ,pacific ,islanders1 have some popular stories of the deluge4 ,we propose to place side by side some of these1 that they may be compared with each other4 ,the traditions of the creation are often mixed up with those of the deluge or the re-creation1 and we give of them the versions accepted by the best scholars4 ,,traditions ,,of ,,creation4 ,among many peoples is found the teaching that man was made of the dust of the earth4 ,the ,greeks represent ,prometheus as moulding from clay the first human beings1 and giving them life by means of fire which he stole from heaven4 ,the ,peruvians called the first man ,alpa ,camasca1 or 8animated earth40 ,the ,mandans1 a tribe of ,indians of ,north ,america1 believed that the ,great ,spirit formed two figures of clay1 which he dried and animated by the breath of his mouth4 ,to the one was given the name of the 8first man10 to the other1 8companion40 ,the ,otaheitans said that ,god made man of red earth1 and the ,dyacks of ,borneo1 that he had been made of common dust4 ,the ,zoroastrians 7or ,parsees7 in the ,bundehesh1 a book containing none but ancient traditions1 have many traditions regarding the creation and fall of man4 ,the garden of ,eden was undoubtedly in southern ,persia1 or near by1 hence these are traditions which have lingered around the spot where the events happened4 ,according to the ,parsees1 there was a garden where the first human beings lived1 and in it two trees1 the one bearing 8,haoma10 supposed to give immortality to those who drank its juice4 7,haoma and the ,hindu word 8,soma0 are probably different forms of one word4 ,the ,hindu ,soma was possessed of the same properties as the ,parsee ,haoma74 ,then follows a story of the first temptation of man1 bearing the closest resemblance to the ,bible story1 even in the incident of the tempter having taken the form of a serpent4 ,the inhabitants of the ,caroline ,islands1 a group in ,micronesia1 said3 8,in the beginning there was no death1 but a certain ,erigiregers1 who was one of the evil spirits1 and who was sorry to see the happiness of the human race1 contrived to get for them a sort of death from which they should never wake40 ,the ,hottentots said that 8their first parents had committed so great a fault1 and so grievously offended the ,supreme ,god1 that he had cursed both them and their children40 ,berosus1 the ,chaldean1 read from the inscriptions on the ,assyrian monuments1 the tradition that there had been ten kings before the deluge4 ,ten antediluvian heroes are mentioned in ,genesis4 ,the legends of the ,parsees say the same thing4 ,in ,india the traditions tell of nine ,brahmadikas1 who1 with ,brahma1 the first of all1 make ten1 whom they called the ,ten ,fathers4 ,the ,chinese count ten emperors1 who reigned before historical times began4 ,there is a multitude of correspondences similar to these4 ,these are selected simply as specimens4 ,there is another tradition1 well-nigh universal1 and agreeing in all important particulars as told by different nations4 ,this is that concerning the flood4 ,in addition to traditions there are coins1 medals and monumental inscriptions which perpetuate the story1 as is illustrated in the specimen coin given below4 ,,traditions ,,of ,,the ,,deluge4 ,let us keep in mind the differences between the nations holding the tradition4 ,it was impossible for them to have conferred with one another1 or to have copied from each other4 ,the confusion of languages1 their wide separation in point of space and time1 prevented this4 ,the oldest historic nation1 ,egypt1 having lost most of its sacred books before they were made known to other nations or even to the later generations among themselves1 possess few traces of the tradition4 ,one passage in the writings of ,manetho1 the historian1 distinctly refers to the deluge4 8,the ,book of the ,dead0 constantly refers to the sun-god1 ,ra1 as voyaging in a boat on the celestial ocean1 and ,ra is said to have been so disgusted with the insolence of men that he determined to exterminate the race4 ,illustration3 ,,coin ,,representing ,,the ,,deluge4 ,clear and complete is the account which ,berosus has preserved4 ,he was a learned ,chaldean priest1 living in the time of ,alexander the ,great1 about #cbe ,b4,c4 ,this narrative is a translation made from the inscriptions of the ,assyrian monuments1 and compared with traditions of his own time4 ,,the ,,chaldean ,,story4 ,after the death of ,ardates1 his son1 ,xisuthrus1 reigned eighteen sori 7an uncertain period74 ,in his time happened a great deluge1 the history of which is thus described3 ,the deity ,kronos appeared to him in a vision and warned him that on the #aeth day of the month ,dsius there would be a flood by which mankind would be destroyed4 ,he therefore enjoined him to write a history of the beginning1 course and end of all things2 and to bury it in the ,city of the ,sun1 at ,sippara4#a ,he was also to build a vessel1 and to take with him into it his friends and relatives1 he was to put on board of it food and drink1 with different reptiles1 birds and quadrupeds4 ,as soon as he had made all arrangements he was to commit himself to the deep4 ,having asked the ,deity whither he was to sail1 he was answered3 8,to the gods1 after having offered a prayer for the good of mankind40 ,whereupon1 not being disobedient to this heavenly vision1 he built a vessel five stadia in length and two in breadth4 ,into this he put everything which he had prepared1 and embarked in it with his wife1 his children and his personal friends4 ,after the flood had been upon the earth and had in due time abated1 ,xisuthrus sent out some birds from the vessel1 which not finding any food1 nor any place where they could rest1 returned to the vessel4 ,after an interval of some days1 ,xisuthrus sent out the birds a second time1 and now they returned to the ship with mud on their feet4 ,a third time he repeated the experiment and then they returned no more4 ,xisuthrus hence judged that the earth was visible above the waters1 and accordingly he made an opening in the vessel1 and seeing that it was stranded upon the summit of a certain mountain1 he quitted it with his wife and daughter and the pilot4 ,having then paid his adoration to the earth1 and having built an altar and offered sacrifice to the gods1 he1 together with those who had left the vessel with him1 disappeared4 ,those who had remained in the vessel1 when they found that ,xisuthrus and his companions did not return1 in their turn left the vessel and began to look for him1 calling him by his name4 ,him they saw no more1 but a voice came to them from heaven1 bidding them lead pious lives1 and so join him who was gone to live with the gods1 and further informing them that his wife1 his daughter and the pilot had shared the same honor4 ,it told them1 moreover1 that they should return to ,babylon1 and how it was ordained that they should take up the writings that had been buried in ,sippara1 and impart them to mankind1 and that the country where they then were was the land of ,armenia4 ,having heard these words this company offered sacrifices to the gods1 and taking a circuit journeyed to ,babylon4 ,the vessel having been thus stranded in ,armenia1 and parts of it still remaining in the mountains of the ,corcyrans 7or ,cordyans1 i4 e41 the ,kurds of ,kurdistan71 in ,armenia1 the people scrape off the bitumen from the vessel and make use of it by way of charms4 ,now1 when those who were so commanded returned to ,babylon1 they dug up the writings which had been buried at ,sippara2 they also founded many cities and built temples1 and thus the country of ,babylon became inhabited again4 ,the ,hindoo narrative has been colored by the character of that people1 but yet it is preserved with great accuracy1 and possesses many points of likeness to the ,biblical story4 ,,the ,,hindoo ,,tradition4 ,the traditions of ,india appear in many forms4 ,the one which most remarkably agrees with the ,biblical account is that contained in the ,mahbhrata4 ,we are there told that ,brahma1 having taken the form of a fish1 appeared to the pious ,manu 7,satya1 i4 e41 the righteous1 as ,noah also is called71 on the banks of the river ,wirini4 ,thence1 at his request1 ,manu transferred him to the ,ganges when he had grown bigger1 and finally1 when he was too large for even the ,ganges1 to the ocean4 ,brahma now announces to ,manu the approach of the ,deluge1 and bids him build a ship1 and put in it all kinds of seeds1 together with the seven ,rishic1 or holy beings4 ,the flood begins and covers the whole earth4 ,brahma himself appears in the form of a horned fish and the vessel being made fast to him1 he draws it for many years1 and finally lands on the highest summit of ,mount ,himarat 7i4 e41 the ,himalaya74 ,afterwards1 by the command of ,god1 the ship is made fast1 and in memory of the event1 the mountain is called ,naubandhana 7i4 e41 ship binding74 ,by the favor of ,brahma1 ,manu1 after the ,flood1 creates the new race of mankind1 which is thenceforth termed ,manudsha1 or born of ,manu4 ,the ,chinese story is sometimes called in question as possibly not referring to the general deluge1 but to some local flood4 ,the truth is1 we know as yet comparatively little about the story1 which is as follows3 ,,the ,,chinese ,,tradition4 ,fuh-he is the reputed founder of the ,chinese civilization and the author of the ,yhi-king1 the oldest of the sacred books4 ,according to the legend1 he is represented as escaping from the waters of a deluge1 and re-appearing as the first man at the production of a renovated world4 ,he is attended by seven companions1 his wife1 three sons and three daughters4 ,dr4 ,gutzlaff1 long a resident in ,china1 says that he saw in one of the ,buddhist temples a representation of the deluge in plaster work4 ,let it be kept in mind1 that ,buddhism incorporated in every land to which it went all the traditions1 myths and legends which it found current among the people4 8,in beautiful stucco10 ,dr4 ,gutzlaff says1 8was depicted the scene where ,kwan-,yin1 the ,goddess of ,mercy1 looks down from heaven upon the lonely ,fuh-he 7or ,noah7 in his ark1 amidst the raging waves of a deluge1 with the dove with an olive branch in its beak1 flying toward the vessel40 ,passing to the other side of the ,pacific ,ocean1 we find among the ,mexicans and the ,americans traditions of the same character as the above4 ,these agree so precisely that they cannot be a myth1 a mere invention1 but must of necessity1 be the recollection of a real1 terrible event1 indelibly impressed on the memories of their ancestors1 and faithfully handed down4 ,that it has never been forgotten1 nor its important points altered1 even though the dress of the story has been changed1 is an evidence of the awful impression which this judgment of ,god left upon the nations descending from the survivors4 ,the ,mexican traditions were first taken down as they were told to the ,dominican missionaries4 ,travelers have compared their accounts with the hieroglyphics on ancient ,mexican monuments and found them to agree4 ,,the ,,mexican ,,legend4 8,of the different nations that inhabit ,mexico10 says ,a4 von ,humboldt1 8the following had paintings resembling the deluge of ,coxcox1 namely1 the ,aztecs1 the ,mixtecs1 the ,zapotecs1 the ,tlascaltecs and the ,mechoacans4 ,the ,noah1 ,xisuthras1 or ,manu of these nations1 is termed ,coxcox1 ,teo ,cipactli1 or ,tezpi4 ,he saved himself with his wife1 ,xochiquetzatl1 in a bark1 or1 according to other traditions1 on a raft4 ,the painting represents ,coxcox in the midst of the water waiting for a bark4 ,the mountain1 the summit of which arises above the waters1 is the peak of ,colhuacan1 the ,ararat of the ,mexicans4 ,at the foot of the mountain are the heads of ,coxcox and his wife4 ,the latter is known by two tresses in the form of horns1 denoting the female sex4 ,the men born after the deluge were dumb3 the dove from the top of a tree distributed among them tongues1 represented under the form of small commas40 ,of the ,mechoacan tradition he writes1 8that ,coxcox1 whom they called ,tezpi1 embarked in a spacious acalli with his wife1 his children1 several animals and some grain4 ,when the ,great ,spirit ordered the waters to withdraw1 ,tezpi sent out from his bark a vulture1 the zopilote1 or vultur aura4 ,this bird did not return on account of the carcasses with which the earth was strewn4 ,tezpi sent out other birds1 one of which1 the humming-bird1 alone returned1 holding in its beak a branch clad with leaves4 ,tezpi1 seeing that fresh verdure covered the soil1 quitted his bark near the mountain of ,colhuacan40 ,the ,peruvians also have legends of the deluge as have many of the ,polynesian islanders4 ,,the ,,fiji ,,islanders' ,,tradition4 ,the ,fiji ,islanders say that 8after the islands had been peopled by the first man and woman1 a great rain took place1 by which they were finally submerged2 but before the highest places were covered by the waters1 two large double canoes made their appearance4 ,in one of these was ,rokora1 the god of carpenters1 in the other ,rokola1 his head workman1 who picked up some of the people and kept them on board until the waters had subsided2 after which they were again landed on the island4 ,it is reported1 that in former times1 canoes were always kept in readiness against another inundation4 ,the persons thus saved1 eight in number1 were landed at ,mbenga1 where the highest of their gods is said to have made his first appearance4 ,by virtue of this tradition1 the chiefs of ,mbenga take rank before all others1 and have always acted a conspicuous part among the ,fijis4 ,they style themselves ,ngalidura-ki-langi--subject to heaven alone40 ,,american ,,indian ,,traditions4 ,many of the tribes of ,north ,america related in their rude legends that the human race had been destroyed by a deluge1 and that their god1 to re-people the earth1 had changed animals into men4 ,the traveler1 ,henry1 repeats a tradition which he had heard from the ,indians of the ,lakes4 ,formerly the ,father of the ,indian tribes lived toward the rising sun4 ,having been warned by a dream that a deluge was coming to destroy the earth1 he constructed a raft1 on which he saved himself with his family and all animals4 ,he floated thus many months on the water4 ,the animals1 which then had the power of speech1 complained aloud and murmured against him4 ,at last a new earth appeared1 and he stepped down on it with all these creatures1 who thenceforward lost the power of speech as a punishment for their murmurs against their preserver4 ,,the ,,greek ,,story4 ,hellas has two versions of a flood1 one associated with ,ogyges1 and the other1 in a far more elaborate form1 with ,deucalion4 ,both1 however1 are of late origin4 ,they were unknown to ,homer and ,hesiod4 ,herodotus1 though he mentions ,deucalion as one of the first kings of the ,hellenes1 says not a word about this flood4 ,pindar is the first writer who mentions it4 ,in ,apollodorus and ,ovid the story appears in a much more definite shape1 though1 of course1 this is but a re-writing of the early tradition4 ,finally1 ,lucian gives a narrative not very different from that of ,ovid1 except that he makes provision for the safety of the animals1 which ,ovid does not4 ,he attributes the necessity for the ,deluge to the exceeding wickedness of the existing race of men1 and declares that the earth opened and sent forth waters to swallow them up1 as well as that heavy rain fell upon them4 ,deucalion1 as the one righteous man1 escaped with his wife and children and the animals he had put into the chest and landed on the top of ,parnassus1 after nine days and nine nights1 during which the chief part of ,hellas was under water1 and all men perished except a few who reached the tops of the highest mountains4 ,plutarch mentions the dove which ,deucalion made use of to ascertain whether the flood was abated1 though he may have borrowed this from the ,septuagint version of the ,old ,testament1 access to which he had probably enjoyed1 and with which he was most likely familiar4 ,the many points of agreement will be readily noted4 ,the fact of a deluge of waters sent by the ,supreme ,being1 as a punishment for man's wickedness2 the saving of a chosen few by means of a boat2 the re-peopling of the earth by these1 all present points of likeness to the ,biblical account4 ,this is inexplicable unless the record is true and all the nations of the earth were made of one blood4 ,but these are not all of the remarkable agreements4 ,of the same character as the above stories1 are the traditions of the history of the race after the flood1 of the building of the tower of ,babel1 and the confusion of tongues4 ,we can call attention to but one of these1 the ,chaldean account concerning the tower of ,babel1 which may be regarded as a fair specimen of the many4 ,,chaldean ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,tower ,,of ,,babel4 ,the story of the 8,tower of the ,tongues0 was among the most ancient recollections of the ,chaldeans1 and was one of the national traditions of the ,armenians1 who had received it from the civilized nations inhabiting the ,tigro-,euphrates basin4 ,berosus records this event in complete agreement with the ,bible1 as follows3 8,they say that the first inhabitants of the earth1 glorying in their own strength and size and despising the gods1 undertook to raise a tower whose top should reach the sky1 in the place in which ,babylon now stands2 but when it approached the heaven1 the wind assisted the gods and overthrew the work upon its contrivers1 and its ruins are said to be still at ,babylon2 and the gods introduced a diversity of tongues among men1 who till that time had all spoken the same language2 and a war arose between ,chronus and ,titan4 ,the place in which they built the tower is now called ,babylon1 on account of the confusion of tongues1 for confusion is by the ,hebrews called ,babel40 ,,what ,,has ,,the ,,bible ,,to ,,say ,,about ,,idolatry8 ,there is another aspect of the relation of the ,bible to the heathen religions1 to which we should call attention4 ,in what terms does the ,bible speak of the worship of false gods and idols8 ,the ,israelites were brought into contact with idolatry very early in their history4 ,the patriarchs were familiar with it1 both as they journeyed abroad and among their neighbors at home4 ,abraham's parents were at least partially idolatrous4 ,jacob1 while living with ,laban1 was accustomed to the sight of the teraphim and other gods4 ,joseph had for his wife the daughter of a heathen ,egyptian priest4 ,jacob and his children1 during their life in ,egypt1 were surrounded by temples1 idol groves1 sacred beasts and all the paraphernalia of heathen worship4 ,moses was brought up in all the learning of the ,egyptians4 ,undoubtedly1 as was customary in ,egypt1 he had for his teachers ,egyptian priests4 ,when ,israel made its exodus from ,egypt1 the miraculous power which ,god gave to ,moses was brought into contact with the power of the sorcerers and magicians of ,pharaoh's court4 ,after they had left ,egypt they remembered the idol-worship they had been accustomed to see4 ,the first idol ever made and worshiped by the ,hebrews1 was the golden calf4 ,side by side with this incident1 is the first plain command against idolatry3 8,thou shalt have no other gods before me4 ,thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image1 or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above1 or that is in the earth beneath1 or that is in the waters under the earth3 thou shalt not bow down thyself to them1 nor serve them40 ,while ,god was giving this stern1 strong1 plain command to ,moses1 for him to repeat to the chosen people of ,israel1 they were engaged in their idolatrous worship4 ,in the command to ,israel1 we see how ,god regards the worship of idols4 ,for awhile ,israel regarded ,god's command4 ,on their way to ,canaan they yielded to the charms of the daughters of ,moab1 and with most terribly wicked worship they bowed to the heathen god ,baal-,peor4 ,for this they were severely punished4 ,during the life of ,joshua they did not again yield to the temptations of idolatry4 ,gideon's father1 ,joash1 worshiped ,baal4 ,after ,gideon's death1 idolatry became the national sin of ,israel4 ,from ,samuel's time until the reign of ,solomon1 the people were loyal to ,jehovah's worship4 ,solomon's foreign wives brought with them the gods which they were accustomed to worship1 and soon all ,israel was turned to worship them4 ,from this time until after the captivity at ,babylon1 idolatry was the constant sin of ,israel4 ,often ,god sent his messengers1 the prophets1 to warn them of the danger of their sin4 ,often ,his judgments were shown in the terrible calamities which came upon ,israel4 ,but it took the most awful of all calamities1 the temporary ruin of the nation1 to work a complete cure4 ,god chose ,israel as the people to preserve for the world the pure worship of ,himself1 the one and the only ,god4 ,how they failed to fulfill their high calling we have seen4 ,god was preparing in ,israel the true religion which was designed to be universal4 ,in ,abraham's seed all the families of the earth were to be blessed4 ,the ,jews were made the keepers of the treasure of the promises of the ,saviour4 ,god selected them from all the nations for this express purpose2 ,he gave them a territory shut off from that of other nations2 in their language1 habits1 ways of thinking and religion1 they were distinct from all others4 ,they were to be kept separate until the time when ,god should give the true religion to the whole world4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,subject ,,in ,a ,,nutshell4 ,not in vain the nation-strivings1 nor by chance the currents flow2 ,error-mazed1 yet truth-directed1 to their certain goal they go4 ,,ebn-,,el-,,farid4 ,oh1 yet we trust that somehow good ,will be the final goal of ill1 ,to pangs of nature1 sins of will1 ,defects of doubt1 and taints of blood2 ,that nothing walks with aimless feet2 ,that not one life shall be destroyed1 ,or cast as rubbish to the void1 ,when ,god hath made the pile complete4 ,,alfred ,,tennyson4 ,in this chapter it is proposed to survey rapidly the progress of the whole heathen world in idolatrous worship from its first introduction4 ,we have already seen how the world began with the worship of one ,god1 but passed into the worship of the objects1 powers and forces of nature2 and how to these were given tangible forms in the shape of idols4 ,further we have noticed the gradual introduction of the worship of animals1 and men1 and their idols4 ,,methods ,,of ,,grouping ,,religions4 ,the various religions might be classified by dividing them into two groups2 first1 those having sacred books1 and secondly1 those having no sacred books4 ,according to this method1 for example1 the ,hindu1 ,parsee1 ,egyptian1 ,chinese1 ,buddhist and ,mohammedan religions would be placed in one group1 and the religions of the ,japanese ,shintoists1 of the ,indians of ,america1 of the ,pacific ,islanders1 of the ,african ,fetichists and of our heathen ancestors1 in another group4 ,this is rather an arbitrary division4 ,another mode of arranging them is as missionary or proselyte-making religions and non-missionary religions4 ,thus1 ,brahminism1 as it never went beyond ,india1 and ,confucianism1 as it never sent its teachers out of ,china1 would be in one class1 while ,buddhism which was spread all over ,eastern ,asia by its missionary priests1 and ,mohammedanism whose priests went over ,western ,asia and ,northern ,africa making proselytes1 would be in another class4 ,we must have some system of classifying and arranging the different religions1 and the following has seemed to be the most simple and natural classification4 ,to look at them first1 as original religions and as reformed religions1 and secondly1 as dead and as living religions4 ,it happens that most of the dead religions were original religions1 and so we take these up first4 ,then we notice the living original religions1 and afterward the reformed religions1 which are nearly all living4 ,the religions which will be described in the following pages1 from ,chapters ,v4 to ,x41 are dead original religions2 those in ,chapters ,,xi4 to ,,xix4 are living original religions2 and those in ,chapters ,,xx4 to ,,xxxvi41 are living reformed religions4 ,it is proper that these terms1 as they are intended to be used here should be quite clearly defined4 ,,dead ,,religions ,,and ,,living ,,religions4 ,many religions still exist1 but some are extinct4 ,we speak of languages as dead or living2 the ancient ,greek and the ,latin1 which are no longer spoken1 are called dead4 ,the ,french1 ,german or ,english1 which are in common use to-day1 are called living4 ,though these dead languages are no longer spoken1 words and phrases which are derived from them still survive in the living languages4 ,indeed some of the living languages are built up out of these dead languages4 ,just so in religions1 there are worships which have no followers to-day2 there are ruins of their temples and idols1 and portions of their sacred books remaining to us4 ,the accounts which ancient historians have preserved for us of their worships1 the ruins of their temples1 their majestic monuments and inscriptions1 and their sacred books which have of late years been translated into our language1 enable us to learn very minutely of many of these worships4 ,of the living religions1 we have but to study the narratives of travelers and of those scholars who have taken special pains to study and explain the sacred books1 rites1 legends and customs of the people following these faiths4 ,,original ,,religions ,,and ,,reformed ,,religions4 ,by original religions we mean to denote those which are1 or were1 the religions of the earliest inhabitants of the various countries1 and which are but little changed in the course of time4 ,by reformed religions we mean such as at some later day have branched off from the earlier religions4 ,these reforms are always begun by some great man1 who1 seeing or imagining error in the old system1 undertakes to correct it1 and before he is hardly aware of it1 establishes a new faith4 ,thus ,zoroaster rebelled against the impure worship of the corrupt religion of his country and founded ,parseeism2 thus ,confucius gathered together some of the traditions and sayings of the ancient ,chinese writers1 added to them a great many teachings of his own and founded ,confucianism2 thus ,gautama1 the ,buddha1 convinced of the inability of the ancient ,hindu faith to help the world's sorrow or to heal its wounds1 founded ,buddhism2 and thus ,mohammed felt himself called of ,god to wage a war against idolatry1 and so he founded the ,moslem faith4 ,further1 we shall take up these religions in each class as far as possible1 in the order of time1 taking the oldest first and the youngest last4 ,,dead ,,religions4 ,the gods of the ,egyptians1 ,assyrians1 ,jews1 ,greeks1 ,romans and ,britons 7including all other peoples of ,western ,europe71 are no longer worshiped4 ,they sank into neglect from various causes4 ,some fell by a natural decay2 there was not enough in them to enable them to retain their hold upon their worshipers as foreign religions were introduced4 ,some of the peoples holding these faiths lost their distinctively national existence and their faith faded out along with their national life4 ,stronger races of strange peoples swept over their lands1 driving them out or subduing them4 ,the conqueror's customs and religious worship then took the place of those of the conquered people4 ,another cause of the death of certain religions1 and a more frequent cause1 has been the coming in of a better system4 ,in this way the ,egyptian religion gave place to the ,christian1 and that in turn 7in ,egypt7 to the ,mohammedan4 ,the false gods of the ,greeks1 ,romans1 ,britons and other nations were forgotten in the coming of the religion of ,jesus ,christ4 ,mrs4 ,browning's beautiful poem1 8,the ,dead ,pan10 is based on a tradition mentioned by ,plutarch1 according to which1 at the hour of the ,saviour's agony a cry of 8,great ,pan is dead60 swept across the waves in the hearing of some sailors1 and immediately the oracles ceased4 ,she writes3 8,gods of ,hellas1 ,gods of ,hellas1 ,can ye listen in your silence8 ,can your mystic voices tell us ,where ye hide8 ,in floating islands1 ,with a wind that evermore ,keeps you out of sight of shore8 ,pan1 ,pan is dead4 8,and that dismal cry rose slowly ,and sank slowly through the air1 ,full of spirit's melancholy ,and eternity's despair6 ,and they heard the words it said-- ,,pan ,,is ,,dead--,,great ,,pan ,,is ,,dead-- ,,pan1 ,,pan ,,is ,,dead4 8',twas the hour when ,one in ,sion ,hung for love's sake on a cross2 ,when ,his brow was chill with dying1 ,and ,his soul was faint with loss2 ,when ,his priestly blood dropped downward1 ,and ,his kingly eyes looked throneward-- ,then1 ,pan was dead4 8,by the love ,he stood alone in1 ,his sole ,godhead rose complete1 ,and the false gods fell down moaning1 ,each from off his golden seat2 ,all the false gods with a cry ,rendered up their deity-- ,pan1 ,pan was dead40 ,the ,greek and ,roman faith and the worships of ,western ,europe have all yielded to the advancing ,christian army4 ,the process of tearing down and building up is still going on4 ,parseeism and the ,american ,indians' religion are dying1 because the people who belong to these nations are dying out4 ,mohammedanism is making great inroads on the ,fetich-worship of ,africa4 ,buddhism is lessening the respect for ,confucius and ,lao-,tsze in ,china1 and is gaining ground on ,shintoism in ,japan4 ,christianity is1 in almost every land1 lessening the hold of heathen religions upon their followers and is slowly leavening the whole world1 as the facts and figures prove4 ,before the bright light of the ,sun of ,righteousness the dark night of error and superstition is fleeing away4 ,,living ,,worships4 ,the first group1 that of original faiths1 will include the religions of ,hinduism1 ,shintoism1 of ,africa1 ,america1 ,oceanica1 and of the ,karens of ,burmah4 ,the next group1 that of the living reformed religions1 will include ,parseeism1 ,taoism1 ,confucianism1 ,buddhism and ,mohammedanism4 ,this last is not1 strictly speaking1 a system of idolatry1 and therefore we do not give it an extended notice2 yet1 as it exists as a fierce opponent of idolatry1 and properly has a part in the history of idolatry1 we cannot pass it by altogether1 but shall give it such attention as is consistent4 ,the signs of these times1 as well as the signs of the gone-by ages1 shows that the world is moving back to its first worship of one ,god4 ,as an opponent of idolatry and as a great missionary system1 ,christianity is likely to do this great work of bringing the world back to its first faith4 ,so we propose1 briefly1 after showing the contrasts between the ,christian religion and the idolatrous worships1 to refer to the present attitude of the ,christian system in its work among existing heathen nations4 ,this will involve a view of the great battle-field of the world1 and of the forces fighting for and against the true worship of the one ,god4 ,to this true worship the world is slowly but surely tending4 ,,the ,,proposed ,,treatment4 ,heathen religions have often been described as they are found in their sacred books or in the teachings of their founders4 ,this is not as it should be4 ,they should be studied from these sources1 but not from these only4 ,these show the religions1 not as they are1 but as they were intended to be4 ,the test of time which has been applied to them1 their after-growth and their effect upon their followers should be carefully studied4 ,it not seldom happens that the religion as its founder taught it1 and the religion of later days which was built up on his teachings are very different4 ,take ,buddhism for an example4 ,how widely different is the ,buddhism of ,burmah from that established by ,gautama6 ,what vast changes has the system undergone during the centuries that have passed since ,gautama's death6 ,or take ,mohammedanism1 which was1 as ,mohammed taught1 a crusade against the idolatrous reverence for relics1 images1 sacred places and sacred things generally4 ,to-day1 in one of the most famous of ,mohammedan mosques--that at ,delhi1 ,india--a hair from ,mohammed's beard1 a part of his garments and his sandals1 are exhibited to the devout worshipers in the mosque4 ,the ,brahminism of the ,vedas1 the sacred ,hindu books1 differs greatly from the ,hindu worship of to-day with its myriads of idols and its great system of caste4 ,the same religion often differs in different lands4 ,the ,buddhism of ,ceylon and the ,buddhism of ,burmah and ,siam are different1 and they together 7often called by way of distinction1 ,southern ,buddhism71 differ very greatly from the ,buddhism of ,china and ,japan 7called ,northern ,buddhism74 ,the same religion has a still different form in ,thibet4 ,it is a part of our plan to look into these religions as they existed in their beginnings and in their growths1 and so to present a complete picture4 ,the life of a religion is not to be found in its sacred books only1 but in the life1 worship and habits of thought of its followers4 ,from the idols1 temples1 worship1 festivals and religious customs of the every-day life of the household or business circles1 we can gain a yet more perfect picture4 ,the traditions1 legends and superstitious practices of the people generally contain those facts which are most widely accepted4 ,the folk-lore1 fireside stories1 children's tales1 the myths and songs of any people contain the principal ideas of their religion4 ,thus we propose to try to present as perfect a picture as possible of the various heathen religions of the past and present1 and we trust the effort may succeed4 ,a ,,concise ,,view4 ,let us take a glimpse of the roads over which we shall now travel4 ,heretofore we have followed but one wide road4 ,from this other roads begin to branch off1 and by-roads in turn occasionally4 ,it will not be difficult to follow these paths1 however1 if at the outset we place ourselves where we can take a bird's-eye view of the whole and pursue our way steadily to the end4 ,,parseeism4 ,for some time after the confusion of tongues the nations remained in the vicinity of the tower of ,babel4 ,then they began to disperse1 all but one nation4 ,this one journeyed only a short distance to the south and founded the empires of ,assyria and ,babylon1 the ,persia of later days4 ,here we find traces of that idolatrous worship which soon passed into ,parseeism4 ,zoroaster was the man who was instrumental in reforming the ancient ,assyrian religion4 ,zoroaster retained the worship of the sun and of fire1 and taught that there were two gods1 a good god and an evil god1 ,ormuzd and ,ahriman4 ,there are only a few ,parsees left to-day and the old ,assyrian religion is entirely extinguished4 ,,african ,,religion4 ,the nations who passed south-west across ,northern ,arabia and ,sinai1 finally came to ,africa4 ,in ,egypt we find relics of a very high civilization1 and they seem to indicate that one of the greatest of the nations of the earth settled there4 ,their worship was of the sun1 moon and stars and of animals4 ,the ,river ,nile1 upon which their very life depended1 was soon received as an object of worship4 ,some part of those who came to ,egypt wandered up the ,nile and passed south and west to ,central ,africa4 ,here they were brought in contact with nature in its wildest forms4 ,there was little need of tilling the soil for crops1 as nature produced of herself so abundantly in this tropical climate4 ,the heated atmosphere did away with the necessity either of substantial dwellings or of more than a little clothing4 ,hence the nations had little to do1 and as the old proverb says1 8,satan finds mischief for idle hands to do10 he soon1 evidently1 set these nations to occupy their time in quarreling among themselves4 ,thus the most brutal habits were brought about and the traces of their original nobility and civilization were rapidly destroyed4 ,theirs was a quick degeneration4 ,together with their civilization their religion decayed1 until they were left with a religion hardly worth the name1 and were little above the apes and gorillas inhabiting the wild woods about them4 ,but they could never become wholly animalized1 they always retain some traces of their religious faith4 ,,western ,,europe4 ,the nations who passed north-west entered ,germany and soon scattered over ,norway and ,sweden and ,france1 and finally across the channel to the ,british ,isles4 ,among these peoples1 the ,teutons1 ,celts1 ,scandinavians and ,gauls1 the early nature-worship was long preserved4 ,indeed traces of it are found even at the time of the birth of ,christ4 ,the coldness of their climate1 the severity of the storms gradually developed them into a hardy race and finally led them to introduce changes into their religious faith corresponding to their surroundings4 ,their myths1 legends and songs1 as well as their more directly religious worship1 partook largely of the heroic element4 ,christianity early overspread these lands and the early religions died out as ,christianity grew4 ,,the ,,southern ,,migration4 ,one of the strongest of existing religions is found in the ,brahminism of ,india4 ,this is the religion of the people who moved south-east till they came to the ,indus ,river4 ,they settled along its banks until they were well-established in their habits of life and religious faith1 and then some of them wandered away to the ,east1 till they came to the ,river ,ganges1 and settled in its valley4 ,others wandered south1 and soon the whole of ,india was occupied4 ,these people kept up communications with one another and preserved one language1 though this was modified in different parts of the country4 ,their religion retained most of its features in common among them all4 ,early in their history other ,vedas1 or sacred books1 were written in addition to the ,rig-,veda or book of hymns to the gods4 ,other sacred books were added to these1 called ,brahmanas and the laws of ,manu4 ,their gods were multiplied1 temples and shrines were built4 ,the larger rivers were believed to be holy1 and were1 together with the crocodiles dwelling in them1 worshiped4 ,from ,india people wandered overland or across the ,indian ,ocean to ,burmah and ,siam1 and thence to the ,malay ,archipelago1 and from there to the ,pacific ,isles and ,america4 ,these migrations 7or wanderings7 occurred before the ,hindu religion was developed4 ,the peoples who thus strayed away1 carried with them the early worship of nature4 ,we find this still among many of the savage tribes of ,north and ,south ,america and of the ,pacific ,isles4 ,these tribes gradually became savage in the same way as the ,african tribes4 ,they possess traditions of an early civilization4 ,,buddhism4 ,in ,india in the fifth century before ,christ1 the ,hindu religion had become a very poor religion indeed4 ,it was at that time a mere system of priestcraft4 ,the nation groaned under the burdens which the priests placed upon them4 ,then a man was raised up to reform this religion4 ,sakya-,muni was born in the middle of the century2 after attempting to find in the ,hindu religion that help which the people needed1 he cast it all aside and struck out for himself a new line of reasoning4 ,he called himself the ,buddha1 that is1 the 8,enlightened ,one40 ,soon his teachings were accepted in all ,india1 going as far as ,ceylon even4 ,but in ,india the priests soon triumphed over the new faith and ,buddhism was expelled and ,brahminism re-established4 ,excepting the ,jains1 a ,buddhist sect in ,western ,india1 there are now no ,buddhists in ,india proper4 ,in ,ceylon it still remains4 ,buddha taught his disciples to preach his teachings everywhere4 ,so they went to ,burmah 7from ,ceylon7 not long after ,buddha's death4 ,from there it spread ,east to ,siam1 and ,north-east up the ,irrawady ,river along the route that the ,chinese traders were accustomed to pass over4 ,from ,china it entered ,japan4 ,the ,tripitakas1 or 8,three ,baskets10 as they are designated1 are the sacred books of the ,buddhists4 ,,china',s ,,religions4 ,the ,chinese legends say that ,noah was their first emperor4 ,whether this be true or not1 we know that ,china1 like ,egypt1 was early settled and possessed a high civilization4 ,the nations moved from ,persia in the ,west until they came to the great ,hoang ,ho ,river2 along its banks1 and to the north and south of it1 they settled4 ,of their early religion we know but little4 ,the great sage ,confucius 7or ,kong the teacher71 was born somewhere about #eea before ,christ4 ,he was a statesman reformer4 ,he was not a priest1 nor even noted for piety4 ,but he gathered together the sayings of the ancients1 and weaving in with them his own wisdom1 he produced the system now known as ,confucianism4 ,the books containing his teachings1 and those of his immediate disciples1 are called the ,king4 ,a little before ,confucius1 lived ,lao-,tsze1 a philosopher and astrologer1 who did something toward re-establishing the old religion1 and who also added new teachings4 ,his weird system is called ,taoism1 and its sacred books are the ,tao-,te-,king4 ,buddhism in ,china has taken in with ,buddha's teachings the doctrines and gods of ,confucius and ,lao-,tsze4 ,,shintoism ,,in ,,japan4 ,the early inhabitants of ,japan are supposed to be the ,ainos1 a race now almost extinguished4 ,the few that are left live in ,yezo1 the northernmost island of ,japan4 ,many sailors from the islands of the ,malayan ,archipelago were washed upon the shores of ,japan and soon mixed in with the ,ainos4 ,they gradually became stronger and stronger and1 finally1 the children of the mixed races conquered the entire land4 ,the ,japanese retained their early nature-worship1 which is called ,shinto1 or ,kami-no-michi1 the 8way of the gods10 until ,buddhism came in to disturb its hold upon the people's hearts4 ,buddhism entered ,japan in #eeb after ,christ4 ,,mohammedanism4 ,about five hundred years after ,christianity was established1 it had degenerated in most parts of ,arabia and ,syria into a system for the worship of saints and relics4 ,the people of ,arabia were given from the earliest times to idolatry4 ,mohammed was born #egj ,a4,d4 ,he built upon the ruins of ,judaism1 ,christianity and the ,arabian idolatrous worship1 the system called ,mohammedanism4 ,his motto was 7and it contains the sum and substance of his teachings7 8,there is no ,god but ,god1 and ,mohammed is his prophet40 ,he began a vigorous crusade against idols and relic-worship4 ,at first he sought to extend his system by teaching only1 afterwards he used the sword4 ,from ,arabia his religion spread to ,turkey1 to ,india1 to ,egypt and ,africa1 and even to ,china4 ,,christianity',s ,,conquests4 ,christianity is the religion for the world4 ,it is infinitely superior to all religions of either past or present4 ,it was intended to be the world-religion4 ,its founder1 ,jesus ,christ1 designed that it should be spread over the whole world1 and gave ,his disciples their marching-orders before ,he left them at ,his ascension4 ,they were bidden to go into all the world and preach ,his gospel to every creature4 ,they were assured of ,his assistance and of final success4 ,without any of the power of pomp or wealth1 or wisdom1 or numbers1 the little band undertook to obey their orders4 ,they have spread from land to land1 until their camp-fires have been kindled almost all around the globe4 ,their triumphs have been gained by the powers of persuasion4 ,their past history is grand1 their present outlook glorious1 and their future prospects full of assurance4 ,now let us take up more in detail these various systems4 ,retracing the roads we have hurried over let us start afresh and proceed more leisurely to study the religious life of mankind1 and especially as it is associated with false gods and idols4 ,illustration3 ,,christians4 ,,buddhists4 #cbg1jjj1jjj4 #ejj1jjj1jjj4 ,of which ---- ,roman ,catholics have #aeb1jjj1jjj2 ,including the ,chinese1 ,greek ,church1 who are also ,confucianists #ge1jjj1jjj2 and ,taoists1 as well as ,buddhists4 ,other ,christians1 #ajj1jjj1jjj4 ----------------- ,found all over the world4 ---------- -------------------------------------- ,,hindoos4 ,found in ,india1 ,ceylon1 ,burmah1 ,siam1 ,thibet1 ,china1 #afj1jjj1jjj4 and ,japan4 ------ ,found only in ,india4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------ ,,jews1 #g1jjj1jjj4 ,,mohammedans4 -------------------------------------- ,shintoists1 ,parsees1 etc41 #c1jjj1jjj4 #aee1jjj1jjj4 -------------------------------------- ,fetichists1 or ,devil ,worshipers4 ,found in ,arabia1 ,turkey1 #ajj1jjj1jjj4 ,egypt1 ,india1 ,china1 ,these include the ,american and ,persia4 ,indians1 ,african races1 and ,pacific ,islanders4 ,comparative ,exhibit of the ,number of ,followers of the ,leading ,systems of ,religious ,faith4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,land ,,of ,,the ,,sphinx4 ,i have come to ,egypt to learn something of the wisdom of the ,egyptians4 ,tell me1 then1 ye tombs1 and temples1 and pyramids1 about ,god2 tell me about the life to come6 ,but the pyramids speak not2 and the ,sphinx still looks toward the ,east1 to watch for the rising sun1 but is voiceless and mute4 ,this valley of the ,nile speaks of nothing but death4 ,from end to end its rock-ribbed hills are filled with tombs4 ,yet what do they all teach the anxious and troubled heart of man8 ,nothing6 ,all these hills are silent4--,h4 ,m4 ,,field4 ,illustration3 ,,ruined ,,temples4 ,herodotus1 the ,greek historian1 who visited ,egypt about #dej ,b4,c41 was struck with the extreme attention which the ,egyptians paid to religion4 ,he says that they were the most religious of all mankind4 ,the passing stranger was impressed with the pompous ceremonies1 the magnificent festivals1 the imposing processions and the many gorgeously-robed priests4 ,he found large temples1 where the walls were covered with sculptures1 paintings and hieroglyphic writings4 ,all ,egypt was stamped with the impress of religion4 ,every art and science1 and all literature were distinctly connected with religion1 and were used in the service of their deities4 ,they surpassed all nations in the reverence they paid to the gods4 ,their religion was by no means an open one4 ,like most of the false religions of antiquity1 there was a great deal of mystery about it4 ,even to-day we find among the monuments traces of the great attention which the ancient ,egyptians paid to the service and adoration of their gods4 ,,hidden ,,history4 ,formerly the world was accustomed to speak of ,egypt as the 8land of ruins20 a better title is now given1 the 8land of monuments40 ,the reason of the change in the title is that it has been found that its ruins contain the account of the past history of ,egypt4 ,hundreds of years ago travelers came across these great ruins covered over with sculptures and paintings1 they found traces of the existence of gigantic structures1 they found1 in almost perfect preservation1 great structures like the pyramids and the sphinx4 ,here evidently was a treasure-house of information1 but where was the key to unlock it8 ,it was like a great pawnbroker's shop1 full of rubbish1 but also with many articles of value locked up within its walls1 but with no key to unlock its doors4 ,it was a land of enigmas1 of puzzling problems1 of riddles4 ,the traveler turned from object to object with the tone of interrogation4 ,why was this1 and this8 ,what was its purpose8 ,how came it here8 ,what does it all mean8 ,evidently these great buildings were not erected1 these mysterious sculptures carved1 these puzzling paintings drawn1 merely to amuse a passing fancy4 ,there must be some meaning in them4 ,scholar after scholar pored over it1 beat their brains about it1 and gave it up4 ,century after century passed away and still the mystery remained4 ,there was one key which was found1 but to use this key another key was needed4 ,the writing of the ,egyptians yet remained4 ,undoubtedly1 in their sacred books1 and in the inscriptions on the monuments or walls of the temples were descriptions of the purpose of the great buildings1 full accounts of the past and their lost history of ,egypt1 and perhaps accounts of arts and science now lost to the world4 ,a rich reward this1 to the scholar who should succeed in unraveling the mystery4 ,illustration3 ,,rock ,,temple ,,of ,,ibsambul1 ,,restored4 ,,the ,,hieroglyphics4 ,but what was the character of this writing that it should be so difficult to interpret8 ,the writing was a picture-writing1 with characters or syllables added1 more puzzling than the most puzzling rebus that ever appeared4 ,the ,greeks1 who often visited ,egypt1 gave the name ,hieroglyphics to this ,egyptian writing4 ,the word means in the ,greek language 8sacred sculpture40 ,neither the ,greeks nor the ,romans1 even while they ruled ,egypt1 ever undertook to learn to read this writing4 ,it seemed to them an unknowable secret4 ,thus gradually the ancient ,egyptian language perished4 ,so the knowledge of the reading of the hieroglyphics passed away entirely4 ,for many centuries every attempt to read it failed1 and it remained a hopeless mystery4 ,finally1 about fifty years ago1 a ,frenchman succeeded in lifting the veil4 ,jean ,franois ,champollion 7born #agij1 died #ahcb71 made this discovery1 one of the greatest of the nineteenth century4 ,he showed how the writing was to be read4 ,now the whole can be read perhaps almost as easily as ,greek or ,latin1 or the ,chinese or ,burmese languages4 ,thus was the hidden history brought to light4 ,illustration3 ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,threshers4 ,as specimens of the hieroglyphics1 ,wilkinson gives the opposite ,song of the ,threshers to the ,oxen4 ,his translation of the lines respectively is as follows3 #a4 8,thresh for yourselves0 7twice repeated74 #b4 8,o oxen40 #c4 8,thresh for yourselves0 7twice74 #d4 8,measures for yourselves40 #e4 8,measures for your masters40 ,another specimen of hieroglyphics is added below4 ,illustration3 ,,hieroglyphics4 ,,some ,,egyptian ,,gods4 ,the ,egyptian gods are numbered by the hundreds4 ,it is possible for us to refer to but a few here4 ,the ideas of the gods which prevailed here were grafted on the simple nature-worship which the people brought to ,egypt from their earlier home4 ,illustration3 ,,pasht1 ,,the ,,cat-,,headed ,,god4 ,in every part of ,egypt two great gods1 ,isis and ,osiris1 were worshiped4 ,isis is the wife of ,osiris4 ,ra the sun-god was the greatest of the gods1 he was supposed to be the representative of the ,supreme ,being4 ,and yet ,osiris was the most popular god4 ,ra was generally represented as a hawk-headed man1 and usually with a solar disk upon his head4 ,ra was generally worshiped in association with some other god1 as ,amen-,ra1 ,num-,ra1 etc4 ,in many sculptures he is represented as carrying on a constant conflict with the evil4 ,evil is represented in these conflicts as the great serpent ,apap4 ,at ,heliopolis were kept two animals sacred to ,ra1 the black bull and the phnix4 ,the phnix was a bird which the ,egyptians regarded as the emblem of immortality2 a bird which never died1 but when it was burned1 sprang up again1 full-grown1 from its ashes1 ready to renew its activities4 ,illustration3 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,forms ,,of ,,isis4 ,osiris was generally represented as a mummy1 wearing a royal cap1 containing ostrich feathers4 ,osiris was regarded as a good being and was in perpetual warfare with ,set1 the evil being4 ,they stand to each other1 said the ,egyptians1 as light and darkness1 as day and night1 as the ,nile and the deserts1 as ,egypt and foreign lands4 ,osiris is represented in the myths as being vanquished by ,set4 ,he is cut in pieces and thrown into the water4 ,by and by he revives but does not utterly destroy ,set1 though he defeats him4 ,this story probably is a picture of the daily life of the sun1 contending with the darkness1 yet at last yielding to it1 and then again after an interval re-appearing at the dawn in renewed splendor4 ,osiris was also a type of struggling humanity1 suffering now1 defeated for a time it may be1 yet finally triumphant4 ,this was the reason of his worship being so popular4 ,osiris was the protector of the dead1 and he determined their final condition4 ,it was to ,osiris that prayers and offerings for the dead were made1 and writings on the tombs were addressed to him4 ,beside these gods1 there were ,set the evil god1 who was represented with the head of a fabulous animal1 having a pointed nose and high square ears4 ,isis1 the wife of ,osiris1 was represented as a woman1 bearing on her head her emblem the throne1 or the solar disk and cow's horns4 ,illustration3 ,,crocodile ,,god4 ,amon 7or ,amen7 the 8hidden10 was worshiped at ,thebes4 ,sebek was the crocodile-headed god4 ,his sacred animal was the crocodile of the ,nile ,river4 ,thoth was the chief moon-god4 ,he was the god of letters and learning4 ,anubis1 the jackel-headed was the god worshiped by the mummy-makers4 ,thus gods were multiplied4 ,,animal ,,worship4 8,if you enter a temple10 says ,clement of ,alexandria1 8a priest advances with a solemn air1 singing a hymn in the ,egyptian language2 he raises the veil a little to let you see the god2 and what then do you see8 ,a cat1 a crocodile1 a snake1 or some other noxious animal4 ,the god of the ,egyptian appears4 ,it is but a wild beast1 wallowing on a purple carpet60 ,this language describes the worship of ancient ,egypt as we learn from the sculptures on the monuments1 as well as it characterizes the worship at the beginning of the ,christian era4 ,to exhibit in some symbol their ideas of their gods was the very essence of ,egyptian religion4 ,this brought about the grossest of superstitious worship4 ,to set forth in symbol the attributes1 qualities and nature of their gods1 the priests chose to use animals4 ,the bull1 cow1 ram1 cat1 ape1 crocodile1 hippopotamus1 hawk1 ibis1 scarabus1 were all emblems of the gods4 ,often the head of one of these animals was joined to the body of a man in the sculpture4 ,but let it be remembered1 that the ,egyptians never worshiped images or idols4 ,they worshiped living representations of the gods and not lifeless images of stone or metal4 ,their sculptures were never made for worship4 ,they chose animals which corresponded as nearly as possible to their ideas of the gods4 ,each of these sacred creatures was carefully tended1 fed1 washed1 dressed1 nursed when sick1 and petted during its whole life4 ,after death its body was embalmed4 ,certain cities were set apart for certain animals1 and apartments of the temples were consecrated to their use4 ,priests were appointed to attend them4 ,not every animal of every kind was worshiped1 only a few of each sacred kind were considered as sacred4 ,a few of the whole number were supported at the expense of the state1 and were attended by great personages4 ,certain animals were worshiped in parts of ,egypt and detested in other parts4 ,thus the hippopotamus was worshiped in ,papmis alone2 while the ,thebans worshiped the crocodile2 in other places they were hunted to death4 ,illustration3 ,,scarab,,us4 ,popularly these animals were regarded as gods1 and were really worshiped4 ,by the priests they were regarded simply as the representatives of the gods4 ,if a man killed certain of the sacred animals1 by the laws of ,egypt he must die2 if1 however1 in regard to some of them1 the killing was accidental1 then he might escape by paying a heavy fine4 ,a ,roman soldier once killed a sacred cat1 accidentally4 ,in spite of the fear of ,rome and the interference of the ,king of ,egypt1 the enraged mob instantly killed the soldier4 ,the story is told1 that ,king ,cambyses1 when he invaded ,egypt1 caught a number of sacred animals1 and placed them before his army4 ,the ,egyptians offered them no resistance1 but fled away1 afraid to fight lest they should injure the sacred animals4 ,three animals were regarded as not representations merely1 but incarnations of gods2 these were the bull ,mnevis1 the goat of ,mendes and the bull ,apis4 ,apis was said to be born of a cow1 yet also born of heaven4 ,he was to be black1 with a white triangle on his forehead1 a mark like a half-moon on his back1 and a mark like a scarabus under his tongue4 ,when ,apis died1 all ,egypt mourned4 ,as soon as a new ,apis was found1 the ,egyptians donned their best clothing and made great rejoicings4 ,the dead ,apis was embalmed and received further worship4 ,apis was wrongly supposed to be the god whom the ,israelites imitated in their worship of the golden calf4 ,,mummies4 ,the ,egyptians held it as a central feature of their faith1 that 8man was not made to die10 that we were to live a future life1 that death does not end all4 ,many heathen nations believed that the body1 the flesh1 was an evil thing1 the seat of all base passions2 not so the ,egyptians4 ,the greatest event in a man's life happened after his death 7to speak in apparent paradoxes74 ,his funeral1 and the arrangements for it1 surpassed all other occasions of his life in their elaborateness4 ,the period of mourning lasted seventy-two days4 ,perhaps during all this time1 the process of embalming was going on by the use of peculiar preparations which were forced through his veins as the blood was withdrawn1 and by wrapping the body in linen bands containing substances which prevented the flesh from decaying4 ,the outermost bandage was covered with a kind of pasteboard1 which represented the deceased as a workman in the ,happy ,fields1 carrying the tools of husbandry4 ,this is commonly called the mummy4 ,before the wrapping in the linen bandages began1 the body had been steeped in a liquid called natron 7carbonate of soda74 ,herodotus presents a very full description of the process of embalming4 ,there is no doubt but that all this was done as a preparation for the return of the soul to the body in a future world4 ,the mummy was inclosed in a coffin of wood1 and this again1 if the person's friends were rich1 in a stone sarcophagus or coffin4 ,the coffin was placed on a sledge drawn by oxen or men1 taken to the river or lake-side and ferried over to the burial-place on the sacred boats4 ,the coffin was deposited in the tomb1 and prayers were said1 and offerings given in the chapel above the tomb4 ,offerings to ,osiris were made during an entire year by the family4 ,illustration3 ,,shrouding ,,of ,,the ,,dead4 ,illustration3 ,,mummy ,,case4 ,illustration3 ,,forms ,,of ,,mummy ,,cases4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #d4 ,of wood4 #e1 #f1 #g1 #h4 ,of stone4 #i4 ,of wood and of early time--before the #ahth dynasty4 #aj4 ,of burnt earthenware4 ,,the ,,celebrated ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,dead4 ,among many books which the ,egyptians once possessed1 one still remains in its entirety4 ,it is somewhat confusing in its style1 and yet it is in the main to be understood4 ,a copy of this ,funeral ,liturgy or ,book of the ,dead was placed in every mummy's coffin4 ,we give a very full abstract of it1 because of its unusual importance in the religious history of the world4 ,the ,funeral ,ritual is opened with a dialogue taking place at the very moment of death1 when the soul separates from the body4 ,the deceased1 addressing the deity of ,hades1 enumerates all his titles to his favor1 and asks for admittance into his dominions4 ,the chorus of glorified souls interposes1 as in the ,greek tragedy1 and supports the prayer of the deceased4 ,the priest on earth in his turn speaks1 and implores also the divine clemency4 ,finally ,osiris1 the god of the lower regions1 answers the deceased1 8,fear nothing in making thy prayer to me for the immortality of thy soul1 and that ,i may give permission for thee to pass the threshold40 ,reassured by the divine word1 the soul of the deceased enters ,kar-,neter1 the land of the dead1 and recommences his invocations4 ,after this grand commencement1 which we have epitomized1 come many short chapters1 much less important1 relative also to the dead and to the preliminary ceremonies of his funeral4 ,when at last the soul of the deceased has passed the gates of ,kar-,neter1 he penetrates into that subterranean region1 and at his entry is dazzled by the glory of the sun1 which he now for the first time sees in this lower hemisphere4 ,he sings a hymn to the sun under the form of mixed litanies and invocations4 ,after this hymn1 a great vignette1 representing the adoration and glorification of the sun in the heavens1 on earth and in ,hades1 marks the end of the first part of the ,ritual1 serving as a sort of introduction4 ,the second part traces the journeys and migrations of the soul in the lower region4 ,next come a series of prayers to be pronounced during the process of embalming1 while the body is being rolled in its wrappers4 ,these invocations are addressed to ,thoth1 the ,egyptian ,hermes1 who1 as among the ,greeks1 played the part of ,psychopompe1 or conductor of souls4 ,they are of the highest interest1 for in each allusion is made to the grand myth of ,osiris and his contest with ,typhon1 of which ,plutarch and ,synesius have given us the most recent versions4 ,the deceased1 addressing the god1 asks him to render to him again the service he once rendered on that solemn occasion to ,osiris and his son ,horus1 8avenger of his father40 ,the body once wrapped in its coverings1 and the soul well provided with a store of necessary knowledge1 the deceased commences his journey4 ,but he is still unable to move1 he has not yet the use of his limbs2 it is necessary to address the gods1 who successively restore all the faculties he had during his life1 so that he can stand upright1 walk1 speak1 eat and fight4 ,thus prepared1 he starts2 he holds his scarabus over his heart as a passport1 and thus passes the portal of ,hades4 ,from the first step1 terrible obstacles present themselves in his way4 ,frightful monsters1 servants of ,typhon1 crocodiles on land and in the water1 serpents of all kinds1 tortoises and other reptiles1 assail the deceased and attempt to devour him4 ,then commences a series of combats4 ,the deceased and the animals against which he contends mutually address insulting speeches to each other1 after the fashion of ,homer's heroes4 ,finally1 the 8,osiris0 7the name applied to all the deceased7 has conquered all his enemies2 he has subdued the ,typhonic monsters1 and forced a passage1 and1 elated by his victory1 sings on the spot a song of triumph1 likening himself to all the gods1 whose members are made those of his own body4 8,my hair is like that of ,nu 7the firmament72 my face is like that of ,ra 7the sun72 my eyes like those of ,athor 7the ,egyptian ,venus720 and so on for every part of his body4 ,he has even the strength of ,set1 that is1 of ,typhon1 for the strife between the good and evil principle is but in appearance2 in reality they are one and the same1 and equally receive the adorations of the initiated4 ,after such labors the deceased needs rest2 he stays for a time to recruit his strength and to satisfy his hunger4 ,he has escaped great dangers1 and has not gone astray in the desert where he would have died of hunger and thirst4 ,from the tree of life the goddess ,nu gives him refreshing waters1 which invigorate him and enable him to recommence his journey in order to reach the first gate of heaven4 ,then commences a dialogue between the deceased and the personification of the divine ,light1 who instructs him4 ,this dialogue presents some most remarkable resemblances to the dialogue prefixed to the books given by the ,alexandrian ,greeks as translations of the ancient religious writings of ,egypt1 between ,thoth and the ,light1 in which the latter explains to ,thoth the most sublime mysteries of nature4 ,this portion is certainly one of the best and grandest of the ,ritual1 and may almost be classed with the invocations to the sun at the close of the first part4 ,illustration3 ,,egyptian ,,priestess4 ,the deceased1 having passed the gate1 continues to advance1 guided by this new ,light1 to whom he addresses his invocations4 ,he then enters upon a series of transformations1 more and more elevated1 assuming the form of and identifying himself with the noblest divine symbols4 ,he is changed successively into a hawk1 an angel or divine messenger2 into a lotus2 into the god ,ptah2 into a heron2 into a crane2 into a human-headed bird1 the usual emblem of a soul2 into a swallow2 into a serpent1 and into a crocodile4 ,up to this time the soul of the deceased has been making its journeys alone2 it has been merely a sort of image2 a mere shade1 with the appearance of that body now stretched on the bier4 ,after these transformations the soul becomes reunited to its body1 which is needed for the rest of the journey4 ,it was on this account that careful embalming was so important2 it was necessary that the soul should find the body perfect and well-preserved4 8,oh10 cries the body1 8that in the dwelling of the master of life ,i may be reunited to my glorified soul1 do not order the guardians of heaven to destroy me1 so as to send away my soul from my corpse1 and hinder the eye of ,horus1 who is with thee1 from preparing my way40 ,the deceased traverses the dwelling of ,thoth1 who gives him a book containing instructions for the rest of his way1 and fresh lessons of the knowledge he is soon to require4 ,he arrives on the banks of the subterranean river separating him from the ,elysian ,fields1 but there a new danger awaits him4 ,a false boatman1 the envoy of the ,typhonic powers1 lays wait for him on his way1 and endeavors by deceitful words to get him into his boat1 so as to mislead him and take him to the east instead of to the west1 his true destination1 and where he ought to land1 and rejoin the sun of the lower world4 ,the deceased again escapes this new danger2 he unmasks the perfidy of the false boatman1 and drives him away1 overwhelming him with reproaches4 ,he at last meets the right boat to conduct him to his destination4 ,but before getting into it1 it is necessary to ascertain if he is really capable of making the voyage1 if he possesses a sufficient amount of the knowledge necessary to his safety4 ,the divine boatman therefore makes him undergo an examination1 a preliminary initiation1 seemingly corresponding to the lesser ,eleusinian mysteries4 ,the deceased passes the examination2 each part of the boat then seems successively to become animated1 and to demand of him its name1 and the mystical meaning of the name4 ,the stake for anchoring the boat4 ,tell me my name6 8,the ,lord of the earth in thy case10 is thy name4 ,the rudder4 ,tell me my name6 8,the enemy of ,apis10 is thy name4 ,the rope4 ,tell me my name6 8,the hair with which ,anubis binds up the folds of the wrappers10 is thy name2 and so on for twenty-three questions and answers4 ,after having thus victoriously passed through this trial1 the deceased embarks1 traverses the subterranean river1 and lands on the other bank1 when he soon arrives at the ,elysian ,fields in the valley of ,avura1 or ,balot1 the position of which the ritual gives in these terms1 8,the valley of ,balot 7abundance71 at the east of heaven1 is #cgj cubits long1 and #adj cubits broad4 ,there is a crocodile lord of ,balot in the east of that valley in his divine dwelling above the inclosure4 ,there is a serpent at the head of that valley1 thirty cubits long1 his body six cubits round4 ,in the south is the lake of sacred principles 7,sharu72 the north is formed by the lake of ,primordial ,matter 7,rubu740 ,a large picture here shows us this valley1 a real subterranean ,egypt1 intersected by canals1 where we see the 8,osiris0 occupied in all the operations of agriculture2 preparing the ground1 sowing and reaping in the divine fields an ample provision of that bread of knowledge he is now to find more necessary than ever4 ,he has1 in fact1 arrived at the end of his journey2 he has before him only the last1 but also the most terrible of all his trials4 ,conducted by ,anubis he traverses the labyrinth1 and by the aid of the clew1 guiding them through its windings1 at last penetrates to the judgment-hall1 where ,osiris awaits him1 seated on his throne1 and assisted by forty-two terrible assessors4 ,there the decisive sentence is to be pronounced1 either admitting the deceased to happiness or excluding him forever4 ,then commences a new interrogatory1 much more solemn than the former4 ,the deceased is obliged to give proof of his knowledge2 he must show that it is great enough to give him the right to be admitted to share the lot of glorified spirits4 ,each of the forty-two judges1 bearing a mystical name1 questions him in turn2 he is obliged to tell each one his name1 and what it means4 ,nor is this all2 he is obliged to give an account of his whole life4 8,i have not blasphemed10 says the deceased2 8,i have not stolen2 ,i have not smitten men privily2 ,i have not treated any person with cruelty2 ,i have not stirred up trouble2 ,i have not been idle2 ,i have not been intoxicated2 ,i have not made unjust commandments2 ,i have shown no improper curiosity2 ,i have not allowed my mouth to tell secrets2 ,i have not wounded any one2 ,i have not let envy gnaw my heart2 ,i have spoken evil neither of the king1 nor my father2 ,i have not falsely accused any one2 ,i have not withheld milk from the mouths of sucklings2 ,i have not practiced any shameful crime2 ,i have not calumniated a slave to his master40 ,the deceased does not confine himself to denying any ill conduct2 he speaks of the good he has done in his lifetime4 8,i have made to the gods the offerings that were their due4 ,i have given food to the hungry1 drink to the thirsty1 and clothes to the naked40 ,we may well on reading these passages be astounded at this high morality1 superior to that of all other ancient people1 that the ,egyptians had been able to build up on such a foundation as their religion4 ,without doubt it was this clear insight into truth1 this tenderness of conscience1 which obtained for the ,egyptians the reputation for wisdom1 echoed even by ,holy ,scripture4 ,besides these general precepts1 the apology acquaints us with some police regulations for public order1 raised by common interest in ,egypt to the rank of conscientious duties4 ,thus the deceased denies ever having intercepted the irrigating canals1 or having prevented the distribution of the waters of the river over the country2 he declares that he has never damaged the stones for mooring vessels on the river4 ,crimes against religion are also mentioned2 some seem very strange to us1 especially when we find them classed with really moral faults4 ,the deceased has never altered the prayers or interpolated them4 ,he has never touched any of the sacred property1 such as flocks and herds1 or fished for the sacred fish in the lakes of the temples2 he has not stolen offerings from the altar1 nor defiled the sacred waters of the ,nile4 ,the ,osiris is now fully satisfied2 his heart has been weighed in the balance with truth1 and not been found wanting2 the forty-two assessors have pronounced that he possesses the necessary knowledge4 ,the great ,osiris pronounces his sentence1 and ,thoth1 as recorder to the tribunal1 having inscribed it in his book1 the deceased at last enters into bliss4 ,here commences the third part of the ,ritual1 more mystical and obscure than the others4 ,we see the ,osiris1 henceforth identified with the sun1 traversing with him1 and as him1 the various houses of heaven1 and the lake of fire1 the source of all light4 ,afterwards the ,ritual rises to a higher poetical flight1 even contemplating the identification of the deceased with a symbolical figure comprising all the attributes of the deities of the ,egyptian ,pantheon4 ,this representation ends the work4 ,,egyptian ,,worship4 ,the gods of ,egypt were worshiped in temples and tombs4 ,every town had at least one temple4 ,the services were conducted by the priests1 and on special occasions the king and scribes joined4 ,the common people had but little to do with the worship4 ,the most important worship took place in the innermost chambers1 where only the priests were at all permitted to go4 ,illustration3 ,,avenue ,,of ,,sphinxes ,,leading ,,to ,a ,,temple4 ,illustration3 ,,gateway ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,egyptian ,,temple ,,of ,,karnak4 ,the sacrifices were of animals and vegetables with the pouring out of wine and the burning of incense4 ,the temples were gigantic structures grouped together4 ,they were generally approached by avenues of sphinxes4 ,the great temples are almost all found in ,upper ,egypt1 while the pyramids are in ,lower ,egypt4 ,the inhabitants of ,egypt were once the greatest nation of earth1 and they built temples corresponding to their greatness4 ,thebes1 in ,upper ,egypt1 was once a greater city than ,babylon1 or ,rome1 or ,london4 ,it was built on both sides of the ,river ,nile4 ,to it all the surrounding nations flocked4 ,the temples of ,thebes have1 in magnificent grandeur and majestic beauty1 probably never been surpassed in any later age4 ,of these temples1 ,luxor and ,karnak were the greatest4 ,between these two stretched in avenue of #adj gigantic columns1 each twelve feet in diameter1 their massive sides covered with sculptures4 ,the columns were so great that we cannot understand how they could be cut out of the quarries and brought the #adj miles that they must pass over to get to ,thebes4 ,karnak was the work of generations4 ,it was #b1ejj years in building4 ,abraham must have seen ,karnak when he journeyed to ,egypt4 ,moses must have been familiar with its courts4 ,the messengers of ,israel1 who in after ages sought alliance with powerful ,egypt1 must have looked upon its columns and walls4 ,karnak was a cluster of temples4 ,the central one was #a1ajh feet long and #cjj feet broad4 ,the circuit of its walls1 says a ,roman historian who saw it in all its glory1 was a mile and a half4 ,near ,thebes are the statues of ,memnon1 which were said to sing when the rays of the rising sun touched their lips4 ,possibly the breeze of the early morning struck upon some concealed musical contrivance in the statue and produced the sound4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,singing ,,memnon4 ,illustration3 ,,ruins ,,of ,,the ,,splendid ,,temples ,,of ,,thebes4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sphinx ,,and ,,the ,,pyramids4 ,the most imposing monuments of ,egypt are the pyramids of ,el ,gizeh4 ,the largest of these is the pyramid of ,cheops4 ,this is #dhj feet high1 and contains more than ten millions of cubic yards of stone4 ,the pyramid is so placed that its four sides exactly face the four points of the compass4 ,the pyramids were probably great tombs4 ,at the foot of the pyramids is the great ,sphinx4 ,this is a monument of a man-headed lion1 nearly ninety feet long and seventy-four feet high4 ,its face is twenty-six feet long4 ,it is carved out of solid rock4 ,this great ,sphinx is said to be the image of the god ,har-ma-chu1 the setting sun4 ,between the two front paws of the ,sphinx was placed a small chapel1 consecrated to the god4 ,as ,ampre says3 8,this huge1 mutilated figure has an astonishing effect2 it seems like an eternal spectre4 ,the stone phantom seems attentive2 one would say that it hears and sees4 ,its great ear appears to collect the sounds of the past2 its eye1 directed to the east1 gazes as it were into the future2 its aspect has a depth1 a truth of expression1 irresistibly fascinating to the spectator4 ,in this figure1 half statue1 half mountain1 we see a wonderful majesty1 a grand serenity1 and even a sort of sweetness of expression40 ,there was much of majestic beauty about the ,egyptian religion and worship1 but there was mixed with it a mass of debasing superstition4 ,when ,king ,cambyses of ,persia conquered ,egypt1 and the supremacy of the world passed out of ,egypt's hands1 the downfall of its religion commenced4 ,the religion of the conquerors was mingled with their own4 ,after some hundreds of years1 ,christianity was spread over all north ,africa and up the ,nile4 ,then in the year #fci1 after ,christ1 ,mohammedanism conquered ,egypt4 ,this religion continues to predominate in ,egypt4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,chaldeans4#b ,at that time the heaven above was unnamed1 ,in the earth beneath a name was unrecorded2 ,chaos1 too1 was unopened around them4 ,by name the mother ,tihamtu1 the ,deep was the begetter of them all4 ,their waters in one place were not embosomed1 and ,the fruitful herb was uncollected1 the marsh-plant ungrown4 ,at that time the gods stars were not made to go2 none of them by name were recorded2 order was not among them4 ,then were made the great gods2 and these ,lakhmu and ,lakhamu caused to go2 until they were grown they nurtured them4 ,the gods ,assur and ,kissar were made by their hands1 ,a length of days1 a long time passed1 and the gods ,anu1 ,bel and ,hea were created2 the gods ,assur and ,kissar begat them4 ,,from ,,the ,,chaldean 7,,cuneiform7 ,,creation ,,tablets4 ,in the ,tigro-,euphrates ,valley1 or basin1 as it is called1 the commencement of the history of man is placed4 8,and it came to pass that as they journeyed from the east1 they found a plain in the land of ,shinar3 and they dwelt there40 ,here was great ,babel built1 and here occurred the confusion of tongues1 and from here the nations were scattered over all the world4 ,after this scattering to east1 west and south1 there was left a large body of people of different nations1 in ,chaldea4 ,the great monuments and inscriptions1 which are the only remaining books of early history1 tell us of two great nations called the ,sumir and ,accad4 ,of the descent of these peoples1 it can be said with certainty only that there were ,hamites among them4 ,the ,shemites are the founders of the ,assyrian kingdom1 the ,hamites of the ,babylonian4 ,these and some other scattered tribes of other nations1 were worshipers of the heavenly bodies1 the sun1 moon and stars4 ,hence came the extraordinary development of astronomy in these lands4 ,their strange and imperfect civilization had an immense influence over a great part of ,asia1 for over #aejj years4 ,illustration3 ,,star ,,worshipers4 ,the peoples of ,chaldea did not at first intermingle with each other1 but maintained a separate existence as tribes4 ,here was1 however1 the first organized government of the world4 8,cush begat ,nimrod3 he began to be a mighty one in the earth4 ,he was a mighty hunter before the ,lord3 wherefore it is said1 ,even as ,nimrod1 the mighty hunter before the ,lord4 ,and the beginning of his kingdom was ,babel1 and ,erech1 and ,accad1 and ,calneh1 in the land of ,shinar4 ,out of that land went forth ,asshur1 and builded ,nineveh1 and the streets of the city1 and ,calah and ,resen1 between ,nineveh and ,calah3 the same is a great city40 ,asshur was of the ,semitic race1 while ,nimrod was a ,cushite4 ,these two people lived long together1 and this explains how they came to have the same language and civilization in spite of their being of different origin4 ,the four great cities mentioned above gave to their king1 the title 8king of the four regions40 ,the founding of this great empire occurred only a little later than the beginning of the great ,egyptian kingdom4 ,we know almost nothing of the history of the ,chaldean kings who succeeded ,nimrod1 except that which a few traditions tell us4 ,,the ,,great ,,chaldean ,,historian4 ,berosus was a ,chaldean priest who lived in the days of ,alexander the ,great4 ,he was a very learned man4 ,he translated the history of ,babylonia into the ,greek language4 ,his history commences with the creation and is carried down to his own time4 ,he drew from the ancient records of ,babylonia1 from traditions of the people1 and from inscriptions on the monuments4 ,we have already referred to the traditions of the creation and deluge which he preserved4 ,about #bdjj ,b4,c41 according to ,berosus1 the ,medes conquered ,babylonia4 ,here for the first time we meet with the name of ,zoroaster1 the founder of ,parseeism4 ,the record of ,berosus is very much valued because of the ground which it covers4 ,it is wonderfully in agreement with the ,bible record4 ,at first his statements were questioned and disputed1 but the researches of modern scholars in many respects confirmed their complete accuracy4 ,,ruined ,,monuments4 ,the ruins of ,chaldea have been as yet but imperfectly explored4 ,the great buildings and monuments have been buried beneath the ground for hundreds of years1 and the work of digging them out is a slow one4 ,when we remember that these cities and their buildings were among the first ever erected1 and that ,nebuchadnezzar 7or ,nabukudur-ussur1 as ,berosus calls him17 and his successors only repaired and added to these1 we can see the value of exhuming them4 ,stone is very rare in ,chaldea1 and could be brought only at great expense from a distance4 ,hence all the buildings of earlier ages were built of bricks4 ,so we read of the ,tower of ,babel1 that 8they had bricks for stone40 ,on each one of these bricks was generally stamped the name of the king who erected the building4 ,the greater part of the early ,chaldean inscriptions are found on these bricks4 ,herodotus tells us that the ,babylonians built with these sun-dried bricks1 and with here and there a layer of reed-matting cemented with bitumen4 ,the outsides of the buildings were covered with burnt or kiln-dried bricks to keep out the rain4 ,more elaborate specimens of their pottery appear in articles for domestic uses1 and especially in their coffins4 ,illustration3 ,,babylonish ,,coffin ,,and ,,lid ,,of ,,green ,,glazed ,,pottery4 ,the sacred buildings appear to have been often built in the form of a pyramid1 with steps or stages1 forming a series of terraces1 each smaller than the one beneath it4 ,this is the traditional style of buildings of the ,tower of ,babel4 ,the same tendency to build high sacred buildings is seen in the pagodas of ,india1 ,burmah and ,china1 in the ,mohammedan towers1 like the ,koutub ,minar1 and the spires of ,christian churches4 ,the object at the first seems to have been the getting nearer to the heavenly bodies1 the object of their worship4 ,on the upper terrace1 or platform1 appears to have been built in most cases1 a small chapel1 or square room1 richly ornamented1 containing an image of the god of the temple4 ,of ancient ,babylonian sculptures but few are known to remain4 ,of these1 one is a small bronze figure of a goddess named ,keodormabug1 and a broken statuette in alabaster of the god ,nebo4 ,but a number of small cylinders of stone that were used as seals1 and which are covered with engravings or inscriptions1 give us much information of early ,chaldean history4 ,the ,chaldeans were far advanced in astronomy and in arithmetic1 which is indispensable to a knowledge of astronomy4 ,a ,,library ,,of ,,brick ,,books4 ,the ,chaldeans had eight sacred books1 said to have been written by the god ,oannes4 ,no copies of these original books remain4 ,but some of their sayings were copied into the books of later kings4 ,all that remains of the books of ancient ,chaldea is that which had been transported to ,assyria1 where it was found by ,layard and later by ,smith1 in making their excavations at ,nineveh4 ,he found in the ruins of the palace built by ,king ,asshurbanipal1 in one of the halls1 a library4 8,this curious library consists entirely of flat1 square tablets of baked clay1 having on each side a page of very small and closely written cuneiform cursive letters1 impressed on the clay while it was still moist4 ,each tablet was numbered and formed a page of a book composed of a number of such tablets1 probably piled one on another in the library40 ,the greater part of these tablets are now in ,england4 ,this collection was intended for a public library as we see from the following translation of some of the tablets3 8,palace of ,asshurbanipal1 king of the world1 king of ,assyria1 to whom the god ,nebo and the goddess ,tashmit 7goddess of wisdom71 have given ears to hear and eyes to see what is the foundation of government4 ,they have revealed to the kings1 my predecessors1 this cuneiform writing1 the manifestation of the god ,nebo1 the god of supreme intelligence4 ,i have written it upon tablets1 ,i have signed it1 ,i have placed it in my palace for the instruction of my subjects40 ,illustration3 ,,cuneiform ,,letters4 ,the cuneiform characters1 as they are called1 are made up of marks shaped like arrow-heads or wedges4 ,there were enormous difficulties in the way of their interpretation4 ,in ,egypt the similar task of making known the meaning of the hieroglyphics was performed in great part by one man1 ,champollion1 but in ,assyria the work was done by many scholars4 ,now the famous library is nearly all translated1 as are the inscriptions on the seals as well4 ,asshurbanipal lived about ,b4,c4 #fej4 ,,manners ,,and ,,customs4 ,the habits of life of any people both affect and are affected by their religious belief4 ,in heathen lands1 both of the present and the past1 the daily home-life is interwoven with religious observances4 ,the ,assyrians have been called 8the ,romans of the ,east40 ,they were a fierce and warlike race4 ,they were naturally a religious people1 and the worship of the gods held a very prominent place at least in their public life4 ,but1 sad to say1 their devotion to religion was associated with such a degrading worship of many false gods1 that they were dragged down by it1 instead of being exalted4 ,they were very intelligent4 ,they were mainly agriculturists1 though the arts flourished4 ,it seldom rained there except in winter1 so they turned the waters of the ,tigris and the ,euphrates ,rivers into channels1 and conveyed them through their fields4 ,illustration3 ,,robed ,,statue4 ,the priests and kings dressed in garments of woven stuffs dyed in brilliant colors1 and beautifully embroidered with symbolical figures1 animals1 men1 flowers and divine symbols4 ,the costume of the ,assyrians consisted of a robe open at the side1 often with a border of fringe1 and decorated with rich embroidery1 hanging down to the feet1 and confined in the middle by a broad girdle4 ,it precisely resembled the djubeh of the ,eastern people in the present day4 ,the common people and soldiers used a shorter tunic1 reaching only to the knees1 so as to allow them to walk freely4 ,the king1 in his robes of ceremony1 wore over all a sort of long mantle or chasuble1 thrown obliquely over one shoulder and splendidly ornamented4 ,this is also seen on the monuments on the figures of the gods4 ,a high conical tiara surmounted his head1 and in his hand he held a long sceptre or staff1 nearly the height of a man4 ,the insignia of his rank were the same as those of ,asiatic monarchs in the present day1 the parasol and large feathered fly-flaps carried behind him by slaves4 ,the ,assyrians wore their hair long and curled at the end1 the beard square and with rows of curls4 ,they were fond of wearing great quantities of jewelry1 large ear-rings1 finger-rings and bracelets4 ,some of the soldiers wore a cuirass of small pieces of metal protecting the body1 and allowing the tunic to appear beneath it4 ,these were probably light infantry4 ,others wore long coats of mail reaching to the feet1 with a conical helmet to which was attached a sort of veil of chain mail1 falling down on the neck1 and brought round to protect the chin1 such as are now worn by the ,circassians4 ,,the ,,religion ,,of ,,assyria4 ,the religion of ,assyria and ,babylonia was1 in its essential principles and in the general spirit of its conceptions1 of the same character of the religion of ,egypt1 and in general as all pagan religions4 ,when we penetrate beneath the surface which gross ,polytheism has acquired from popular superstition1 and revert to its original and higher conceptions1 we shall find the whole based on the idea of the unity of the ,deity1 the last relic of the primitive revelation1 disfigured indeed and all but lost in the monstrous ideas of ,pantheism2 confounding the creature with the ,creator2 and transforming the ,deity into a god-world1 whose manifestations are to be found in all the phenomena of nature4 ,beneath this supreme and sole ,god1 this great ,all1 in whom all things are lost and absorbed1 are ranked in an order of emanation corresponding to their importance1 a whole race of secondary deities who are emanations from ,his very substance1 who are mere personifications of ,his attributes and manifestations4 ,the differences between the various pagan religions is chiefly marked by the differences between these secondary divine beings4 ,thus1 as we have already seen1 the imagination of the ,egyptians had been especially struck by the various stages of the daily and yearly course of the sun4 ,in this they saw the most imposing manifestations of the ,deity1 that which best revealed the laws of the government of the world4 ,in this they sought their divine personification4 ,the ,chaldo-,assyrians1 especially devoted to astronomy1 saw in the ,astral1 and especially in the planetary system1 a manifestation of the divine being4 ,they considered the stars as ,his true external manifestation1 and in their religious system made them the visible evidence of the subordinate divine emanations from the substance of the infinite being1 whom they identified with the world1 his work4 ,,the ,,supreme ,,god1 ,,ilu4 ,the supreme god1 the first and sole principle from whom all other deities were derived1 was ,ilu1 whose name signifies ,god par excellence4 ,their idea of him was too comprehensive1 too vast1 to have any determined external form1 or consequently to receive in general the adoration of the people2 and from this point of view there is a certain analogy between ,ilu and the ,chronos of the ,greeks1 with whom he was compared by the latter4 ,in ,chalda it does not seem that any temple was ever specially dedicated to him2 but at ,nineveh and generally throughout ,assyria1 he seems to have received the peculiarly national name of ,asshur 7whence was derived the name of the country1 ,mat ,asshur71 and this itself seems related to the ,arian name of the deity ,asura4 ,with this title he was great god of the land1 the especial protector of the ,assyrians1 he who gave victory to their arms4 ,the inscriptions designate him as 8,master or ,chief of the ,gods40 ,he it is1 perhaps1 who is to be recognized in the figure occasionally found on the ,assyrian monuments 7but probably adopted in later times by the ,persians to represent their ,ormuzd71 representing a human bust1 wearing the royal tiara in the middle of a circle borne by two large eagle wings1 and with an eagle's tail4 ,,the ,,assyrian ,,triad4 ,below ,ilu1 the universal and mysterious source of all1 was placed a triad1 composed of his three first external and visible manifestations1 and occupying the summit of the hierarchy of gods in popular worship4 ,anu1 the ,oannes of the ,greek writers1 was the lord of darkness2 ,bel1 the demiurgus1 the organizer of the world2 ,ao1 called also ,bin1 that is1 the divine 8,son0 par excellence1 the divine light1 the intelligence penetrating1 directing and vivifying the universe4 ,these three divine persons esteemed as equal in power and con-substantial1 were not held as of the same degree of emanation1 but were regarded as having1 on the contrary1 issued the one from the other--,ao from ,oannes1 and ,bel from ,ao4 ,oannes1 the 8,lord of the ,lower ,world1 the ,lord of ,darkness10 was represented on the monuments under the strange figure of a man with an eagle's tail1 and for his head-dress an enormous fish1 whose open mouth rises over his head1 while the body covers his shoulders4 ,it is under this form that1 ,berosus tells us1 according to ,babylonian tradition1 he floated on the surface of the waters of ,chaos4 ,bel1 the 8,father of the ,gods10 was usually represented under an entirely human form1 attired as a king1 wearing a tiara with bull's horns1 the symbol of power4 ,but this god took many other secondary forms1 the most important being ,bel ,dagon1 a human bust springing from the body of a fish4 ,we do not know exactly the typical figure of ,ao or ,bin1 8the intelligent guide1 the ,lord of the visible world1 the ,lord of knowledge1 of glory and light40 ,the serpent seems to have been his principal symbol2 though some other sculptured figures seem to be intended to represent ,bin4 ,illustration3 ,,statue ,,of ,,oannes1 ,,the ,,king4 ,a second triad is produced with personages no longer vague and indeterminate in character1 like those of the first1 but with a clearly-defined sidereal aspect1 each representing a known celestial body1 and especially those in which the ,chaldo-,assyrians saw the most striking external manifestations of the deity2 these were ,shamash1 the sun2 ,sin1 the moon god2 and a new form of ,ao or ,bin1 inferior to the first1 and representing him as god of the atmosphere or firmament4 ,thus did they industriously multiply deities and representations of them4 ,,the ,,gods ,,of ,,the ,,planets4 ,then come the gods of the five planets3 ,adar 7,saturn71 ,merodach 7,jupiter71 ,nergal 7,mars71 ,ishtar 7,venus71 and ,nebo 7,mercury74 ,the worship of ,merodach1 though not much cultivated at ,nineveh1 was of primary importance at ,babylon1 where he was regarded as one of the principal gods4 ,he was a secondary form1 another manifestation of ,bel in an inferior rank in the hierarchy2 he was called 8the ancient one of the gods1 the supreme judge1 the master of the horoscope20 he was represented as a man1 erect and walking1 and with a naked sword in his hand4 ,adar1 8the fire10 called also ,samdan1 8the powerful10 although his planet had been called ,saturn by the ,greeks1 was apparently the ,assyrian ,hercules4 ,his appellations are1 8the terrible1 the lord of warriors1 the strong one1 the destroyer of his enemies1 he who reduces the disobedient1 the exterminator of rebels10 and in other cases1 8the ,son of the ,zodiac40 ,on some monuments he is represented in company with ,merodach4 ,in the same manner1 he is represented in the magnificent colossal figures in the ,museum of the ,louvre1 and of the ,british ,museum1 where he is seen as a god of terrible aspect1 strangling in his arms a lion that appears quite small in comparison with him4 ,with the surname of ,malik 7king71 ,adar ,malik is mentioned in the ,bible with 8,oannes the king0 7,anu ,malik7 7#b ,kings1 xvii41 #ca17 as the principal god of ,sippara1 where the inhabitants 8burnt their children in the fire0 in honor of these exalted ones4 ,in general these planetary gods are only fire1 secondary manifestations of the higher order4 ,such is the connection between ,nebo and ,ao4 ,nebo also is distinguished as the 8supreme intelligence20 he is the god of prophetic inspiration and of eloquence1 and also the special guardian of royal prerogative1 the protector of kings and the prototype whom they reproduce on earth4 ,like ,bel1 he has on the monuments an entirely human form with the tiara1 and the dress of a king2 three pairs of horns1 ranged one above the other1 decorate his tiara1 and four large wings are often attached to his shoulders2 the sceptre also is one of his common attributes4 ,illustration3 ,,adar ,,strangling ,,the ,,lion4 ,,the ,,great ,,goddess ,,ishtar4 ,ishtar reproduces among the planetary gods ,anat and ,bilit1 the great goddess of nature1 the mother of all the gods and of all beings2 she is their active and martial form1 for she is called 8the ,goddess of ,battles1 the ,queen of ,victories1 she who leads armies to the fight and is the judge of warlike exploits20 but she has a double form uniting two characters1 one fierce and sanguinary1 the other voluptuous1 for under the names of ,zarpanit and ,nana she presides over the reproduction of beings1 and over sensual pleasures2 she is in this last character always represented naked1 always full face and with the two hands on the chest4 ,moreover two ,ishtars were always distinguished1 that of ,arbela 7called also ,arbail71 and that of ,nineveh1 who presided over the two fortnights of the month4 ,the plural name of this double ,ishtar1 ,ishtaroth1 was the origin of the ,phnician ,ashtaroth4 ,nergal1 whose image is very uncommon1 stands on the legs of a cock1 and carries a sword in his hand4 ,the application of the name of ,mars to his star was quite natural1 for his titles in the inscriptions are 8the great hero1 the king of fight1 the master of battles1 champion of the gods10 and also 8god of the chase40 ,,the ,,genii ,,of ,,assyria4 ,such were the great gods of ,nineveh and ,babylon4 ,below them popular superstition believed in an immense number of personifications of inferior order1 of lesser gods1 or rather genii1 whom it would be waste of time to enumerate4 ,we must1 however1 mention some personages who are found on the monuments occupying an important position in the ,chaldo-,assyrian pantheon1 and who were evidently other forms of the gods already named1 but whose position has not as yet been precisely determined4 ,such is ,nisroch1 called also ,shalman1 who 8presides over the course of human destiny10 and who is also the protector of marriages2 this is the god with an eagle's head and large wings1 whose image is so common on the sculptures of the ,assyrian palaces4 ,it was in the temple of this god at ,nineveh1 that ,sennacherib was assassinated by his sons4 ,possibly we ought to consider this god as another form of ,oannes4 ,illustration3 ,,elevation ,,of ,,palace ,,of ,,sargon ,,at ,,khorsabad ,,as ,,restored ,,by ,,mr4 ,,ferguson4 ,sargon's greatest work as a builder consisted in building ,dur-,sargina1 which is now represented by the ,mound of ,khorsabad4 ,it was a mile square1 and on the north-west face stood the palace platform1 in shape like a ,t4 ,on the outer and northern portion of this platform he built his palace1 the halls and chambers of which were paneled with slabs of alabaster1 richly adorned with sculptures1 and inscribed with the titles1 exploits and annals of his reign4 ,the great gods are often all invoked one after the other at the beginning of the solemn inscriptions of the kings of ,assyria4 ,sargon has given the names of eight of them on the gates of the city he founded4 8,shamash has conferred on me all ,i possess10 says he in an inscription4 8,bin gave me good fortune2 ,i have named the great eastern gates after ,shamash and ,bin4 ,bel ,dagon laid the foundation of my city1 ,bilit ,taauth grinds like paint the elements of the world2 ,i have named the great southern grates after ,bel ,dagon and ,bilit ,taauth4 ,oannes prospers the work of my hand1 ,ishtar leads armies to battle2 ,i have called the great western gates after ,oannes and ,ishtar4 ,nisroch ,shalman presides over marriages1 the mistress of the gods presides over births2 ,i have dedicated the great northern gates to ,nisroch and ,bilit40 ,inscriptions of such and like general purport were sculptured on the palace walls of many of the kings and also upon the bodies of the winged bulls4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,great ,,human-,,headed ,,eagle-,,winged ,,assyrian ,,bull4 ,,worship ,,of ,,the ,,gods ,,at ,,babylon4 ,the deity who was the principal object of worship at ,babylon and at ,borsippa was ,bel ,merodach1 with his wife1 ,bilit or ,myletta1 the great nature-goddess1 who assumed the-two opposite forms of ,taauth and ,zarpanit1 the one austere1 the other voluptuous1 like the two forms of the ,venus of classical mythology4 ,bilit had a magnificent temple in the centre of ,babylon1 where most infamous customs were practiced4 ,at ,ur1 the god of the city1 from the remote times of ,ur-,hammu1 was ,sin1 the moon-god2 at ,sippara and ,larsam1 ,shamash1 the sun2 at ,erech and ,nipur1 ,bilit-,taauth1 8,goddess of the ,firmament40 ,the most shameful rites were connected with the worship of ,nana or ,zarpanit1 at ,cutha4 ,the materialistic and profoundly immoral worship at ,babylon1 naturally excited extreme horror in the worshipers of ,jehovah1 and provoked their vehement invectives against the idols of ,chalda4 ,we quote the eloquent words of ,baruch1 that portray so vividly an always materialistic1 and often obscene worship that was1 in fact1 no more than a constant employment of popular superstition for the profit of the priests4 8,now ye shall see in ,babylon gods of silver1 and of gold1 and of wood1 borne upon shoulders1 which cause the nations to fear4444 ,and taking gold1 as it were1 for a virgin that loveth to go gay1 they make crowns for the heads of their gods4 ,sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver1 and bestow it upon themselves4 ,yea1 they will give thereof to the common harlots1 and deck them as men with garments1 being gods of silver1 and gods of gold and wood4444 ,and he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre 7,nebo71 as though he were a judge of the country4 ,he 7,bel ,merodach7 hath also in his right hand a dagger and an axe1 but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves4444 ,they light them candles1 yea1 more than for themselves1 whereof they cannot see one4 ,they are as one of the beams of the temple1 yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth2 and when they eat them and their clothes they feel it not4444 ,as for the things that are sacrificed unto them1 their priests sell and abuse2 in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt2 but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it4 444 ,the priests also take off their garments and clothe their wives and children4444 ,the women also with cords about them sitting in the way burn bran for perfume40 ,the most remarkable building in ,babylon was the temple of ,bel4 ,it was pyramidal in shape1 having eight stages4 ,the lowest stage was #bjj yards square4 ,on the summit a golden statue of ,bel1 #dj feet high1 stood in a shrine4 ,there were also two other golden statues and a golden table in this shrine4 ,at the bottom of the pyramid-temple stood a chapel with a table and two images of gold within it4 ,two altars stood outside of this chapel4 ,a similar temple was at ,borsippa near ,babylon4 ,it had seven stages1 each decorated in one of the seven primary colors4 ,like all ,chaldean temples1 and like the ,great ,pyramid of ,egypt1 the four corners of this exactly corresponded with the four cardinal points of the compass4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,jews4 ,for those the race of ,israel oft forsook ,their living strength1 and unfrequented left ,his righteous altar1 bowing lowly down ,to bestial gods2 for which their heads as low ,bowed down in battle1 sunk before the spear ,of despicable foes1 with these in troop ,came ,astoreth1 whom the ,phnicians call'd ,astrate1 queen of ,heav'n1 with crescent horns2 ,to whose bright image nightly by the moon ,sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs2 ,in ,sion also not unsung4--,,milton4 ,the ,bible utterly condemns all idol-worship4 ,the people of ,israel from their neighbors were constantly learning of idols and were frequently led away from the worship of ,jehovah to that of false gods4 ,it will be profitable for us just here to turn aside and consider these gods4 ,the people of ,israel were descended from an idolatrous race4 ,joshua wrote 7,chap4 xxiv41 #b71 8,your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood0 7that is1 the ,river ,euphrates17 8and they served other gods40 ,rachel1 when she left her father's home with ,jacob1 stole her father's 8teraphim40 ,these were images connected with magical rites and they were consulted as oracles in later days4 ,laban says3 8,i have augured1 or foretold by observing signs40 ,the teraphim were used in ,israel even in ,ezekiel's time4 ,laban calls his teraphim his gods4 ,they were generally images with a man's head and with bodies of various shapes1 though they were quite small1 being often only about two or three inches high4 ,,the ,,plagues ,,and ,,egyptian ,,idolatry4 ,the people of ,israel strangely sought to blend the worship of the true ,god and of idols1 they 8feared ,jehovah and served strange gods40 ,they worshiped in turn very nearly all the gods of the ,canaanites1 ,syrians1 ,assyrians and many of those of the ,egyptians4 ,they were accustomed to wear amulets and charms1 which were supposed to place them under the protection of the idol gods4 7,see ,genesis xxxv41 #d47 ,in ,egypt the people of ,israel were more thoroughly tainted with false gods1 and it was a long while before they were cleansed of the taint4 ,to the gods of ,egypt ,moses flung down the gauntlet of defiance4 ,he dared their wrath and defied their anger4 ,in the punishments which ,god sent upon ,pharaoh and his people for their refusal to let the children of ,israel go1 the plagues of ,egypt1 as we call them1 smote their most sacred symbols4 ,at the command of ,moses1 ,aaron waved his rod over the ,nile and its waters were turned to blood and its fishes died4 ,the ,nile was an object of worship to the ,egyptians1 as were the crocodiles and some of the fish living in its waters4 ,the frogs1 in the next plague1 were among the sacred animals4 ,it was a part of the ,egyptian religion that the people and especially the priests1 should keep themselves scrupulously clean1 and the plague of the lice was a terrible punishment4 ,the great ,egyptian beetle1 the scarabus1 was sculptured on all their monuments and was an object of worship4 ,the plague of flies or beetles was another attack upon their religion4 ,selected animals among the cattle were worshiped4 ,the murrain of beasts fell upon them1 their being gods as the ,egyptians believed them to be1 could not avert the plague4 ,the plague of boils and blains was another assault upon the purity of their persons required by their religion4 ,the other plagues showed most effectually the utter inability of the ,egyptian gods to help their worshipers1 and that ,jehovah1 the ,god of ,israel1 was the one ,supreme ,being4 ,illustration3 ,,sculptured ,,locust4 ,,the ,,golden ,,calf4 ,with the remembrance of ,god's victory over the idol-worship of ,egypt still fresh in their minds1 the ,israelites soon fell into idolatrous ways4 ,their leader1 ,moses1 was absent in the mountain with ,god4 ,he had gone thither to receive the commands of ,god1 the first of which was an unqualified condemnation of all idolatry4 ,as if to show the necessity of this command1 even while ,moses was so engaged1 the people were demanding of ,aaron that he should make them an idol4 ,the commandments were given to warn ,israel against sin4 ,they were as a fence to keep them from falling into the mouth of hell4 ,the ,israelites recalled the visible objects of worship to which they had been accustomed in ,egypt1 and besought ,aaron to make them gods4 ,weakly yielding to their urgent request1 ,aaron asks for their golden ear-rings1 hoping1 it may be1 that they would not be willing to make this sacrifice4 ,with the gold thus furnished he cast a 8molten calf10 the image of the ,babylonish winged bull ,cherub4 ,this he placed before the ,israelites as the image of the ,god who had led them out of ,egypt4 ,he then built an altar before the idol4 ,in the name of ,jehovah1 he proclaimed a festival4 ,god is for this cause exceedingly angry1 but in answer to ,moses' prayer ,he finally spares the people4 ,as ,moses comes nearer to the camp of ,israel1 he hears the sound of their revelry1 and when his eyes behold the disgraceful scenes attending the worship of the golden calf1 in his anger he throws the stone tablets containing the commandments to the ground4 ,he then causes the image to be ground into powder and strewn upon the water which the people must needs drink4 ,then came the awful slaughter of those who were not loyal to ,jehovah4 ,just how far ,israel had looked upon the golden calf as a mere symbol of ,jehovah1 it is impossible to say1 but ,god condemns even the use of a symbol1 though it may be truly said that the symbol is not itself worshiped4 ,illustration3 ,,goddess ,,ashtoreth1 ,,ishtar4 ,during the rest of their wandering in the desert1 the people did not again commit the sin of idolatry4 ,the terrible punishments which had fallen upon them were quite sufficient to deter them from it4 ,into the fearfully wicked worship of ,baal-,peor1 the ,israelites were led by the daughters of ,moab4 ,god sent upon them an awful punishment for this sin also4 ,during the lives of ,joshua and the elders they remained true to their allegiance to ,jehovah1 but the following generation remembered not the awful penalties ,god visited on idolatry1 and they were caught in the snare again4 ,,baal-,,worship4 ,baal was the supreme male divinity of the ,phnician and ,canaanitish nations4 ,ashtoreth was their female divinity4 ,the name ,baal means lord4 ,he was the sun-god4 ,the name is generally used in connection with other names1 as ,baal-,gad1 that is ,baal the ,fortune-bringer2 ,baal-,berith or ,covenant-making ,baal2 ,baal-,zebub1 the ,fly-god4 ,the people of ,israel worshiped ,baal up to the time of ,samuel1 at whose rebuke they forsook this iniquity for nearly a hundred years4 ,the practice was introduced again in the time of ,solomon1 and it continued to the days of the captivity4 ,illustration3 ,,ph,,nician ,,goddess ,,astarte4 ,during the life of all the judges1 ,israel worshiped ,baal4 ,as soon as ,gideon was dead1 the ,israelites1 who had during his lifetime been less devout in this direction1 returned to it again with energy4 ,as if in mockery of the covenant made with ,jehovah1 they chose to worship ,baal-,berith1 8,baal of the ,covenant40 ,we are told that this ,baal's temple was a fortress1 and that his treasury was filled with the silver brought in great abundance by his worshipers4 ,before the story of ,samson is told the striking words are used1 8the children of ,israel did evil again in the eyes of ,jehovah1 and ,jehovah gave them again into the hands of the ,philistines40 ,idolatry was their national sin4 ,from ,judges xvii4 and xviii41 we see that often the ,israelites tried to carry on both the worship of ,jehovah and of idols1 like the ,saxon king who is said to have had both an altar to ,christ and an altar to the devils in his chapel-cave4 ,strange to say1 ,moses' own son1 ,jonathan1 was the priest in the idol-temple of the gods of the tribe of ,dan4 ,these idols were destroyed by the ,philistines4 ,it was the custom of heathen nations to carry their idols before them into battle4 ,idolatry was not due to popularity alone1 it was not followed merely as a fashion1 for it was often carried on secretly4 7,isaiah lvii41 #h1 and ,hosea ix41 #a1 #b47 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,ammonite ,,fire-,,god ,,moloch4 ,under ,samuel idolatry was formally renounced by the ,israelites4 ,but ,solomon's foreign wives brought with them the gods of their own nations4 ,so the gods of ,ammon1 ,moab and ,sidon were openly worshiped2 three of the summits of ,olivet were covered with the altars of ,ashtoreth1 ,chemosh and ,moloch1 the fire-god4 ,the offering of human sacrifice was a part of the worship of ,moloch4 ,the ceremony is supposed to have been as follows3 ,the priest stood on a platform in front of the idol1 and while the people bowed down and murmured their prayers1 he placed in the hands of the idol the sacrifice1 frequently a little babe4 ,by some cruel machinery the idol's hands came together crushing the child1 while the musicians beat their drums to drown its cries4 ,rehoboam and ,jeroboam both led ,israel more deeply into idolatry4 ,jeroboam erected golden calves1 the statues of the ,egyptian god ,apis1 at ,bethel and at ,dan4 ,to their use temples were devoted and services1 copied probably from the ,mosaic ritual1 were held4 ,incense and sacrifice was offered before them4 ,asa1 and ,jehosophat after him1 removed all the relics of idolatry4 ,with ,ahab's coming to the throne1 ,baal's worship was re-established4 ,this was done at the request of ,jezebel1 the ,sidonian princess4 ,ahab did 8more to provoke ,jehovah1 ,god of ,israel1 to anger than all the kings of ,israel before him40 ,from this time ,baal-worship is interwoven with all the life of ,israel4 ,the idolatrous priests became more and more numerous and important1 being patronized by the court and fed at the royal table4 ,finally came the grand trial scene4 ,as in ,egypt long before1 ,god was once more about to vindicate ,his supremacy4 ,on ,mount ,carmel the trial took place4 8,by scores1 by hundreds1 chanting to their god1 ,clad in white stoles with frontlets of red gold1 ,baal's prophets marched4 ,the crowd through all its myriad ranks was still1 ,with wide1 expectant eyes the king in front4 ,forth stepped ,elijah2 melancholy fire ,burned in his swarthy-glowing eye2 he looked ,in angry love1 impatient1 scornful grief1 ,wonder and pity1 on the multitude4 #8,how long1' he cried1 with voice like autumn blast1 #8,how long1 ,o ,israel1 halt ye between two8 ,if ,jah be ,god1 then serve ye ,him3 if ,baal1 ,then ,baal4' ,the great crowd stretched to him1 and rocked ,in mighty agitation to and fro4 ,the gray crags caught his words1 and echoed them ,to ,carmel's crest2 it threw them to the peak1 ,snow-crowned1 of ,lebanon1 which tossed them far ,along the surges of the boundless sea4 ,he spake again3 #8,the ,god that answereth ,by fire1 let ,him be ,god4' ,as when a wave1 ,that rears itself1 a wall of polished glass1 ,for leagues along the shore1 and hangs in air1 ,falls with one deafening crash1 so rose the shout ,of answering acclamation from the crowd4 ,white-faced1 with restless lips and anxious eyes1 ,baal's prophets heard1 their hundreds cowed and mute ,before one man4 ,they dared not1 in mere shame1 ,decline the challenge4 ,while the dusky gray ,of earliest dawn was fluttering into blue ,they built their altar2 and when first the sun ,showed his clear forehead on the mountain-tops ,their chanted prayer to the appearing ,baal ,rose loud and shrill1 that he would stretch his hand ,with burning torch to light the sacrifice ,and prove himself a god4 ,the sun rose calm1 ,springing as if in joy from earth's low hills1 ,upon the vaulted radiance of the sky1 ,all unregarding these his worshipers4 ,the hymns' last echoes died away2 the sun ,burned with fierce heat1 swift striding up the blue4 ,standing on that scorched hill1 we felt his rays ,prick like sharp spear-points4 ,then ,i heard again ,elijah's voice4 ,i had been watching close ,baal's prophets1 but ,i now looked straight at him4 ,a fearful gleam was in his eye1 a mirth ,too stern1 methought1 for man of woman born2 ,his glance was vexing those robed prophets more ,than the sun's fire2 and then be gave it words4 #8,might he not spare one little spark1 but one1 ,your fine god riding there1' he cried1 #8to light ,your sacrifice8 ,he surely has enough2 ,he's burning you1 if not your offering4 ,poor souls1 ,i pity you6' ,they screamed for rage4 #8,a little louder1' smiled he1 #8for perhaps ,in his warm chariot he has fallen asleep4' ,they leaped1 they danced1 they cut themselves with knives1 ,till the blood soaked their robes and poured in streams ,from their lanced foreheads4 ,then he laughed aloud ,great shouts of laughter1 till the echoes rang ,from crag to crag on ,carmel4 #8,keep it up1 ,another dance6' he shrieked2 #8another song6 ,leap rather higher2 never grudge some drops ,of your dear blood1 so precious in his sight4 ,ye know he is a god1 my reverend friends2 ,how often have ye told the people so8 ,your pretty speeches and the miracles ,which ye have shown them1 these were not1 of course1 ,mere lies accursed4 ,he is a god1 you know4 ,louder1 ,i say2 he's old1 perhaps1 and deaf2 ,out with your beards--that's hopeful--crack your throats ,in yelling chorus4 ,good1 good--ha1 ha1 ha6' ,he rubbed his hands1 waved wildly in the air ,his sheep-skin mantle1 laughed until the tears ,streamed down his face1 and all his body shook ,with paroxysms of mirth and scorn4 ,ah me6 ,that laughter sounded fearfully1 and seemed ,not human in its fiery ruthlessness4 ,but as he stood on ,carmel1 charred and gray1 ,a dead land lay below1 his native land2 ,and the white corpse-eyes made appeal to him ,against its murderers1 murderers of the truth1 ,baal's lying prophets4 ,furthermore1 ,i think ,that this ,elijah is not to be judged ,like common men4 ,the little rippling lake1 ,safe hid among the hills1 can never know ,the ocean's tempests4--,so they writhed and tore1 ,in ecstasies of grief and rage4 ,at last ,they hung their heads in mute despair1 and looked ,upon the ground4 ,elijah stood erect1 ,terrible earnestness and majesty ,now sitting on his brow4 ,twelve stones he took-- ,mark1 twelve2 this challenge in the full name ,of ,israel as it stooped to ,david's hand1 ,and with one mighty throb the multitude ,approved ,elijah's purpose2--twelve smooth stones ,from ,carmel's side1 and with them he repaired ,jehovah's altar4 ,then1 at his command1 ,we filled the trench with water1 till it ran ,around the altar like a surging stream1 ,and washed the stones1 and soaked the wood beneath ,the sacrifice4 ,he knelt upon the ridge1 ,against the golden1 placid sky of eve2 ,brief1 simple1 clear1 his words arose to heaven2 #8,that ,god would testify unto ,himself ,and to ,his prophet1 and would turn the hearts ,of ,his own people back to ,him again4' ,scarce had he spoken1 when a broad white glare1 ,scattering earth's light like darkness in its path1 ,keener than lightning1 calmer than the dawn1 ,the sword of ,god that proveth ,him by fire1 ,that proveth ,him by fire in every age1 ,stooped from above and touched the sacrifice4 ,in the white blaze the sun grew wan1 and hung ,like a pale moon upon the glimmering sky4 ,the fierce flame licked the water up1 the wood ,crackled aloft1 the very altar stones ,glowed fiery red4 ,the pillared smoke arose ,through the hushed air in towering flawlessness1 ,then spread out calm and broad1 like ,god's own face ,breathing acceptance4 ,but ,baal's prophets shook ,in utter fear1 and smote upon their breasts1 ,and groveled1 moaning1 down into the dust4 ,clear broke the shout from that great multitude1 #8,jah is the ,god6 ,jehovah ,he is ,god6 #8,take them1' ,elijah said2 #8let none escape4' ,we closed around ,baal's prophets1 thrust them down ,to where the thirsty ,kishon slowly crawled4 ,there made ,elijah bare his arm1 and score ,by score he slew them4 ,from the heap of dead ,oozed a broad rill of blood1 that swelled the wave ,of slumbrous ,kishon40 ,illustration3 ,,jehovah',s ,,triumph ,,over ,,baal4 ,this was a severe blow to this form of idolatry in ,israel for the time being4 ,but in ,judah1 ,baal continued to be worshiped4 ,baal and other gods were worshiped at their own shrines4 ,ahaz built altars to them at every corner of ,jerusalem1 and high-places in every city of ,judah1 replacing the brazen altar of burnt-offering by one made after the idol altar at ,damascus4 ,the time for the final act in the drama of abominations is at hand4 ,the last scene opens with the captivity at ,babylon4 ,one would expect that this terrible punishment would immediately cause ,israel to turn to the true ,god1 but it did not4 ,in the land of their captivity they took to them foreign wives and with them their idols4 ,but there were1 through all the history of the ,jews1 a faithful few who adhered to the pure worship of one ,god4 ,even at the time when ,baal-worship was most prevalent there were #g1jjj in ,israel who had not bowed the knee to ,baal 7#ast ,kings1 xxix41 #ah74 ,excepting these few1 the chosen people were almost as much given to idolatry as any nation around them4 8,israel for many days had no true ,god1 and no teaching priest1 and no law0 7#b;d ,chronicles1 xv41 #c74 ,foreign wives1 foreign allies1 and the unnatural tendency to desire visible objects of worship caused this prevalence of idolatry in the very nation to which ,god made especial revelations of ,his character and purposes4 ,in spite of ,god's promises and threats1 commands and entreaties1 punishments and pardon1 ,israel still sinned4 ,the false gods mentioned in the ,new ,testament and some of those referred to in the ,old ,testament1 will be spoken of further on in describing the religions to which they severally belonged4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,greece4 ,there1 where now1 as we're by sages told1 ,whirls on high a soulless fiery ball1 ,helios guided then his car of gold1 ,in his silent majesty o'er all4 ,oreads then these heights around us filled1 ,then a dryad dwelt in yonder tree1 ,from the urn of loving naiads rilled ,silver streamlets foamingly4 ,,friedrich ,,von ,,schiller4 ,the religious system of the ,greeks is the embodiment of beauty4 ,no other worship that has ever existed so encouraged the taste for art as this4 ,its literature1 its mythological stories1 its idols and its temples still control and1 to a great extent1 shape the art ideas of the world4 ,its devotees have above all other people possessed a perception of beauty of form and a fondness for representing it4 ,the people of ,greece appear to have originally come from the north-western part of ,asia ,minor4 ,they were called the ,hellenes4 ,the worship which they brought from ,asia was the worship of the 8,heaven-,father10 the unseen one who dwells in ether1 whose temple is the sky1 and whose altar is properly placed upon the mountain-top4 ,the ,hindus called the same being ,dyaus-pitar2 the ,romans1 ,diovis-pater or ,jupiter2 the ,greeks1 ,zeus-pater4 ,one can readily see the resemblance between these names1 and the evidence they bear to the fact that these nations all came originally from one common stock4 ,as the primal ,greek race separated into various parts of ,greece different forms began to arise4 ,as sailors from other lands arrived on their shores1 they brought their own gods with them1 and thus many new gods were introduced into ,greece4 ,the lively imagination of the ,greeks and the out-door life of their primitive state produced a number of tales and legends about the gods4 ,some of these were based on the tales with which their forefathers were familiar in their early home in ,asia4 ,the people lived in separate villages4 ,wandering minstrels and merchants carried these tales of gods and heroes from village to village4 ,poets then caught them up and adorned them with the touches of a livelier fancy4 ,thus soon a rich and luxuriant system of legendary lore was in possession of the whole people4 ,just as is the case with other nations1 the beings called gods by the ,greeks are but the personifications of the powers and objects of nature1 and the legends but represent the courses of nature and its operations4 ,to these primitive notions imagination afterwards added1 and poetry clothed the whole with a warm glow4 ,thus was formed the popular ,greek faith4 ,,origin ,,of ,,the ,,world ,,and ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,according to the ideas of the ,homeric and ,hesiodic ages1 it would seem that the world was a hollow globe1 divided into two equal portions by the flat disk of the earth4 ,the external shell of this globe is called by the poets brazen and iron1 probably only to express its solidity4 ,the superior hemisphere was named ,heaven1 the inferior one ,tartarus4 ,the length of the diameter of the hollow sphere is given thus by ,hesiod4 ,it would take1 he says1 nine days for an anvil to fall from heaven to earth2 and an equal space of time would be occupied by its fall from earth to ,tartarus4 ,the luminaries which gave light to gods and men shed their radiance through all the interior of the upper hemisphere2 while that of the inferior one was filled with eternal gloom and darkness1 and its still air was unmoved by any wind4 ,the earth filled the centre of the universe in the form of a round flat disk1 or rather cylinder1 around which the river 7the ocean7 flowed4 ,hellas was probably regarded as the centre of the earth2 but the poets are silent on this point4 ,they are equally so as to the exact central point1 but probably viewed as such ,olympus1 the abode of the gods4 ,in after times ,delphi became practically the navel of the earth4 ,the sea divided the terrestial disk into two portions1 which we may suppose were regarded as equal4 ,these divisions do not seem to have had any distinctive names in the time of ,homer4 ,the northern one was afterwards named ,europe2 the southern1 at first called ,asia1 alone1 was in process of time divided into ,asia and ,libya1 the former comprising all the country between the ,phasis and the ,nile1 the latter all between this river and the western ocean4 ,in the sea1 the ,greeks appear to have known1 to the west of their own country1 southern ,italy1 ,sicily and ,spain1 though their ideas respecting these countries were probably vague and uncertain4 ,the imagination of the poets1 or the tales of voyagers1 had placed in the more remote parts of it several islands1 such as the ,ogygian1 the isle of ,calyps2 the an1 that of ,kirk2 the olion1 that of olos2 ,scheria1 the abode of the ,phakians--islands in all probability as ideal and as fabulous as the isles of ,panchaia1 ,lilliput1 or ,brobdignag1 though both ancients and moderns have endeavored to assign their exact positions4 ,along its southern coast lay1 it would appear1 the countries of the ,lotus-eaters1 the ,cyclops1 the ,giants and the ,lstrigonians4 ,these isles and coasts of the western part of the sea were the scenes of most of the wonders of early ,grecian fable4 ,there1 and on the isles of the ocean1 the passage to which was supposed to be closed to the island of ,kirk1 dwelt the ,sirens1 the ,hesperides1 the ,grc1 the ,gorgons and the other beings of fable1 whose varied deeds make up the ever interesting narratives of the ancient mythology4 ,the ,greeks of the early ages knew little of any people except those to the east and south of their own country1 or near the coast of the ,mediterranean4 ,their imagination1 meantime1 had peopled the western portion of this sea with giants1 monsters and enchantresses2 while they placed around the edge of the disk of the earth1 which they probably regarded as of no great width1 nations enjoying the peculiar favor of the gods1 and blessed with happiness and longevity--a notion which continued to prevail even in the historic times4 ,the entrance to the city or palace of the gods on ,olympus was closed by a gate of clouds kept by the goddesses named the 8,seasons20 but the cloudy valves opened spontaneously to permit the greater gods to pass to and fro on their visits to the earth1 thus linking with earth's phases the approaches or departures of the gods4 ,tartarus was unvisited by the light of day4 ,it was regarded as the prison of the gods1 and not as the place of torment for wicked men1 being to the gods what ,erebus was to men--the abode of those who were driven from the supernal world4 ,the ,titans1 when conquered1 were shut up in it2 and in the ,ilias1 ,zeus menaces the subordinate and refractory gods with banishment to its murky regions4 ,,the ,,generations ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,chaos 7void space7 was first3 then came into being 8broad-breasted0 ,earth1 the gloomy ,tartarus and ,love4 ,chaos produced ,erebus and ,night1 and this last bore to ,erebus ,day and ,ether4 ,earth now produced ,uranos 7,heaven71 of equal extent with herself1 to envelop her1 and the mountains and ,pontos 7,sea74 ,she then bore to ,uranus a mighty progeny--the ,titans2 six males and six females4 ,she also bore the three ,cyclops and the three-hundred handed ones1 ,hottos1 ,briareus and ,gyges4 ,these children were hated by their father1 who1 as soon as they were born1 thrust them out of sight in a cavern of mother ,earth1 who1 grieved at his conduct1 produced the substance of hoary steel1 and1 forming from it a sickle1 roused her children1 the ,titans1 to rebellion against him2 but fear seized on them all except ,kronos1 who1 lying in wait with the sickle with which his mother had armed him1 mutilated his unsuspecting sire4 ,the drops which fell to the earth from the wounds gave birth to the ,erinnyes1 the ,giants and the ,mehan nymphs2 and from what fell into the sea sprang ,aphrodit1 the goddess of love and beauty4 ,earth finally1 after the overthrow of the ,titans1 bore by ,tartaros her last offspring1 the hundred-headed ,typhus1 the father of storms and whirlwinds1 whom ,zeus precipitated into ,tartarus4 ,rhea was united to ,kronos4 ,kronos1 having learned from his parents1 ,heaven and ,earth1 that he was fated to be deprived by one of his sons of the kingdom which he had taken from his father1 devoured his children as fast as they were born4 ,rhea1 when about to be delivered of ,zeus1 besought her parents to teach her how she might save him4 ,instructed by ,earth1 she concealed him in a cavern of ,crete1 and gave a stone in his stead to ,kronos4 ,this stone he afterward threw up1 and with it the children whom he had devoured4 ,when ,zeus was grown up1 he and the other children of ,kronos made war on their father and the ,titans4 ,the scene of the conflict was ,thessaly2 the former fought from ,olympus1 the latter from ,othrys4 ,during ten entire years the conflict was undecided2 at length1 by the counsel of ,earth1 the ,kronids released the ,hundred-handed and called them to their aid4 ,the war was then resumed with renewed vigor1 and the ,titans were finally vanquished and imprisoned in ,tartarus1 under the guard of the ,hundred-handed4 ,the ,kronids then1 by the advice of ,earth1 gave the supreme power to ,zeus1 who1 in return1 distributed honors and dominion among the associates of his victory4 ,,gods ,,of ,,the ,,grecians4 ,the ,greeks of the early ages regarded the lofty ,thessalian mountain named ,olympus as the dwelling of their gods4 ,in the ,odyssey1 where the deities are of a character far more dignified and elevated than in the ,ilias1 the place of their abode shares in their exaltation2 and it may almost be doubted if the poet who drew the following picture of ,olympus could have conceived it to be no more than the summit of a terrestrial mountain3 8,olympus1 where they say the ever firm ,seat of the gods is1 by the winds unshaken1 ,nor ever wet with rain1 nor ever showered ,with snow1 but cloudless ether o'er it spreads1 ,and glittering light encircles it around1 ,on which the happy gods aye dwell in bliss40 ,man loves to bestow his own form upon his gods1 as being the noblest that he can conceive4 ,those of ,homer are all of the human form1 but of far larger dimensions than men2 great size being an object of admiration both in men and women in those early and martial ages4 ,thus1 when the goddess ,athena ascends as driver the chariot of ,diomedes1 ,loud groaned the beechen axle with the weight1 ,for a great god and valiant chief it bore2 when in the battle of the gods ,ars is struck to the earth by this goddess1 he is described as covering seven plethra of ground2 the helmet of the goddess herself would1 we are told1 cover the footmen of a hundred towns2 when ,hera is about to make an oath she lays one hand on the earth1 the other on the sea2 the voice of ,poseidn and ,ars are as loud as the shout of nine or ten thousand men4 ,the gods can1 however1 increase or diminish their size1 assume the form of particular men1 or of any animals1 and make themselves visible and invisible at their pleasure4 ,their bodies are also of a finer nature than those of men4 ,it is not blood1 but a blood-like fluid named ichr1 which flows in their veins4 ,they are susceptible of injury by mortal weapons2 the arrows of ,herakles violate the divine bodies of ,hera and ,hades4 ,diomedes wounds both ,aphrodite and ,ars4 ,they require nourishment as men do2 their food is called ,ambrosia1 their drink ,nectar4 ,their mode of life exactly resembles that of the princes and nobles of the heroic ages4 ,in the palace of ,zeus1 on ,olympus1 they feast at the approach of evening1 and converse of the affairs of heaven and earth2 the nectar is handed round by ,hebe 7youth72 ,apollo delights them with the tones of his lyre2 and the ,muses1 in responsive strains1 pour forth their melodious voices in song4 ,when the sun descends each god retires to repose in his own dwelling4 ,they frequently partake of the hospitality of men1 travel with them1 and share in their wars and battles4 ,with the form of men the ,homeric gods also partake of their passions4 ,they are capricious1 jealous1 revengeful1 will support their favorites through right and wrong1 and are implacable toward their enemies or even those who have slighted them4 ,their power was held to extend very far2 men regarded them the authors of both good and evil2 all human ability and success was ascribed to them4 ,they were believed to have power over the thoughts of men1 and could imperceptibly suggest such as they pleased4 ,they required of men to honor them with prayer1 and the sacrifice of oxen1 goats1 sheep1 lambs and kids1 and oblations of wine and corn1 and fragrant herbs4 ,when offended1 they usually remitted their wrath when thus appeased4 ,the ,homeric gods have all different ranks and offices2 ,olympus being1 in fact1 regulated on the model of a ,grecian city of the heroic ages4 ,zeus was king of the region of the air and clouds1 which had fallen to him by lot on the dethronement of his father ,kronos2 the sea was the realm of his brother ,poseidn2 the under-world fell to ,hades in the division of their conquests2 earth and ,olympus were common property4 ,zeus1 however1 as eldest brother1 exercised a supremacy1 and his power was the greatest4 ,the other inhabitants of ,olympus were ,hera1 sister and spouse of ,zeus2 ,apollo1 the god of music and archery2 his sister ,artemis1 the goddess of the chase1 and their mother ,leto2 ,aphrodite1 goddess of love1 and her mother ,dione2 ,ars1 god of war2 ,pallas-,athene1 goddess of prudence and skill2 ,themis1 goddess of justice2 ,hermoias1 god of grain2 ,hebe1 the attendant of the ,olympian king and queen and ,isis1 their messenger2 ,hephstos1 the celestial artist1 and ,peon1 the physician2 and the ,muses1 the ,graces and the ,seasons4 ,poseidn was frequently there2 but ,demeter1 the goddess of agriculture1 and ,dionysius1 the god of wine1 do not appear among the residents of ,olympus4 ,the ,nymphs and the ,river-gods occasionally visited or were summoned to it4 ,eos1 ,helios and ,selene1 rose every day out of the ocean-stream1 and drove in their chariots through the air1 shedding their cheering beams abroad4 ,all the dwellings of the gods upon ,olympus were of brass or copper1 the metal which was in the greatest abundance in ,greece4 ,hephstos was architect and smith2 he formed all the arms1 household furniture1 chariots and other articles in use among the ,celestials2 but their dress1 especially that of the goddesses1 appears to have been the workmanship of ,pallas-,athene or of the ,graces4 ,the gold which proceeded from the work-shop of ,hephstos was filled with automatic power2 his statues were endowed with intelligence2 his tripods could move of themselves2 he made the golden shoes1 or rather soles1 with which the gods trod the air and the waters1 or strode with the speed of winds1 or even of thought1 from mountain to mountain upon the earth which trembled beneath their weight4 ,the chariots of the gods and their appurtenances were formed of various metals4 ,that of ,hera1 for example1 is thus described3 8,then ,hebe quickly to the chariot put ,the round wheels1 eight-spoked1 brazen1 strong ,axle of iron4 ,gold their fellies were1 ,and undecaying1 but thereon of brass ,the tires1 well-fitting1 wondrous to behold4 ,of silver was the rounded nave of each2 ,the body was hung by gold and silver cords1 ,and two curved sides encompassed it about4 ,the pole was silver1 and upon its end ,she tied the beauteous golden yoke1 and bound ,on it the golden braces fair2 the steeds1 ,swift-footed then beneath the yoke were led ,by ,hera1 eager for the war and strife40 ,these chariots were drawn by horses of celestial breed1 which could whirl them to and fro between heaven and earth1 through the yielding air1 or skim with them along the surface of the sea1 without wetting the axle4 ,they were only used on occasions of taking a long journey1 as when ,hera professes that she is going to the end of the earth to make up the quarrel between ,okeanos and ,tethys2 or on occasions in which the gods wished to appear with state and magnificence4 ,on ordinary occasions the gods moved by the aid of their golden shoes2 when at home in their houses1 they1 like the men of those ages1 went bare-foot4 ,the ,greeks tell almost innumerable stories of their gods1 and their adventures1 love-escapades and wars4 ,some are wonderfully beautiful1 others humble or grotesque4 ,their heroes come in for a share of the honors paid the gods4 ,we can compare these stories with the legends of other nations1 and see the wondrous resemblance between them4 ,,specimen ,,stories ,,from ,,greek ,,mythology4 ,it will be possible to introduce but a few of the very many ,greek legends and myths4 ,we choose to give a few fully1 rather than to give many imperfectly4 ,,hermes ,,and ,,apollo4 ,hermes was born of the mountain-nymph1 ,maia1 in a cavern of ,mount ,kylln1 in ,arcadia4 ,he had scarcely been laid in his cradle1 when he got up and set off for ,pieria1 to steal cows from ,apollo4 ,as he was going out he met a tortoise1 which he caught up and carried back to the cave2 when1 quick as thought1 he killed the animal1 took out the flesh1 adapted reeds and strings to the shell1 and formed from it the ,phormin or ,lyre1 on which he immediately played with perfect skill4 ,he then laid it up in his cradle1 and resumed his journey4 ,he arrived by sunset in ,pieria1 where the oxen of the gods fed under the care of ,apollo4 ,he forthwith separated fifty cows from the herd and drove them away1 contriving to make them go backwards2 and throwing away his sandals1 bound branches of myrtle and tamarisk under his feet1 that the herdsman-god might have no clew by which to trace his cattle4 ,as he passed by ,onchstos in ,botia1 he saw an old man engaged in planting his vineyard1 whom he strictly charged not to tell what he had seen4 ,he then pursued his way by shady hills1 resounding vales and flowery plains1 and as the moon was rising arrived with his booty on the banks of the ,alpheios in the ,peloponnse4 ,he there fed and stalled his kine1 made a fire1 killed1 cut up1 and dressed two of them1 and even made black puddings of their blood1 and then thriftily spread their skins to dry on a rock4 ,he burned the heads and feet1 and put out the fire1 effacing all signs of it1 and flung his twig-sandals into the river4 ,with daybreak he slank home and stole into his cradle1 not unobserved by his mother1 who reproached him with his deeds2 but he replied that he was resolved by his actions to procure admission for her and himself to the assembly of the gods4 ,in the morning ,apollo missed his kine2 he set out in search of them1 and met the old man1 who informed him of his having seen a child driving cows along4 ,he comes to ,pylos1 where he sees the traces of his cattle1 but is amazed at the strange foot-prints of their driver4 ,he proceeds to the fragrant cave of the nymphs1 and ,hermes on seeing him gathers himself up under the clothes1 afraid of the god4 ,apollo takes the key1 opens and searches the three closets where the nymph kept her clothes1 ornaments and food1 but to no purpose4 ,he then threatens the child that he will fling him into ,tartarus unless he tells him where the cows are2 but ,hermes stoutly denies all knowledge of them1 and even very innocently asks what cows are4 ,apollo pulls him out of the cradle and they agree to go and argue the matter before ,zeus4 ,arrived in ,olympus1 ,apollo relates the theft1 and tells what reasons he had for suspecting the baby of being the thief4 ,all this is1 to the great amusement of the ,celestials1 stoutly denied and its absurdity shown by the little fellow1 who still has his cradle clothes about him4 ,zeus1 however1 gives judgment against ,hermes1 and the two brothers are sent in search of the missing kine4 ,they come to ,pylos1 and ,hermes drives the cattle out of the cave4 ,apollo misses two of them2 to his amazement he sees their skins on a rock1 and is still more surprised1 when1 on going to drive the others on1 he finds the art of ,hermes had rooted their feet to the ground4 ,hermes then begins to play on his lyre1 the tones of which so ravish ,apollo that he offers him the cows for it4 ,the young god gives him the lyre1 and receives the cattle4 ,the divine herdsman also gives him his whip1 and instructs him in the management of the herds4 ,,the ,,lotus-,,eaters ,,and ,,the ,,cyclops4 ,odysseus when on his return from ,troy1 encountered a violent north-east wind1 which drove him for nine days1 until he reached the country of the ,lotus-eaters4 ,he sent three of his men to see who the inhabitants were4 ,these men on coming among the ,lotus-eaters were kindly entertained by them1 and given some of their own food1 the ,lotus plant1 to eat4 ,the effect of this plant was such1 that those who tasted it lost all thoughts of home and wished to remain in that country4 ,it was by main force that ,odysseus dragged these men away1 and he was even obliged to tie them under the benches of his ship4 ,then he sailed to the westward and came to the land of the ,cyclops4 ,these were a rude1 lawless people1 who neither planted nor sowed1 but whose land was so fertile as spontaneously to produce for them wheat1 barley and grapes4 ,they dwelt in caves1 and each without regard to others governed his wife and children4 ,in front of one of their harbors lay a beautiful island1 well-stocked with goats4 ,leaving his fleet at this island1 ,odysseus went with one ship to the mainland4 ,here he entered the cave of a ,cyclops1 ,polyphemus by name4 ,when ,polyphemus returned in the evening with his flocks and found strangers there1 he asked who they were4 ,odysseus said that they had been shipwrecked1 and appealed to his mercy and reverence for the gods4 ,polyphemus cared for neither and he seized and killed and devoured two young ,greeks4 ,the door of the cave was closed with an immense rock1 so that1 if they killed ,polyphemus1 they could not have escaped1 for they could not move the rock4 ,the next night1 though1 when ,polyphemus was in a drunken sleep1 they took his staff1 which was as large as a mast1 heated it in the fire1 and put out his one eye4 ,when the giant roared out with pain1 the other ,cyclops came to see what was the matter4 ,odysseus had told him that his name was ,nobody4 ,so when he called out that ,nobody was killing him1 they thought him dreaming4 ,next morning when ,polyphemus turned out his sheep and goats1 which were of great size1 the ,greeks fastened themselves beneath their bellies and so escaped4 ,after they had put out to sea a little way1 ,odysseus called out his true name1 and the angry ,cyclops hurled great stones at him1 and nearly destroyed his ship4 ,,hercules' ,,twelve ,,tasks4 ,in obedience to the god ,zeus1 ,hercules was made to serve ,eurystheus1 who gave him twelve tasks to perform4 ,the first task was to bring the skin of an unconquerable lion1 the ,nemean4 ,hercules choked the lion4 ,the second task was to destroy the nine-headed hydra1 or water-snake4 ,he cut off the heads1 but two sprang up where one was cut off4 ,then his companion with a torch burned the necks where the heads were cut off by ,hercules the second time4 ,the third task was to bring the golden-horned hind alive4 ,he wounded and then caught her4 ,the fourth task was to bring an immense wild boar alive4 ,the fifth task was to cleanse the immense stables of ,king ,augeas in one day4 ,this he did by mining the rivers ,penios and ,alpheios4 ,the sixth task was to drive away the stymphalid water-fowl4 ,a goddess gave him brazen clappers1 the beating of which made the birds rise from their hiding-places1 when ,hercules destroyed them with his arrows4 ,the seventh task was to fetch the wild and furious ,cretan bull4 ,the eighth task was to bring the ,centaurs of ,thrace4 ,the ,centaurs were horses with the heads and upper half of the human body4 ,the ninth was to bring the girdle of the mighty queen of the ,amazons4 ,the tenth was to bring the purple-headed oxen of the ,ruddy-isle4 ,the eleventh was to bring the apples of the ,hesperides4 ,after meeting with various adventures he reached the place where they were1 and while he upheld the heavens ,atlas plucked the apples1 which ,hercules1 by a cute device1 secured from him4 ,the twelfth task was to bring ,cerberus from the under-world4 ,all his tasks were accomplished4 ,the whole story of the hero ,hercules is intensely interesting4 ,,the ,,phidian ,,jupiter4 ,zeus--the ,jupiter of the ,romans--the chief1 was the earliest of the national gods4 ,the great place of his worship was at ,olympia4 ,here was the magnificent statue of ,jupiter1 made by the famous ,phidias4 ,this statue was sixty-five feet high4 ,the frame-work1 of cedar and olive wood1 was covered with ivory and gold4 ,his throne was of cedar wood1 inlaid with ivory and precious-stones4 ,in his right hand he held a statue of victory1 and in his left a sceptre surmounted by the eagle4 ,the footstool was supported by sphinxes1 and the throne was of cedar wood1 inlaid with ivory1 the ebony pedestal was covered with sculptured scenes of his life and adventures4 ,probably no idol of ancient or modern times exceeds this in its majestic1 massive beauty4 ,neither ivory nor gold were plentiful in ,greece1 yet so devoted were the people that they provided the immense quantity for this idol readily4 ,the gold plates were one-eighth of an inch thick1 and were worth then over #fjj1jjj1 equal to an immense sum in our days4 ,at ,olympia1 as at the ,isthmus of ,corinth1 games were held at the yearly religious festivals4 ,from these games the apostle ,paul derived many of the metaphors so frequent in his writings4 ,illustration3 ,,image ,,of ,,jupiter1 ,,made ,,by ,,the ,,celebrated ,,sculptor1 ,,phidias4 ,,grecian ,,temples ,,and ,,worship ,,of ,,paul',s ,,day4 ,paul1 the ,christian ,missionary1 came into contact with the heathenism of both ,greece and ,rome4 ,in ,athens1 ,corinth and ,ephesus especially he was brought face to face with idols and temples4 ,the story of his visit to these places as told by ,luke 7,acts xvii41 xviii4 and xix471 and by ,paul 7in his letters to the ,corinthians and ,ephesians7 presents a vivid picture of the condition of the ,greek religion in its latest development4 ,soon the whole system was to lie in ruins1 its temples were to be forsaken1 its idols destroyed1 its worship forgotten4 ,this mighty change was to be produced by the power of ,god working through one weak man1 belonging to what was everywhere regarded as a narrow-minded race1 and without any backing of pomp1 or power1 or wealth4 ,,the ,,city ,,crowded ,,with ,,idols4 ,as ,paul entered the gate-way of the ,pirus at ,athens1 he was met immediately with the proofs of the intense devotion of the ,athenians to their worship4 ,before him stood ,minerva's temple and the image of ,neptune1 her rival1 seated on horseback1 holding his trident4 ,passing on he came1 after a little1 to the temple of ,ceres with the images sculptured by the far-famed ,praxiteles4 ,a little further on his eyes must have fell upon ,bacchus's temple and the images of ,zeus1 ,minerva1 ,apollo1 ,mercury and the ,muses4 ,all around him are temples1 statues1 altars and shrines1 and the news-seeking ,athenians gather about him4 ,every public place and building was accounted sacred4 ,the market-place 7the ,agora7 and the ,acropolis were crowded with temples and altars to the gods1 and even to deified virtues4 ,there were altars to ,fame1 to ,modesty1 to ,persuasion and to ,pity4 ,and1 lest they should by any chance leave out any god or being who might help or injure them1 they built an altar to ,an ,unknown ,god4 ,with all their worship they had not found the true ,god4 ,the magnificent ,parthenon--the ,virgin's ,house--was the glorious temple erected to ,minerva's honor4 ,within it was the colossal statue of ivory and gold1 made by the famous ,phidias1 rivaled only by the same artist's statue of ,jupiter4 ,in the midst of all this idolatry1 what thought was in the mind of ,paul8 8,his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city crowded with idols40 ,it was said in those days that it was easier to find an idol in ,athens than a man4 ,the ,athenians led ,paul away to the ,areopagus4 ,here the judges sat in the open air1 upon seats hewn out of the rock4 ,a temple of ,mars crowned the height4 ,before ,paul's view the whole city with its maze of temples1 shrines and statues1 was spread out4 ,the intensely earnest ,christian ,apostle stood before the frivolous heathen crowd4 ,he is alone1 yet not alone4 ,his ,master is with him4 ,he quails not1 he minces no matters1 he speaks boldly1 fearlessly4 ,he recognizes their intense religiousness 7if we may so call it74 ,he declares the truth that the ,deity does not dwell in temples made with hands1 even with the hundreds of temples before him4 ,with the recollection of ,phidias's famous statues fresh in mind and the countless idols before his view he declares that the ,deity is not to be likened to forms in gold1 silver or stone1 graven by art and man's device4 ,the city is1 apparently1 scarcely moved1 but the leaven has been put in1 and soon the whole lump will be leavened4 ,a few years pass by and the worship of ,athens is only a remembrance4 ,close by ,athens was one city which ,paul visited and where he founded one of the strongest ,christian churches4 ,this city was held in bad repute in all the world on account of its licentiousness4 ,it was not only the seat of wealth and splendor1 but also a den of vice4 8,to ,corinthianize0 meant to play the wanton4 ,the worship in the temple of ,venus was of the most shameful character4 ,to the north-east of ,corinth was the temple of ,neptune1 where the celebrated ,isthmian games were celebrated4 ,illustration3 ,,bird',s-,,eye ,,view ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,diana ,,at ,,ephesus4 ,,diana ,,of ,,the ,,ephesians4 ,ephesus was the central city of ,asia ,minor4 ,one of its buildings ranked in importance above all others--the ,temple of ,diana4 ,this was reckoned as one of the wonders of the world1 and the ,ephesians were wont to speak of ,diana as the goddess whom all the world worshiped4 ,the temple had been once destroyed1 and then rebuilt with great magnificence4 ,the ladies of ,ephesus1 at its rebuilding1 had given their jewelry4 ,alexander offered immense riches to the ,ephesians1 if they would but permit him to have his name inscribed on its walls2 but they would not consent4 ,this was the rallying-point of heathenism in ,paul's day4 ,the temple was #dbe feet long1 #bbj broad1 and its columns were #fj feet high4 ,there were #abg columns1 each the gift of a king4 ,only a part of it was roofed over1 and this was with cedar4 ,the remaining parts were rich with statuary and columns4 8,it is probable that there was no building in the world in which was concentrated a greater amount of admiration1 enthusiasm and superstition40 ,illustration3 ,,medal ,,of ,,diana4 ,the first statue of ,diana of ,ephesus was a shapeless black stone--an aerolite--which had fallen from the sky4 ,afterwards her images were made of wood4 ,she is covered with breasts and with the heads of animals4 ,she is supposed to represent the natural fertility of the earth4 ,diana was not worshiped in the temple only4 ,numberless little shrines1 containing models of ,diana in silver or gold1 or even wood1 were made to be carried about one's person1 to be set up on household altars or carried in processions4 ,there was carried on at ,ephesus an extensive trade in these4 ,the worship of ,diana1 in all its parts and in all places1 was conducted with great magnificence4 ,the ,greek language and literature and their temples and statues1 have been for centuries the models of the world2 but their conceptions of the gods and their myths are no more thought of1 and no longer regarded as of authority in religious affairs4 ,they are emphatically dead as powers over the morals of men4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,rome4 8,within this grove1 upon this wooded hill10 ,he said1 8some deity his dwelling made2 ,but who or what1 none knows4 ,the ,arcadians ,think they have seen great ,jove himself1 when oft ,with his right hand he shook his darkening shield1 ,and called his clouds around him4 ,,virgil4 ,when fierce gales bowed the high pines1 when blazed ,the lightning1 and the savage in the storm ,some unknown godhead heard1 and1 awe-struck1 gazed ,on ,jove's imagined form4 ,,sotheby4 ,long before ,rome was founded ,italy was peopled with an industrious class of farmers4 ,but we have scarce any records of those early times4 ,some of their gigantic buildings1 lakes and canals remain1 but these are almost all that is left4 ,the religious ideas of these early settlers entered into and1 to a great extent1 moulded the religion of the ,romans4 ,the people of ,italy did not have the same vivid imaginations and lively fancies as the people of ,greece4 ,their early worship seems to have been of a more serious character than that of the ,greeks4 ,their gods were freer from moral taint1 and virtue rather than vice was required in followers of the ,roman religions4 ,the poetic art was little cultivated among them1 or for that matter1 in ,rome of a later day4 ,but ,rome soon began to borrow from ,greece1 and to appropriate her gods1 heroes and myths4 ,there are no ,italian myths corresponding to those of ,greece4 ,in ,virgil and ,ovid a few adventures of the ,italian gods are related1 but these are plainly imitations or slight modifications of the ,greek stories4 ,,the ,,etruscan ,,religion4 ,before they became acquainted with ,greece1 the ,romans looked to the ,etruscans as their instructors in religious things4 ,the disposition of the ,etruscans was melancholy and serious2 their form of government a rigid aristocracy1 administered by an hereditary race or caste of priestly nobility4 ,their system was founded on some peculiar views of the world and its periods1 and on the art of learning the will of the supernal powers by the thunder1 the lightning1 and other aerial phenomena4 ,the rules and principles of this science were contained in books ascribed to a subterranean dmon named ,tages1 who1 the ,tuscan legend said1 had risen up1 a babe in form1 an aged man in wisdom1 from under the soil before the plow of a peasant of ,tarquinii as he was at his work1 and who instructed the people in divination4 ,according to the doctrine of the ,etruscans there were two orders of gods1 the one superior1 veiled and nameless1 with whom the supreme god took counsel when about to announce by lightning any change in the present order of things4 ,the other consisted of twelve gods1 six male and as many females1 his ordinary council4 ,these were called by the common name of ,consentes or ,complices 7the ,latin of the ,etruscan word71 according to ,varro1 because they are born and die together4 ,the general ,etruscan word for a god was sar4 ,the supreme god of the ,tuscans1 answering to the ,zeus of the ,greeks1 the ,jupiter of the ,romans1 was named ,tina4 ,a goddess named ,kupra was called by the ,romans ,juno2 and another1 named ,menerfa or ,menrfa1 was the original of the ,minerva of ,rome4 ,these three deities had always contiguous temples on the citadel of every ,etruscan city4 ,hence the united temples of ,jupiter1 ,juno and ,minerva1 which crowned the capitol at ,rome4 ,a goddess named ,nortia1 answering to the ,roman ,fortuna1 was worshiped at the ,tuscan cities of ,sutri and ,volsinii4 ,vertumnus also was one of the principal deities of ,etruria4 ,the ,tuscan god of the under-world1 or rather the ruler of the dead1 it is said1 was named ,mantus1 and there was a goddess called ,mama of a similar nature4 ,the ,lares1 or household gods1 which form so conspicuous a feature of the ,roman religion1 it is probable1 belonged originally to the ,etruscan system of worship4 ,,the ,,sabellian ,,religion4 ,the rigid virtues of a portion of the ,sabellian race1 particularly the ,sabines1 were always the theme of praise at ,rome4 ,grazing and agriculture were the chief employments of these hardy tribes1 and their religion was intimately connected with these arts2 and consequently1 we may suppose1 bore much resemblance to that of the ,latins4 ,it has always been asserted that a great portion of the ,roman religion was of ,sabine origin4 ,the ,sabines adored ,sancus and ,sabus or ,sabinus1 as the founders of their nation4 ,mamers or ,mars was also one of their deities2 an erect lance was the symbol before which he was worshiped4 ,the ,marsian portion of this race were as celebrated for their skill in detecting the will of the gods by the flight and voice of the birds1 as the ,etruscans for discerning it in the electric phenomena of the sky4 ,,the ,,gods ,,of ,,the ,,romans4 ,there are very many gods in the ,roman mythology1 of these some twenty have been called the select gods4 ,these are ,janus1 the two-faced sun-god2 ,jupiter 7,diovis-pater or ,father-,jove72 ,saturnus1 the god of agriculture2 ,genius1 or the god of production2 ,mercurius1 the god who presided over the business of the market and over trade in general4 ,apollo was a god introduced from the ,greek mythology4 ,mars was the god of war4 ,vulcan was the god of fire4 ,neptune was the god of the sea4 ,sol and ,luna were the sun and moon god and goddess4 ,orcas was the god of death1 like the ,hades of the ,greeks1 or ,yama of the ,hindus4 ,father ,liber was the god of the harvest4 ,tellus was the god of the earth4 ,ceres was the goddess of grain4 ,juno was the wife of ,jupiter4 ,diana was the moon-goddess4 ,minerva was the goddess of arts4 ,vesta was the goddess of the household4 ,venus was the goddess of birth4 ,,father ,,jove4 ,the word ,jove appears to have meant1 originally1 ,god4 ,it corresponds to ,zeus of the ,greeks and ,dyaus of the ,hindus4 ,jove or ,jupiter was the especial protector of the city of ,rome4 ,the chief ,jupiter was called the ,capitoline ,jupiter4 ,in his temple adorning the ,capitol in ,rome were also statues of ,juno and ,minerva4 ,jupiter ,elicius was so named1 we are told1 from the following circumstance4 ,in the time of ,numa there occurred great thunderstorms and rains4 ,the people and their king were terrified1 and the latter had recourse to the counsel of the nymph ,egeria4 ,she informed him that ,faunus and ,picus could instruct him in the mode of appeasing ,jupiter1 but that he must employ both art and violence to extract the knowledge from them4 ,accordingly by her advice he placed bowls of wine at a fountain on ,mount ,aventine1 whither they were wont to come to drink1 and concealed himself in a neighboring cavern4 ,the rural gods came to the fount1 and finding the wine drank copiously of it1 thus illustrating in a striking manner the sensuous1 character always supposed to dwell in these deities4 ,they immediately fell asleep1 and ,numa1 quitting his retreat1 came and bound them4 ,on awaking1 they struggled1 but in vain1 to get free2 and the pious prince1 apologizing for what necessity had obliged him to do1 entreated that they would inform him how ,jupiter was to be appeased4 ,they yielded to his prayer1 and on loosing them drew down the thundering ,jupiter by their charms4 ,he descended on the ,aventine hill1 which trembled beneath the weight of the deity4 ,numa was terrified1 but recovering he implored the god to give a remedy against the lightning4 ,the ruler of the thunder assented1 and in ambiguous terms conveyed the relief3 8,cut a head10--8of an onion from my garden0 subjoined the king1--8of a man10--8the topmost hairs0 quickly replied ,numa4--8,i demand a life10--8of a fish40 ,the deity smiled1 and said that his weapons might thus be averted1 and promised a sign at sunrise the following morning4 ,illustration3 ,,jupiter ,,tonans4 ,at dawn the people assembled before the doors of the king4 ,numa came forth1 and1 seated on his maple throne1 looked for the rising of the sun4 ,the orb of day was just wholly emerged above the horizon1 when a loud crash was heard in the sky2 thrice the god thundered without a cloud2 thrice he sent forth his lightnings4 ,the heavens opened1 and a light buckler came gently wafted on the air1 and fell to the ground4 ,numa1 having first slain a heifer1 took it up and named it ,ancile4 ,he regarded it as the pledge of empire2 and having had eleven others made exactly like it by the artist ,mamurius1 to deceive those who might attempt to steal it1 committed them to the care of the priests named ,salii4 ,jupiter was named ,feretrius or ,bearer1 as the spoils of the enemy's general1 if slain by a ,roman commander1 were borne to him4 ,he was also called ,victor and ,stator1 as the giver of victory and stayer of flight4 ,we also meet with ,jupiter ,pistor1 whose altar was on the capitol1 and ,jupiter ,tonans1 the author of thunder4 ,in the usual ,roman manner1 an historical origin was given to all these names4 ,jupiter was called ,lucetius1 as the author of light 7lucis71 and ,diespiter1 i4e41 ,dies ,pater1 or ,father of ,day or of ,light4 ,,the ,,matron ,,goddess4 ,juno was the feminine of ,jove--from ,jovino we have the word ,juno4 ,juno was one of the great deities of ,rome and had a share in the worship of the magnificent temple on the capitol4 ,one ,juno was called ,juno ,moneta1 and her temple was finally made the mint1 or coining place for money4 ,female slaves swore by the ,juno of their mistress4 ,as the patroness of married women1 ,juno was named ,matrona4 ,she presided over marriage4 ,whenever a child was born a piece of money was deposited in her temple's treasury4 ,in ,july of each year ,juno was honored by a sacrifice4 ,juno ,sospita1 the ,protectress1 was represented with a goat-skin about her1 a spear in her hand1 and a small shield on her arm4 ,juno was generally represented armed1 and the ,romans usually divided the hair of a virgin-bride with a small spear-point1 thus invoking the protection of this goddess4 ,,the ,,goddess ,,of ,,schools4 ,all mental work was done under the direction of ,minerva4 ,her statues were placed in the schools1 and in ,march of each year the school-boys had five days as holidays in her honor4 ,at the end of this vacation and festival the boys gave their school-master a present called a ,minerval4 ,minerva's chapel was under the same roof as ,jupiter's and ,juno's on the ,capitoline hill at ,rome4 ,,the ,,goddess ,,of ,,the ,,hearth4 ,vesta presided over the public and private hearth4 ,in ,vesta's temple at ,rome a sacred fire was kept burning by six virgin-priestesses called ,vestals4 ,the ,romans believed that if they let this fire go out1 the city's safety would be destroyed4 ,when1 through the neglect of the ,vestals1 it did go out1 they were severely punished and the fire was relighted by the rays of the sun4 ,in ,vesta's temple there was no statue of the goddess4 ,at her festival in ,june1 plates of meat were sent to the ,vestals to be offered up1 the mill-stones were decked with flowers and the animals working the mills went about crowned with violets and with cakes strung about their necks4 ,,ceres ,,and ,,liber4 ,ceres presided over seeds and harvests4 ,she was the goddess of the farmers4 ,the country-folks before beginning harvest kept feasts to ,ceres1 when they brought offerings of honey-combs covered with wine and milk1 and an animal to be slain in sacrifice4 ,the offerings were taken three times around the corn-field1 the country people following1 crowned with oak leaves and dancing and singing4 ,these festivals were of the most joyous character4 ,liber means ,deliverer4 ,the god who had this name was united with ,ceres in worship at ,rome4 ,the ,romans worshiped their gods and goddesses generally in groups of three2 thus1 ,jupiter1 ,juno and ,minerva in the ,capitoline temple2 and ,ceres1 ,liber and 7the female7 ,libera in the temple at the foot of the ,aventine4 ,in the ,capitoline temple the patricians or higher classes worshiped4 ,in the ,aventine temple the plebians or common people worshipped4 ,there was much gross vileness connected with all the festivals of ,liber4 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,beginnings4 ,janus gives his name to ,january1 the first month of the year4 ,he was the sun-god1 and was usually worshiped at the beginning of any action4 ,he was regarded as the 8opener of the day40 ,gates and doors were placed under the care of ,janus1 and their keeper is even to-day called a janitor4 ,janus was represented with a key and a staff1 and was named the ,opener and the ,shutter4 ,janus has two faces4 ,an ancient statue of ,janus stood in the ,forum at ,rome of which the fingers were so formed that one hand represented three hundred in ,latin characters 7,,ccc471 and those of the other1 fifty-five 7,,lv471 making together the number of days in the ancient lunar year4 ,illustration3 ,,janus ,under the ,capitol1 near to the ,forum1 in ,rome1 stood a short arch-way with a gate at each end4 ,in times of peace these gates were kept shut1 in times of war they were left open4 ,in this arch-way a statue of ,janus stood4 ,there was a tradition at ,rome that once1 when the enemies of ,rome had attempted to enter the city by this gate1 the god ,janus had caused a stream of boiling water to gush forth from the earth1 and so drove them away4 ,,rome',s ,,lesser ,,gods4 ,besides the gods above referred to1 there were gods and goddesses of councils of war1 of funerals1 of thieves of the dawn1 of fortune1 of fields and cattle1 of fruits and flowers1 and of a host of other things4 ,but of all minor gods1 the ,penates and ,lares received most honor4 ,these were the domestic gods4 ,the ,penates were so named from the place in which they were worshiped1 the household pantry4 ,they were supposed to look after the welfare of the family4 ,there were four classes of beings from which men selected their ,penates1 those of heaven1 the sea1 the under-world1 and lastly1 from the deified souls of deceased ancestors4 ,the deified spirits of departed ancestors were called the ,lares1 and they were supposed to watch over the fortunes of their descendants4 ,the ,chinese also1 from the earliest times1 have in a similar manner worshiped their departed ancestors4 ,,the ,,roman ,,empire4 ,as ,rome conquered the world the gods of the conquered nations were gradually incorporated with their own4 ,thus an immense and involved system was brought together4 ,soon1 however1 the gigantic structure was to topple over before the coming of ,christianity1 as ,dagon had fallen before the coming of the ark of ,jehovah in ancient times4 ,just at this time1 the ,roman ,empire was in the most favorable condition for the introduction of ,christianity4 ,within its limits there was a general peace1 great military roads were built1 piracy was suppressed1 commerce and traffic generally increased1 and travel was made safe and easy4 ,both the ,latin and ,greek languages were spread over east and west4 ,but one other point of preparation was of greater importance4 ,the deep and wide-spread corruption1 brought about by the heathen religions1 seemed to be beyond human remedy4 ,corruption1 cruelty1 sensuality and the most1 unnatural wickedness prevailed4 ,the description ,paul gives in his letter to the ,romans of the general life of the people has been confirmed again and again4 ,he says3 8,because that1 when they knew ,god1 they glorified him not as ,god1 neither were thankful2 but became vain in their imaginations1 and their foolish heart was darkened4 ,professing themselves to be wise1 they became fools1 and changed the glory of the uncorruptible ,god into an image1 made like to corruptible man1 and to birds1 and four-footed beasts1 and creeping things4 ,wherefore ,god also gave them up to uncleanness1 through the lusts of their own hearts1 to dishonor their own bodies between themselves3 who changed the truth of ,god into a lie1 and worshiped and served the creature more than the ,creator1 who is blessed for ever4 ,amen4 ,for this cause ,god gave them up unto vile affections3 for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature3 and likewise also the men1 leaving the natural use of the woman1 burned in their lust one toward another3 men with men working that which is unseemly1 and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet4 ,and even as they did not like to retain ,god in their knowledge1 ,god gave them over to a reprobate mind1 to do those things which are not convenient2 being filled with all unrighteousness1 fornication1 wickedness1 covetousness1 maliciousness2 full of envy1 murder1 debate1 deceit1 malignity2 whisperers1 backbiters1 haters of ,god1 despiteful1 proud1 boasters1 inventors of evil things1 disobedient to parents1 without understanding1 covenant-breakers1 without natural affection1 implacable1 unmerciful3 who1 knowing the judgment of ,god1 that they which commit such things are worthy of death1 not only do the same1 but have pleasure in them that do them40 ,the investigations of the ruins of ,pompeii and ,herculaneum1 the long buried cities1 and the common accounts of historians of ,paul's day1 all show that this picture was not at all overdrawn4 ,there was a most terrible need of ,christianity just then to save the empire from falling to pieces by reason of its rottenness4 ,milman most graphically pictures the change that ,christianity gradually wrought in the religious condition of ,rome4 ,he says3 8,christianity was gradually withdrawing some of all orders1 even slaves1 out of the vices1 the ignorance1 the misery of that corrupted social system4 ,it was even instilling feelings of humanity1 yet unknown or coldly commended by an impotent philosophy1 among men and women whose infant ears had been habituated to the shrieks of dying gladiators2 it was giving dignity to minds prostrated by years1 almost centuries1 of degrading despotism2 it was nurturing purity and modesty of manner in an unspeakable state of depravation2 it was enshrining the marriage-bed in a sanctity long almost entirely lost1 and rekindling to a steady warmth the domestic affections2 it was substituting a simple1 calm and rational faith for the worn-out superstitions of heathenism2 gently establishing in the soul of man the sense of immortality1 till it became a natural and inextinguishable part of his moral being40 ,with this striking description of the historian1 compare the poetic lines of ,matthew ,arnold3 8,on that hard pagan world disgust ,and sated loathing fell2 ,deep weariness and sated lust ,make human life a hell4 ,in his cool hall with haggard eyes ,the ,roman noble lay1 ,he drove abroad in furious guise ,along the ,appian way4 ,he made a feast1 drank fierce and fast1 ,and crowned his hair with flowers2 ,no easier1 nor no quicker passed ,the impracticable hours40 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,our ,,ancestors4 ,to the ,aryan of the ,west not merely the heavenly bodies1 the sun1 moon and stars1 or the earth with its trees and springs1 its fountains1 or the sea with its storms and calms1 but all things visible1 as organs and instruments of ,deity1 were deserving of reverent adoration4 ,nothing was too trifling4 ,the quivering leaf1 the crackling flame1 the falling thunderbolt1 the flight or song of birds1 the neighing of horses1 man's dreams and visions1 even the movements of his pulse1 all claimed attention1 all might give some sign from the other world4 ,all nature had a voice for the imaginative ,teuton4 ,the skies1 the woods1 the springs1 the well1 the lake1 the hill1 were his books1 his oracles1 his divinities4--,g4 ,f4 ,,maclear4 ,it sounds strange to us1 who have been so long a ,christian people1 to speak of a pagan ancestry4 ,we can hardly realize that the condition in which we find the ,japanese1 or ,chinaman1 or ,hindu of to-day1 is the condition in which our forefathers were to be found not many centuries ago4 ,yet all traces of their heathenish belief and practices are not yet extinct4 ,in our language1 especially in many of our names1 do we preserve the relics of the heathenish life of our forefathers4 ,it is not easy to learn of the earliest religion of ,britain1 as the records are still greatly beclouded4 ,but recent investigations of the mounds and relics of old ,england and of the origin of ,english names1 together with the bringing to light of some valuable old records1 have helped greatly to clear up the subject4 ,before passing to consider more particularly the ancient religious life of ,great ,britain1 let us fasten in our minds a few prominent facts in the early history of that land4 ,,ancient ,,britain4 ,let us note several prominent parts in the early history of ,britain4 ,first1 the earliest inhabitants and their religion1 known as ,druidism4 ,secondly1 the invasion of ,britain by the ,romans and the introduction of the invaders' religion4 ,thirdly1 the introduction of ,christianity4 ,fourthly1 the coming of the ,saxons and the extinguishing of ,christianity by the ,saxon religion4 ,fifthly1 the coming again and final victory of ,christianity4 ,by fixing these points in mind1 we can without difficulty trace the religious history of our ancestors4 ,in early times we find that the ,greeks had intercourse with ,britain4 ,the time when this trade was carried on is fixed by different authors at periods varying from #ejj ,b4,c4 to #bjj ,b4,c4 ,before even the first of these times1 by some hundreds of years1 the ,phnicians of ,tyre visited ,britain to purchase tin4 ,these allusions to visits of ,greeks and ,phnicians are found in ancient ,welsh traditions handed down by the ,druids4 ,indeed1 some of these traditions go back to a period shortly after the dispersion of the nations1 even beyond ,abraham's day4 ,other traditions are found which relate even to the deluge itself1 as follows3 8,there were three awful events in the ,isle of ,britain4 ,the first was the bursting of the ,lake of ,floods1 and the rushing of an inundation over all the lands1 until all persons were destroyed1 except ,dwyvan and ,dwyvack1 who escaped in an open vessel and from them the ,isle of ,britain was re-peopled4 8,the three primary and extraordinary works of the ,isle of ,britain3 ,the ship of ,nwydd nav ,neivion1 which brought in it a male and female of all living things1 when the ,lake of ,floods burst forth2 the large horned oxen of ,au the ,mighty1 that drew the crocodile from the lake of the land1 so that the lake did not burst forth any more2 and the stone of ,gwyddon ,ganhedon1 upon which all the arts and sciences of the world are engraven40 ,all this bears such striking similarity to the traditions preserved among the most ancient nations in the eastern part of the world1 that we cannot conceive the possibility of its having been invented in any period of the dark ages2 it therefore strengthens our confidence in the general teaching of the ,triads4 ,in early ,britain there were only two classes of ,british citizens1 8the nobles and the villains10 7i4 e41 villagers74 ,all below these were slaves4 ,the people possessed a considerable knowledge of astronomy1 of geometry and of mechanics4 ,they were an eloquent people2 an ancient historian says that their orators 8sometimes step between two hostile armies1 who are standing with swords drawn1 and spears extended1 ready to fight2 and1 by their eloquence1 as by an irresistible enchantment1 they prevent a shedding of blood40 ,the ,britons were also acquainted with the useful arts4 ,the houses in which they dwelt1 their chariots of war1 as well as a great variety of other works1 prove this beyond the possibility of doubt4 ,we notice the chariots3 8,their cars were admired by the ,romans1 adopted by individuals for their journeys1 and introduced by the public into their races4 ,and we have a picture of one of them1 sketched by a ,british hand1 and engraven on a coin4 ,there we see the charioteer mounted on his carriage before us1 a quiver of arrows peeping over his left shoulder1 and a spear protended from his left hand1 his feet resting upon the pole or foot-board annexed to it1 and his body leaning over the horses1 in the act of accelerating their motion4 ,and we have the description of another in ,ossian1 very similar in one or two particulars1 and more circumstantial4 ,it is the car of a ,british monarch1 bending behind1 drawn by a pair of horses1 and embossed with sparkling stones4 ,its beam is of polished yew1 its seat of the smoothest bone1 and the sides of it are replenished with spears4 ,persons who could construct such vehicles1 build houses and make furniture1 as well as all the various offensive and defensive weapons of war1 must have had no inconsiderable mechanical knowledge and skill40 ,,the ,,druids4 ,,wonderful ,,resemblance4 ,we have reason to believe that the ,britons inhabited ,england not long after the days of ,noah4 ,we might therefore expect to find resemblances between their religion and the religions of other ancient peoples2 and we are not disappointed4 ,there is a striking correspondence between the system of the ancient ,britons and those of the ,hebrew patriarchs1 the ,brahmins of ,india1 the ,magi of ,persia and the ,greek priests4 ,it was one system that was finally conveyed to these different parts of the globe4 ,take1 as a single instance of the many points of comparison1 their idea of ,god4 ,among their names for the supreme ,god which they had in use before the introduction of ,christianity were terms which have been literally translated1 8,god10 8,distributor10 8,governor10 8the ,mysterious ,one10 8the ,eternal10 8,he that pervadeth all things10 8the ,author of ,existence10 8the ,ancient of ,days40 ,these expressive appellations sufficiently indicate their views of the moral character and attributes of ,god4 ,the opinion of the ,druids as to the nature of ,god is comprehensively explained by the following bold and remarkable aphorism3 8,nid ,dim ,ond ,duw1 ,nid ,duw ,ond ,dim40 ,it defies translation so as to convey its force and beauty2 but ,william ,owen has furnished a version sufficiently plain to convey the idea3 8,god cannot be matter2 what is not matter must be ,god40 ,these were the attributes of the ,god of the early ,druids4 ,they believed that the ,deity was the source of life1 and the giver of good4 ,they defined ,his duration as eternal1 and ascribed to ,him omnipotence as the measure of ,his power4 ,and as they found nothing in the animal creation or in man which had any proportion or resemblance to ,god1 they had neither statues nor pictures to represent ,him2 from which we infer that they regarded ,god as a pure spirit1 as disengaged from matter as ,he was exalted above all created things and above all resemblance to them4 ,,worship ,,of ,,the ,,druids4 ,the ,druids offered sacrifices and observed particular days for religious worship4 ,their sacrifices were carefully selected1 and they appear to have had clear views of their propitiatory character4 ,pliny1 describing the gathering of the mistletoe1 observes3 8,after they have well and duly prepared their festival cheer under the tree1 they bring thither two young bullocks1 milk-white1 such as never drew in yoke at plow or wain1 and whose heads were then and not before bound by the horns2 which done1 the priest1 arrayed in a white vesture1 climbeth up into the tree1 and1 with a golden hook or bill1 cutteth it off1 and they beneath receive it in a white cassock or coat of arms4 ,then they fall to and kill the beasts aforesaid for sacrifice1 praying devoutly that it would please ,god to bless this gift of ,his to the good and benefit of all those to whom ,he had vouchsafed to give it40 ,these sacrifices were offered with very solemn rites1 the common people remaining at a distance1 while the priests approached with trembling awe the bloody victims1 which were carried around the omen-fire4 ,there is no branch of this subject which presents itself in a more interesting aspect than that which relates to the sacred places of this people1 and the peculiar manner of their worship4 ,they worshiped in the open air2 it being a maxim with them1 that it was unlawful to build temples to the gods1 or to worship them within walls and under roofs4 ,their favorite place was a grove of oaks1 or the shelter of a majestic tree of this kind4 ,here they would erect stone pillars in one or two circular rows2 and in some of their principal temples1 as particularly that of ,stonehenge1 they laid stones of prodigious weight on the tops of these perpendicular pillars1 which formed a kind of circle aloft in the air4 ,near to these temples they constructed their sacred mounts1 their cromlechs or stone tables for their sacrifices1 and every other necessary provision for their worship4 ,these sacred places were generally situated in the centre of some thick grove or wood1 watered by a consecrated river or fountain1 and surrounded by a ditch or mound1 to prevent intrusion4 ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,hanging ,,stones4 ,one of the most extraordinary monuments of ancient ,england1 is that called ,stonehenge4 ,this is an ,anglo-,saxon term1 meaning the hanging stones4 ,this monument is situated on a small hill in the midst of a barren plain4 ,all around it funeral mounds are grouped4 ,these mounds are called 8barrows10 and within three miles of ,stonehenge there are over three hundred and fifty of these that have been recently discovered4 ,the stones that constituted this ,druid temple are many of them lying prostrate on the ground1 a few only remaining upright with the gigantic stone slabs across their tops4 ,yet enough remains to indicate the general design of the structure as it originally stood4 ,it consisted of an outer circle1 about three hundred feet in diameter1 of thirty upright stones sustaining as many others laid horizontally on their tops4 ,within this was another circle of upright ones1 smaller than those in the outer circle1 and without any stones on their tops4 ,these stones are so large that it cannot be imagined how they were raised to their lofty position4 ,it is very evident that ,stonehenge was a place of worship1 and from the number of grave-mounds1 each containing the remains of a number of bodies1 it is evident that it was a place of great sanctity4 ,it has been supposed that serpent-worship found a place here4 ,illustration3 ,,ancient ,,druidic ,,worship ,,at ,,stonehenge1 ,,england4 ,,human ,,sacrifices4 ,csar gives a very careful account of the ,druids4 ,in the century just preceding the coming of ,christ1 ,csar conquered the ,britons4 ,his account of their condition is the more reliable because this conquest put him in possession of the means of knowing the people who were in the future to form a part of his empire4 ,his testimony can best be given in a translation of his own words4 ,he says3 8,all the ,gallic nations are much given to superstition2 for which reason1 when they are seriously ill1 or are in danger from their wars or other causes1 they either offer up men as victims to the gods1 or make a vow to sacrifice themselves4 ,the ministers in these offerings are the ,druids1 and they hold that the wrath of the immortal gods can only be appeased1 and man's life be redeemed1 by offering up human sacrifice1 and it is a part of their national institutions to hold fixed solemnities for this purpose4 ,some of them make immense images of wicker-work1 which they fill with men1 who are thus burned alive in offering to their deities4 ,these victims are generally selected from those who have been convicted of theft1 robbery1 or other crimes1 in whose punishment they think the immortal gods take the greatest pleasure2 but if there be any scarcity of such victims they do not hesitate to sacrifice innocent men in their place4 ,if there be a super-abundance of cattle taken in war the surplus is offered up in sacrifice2 the rest of the spoil is collected into one mass4 ,in many of their tribes large heaps of these things may be seen in their consecrated places1 and it is a rare occurrence for any individual sacreligiously to conceal part of the booty1 or to turn it to his own use2 the severest punishment1 together with bodily torture1 is inflicted on those who are guilty of such an offense40 ,he further speaks of the ,druids in another place3 8,the ,druids act in all sacred matters2 they attend to the sacrifices1 which are either offered by the tribe in general or by individuals1 and answer all questions concerning their religion4 ,they always have a large number of young men as pupils1 who treat them with the greatest respect2 for it is they who decide in all controversies1 whether public or private1 and they judge all causes1 whether of murder1 of a disputed inheritance1 or of the boundaries of estates4 ,they assign both rewards and punishments2 and whoever refuses to abide by their sentence1 whether he be in a public or private station1 is forbidden to be present at the sacrifices of the gods4 ,this is1 in fact1 the most severe mode of punishment1 and those who have been thus excommunicated are held as impious and profane2 all avoid them2 no one will either meet them or speak to them1 lest they should be injured by their contagion2 every species of honor is withheld from them1 and if they are plaintiffs in a lawsuit justice is denied4 ,all the ,druids are subject to one chief1 who enjoys the greatest authority among them4 ,upon the death of the chief ,druid1 the next in dignity is appointed to succeed him2 and if there are two whose merits are equal1 the election is made by the votes of the whole body1 though sometimes they dispute for pre-eminence by the sword4 8,the ,druidic system is thought to have had its origin in ,britain1 from whence it was introduced into ,gaul4444 ,among the most important doctrines of the ,druids is that of the immortality of the soul1 which they believe passes after death into other bodies2 they hold this to be a great inducement to the practice of virtue1 as the mind thus becomes relieved from the fear of death4 ,their other doctrines concern the motions of the heavenly bodies1 the magnitude of the earth and the universe1 the nature of things1 and the power and attributes of the immortal gods40 ,certainly ,csar's testimony is clear1 and he writes as one who had actually gazed upon the strange and striking scenes which he describes4 ,,the ,,destruction ,,of ,,druidism4 ,the religion of the ,druids was handed down by tradition from father to son1 and consisted in the proper performance of certain rites and ceremonies4 ,it has been stated that the ,druids worshiped ,bel or ,baal1 though this is sometimes questioned4 ,on the eve of ,may-day fires were lighted on their altars in honor of their ,supreme ,god4 ,they had a set of doctrines which were publicly taught1 and another set which were made known only to the initiated4 ,the ,druids were not gross idolaters1 though they regarded the oak1 the symbol of ,god1 with superstitious awe4 ,but the time for the death of ,druidism had come4 ,fifty-five years before ,christ1 the great conqueror1 ,julius ,csar1 landed in ,britain4 ,the skillful and courageous ,britons gave him a great deal of trouble1 and prevented his penetrating far from the shore4 ,emperor after emperor sought to subjugate the ,island during the years that followed1 but it was not until #acj years had passed away that ,briton was really conquered by the ,romans4 ,agricola was sent in ,a4,d4 #gh to be governor of ,britain4 ,by his wise policy the whole life of the ,britons was changed wherever it came under ,roman influence4 ,the dwellings of the ,britons were very rude and simple in the early ages1 being mostly constructed of hurdle or wicker-work1 and afterward of large stones without mortar4 ,their houses were generally round1 having the roof thatched1 with a hole left in the centre for the escape of smoke4 ,the ,romans1 on the contrary1 had long been accustomed to commodious and elegant dwellings1 well built of masonry1 and adorned in the richest manner with statues1 pictures1 elegant drapery and handsome furniture4 ,it was not while the ,romans were engaged in conquering ,britain that their religion gained a foothold there1 but after they had come to power and peace4 ,the ,druid priests were destroyed1 and the people1 left thus without religious teachers1 gradually accepted to some extent the then-existing forms of ,roman faith4 ,,who ,,first ,,brought ,,christianity ,,to ,,britain8 ,while the ,romans were busily seeking to conquer ,britain1 an event of unparalleled importance took place4 ,it was the birth of ,jesus1 the ,christ4 ,very nearly every one of the early preachers who by any possibility could have gone to ,britain with the ,gospel message1 has been declared to be the founder of ,christianity there4 ,the ,apostle ,peter is declared1 so says an old chronicle1 8to have stayed some time in ,britain2 where having preached the word1 established churches1 ordained bishops1 priests and deacons1 in the twelfth year of ,nero he returned to ,rome40 ,but this1 for many reasons1 is not to be believed4 ,joseph of ,arimathea is also said to have first taken the ,gospel to ,britain4 ,but the whole narrative of his mission is fabulous4 ,a ,king ,lucius is said to have sent about #afd ,a4,d4 to ,rome for missionaries1 but this too is questionable4 ,one more question remains to be considered4 ,did the ,apostle ,paul plant ,christianity in ,britain8 ,tertullian1 about the year #bjj ,a4,d41 wrote that the ,gospel had spread 8also to the boundaries of the ,spaniards1 to all the different nations of ,gaul1 and to those parts of ,britain inaccessible even to the ,romans40 ,but more ancient than this is the testimony of ,clement1 ,bishop of ,rome1 #ajb ,a4,d4 8,st4 ,paul preached righteousness through the whole world2 and1 in doing this1 went to the utmost bounds of the ,west40 ,a learned writer thus sums up all the evidence of ,paul's being the first to give the ,gospel to ,britain3 8,that ,st4 ,paul did go to ,britain we may collect from the testimony of ,clemens ,romanus1 ,theodoret and ,jerome1 who relate that1 after his imprisonment1 he preached the ,gospel in the western parts2 that he brought salvation to the islands that lie in the ocean1 and that1 in preaching the ,gospel1 he went to the utmost bounds of the ,west4 ,what was meant by the ,west and the islands that lie in the ocean1 we may judge from ,plutarch1 ,eusebius and ,nicephorus1 who call the ,british ,ocean the western2 and again from ,nicephorus1 who says that one of the apostles #8went to the extreme countries of the ocean and the ,british ,isles2' but especially from the words of ,catullus1 who calls ,britain the utmost island of the ,west2 and from ,theodoret1 who describes the ,britons as inhabiting the utmost parts of the ,west4 ,when ,clement1 therefore1 says that ,paul went to the utmost bounds of the ,west1 we do not conjecture1 but are sure1 that he meant ,britain1 not only because ,britain was so designated1 but because ,paul could not have gone to the utmost bounds of the ,west without going to ,britain4 ,it is almost unnecessary1 therefore1 to appeal to the express testimony of ,venantius1 ,fortunatus and ,sophronius1 for the apostle's journey to ,britain40 ,,paganism ,,of ,,the ,,saxons4 ,the religion of our ,saxon ancestors was the same as that of the whole ,german family4 ,christianity1 which had by this time brought about the conversion of the ,roman ,empire1 had not penetrated as yet among the forests of the ,north4 ,the common god of the ,english people1 as of the whole ,german race1 was ,woden1 the war-god1 the guardian of ways and boundaries1 to whom his worshipers attributed the invention of letters1 and whom every tribe held to be the first ancestor of its kings4 ,our own names for the days of the week still recall to us the gods whom our ,english fathers worshiped in their ,sleswick homeland4 ,wednesday is ,woden's day1 as ,thursday is the day of ,thunder1 or1 as the ,northmen called him1 ,thor1 the god of air1 and storm1 and rain4 ,friday is ,freya's day1 the goddess of peace1 and joy1 and fruitfulness1 whose emblems1 borne aloft by dancing maidens1 brought increase to every field and stall they visited4 ,saturday commemorates an obscure god1 ,soetere2 ,tuesday1 the ,dark god1 ,tiw1 to meet whom was death2 ,eostre1 the goddess of the dawn1 or the spring1 lends her name to the ,christian festival of the ,resurrection4 ,behind these floated the dim shapes of an older mythology--8,wyrd10 the death-goddess1 whose memory lingered long in the 8weird0 of northern superstition1 or the ,shield ,maidens1 the 8mighty women10 who1 an old rhyme tells us1 8wrought on the battle-field their toil1 and hurled the thrilling javelins40 ,nearer to the popular fancy lay the deities of wood and fell1 or the hero-gods of legend and song1 8,nicor10 the water-sprite1 who gave us our water ,nixes1 and 8,old ,nick10 8,weland10 the forger of mighty shields and sharp-biting swords1 at a later time1 in his ,berkshire1 8,weyland's ,smithy10 or gil1 the hero archer1 whose legend is that of ,cloudesly or ,tell4 ,a nature-worship of this sort lent itself ill to the purposes of a priesthood1 and1 though a priestly class existed1 it seems at no time to have had much weight in the ,english society4 ,as every freeman was his own judge and his own legislator1 so he was his own house priest2 and the common ,english worship lay in the sacrifice which he offered to the god of his hearth4 ,the religion of ,woden and ,thor supplanted1 for the time being1 the religion of ,christ4 ,the new ,england was once more a heathen land under the gods of its conquerors4 ,illustration3 ,,gods ,,of ,,our ,,saxon ,,ancestors4 #a4 ,sun-god2 #b4 ,moon-god2 #c4 ,god ,tiw2 #d4 ,woden2 #e4 ,thor2 #f4 ,goddess ,freya2 #g4 ,soetere4 ,,saxon ,,gods4 ,the first of all the gods was ,woden or ,odin4 ,he is the ,all-father1 like ,dyans of the early ,hindus1 ,zeus of the ,greeks and ,jove of the ,romans4 ,in the ,volsung ,saga1 ,woden is revealed as follows3 ,king ,volsung had made preparation for an entertainment4 ,blazing fires burned along the hall1 and in the middle of the hall stood a large tree1 whose green and fair foliage covered the roof4 ,it was called ,woden's tree4 ,now1 as the guests sat around the fire in the evening1 a man entered the hall whose countenance they did not know4 ,he wore a variegated cloak1 was barefooted1 his breeches were of linen1 and a wide-brimmed hat hung down over his face4 ,he was very tall1 looked old1 and was one-eyed4 ,he held in his hand a sword4 ,he went to the tree1 stuck his sword into it with such a powerful blow that it sunk into it even up to the hilt4 ,no one dared greet him4 ,it was ,woden4 ,woden's dwelling was called ,walhal4 ,the ,edda1 the poem of the gods1 thus describes ,walhalla3 8,easily to be known is1 ,by those who to ,odin come1 ,the mansion by its aspect4 ,its roof with spears is held1 ,its hall with shields is decked1 ,with corselets are its benches strewed4 8,five hundred doors ,and forty more ,methinks are in ,walhal1 ,eight hundred heroes through each door ,shall issue forth6 ,against the wolf to combat40 ,the heroes are invited after death to ,woden's hall4 ,that the brave were to be taken to ,walhalla after death was one of the fundamental points1 if not the very heart of the religion of the ,northmen4 ,they felt in their hearts that it was absolutely necessary to be brave4 ,woden would not care for them1 but would despise and thrust them away from him1 if they were not brave4 ,this made the ,northmen think it a shame and misery not to die in battle4 ,old kings1 about to die1 had their bodies placed in a ship2 the ship was sent forth with sails set1 and a slow fire burning in it1 so that once out at sea it might blaze up in flame1 and in such a way worthily bury the hero both in the sky and in the ocean4 ,he lay in the prow of his ship1 silent1 with closed lips1 defying the wild ocean4 ,as ,boyesen has sung3 8,in the prow with head uplifted ,stood the chief like wrathful ,thor2 ,through his locks1 the snow-flakes drifted1 ,bleached their hue from gold to hoar1 ',mid the crash of mast and rafter ,norsemen leaped through death with laughter ,up through ,walhal's wide-flung door40 ,thor comes next to ,woden4 ,his name means thunder4 ,he is the spring-god1 subduing the frost-giants4 ,longfellow has described the ,norseman's idea of ,thor1 thus3 8,i am the god ,thor1 ,i am the war-god4 ,i am the ,thunderer6 here in my ,northland1 ,my fastness and fortress1 reign ,i forever6 8,here amid icebergs rule ,i the nations2 ,this is my hammer1 ,mjolner1 the mighty1 ,giants and sorcerers cannot withstand it6 8,these are the gauntlets wherewith ,i wield it1 ,and hurl it afar off2 this is my girdle1 ,whenever ,i brace it strength is redoubled6 8,the light thou beholdest stream through the heavens1 ,in flashes of crimson1 is but my red beard1 ,blown by the night-wind1 affrighting the nations4 8,jove is my brother2 mine eyes are the lightning2 ,the wheels of my chariot roll in the thunder1 ,the blows of my hammer ring in the earthquake6 8,force rules the world still1 has ruled it1 shall rule it2 ,meekness is weakness1 strength is triumphant2 ,over the whole earth still is ,thor's-day60 ,,saxon ,,sacrifices4 ,the sacrifices which were presented to the gods in the early ages were very simple1 and such as a people in the first stages of civilization would offer--the first fruits of their crops1 and the choicest products of the earth4 ,they also sacrificed animals4 ,they offered to ,thor1 during the feast of ,jaul1 fat oxen and horses2 to ,frigga1 the largest hog which they could procure2 to ,odin1 horses1 dogs and falcons1 sometimes cocks1 and a fat bull4 ,they even proceeded at times to shed human blood4 ,the victims were usually chosen from captives in time of war1 and slaves during peace4 ,after being selected1 they were treated with excessive kindness1 until the time of their execution1 when they were congratulated on their happy destiny in a future life4 ,on great emergencies1 however1 nobles and kings were immolated on the altars of the gods4 ,on all these occasions the priests took care1 in consecrating the victim1 to pronounce certain words2 such as1 8,i devote thee to ,odin20 8,i send thee to ,odin20 or1 8,i devote thee for a good harvest1 for the return of a fruitful season40 ,the ceremony concluded with feasting1 during which they drank immoderately4 ,first1 the kings and chief lords drank healths in honor of the gods2 afterward1 every one drank1 making song or prayer to the gods who had been named4 ,after the victim was slain1 the body was burnt1 or suspended in a sacred grove near the temple2 part of the blood was sprinkled upon the people1 part upon the sacred grove4 ,with the same they also bedewed the images of the gods1 the altars1 the benches and walls of the temple1 both within and without1 thus completing their work4 ,illustration3 ,,sacrificial ,,rites ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,british ,,druids4 ,,fairy-,,lore ,,of ,,western ,,europe4 ,the ,saxons and their kindred1 the ,teutons and the ,celts1 have a great mass of fairy tales1 legends1 hobgoblin stories and the like4 ,these tales enter more into the life of the people than we are accustomed to believe4 ,while the stronger men1 the soldiers of the race1 told their old ,viking tales or recited their ,eddas' poems1 the common people told over and over again the tales of the little beings who haunted hill and meadow1 field and forest1 lake and river4 ,the tales and superstitions of the early ,britons were intimately related to their religious ideas1 and exerted as powerful an influence on their lives as their belief in the gods4 ,so it is in keeping with our subject that we proceed to present some of these fairy tales and legends4 ,shakespeare has preserved ancient and quaint traditions of the ,fairies and ,puck1 and of ,mab1 ,queen of the ,fairies1 from which we quote4 8,fairy4--,either ,i mistake your shape and making quite1 ,or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite ,call'd ,robin ,good-fellow4 ,are you not he ,that frights the maidens of the villagery1 ,skims milk1 and sometimes labors in the quern1 ,and bootless makes the breathless housewife churn2 ,and sometimes makes the drink to bear no harm2 ,misleads night-wanderers1 laughing at their harm8 ,those that ,hobgoblin call you1 and sweet ,puck1 ,you do their work1 and they shall have good luck1 ,are not you he8 ,puck4--,thou speakest aright1 ,i am that merry wanderer of the night4 ,i jest to ,oberon1 and make him smile1 ,when ,i a fat and bean-fed horse beguile1 ,neighing in likeness of a filly-foal2 ,and sometimes lurk ,i in a gossip's bowl1 ,in very likeness of a roasted crab1 ,and when she drinks1 against her lips ,i bob1 ,and on her withered durlap pour the ale4 ,the wisest aunt1 telling the saddest tale1 ,sometimes for three-foot stool mistaketh me2 ,then slip ,i from her bum--down topples she1 ,and tailor cries1 and falls into a cough2 ,and then the whole quire hold their hips and laffe1 ,and waxen in their mirth1 and neeze and swear1 ,a merrier hour was never wasted there4 ,o then1 ,i see ,queen ,mab hath been with you4 ,she is the fairies' midwife2 and she comes1 ,in shape no bigger than an agate stone ,on the forefinger of an alderman1 ,drawn with a team of little atomies1 ,over men's noses as they lie asleep3 ,her wagon-spokes1 made of long spinner's legs2 ,the cover1 of the wings of grasshoppers2 ,the traces1 of the smallest spider's web2 ,the collars of the moonshines' watery beams2 ,her whip of cricket's bone2 the lash of film2 ,her wagoner1 a small gray-coated gnat1 ,not half so big as a round little worm ,pricked from the lazy finger of a maid3 ,her chariot is an empty hazel nut1 ,made by the joiner squirrel or old grub1 ,time out of mind the fairies' coachmakers4 ,this is that very ,mab ,that plats the manes of horses in the night2 ,and bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs1 ,which once untangled much misfortune bode4 ,this is the hag1 when maids lie on their backs1 ,that presses them40 ,a few of the very many fairy tales once current in ,old ,england and in ,western ,europe generally1 may well be given here in illustration of their general character4 ,,an ,,elfin ,,story4 ,there was one time1 it is said1 a servant girl1 who was for her cleanly1 tidy habits1 greatly beloved by the ,elves1 particularly as she was careful to carry away all dirt and foul water to a distance from the house1 and they once invited her to a wedding4 ,everything was conducted in the greatest order1 and they made her a present of some chips1 which she took good-humoredly1 and put into her pocket4 ,but when the bride-pair were coming1 there was a straw unluckily lying in the way2 the bridegroom got cleverly over it1 but the poor bride fell on her face4 ,at the sight of this1 the girl could not restrain herself1 but burst out a-laughing1 and that instant the whole vanished from her sight4 ,next day1 to her utter amazement1 she found that what she had taken to be nothing but chips were so many pieces of pure gold4 ,,the ,,penitent ,,nis4 ,it is related of a ,nis1 who had established himself in a house in ,jutland1 that he used every evening1 after the maid was gone to bed1 to go into the kitchen to take his groute1 which they used to leave there for him in a large wooden bowl4 ,one evening1 he sat down as usual to eat his supper with a good appetite1 drew over the bowl to him1 and was just beginning1 as he thought1 to make a comfortable meal1 when he found that the maid had forgotten to put any butter in it for him4 ,at this1 he fell into a furious rage1 got up in the height of his passion1 and went out into the cow-house and twisted the neck of the best cow that was in it2 but as he felt himself still very hungry1 he stole back again to the kitchen to take some of the groute1 such as it was1 and when he had eaten a little of it he perceived that there was butter in it1 but that it had sunk to the bottom under the groute4 ,he was now so vexed at his injustice toward the maid that1 to make good the damage he had done1 he went back to the cow-house and set a chest full of money by the side of the dead cow1 where the family found it next morning1 and by means of it got into flourishing circumstances4 ,,nixes4 ,the ,nixes1 or ,water-people1 inhabit lakes and rivers4 ,the man is like any other man1 only he has green teeth4 ,he also wears a green hat4 ,the female ,nixes appear like beautiful maidens4 ,on fine sunny days they may be seen sitting on the banks1 or on the branches of the trees1 combing their long golden locks4 ,when any person is shortly to be drowned the ,nixes may be previously seen dancing on the surface of the water4 ,they inhabit a beautiful region below the water1 whither they sometimes convey mortals4 ,a girl from a village near ,leipsic1 as the story goes1 was at one time at service in the house of a ,nix4 ,she reported that everything there was very good2 all she had to complain of was that she was obliged to eat her food without salt4 ,the female ,nixes frequently go to the market to buy meat2 they are always dressed with extreme neatness1 only a corner of the apron or some other part of their clothes is wet4 ,the man also occasionally goes to market4 ,they are fond of carrying off women1 of whom they make wives4 ,from the many tales of the ,nixes we select the following1 which are fair specimens of the whole4 ,,the ,,peasant ,,and ,,the ,,waterman4 ,a ,waterman1 or ,nix1 once lived on good terms with a peasant who dwelt near his lake4 ,he often visited him1 and at last begged that the peasant would make a visit to his house under the water4 ,the peasant consented1 and went down with him4 ,there was everything down under the water as in a stately palace on the land--halls1 chambers and cabinets1 with costly furniture of every description4 ,the ,waterman led his guest over the whole1 and showed him everything that was in it4 ,they came at length to a little chamber1 where were standing several new pots turned upside down4 ,the peasant asked what was in them4 8,they contain10 was the reply1 8the souls of drowned people1 which ,i put under the pots and keep them close1 so that they cannot get away40 ,the peasant made no remark1 and he came up again on the land4 ,but for a long time the affair of the souls continued to give him great trouble1 and he watched to find when the ,waterman should be from home4 ,when this occurred1 as he had marked the right way down1 he descended into the water-house1 and1 having made out the little chamber1 he turned up all the pots one after another1 and immediately the souls of the drowned people ascended out of the water and recovered their liberty4 ,,the ,,wonderful ,,little ,,pouch4 ,at noon1 one day1 a young peasant sat by the side of a wood1 and1 sighing1 prayed the gods to give him a morsel of food4 ,a dwarf suddenly emerged from the wood1 and told him that his prayer should be fulfilled4 ,he then gave him the pouch that he had on his side1 with the assurance that he would always find in it wherewithal to satisfy his thirst and hunger1 charging him1 at the same time1 not to consume it all1 and to share with any one who asked him for food4 ,the dwarf vanished1 and the peasant put his hand into the pouch to make a trial of it1 and there he found a cake of new bread1 a cheese1 and a bottle of wine1 on which he made a hearty meal4 ,he then saw that the pouch swelled up as before1 and1 looking in1 he found that it was again full of bread1 cheese and wine4 ,he now felt sure of his food1 and he lived on in an idle1 luxurious way1 without doing any work4 ,one day1 as he was gorging himself1 there came up to him a feeble old man1 who prayed him to give him a morsel to eat4 ,he refused in a brutal1 churlish tone1 when instantly the bread and cheese broke1 and scattered out of his hands1 and pouch and all vanished4 ,,christianizing ,,the ,,saxons4 ,according to widely-accepted tradition1 when but a young deacon1 ,gregory the ,great had noted the white bodies1 the fair faces and the golden hair of some youths who stood bound in the market-place at ,rome4 8,from what country do these slaves come80 he asked the traders who held them4 8,they are ,english1 ,angles60 the slave-dealers answered4 ,the deacon's pity veiled itself in poetic humor4 8,not ,angles1 but angels10 he said1 8with faces so angel-like6 ,from what country come they80 8,they come10 said the merchants1 8from ,deira40 8,de ir60 was the untranslatable reply2 8aye1 plucked from ,god's ire1 and called to ,christ's mercy6 ,and what is the name of their king80 8lla10 they told him2 and ,gregory seized on the words as a good omen4 8,alleluia shall be sung there10 he cried1 and passed on1 musing how the angel-faces should be brought to sing it4 ,years went by1 and the deacon become ,bishop of ,rome1 when the ,christian princess1 ,berctas' marriage to the ,king of ,england gave him the opening he sought4 ,he at once sent a ,roman ,abbot1 ,augustine1 at the head of a band of monks1 to preach the ,gospel to the ,english people4 ,the missionaries landed ,a4,d4 #eig1 on the very spot where ,hengest had landed more than a century before1 in the ,isle of ,thanet2 and the king received them sitting in the open air1 on the chalk-down above ,minster1 where the eye nowadays catches1 miles away over the marshes1 the dim tower of ,canterbury4 ,he listened to the long sermon as the interpreters whom ,augustine had brought with him from ,gaul translated it4 8,your words are fair10 thelberdt replied at last1 with ,english good sense1 8but they are new and of doubtful meaning40 ,for himself1 he said1 he refused to forsake the gods of his fathers1 but he promised shelter and protection to the strangers4 ,the band of monks entered ,canterbury bearing before them a silver cross with a picture of ,christ1 and singing in concert the strains of the litany of their church4 8,turn from this city1 ,o ,lord10 they sang1 8,thine anger and wrath1 and turn it from ,thy holy house2 for we have sinned40 ,and then1 in strange contrast1 came the jubilant cry of the older ,hebrew worship1 the cry which ,gregory had wrested in prophetic earnestness from the name of the ,yorkshire king in the ,roman market-place--8,alleluia60 ,thus was begun the overturning of the heathen faith of our ancestors1 and the establishment of ,christianity among them4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,india4 ,the ,hindu mind still superstition sways ,still to his ,triune ,god the ,brahmin prays2 ,the laws of 8caste0 each generous hope restrain1 ,and bind all mental powers with palsying chain4 ,still lives that old belief the ,samian taught1 ,insects and brutes with human souls are fraught1 ,souls doomed to wander for uncounted years1 ,till1 pure from earthly dross1 they seek the spheres4 ,,nicholas ,,michell4 ,india is almost a continent like ,europe4 ,it is shaped like a great triangle4 ,its population amounts to #bdj1jjj1jjj4 ,there are different races in ,india4 ,first came to the fertile valleys of the ,indus and ,ganges the sturdy immigrants from ,central ,asia1 from ,tartary and ,thibet4 ,these were ,scythians1 some of them ,mongolians4 ,then came the ,hindu people1 the great family of the ,aryans1 who separated themselves from their ,persian brethren sometime near #b1jjj ,b4,c41 and gradually overspread all ,india4 ,about #ejj ,b4,c41 ,darius ,hystaspes conquered the ,indian ,empire4 ,alexander the ,great invaded it as far as the ,indus in #cbg ,b4,c4 ,the ,mohammedans drove the ,parsees from their ,persian home about #a1ajj years ago1 and a small body of them settled in ,india4 ,then came the ,mohammedans 7,arabs1 ,turks1 ,afghans and ,moguls7 and conquered ,india for a time4 ,there are now #da1jjj1jjj of ,mohammedans in that land4 ,still later came ,europeans1 led thither by the prospects of great commercial gains1 the ,portuguese1 the ,danes1 the ,dutch1 the ,french and1 finally1 came the ,english4 ,over one hundred dialects are spoken in ,india1 but there is only one sacred language and one sacred literature4 ,this is the ,sanscrit4 ,all the ,hindu sacred books1 all the sacred knowledge of ,hindu theology1 philosophy or law1 all the ,hindu creeds1 opinions1 customs1 etc41 are recorded in this language4 ,this language of their literature does not change with the course of time1 it remains the same now as ever4 ,,sketch ,,of ,,brahminism4 ,brahminism grew out of what is called the ,vedic religion4 ,before ,abraham's day the people living in ,central ,asia1 being a simple race1 addressed their prayers to the powers of nature1 as1 for example1 to the storms1 the clouds and the sun1 seeing the ,deity in each of these4 ,hymns were written to these gods and this forms the earliest of all sacred books1 only excepting those from which ,moses wrote his account of the early history of the world in ,genesis4 ,this people moved south into ,india4 ,the priesthood arose and the other ,vedic books of ceremonies1 sacrifices and liturgical forms were prepared4 ,great commentaries were written on these books1 and all were declared to be inspired4 ,the priests quarreled with the civil chiefs1 but their sacred character was increased by the conflict1 and caste is the result4 ,the priests are the highest caste 7or class71 next come the warriors1 then the merchant1 the farmer1 etc41 last of all the tanners1 buriers of the dead1 etc4 ,these classes never intermarry or intermingle in any way2 it is contaminating to sit together even4 ,about this time idols appear1 and gods multiply until they reach the number of #ccj1jjj1jjj4 ,men groaned under this stupendous system of oppressive idolatry4 ,buddha tried in the seventh century before ,christ1 to reform it1 but he failed1 though he succeeded in establishing a new faith which has numbered its converts by the hundreds of millions4 ,but ,brahminism continues to be the religion of ,india1 even until to-day4 ,the task of ,christianity to supplant it is gigantic1 and rendered doubly difficult by the failure of ,buddhism4 ,in later days a new reformer appeared1 ,rammohun ,roy4 ,he started the ,brahmosomaj1 or reformed ,brahminism1 but under his successor1 ,keshub ,chunder ,sen1 it is drifting toward ,christianity4 ,starting from the ,veda1 ,hinduism has ended in embracing something from all religions1 and in presenting phases suited to all minds4 ,it is all-tolerant1 all-compliant1 all-comprehensive1 all-absorbing4 ,it has its spiritual and its material aspect1 its esoteric and exoteric1 its subjective and objective1 its rational and irrational1 its pure and its impure4 ,it has one side for the practical1 another for the severely moral1 another for the devotional and imaginative1 another for the sensuous and sensual1 and another for the philosophical and speculative4 ,those who rest in ceremonial observances find it all-sufficient2 those who deny the efficacy of works and make faith the one requisite1 need not wander from its pale2 those who are addicted to sensuality may have their tastes fully gratified2 those whose delight is in meditating upon the nature of ,god and of man1 or the relations of matter and of spirit1 the mystery of separate existence1 or upon the origin of evil1 may here indulge their love of speculation4 ,and this capacity for almost limitless expansion causes almost numberless sectarian divisions even among the followers of any given particular line of doctrine4 ,yet there remains much of the old nature-worship1 or more correctly speaking1 of the old devil-worship among the ,hindus even at this late day4 ,as in ,tinnevelly the people worship a stone devil1 who holds a trident in one hand1 and a child which he was about to devour in the other4 ,the idol generally has a garland of red and white oleander flowers on its head and shoulders4 ,illustration3 ,,devil ,,worshiped ,,in ,,tinnevelly4 ,,the ,,gods ,,of ,,hinduism4 ,the three idols sculptured on the walls of ,elephanta ,cave are found all over ,india1 and constitute the chief gods which are worshiped by the ,hindus4 ,illustration3 ,,indra1 ,,god ,,of ,,the ,,atmosphere4 ,illustration3 ,,brahma4 ,,vishnu4 ,,siva4 ,,the ,,three ,,chief ,,hindu ,,gods4 ,all the human race is said to have come from the highlands of ,central ,asia1 and the worship of these1 our ,aryan forefathers1 was at first exceedingly simple4 ,their manner of life brought them into close contact with nature1 and we learn from the hymns then written1 many of which are still preserved in the ,vedas 7the sacred book of the ,hindus71 that they regarded the powers of nature as manifestations of gods4 ,in the storms1 they supposed these rival gods were quarreling4 ,in the ,vedic hymns1 frequent mention is made of the chief god1 called ,dyaus1 the 8,heavenly ,father40 ,also ,aditi1 the 8,infinite ,expanse10 is called the mother of all gods4 ,next comes ,varuna1 the 8,sky in its ,brightness10 then ,indra1 the god of the 8,atmosphere20 so running through the whole list4 ,after a time1 the names of the gods are somewhat altered1 and a sort of trinity is formed4 ,agni1 god of fire1 becomes ,brahma2 ,surya1 the sun-god1 becomes ,vishnu1 and ,indra1 the atmosphere-god1 becomes ,siva4 ,these constitute what is called the ,tri-murti1 and are generally said to represent one god as ,creator1 ,preserver or ,destroyer4 ,hindus often write in their honor verses like the following3 8,in those three persons the one ,god was shown-- ,each first in place1 each last--not one alone2 ,of ,siva1 ,vishnu1 ,brahma1 each may be ,first1 second1 third1 among the ,blessed ,three40 ,as to which of the three gods is to be called the ,supreme ,being1 opinions differ4 ,the following story is told in one of the sacred books touching upon this point3 ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,sages' ,,search4 ,a dispute arose among the sages as to which of the three gods was greatest2 so they applied to the great ,bhrigu1 one of the ten ,maharshis1 or primeval patriarchs created by the first ,manu1 to determine the point4 ,he undertook to put all three gods to a severe test1 and went first to ,brahma2 on approaching whom he purposely omitted an obeisance4 ,upon this the god's anger blazed terribly forth2 but1 restraining it1 he was at length pacified4 ,next he repaired to the abode of ,siva1 in ,kailsa1 and omitted to return the god's salutation4 ,the vindictive deity was enraged1 his eyes flashed fire1 and he raised his trident to destroy the sage2 but the god's wife1 ,prvati1 fell at his feet and by her intercession appeased him4 ,lastly1 he repaired to ,vaikuntha1 the heaven of ,vishnu1 whom he found asleep with his head on his consort ,lakshm's lap4 ,to make a trial of his forbearance1 he boldly gave the god a kick on his breast1 which awoke him4 ,instead of showing anger1 however1 ,vishnu arose1 and on seeing ,bhrigu1 asked his pardon for not having greeted him on his first arrival4 ,next1 he expressed himself highly honored by the sage's blow 7which he declared had imprinted an indelible mark of good fortune on his breast71 and then inquired tenderly whether his foot was hurt1 and proceeded to rub it gently4 8,this10 said ,bhrigu1 8is the mightiest god2 he overpowers by the most potent of all weapons--gentleness and generosity40 ,this idea was not far removed from the genius of ,christianity1 which conspicuously encourages the overcoming of evil with good4 ,illustration3 ,picart1 ,painter4 ,illman ,brothers1 ,engravers ,printers4 ,,hindu ,,fakirs ,,practising ,,their ,,superstitious ,,rites4 ,,engraved ,,expressly ,,for ,,error',s ,,chains ,,can ,,the ,,gods ,,die8 ,one of the most remarkable ideas to be found in the ,brhmanas is that the gods were merely mortals till they extorted immortality from the ,supreme ,being by sacrifices and austerities4 ,a natural or inherent immortality in these deities was never dreamed of1 it is said3 8,the gods lived constantly in dread of ,death-- ,the mighty ,ender--so with toilsome rites ,they worshiped and repeated sacrifices ,till they became immortal4 ,then the ,ender ,said to the gods1 #8,as ye have made yourselves ,imperishable2 so will men endeavor ,to free themselves from me2 what portion then ,shall ,i possess in man8' ,the gods replied1 #8,henceforth no being shall become immortal ,in his own body2 this his mortal frame ,shalt thou still seize2 this shall remain thy own1 ,he who through knowledge or religious acts ,henceforth attains to immortality ,shall first present his body1 ,death1 to thee4'0 ,,sects ,,of ,,hinduism4 ,it must not be supposed that the heathen religions present one unbroken front against the oncoming ranks of ,christianity4 ,christianity is divided into sects1 it is true2 but these sects are but as the different regiments and divisions of an army4 ,the banner of the ,cross is at the head of the whole of this grand army1 and it floats proudly over each regiment2 the regimental banner is always placed beneath1 and not above1 the banner of the ,cross4 ,hence the various denominations of ,christians are not so many distinct bodies1 fighting each other as well as fighting the common foe2 but they are so many bands of soldiers1 fighting1 perhaps1 each in its own way1 yet all aiming to destroy the one common enemy1 ,satan and his works4 ,but the divisions of heathen religious systems differ greatly from this4 ,many of them are so different from each other that there is hardly a trace of resemblance remaining4 ,each heathen religious system wages war against every other one4 ,buddhism is1 perhaps1 an exception to this1 at least in its mode of warfare1 for it seeks to swallow up every other system1 to incorporate all other religions in its own and to destroy them by the change4 ,in each of these systems1 as well as in ,hinduism1 which we have now before us for consideration1 there are many different sects4 ,these vary very much more than the denominations of ,christendom1 and are constantly turning their guns upon each other4 ,thus ,god is making ,satan to defeat himself1 and will bring good to the world even out of the wicked one's work4 ,the sects of ,hinduism overlap each other4 ,many ,hindus are attached at the same time to several sects1 and some of the gods are worshiped by all the sects in common4 ,following the national tendency of all heathen religious systems1 ,hinduism developed downwards4 ,sect after sect arose1 each calling attention to some one prominent point in their faith1 and setting all the other points far in the background4 ,illustration3 ,,bird',s-,,eye ,,view ,,of ,,the ,,hindu ,,temple ,,at ,,cawnpore4 ,during all the period from #hjj to #ejj before ,christ1 the need of making peace offerings to the gods was insisted upon by certain sects4 ,according to the creed of one popular sect1 for example1 if one should slay a hundred horses in sacrifice1 he would be worthy of being exalted to the rank of a powerful god4 ,thousands of animals1 principally horses1 cows1 pigs1 and the like1 were slain every day at this time4 ,the whole land was filled with blood4 ,then came the reaction1 a new sect arose1 who1 disgusted and wearied of sacrifices and sacrificing priests1 declared all sacrifices as unnecessary and displeasing to the gods4 ,the followers of ,kali1 the goddess of blood1 and especially the ,thugs1 who came into prominence later on and who are described in connection with the worship of ,kali1 of course opposed this idea4 ,yet they were unsuccessful1 their rival sect rapidly gained the popular favor1 and1 except at ,kali's altars1 sacrifices almost disappeared4 ,the great reformer1 ,buddha1 the 8,light of ,asia10 gave great assistance to this doctrine4 ,he taught1 about the seventh century before ,christ1 that it was the duty of man to preserve life1 and not to destroy it4 ,the teaching that the souls of men after death passed into the bodies of animals also aided in this4 ,buddha's teachings gained almost universal acceptance in ,india for a time2 it looked as though it would root out ,hinduism4 ,but gradually the ,hindu priests brought ,buddhism back unto itself again4 ,the priests declared that ,gautama1 the ,buddha1 was an incarnation of the god ,vishnu1 and by this concession won their way to the hearts of the people4 ,each of the gods had their own followers1 and1 as may be imagined1 the sect that worshiped ,vishnu received many new adherents4 ,after this1 ,hinduism rapidly descended to its darkest1 deepest degradation4 ,priestcraft was extended1 rites were multiplied1 and superstitious customs increased4 ,for long years the people groaned under their heavy burdens1 then sought--as1 alas6 how often they sought1 but only to fail--to get back to the high ground of a purer religion4 ,reformers appeared1 and the people gladly and quickly gathered around these reformers1 thus forming new sects4 ,to set forth the whole history of these sects would require volume after volume4 ,in a general way1 we may say that there are five large sects3 the followers of ,siva1 of ,vishnu1 of ,sakta1 the sun worshipers1 and the adherents of ,ganesha4 ,we might well add to these1 and to the multitude of minor sects into which they are divided1 the greatest of modern sects1 which is called the ,brahmo-,somaj4 ,illustration3 ,,sculptured ,,idols ,,on ,a ,,pillar4 ,in the year #aggd was born a man of marked ability1 named ,rammohun ,roy4 ,he sought to suppress the ,suttee1 the burning of ,hindu widows with the bodies of their dead husbands4 ,he encouraged native education and the general enlightenment of the whole people4 ,he went back beyond the teachings of priests and of the modern sacred ,hindu books1 back to the ,vedas1 and sought to prove that they taught that idolatry was wrong1 and that one god should be worshiped4 ,to this ,supreme ,being he gave the name of ,brahma1 and hence his sect of reformed ,hinduism was called the ,brahma or ,brahmo-,somaj1 or ,society of ,god4 ,after his death1 several other leaders arose1 the last of whom1 the third from ,rammohun ,roy1 named ,keshub ,chunder ,sen1 was1 perhaps1 most in accord with the founder's spirit4 ,he visited ,england lately4 ,under his leading the society is offering an uncompromising opposition to caste1 idolatry and superstition1 and is accomplishing the best results4 ,,principles ,,of ,,hinduism4 ,hinduism as a system has nothing to say about making men better1 it only tells of means to make peace with angry gods4 ,it speaks only threatening and fear4 ,but worse than this--and it would corrupt our pages to do more than mention it--much of its worship is vile2 vulgar images are common objects of worship in ,india4 ,its teachings as to the next world and the way to reach it are remarkable4 ,there is supposed to be a wide stream between this world and the next1 and the only way to cross is by holding on to the tail of the sacred cow when dying4 ,illustration3 ,,dying ,,brahmin ,,holding ,,the ,,tail ,,of ,,the ,,sacred ,,cow1 ,,so ,,as ,,to ,,enter ,,heaven4 ,one terrible feature of ,hinduism is ,caste4 ,every ,hindu child is born within a certain caste1 and above or below that it can never go4 ,it is a most rigid system requiring the members of one caste to have as little as possible to do with the members of another4 ,the four principal castes are--the ,priest or ,brahmin caste2 the ,warrior caste2 the ,merchant caste2 the ,sudras1 or ,servile caste2 besides these are the ,pariahs1 who are below all caste4 ,some of the castes distinguish themselves by the cut and color of their dress1 some by the way in which their garments are put on1 some by a peculiar mark on the forehead1 some by the jewels or ornaments they wear4 ,the bounds of these castes are fixed and immovable4 ,no one1 however1 rich1 or learned1 or skillful1 can rise above his caste1 no one1 however poor1 or degraded1 or vicious1 sinks below his caste4 ,each caste looks up to those above it1 and concedes its superiority4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,caste-,,marked ,,brahmin ,,at ,,his ,,devotions4 ,a ,brahmin who had become a ,christian1 once told a celebrated traveler1 that the people of lower castes than his own had often asked him to stop and wash his feet in the water of the street1 so that they might drink it6 ,the whole system1 this traveler goes on to say1 is a cold and cruel thing1 which hardens the heart against natural compassion4 ,against its oppression there is no power of resistance2 it extinguishes every element of human brotherhood4 ,hinduism is1 take it all and all1 one of the vilest1 most despotic1 most degrading systems of religion4 ,in almost every other faith there is some redeeming feature2 in ,hinduism we seek in vain to find any element of truth4 ,there is nothing in it worthy of being placed in comparison with ,christianity4 ,yet the task of persuading the ,hindu people of this is a very difficult one4 ,the missionary seems as but a youthful ,david with his sling and stones in the presence of this very ,goliath of ,heathenism4 ,but he has ,god standing with him1 and by ,his aid the work will finally be successful4 ,illustration3 ,,god ,,of ,,hell1 ,,from ,a ,,hindu ,,picture4 ,,human ,,beings ,,killed ,,in ,,sacrifice4 ,very early in the history of the ,hindu religion1 human beings were sacrificed to the gods4 ,both children and adults were slain before ,kali's altars1 especially4 ,sacrifice of human beings is referred to in the sacred books2 for instance1 it appears in the following ,brahmana3 ,king ,hariscandra had no son2 he then prayed to ,varuna1 promising1 that if a son were born to him1 he would sacrifice the child to the god4 ,then a son was born to him called ,rohita4 ,when ,rohita was grown up1 his father one day told him of the vow he had made to ,varuna and bade him prepare to be sacrificed4 ,the son declined to be killed1 and ran away from his father's house4 ,for six years he wandered in the forest and at last met a starving ,brahmin4 ,him he persuaded to sell one of his sons named ,sunahsepha1 for a hundred cows4 ,this boy was bought by ,rohita and taken to ,hariscandra and was about to be sacrificed to ,varuna as a substitute for ,rohita4 ,at this moment1 on praying to the gods with verses from the ,veda1 the boy was released4 ,some of the ,hindu gods are1 in accord with this idea1 horrible imaginations1 as the god of ,hell4 ,in contrast with such1 is ,amadeo1 god of ,love1 the cupid god of the ,hindus4 ,illustration3 ,,amadeo1 ,,god ,,of ,,love4 ,but the ,hindus were averse to human sacrifice1 and so they found a way to get around it4 ,they introduced this passage into their sacred books3 ,the gods killed a man for their victim4 ,but from him thus killed1 the part which was fit for a sacrifice went out and entered a horse4 ,thence the horse became an animal fit for being sacrificed4 ,the gods then killed the horse1 but the part of it fit for being sacrified went out of it and entered an ox4 ,the gods then killed the ox1 but the part of it fit for being sacrificed went out of it and entered a sheep4 ,thence it entered a goat4 ,the sacrificial part remained for the longest time in the goat2 thence1 it became pre-eminently fit for being sacrificed6 ,,woman',s ,,life ,,in ,,india4 ,every one of the heathen religions more or less degrades woman4 ,often she is made the slave of man1 or1 worse still1 the creature to minister to his appetites4 ,only ,christianity seeks to lift woman to the level of man4 ,women in ,christian lands rarely ever appreciate the low condition of their ,oriental sisters4 ,in ,india1 woman's condition is worse than in ,china1 and in ,china worse than in ,japan4 ,in the early religious writings of the ,hindus1 woman is spoken of with respect2 but in later days those teachings have been all but forgotten4 ,indeed1 the degradation of woman in ,india--not merely sanctioned1 but commanded1 by the ,hindu religion--is without a parallel in any age and among any other race4 ,according to the ,code of ,manu1 the law-book of the ,hindu religion1 woman is forbidden to read the sacred books or to offer up prayers or sacrifices in her own name and person4 ,she may pray and worship1 but only as her father or husband directs4 ,woman is regarded as having no soul1 differing from the beasts only in being more intelligent than they4 ,moreover1 she is commanded to revere her husband as a god4 ,illustration3 ,,teaching ,a ,,child ,,to ,,worship ,,ganesha1 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,wisdom4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,child ,,bringing ,,an ,,offering ,,to ,,the ,,idol ,,of ,a ,,bull4 ,if a ,brahmin1 or priest1 happens to be reading the ,vedas 7the sacred ,hindu books71 and a woman happens to come near1 he must suspend his reading until she pass by4 ,her ear is not pure enough to hear the sacred word1 they say4 ,they were kept secluded from sight in ill-furnished apartments2 really1 they were kept prisoners in the zenanas1 as their apartments were called4 ,only recently has the condition of the women of ,india been exposed4 ,missionary ladies1 by taking the occasion of teaching women how to knit and embroider1 managed to secure an entrance to the zenanas4 ,tale after tale was told of the pitiful condition of the ,hindu women4 ,these were doubted1 questioned and examined2 but investigation confirmed their truth4 ,what is the picture that is drawn by these faithful pens of the ,hindu woman's life from the cradle to the grave8 ,girls are never welcomed in ,india4 ,formerly a large number were destroyed at birth1 but now the ,british government prevents that4 ,but they are as badly off1 in many cases worse1 than if dead4 ,their very existence is almost unnoticed by their father4 ,ask a ,hindu how many children he has--supposing that he have three sons and four daughters--he will reply1 8,i have three children10 not thinking it worth while to count his daughters4 ,formerly at least seventy-five out of every hundred female infants were destroyed4 ,these infants were generally cast to the crocodiles in the ,ganges1 and1 strange to say1 the mother thought she was serving ,heaven in doing this unnatural deed4 ,the great linguist1 ,dr4 ,john ,leyden1 has written3 8,to glut the shark and crocodile ,a mother brought her infant here2 ,she saw its tender1 playful smile1 ,she shed not one maternal tear4 ,she threw it on a watery bier2 ,with grinding teeth sea-monsters tore ,the smiling infant that she bore4 ,she shrunk not once its cries to hear60 ,from childhood they are taught to worship the idols1 especially ,ganesha1 the god of wisdom1 and so the stone bulls4 ,after a little girl has reached her fifth birthday1 her parents begin to look for a husband for her4 ,she can be married when seven years old1 but may wait until she is ten4 ,the idea of marrying for love is never dreamed of4 ,the little one never makes her own choice of a husband4 ,her married life bears not the slightest resemblance to the life of a wife in a ,christian land4 ,the ,shasters declare that a wife1 8,when in the presence of her husband1 must keep her eyes upon her master1 and be ready to receive his commands4 ,when he speaks1 she must be quiet1 and listen to nothing else besides2 when he calls1 she must leave everything else1 and attend upon him alone4 ,a woman has no other god on earth but her husband4 ,the most excellent of all good works that she can perform is to gratify him with the strictest obedience4 ,this should be her only devotion4 ,though he be aged1 infirm1 dissipated1 a drunkard or a debauchee1 she must still regard him as her god4 ,she must serve him with all her might1 obeying him in all things1 spying no defects in his character1 and giving him no cause for disquiet4 ,if he laughs1 she must laugh2 if he weeps1 she must weep2 if he sings1 she must be in an ecstasy40 ,the wife may never walk with her husband4 ,no other man than he or her father or brothers must ever look on her face4 ,a ,hindu woman would rather die than to be thus defiled1 as they are taught to regard it4 ,illustration3 ,,hindu ,,woman4 ,woman in ,india is in the power of her husband completely2 she is his slave1 and must wait on his every motion4 ,worse than this1 she is not the only wife1 for ,hinduism permits a man to have many wives4 ,when her husband dies1 the wife is more unhappy than ever4 ,all her ornaments and beautiful clothing are taken from her1 and only a poor1 coarse1 brown robe is left2 her black hair is shorn off1 and the tali--answering to our marriage-ring--is taken from her4 ,henceforth1 if she live1 she must practice the severest penance4 ,often1 before the ,british government put a stop to it1 the widow was burned alive with the dead body of her husband4 ,for all this degradation and misery and shameless treatment of women ,hinduism is responsible4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,hindu ,,temples1 ,,idols ,,and ,,worship4 ,a thousand pilgrims strain ,arm1 shoulder1 breast and thigh1 with might and main1 ,to drag that sacred wain1 ,and scarce can draw the enormous load1 ,prone fall the frantic votaries in its road1 ,and calling on the god1 ,their self-devoted bodies there they lay ,to pave his chariot-way4 ,on ,jaga-,naut they call1 ,the ponderous car rolls on1 and crushes all4 ,,robert ,,southey4 ,every city of ,india has its temples by the hundreds1 in some cases by the thousands4 ,on all the hills1 in all the valleys1 scattered over all the fields1 in the densest jungles or open plains are temples1 shrines and idols4 ,the rivers are sacred1 trees are worshiped and very many animals receive religious reverence4 ,the temple-courts are filled with chattering monkeys1 and here and there we see the sacred bulls1 garlanded with flowers and fed by the devotees4 ,there is no end1 seemingly1 to their temples and idols4 ,probably no country in the world has more of these than ,india4 ,it is one of the marks of heathenism to multiply the objects and places of worship4 ,of course1 we cannot here make mention of all these1 we can but describe a few of the more important1 which may serve as specimens of the rest4 ,,idols ,,and ,,temples ,,of ,,juggernaut4 ,juggernaut is a celebrated god4 ,he is called the 8,lord of the world40 ,his images are as ugly as can be conceived4 ,generally they are made of wood2 in some temples placed three together1 one of blue1 one of white and one of yellow4 ,juggernaut has many temples2 the one at ,puri1 on the western shore of the ,bay of ,bengal1 being the largest1 and esteemed the most holy4 ,this pagoda stands at the end of the principal street of the city1 which is very wide1 and lined with dwellings for the priests1 small shrines and other sacred buildings4 ,the wall which surrounds the temple is #ba feet high1 and forms an inclosure #fej feet on each side4 ,the principal edifice rises to the height of #ahd feet4 ,the main gate-way is crowded with ,fakirs4 ,on each side of the entrance is a mammoth lion4 ,just before the visitor1 as he enters1 is an image of the monkey-god1 ,hanuman4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,most ,,sacred ,,temple ,,of ,,juggernaut ,,at ,,puri4 ,the temple is dedicated to ,krishna1 or ,juggernaut1 7sometimes written ,jagan-nath17 and his companions--,siva and ,sathadra4 ,the idols of each are rude1 hideous-looking sculptured blocks of wood1 each about six feet high4 ,the representations of the human face in these idols are hideous4 ,krishna is painted dark blue1 ,siva white and ,sathadra yellow4 ,before the altar an image of the hawk-god1 ,garounda1 is placed4 ,every day1 we are told1 the idols are feasted4 ,their food consists of #daj pounds of rice1 #bbe pounds of flour1 #cej pounds of butter1 #afg pounds of treacle1 #fe pounds of vegetables1 #ahf pounds of milk1 #bd pounds of spices1 #cd pounds of salt and #da pounds of oil4 ,while the food is being placed before the gods1 all but a favored few are excluded from the temple1 and the doors are shut4 ,there are over #bj1jjj holy men connected with this temple1 and we can easily guess that they help the idols to get rid of this great mass of food1 at any rate it all speedily disappears4 ,the idols1 strange as it may seem1 are washed and dressed daily with great seriousness4 ,illustration3 ,h4 ,melville1 ,painter4 ,illman ,brothers1 ,engravers ,printers4 ,,the ,,hindu ,,mother4 ,,engraved ,,expressly ,,for ,,error',s ,,chains ,illustration3 ,,siva4 ,,sathadra4 ,,krishna4 ,,worship ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,krishna1 ,,or ,,juggernaut4 ,the ,hawk ,god1 ,garounda1 is seen in the foreground4 ,illustration3 ,,hindu ,,devotees ,,dragging ,,juggernaut',s ,,car ,,and ,,immolating ,,themselves4 ,on the #ahth of ,june ,juggernaut's great festival occurs4 ,formerly great multitudes assembled at this time from every part of the land4 ,men1 women and children in crowds thronged to the city days in advance1 and waited with impatience for the festival day to come4 ,the ,car-88 ,festival celebrated at ,puri is usually attended by more than #ejj1jjj pilgrims1 nearly half of whom are females4 ,there is great suffering among these pilgrims1 and many of them die in consequence of excessive fatigue1 exposure to the annual rains1 and the want of suitable and sufficient food4 ,the plains1 in many places1 are literally whitened with their bones1 while dogs and vultures are continually devouring the bodies of the dead4 ,at the appointed time each idol was washed1 dressed in silk and gold1 and placed upon his triumphal car4 ,the car of ,juggernaut consists of an elevated platform1 thirty-four feet square1 supported by sixteen wheels1 each six and a half feet in diameter4 ,it is covered with cloth of gold and costly stuffs1 and a ,juggernaut is placed under a canopy4 ,six ropes1 or cables1 #cjj feet in length1 are attached to the car1 by means of which the people draw it from place to place4 ,the whole car is covered with sculptures in the ,hindu style4 ,thousands seize these ropes1 as many as could get hold4 ,in their fanatical frenzy they crowded and shouldered and shoved one another1 counting themselves happy if they could only lay a hand on the ropes4 ,the ,car-,festival was the great event of the religious year of the worshipers of ,juggernaut4 ,its object was to convey ,juggernaut from the temple to his country house1 a mile distant4 ,when the image was placed in the car the multitude fell on their knees and bowed their foreheads in the dust4 ,as the car began to advance the drums beat and cymbals clashed1 while from its platform the priests shouted1 harangued and sang songs1 which were received with applause by the multitude4 ,and so the dense mass1 tugging1 sweating1 singing1 praying1 dragged the car slowly along4 ,some were knocked down and trampled upon1 and some were accidentally crushed by the ponderous wheels1 while a few1 mostly those who were sick or in much trouble1 sought death by throwing themselves in the way of the wheels1 this latter being encouraged by some of the priests4 ,the priests and priestesses chanted songs in praise of the gods1 the multitudes flung flowers and other gifts about the car4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,idol ,,juggernaut ,,usually ,,carried ,,on ,,the ,,car4 ,such was the ,great ,car-,festival of ,juggernaut in ancient days4 ,of late years it has lost much of its popularity1 and though thousands still attend annually1 it is now looked upon more as an annual fair than a religious festival4 ,the devotees are not half so zealous as formerly1 and the priests find almost no one to drag the car4 ,no longer do any self-made victims fall beneath its wheels1 unless it be some poor1 weak wretch1 tired of life and desiring thus to commit suicide4 ,the ,british government has caused much of this change1 but more has been done by the influence which ,christian missionaries have exerted upon the people4 ,the 8,lord of the ,world10 as they call this idol1 shall yet bow before the ,lord of ,lords4 ,from this account of ,juggernaut and his worship one cannot fail to see the terrible degradation which ,hinduism imposes on its devotees4 ,that ,god should be deemed to be fitly represented by such ugly conceptions as are seen in these idols is evidence of a most degraded system of religion4 ,still more so is the teaching of the priests1 that ,god actually lives in some substance in the idol's heart4 ,contrast this with the teachings of the ,bible concerning ,him whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain6 ,juggernaut's worshipers regard him as a thing whom they are to keep from getting angry by petting him and caring for and feeding as for a little child2 that ,he is a being who needs such things as clothing to protect and food to sustain ,him1 and who needs to be washed1 and to retire to a summer resort to escape the summer's heat4 ,illustration3 ,,disrobing ,,and ,,disjointing ,,juggernaut4 ,a striking illustration of the inferiority of idols is given in the incident pictured below4 ,several converts from ,hinduism concluded to undress and disjoint their idol1 and finally they chopped up the several parts and used them for firewood1 thus more than fulfilling the words of ,isaiah 7chap4 xliv41 #i-bj71 who tells of idolaters making an idol of parts of their wood and burning the residue to warm themselves and to roast their meat4 ,,kali1 ,,the ,,goddess ,,of ,,blood4 ,kali is a very popular goddess1 and yet her images are the pictures of terror4 ,she wears a head-dress of snakes1 and a necklace consisting of a chain of skulls4 ,in her hand she holds a murderous-looking knife4 ,kali is the wife of ,siva1 the destroyer4 ,in ,september a festival is held in her honor1 called the ,doorga-pooja4 ,in all of ,kali's temples her idols are gayly adorned with flowers1 and prayers are offered to her during days of dancing and singing4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,goddess ,,kali4 ,illustration3 ,,idol ,,of ,,the ,,bloody ,,goddess ,,kali4 ,,at ,,calcutta1 ,,india4 ,there used to be a sect of murderous stranglers1 known as ,thugs1 who were especially devoted to the worship of ,kali1 and who performed their murderous work as a religious service to that goddess4 ,the story of this people opens up a chapter of the greatest cruelty1 going far beyond all the ordinary records of crime4 ,yet it was all done from a religious motive1 as well as for love of plunder4 ,strange that it could be so6 ,the legend that accounts for their origin is as follows3 ,a long while ago a giant demon infested this world destroying mankind4 ,the goddess ,kali1 to save mankind from utter destruction1 attacked this demon and cut him down2 but from the drops of blood that fell to the ground immediately there sprang up other demons--a host of them4 ,then ,kali created two men1 to whom she gave handkerchiefs1 and whom she taught to strangle the demons without shedding blood4 ,this was done1 lest if their blood be shed more demons should spring up4 ,kali intended in this way to destroy the whole brood4 ,when these men had strangled all the demons1 she bade them strangle men in the same way1 to repay her for her service to mankind4 ,from these two men the ,thugs came4 ,illustration3 ,,night ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,bloody ,,goddess1 ,,kali4 ,the ,thugs were born such2 at each one's hearthstone his children were trained to the work of becoming murderers4 ,the handkerchief with which the victim was strangled1 and the pick-axe with which his grave was dug1 were obtained from the priest1 and were regarded as very sacred4 ,their method of procedure was like this3 ,they waited about the inns or loitered along the roads waiting for travelers to overtake them4 ,the ,thug and his intended victim would journey together1 and1 little by little1 he would worm out of him all his plans and intended movements4 ,thus the ,thug could decide on the most suitable place and time4 ,when they came to this1 he would throw his strip of cloth about the unsuspecting stranger's neck and draw it tighter and tighter until he was suffocated4 ,if the ,thugs traveled together with a party of merchants1 each selected his victim1 and all were strangled together4 ,after death a hole1 about three feet deep1 was dug1 and the corpse was buried face downwards4 ,the greatest care was taken to shed no blood1 and the whole was generally done under cover of the darkness of night4 ,the whole sect was so banded together1 having their scouts and spies1 and systems of signaling one another1 when they performed their work1 that they were rarely detected4 ,every year several thousands of persons lost their lives at the hands of the ,thugs4 ,in the year #ahbf the ,british government first discovered their existence4 ,during the period of some nine years over fifteen hundred of the ,thugs were arrested and executed4 ,the sect is very nearly destroyed now4 ,how astonishing that such a sect should not merely exist1 but that they should perform their dastardly deeds as a religious service4 ,the cannibalism of the barbarous ,south ,sea ,islanders is regarded with the greatest abhorrence2 but their ignorance and degraded condition lessens our condemnation of their abominable deeds4 ,for the ,thugs1 an intelligent people1 living in a semi-civilized land1 with opportunities of getting knowledge far in advance of the ,islanders of the ,pacific1 we can see almost no reason for hesitating to condemn most strongly their awful practices4 ,what a contrast is here furnished between the religion of ,jesus ,christ1 with its teachings of mercy and love1 and the religion that not only tolerated1 but even taught1 that to murder was to render a service to the gods4 ,illustration3 ,,goddess ,,kali1 ,,from ,a ,,hindu ,,picture4 ,kali's feasts were generally held at night4 ,great crowds of religious fanatics gathered around her most fearful images4 ,these were generally placed in a grove for this occasion4 ,in two of her four hands the idol held skulls2 formerly these were human skulls1 now they are made of wood4 ,the devotees walk round and round the idol1 bearing torches1 beating drums1 and dancing in odd ways4 ,kali is one of the most celebrated goddesses of all the ,hindu worship1 and is the especial favorite divinity of the people of ,calcutta4 ,her images are very different1 but she has always one character ascribed to her2 she is cruel and revengeful4 ,we meet her temples everywhere--by the roadside1 in palm groves1 under the wide-spreading banyan tree4 ,this goddess of destruction being more feared than all others1 is worshiped more than all4 ,she is represented sometimes as standing on a lion or a prostrate man1 always with four hands4 ,these hold knives or skulls1 or1 perhaps1 human heads1 as already noticed4 ,often she wears a necklace of skulls4 ,the ,hindus bring to her idols the first fruits of the garden1 vineyard or orchard4 ,some of ,kali's temples1 like that at ,calcutta1 are beautifully sculptured1 and her idols decorated with precious-stones4 ,,temple ,,decorations4 ,there is one thing which characterizes almost all of the better ,hindu temples1 this is the exquisite richness of the sculptures which decorate their walls4 ,they seem to trust more to the impression which appeals to the sight make upon the minds of the people than to any oral teaching or readings from books4 ,the ,hindus are accustomed to depict in these decorations the whole of their mythology1 the legends of the gods1 the stories of the lives of their deities1 their ideas of the future life1 of the present world and the like4 ,the preceding picture gives a sculpture representing the ,hindu notion of the universe1 and of the relative position of the world4 ,to the untutored ,hindu mind it answers fully the question1 ,how is the world upheld8 ,of course those ,hindus who have received the light of a truly scientific education laugh at such notions as are here indicated4 ,they know far better1 as do we4 ,illustration3 ,,hindu ,,notion ,,of ,,the ,,universe4 ,illustration3 ,,golden ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,hindus ,,of ,,umritsur4 ,illustration3 ,,entablature ,,from ,a ,,hindu ,,temple4 ,in the accompanying engraving the transmigration of the soul is illustrated4 ,this is drawn from a photograph of the entablature of a temple near the foot of the lofty ,himalayas4 ,the sculpture which follows tells of the romantic adventures narrated in the ,ramayama4 ,these sculptures are the common people's teachers2 indeed1 the world over1 the language of pictures is far more loved and better understood than any other4 ,pictures and sculptures constitute the one language intelligible to people speaking widely different dialects4 ,illustration3 ,,children ,,at ,,worship ,,in ,a ,,temple ,,in ,,benares4 ,herein1 too1 is one of the great powers of heathenism over the children4 ,before they can read for themselves or remember the doctrines taught them1 they see the pictures and enjoy the stories they communicate4 ,these become part of the children's mental store4 ,they are realities to them4 ,they are never forgotten4 ,they never lose their power4 ,this is abundantly demonstrated in the experience of every teacher4 ,when verbal description has failed a picture has made all clear4 ,illustration3 ,,bas-,,relief ,,from ,a ,,hindu ,,temple4 ,,benares4 ,true ,hindus consider the city of ,benares to be situated in the very centre of the earth1 and to be the most sacred city in the world4 ,there are not less than #hj1jjj ,brahmins1 or 8holy caste0 ,hindus1 residing here1 and the city also is stocked with the so-called 8sacred bulls and sacred monkeys40 ,there are more than #a1jjj temples and over #ejj1jjj enshrined deities4 ,more than #ajj1jjj pilgrims visit ,benares annually1 #bj1jjj of whom may be seen rushing at one time into the ,river ,ganges1 at a given signal1 that they may bathe at the proper moment4 ,the river is reached by flights of broad steps1 and on these the ,hindus pass the busiest hours of the day1 bathing1 dressing1 saying their prayers1 lounging and gossiping4 ,benares is believed by some to be #hj1jjj steps nearer to heaven than any other part of the world4 ,ten miles around ,benares is said to be such holy ground1 that whoever dies within this area is sure of going to heaven1 however great a sinner he may have been4 ,,the ,,sacred ,,city ,,of ,,the ,,sikhs4 ,umritsur1 in ,north-western ,india1 is the holy city of the ,sikhs4 ,this is a sect of reformed ,hindus1 who at first rejected idolatry1 but who afterwards found its fascination too strong for them4 ,in the centre of a large tank--called the ,lake of ,immortality1 because whoever bathes in it is shielded from everlasting death--is a temple of pure white marble1 with a roof made of plates of copper1 richly gilded2 this is called the ,golden ,temple4 ,before crossing the bridge or causeway to the temple1 one must put off the shoes from his feet1 so holy is the place4 ,the ,sikhs are very fanatical1 and they do not receive visitors with any expressions of friendliness4 ,the city of ,umritsur has no celebrity apart from this temple4 ,the sect of the ,sikhs originated about the middle of the fifteenth century1 and now numbers about #e1jjj1jjj4 ,illustration3 ,,approach ,,to ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,umritsur4 ,,cave-,,temples ,,of ,,elephanta ,,and ,,gwalior4 ,in the harbor of ,bombay is an island containing a celebrated cave-temple4 ,hundreds of years ago the ,hindus excavated this temple from the solid rock2 pillars1 idols and chapels are all cut from the one great mass of stone4 ,for three hundred years past there has been little worship here4 ,the temple was devoted to the worship of ,siva4 ,after ascending a flight of several hundred steps we stand before the great square gate-ways4 ,immense columns ranging away in the darkness support the roof of solid rock4 ,on the walls are sculptured the fantastic forms of ,brahma1 ,vishnu and ,siva4 ,the metamorphoses of these are also shown in sculpture4 ,the cave is shaped like a cross4 ,at the end of the main passage-way1 opposite the principal gate-way1 is an altar supporting a gigantic1 three-headed idol4 ,the central face is calm and benevolent1 the forehead is covered with a lofty diadem1 like a mitre1 covered with delicate carvings representing necklaces4 ,the face on the right expresses terrible rage2 its mitre is covered with sculptured skulls and serpents1 and its outstretched hand holds a cobra4 ,the other face is smiling and the hand holds a flower4 ,the triple idol represents ,siva as the passive god1 the destroying god and the saving god4 ,the sculptures are much worn away1 but enough remains to indicate the wondrous majesty and beauty of the ,elephanta ,cave4 ,illustration3 ,,great ,,idol ,,of ,,the ,,cave ,,of ,,mandar4 ,,india4 ,illustration3 ,,cave ,,of ,,elephanta4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,wonderfully ,,excavated ,,temple-,,cave ,,of ,,elephanta1 ,,bombay1 ,,india4 ,at ,gwalior are a number of ,hindu temple-caves4 ,the precipitous sides of the great mountain are cut and carved into hundreds of statues1 from one foot to forty feet high1 and deep recesses in which they seem hidden away4 ,one of these caves was probably made about #cjj years after ,christ4 ,after passing through several archways we stand before three idols1 each twenty feet high4 ,the worship of these has long since ceased1 and they only remain to show us what the people of ,india worshiped hundreds of years ago4 ,more than a thousand years before this cave was excavated1 and over twenty-five hundred years ago1 another great cave was prepared at ,gwalior1 that of ,ourwhai4 ,this is an old ,jain temple4 ,for about #hjj feet1 the hard surface of the rock has been dressed so as to form a smooth wall1 and the lower part of this wall has been excavated1 and there the statues were sculptured4 ,first there are nine gigantic statues1 each thirty feet high1 placed in niches4 ,behind these is a small chamber containing another great statue in a lying position4 ,from this chamber a door leads into a tank4 ,following the paved foot-path which surrounds this tank1 you come to another and larger chamber1 which is specially dedicated to the statue of ,adinath1 thirty-five feet high4 ,around the idol are rich sculptures1 and on the cushion on which it sits is a long inscription4 ,this mountain contains twelve rooms1 in each of which are from one to nine statues2 most of these are from twenty to thirty feet high4 ,for nearly ten miles around this mountain are bas-reliefs1 statues and excavations4 ,there is a natural tendency among the superstitious people to seek places of darkness for the observances of their religious rites4 ,oftentimes the priests are enabled to impose on the credulity of the people much more easily when they add some element of weirdness or mystery to their strange religious performances4 ,illustration3 ,,image ,,of ,,ganesha4 ,illustration3 ,,annual ,,boat-,,festival ,,of ,,ganesha1 ,,on ,,the ,,ganges4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,wayside ,,idol ,,of ,,ganesha1 ,,god ,,of ,,wisdom4 ,,ganesha1 ,,god ,,of ,,wisdom4 ,another exceedingly popular idol of the ,hindus is that of ,ganesha1 the ,god of ,wisdom4 ,it is partly in the shape of a man and partly in the shape of an elephant4 ,the children in the schools are taught to worship it1 and it is adored by all who wish to become acquainted with ,hindu learning and so-called wisdom4 ,the images of this god are not only found in the temples and schools1 and at the corners of the streets in the cities1 but also under the trees on country roadsides4 ,the sagacity of the elephant is well known1 and it is presumed that the elephant-idol is worshiped for this reason1 just as the serpent is worshiped as the symbol of cunning1 or the sun as the symbol of power4 ,as of almost all the other gods1 ,ganesha has his festivals1 when the people come together in great crowds to do him honor4 ,at one of these annual festivals they bring forth the god ,ganesha1 place him in a boat1 and accompanied with other boats containing priests and musicians1 they row up and down the ,ganges4 ,the great crowds of people lining the shore fill the air with their shouts and songs1 and the occasion is one of exuberant joy4 ,,pagodas4 ,scattered about the large temple inclosures are great pagodas or towers4 ,these contained the rooms of the priests and servants of the temple4 ,sometimes they served simply as gate-ways1 at other times they were used as houses for the idols4 ,rising high above the surrounding country1 everywhere they could be seen by the people1 and thus their devotion to their idolatrous worship was increased4 ,the priests sought by the use of every possible means to fix the people's faith in their idols2 like ,demetrius1 whose business of making shrines in ,ephesus was spoiled by ,paul's preaching1 these priests do not wish to lose their hold upon the people1 because thus their means of support would be destroyed4 ,but1 notwithstanding all their efforts1 they cannot hold the people in their bondage1 and each year witnesses more and more refusing to listen to them4 ,none of these great pagodas are new4 ,for very many years they have towered above the dwellings of the people in their majestic grandeur2 when they fall into decay they are not replaced4 ,many of these pagodas are several hundreds of feet high1 and are covered with sculptures representing scenes in the lives of the gods of the temple1 or of eminent saints4 ,illustration3 ,,gateway ,,of ,,madura ,,temple4 ,another famous pagoda is at ,pondicherry1 in ,southern ,india4 ,the gate-way to this temple is most intricately carved4 ,the heathen aim to set forth in a durable way1 as by these sculptures1 the parts of their worship4 ,they depend largely upon the sight for instructing the people in their faith1 rather than upon their hearing1 preaching1 or reading sacred books4 ,illustration3 ,,pagoda ,,of ,,pondicherry1 ,,famed ,,for ,,its ,,sculpture4 ,the interiors as well as the exteriors of these temples are covered with sculptures4 ,the service is in nowise like that in ,christian churches4 ,the people come and go as they please4 ,they beat the drums to call the attention of the gods to the prayers they are about to offer1 rub their hands together as they mumble over some prayers1 leave their offerings before the idol of stone or wood1 and go away believing that dangers will be averted1 or that good fortune will come to them4 ,in ,ongole1 near the great pagodas1 the people used to be very idolatrous1 having many idols in their houses as well as in their temples4 ,but even here they are rapidly losing their faith in their idols4 ,recently1 in a single year1 #bj1jjj people in this district became ,christians1 and in one week they brought to the missionaries a thousand idols which they had ceased to worship4 ,illustration3 ,,disused ,,idols ,,and ,,sacred ,,articles ,,from ,,ongole1 ,,india4 ,illustration3 ,,bird',s-,,eye ,,view ,,of ,,pagodas ,,and ,,temple ,,grounds4 ,this view is taken from ,eagle ,hill1 in the ,madras ,presidency1 ,india4 ,it looks toward the east1 and when combined with its counterpart1 looking toward the west1 it shows the extent and grandeur of these sacred grounds and buildings4 ,illustration3 ,,bird',s-,,eye ,,view ,,of ,,pagodas ,,and ,,temple ,,grounds4 ,this view is taken from ,eagle ,hill1 in the ,madras ,presidency1 ,india4 ,it looks toward the west1 and when combined with its counterpart1 looking toward the east1 it shows the extent and grandeur of these sacred grounds and buildings4 ,,hindu ,,washings ,,for ,,sin4 ,a writer for young people thus describes the custom of the ,hindus resorting to the ,ganges1 and the reasons for it3 8,the heathen know well that sin needs to be washed away1 but as to how this can be done they have very strange ideas4 ,some will walk through fire1 as if that would burn away all impurities2 some will cover their bodies with filth1 as if that would cleanse the soul2 others still fancy that the water of certain streams has power to remove all taint of sin4 ,the ,hindus believe that there is wonderful cleansing power in the water of the ,ganges1 so that whoever can bathe in that river is freed from guilt4 ,from all parts of ,india pilgrims go to the ,ganges1 and they believe that whoever dies in that stream is sure of future bliss4 ,but ,india is a vast country1 and comparatively few of the poor people who live in the southern portion can travel the thousand miles or more to reach the ,ganges4 ,hence they have their own sacred streams and fountains1 which1 though not regarded as so sacred as the ,ganges1 are yet supposed to have power to cleanse from sin4 ,illustration3 ,,hindus ,,washing ,,in ,,the ,,sacred ,,river ,,ganges ,,at ,,benares4 8,several years ago1 in a village near ,madura1 a ,brahmin named ,sokappen read in one of the sacred ,hindu books1 that near the temple of his village there was a spring far under ground1 and that if one would only dig deep enough water would flow at that spring from the ,ganges1 while the river itself was more than eleven hundred miles away4 ,the ,brahmin thought that would be a glorious work to do1 and so worked for years1 spending all his own money and begging from others1 until he had finished a great1 tank and walled it with hewn stone1 with stone steps leading down to the sacred water4 ,he finally heard of ,christ1 and of the forgiveness he offered1 and since then he has often preached that only the blood of ,christ can take away sin4 ,illustration3 ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,sacred ,,fountain4 8,though many people of ,india have now heard the ,gospel1 there are yet millions who have faith in their sacred bathing places4 ,those who live too far from the ,ganges find some river1 if they can1 as at ,mowli1 where two rivers1 the ,yenna and the ,krishna1 meet1 and where multitudes bathe4 ,the dead1 also1 are taken there1 some to be buried1 as was the #8saint' whom ,mr4 ,bruce describes1 and others to be burned1 that their ashes may be mingled with the sacred waters4 ,in the district of ,tinnevelly1 ,south ,india1 is a famous artificial tank4 ,it is sometimes called the #8,sea of ,sacred ,milk4' ,granite steps lead down to the water's edge1 and in the early morning hundreds of men and women gather to bathe and to worship the sun4 ,the water is stagnant and dirty1 though it is esteemed as specially holy4 ,here the people wash not only themselves1 but also their clothes4 ,the cost of building these bathing places is immense1 yet the people build them in many parts of ,india because they think that1 at any cost1 provision should be made for the removal of sin4 ,they know of no better way than by bathing in these filthy places40 ,,hindu ,,holy ,,men1 ,,devotees ,,and ,,fakirs4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,fakir ,,of ,,the ,,immovable ,,foot4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,holy ,,man ,,with ,,the ,,iron ,,collar4 ,one singular feature of the ,brahmin worship is the ways the worshipers devised to show their zeal4 ,they built great temples1 carved immense idols1 and brought great riches into the temple treasuries4 ,they would perform the strangest penances1 the like of which was never seen elsewhere in all the world4 ,the superior priests never show themselves but with great pomp4 ,with guards of cavalry preceding them they will ride on richly caparisoned elephants through the triumphal arches prepared for them1 while the people bow as they pass4 ,the lower priests renounced every display1 indeed they sought its opposite2 with them the vilest uncleanness was most allied to godliness4 ,there was1 and is1 one order of priests known as ,fakirs1 who excelled in self-tortures4 ,they often give up all clothing1 sometimes sitting in a bed of ashes4 ,often they forge great iron collars about their necks1 or heavy iron bands upon arms and ankles4 ,some let their hair grow long and never comb it4 ,their bodies are covered with vermin2 sometimes they will hold an arm or leg in a fixed position1 never moving it4 ,until recently they would often fasten hooks in their flesh on their backs1 then be elevated into the air1 and be dragged through the streets by the people4 ,by many such horrible acts they hoped to earn an entrance into a happier life4 ,the people regarded these men as unusually holy2 they sought them for cures1 and for relief from sorrows4 ,at the great idol festivals these ,fakirs were present in crowds4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,fakir ,,of ,,the ,,long ,,hair4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,fakir ,,who ,,never ,,helps ,,himself4 ,in ,india1 ,china and ,japan1 there are a great many men called 8devotees10 who give themselves up to miserable lives2 many of them hoping by this means to obtain the favor of the gods in whom they believe and great happiness after death4 ,some of them1 however1 are moved more by a desire to obtain money and honor from their fellow-men1 and they think it a respectable and honorable way of getting a living4 ,most of the people fear rather than respect these devotees1 thinking some evil will follow if they displease them1 or fail to give them what they want4 ,many of these devotees1 in all three of the countries named1 spend their time wandering from place to place1 and making long pilgrimages to famous temples4 ,others torture themselves in all imaginable ways4 ,some repeat the name of their favorite idol during all their hours of wakefulness4 ,some bathe very frequently1 while others do not wash themselves at all1 but permit their hair1 beard and nails to grow to great length2 they wear little if any clothing1 their bodies are covered with ashes1 and their whole appearance is dirty and disagreeable4 ,some of these devotees are really sincere in denying themselves for their religion2 they feel the burden and weight of their sins1 and1 knowing not the true way of obtaining pardon and peace1 they take these false ways4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,hindu ,,holy ,,man ,,torturing ,,himself ,,by ,,hanging ,,from ,a ,,hook4 ,some of these ,fakirs are but little better than wild beasts1 their habits all tend to make them so4 ,they generally live in holes or caves or under banyan trees1 and they think that they1 by their penances1 make atonement for their own sins and for those of the people who care for them4 ,besides the penances already mentioned1 we may add that some drag heavy chains or cannon-balls2 some crawl on their hands and knees for years2 some roll their naked bodies over and over from the banks of the ,indus to the banks of the ,ganges2 some stand for life before a slow fire2 some impose upon themselves a silence of years1 and others hang for hours head downwards4 ,all this is done to merit salvation4 ,in no other country in the world1 probably1 have so many different ways been devised by which men hoped salvation would be earned4 ,here again is seen the contrast between the offered salvation of ,jesus ,christ and the sought salvation by penances taught by this heathen faith1 most striking4 ,the ,british government has now forbidden altogether many of these cruel performances1 and has limited others4 ,but earnest missionary work has done more than anything else to destroy the people's faith in the sanctity and wisdom of these so-called holy men4 ,illustration3 ,,fakir ,,hanging ,,to ,a ,,limb4 ,mr4 ,bruce1 an ,american missionary at ,satara1 records an event which in its day caused great excitement4 ,this is his story3 ,three or four years ago when we went into ,satara1 we used to see1 sitting in the veranda of his house1 an old man covered with rags and surrounded with filth4 ,sometimes we would see him on the street1 with rags innumerable upon his person4 ,in ,america we should have called him a crazy man1 but ideas differ in different lands4 ,here he was a 8saint10 in whom one of the gods dwelt4 ,when his saintship came to be known by the populace1 he was honored and worshiped everywhere4 ,men who ought to have known better would1 on seeing him approach1 leave their work1 and run and prostrate themselves at his feet4 ,his rags were removed1 and he was clothed with a rich robe of purple4 ,no expense was spared to supply all his wants1 and he was attended to by two servants1 furnished by the ,prince of ,ouah4 ,at last this rag-man1 crazy-man1 saint1 died4 ,he had said previously1 8,wherever ,i die1 there let my tomb be built40 ,he died in the city1 and there the people wished to bury him and erect a tomb which should ever after be an object of worship4 ,but the municipal officers interfered and ordered the body to be removed from the city4 ,then they buried him in the temple grounds1 and another god was added to the millions of ,hindu deities4 ,illustration3 ,,devotee ,,enduring ,,fire4 ,illustration3 ,,fakir ,,of ,,the ,,long ,,nails4 ,the growth of the nails shows how long the hand has been held in this one position4 ,this story will serve to illustrate the delusion under which the ,hindus are resting1 and the readiness with which they yield their faith to any pretender that comes along4 ,the climate of ,india awakens a dull1 lethargic condition4 ,the activity of ,western nations is unknown4 ,the people are accustomed to move slowly and to avail themselves1 as far as possible1 of all the helps obtainable to lessen the toils of daily life4 ,this also leads them to fall in readily with the declarations of any foolish fanatic who may arise1 rather than to go to the trouble of sifting them and rejecting them as they deserve4 ,the whole system of ,hinduism lends its aid to this4 ,it is1 itself1 a gigantic system of fraud4 ,the ,hindu priests laugh in their sleeves at the folly of the multitudes in listening so readily to their instructions4 ,but few of them have any faith in the millions of gods1 whose representatives they are4 ,this is their profession1 by their priesthood they obtain their living1 and1 consequently1 they do all they can to make their religion predominant in all the affairs of their neighborhoods4 ,hence it comes about1 that instead of at once exposing the pretensions of ,fakirs1 holy men and devotees1 they lend their aid to gain acceptance for them with the multitude4 ,so ,india groans beneath this oppressive load of priestcraft2 each day the priests add link after link to the chains that bind her2 some day1 though1 she will arise in her might and cast off her burdens1 walking in freedom4 ,christian mission work will speed the coming of that day4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,hindu ,,sacred ,,books1 ,,fairy ,,stories ,,and ,,fireside ,,tales4 ,not only in the writings of the later ,stoicism1 when already through the despairing twilight a luminous haze had been diffused1 not only in the open plagiarisms of the ,koran1 spoiled so often in the plagiarizing1 but1 even centuries before ,christ1 in the ,dialogues of ,socrates1 in the ,republic of ,plato1 in the ,analects of ,confucius1 in the ,laws of ,manou1 in the ,sutras of the ,buddhists1 in the ,vedas of the ,brahmins1 in the ,zend ,avesta of the ,parsees1 in the ,pirke ,avoth of the ,rabbis1 there are unquestionably precepts which might be combined into a very pure and noble code4--,,frederick ,w4 ,,farrar4 ,the sacred books of the ,hindus are written in the ,sanskrit language4 ,they all fall under two grand divisions1 ,s'ruti and ,s'mriti4 ,s'ruti means 8that which is heard or revealed10 and ,s'mriti means 8that which is remembered and handed down by tradition40 ,in the first division are included the ,vedas1 in the second the later ,sanskrit literature4 ,there are four ,vedas 7pronounced by the ,hindus1 ,vds74 ,the ,rig-,veda1 containing #a1jag hymns of praise of the personified powers of nature4 ,the ,atharva-,veda is composed of verses used as magical spells or incantations for calling down or turning off evils4 ,it had its origin in a superstitious belief in the power of evil spirits4 ,the ,yajur 7or ,yazur7 ,veda contains hymns and texts arranged for sacrificial ceremonies4 ,the ,sama-,veda reproduces many of the hymns of the ,rig-,veda re-arranged for worship4 ,each of these ,vedas consists of three parts1 the ,mantras or original hymns2 then the ,brahmanas or pure commentaries on these hymns1 and to these1 philosophical treatises called ,upanishads were attached4 ,illustration3 ,,hindu ,,festival ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,moon4 ,all these are believed to have been given by the gods1 having no human author4 ,as we should say they are believed to be divinely inspired4 ,of the second sort of sacred books1 the ,s'mriti1 there are four classes4 ,the six ,vedangas1 first1 the rules for sacrifices2 second1 the book of the science of pronunciation2 third1 of metre2 fourth1 of exposition of the ,vedas2 fifth1 of grammar2 sixth1 of astronomy4 ,next come the ,s'marta-sutras or books relating to domestic rites and to conventional usages4 ,then follow the ,dharma-shastras or 8,law-books10 the code of ,manu and other inspired law-givers4 ,lastly1 we have the ,itihasas or legendary poems1 the ,mahabarata1 or cyclopdia of ,hindu traditions1 legends1 morals and philosophy1 and the ,ramayana4 ,this last contains the story of the wanderings of ,rama1 told in #bd1jjj stanzas4 ,,the ,,vedic ,,hymns4 ,the word ,veda means 8knowledge40 ,the hymns of the ,rig-,veda were written between #a1ejj and #a1jjj years before ,christ1 about the time of ,moses4 ,they contain many tedious repetitions1 but yet are highly interesting as showing what the ancient ,hindus1 and more especially what the forefathers of this part of the race1 believed4 ,many of these hymns were sung by our ,aryan forefathers before they scattered to settle in ,india or in the wilds of ,western ,europe4 ,we have before given a specimen of these early hymns4 ,we give here another that seems to show that in the beginning the ancient ,hindus worshiped but one ,god4 8,what god shall we adore with sacrifice8 ,him let us praise1 the golden child that rose ,in the beginning1 who was born the lord-- ,the one sole lord of all that is--who made ,the earth1 and formed the sky1 who giveth life1 ,who giveth strength1 whose bidding gods revere1 ,whose hiding-place is immortality4 ,whose shadow1 death2 who by his might is king ,of all the breathing1 sleeping1 waking world4 ,where'er let loose in space1 the mighty waters ,have gone1 depositing a fruitful seed1 ,and generating fire1 there he arose ,who is the breath and life of all the gods1 ,whose mighty glance looks round the vast expanse ,of watery vapor--source of energy1 ,cause of the sacrifice--the only ,god1 ,above the gods40 ,the next selection shows how the worship of one ,god passed into the worship of many gods1 and explains the origin of caste4 ,the previous selection was written long before this one3 8,the embodied spirit has a thousand heads1 ,a thousand eyes1 a thousand feet1 around ,on every side enveloping the earth1 ,yet filling space no larger than a span4 ,he is himself this very universe2 ,he is whatever is1 has been1 and shall be2 ,he is the lord of immortality4 ,all creatures are one-fourth of him1 three-fourths ,are that which is immortal in the sky4 ,from him1 called ,purusha1 was born ,viraj1 ,and from ,viraj was ,purusha produced1 ,whom gods and holy men made their oblation1 ,with ,purusha as victim1 they performed ,a sacrifice4 ,why did they divide him8 ,how did they cut him up8 ,what was his mouth8 ,what were his arms8 and what his thighs and feet8 ,the ,brahmin was his mouth1 the kingly soldier ,was made his arms1 the husbandman his thighs1 ,the servile ,sudra issued from his feet40 ,the common creed of the ,hindus1 as gathered from the ,brahmanas and ,upanishads1 is as follows3 #a4 ,the immortality of the soul4 ,meaning by this1 however1 not only that it will always live in the future1 but that it has always lived in the past1 hence we may say1 the eternity of the soul4 #b4 ,nothing can come from nothing1 and hence1 all of the substance of the universe is eternal4 ,illustration3 ,,idols ,,guarding ,,the ,,hindu ,,temple ,,ayenar4 #c4 ,the soul cannot exercise thought1 or any activity apart from the body4 #d4 ,yet the union of body and soul is a source of misery to human beings4 #e4 ,hence we have the belief in the transmigration of the soul4 ,that the soul passes from body to body through innumerable changes4 ,these bodies include the widest range and are those of animals or of men4 ,,the ,,law-,,book ,,of ,,manu4 ,this was written about the fifth century before ,christ4 ,its rules consist of 8immemorial or approved practices10 8practices of law and government10 8penitential exercises10 and 8consequences of acts40 ,the whole is divided into twelve books1 of which we give an epitome3 ,after an account of the creation of the world1 in the first book1 the four stages of a ,brahmin's life are the only subjects treated of in regular order in the second1 third1 fourth1 fifth and sixth books1 four books being devoted to the duties of the religious student and married householder1 and the sixth book treating of the two last stages of anchorite and religious mendicant4 ,the seventh and eighth books propound the rules of government1 principally1 of course1 for the guidance of the second great class of ,kshatriyas1 from which the king was chosen4 ,the ninth book contains precepts on the subject of women1 husband and wife2 their offspring and the law of inheritance and division of property1 with additional rules for kings1 and a few precepts relative to the two remaining castes4 ,it also describes the employments to which the several castes are restricted1 and states the occupations permitted to ,brahmins1 ,kshatriyas1 ,vais'yas and ,s'udras1 in times of exigency and distress4 ,the eleventh book gives rules of expiation1 both for the sins of the present life--especially sins against caste--and for the effects of offenses committed in previous bodies1 as shown in congenital diseases1 etc4 ,the twelfth continues the subject of the recompenses or consequences of acts1 good or bad1 as leading to reward in ,heaven or punishment in various hells1 and to triple degrees of transmigration4 ,it closes with directions as to the best means of obtaining final beatitude and absorption into the universal essence4 ,a few specimens of ,manu's moral precepts are here subjoined3 8,daily perform thine own appointed work ,unweariedly2 and to obtain a friend-- ,a sure companion to the future world-- ,collect a store of virtue like the ants1 ,who garner up their treasures into heaps2 ,for neither father1 mother1 wife1 nor son1 ,nor kinsman1 will remain beside thee then1 ,when thou art passing to that other home-- ,thy virtue will thy only comrade be4 8,single is every living creature born1 ,single he passes to another world1 ,single he eats the fruits of evil deeds1 ,single the fruit of good2 and when he leaves ,his body like a log or heap of clay ,upon the ground1 his kinsmen walk away3 ,virtue alone stays by him at the tomb1 ,and bears him through the dreary1 trackless gloom4 8,depend not on another1 rather lean ,upon thyself2 trust to thine own exertions ,subjection to another's will gives pain2 ,true happiness consists in self-reliance4 8,strive to complete the task thou hast commenced2 ,wearied1 renew thy efforts once again2 ,again fatigued1 once more the work begin2 ,so shalt thou earn success and fortune win40 ,there are1 in addition to the ,code of ,manu1 at least nineteen other codes of various degrees of authority4 ,,degradation ,,of ,,women ,,according ,,to ,,manu's ,,laws4 ,a certain ,shaster commands3 8,if a man goes on a journey1 his wife shall not divert herself by play1 nor shall see any public show1 nor shall laugh1 nor shall dress herself in jewels or fine clothes1 nor hear music1 nor shall sit at the window1 nor shall behold anything choice and rare1 but shall fasten well the house door and remain private1 and shall not eat any dainty food1 and shall not blacken her eyes with powder1 and shall not view her face in a mirror4 ,she shall never amuse herself in any such agreeable employment during the absence of her husband40 ,the following incidents will show how the laws of ,manu1 in the case of women1 are carried out4 ,miss ,brittan1 for many years a missionary1 in ,india1 says3 8,when ,i teach in one house1 ,i sit up-stairs in a little veranda1 which is walled all around4 ,into the veranda a strongly-barred window opens1 behind which sit the women who are being taught1 passing their books and work through the bars4 ,i always think of our ,saviour's words when visiting them--#8,i was in prison1 and ye came unto me4' ,a woman1 whose eyes filled with tears when she saw a flower which was brought her to copy in wool1 said3 #8,ah1 this reminds me of the time when ,i was a child1 for there were others like this in my father's garden1 and ,i have not seen it for so long4' ,then1 pointing a few yards before her to a high wall covered with dirt and moss1 she added3 #8,that is the only prospect ,i have had for years4'444 ,yesterday1 ,i entered a house which was exactly like those ,i had read of before ,i came to ,india4 ,the ,baboo1 or gentleman of the house1 had a suite of rooms furnished elegantly--rich carpets1 sofas1 chairs1 beautiful paintings and statuary1 with a centretable covered with vases and curiosities4 ,it really was refreshing to see such beauty and elegance4 ,but1 alas6 ,i was shown to the women's apartments1 and the tears would come to my eyes1 notwithstanding my efforts to restrain them4 ,ah1 how sad6 ,the ,baboo spoke ,english to me1 and was a gentleman4 ,his wife sat on a dirty mat1 which was thrown on a damp stone floor1 her hair uncombed1 her one article of clothing--a sarree--wretchedly dirty1 and the appearance of everything in the bare1 miserable little room she lived in was that of lowest heathenism4 ,as ,i saw no chair1 ,i sat down on the mat beside the woman until a servant brought me one1 which he said the ,baboo had sent me40 ,a well-known missionary relates the following illustrative incident3 8,one day1 when ,i was walking in a retired village1 my attention was arrested by seeing two objects1 at some distance before me1 rolling in the mud4 ,as ,i approached the spot1 ,i found two females almost exhausted by fatigue4 ,i learned that they had vowed to their goddess to roll in this manner from one temple to another4 ,they had spent nearly a week1 and had not accomplished one-half their journey4 ,but no arguments1 no remonstrances on my part could induce them to relinquish their undertaking4 ,on leaving them1 ,i indignantly expostulated with a learned ,brahmin1 who stood near by1 and pointed to the miserable objects ,i had just left4 #8,oh1' said he1 #8this is worship exactly suited to the capacity of females4 ,let them alone2 they are sincere4 ,of course1 their worship will be accepted4'0 ,illustration3 ,,hindu ,,women ,,rescued ,,from ,,their ,,degradation4 ,,the ,,burning ,,of ,,widows ,,commanded ,,by ,,manu4 ,until a comparatively recent date1 the fearful rite of ,suttee has been practiced openly in ,india by all highcaste people4 ,the ancient ,vedas and the ,institutes of ,manu1 which are second in authority1 do not enjoin this rite2 but the ,shasters and ,puranas1 which hold about the same relation to the ,vedas that the ,jewish ,talmud does to the ,old ,testament ,scriptures1 recommend the flames of the funeral pile as the widow's sure road to eternal joy and peace4 ,the following passages1 selected from many similar ones1 translated by our missionaries from the ,puranas and ,shasters1 will be sufficient for our purpose3 8,if a woman who had despised her lord1 or done what was contrary to his mind1 should 7even7 from mercenary motives or fear1 or from a suspension of the reasoning power1 die with her husband1 she shall be purged from all crimes4 8,as the snake-catcher draws the serpent from its hole1 so she 7no matter how great his sins71 by burning1 rescues her husband from hell1 and rejoices with him4 8,the woman who expires on the funeral pile with her husband purifies the family of her father1 her mother and her husband4 ,if the husband be a ,brahmincide1 the greatest of all criminals1 an ungrateful person1 or a murderer of his friends1 the wife1 by burning with him1 purges away his sins4 8,there is no virtue greater than a virtuous woman burning herself with her husband4 8,as long as a woman1 in her successive transmigrations1 should decline burning herself like a faithful wife on the same fire with her deceased lord1 so long shall she not be exempted from springing to life again in the body of some female animal4 8,though he1 her husband1 have sunk to the region of torment1 be restrained in dreadful bonds1 have reached the place of anguish1 be seized by the imp of ,luma 7the ,hindu ,pluto1 the god of the infernal regions71 be exhausted of strength1 and afflicted and tortured for his crimes1 still1 as a serpent-catcher unerringly drags a serpent from his hole1 so does she draw her husband from hell1 and ascends with him to ,heaven by the power of devotion4 8,if the wife be within one day's journey of the place where her husband died1 and she signify her wish to be burned with him1 the burning of the corpse shall be delayed till her arrival4 8,if the husband be out of the country when he dies1 let the virtuous wife take his slippers1 or anything which belongs to his dress1 and binding them1 or it1 on her breast1 after purification1 enter a separate fire4 ,a ,brunhn cannot burn herself on a separate pile2 but this is an eminent virtue in another woman4 8,there are thirty-five million hairs on the human body4 ,the woman who ascends the pile will remain so many years with her husband in ,heaven4 8,dying with her husband1 she purifies three generations--her father and mother's side and her husband's side4 ,such a wife1 adoring her husband1 enters into celestial felicity with him--greatest and most admired2 lauded by the choirs of ,heaven1 with him she shall enjoy the delights of ,heaven while fourteen ,indras reign40 ,,the ,,god ,,vishnu ,,made ,,man4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,ten ,,incarnations ,,of ,,vishnu4 ,according to the great poems1 the ,mahabarata and the ,ramayana1 ,vishnu passed through ten incarnations4 ,these are frequently represented in sculptures 7see illustration74 ,they are ,i4 ,mataya1 the fish4 ,according to the story1 ,vishnu became a fish to save ,manu 7the ,noah of the ,hindus7 from the universal deluge4 ,,ii4 ,kurma1 the tortoise4 ,here ,vishnu became a tortoise at the bottom of the sea of milk1 that his back might serve as a pivot for the mountain ,mandara1 around which the gods and demons twisted the great serpent ,vaski4 ,they then stood opposite to each other1 and using the snake as a rope1 churned the ocean of milk for the production of fourteen precious things4 ,,iii4 ,varah1 the boar4 ,vishnu in this form delivered the world1 after a struggle of a thousand years1 from the demon who had seized the earth and carried it to the lowest depths of the sea4 ,,iv4 ,nara-sinha1 the lion4 ,he thus destroyed another demon4 ,v4 ,vamana1 the dwarf4 ,he deprived the demon ,bali of the dominion of three worlds4 ,he received from ,bali the promise of as much land as he could step over in three paces1 and then stepped over heaven and earth4 ,,vi4 ,parasu-rama or ,rama with the axe4 ,,vii4 ,rama1 the hero1 destroying the demon ,ravana4 ,,viii4 ,krishna1 the dark destroyer4 ,,ix4 ,buddha1 the enlightened one4 ,this form was devised to win back the ,hindu ,buddhists to ,vishnu's worship4 ,x4 ,kalki who is yet to appear4 ,he will be revealed in the sky1 seated upon a white-winged horse1 with a drawn sword like a blazing comet4 ,he is to finally destroy the wicked and to permanently establish righteousness and truth upon the earth4 ,a ,,sanskrit ,,story-,,book4 ,almost all the ,hindus' books are story-books1 for they are filled with accounts of the adventures of the gods and legends and myths4 ,but there is one book called the ,hitopadesa1 which has been called the 8,father of all ,fables40 ,its stories have been translated into ,persian1 ,arabic1 ,hebrew1 ,greek and later into ,german1 ,french and ,english4 ,this book is very old and is exceedingly popular in ,india4 ,we have selected four of its stories1 and the reader will probably wonder that such narratives should ever gain a national popularity4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,terrible ,,bell4 8,a thief had stolen a bell from the city of ,brahmapoora1 and was making off with that plunder1 and more1 into the ,sei-parrata hills1 when he was killed by a tiger4 ,the bell lay in the jungle until some monkeys picked it up1 and amused themselves by constantly ringing it4 ,the towns-people found the bones of the man1 and heard the noise of the bell all about the hills2 so they gave out that there was a terrible devil there1 whose ears rang like bells as he swung them about1 and whose delight was to devour men4 ,every one1 accordingly1 was leaving the town1 when a peasant woman named ,karla1 who1 liked belief the better for a little proof1 came to the ,rajah4 8#8,highness6' she observed1 #8for a consideration ,i could settle this ,swing-ear4' 8#8,you could6' exclaimed the ,rajah4 8#8,i think so6' repeated the woman4 8#8,give her a consideration forthwith1' said the ,rajah4 8,karla1 who had her own ideas about the matter1 took the present and set out4 ,being come to the hills1 she made a circle1 and did homage to ,ganesha1 without whom nothing prospers4 ,then1 taking some fruit she had brought1 such as monkeys love extremely1 she scattered it up and down in the wood1 and withdrew to watch4 ,very soon the monkeys finding the fruit1 put down the bell1 to do justice to it1 and the woman picking it up1 bore it back to the town1 where she became an object of uncommon veneration40 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,lion ,,and ,,the ,,old ,,hare4 8,on the ,mandara ,mountain there lived a ,lion named ,fierce-of-heart1 and he was perpetually making massacre of all the wild animals4 ,the thing grew so bad that the beasts held a public meeting1 and drew up a respectful remonstrance to the ,lion in these words3 #8,wherefore should your ,majesty make carnage of us all8 ,if it may please you1 we ourselves will daily furnish a beast for your ,majesty's meal4' ,the ,lion responded1 #8,if that arrangement is more agreeable to you1 be it so2' and from that time a beast was allotted to him daily1 and daily devoured4 ,one day it came to the turn of an old hare to supply the royal table1 who reflected to himself as he walked along1 #8,i can but die1 and ,i will go to my death leisurely4' 8,now ,fierce-of-heart1 the lion1 was pinched with hunger1 and seeing the ,hare so approaching he roared out1 #8,how darest thou thus delay in coming8' 8#8,sire1' replied the ,hare1 #8,i am not to blame4 ,i was detained on the road by another lion1 who exacted an oath from me to return when ,i should have informed your ,majesty4' 8#8,go1' exclaimed ,king ,fierce-of-heart in a rage2 #8show me1 instantly1 where this insolent villain of a lion lives4' 8,the ,hare led the way accordingly till he came to a deep well1 whereat he stopped1 and said3 #8,let my lord1 the ,king1 come hither1 and behold him4' ,the ,lion approached1 and beheld his own reflection in the water of the well2 upon which1 in his passion1 he directly flung himself1 and so perished40 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,brahmin ,,and ,,the ,,pans4 8,there was a ,brahmin in the city of ,vana1 whose name was ,deva ,sarman4 ,at the equinoctial feast of the ,dussera1 he obtained for his duxina-gift a dish of flour1 which he took into a potter's shed1 and there lay down in the shade among the pots1 staff in hand4 ,as he thus reclined he began to meditate4 #8,i can sell this meal for ten cowry-shells1 and with them ,i can purchase some of these pots1 and sell them at an advance4 ,with all that money ,i shall invest in betel-nuts and body-cloths1 and make a new profit by their sale2 and so go on trafficking till ,i get a lakh of rupees4 ,what's to prevent me8 ,then ,i shall marry four wives1 and one at least will be beautiful and young1 and she shall be my favorite4 ,of course1 the others will be jealous2 but if they quarrel1 and talk1 and trouble me1 ,i will belabor them like this--and this--#8and therewith he flourished his staff1 to such a purpose as to smash his meal-dish and break several of the potter's jars4 ,the potter1 rushing out1 took him by the throat1 turned him off1 and ended his speculations40 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,recluse ,,and ,,the ,,mouse4 8,in the forest of the ,sage ,gautama there dwelt a recluse named ,mighty-at-,prayer4 ,once1 as he sat at his frugal meal1 a young mouse dropped beside him from the beak of a crow1 and he took it up and fed it tenderly with rice grains4 ,some time after the ,saint observed a cat pursuing his dependant to devour it1 whereupon he changed the mouse into a stout cat4 ,the cat was a great deal harassed by dogs1 upon which the ,saint again transformed it into a dog4 ,the dog was always in danger of the tigers1 and his protector at last gave him the form of a tiger2 considering him all this while1 and treating him withal1 like nothing but a mouse4 ,the country-folks passing by would say1 #8,that a tiger6 not he3 it is a mouse the ,saint has transformed4' ,and the mouse being vexed at this1 reflected1 #8,so long as the ,master lives this shameful story of my origin will survive4' ,with this thought he was about to take the ,saint's life1 when he1 who knew his purpose1 turned the ungrateful beast by a word to his original shape40 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,japan4 ,as regards the beliefs of the ancient religion1 ,shintoism1 it taught primarily the existence of gods1 and in the division which it made of them into good and bad1 recognized that fundamental and eternal distinction between right and wrong1 the deep rooting of which in the human soul has been man's safeguard against what is bad in religions and in everything else4--,,sir ,,edward ,j4 ,,reed4 ,japan is one of the most interesting of countries to the ,american people4 ,it is our nearest neighbor on the west2 and ,america was mainly instrumental in introducing ,japan into the ranks of the nations of modern times4 ,the present line of ,mikados among the ,japanese is the longest continued among existing nations4 ,china has changed its dynasties many times1 and has been twice subdued by foreigners1 the ,mongols and the ,manchis2 but the line of ,japanese monarchs is an unbroken series from ,b4,c4 #ffj to the present day4 ,the ,mongols sought to conquer the ,island ,empire in #abha ,a4,d42 but they were utterly defeated and driven away4 ,the present emperor1 ,mutsuhito1 is the one hundred and twenty-third ,mikado of ,japan4 ,the religions of this people are two1 ,shintoism and ,buddhism4 ,the tenets of ,confucius have been introduced together with ,buddhism1 and ,buddhist preachers of to-day take their texts from the classic ,chinese books4 ,shintoism has been much mixed up with ,buddhism4 ,many features of its worship have been changed in imitation of ,buddhism1 and some of its essential doctrines have been greatly modified4 ,there has been some discussion as to whether ,shintoism is really a religion or only a system of state-craft2 but it is very generally believed to be a religion which has degenerated into a mere system of political machinery4 ,certainly it has gods and goddesses1 and sacred symbols1 legends1 myths and religious notions which existed in ,japan long before ,buddhism came there4 ,there are also sacred books which have no connection with the ,buddhist writings4 ,the temples and priests are an innovation of later days4 ,shintoism is and was the ,state religion2 it is supported by the ,state2 its head is the emperor1 the ,mikado2 its sacred books are but the chronicles of its history1 and the whole system is interwoven with the national life of ,japan4 ,,the ,,sacred ,,books ,,of ,,japan4 ,the ,kojiki and the ,nihonki are the two most sacred ,shinto books4 ,the one was written #gaa ,a4,d41 the other #gbj ,a4,d4 ,they were composed long before this4 ,it always has been an ,oriental practice to commit books to memory4 ,thus the ,hindu and ,parsee sacred books were preserved1 and thus1 too1 the ancient ,japanese books have been kept4 ,without being written out1 these books were handed down from mouth to mouth4 ,soon after the invention of the ,japanese written characters1 these records were reduced to writing4 ,the story of this is thus told3 8,as to the historical records of ,japan1 it is first mentioned that1 under the twentieth emperor1 in #dae ,a4,d41 officials were sent into the country to verify and describe the names of all the families4 ,later1 a transcription of these records 7originally written1 in all probability1 in the old ,japanese letters1 #8the gods' letters1'7 in ,chinese characters took place1 and in #fdd ,a4,d4 an historical account of the emperors1 the country1 the officials and the people is said to have existed1 which was destroyed when ,iruka was murdered1 and his father's palace1 in which these records were kept1 was burned4 ,only the history of the country was saved4 ,from this work1 as well as from what the old men of the whole empire remembered1 a new compilation was made under the ,emperor ,temmu 7#fgb-fhf ,a4,d471 and in order that it might not be lost again1 it was read to a peasant girl1 named ,ar1 who was said never to forget anything she had once heard4 ,from this record1 and from what ,ar still remembered1 the first historical record of ,japan known to us1 the ,kojiki1 was compiled about thirty years later40 ,these works1 though histories1 strictly speaking1 are full of stories of mythology1 describing the origin of gods and men4 ,the mythology of ,japan is superior to that of ,greece4 ,it contains but few or none of the horrible stories of the gods1 or the voluptuous amours of gods and goddesses which so abound in ,grecian mythology4 ,some of their myths are really beautiful1 others are very extravagant4 ,the origin of gods1 of men1 of the earth1 are here all described4 ,it begins with the time when 8,far in the deep infinitudes of space1 ,upon a throne of silence1 ,sat ,ame-no-mi-naka-nushi-ro-kami40 ,this strange name signifies ,the ,lord of the ,centre of ,heaven4 ,the heavens and earth were then joined together4 ,there was nothing but chaos4 ,pairs of beings were then created1 male and female4 ,last of all ,izanagi and ,izanami were created4 ,,japanese ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,creation4 ,it is said that the other pairs of beings before ,izanagi and ,izanami were only their imperfect forms or the processes through which they passed before arriving at perfection4 ,these two beings lived in the heavens4 ,the world was not yet well formed1 and the soil floated about like a fish in the water1 but near the surface1 and was called 8,the ,floating ,region40 ,the sun1 earth and moon were still attached to each other like a head to the neck1 or arms to the body4 ,they were little by little separating1 the parts joining them growing thinner and thinner4 ,this part1 like an isthmus1 was called 8,heaven's ,floating ,bridge40 ,it was on this bridge that ,izanagi and ,izanami were standing when they saw a pair of wagtails cooing and billing sweetly together4 ,the heavenly couple were so delighted with the sight that they began to imitate the birds4 ,thus began the art of love1 which mortals have practiced to this day4 ,while talking together on this ,bridge of ,heaven1 they began to wonder if there was a world beneath them4 ,they looked far down upon the green seas1 but could see nothing6 ,then ,izanagi took his long jeweled spear and plunged it into the turbid mass1 turning it round and round4 ,as he lifted it up1 the drops which trickled from it hardened into earth of their own accord1 and thus dry land was formed4 ,as ,izanagi was cleansing his spear the lumps of muck and mud which had adhered to it flew off into space1 and were changed into stars and comets4 ,it is also said that by turning his spear round and round1 ,izanagi set the earth revolving in its daily revolutions4 ,to the land thus formed1 they gave the name 8,the ,island of the ,congealed ,drop10 because they intended to create a large archipelago and wished to distinguish this as the first island4 ,they descended from ,heaven on the floating bridge and landed on the island4 ,izanagi struck his tall spear in the ground making it the axis of the world4 ,he then proceeded to build a palace around the spear which formed the central pillar4 ,the spot was formerly at the ,north ,pole1 but is now at ,eshima1 off the central eastern coast of ,japan4 ,they next resolved to walk around the island and examine it4 ,this done1 they met together4 ,izanami cried out1 8,what a lovely man60 ,but ,izanagi rebuked her for speaking first1 and said they must try it again4 ,then they walked around the island once more4 ,when they met1 ,izanami held her tongue while ,izanagi said1 8,what a lovely woman60 ,being now both in good humor1 they began the work of creating ,japan4 ,the first island brought up out of the water was ,anaji2 and then the main island4 ,after that1 eight large islands were created1 whence comes one of the names of ,japan1 8,the ,empire of the ,eight ,great ,islands40 ,six smaller islands were also produced4 ,the several thousand islets which make up the archipelago of 8,everlasting ,great ,japan0 were formed by the spontaneous consolidation of the foam of the sea4 ,after the country was thus formed the divine pair created eight millions of earthly gods or ,kami1 and the ten thousand different things on the earth4 ,vegetation sprung up over all the land1 which was1 however1 still covered with mist4 ,so ,izanagi created with his breath the two gods1 male and female1 of the wind4 ,all these islands are the children of ,izanagi and ,izanami1 and when first born were small and feeble1 but gradually grew larger and larger1 attaining their present size like human beings1 which are at first tiny infants4 ,as the gradual separation of the land and sea went on1 foreign countries were formed by the congealing of the foam of the sea4 ,the god of fire was then born of ,izanami1 his mother4 ,this god often became very angry at any one who used unclean fire4 ,izanami then created by herself the gods of metals1 of clay1 and of fresh water4 ,this latter god was commanded always to keep the god of fire quiet1 and put him out when he began to do mischief4 ,izanagi and ,izanami though married but a short time1 began to quarrel4 ,izanami being very angry went down to the lower world of darkness and disappeared4 ,in the dark world under the earth ,izanami stayed a long time1 and after wearisome waiting1 ,izanagi went after her4 ,in the darkness of the under-world he was horrified at what he saw1 and leaving his consort below he tried to save himself and make his escape to the earth again4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,god ,,created ,,from ,,izanagi',s ,,staff4 ,in his struggles several gods were created1 one of them coming out of his staff4 ,when he got up to daylight1 he secured a large rock to close up the hole in the earth4 ,turning this rock into a god1 he commanded him to watch the place4 ,he then rushed into the sea1 and continued washing for a long time to purify himself4 ,in blowing out from his lungs the polluted air inhaled in the under-world1 the two evil gods sprang forth from his breath4 ,as these would commit great harm and wickedness1 ,izanagi created two other gods to correct their evil4 ,but when he had washed his eyes and could see clearly again1 there sprang out two precious and lovely beings2 one from his left eye being a rare and glistening maiden1 whom he afterward named ,amaterasu1 or 8,the ,heaven ,illuminating ,spirit40 ,from his right eye appeared ,susa-no ,o1 the 8,ruler of the ,moon40 ,being now pure again1 and having these lovely children1 ,izanagi rejoiced and said1 8,i have begotten child upon child1 and at the end of my begetting1 ,i have begotten me two jewel-children40 ,now the brightness of the person of the maiden ,amaterasu was beautiful1 and shone through ,heaven and earth4 ,izanagi1 well pleased1 said3 8,though my children are many1 none of them is like this wonder-child4 ,she must not be kept in this region40 ,so taking off the necklace of precious stones from his neck and rattling it1 he gave it to her1 saying1 8,rule thou over the ,high ,plain of ,heaven40 ,at that time the distance between ,heaven and earth was not very great1 and he sent her up to the blue sky by the ,heaven-uniting pillar1 on which the heavens rested as on a prop4 ,she easily mounted it1 and lived in the sun1 illuminating the whole heavens and earth4 ,the sun now gradually separated from the earth1 and both moved farther and farther apart1 until they rested where they now are4 ,izanagi next spoke to ,susa-no ,o1 the ,ruler of the ,moon1 and said1 8,rule thou over the new-born earth and the blue waste of the sea with its multitudinous salt waters40 ,thus the heavens1 and the earth1 and moon were created and inhabited4 ,and as ,japan lay directly opposite the sun when it separated from the earth1 it is plain that ,japan lies on the summit of the globe4 ,it is easily seen that all other countries were formed by the spontaneous consolidation of the ocean foam and the collection of mud in the various seas4 ,the stars were made to guide warriors from foreign countries to the court of the ,mikado1 who is the one and only true son of heaven1 before whom all should bow4 ,,the ,,emperors ,,descended ,,from ,,the ,,gods4 ,amaterasu1 on account of her bright beauty1 was by her father made queen of the sun1 and shared with the two creator-gods the government of the world4 ,in sending her to her dominion1 ,izanagi gave her the necklace of precious stones from his neck1 and told her to go up by way of the floating bridge4 ,as the sun was then near1 she ascended without difficulty4 ,desiring afterward to give the government of the earth to her grandson1 ,ninigi-no-mikoto1 after considerable difficulty in getting the god in possession to make way for him1 she was able to carry out her purpose and dispatch him to his post4 ,she proclaimed him sovereign of ,japan for ever and ever1 and appointed his descendants to rule it as long as the heavens and the earth endure4 ,before starting he received from his grandmother1 the sun-goddess1 the ,three ,divine ,insignia of the ,imperial ,power of ,japan1 namely1 the ,sacred ,mirror1 which is still worshiped at the ,naiku ,shrine in ,is as representative of the goddess2 the ,sacred ,sword1 which is still enshrined at the temple of ,atsuta1 near ,nagoya1 at the head of the bay of ,owari2 and the ,sacred ,stone1 or 8,magatama10 which is always in possession of the ,emperor of ,japan4 ,possessed of these divine symbols1 and accompanied by a number of inferior gods1 ,ninigi-no-mikoto descended upon the ,floating ,bridge of ,heaven1 or the 8,ama-nouki-hashi40 ,grains of rice were thrown broadcast in the air to dispel the darkness of the sky4 ,ninigi-no-mikoto was the god who was sent down from the ,sun-goddess1 whose grandchild he was1 to take possession of the land1 and it was his offspring1 and the offspring of his suite1 who peopled ,japan4 ,ninigi-no-mikoto lived to the age of #caj1jjj years2 his son ,hohodemi lived to the still riper age of #fcg1hib years1 and a grandchild of his1 ,ugaya1 died at the remarkable age of #hcf1jdb years4 ,he was the father of ,jimmu ,tenno1 first ,emperor of ,japan1 who is1 at the present time1 very widely worshiped as a god4 ,illustration3 ,,jimmu ,,tenno1 ,,first ,,emperor ,,of ,,japan4 ,,the ,,sun-,,goddess ,,enticed ,,from ,,the ,,cave4 ,the young brother of the ,sun-goddess so seriously offended his bright and beautiful sister that she went away and concealed herself in the cave of ,ameno ,tuaya1 closing the entrance with a large piece of rock4 ,from this time the entire country was dark1 and was given up to the noise and disturbance of all sorts of inferior gods4 ,this state of things was so distressing that all the gods assembled at the cave's mouth1 on the bank of the ,yasukawa ,river1 and deliberated upon the means to be adopted for inducing the petulant goddess to re-appear1 for be it understood that after the birth of the ,sun-goddess no light could be obtained except from her brightness1 as she had been appointed to illuminate the space between earth and ,heaven1 and it was the brightness of her body that shone through the sun4 ,at the council of the gods it was decided to entice the goddess forth by means of an image of herself1 and one of the gods and a blacksmith made mirrors1 in the shape of the sun1 with iron brought from ,heaven4 ,japanese mirrors are always made of fine metal1 not of glass coated with quicksilver4 ,those in common use are generally five or six inches in diameter1 having the surface polished with great care and some figures or flowers stamped upon the back4 ,the mirror is a ,shinto symbol4 ,in the centre of the ,shinto shrine of ,is1 in the 8,holy of ,holies0 of that temple are found four boxes of unpainted wood1 resting on low stands4 ,these are the only objects to be found here4 ,in each box1 wrapped in a brocade bag1 is a mirror4 ,on festival days1 these boxes--but not the mirrors--are exposed to view4 ,illustration3 ,,shintoists ,,worshiping ,,the ,,rising ,,sun4 ,the first two mirrors produced by the blacksmith1 as stated above1 were unsatisfactory1 but the third was large and beautiful1 and is now the deity of the inner shrine of ,is4 ,the gods also planted hemp and paper mulberry1 and with their fibre and bark wove clothing for the goddess4 ,they also cut down trees and built a palace4 ,magatama jewels 7carved and polished pieces of stone1 such as were worn in those days as ornaments7 were also produced1 and wands were made from sakaki branches and bamboo4 ,one of the gods then pulled up a sakaki-tree by the roots1 and on its upper branches hung the necklace of jewels2 at the middle he hung the sacred mirror1 and to the lower branches he attached both coarse and fine cloth4 ,this formed a large gohei1 which was held by ,ama-no-futo-dama-no-mikoto1 while he pronounced an address in honor of the goddess4 ,and goheis like this1 with jewels1 mirrors and strips of cloth cut zigzag1 we still see in the hands of the young priestesses at the shrine of the goddess herself1 and the simpler gohei or wands1 with strips of cloth or paper attached1 are now to be seen1 as they have for ages been1 all over ,japan1 at every ,shinto temple or shrine and in thousands of other places4 ,a number of young cocks were next collected1 and set to crow in concert2 a strong god was concealed by the door of the cavern1 to wrest it open at the favorable moment2 and a very renowned goddess1 ,uzum1 was set to dance1 blowing music out of a bamboo tube pierced with holes1 while the gods kept time to her performance by striking two pieces of wood together4 ,a sort of harp was made1 by placing six bows together1 with the strings upward4 ,this was played by the drawing of grass and rushes across it4 ,uzum1 who appears to have entered upon her task with great spirit1 bound her sleeves close up to the arm-pits1 and grasped in her hand a bundle of twigs and a spear wound round with grass and having small bells attached to it4 ,bon-fires were lighted and a circular box or drum was placed for her to dance upon4 ,then this young goddess commenced to tread with measure upon the hollow box and cause it to resound4 ,she sang a six-syllable song or charm of numbers1 and1 gradually quickening her dance wrought herself up to such a pitch of excitement1 or rather 8such a spirit descended on the goddess10 that she loosened her dress1 revealing more and more of her loveliness1 and at last1 to the intense amazement and delight of the gods1 appears to have discarded her dress altogether4 ,with the laughter of the gods the heavens shook4 ,the address in her honor1 the stirring sounds of the music and dancing1 and the loud and joyous laughter of the gods was too much for ,amaterasu1 and slightly opening the door1 she softly said from inside1 8,i fancied that because of my retirement both ,heaven and ,japan were in darkness6 ,why has ,uzum danced and why do the gods laugh80 ,uzum replied1 8,i dance and they laugh1 because there is an honorable deity here0 7pointing to the mirror7 8who surpasses you in glory20 and as she said this1 the mirror was pushed forward and shown to the ,sun-goddess1 reflecting her own radiant loveliness1 of course1 and her astonishment was even greater than before4 ,as she peeped out of the cave to look around1 the strong god pulled the rock-door open and drew the bright goddess forth4 ,then a rice-straw rope was passed behind her1 and one of the gods said1 8,go not back behind this40 ,as they were putting the mirror into the cave it was struck against the door1 and received a flaw which remains to this day4 ,they then removed the goddess to her new palace1 and1 as an expression of their kindly interest1 they put a straw rope round it to keep off evil gods4 ,,shinto ,,worship4 ,buddhism was introduced into ,japan in #ecb ,a4,d4 ,up to this time ,shintoism had continued to be the sole religion of ,japan1 during some twelve hundred years at least4 ,it is called by the ,japanese themselves1 ,kami-no-michi1 or 8,the ,way of the ,gods40 ,the religion consists essentially1 so they say1 in an implicit obedience to the ,mikado4 ,he is the descendant of the gods1 and his common designation is ,ten-,shi1 or 8,son of ,heaven40 ,the ,mikado has two crests1 one1 representing the chrysanthemum1 is used for government purposes4 ,the other1 representing the leaf and blossoms of the ,paulownia ,imperialis 7,kiri in ,japanese71 is used in the business personal to the ,mikado and his family4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,mikado',s ,,coat-,,of-,,arms4 ,there were no creeds1 nor elaborate systems of doctrines in their religion4 ,the good gods were to be worshiped so that there might be an increase of good gifts2 and the evil gods1 so that they might be appeased4 ,the people prayed for a sufficiency of food1 clothing and shelter1 and twice each year held festivals of ,general ,purification1 when the whole nation was purified of its sins and pollutions4 ,the following prayer was to be used by the ,mikado3 8,o ,god1 that dwellest in the high plain of ,heaven1 who art divine in substance and in intellect1 and able to give protection from guilt and its penalties1 to banish impurity1 and to cleanse us from uncleanness--,hosts of ,gods hear us and listen to these petitions60 ,illustration3 ,,raiden1 ,,god ,,of ,,thunder1 ,,with ,,his ,,string ,,of ,,drums4 ,illustration3 ,,futen1 ,,god ,,of ,,winds1 ,,with ,,his ,,huge ,,sack4 ,the emperor was the god dwelling in the flesh1 and his ancestors were1 of course1 to be worshiped4 ,the first emperor1 ,jimmu ,tenno1 receives especial worship and honor4 ,besides these gods--the deified emperors and heroes--there were hosts of gods who were the deified powers of nature4 ,we have already spoken of the sun-goddess and moon-goddess4 ,besides these there were gods of storms1 winds1 rain1 thunder1 fertility1 of mountains1 fields1 seas and rivers4 ,raiden1 the god of thunder1 is supposed to have a string of drums1 which he beats when it thunders4 ,the ,japanese say that when he is angry1 he throws from the clouds a terrible creature like a cat1 with iron claws and a hairy body4 ,futen1 the god of winds1 carries a huge sack slung over his shoulders1 the mouth of which is closed by his hand4 ,it blows a typhoon1 a gale1 or a breeze1 as he clinches his fingers little or much4 ,besides these gods are a number of gods of occupations1 of the household1 of the work-shop1 the field and the store4 ,the sun is one of the most common objects of worship among the ,shintoists4 ,the country of ,japan is often called 8,the ,land of the ,rising ,sun40 ,their national flag is of white with a large red sun in the centre4 ,on the top of ,fuji-yama1 the famous sacred mountain1 and on the sea-shore1 pilgrims and priests often gather to offer their worship to the rising sun4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,popular ,,gods ,,and ,,shrines ,,of ,,shintoism4 ,the characteristics of 8,pure ,shint0 are an absence of an ethical and doctrinal code1 of idol-worship1 of priestcraft1 and of any teachings concerning a future state1 and the deification of heroes1 emperors and great men1 together with the worship of certain forces and objects in nature4 ,it is said that the ,kami1 or gods1 number #ad1jjj1 of whom #c1gjj are known to have shrines2 but1 practically1 the number is infinite4 ,each hamlet has its special god1 as well as its ,mirja1 or shrine2 and each child is taken to the shrine of the district in which it is born1 a month after birth1 and the god of that shrine becomes his patron4 ,each god has its annual festival1 while many have particular days in each month on which people visit their shrines4--,,miss ,,isabella ,,bird4 ,,the ,,seven ,,household ,,gods4 ,mr4 ,griffis says3 ,every ,japanese child knows the ,shichifuku ,jin1 or the seven ,patrons of ,happiness4 ,they have charge of long life1 riches1 daily food1 contentment1 talents1 glory and love4 ,their images1 carved in ivory1 wood1 stone1 or cast in bronze1 are found in every house1 sold in the stores1 painted on shop-signs1 and found in picture-books4 ,they are a jolly company1 and make a happy family4 ,on ,new ,year's ,eve1 a picture of the ,treasure-ship 7,yakarbun71 laden with ,shipp 7the seven jewels7 and with all the good things of life which men most desire1 is hung up in houses4 ,the ship is coming into port1 and the passengers are the seven happy fairies who will make gifts to the people4 ,these seven jewels are the same as those which ,momotaro brought back from the ,onis island4 ,illustration3 ,,daikoku1 ,,the ,,rice-,,god1 ,,on ,,his ,,throne ,,of ,,rice-,,bags4 ,first there is ,fukoruku ,jin1 the patron of long life or length of days4 ,he has an enormously high forehead1 rounded at the top1 which makes his head look like a sugar loaf4 ,it is bald and shiny4 ,a few stray white hairs sometimes sprout up1 and the barber1 to reach them1 has to prop a ladder against his head to climb up and apply his razor4 ,this big head comes from thinking so much4 ,his eyebrows are white like cotton1 and a long1 snowy beard falls down over his breast4 ,when in a specially good humor1 he ties a handkerchief over his high1 slippery crown1 and allows little boys to climb up on top--that is1 if they are good boys1 and can write well4 ,when he wants to show how strong and lively he is1 even though so old1 he lets ,daikoku1 the fat fellow1 ride on top of his head while he smokes his pipe and wades across a river4 ,daikoku has to hold on tightly1 or he will slip down and get a ducking4 ,usually1 the old shiny-head is a very solemn gentleman1 and walks slowly along with his staff in one hand1 while with the other he strokes his long eyebrows4 ,the tortoise and the crane are always with him1 for these are his pets4 ,sometimes a stag1 with hair white with age1 walks behind him4 ,everybody likes ,fukoruku ,jin1 because every one wants to get his favor and live until1 like a lobster1 his back is bent with age4 ,at a wedding1 you will always see a picture of white-bearded and shiny-pated ,fukoruku ,jin4 ,illustration3 ,,fukoruku ,,jin1 ,,the ,,god ,,who ,,can ,,bestow ,,long ,,life4 ,from a ,japanese ,picture showing their conception of the way in which the gods can supervise affairs in various places4 ,daikoku is a short chubby fellow1 with eyes half sunk in fat1 but twinkling with fun4 ,he has a flat cap set on his head1 a loose sack over his shoulders1 and big boots on his feet4 ,his throne is two straw bags of rice1 and his badge of office is a mallet or hammer1 which makes people rich when he shakes it4 ,the hammer is the symbol of labor1 showing that people may expect to get rich only by hard work4 ,one end of it is carved to represent the jewel of the ebbing and the flowing tides1 because merchants get rich by commerce on the sea1 and must watch the tides4 ,he is often seen holding the counting-board1 on which you can reckon1 do sums1 subtract1 multiply or divide1 by sliding balls up and down a row of sticks set in a frame1 instead of writing the figures4 ,beside him is a ledger and day-book4 ,his favorite animal is the rat1 which1 like some rich men's pets1 eats or runs away with his wealth4 ,the great silver-white radish called daikon1 two feet long and as big as a man's calf1 is always seen near him1 because it signifies flourishing prosperity4 ,he keeps his bag tightly shut1 for money easily runs away when the purse is once opened4 ,he never lets go his hammer1 for it is only by constant care that any one can keep money after he gets it4 ,even when he frolics with ,fukoruku ,jin1 and rides on his head1 he keeps his hammer swinging at his belt4 ,he has huge lop ears4 ,once in a while1 when he wishes to take exercise1 and ,fukoruku ,jin wants to show how frisky he can be1 even if he is old1 they have a wrestling-match together4 ,daikoku nearly always beats1 because ,fukoruku ,jin is so tall that he has to bend down to grip ,daikoku1 who is fat and short1 and thus he becomes top-heavy4 ,then ,daikoku gets his rival's long head under his left arm1 seizes him over his back by the belt1 and throws him over his shoulder flat on the ground4 ,but if ,fukoruku ,jin can only get hold of ,daikoku's lop ears both fall together4 ,then they laugh heartily and try it again4 ,illustration3 ,,domestic ,,altar ,,of ,,the ,,gods ,,of ,,daily ,,food ,,and ,,of ,,rice4 ,ebisu is the patron of daily food1 which is usually rice and fish1 and in old times was chiefly the latter4 ,he is nearly as fat as ,daikoku4 ,he wears a court noble's high cap4 ,he is always fishing or enjoying his game4 ,when very happy1 he sits on a rock by the sea1 with his right leg bent under him1 and a big red fish1 called the tai1 a fish like a perch1 under his left arm4 ,he carries a straw wallet on his back to hold his fish and keep it fresh4 ,often he is seen standing knee deep in the water1 pole in hand1 watching for a nibble4 ,some say that ,ebisu is the same scamp that goes by the other name of ,sosano4 ,illustration3 ,,hotei1 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,happiness4 ,hotei is the patron of contentment1 and1 of course1 is the father of happiness4 ,he does not wear much clothing1 for the truth is that all his property consists of an old1 ragged wrapper1 a fan and a wallet4 ,he is as round as a pudding1 and as fat as if rolled out of dough4 ,his body is like a lump of rice pastry1 and his limbs like dango dumplings4 ,he has lop ears that hang down over his shoulders1 a tremendous double chin1 and a round belly4 ,though he will not let his beard grow long1 the slovenly old fellow never has it shaven when he ought to4 ,he is a jolly vagabond and never fit for company2 but he is a great friend of the children1 who romp over his knees and shoulders1 pull his ears and climb up over his shaven head4 ,he always keeps something good for them in his wallet4 ,sometimes he opens it wide and then makes them guess what is inside4 ,they try to peep in1 but they are not tall enough to look over the edge4 ,he makes tops1 paints pictures or kites for the boys1 and is the children's greatest friend4 ,when the seven patrons meet together1 ,hotei is apt to drink more wine than is good for him4 ,toshi-toku is almost the only one of the seven who never lays aside his dignity4 ,he has a very grave countenance4 ,he is the patron of talents4 ,his pet animal is a spotted fawn4 ,he travels about a good deal to find and reward good boys who are diligent in their studies1 and men who are fitted to rule4 ,in one hand he carries a crooked staff of bamboo1 at the top of which is hung a book or roll of manuscript4 ,his dress is like that of a learned doctor1 with square cap1 stole and high-toed slippers4 ,bishamon is the patron of glory and fame4 ,he is a mighty soldier4 ,he wears a golden helmet1 breast-plate and complete armor4 ,he is the protector of priests and warriors4 ,he gives them skill in fencing1 horsemanship and archery4 ,he holds a pagoda in one hand and a dragon sword in the other4 ,his pet animal is the tiger4 ,six out of the jolly worthies are men4 ,benten is the only lady4 ,she is the patron of the family and of the sea4 ,she plays the flute and the guitar for the others1 and amuses them at their feasts1 sometimes even dancing for them4 ,her real home is in ,rin ,gu1 and she is the queen of the world under the sea4 ,she often dwells in the caves of the sea or ocean4 ,her favorite animal is the snake and her servants are the dragons4 ,once a year the jolly seven meet together to talk over old times1 relate their adventures1 and have a luxuriant supper4 ,then they proceed to business1 which is to arrange all the marriages for the coming year4 ,they have a great many skeins of red and white silk1 which are the threads of fate of those to be married4 ,the white threads are the men1 the red are the women4 ,at first they select the threads very carefully1 and tie a great many pairs or couples neatly and strongly together1 so that the matches are perfect4 ,all such marriages of threads make happy marriages among human beings4 ,but by and by they get tired and lazy1 and instead of tying the knots carefully1 they hurry up the work and then jumble them carelessly1 and finally toss and tangle up all the rest4 ,this is the reason why so many marriages are unhappy4 ,this work done they begin to frolic like big boys4 ,benten plays the guitar1 and ,bishamon lies down on the floor resting upon his elbows to hear it4 ,hotei drinks wine out of a shallow red cup which is as wide as a dinner plate4 ,daikoku and ,fukoruku ,jin begin to wrestle1 and when ,daikoku gets his man down he pounds his big head with an empty gourd1 while ,toshi-toku and ,ebisu begin to eat tai fish4 ,when this fun is over1 ,benten and ,fukoruku ,jin play a game of checkers1 while the others look on and bet2 except ,hotei1 the fat fellow1 who is asleep4 ,finally they get ashamed of themselves for gambling1 and after a few days1 the party breaks up and each one goes to his regular business again4 ,,the ,,sacred ,,mountain4 ,almost the first object which meets the gaze of the traveler after crossing the ,pacific ,ocean and as he nears the land1 is the matchless mountain1 ,fuji-yama4 ,its snow-covered heights rise some #ac1jjj feet above the sea4 ,to the people of ,japan this is the sacred mountain4 ,it is depicted on all their lacquer-ware1 their china-ware and their drawings4 ,it is described in all their poems and sacred books4 ,it has a strong hold on the people4 ,it is a sleeping volcano4 ,nearly #b1jjj feet of its sides are cultivated4 ,then comes a wide belt of forest4 ,the ascent of the mountain is a sacred pilgrimage1 and there are accordingly a number of roads to the top1 with nine huts on each road4 ,the pilgrims are dressed in white robes1 and pray to the rising sun while climbing the mountain sides4 ,sometimes one may see several hundreds of ,shinto pilgrims in their white robes turning out from their shelters1 and joining their chants to the rising sun4 ,the view of the long sweeping sides of this mountain1 rising from an almost level plain and climbing away to the clouds1 through which it thrusts its snow-crowned top1 is one of the grandest in the world4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sacred ,,mountain1 ,,fuji-,,yama4 ,,shinto ,,temples ,,and ,,gate-,,ways4 ,the temples are usually of very simple style1 being constructed of wood and thatched4 ,they contain no idols2 but in the courtyards or approaches figures of real and imaginary animals are not at all uncommon1 especially in the case of large temples4 ,the approach is spanned by one or more torii4 ,the torii1 it is now generally admitted1 was originally a perch for the fowls offered to the gods1 not as food1 but to give warning of daybreak4 ,its present use is not for this purpose1 but is simply as a decoration4 ,at the outer shrine of ,is1 which is called the gk1 there is an immense number of votive torii standing close to each other in long rows4 ,but the more common form of votive offering is a large lantern1 several feet in height1 and formed either of wrought stone or of bronze4 ,these are sometimes of very large size1 even ten or twelve feet high1 and are often crowded thickly near the approaches alike of ,shinto and ,buddhist temples4 ,the worshiper does not enter the temple to worship at a ,shinto shrine4 ,he stands in front of it1 striking his hands together1 and offers1 bowed1 and usually in silence1 the short and simple prayer which his own necessities dictate4 ,illustration3 ,,shinto ,,shrine1 ,,near ,,yokohama1 ,,japan1 ,,with ,,worshipers1 ,,vessel ,,of ,,holy ,,water1 ,,etc4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,tento1 ,,or 8,,heavenly ,,lantern40 ,,the ,,sacred ,,shrines ,,of ,,is4 ,first for sacredness among the ,japanese ,shinto temples are the ,shrines of ,is4 ,these are to ,japan what ,mecca is to ,mohammedan lands and what ,jerusalem was to the ,holy ,land4 ,thousands of pilgrims visit these shrines every year4 ,sir ,e4 ,j4 ,reed1 thus describes his visit3 8,at the entrance we were met by two ,shinto priests1 who had been deputed to show us the sacred place4 ,passing under the torii1 we were at once amid trees of an age and magnitude not often equaled4 ,within the temple-limits we came first to a small edifice1 in which was the white horse of the deity of the place1 which happened to be an artificial horse1 the real one having recently died1 and another not being forthcoming at present1 for reasons which ,i did not learn4 ,soon afterward we came to two living black horses1 consecrated to the service of the temple1 and more particularly for the god of the place--#8the god of food1 clothes and house living1' according to one authority2 or1 #8the god of the earth's produce1' as another has it1 to ride upon in the processions of the great temple ceremonials4 ,illustration3 ,,shrines ,,of ,,is1 ,,the ,,most ,,sacred ,,place ,,of ,,shintoism4 8,there are secondary deities worshiped there1 the chief of whom is the adopted grandson of the sun-goddess and the great-grandfather of the first ,mikado1 ,jimmu ,tenno1 who commenced his reign in the ,japanese year #a4 ,according to the legend1 the goddess wished to send her adopted son1 ,oshi-ho-mimi-no-mikoto1 down upon earth to subdue it1 but he put forth his own son instead as leader of the expedition4 ,the goddess then presented ,ninigi-no-mikoto with various treasures1 the most important among which--and here we touch upon the central sacredness alike of the race of ,mikados and of the symbols of the ,shinto faith--were the mirror1 sword and stone1 or ball 7afterwards the regalia of the ,japanese sovereigns74 ,she also attached to his person the other two inferior gods of ,geku4 ,with reference to the mirror1 she said1 #8,look upon this mirror as my spirit2 keep it in the same house and on the same floor with yourself1 and worship it as if you were worshiping my actual presence4' 8,passing under another torii of plain1 unpainted timber1 like all the torii of the ,is shrines1 we came to the outer gate of the temple proper1 to which alone of three successive gates we and the other pilgrims were allowed to approach4 ,with certain extremely rare exceptions1 extending only to the ,mikado and commissioners of his1 none but priests are allowed to pass this first gate4 ,it was an open gate1 however1 with a simple white curtain or cloth thrown across it1 blowing about as the wind listed4 ,through this open gate1 or past the sides of it1 if you preferred to stand there1 you could see the next gate1 and beyond that again was a third1 and then came the temple proper1 which could not be seen4 ,this was all6 ,the buildings1 as far as seen1 were all of the plainest possible kind1 not unlike substantial1 well-thatched farm-buildings at home4 ,the mirror at this outer temple was not the original mirror1 and the priest did not for a moment lead us to suppose that it was4 ,there was1 in fact1 no pretence of any kind about the place4 ,the ancient buildings and the plain white curtain were left to produce that which is perhaps the deepest and most lasting of all impressions made by religious externals1 namely1 that of combined simplicity and antiquity4 ,of this outer temple ,i need only add1 that it is in every respect a sequel and appendage to the inner and more ancient temple1 having been built by the desire of the goddess of the older ,is temple1 who wished to have the deity ,toyouk near her4 ,this1 the outer and later temple1 dates from the reign of the twenty-second ,mikado of the present reigning dynasty1 ,yuriaku1 in the year #dgi ,a4,d4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,a ,,shinto ,,temple1 ,,showing ,,the ,,arrangements ,,for ,,worship4 8,soon afterwards we started for the inner temple1 ,naiku4 ,here is kept the original sacred mirror1 which is the most precious emblem of the ,shinto faith1 and which1 with the sacred sword and ball1 is also the authenticating memorial of the imperial dynasty4 ,so all ,japan has regarded it for #b1ejj years1 even down to #ahfh1 and so most of the people regard it still4 ,this temple came to be built in the following manner3 ,the sacred emblems of the national religion had1 up to the time of the great ,mikado ,sujin1 been kept in the imperial palace or temple2 but he1 as some say to increase their safety1 and as others allege because he viewed a rebellion which broke out as a mark of divine disapprobation of their remaining in his custody1 gave them into the charge of his daughter1 in a temple dedicated to them4 ,they were subsequently removed and carried from place to place1 but at length1 in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of ,suinin ,tenno1 and therefore in the year #c ,b4,c41 it was resolved to fix the mirror at the village of ,uji on the ,river ,suzugawa1 and there and then the present temple was built4 ,the old building does not exist4 ,on the contrary1 a new temple is erected every twenty years1 but each new temple is an exact repetition of the original1 and therefore the present one is a perfect representation of the architecture of ,japan at the time of ,christ4 ,the principal deity here worshiped is ,amaterasu1 the sun-goddess herself4 8,the gate-way was open1 and hung1 like that of the other temple1 with a long white curtain1 and beyond were seen another torii and other gate-ways1 but nothing could be seen of the temple itself1 and as little1 of course1 of the heaven-wrought mirror within4 ,as we stood1 however1 the pilgrims continued to come1 of both sexes and all ages1 and casting upon the ground a few coins1 some wrapped in paper1 stooping1 clapping their hands1 and uttering a few words of prayer1 thus attained and completed the object for which their journeyings had been undertaken4 ,i asked if this was all they saw and did1 and was told that it was4 ,i inquired if they attended no religious service1 saw no dances1 heard no music1 received no advice2 and found that as a rule they did not4 ,was no blessing pronounced1 no simple memorial of some kind presented to them8 ,nothing2 but they all bought little mementos of the place at the stall in the grounds or at the shops in the village4 ,what was it they said during the minute or two that they stooped before the shrine8 ,they no doubt asked for whatever they wanted in particular1 and generally for long life1 and the means of life and happiness in the years to come4 8,our companions1 the priests1 suggested that we ought to see one of the ceremonial dances of the temple1 and to this we gladly assented on learning that it would not be a repetition of what we had seen at ,osaka and ,nara1 but that it was one of the most ancient description1 handed down from generation to generation at these ,is shrines4 ,the room had an altar at the end opposite the entrance1 over which was a large mirror4 ,round the altar and walks were an abundance of goheis1 and of bands and tassels4 ,at the altar-end of the room a priest sat on one side1 and along each of the side walls were the musicians and dancers1 all sitting on their heels4 ,the musicians1 who were also singers1 were all men2 the dancers were quite young girls attired in white and red1 with frontlets of brass1 from each end of which depended a cord and tassel4 ,on the tops of their heads were large bunches of flowers2 their back hair was in a queue1 with tassels attached1 surmounted with gilt bows and ribbons4 ,there were two equally young girls in red and blue with plainer head-dresses1 who in a certain way attended on the others4 ,the dance began by a subordinate priest coming in by a side entrance with a wet branch of the sacred sakaki tree in his hand4 ,after bowing to the shrine1 he turned to the visitors1 and waved it a few times swiftly before them1 and then disappeared4 ,returning again to the same entrance1 he handed in to the two blue-and-red attendants1 trays of herbs1 rice and fruits in succession4 ,these were borne ceremoniously elevated to the six priestesses1 who conveyed them in a similar manner to the altar1 placing the contents of the first two trays upon an inner altar1 and those of the remaining four upon an outer altar1 then returning the trays to their two attendants1 who passed them out of the building4 ,illustration3 ,,ceremonial ,,dance ,,of ,,the ,,shinto ,,priests4 8,while this was proceeding1 the band sent forth what sounded to me as wailing1 imploring1 importunate sounds1 with an occasional rap upon the drum for emphasis4 ,the priest1 who wore the ancient head-dress like that of the ,mikado1 now rose1 and after a few obeisances before the mirror sat down upon his heels1 facing the altar1 and intoned a prayer1 or novito1 from a large sheet of paper held outspread before him1 the musicians1 and dancers1 and attendants all sitting with bowed heads to its end4 ,small branches of sakaki were now brought to the priestesses1 and the dance took place to an accompaniment of livelier music4 ,the dance comprised no very active movements1 but consisted mainly of short1 slow and grave promenading1 with occasional stately bowings and much slow waving of the branches4 ,this over1 a boy entered1 dressed in the military undress robes of a kug 7court noble7 of the olden time1 and holding in his hands a branch of sakaki1 with a pendant hoop1 doubtless in lieu of a mirror4 ,he danced1 as it is called1 to much louder music1 but the dancing was little more than further promenading and making certain sweeping movements with the branch of sakaki1 with an occasional high step4 ,of course1 it is a great pity for the significance of all this to be lost2 but nothing explanatory could be elicited from any of the ,japanese present1 and from the answers of the priests ,i infer that if the various movements of these dances ever had any great and special significance1 the remembrance of it is pretty nearly or quite lost4 ,the priest next came forward again1 and1 after elevating the written prayer a few times before the shrine1 left the building by the side door4 ,the process of placing the fruits and other offerings upon the altar was now reversed1 and everything was removed from the altars and taken away1 the music meanwhile playing loud and joyous strains4 ,with this ended the most ancient of the dances in the most sacred national shrine of ,japan40 ,very great changes have occurred in ,japan since the year #ahfh1 when the ,mikado became the temporal as well as the spiritual head of the ,empire4 ,the interests of ,shintoism have suffered in the change4 ,prof4 ,max ,mller estimates that there are now only #bjj1jjj ,shintoists in all ,japan4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,dark ,,continent4 ,yes1 the great ,buffalo#c sleeps2 his mightiest victory was his last4 ,his warriors howl in vain1 his necromancers gaze aghast4 ,fetich1 nor magic wand1 nor amulet of darnel1 ,can charm back life to the clay-cold heart and limb4 ,,ferdinand ,,freiligrath4 ,it is only of late years that much has been known of the people of the heart of ,africa4 ,explorers have passed through its borders2 along its coasts travelers have wandered1 but few have1 until recently1 pushed on into the interior4 ,even to-day there are vast regions unexplored4 ,of the millions of peoples inhabiting these parts we know only that which the ,arab slave-dealers1 and some native ,african traders have told us4 ,the extreme points1 ,north1 ,south1 ,east and ,west ,africa have been known for many years4 ,the interior1 stretching back from ,upper ,egypt1 and extending clear across to the ,river ,niger1 has been but little traveled by foreigners4 ,from ,zanzibar on the south-east1 radiating like a fan1 explorers have passed to the great lakes to the north-west1 the ,victoria ,nyanza and ,albert ,nyanza1 to the west to ,tanganyika ,lake1 and to the south-west1 the ,nyassa and ,bangweolo ,lakes4 ,to the west of these lakes1 saving only the countries lying along the banks of the ,lualaba1 ,livingstone1 or ,congo ,river1 along which ,stanley traveled1 the land is almost unknown4 ,even of the ,african peoples among whom ,europeans have lived1 it is difficult to learn much of their religions4 ,first1 because they have no sacred books1 no records1 in fact no writing at all4 ,their traditions and teachings have all been handed down by word of mouth4 ,again1 the ,africans are unwilling to tell foreigners about their religious beliefs1 customs and worships4 ,it is difficult to gain their confidence4 ,when one asks them about it1 they give evasive answers1 or pretend to know nothing about the matter4 ,this fact has led to the supposition that some of these peoples had no religious nature whatever1 but that they formed an exception to the general evidence in favor of man's religious nature4 ,yet travelers have by patient investigation1 observation and inquiry learned considerable4 ,they have compared their conclusions1 and have so been able to give us some idea of the gods and religions of ,africa4 ,the ,africans have no buildings of brick or stone1 and have no knowledge1 seemingly1 of writing4 ,these two facts have been brought to show that the ,africans must have left the rest of the family of mankind very soon after the ,deluge4 ,the ,africans are1 with the exception of some of the ,south ,sea ,islanders1 and the ,aborigines of ,australia1 the most degraded people on the face of the earth4 ,but here and there among them are small nations who are intelligent1 and shrewd1 and possessed of capabilities which place them above their fellow-,africans4 ,the ,african peoples are of all shades of color1 from blackest black to purest white1 and just so do they vary very greatly in point of intelligence4 ,yet the best are very degraded1 and the worst are but little above the beasts of field or forest4 ,if the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ is needed anywhere1 it is among the peoples of the ,dark ,continent4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,lawyer ,,of ,,zululand4 ,,african ,,belief ,,in ,a ,,god ,,or ,,gods4 ,there are to be found even yet traces of the high position from which the ,africans have fallen in their degradation4 ,one of these traces is the universal belief in a ,god or gods4 ,this1 of course1 is no such exalted idea of a ,supreme ,being as is to be found among ,christian nations or even among the better nations of heathens1 but still it is a ,great ,one in whom they believe4 ,this belief is not the result of reasoning1 of observation of the powers of nature or of study of their own human nature1 but is an inborn conception4 ,apart from revelation1 apart from argument1 from cause and effect1 from design1 from government or from anything else1 men must believe in a ,god or gods4 ,hence we are not astonished at finding that among all the ,africans there is this belief4 ,many of their ideas of ,god are horrible1 shocking and revolting1 others again attach no evil ideas to their gods1 but exalt them in a very high degree4 ,,praying ,,for ,,rain4 ,in ,south-eastern ,africa1 along the ,zambesi ,river1 the people pray to a god1 with whom they connect no impure traditions or degraded worship4 ,when in danger of war or famine1 they appeal to this god4 ,they call him ,mpambi4 ,the worship is of this kind3 ,when famine is threatened because rain is withheld1 the people of a village resort to a cleared space of ground1 inclosed by a fence4 ,here a prayer-hut is erected4 ,women and men worship together4 ,generally a princess having in one hand a basket containing ,indian corn-meal1 and in the other a pot of native beer1 or ,pombi1 goes into the hut1 where she can be seen and heard4 ,she puts the basket and jar on either side of her and sprinkling a handful of meal on the floor1 cries1 8,imva ,mpambi1 ,adza moula60 7,hear1 ,o ,god1 and send rain67 ,the people respond by gently clapping their hands and chanting1 ,hear1 ,o ,god6 ,this is repeated until all the meal is used up4 ,then the jar of ,pombi is emptied on the floor4 ,the woman then comes out of the hut1 closing the door4 ,throwing themselves upon their backs1 she and the people unite in praying 8,hear1 ,o ,god1 send rain60 ,then she arises1 washes herself in a jar of water which stands before the chief4 ,then all the women take their calabash cups and throw the water into the air1 with frantic gesticulations4 ,among the ,zulus the lightning and thunder were represented as coming from 8,the ,lord in ,heaven40 ,if lightning struck and killed the cattle the people were not distressed4 ,it was said 8,the ,lord has slaughtered for ,himself among ,his own flock4 ,is it yours8 ,is it not the ,lord's8 ,he is hungry2 ,he kills for ,himself40 ,if a village is struck with lightning and a cow is killed1 they say 8,this village will be prosperous40 ,if a man is killed1 thus they said1 8,the ,lord has found fault with him40 ,when they pray for rain1 the heads of the village select some black oxen 7like the black clouds which bring rain7 and one is killed in sacrifice4 ,its flesh is eaten in the house in silence4 ,the bones are burnt outside of the village4 ,after this a song is sung1 or hummed1 for no words are used4 ,,the ,,hottentots' ,,god1 ,,gounja ,,gounja4 ,the ,hottentots call ,god 8,gounja ,gounja0 or 8,gounja ,ticquoa40 ,they are said to have no divine worship1 and few1 if any1 religious ceremonies1 and1 in their savage state1 appear a very stupid race1 almost void of the power of reason1 without any knowledge of divine subjects1 and but a vague notion that there is one great ,lord of all1 and likewise an evil spirit1 a devil4 ,they observe a yearly festival when the seven stars appear together1 at the beginning of summer4 ,the parents wake their children when these stars appear1 and go with them into the fields1 where they dance and sing4 ,their song is1 8,o ,ticquoa1 thou ,father over our heads1 give us rain1 that all our fruits may ripen and we may have food in plenty40 ,,the ,,bushmen',s ,,god4 ,the ,bushmen believe that there is a god in the sky1 whom they call ,kaang1 or chief4 ,one of the ,bushmen says of his countrymen3 8,they perform a kind of religious worship to two rocks1 the one representing a male1 and the other a female4 ,when going out to hunt1 they implore the aid of these deities to provide them with food4 ,first they go to the male rock1 and strike it with a stick4 ,if it sounds1 they believe the report is heard in ,heaven1 and they will have success2 but if they get nothing1 they repair to the female rock1 which they think is inhabited by a malicious spirit1 and beat it well1 upbraiding it1 saying3 #8,why do you by your hidden arms cause all the game to be shot dead so that we can find none4'0 ,illustration3 ,,king ,,coffee',s ,,protecting ,,god4 ,all the tribes of ,western ,africa show some belief in gods4 ,the ,mohammedans and the ,portuguese and ,english traders have of late years affected the peoples' notions to some extent2 but from the descriptions of earlier travelers we can see what their belief was4 ,in ,sierra ,leone they called ,god 8,canou20 on the ,gambia ,river1 they called their god 8,china40 ,the ,niam-,niams call their god 8,noro40 ,among the ,africans are found many traditions of the origin of the world and of men4 ,among the ,zulus1 the following tradition is held1 which will serve as a specimen3 ,,zulu ,,tradition ,,of ,,the ,,origin ,,of ,,men4 ,umkululu1 the first man1 had his origin in a valley of this world1 where there was a bed of reeds4 ,he sprung from the bed of reeds1 and a woman 7a wife7 sprung from the same bed of reeds after him4 ,they had but one name1 that of ,umkulunkulu2 and men sprung from ,umkulunkulu by generation4 ,all things1 as well as ,umkulunkulu1 sprung from a bed of reeds2 everything1 both animals and corn coming into being with him4 ,he looked upon the sun when it was finished1 and said3 8,there is a torch which shall give you light1 that you may see40 ,he looked on the cattle1 and said3 8,there are cattle2 be ye broken off1 and let the cattle be your food2 eat their flesh and drink their milk40 ,he looked on wild animals1 and said3 8,that is such an animal2 that is an elephant2 that is a buffalo40 ,he looked on the fire1 and said3 8,kindle it1 and cook1 and warm yourself1 and eat meat when in has been dressed by the fire40 ,he looked on all things1 and said3 8,so-and-so is the name of everything40 ,among the ,basutos there is a legend that men and animals came from the interior of the earth1 out of an immense hole4 ,,good ,,and ,,bad ,,spirits4 ,between the ,supreme ,being and man1 the ,africans believe that there are a vast number of spirits4 ,they are not afraid of ,god1 but they have an intense dread of these spirits4 ,they believe that ,god is too far off to hurt them much1 but they believe that the world of spirits is around them4 ,even when ,god does send lightning or thunder1 for instance1 it is because the spirits bring them down4 ,to their imaginations these spirits people the darkness with hideous shapes1 poison the light with their presence1 sweep over the plains in the forms of wild beasts1 fill the forests1 inhabit trees1 live on the tops of the mountains1 and in the secluded recesses of caves and valleys2 make their homes in the sea1 the lakes and the rivers2 the air is full of them1 the earth teems with them2 fire is not free from their presence1 and human beings are possessed by them4 ,to them1 also1 they attribute the sorrows and the sufferings1 the misfortunes1 and1 in most cases1 the deaths of mankind4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,priests' ,,trick ,,of ,,raising ,,an ,,idol ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,earth4 ,as elsewhere1 there are men who take advantage of the superstitious condition of their fellow countrymen1 and make gain of it4 ,three priests once assured their followers that they could raise an idol out of the ground1 and would do it the next day4 ,during the night they dug a hole1 in which they placed a lot of dried peas and an idol's head and shoulders4 ,they covered all up carefully4 ,just before daylight they took some water and poured it upon the peas4 ,the people gathered early in the morning to see the priests keep their promise4 ,they came forth1 and1 as the peas gradually swelled1 began their incantations and murmurings1 and1 of course1 very soon the idol appeared1 and the deluded people were abundantly satisfied4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,in ,,the ,,insect4 ,the ,hottentots believed that the good spirits sometimes came in the form of a winged insect1 having a green back1 a belly speckled with white and red1 and with two horns4 ,they worshiped this insect wherever they found it4 ,if this insect alighted on a ,hottentot he was looked upon as a man without fault1 and distinguished and reverenced as a sacred person ever after4 ,his neighbors gloried that they had such a favored mortal amongst them1 and published the fact far and near4 ,the fattest ox belonging to the kraal was killed as a thank-offering1 and all the people kept festival for days4 ,the case was in every respect the same if the insect alighted upon a woman2 she was regarded as a sanctified person and the delight of the spirit4 ,the son of a ,german1 who had given leave to some ,hottentots to turn their cattle upon his land1 was amusing himself one day in the kraal1 when this insect appeared4 ,the ,hottentots immediately ran tumultuously to adore it1 while the young ,german ran to catch it1 in order to see what the effect would be amongst them4 ,he seized it in the midst of them4 ,the cry of agony was general when they saw it in his hands4 ,they stared with distraction in their eyes at him and at one another4 8,see1 see1 see60 said they4 8,what is he going to do8 ,will he kill it80 ,they were wild through apprehension of its fate4 8,why10 said he1 8do you make such a hideous noise2 and why are you in such agony about this paltry creature80 8,ah60 they replied1 with utmost concern1 8it is a divinity4 ,it is come from ,heaven4 ,it is come on a good design4 ,do not hurt it2 do not offend it4 ,we are the most miserable wretches on earth if you do4 ,this ground will lie under a curse1 and the crime will never be forgiven40 ,this was not enough for the young ,german1 who determined to carry the experiment a little further1 and made as though he certainly intended to maim or destroy it4 ,on this the people ran about1 and screamed as though they were frantic2 they fell prostrate on the ground before him1 and with streaming eyes and loudest cries besought him to spare the creature and give it its liberty4 ,having sufficiently tested the reality of their belief in this insect-god1 he let it fly1 and they shouted in all the transports of joy4 ,,fetich ,,worship4 ,a fetich is some material object in which a god or a supernatural power is supposed to dwell4 ,an idol is a representation of a god4 ,fetichism is the lowest form of idolatry4 ,fetichism and witchcraft go together4 ,the fetiches guard against the power of witches1 and this is their primary object4 ,they act as charms or amulets1 and are worn on all parts of the body to keep off disease2 are placed around the houses1 villages or fields to keep off hurtful influences4 ,the fetiches are of various sorts2 the reeds of certain plants1 the roots of certain trees1 the horns of a diminutive deer1 the claws and teeth of lions and leopards and other sorts of animals1 slips of wood fantastically notched1 knuckle-bones1 beads and a kind of white stone being most commonly used4 ,amongst the ,kaffirs1 whose belief in witchcraft is intense1 faith in the virtues of fetiches is1 as a natural consequence1 equally great4 ,you rarely meet with a ,kaffir who does not carry with him a whole series of charms4 ,these1 of course1 are furnished by the witch-doctors and prophets1 and as they are not of the least intrinsic value1 and are highly paid for1 the business of making fetich is a profitable one4 ,to a ,european a superstitious ,kaffir has a very ludicrous appearance1 as the following description of a man who seems to have been peculiarly impressible to the value of fetich will show4 ,his head was richly bedecked with pig's bristles1 set straight1 so as to stand out on all sides like the quills of a hedgehog1 with many feathers on his head1 while around his neck there was strung a great number of charms1 the principal of which were fragments of bone1 the head of a snake1 the tooth of a young hippopotamus1 and an old brass door-handle4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,young ,,fetichist4 ,showing some of the various trinkets and amulets upon which dependence for an increase of sanctity and safety is placed by the devout4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,cazembe ,,fetich ,,man4 ,the ,africans believe that there are lucky fetiches which guarantee them success in all their undertakings4 ,they respect one another's fetiches1 and will not attack an enemy when they think that he has a fetich superior to their own4 ,they are therefore very ready and eager to discover wherein special excellence may lie4 ,a fetich of supposed superiority will command a high price4 ,illustration3 ,,decorated ,,fetichist4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,ju-,,ju ,,house1 ,,or ,,temple ,,of ,,skulls1 ,,at ,,bonny1 ,,west ,,africa4 ,after devouring the bodies of their victims1 the priests of the people of ,bonny were wont to take the skulls and place them in the walls of their temples4 ,a ,,horrible ,,fetich4 ,when hard pressed in war1 and in danger of being utterly overthrown1 in some parts of ,africa1 the people--like the king of ,moab1 who sacrificed his own son when the battle went against him1 in order to move the compassion of his adversaries1 or to inspire them with terror1 or as a sacrifice to offended gods--will make horrible fetiches of human beings4 ,perhaps the most astounding instance of such a practice occurred in ,west ,africa4 ,the king of ,bonny having been defeated in battle1 retreated to his principal town1 and finding that it was in imminent danger of being attacked1 called together his magicians in order that they might aid him in repelling his enemies4 ,they were equal to the emergency4 ,the people were assembled in front of the principal gate of the town4 ,two holes were dug in the ground close to each other4 ,the wizards then begun their operations1 and when the people had been wrought up by their proceedings to a pitch of unreasoning excitement1 so that they were ready to perpetrate any act no matter how horrible1 the chief of the wizards pointed to a girl who was standing amongst the spectators4 ,she was instantly seized1 and1 under his direction1 her legs were thrust into the holes that had been prepared for this purpose1 which were then filled up with earth so that she could not extricate herself from them4 ,then a number of men brought lumps of wet clay1 which they built around her body in the form of a pillar1 kneading them closely as they proceeded1 until she was entirely covered over4 ,this device produced the desired effect1 for so terrified were the hostile tribes at what they regarded as an invincible fetich--or greegree1 as the fetich is called in ,west ,africa--that they dared not attack the town1 and1 like the kings of ,israel and ,judah1 after the sacrifice of the king of ,moab's son1 they withdrew from the further prosecution of the war1 and returned to their homes4 ,the clay pillar1 with the body of the girl within it1 stood for several years where it had been erected1 and served effectually to preserve the town from being again attacked or in any way troubled by its enemies4 ,,stanley ,,and ,,the ,,africans' ,,fear ,,of ,,fetich4 ,the ,africans have a superstitious dread of writing and regard it as a bad fetich4 ,when the ,african traveler1 ,stanley1 had almost finished his journey through the ,dark ,continent1 he was one day making some entries in his note-book4 ,this book contained all the important results of his great journey4 ,seeing him writing the savages surrounded him and demanded that he destroy the 8tara-tara10 as they called it1 lest it should injure them4 ,they said that those black lines on the paper would bring sickness and death to them and their animals unless the book was burned4 ,the savages were determined to get the book4 ,only by a trick could he save either the book or his own life4 ,he went to his tent and managed to exchange his note-book for a copy of ,shakespeare's works4 ,this he burned 8to please his friends10 as he told them4 ,illustration3 ,,idols ,,with ,,mirrors ,,in ,,their ,,bodies4 ,the ,africans have idols of all shapes and sizes and made of all sorts of materials4 ,some of these are provided with looking-glasses in their stomachs1 but for what purpose we do not know4 ,they have a few god-houses or huts4 ,their continent is dark not only because peopled in the main by peoples whose skins are dark1 but because the light of religion seems almost to have died out and darkness to have covered the land and all of the people4 ,,witchcraft4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,witch ,,doctor4 ,to polygamy and slavery add witchcraft superstitions1 and the degradation of ,africa is properly called 8desperate0 degradation4 ,it may be doubted whether polygamy and slavery are as great obstacles to civilization as are these superstitions4 ,these are interlaced with the whole structure of ,african society4 ,no one is supposed to die from natural causes2 disease is charged to witchcraft4 ,no one is killed in war1 in hunting1 by drowning or mischance1 but it is charged to witchcraft4 ,the witches must be found out and tortured to confession and death4 8,i was asked10 says ,du ,chaillu1 whose representations of witchcraft superstitions are abundantly confirmed by other travelers and missionaries1 8to go and see an old friend of mine1 ,mpomo1 who was sick4 ,they had spent the night before drumming about his bed to drive out the devil4 ,but ,i soon saw that neither drumming nor medicine would help the poor fellow4 ,the film of death was in his eyes4 ,he held out his hand to me and feebly said3 #8,chally1 save me1 for ,i am dying4' 8,he was surrounded by hundreds of people1 most of them moved to tears by their friend's pitiable condition4 ,i explained to him1 that ,i had no power to save him2 but he and all around had the conviction that if ,i only wished ,i could cure him4 ,they followed me to my house1 asking for medicine4 ,not to seem heartless1 ,i sent him something to make his remaining moments easy4 ,at the same time ,i warned them that he would die and they must not blame me4 ,when ,i awoke the next morning ,i heard the mournful wail which proclaimed that poor ,mpomo had gone to his long rest4 ,the cry of the ,african mourners is the saddest ,i ever heard4 ,they mourn literally as those who have no hope4 8,in the afternoon ,i heard talk of witchcraft4 ,on the day ,mpomo was buried proceedings were begun to discover who had bewitched him4 ,a great doctor was brought from up the river1 and for two nights and days incantations were repeated4 ,on the third morning1 when old and young1 male and female1 were frantic with the desire of revenge1 the doctor began his final incantations4 ,every man and boy was armed with spears1 or guns1 or axes4 ,the whole town was possessed by a thirst for human blood4 ,for the first time ,i found my voice without authority4 ,i could not even get a hearing4444 ,at a motion from the doctor1 the people became still4 ,this silence lasted about a minute when the loud voice of the doctor was heard3 #8,there is a very black woman who lives in a house1' describing it1 #8she bewitched ,mpomo4' ,the crowd1 roaring and screaming1 rushed frantically for the place indicated4 ,they seized upon a poor girl named ,okondaga1 the sister of my good friend and guide ,adouma4 ,waving their weapons over her head1 they tore her away to the water-side1 bound her with cords1 and then rushed back to the doctor again4 8,as poor ,okondaga passed by in the hands of her murderers1 she saw me1 though ,i had turned away not to be seen1 for ,i could not help her4 ,i heard her cry out1 #8,chally1 ,chally1 do not let me die6' ,it was a moment of agony2 ,i was minded to rush into the crowd and rescue the poor victim4 ,but ,i should only have sacrificed my life1 without helping her4 ,so ,i hid myself behind a tree1 and1 ,i confess it1 shed bitter tears4 8,presently silence fell once more upon the crowd4 ,then the voice of the devilish doctor again rang over the town1 like the croak of a raven1 #8,there is an old woman in a house1' describing it1 #8she bewitched ,mpomo4' 8,the crowd rushed off and seized a niece of ,king ,quenguesa1 a noble-hearted and majestic old woman4 ,as they crowded about with flaming eyes1 she rose proudly from the ground1 looked them in the face unflinchingly1 and motioning them to keep their hands off1 said1 #8,i will drink the mboundou1 but woe to my accusers if ,i do not die4' ,she was escorted to the river without being bound4 ,she submitted without a tear or a murmur4 8,a third time the dreadful silence fell upon the town1 and the doctor's voice was heard3 #8,there is a woman with six children4 ,she lives on a plantation toward the rising sun4 ,she1 too1 bewitched ,mpomo4' ,another furious shout1 and in a few moments they brought to the river one of ,quenguesa's slaves1 a good woman1 whom ,i knew4 ,the doctor now1 in a loud voice1 recited the crime of which these women were accused4 ,okondaga1 he said1 some weeks before1 asked ,mpomo for some salt1 and he refused her4 ,she had said unpleasant things to him1 and had by sorcery taken his life4 8,then ,quenguesa's niece was accused4 ,she had no children1 and ,mpomo had children4 ,she envied him1 and had bewitched him4 8,quenguesa's slave had asked ,mpomo for a looking-glass4 ,he had refused her4 ,therefore she had killed him with sorcery4 ,as each accusation was repeated1 the people broke out into curses4 ,even the relatives of the poor victims were obliged to join in this4 ,every one rivaled his neighbor in cursing1 each fearful lest luke-warmness should expose him to a like fate4444 8,the victims were put into a large canoe with the executioners1 the doctor1 and a number of the people1 all armed4 ,then the tam-tams were beaten1 and the mboundou quabi was prepared4 ,mpomo's eldest brother held the poisoned cup to his sister's lips4 ,at sight of it poor ,okondaga began to cry1 and even ,quenguesa's niece turned pale1 for the negro face has at such times a pallor quite perceptible4 ,the mug of mboundou was handed to the old slave woman1 then to the royal niece1 and last to ,okondaga4 ,as they drank the multitude shouted3 #8,if they are witches let the mboundou kill them1 if they are innocent let the mboundou go out4' 8,suddenly the slave woman fell down4 ,she had not touched the bottom of the boat before her head was hacked off by a dozen swords4 ,next came ,quenguesa's niece4 ,in an instant her head was cut off1 and her blood was dyeing the waters4 ,meantime poor ,okondaga staggered1 and struggled1 and cried1 vainly resisting the working of the poison in her system4 ,last of all1 she fell4 ,then all became confused4 ,a random hacking ensued1 and in an incredibly short time the bodies were cut in small pieces which were cast into the river4 8,after this the crowd dispersed to their houses1 and for the rest of the day the town was silent4 ,some of these rude people felt that the number in their almost extinguished tribe was becoming less1 and the dread of death filled their hearts4 ,in the evening poor ,adouma came secretly to my house1 to unburden his sorrowing heart4 ,he1 too1 had been compelled to take part in the dreadful scene4 ,he dared not refrain from joining in the curses heaped upon his poor sister4 ,he dared not mourn publicly for her4 ,i comforted him as well as ,i could1 and ,i spoke to him of the true ,god1 and of the wickedness of the conduct we had witnessed4 ,he said at last1 #8,o ,chally1 when you go back to your far country1 ,america1 let them send men to us poor people to teach us from that which you call ,god's mouth1' meaning the ,bible4 ,i promised ,adouma to give the message1 and ,i now do so40 ,god pity poor ,africa6 ,may the ,light of the ,sun of ,righteousness soon shine on her dark land6 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,aborigines ,,of ,,america4 ,darin besteht eben die ,bedeutung der ,amerikanishen ,religionen1 dass sie mehr als andere1 wenigstens mehrals andere ,religionen von ,kulturvlkern1 das primitive und unabgeschwchte ,heidenthum darstellen4--,,dr4 ,j4 ,g4 ,m,,ller4 ,the religion of the ,american ,indians and ,alaskans partakes of the character of their national life2 yet there are traces of the original ideas of ,god1 the creation and early history of man and the world1 which we find in the religions of the far ,eastern nations4 ,as we have before said1 we believe the early inhabitants of ,america to have come from the eastern shores of ,asia1 having been washed along in their fishing vessels by the current of the ,kuro ,shiwo 7or black stream71 flowing by the western coasts of ,america1 or perhaps crossing on the islands of the ,north ,pacific1 where ,asia and ,america almost come together4 ,they differ from the peoples of ,eastern ,asia1 but1 perhaps1 only in such points as a different climate and different habits of life would produce4 ,all the people of the continent of ,america appear to have come from one stock4 ,the squalid ,esquimaux at one extremity of the chain1 the polished ,aztec or ,inca at the other2 agriculturists1 and hunters1 and canoe-men2 tribes frequenting the shores of the great northern lakes1 or scattered in the dense savannahs of the ,south2 all their languages grow out of a few flexible tongues4 ,they bear a resemblance to the ,turanian languages--the ,malaysian1 the ,japanese and others4 ,we can divide the ,american peoples into two classes--the civilized and the savage4 ,to the first class belong the ,mexicans and ,peruvians2 to the latter1 the savages of ,north ,america1 including the ,red ,indians1 the ,alaskans and the inhabitants of the ,west ,indies1 and wild tribes of ,south ,america--the ,patagonians1 ,guianians1 etc4 ,,the ,,indians ,,of ,,north ,,america4 ,illustration3 ,,indian ,,medicine ,,man4 ,these nations have the virtues of savage life--a sense of honor1 according to their perceptions of duty1 mutual fidelity among individuals1 a fortitude which mocks at the most cruel torments1 and a devotedness to their own tribe which makes self-immolation in its defense easy4 ,on the other hand1 they treat their wives brutally1 and their children with indifference4 ,the apathy under the good and ill of life which the ,stoic affected is the grand element of the ,indian's character4 ,gloomy1 stern and severe1 he is1 it would seem1 a stranger to mirth and laughter2 yet1 in their legends1 frequent reference is made to laughter4 ,all outward expressions of pain or pleasure he regards as a weakness2 and the only feeling to which he ever yields is the boisterous joy which he manifests in the moment of victory1 or under the excitement of intoxication4 ,he is capable of great exertions in war or the chase1 but has an unconquerable aversion to regular labor4 ,he is extremely improvident2 eats enormously while he has an abundance of food1 without thinking of the famine which may follow2 and1 when liquors are supplied to him1 will continue drunk for days4 ,corresponding to the priests among other peoples1 the ,indians have 8,medicine ,men20 they believe that these possess great power1 and they trust implicitly in all their directions4 ,,the ,,great ,,spirit4 ,most of the ,indians of ,north ,america believe in the existence of a supreme being1 whom they call the ,great ,spirit2 and of a subordinate one1 whose nature is evil and hostile to man4 ,to the latter their worship is principally addressed2 the ,good ,spirit1 in their opinion1 needing no prayers to induce him to aid and protect ,his creatures4 ,they generally believe in a future state1 in which the souls of brave warriors and chaste wives enjoy a tranquil and happy existence with their ancestors and friends1 spending their time in those exercises in which they delighted when on earth4 ,the ,dakotas believe that the road to these 8villages of the dead0 leads over a rock with an edge as sharp as a knife1 on which only the good are able to keep their footing4 ,the wicked fall off and descend to the region of the ,evil ,spirit1 where they are hard-worked1 and often flogged by their relentless master4 ,illustration3 ,,indian ,,medicine ,,men4 ,showing the hideous costumes and decorations they sometimes assume in their incantations4 ,,worship ,,of ,,ancestors4 ,as we shall find among the ,chinese1 the ,indians worshiped the spirits of their dead ancestors4 ,as among the ,chinese1 the periodical offering of cakes1 libations1 flesh or viands at the grave to ancestors1 is seen to be an idea incorporated into the practice of the ,american1 at least the ,algonic ,indians4 ,these ,indians1 believing in the twofold nature of the soul1 and that the soul sensorial abides for a time with the body in the grave1 requiring food for its ghostly existence and journeyings1 deposit meat and other food at and after the time of interment4 ,this custom is universal1 and was one of their earliest traits4 ,few things in savage life are of more singular interest than the ceremonies of a burial4 ,some of the tribes1 for instance1 take the body of their dead1 and having clothed it in the best robes and ornaments1 furnish it with many articles which are supposed most desirable1 and1 wrapping the whole carefully in soft1 wet hides1 place the precious burden on a scaffold several feet high4 ,in the course of time1 the scaffold falls2 then the relatives assemble and bury the remains1 except the skull2 this they place on the ground1 where there are perhaps a hundred skulls in a circle1 all looking inward4 ,about this place of skulls the women are often seen1 sitting with their work for hours at a time1 holding in their laps the skull of a dead child2 and not unfrequently they are seen to clasp these skulls in their arms and lie down1 talking as if to a living child1 until they fall asleep4 ,the ,sioux ,indians wrap their dead in skins1 and lodge them in the branches of trees1 never forgetting to place a wooden dish near the head1 that the friend may quench his thirst in the long journey he is supposed to have begun4 ,among the ,patagonians the dead are frequently reduced to skeleton before burial1 and are washed and arrayed in new clothing once a year4 ,the bodies1 while being prepared1 are laid on platforms and guarded by the relatives1 who1 dressed in long robes1 strike the ground continually with spears or staves1 and keep up a mournful song to drive away the spirits1 who they fear are unfriendly to the dead4 ,illustration3 ,,indian ,,burial ,,place4 ,the ,indians1 like the ,africans1 worship fetiches or material objects in which either the gods personally or some supernatural power is supposed to dwell4 ,it not infrequently happens that if an ,indian dreams of an idol or fetich of a certain form1 when he wakes he proceeds to make it according to the pattern of his vision1 and this is the secret history of many of the grotesque forms which are favorite symbols with them in their sacred rites4 ,these they designate ,manitos4 ,illustration3 ,,indian ,,image4 ,seen in a dream and made by a ,medicine ,man4 ,,indian ,,legends4 ,the ,indians' hopes1 fears1 worships1 and whole faith and life are found in their legends and myths4 ,these are preserved by oral tradition1 by being handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation4 ,in the leisure from hunting or war1 they gather in the lodge or about the camp-fire and rehearse these stories4 ,as ,longfellow has sung3 8,should you ask me1 whence these stories8 ,whence these legends and traditions1 ,with the odors of the forest1 ,with the dew and damp of meadows1 ,with the curling smoke of wigwams1 ,with the rushing of great rivers1 ,with their frequent repetitions1 ,and their wild reverberations1 ,as of thunder in the mountains8 ,i should answer1 ,i should tell you1 ,i repeat them as ,i heard them ,from the lips of ,nawadaha4 8,ye whose hearts are fresh and simple1 ,who have faith in ,god and ,nature1 ,who believe1 that in all ages ,every human heart is human1 ,that in even savage bosoms ,there are longings1 yearnings1 strivings ,for the good they comprehend not1 ,that the feeble hands and helpless1 ,groping blindly in the darkness1 ,touch ,god's right hand in that darkness ,and are lifted up and strengthened40 ,,the 8,,song ,,of ,,hiawatha40 ,hiawatha is a personage of miraculous birth1 whom the ,indians believed to have been sent among them to clear their rivers1 forests and fishing-grounds1 and to teach them the arts of peace4 ,to the patient1 toilsome investigations of ,dr4 ,h4 ,r4 ,schoolcraft1 our knowledge of ,indian legends is due4 ,the poet1 ,longfellow1 has gracefully woven many of these legends together in his 8,song of ,hiawatha40 ,hiawatha is regarded as the messenger of the ,great ,spirit1 sent down to them in the character of a wise man1 and a prophet4 ,but he comes clothed with all the attributes of humanity1 as well as the power of performing miraculous deeds4 ,he adapts himself perfectly to their manners1 customs and ideas4 ,he is brought up from a child among them4 ,he is made to learn their mode of life4 ,he takes a wife1 builds a lodge1 hunts and fishes like the rest of them1 sings his war songs and medicine songs1 goes to war1 has his triumphs1 has his friends and foes1 suffers1 wants1 hungers1 is in dread or joy2 and1 in fine1 undergoes all the vicissitudes of his fellows4 ,his miraculous gifts and powers are always adapted to his situation4 ,when he is swallowed by a great fish1 with his canoe1 he escapes by the exertion of these powers1 but always1 as much as possible1 in accordance with ,indian maxims and means4 ,he is provided with a magic canoe1 which goes where it is bid2 yet1 in his fight with the great ,wampura prince1 he is counseled by a woodpecker to know where the vulnerable point of his antagonist lies4 ,he rids the earth of monsters and giants1 and clears away windfalls and obstructions to the navigation of streams4 ,but he does not do these feats by miracles2 he employs strong men to help him4 ,when he means to destroy the great serpents1 he changes himself into an old tree1 and stands on the beach till they come out of the water to bask in the sun4 ,whatever man could do in strength or wisdom he could do4 ,but he never does things above the comprehension or belief of his people2 and whatever else he is1 he is always true to the character of an ,indian4 ,he leaps over extensive regions of country1 like an ignis-fatuus1 the false light caused by the vapors of the swamp which misleads the traveler4 ,he appears suddenly like an incarnation of a god1 or saunters over weary wastes a poor and starving hunter4 ,his voice is at one moment deep and sonorous as a thunder-clap1 and at another clothed with the softness of feminine supplication4 ,such is the character of whom ,longfellow has sung4 ,,indian ,,allegory ,,of ,,winter ,,and ,,spring4 ,an old man was sitting in his lodge1 by the side of a frozen stream4 ,it was the close of winter1 and his fire was almost out4 ,he appeared very old and very desolate4 ,his locks were white with age1 and he trembled in every joint4 ,day after day he passed in solitude1 and he heard nothing but the sounds of the tempest1 sweeping before it the new-fallen snow4 ,one day1 as his fire was just dying1 a handsome young man approached and entered his dwelling4 ,his cheeks were red with the blood of youth1 his eyes sparkled with animation1 and a smile played upon his lips4 ,he walked with a light and quick step4 ,his forehead was bound with a wreath of sweet grass1 in place of a warrior's frontlet1 and he carried a bunch of flowers in his hand4 8,i blow my breath10 said the old man1 8and the streams stand still4 ,the water becomes stiff and hard as clear stone40 8,i breathe10 said the young man1 8and flowers spring up all over the plains40 8,i shake my locks10 retorted the old man1 8and snow covers the land4 ,the leaves fall from the trees at my command1 and my breath blows them away4 ,the birds get up from the water and fly to a distant land4 ,the animals hide themselves from my breath1 and the very ground becomes as hard as flint40 8,i shake my ringlets10 rejoined the young man1 8and warm showers of soft rain fall upon the earth4 ,the plants lift up their heads out of the earth1 like the eyes of children glistening with delight4 ,my voice recalls the birds4 ,the warmth of my breath unlocks the streams4 ,music fills the groves wherever ,i walk1 and all nature rejoices40 ,at length the sun began to rise4 ,a gentle warmth came over the place4 ,the tongue of the old man became silent4 ,the robin and bluebird began to sing on the top of the lodge4 ,the stream began to murmur by the door1 and the fragrance of growing herbs and flowers came softly on the vernal breeze4 ,daylight fully revealed to the young man the character of his entertainer4 ,when he looked upon him1 he had the icy visage of ,peboan4 ,streams began to flow from his eyes4 ,as the sun increased1 he grew less and less in stature1 and anon had melted completely away4 ,nothing remained on the place of his lodge-fire but the miskodeed1 a small white flower1 with a pink border1 which is one of the earliest species of northern plants4 ,,alaska4 ,the ,thlinkets1 an ,alaskan tribe1 will illustrate the worship of the ,alaskans generally4 ,their religion is a feeble ,polytheism4 ,yehl is the maker of wood and waters4 ,he put the sun1 moon and stars in their places4 ,he lives in the east1 near the head-waters of the ,naass ,river4 ,he makes himself known in the east wind 8,ssankheth10 and his abode is 8,nass-shak-yehl40 ,at that time the sun1 moon and stars were kept by a rich chief in separate boxes1 which he allowed no one to touch4 ,yehl1 by strategy1 secured and opened these boxes1 so that the moon and stars shone in the sky4 ,when the sun-box was opened1 the people1 astonished at the unwonted glare1 ran off into the mountains1 woods1 and even into the water1 becoming animals or fish4 ,he also provided fire and water4 ,having arranged everything for the comfort of the ,thlinkets1 he disappeared where neither man nor spirit can penetrate4 ,as the good spirits1 from the very nature of the case1 will not harm them1 the ,alaskans pay but little attention to them4 ,they give their chief attention to propitiating the evil spirits1 so that their religion practically resolves itself into devil-worship or demonolatry4 ,this is called ,shamanism1 or the giving of offerings to evil spirits to prevent them from doing mischief to the offerer4 ,it is said to have been the old religion of the ,tartar race before the introduction of ,buddhism1 and is still that of the ,siberians4 ,indeed1 ,paul long ago declared1 8the things which the ,gentiles sacrifice1 they sacrifice to devils and not to ,god40 ,the one whose office it is to perform these rites is called a shaman1 and is the sorcerer or medicine-man of the tribes4 ,the shaman has control1 not only of the spirits1 but1 through the spirits1 of disease1 of the elements1 and of nature2 he holds in his power success or misfortune1 blessing or cursing4 8,the honor10 says ,dali1 8with which a shaman is regarded depends on the number of spirits under his control1 who1 properly employed contribute largely to his wealth40 ,,indian ,,sun-,,worship4 ,we are informed that the worship of the sun lies at the foundation of all the ancient mythologies1 deeply enveloped as they are1 when followed over ,asia ,minor and ,europe1 in symbolic and linguistic subtleties and refinements4 ,the symbolic fires erected on temples and altars to ,baal1 ,chemash and ,moloch1 burned brightly in the valley of the ,euphrates long before the pyramids of ,egypt were erected1 or its priestly-hoarded hieroglyphic wisdom resulted in a phonetic alphabet4 ,in ,persia these altars were guarded and religiously fed by a consecrated body of magical priesthood1 who recognized a ,deity in the essence of an eternal fire and a world-pervading light4 ,illustration3 ,,amazonian ,,indians ,,worshiping ,,the ,,sun4 ,the same dogma1 derived apparently from the east and not from the west1 through ,europe1 was fully installed at ,atacama and ,cuzco1 in ,peru1 at ,cholulu1 on the magnificent and volcano-lighted peaks of ,mexico1 and along the fertile deltas of the ,mississippi valley4 ,altar-beds for a sacred fire1 lit to the ,great ,spirit1 under the name and symbolic form of ,cuzis1 or the sun1 where the frankincense of the nicotiana was offered1 with hymns and genuflections1 have been discovered1 in many instances1 under the earth-heaps and artificial mounds and places of sepulture of the ancient inhabitants4 ,intelligent ,indians yet living among the ,north ,american tribes1 point out the symbol of the sun1 in their ancient muzzinabikons or rock-inscriptions1 and also amid the ideographic tracery and bark-scrolls of the hieratic1 or priestly inscriptions1 and of the magical medicine-songs4 ,,amazon ,,sun-,,worship4 ,we turn away to the savage tribes of ,south ,america and find many of the forms of faith and worship which we have seen among the ,northern ,indians and among the nations of the ,eastern world at about the time of the dispersion of the nations4 ,thus among the ,amazon ,indians of ,western ,brazil1 we find the same worship of the sun that we have seen in ,egypt1 in ,assyria1 in ,japan1 and among the ,indians of ,north ,america4 ,a traveler among them says3 8,a sound fell upon our ears that seemed to issue from the depths of a distant cavern4 ,we could tell it to be a chorus of voices1 chanting some sad or solemn refrain4 ,as we listened it grew louder1 as if the chanters were drawing nearer2 and in the same degree1 it was becoming more joyful4 ,all at once a procession appeared approaching the spot1 men marching two and two1 with files of women intermingled4 8,as its head emerged from among the thick-standing tree-trunks1 we recognized our old ,zummate friends1 dressed in all the gala of a grand holiday1 with plumed circlets upon their heads1 feather armlets1 and garters of the same1 girt just below the knee4 8,on reaching the malocca1 they broke ranks1 at the same time bursting into peals of joyous laughter4 ,then surrounding they embraced us1 the chief in a speech again making us welcome to their village4 8,we soon discovered the cause of their absence from home with all these mysterious proceedings4 ,the day was a grand festival--a religious ceremony annually observed by the tribe1 when every man1 woman and child go forth into the woods1 to worship the sun4 8,there1 near the mouth of the ,amazon1 and amid the mountains of ,guiana1 is found the same culte1 observed by the ancient ,peruvians in the days of ,pizarro and the ,mexicans before ,cortez ,christianized them40 ,,the ,,araucanians4 ,the ,araucanians1 in the north-western part of ,south ,america1 believe in a supreme being1 and in many subordinate spirits1 good and bad4 ,they believe also in omens and divinations1 but they have neither temples nor idols1 nor religious rites2 and discover upon the whole so little aptitude for the reception of religious ideas that the ,catholic missionaries that have settled among them have had very little success in imbuing their minds with a knowledge of ,christianity4 ,they believe in a future state1 and have a confused tradition respecting a deluge from which some persons were saved on a high mountain2 but in other respects religious knowledge is lacking4 ,,patagonia4 ,the religion of the ,patagonian is a ,polytheism1 the natives believing that there are great numbers of deities1 some good and some evil4 ,each family is under the guardianship of one of the good deities1 and all the members of that family join him when they die4 ,beside these gods there are subordinate demons1 good to their own friends1 but bad toward all others2 so that1 on the whole1 the bad predominates in them4 ,they are called by the name of ,valichu4 ,yet1 among some of the ,patagonian tribes1 there is a considerable approach to personal religion4 ,it has been thought with some reason that they are totally destitute of religion4 ,this1 however1 is certainly not the case1 as even our limited knowledge of these people1 their language and their habits show that1 even though they may not possess any definite system of worship1 they are still impressed with the idea of some ,being infinitely greater than themselves1 who knows everything that they do4 ,thus they believe in an omniscient ,being2 and such a belief as this1 limited and imperfect though it may be1 is yet a step in the right direction4 ,to this unknown ,being they return thanks for a supply of food after a long famine2 so that we find them acknowledging that the great ,being1 who knows all their deeds1 watches over them and is the giver of all good things4 ,when1 for example1 they have procured a seal1 after having been half starved for months1 they assemble round a fire1 and the oldest man present cuts for each person a piece of the seal1 uttering over each portion a sort of prayer1 and looking upward in devotion to the unseen ,god who had sent them meat in their need4 ,undisciplined as are the ,patagonians1 totally unaccustomed to self-denial and mad with hunger1 not one of them will touch the food until this invocation has been repeated4 ,thus they show a devout spirit4 ,,the ,,aztecs4 ,the religion of the ,mexicans breathed a savage spirit1 which degraded them1 in a moral point of view1 far below the hordes of wandering ,indians4 ,their deities1 represented by misshapen images of serpents and other hideous animals1 were the creation of the darkest passions of the human breast--of terror1 hatred1 cruelty and revenge4 ,they delighted in blood1 and thousands of human sacrifices were annually offered at their shrines4 ,the places of worship1 called ,teocallis1 were pyramids composed of terraces placed one above another1 like the temple of ,belus at ,babylon4 ,these were built of clay1 or of alternate layers of clay and unburnt bricks1 but1 in some cases1 faced with slabs of polished stone1 on which figures of animals were sculptured in relief4 ,one or two small chapels stood upon the summit1 inclosing images of the deity4 ,the largest known ,teocalli contains four stories or terraces1 and has a breadth of #dhj yards at the base and a height of #ee yards4 ,these structures served as temples1 tombs and observatories4 ,illustration3 ,,ancient ,,aztec ,,idol4 ,the ,aztecs believed in one supreme1 invisible creator of all things1 the ruler of the universe1 named ,taotl--a belief1 it is conjectured1 not native to them1 but derived from their predecessors1 the ,taoltecs4 ,under this supreme being stood thirteen chief and two hundred inferior deities1 each of whom had his sacred day and festival4 ,at their head was the patron god of the ,aztecs1 the frightful ,huitzilopochtli1 the ,mexican ,mars4 ,his temples were the most splendid and imposing4 ,in every city of the empire his altars were drenched with the blood of human sacrifice4 ,cortez and his companions were permitted by ,montezuma to enter his temple in the city of ,mexico1 and to behold the god himself4 ,he had a broad face1 wide mouth and terrible eyes4 ,he was covered with gold1 pearls and precious stones1 and was girt about with golden serpents4 ,on his neck1 a fitting ornament1 were the faces of men wrought in silver1 and their hearts in gold4 ,close by were braziers with incense1 and on the braziers three real hearts of men who had that day been sacrificed4 ,the smell of the place1 we are told1 was like that of a slaughter-house4 ,to supply victims for the sacrifices1 the emperors made war on all the neighboring and subsidiary ,states1 or in case of revolt1 in any city of their dominions1 and levied a certain number of men1 women and children by way of indemnity4 ,the victims were borne in triumphal processions and to the sound of music1 to the summit of the great temples1 where the priests1 in sight of assembled crowds1 bound them to the sacrificial stone1 and opening the breast tore from it the bleeding heart which was either laid before the image of the gods1 or eaten by the worshipers1 after having been carefully cut up and mixed with maize4 ,in the years immediately preceding the ,spanish conquest1 not less than #bj1jjj victims were annually immolated4 ,these atrocities were sometimes1 though incongruously1 blended with milder forms of worship1 in which fruits1 flowers and perfumes were offered up amid joyous outbursts of song and dance4 ,according to their mythology1 ,taotl1 who delighted in these purer sacrifices1 had once reigned in ,anahuac 7a name which at first probably applied only to the country in the immediate vicinity of the capital1 though afterward it was applied to the whole ,aztec empire7 in the golden age of the world but being obliged1 from some unexplained cause1 to retire from earth1 he departed by way of the ,mexican ,gulf1 promising to return4 ,this wide-spread tradition accelerated the success of the ,spaniards1 whose light skins and long dark hair and beards were regarded as evidences of their affinity with the long-looked-for divinity4 ,the ,mexican priesthood formed a rich and powerful order of the ,state and were so numerous that ,cortez found as many as #e1jjj attached to the temple of ,mexico4 ,the education of the young of both sexes remained1 till the age of puberty1 in the hands of the priests and priestesses1 and the sacerdotal class were thus able to exercise a widely-diffused influence1 which1 under the later rulers1 was almost equal to that of the emperor himself4 ,the women shared in all the occupations of the men1 and were taught1 like them1 the arts of reading1 writing1 ciphering1 singing in chorus1 dancing1 etc41 and they were even initiated into the secrets of astronomy and astrology4 ,these facts indicate a civilization far above that of many other nations and tribes4 ,illustration3 ,,sun-,,worship ,,among ,,the ,,peruvians4 ,,the ,,incas4 ,the government of ,peru was a theocracy4 ,the ,inca was at once the temporal sovereign and the supreme pontiff4 ,he was regarded as the descendant and representative of the great deity1 the sun1 who was supposed to inspire his counsels1 and speak through his orders and decrees4 ,hence even slight offenses were punished with death1 because they were regarded as insults offered to the divinity4 ,the race of the ,incas was held sacred4 ,to support its pretensions1 it was very desirable that it should be kept pure and distinct from the people2 but human passions are often too strong for the dictates of policy2 and though the marriages of the family were confined to their own race1 the emperor1 as well as the other males of the blood royal1 kept large harems stocked with beauties drawn from all parts of the empire1 and multiplied a spurious progeny1 in whom the blood of the 8children of the sun0 was blended with that of the 8children of the earth40 ,among a simple-minded and credulous people the claims of the ,incas to a celestial origin seem to have been implicitly believed4 ,they were blindly obeyed1 and treated with a respect bordering on adoration1 by the nobles and the common people4 ,the ,peruvians worshiped the sun1 moon1 the evening star1 the spirit of thunder and the rainbow1 and had erected temples in ,cuzco to all these deities4 ,that of the sun1 which was the most magnificent1 had its walls covered with plates of pure gold4 ,the sacrifices consisted of the objects most prized by the people--of grain1 and of fruits1 of a few animals1 and of the productions of their own industry4 ,sun-worship1 as it is the most rational of all forms of idolatry1 is also generally the most mild2 and doubtless this results from the tendency which it has to fix the thoughts on the marks of beneficence and wisdom which are displayed in the works of nature4 ,the ,peruvian temples were accordingly never polluted1 like those of ,mexico1 with the blood of human victims2 and the ,incas even went farther1 and signalized their zeal against such horrid rites1 by suppressing them in all the countries they conquered4 ,illustration3 ,,ancient ,,peruvian ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,sun4 ,the temple of the ,sun at ,cuzco1 called ,coricancha or 8,place of ,gold10 was the most magnificent edifice in the empire4 ,on the western wall1 and opposite the eastern portal1 was a splendid representation of the sun1 the god of the nation4 ,it consisted of a human face in gold1 with innumerable golden rays emanating from it in every direction2 and when the early beams of the morning sun fell upon this brilliant golden disc1 they were reflected from it as from a mirror1 and again reflected throughout the whole temple by the numberless plates1 cornices1 bands and images of gold1 until the temple seemed to glow with a sunshine more intense and glorious than that of nature4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,islands ,,of ,,the ,,seas4 ,i believe that the ignorance which has prevailed regarding the mythological systems of barbarous or semi-barbarous races has too generally led to their being considered far grander and more reasonable than they really were4--,w4 ,,von ,,humboldt4 ,oceanica is one of the five great divisions of the globe4 ,it embraces all the islands lying in the ,pacific ,ocean between the south-eastern shores of ,asia and the western shores of ,america4 ,the people may be divided into two classes2 the one called the ,papuans1 the other the ,malayo-,polynesians4 ,the first resemble the ,african ,negroes1 having a black skin1 and crisp 7,papua means 8crisp07 and woolly hair1 broad noses1 receding chins and foreheads and thick1 protruding lips4 ,these ,oceanica ,negroes live mainly in ,new ,guinea4 ,they are also found in the woods and mountain fastnesses of some other islands4 ,they seemed destined to be utterly destroyed in the struggle with new-coming races4 ,the second1 the ,malayo-,polynesians1 are the brown or copper-colored race of ,oceanica4 ,they greatly resemble the ,arabs in character1 customs and appearance4 ,they are half-civilized1 while the ,papuans are barbarous4 ,they overspread almost the whole of the southern ,pacific ,islands4 ,they readily responded to the religious teachings and civilizing influences of ,asia4 ,in ,java especially they became almost a reproduction of the people of ,india1 in their religion1 language and habits4 ,,the ,,depraved ,,condition ,,of ,,the ,,papuans4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,papuan ,,fetich ,,house4 ,various charms and fetiches are here brought together1 and persons afflicted in all imaginable ways assemble to secure the benefits supposed to emanate from such a collection4 ,fetiches may also be purchased here in sizes and styles to suit the necessities and the means of purchasers4 ,the religious condition of the ,papuans is very low4 ,they resemble somewhat the ,american ,indians and the lower ,african peoples in their faith and worship4 ,the idea of ,god has almost vanished from their minds4 ,they recognize1 indeed1 not a moral ,ruler1 but a great awe-inspiring and mysterious power4 ,their whole worship is a mere attempt at propitiating the angry and malignant gods and evil spirits4 ,there are no shrines or temples1 no priests1 no sacred books4 ,they make fetiches of pieces of sculpture1 a snake1 a lizard1 a bit of bone or sometimes an image of a man4 ,this last is called a karwar and is found in almost every hut1 and answers the purpose of an oracle and idol4 ,in consulting it1 they squat before it1 clasp their hands over the forehead1 bow repeatedly1 at the same time stating their intentions4 ,if they are seized with any nervous feeling1 it is considered a bad sign4 ,if they feel hopeful1 the idol is supposed to approve4 ,it is deemed necessary that a karwar should be present on all important occasions4 ,illustration3 ,,tattooed ,,girl ,,of ,,oceanica4 ,,the ,,pagan ,,polynesians4 ,we see in the ,malayo-,polynesians a reproduction of the worship of the ,aztecs of ,mexico4 ,together with some knowledge of arts and civilization1 the most savage atrocities exist--infanticide1 human sacrifices1 the choking to death of whole families in honor of some fallen chief1 brutish feasts upon the bodies of their foes and even of their fellow-subjects4 ,the chief god is called ,ndengei4 ,besides him there is a host of good and evil gods1 who are always warring in the attempt to help or to hurt mankind4 ,one of these gods of the infernal regions is said to sit upon the brink of a huge fiery cave1 into which he casts the spirits of the dead4 ,another1 the one-toothed ,lord1 is described as living in the figure of a man1 with wings instead of arms1 and claws instead of fingers1 to snatch his victims4 ,his tooth is so large that it reaches above his head1 and he throws out sparks of fire as he flies through the air4 ,illustration3 ,,polynesian ,,idol ,,and ,,its ,,devotees4 ,among this people there is a priesthood1 and their temples1 or 8spirit-houses10 are called ,mbure4 ,they are exceedingly devout in their way and superstitious4 ,their religious ideas enter into their every-day life4 ,they have some interesting traditions1 from which a few selections may be used as illustrative of the whole4 ,,traditionary ,,origin ,,of ,,human ,,priesthood4 ,the gods first spake to man through the small land-birds2 but their utterances were too indistinct to guide the actions of mankind4 ,to meet this emergency1 an order of priests was set apart1 the gods actually taking up their abode1 for the time being1 in their sacred persons4 ,priests were significantly named 8god-boxes0 7pia-atna71 generally abbreviated to 8gods10 i4 e41 living embodiments of these divinities4 ,temples were naturally conjoined with priesthood1 but they were usually of the rudest and simplest sort4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,fijian ,,bure ,,temple4 ,whenever consulted1 a present of the best food1 accompanied with a bowl of intoxicating 8piper mythisticum10 was indispensible4 ,the priest1 throwing himself into a frenzy1 delivered a response in language intelligible only to the initiated4 ,a favorite subject of inquiry was 8the sin why so-and-so was ill20 no one being supposed to die a natural death unless decrepit with extreme old age4 ,if a priest cherished a spite against anybody1 he had only to declare it to be the will of the divinity that the victim should be put to death1 or be laid on the altar for some offense against the gods4 ,the best kinds of food were sacred to the priests and chiefs and they were never slow to make use of it4 ,although unsuited for the delivery of oracles1 birds were ever regarded as the special messengers of the gods to warn individuals of impending danger1 each tribe having its own feathered guardians4 ,,polynesian ,,notion ,,of ,,the ,,sun ,,and ,,moon4 ,a curious myth obtained in the now almost extinct ,tongan tribe relative to the origin of the sun and moon4 ,vtea and ,tonga-ita quarreled respecting the parentage of the first born of ,papa1 each claiming the child as his own4 ,at last the child was cut in two4 ,vtea1 the husband of ,papa1 took the upper part as his share1 and forthwith squeezed it into a ball and tossed it into the heavens1 where it became the sun4 ,illustration3 ,,idol ,,of ,,south ,,sea ,,islands4 ,tonga-ita sullenly allowed his share1 the lower half1 to remain a day or two on the ground4 ,seeing the brightness of ,vtea's half1 he resolved to imitate his example by compressing his share into a ball1 and tossing it into the dark sky during the absence of the sun in ,avaiki1 or nether-world4 ,thus originated the moon1 whose paleness is attributed to the blood having all drained out of the body as it lay so long on the ground and to decomposition having commenced4 ,they believed that men could become gods4 ,mni1 by his mighty prowess1 entered the rank of the gods1 and his example could be followed by others4 ,,tradition ,,of ,m,,ni',s ,,securing ,,the ,,fire-,,god's ,,secret4 ,one of the most peculiar traditions of ,oceanica is this3 ,to ,ru and ,buataranga was born a famous son1 ,mni4 ,at an early age1 ,mni was appointed one of the guardians of this upper world where mortals live4 ,like the rest of the inhabitants of the world1 he subsisted on uncooked food4 ,the mother1 ,buataranga1 occasionally visited her son1 but always ate her food apart1 out of a basket brought with her from nether-land4 ,one day1 when she was asleep1 ,mni peeped into her basket1 and discovered cooked food4 ,upon tasting it1 he was decidedly of opinion that it was a great improvement upon the raw diet to which he was accustomed4 ,this food came from nether-world2 it was evident that the secret of fire was there4 ,to nether-world1 the home of his parents1 he would descend to gain this knowledge1 so that ever after he might enjoy the luxury of cooked food4 ,illustration3 ,,great ,,idol ,,of ,,oceanica1 ,six feet in ,height4 ,on the following day ,buataranga was about to descend to ,avaiki 7nether-world71 when ,mni followed her through the bush without her knowing it4 ,this was no difficult task1 as she always came and returned by the same road4 ,peering through the tall reeds1 he saw his mother standing within easy hearing distance of him and directly opposite a black rock1 which she addressed as follows3 8,buataranga1 descend thou boldly through this chasm1 ,the rainbow-like must be obeyed2 ,as two dark clouds parting at dawn1 ,open1 open up my road to nether-world1 ye fierce ones40 ,illustration3 ,,hawaiian ,,idol1 ,,known ,,as ,,the ,,poison ,,god4 ,at these words1 the rock divided1 and ,buataranga descended4 ,mni carefully treasured up these magic words1 and without delay started off to see the god ,tane1 the owner of some wonderful pigeons4 ,he earnestly begged ,tane to lend him one2 but the proffered pigeon not pleasing ,mni1 was at once returned to its owner4 ,a better pigeon was offered to the fastidious borrower1 but was rejected4 ,nothing would content ,mni but the possession of ,akaotu1 or ,fearless1 a red pigeon1 specially prized by ,tane4 ,it was so tame that it knew its name2 and1 wander wherever it might1 it was sure to return to its master4 ,tane1 who was loth to part with his pet1 extracted a promise from ,mni that the pigeon should be restored to him uninjured4 ,mni now set off in high spirits1 carrying with him his red pigeon1 to the place where his mother had descended4 ,upon pronouncing the magic words which he had overheard1 to his great delight1 the rock opened1 and ,mni1 entering the pigeon1 descended4 ,some assert that ,mni transformed himself into a small dragon-fly1 and1 perched upon the back of the pigeon1 made his descent4 ,the two fierce guardian demons of the chasm1 enraged at finding themselves imposed upon by a stranger1 made a grab at the pigeon1 intending to devour it4 ,fortunately1 however1 for the borrower1 they only succeeded in getting possession of the tail1 whilst the pigeon1 minus its beautiful tail1 pursued its flight to the shades4 ,mni was grieved at the mishap which had overtaken the pet bird of his friend ,tane4 ,arrived at nether-land1 ,mni sought for the home of his mother4 ,it was the first house he saw2 he was guided to it by the sound of her clothflail4 ,the red pigeon alighted on an ovenhouse opposite to the shed where ,buataranga was beating out cloth4 ,she stopped her work to gaze at the red pigeon1 which she guessed to be a visitor from the upper world1 as none of the pigeons in the shades were red4 ,buataranga said to the bird1 8,are you not come from daylight80 ,the pigeon nodded assent4 8,are you not my son1 ,mni80 inquired the old woman4 ,again the pigeon nodded4 ,at this ,buataranga entered her dwelling and the bird flew to a bread-fruit tree4 ,mni resumed his proper human form1 and went to embrace his mother1 who inquired how he had descended to nether-world1 and the object of his visit4 ,mni avowed that he had come to learn the secret of fire4 ,buataranga said1 8,this secret rests with the fire-god1 ,manike4 ,when ,i wish to cook an oven1 ,i ask your father ,ru to beg a lighted stick from ,manike40 ,mni inquired where the fire-god lived4 ,his mother pointed out the direction1 and said it was called ,are-aoa--house-of-banyan-sticks4 ,she entreated ,mni to be careful1 8for the fire-god is a terrible fellow1 of a very irritable temper40 ,illustration3 ,,idol ,,from ,,polynesia4 ,mni now walked up boldly toward the house of the fire-god1 guided by the curling column of smoke4 ,manike1 who happened at the moment to be cooking an oven of food1 stopped his work and demanded what the stranger wanted4 ,mni replied1 8,a fire-brand40 ,the fire-brand was given4 ,mni carried it to a stream running past the bread-fruit tree and there extinguished it4 ,he now returned to ,manike and obtained a second fire-brand1 which he also extinguished in the stream4 ,a third time a lighted stick was demanded of the fire-god4 ,he was beside himself with rage4 ,raking the ashes of his oven1 he gave the daring ,mni some of them on a piece of dry wood4 ,these live coals were thrown into the stream as the former lighted sticks had been4 ,mni correctly thought that a fire-brand would be of little use1 unless he could obtain the secret of fire4 ,the brand would eventually go out2 but how to reproduce the fire8 ,his object1 therefore1 was to pick a quarrel with the fire-god1 and compel him1 by sheer violence1 to yield up the invaluable secret1 as yet known to none but himself4 ,on the other hand1 the fire-god1 confident in his own prodigious strength1 resolved to destroy this insolent intruder into his secret4 ,mni1 for the fourth time1 demanded fire of the enraged god4 ,manike ordered him away1 under pain of being tossed into the air2 for ,mni was small of stature4 ,but the visitor said he should enjoy nothing better than a trial of strength with the fire-god4 ,manike entered his dwelling to put on his war-girdle 7ume-i-tono maro72 but on returning1 found that ,mni had swelled himself to an enormous size4 ,nothing daunted at this1 ,manike boldly seized him with both hands and hurled him to the height of a cocoanut tree4 ,mni contrived1 in falling1 to make himself so light that he was in no degree hurt by his adventure4 ,manike1 maddened that his adversary should yet breathe1 exerted his full strength1 and next time hurled him far higher than the highest cocoanut tree that ever grew4 ,yet ,mni was unhurt by his fall1 whilst the fire-god lay panting for breathe4 ,it was now ,mni's turn4 ,seizing the fire-god1 he threw him up to a dizzy height1 and caught him again like a ball with his hands4 ,without allowing ,manike to touch the ground1 he threw him a second time into the air1 and caught him in his hands4 ,assured that this was but a preparation for a final toss1 which should seal his fate1 the panting and thoroughly exhausted ,manike entreated ,mni to stop and spare his life4 ,whatever ,mni desired ,manike promised should be his4 ,illustration3 ,,new ,,zealand ,,moon-,,god4 ,the fire-god1 now in a miserable plight1 was allowed to breathe awhile4 ,mni said3 8,only on one condition will ,i spare you--tell me the secret of fire4 ,where is it hidden8 ,how is it produced80 ,manike gladly promised to tell him all he knew1 and led him inside his wonderful dwelling4 ,in one corner there was a quantity of fine cocoanut-fibre2 in another1 bundles of fire-yielding sticks--the 8au10 the 8oronga10 the 8tauinu10 and particularly the 8aoa10 or banyan tree4 ,these sticks were all dry and ready for use4 ,in the middle of the room were two smaller sticks by themselves4 ,one of these the fire-god gave to ,mni1 desiring him to hold it firmly1 while he himself plied the other most vigorously1 uttering as he did it the following song3 ,,the ,,fire-,,god',s ,,song4 ,grant1 oh1 grant me thy hidden fire1 ,thou banyan tree6 ,perform an incantation2 ,utter a prayer to 7the spirit of7 ,the banyan tree6 ,kindle a fire for ,manike ,of the dust of the banyan tree6 ,by the time this song was completed ,mni1 to his great joy1 perceived a faint smoke arising out of the fine dust produced by the friction of one stick upon another4 ,as they persevered in their work the smoke increased1 and1 favored with the fire-god's breath1 a slight flame arose1 when the fine cocoanut fibre was called into requisition1 to catch and increase the flame4 ,manike now called to his aid the different bundles of sticks1 and speedily got up a blazing fire1 to the astonishment and great delight of ,mni4 ,the grand secret of fire was thus secured4 ,but the victor resolved to be revenged for his trouble and his tossing in the air1 by setting fire to his fallen adversary's abode4 ,in a short time all nether-world was in flames1 which consumed the fire-god and all he possessed4 ,even the rocks cracked and split with the heat2 hence the ancient saying in that land1 8,the rocks of ,orovaru 7in the shades7 are burning40 ,ere leaving the land of ghosts1 ,mni carefully picked up the two fire-sticks1 once the property of ,manike1 and hastened to the bread-fruit tree1 where the red pigeon1 8,fearless10 quietly awaited his return4 ,his first care was to restore the tail of the bird1 so as to avoid the anger of ,tane4 ,there was no time to be lost1 for the flames were rapidly spreading4 ,he re-entered the pigeon1 which carried his fire-sticks one in each claw1 and flew to the lower entrance of the chasm4 ,once more pronouncing the words he learnt from ,buataranga1 the rocks parted1 and he safely got back to this upper world4 ,through the good offices of his mother1 the pigeon met with no opposition from the fierce guardians of the road to the shades4 ,on again entering into light the red pigeon took a long sweep1 alighting1 eventually1 in a lovely1 secluded valley1 which was thenceforth named ,rupe-tau1 or the pigeon's resting-place4 ,mni now resumed his original human form1 and hastened to carry back the pet bird to his friend1 ,tane4 ,passing through the main valley of ,keia1 he found that the flames had preceded him1 and had found an aperture at ,teava1 since closed up4 ,the kings ,rangi and ,mokoiro trembled for their land2 for it seemed as if everything would be destroyed by the devouring flames4 ,to save ,mangaia from utter destruction1 they exerted themselves to the utmost1 and finally succeeded in putting out the fire4 ,rangi thenceforth adopted the new name of ,matamea1 or ,watery-eyes1 to commemorate his sufferings2 and ,mokoiro was ever after called ,anai1 or ,smoke4 ,illustration3 ,,hawaiian ,,war-,,god1 ,covered with red feathers1 having seal's teeth and eyes of pearl4 ,the inhabitants of ,mangaia availed themselves of the conflagration to get fire and to cook food4 ,but after a little time their fire went out1 and as they were not in possession of the secret1 they could not get new fire4 ,but ,mni was never without fire in his dwelling2 a circumstance that excited the surprise and the envy of all4 ,many were the inquiries as to the cause4 ,at length he took compassion on the inhabitants of the world1 and told them the wonderful secret--that fire lies hidden in the hibiscus1 the urtica argentra1 the 8tauniu10 and the 8banyan40 ,this hidden fire might be elicited by the use of fire-sticks1 which he produced4 ,finally1 he desired them to chant the fire-god's song1 to give efficacy to the use of the sticks1 and from that memorable day all the dwellers in this upper world used fire-sticks with success1 and enjoyed the luxuries of light and cooked food4 ,by such wonderful deeds ,mni succeeded in introducing himself among the gods4 ,he is to-day much reverenced throughout the ,pacific ,isles4 ,,chapter ,,xix4#d ,,the ,,karens ,,and ,,their ,,traditions4 ,the ,karens are a meek1 peaceful race1 simple and credulous1 with many of the softer virtues and few flagrant vices4 ,though greatly addicted to drunkenness1 extremely filthy and indolent in their habits1 their morals1 in other respects1 are superior to many more civilized races4 ,their traditions1 like those of several tribes of ,american ,indians1 are a curious medley of myth and absurdity2 but they have some tolerably definite ideas of a ,great ,being1 who governs the universe2 and many of their traditionary precepts bears a striking resemblance to those of the ,gospel4--,,mrs4 ,,emily ,c4 ,,judson4 ,although the ,karens1 as we now know them1 are divided into two main clans and numerous smaller divisions1 having different tribal customs and speaking different dialects1 yet their religious customs are marked by the same distinctive features in all the tribes4 ,the ,karens are not now1 and never have been1 so far as can be ascertained1 idol worshipers4 ,they look with cool contempt upon the religious forms of the idolaters by whom they are surrounded4 ,the few ,karens who have so far forgotten their ancient customs as to give a formal adherence to ,buddhist ceremonies1 are looked upon as renegades by their fellow-countrymen4 ,this feature marks them as entirely foreign in origin to the country in which they are now found4 ,this is confirmed by their own traditions1 which declare that they came from the north-west1 following the mountain ranges until they found themselves in ,burmah1 where their home now is4 ,these same traditions also declare unmistakably that they once worshiped the true ,god1 whom they call in their own language ,yuah or ,k'tsah ,yuah1 the latter term meaning 8the ,lord ,yuah40 ,karens1 however1 will seldom repeat this name2 the heathen declining positively1 and many of the less informed ,christians showing a strange reluctance to repeating it4 ,the reason they give is that the word ,yuah1 in common speech1 means to flow down or away1 and the ,karens say that to use this name carelessly will cause the favor of ,god to flow away from them4 ,although the ,karens1 however1 show this strange reverence for the name of ,god1 a reverence which reminds us of the similar feeling among the ,jews for the sacred name ,jah or ,yah which the ,karen so closely resembles1 yet they do not worship this ,lord ,yuah1 as a rule4 ,indeed in most cases the only sign of worship given to him is the exclamation1 8,ba ,pa ,k'tsah60 used when one is startled or suddenly alarmed4 ,this phrase means literally 8worship ,father ,god10 or1 colloquially1 8we worship ,god40 ,further than this a ,karen scarcely ever offers any form of worship to this ,being whom they acknowledge to be in very truth the one living supreme ,god4 ,the reason for this failure to worship ,yuah is accounted for by the following strange tradition1 which we give as it is commonly repeated around the camp-fires1 or in the huts of the ,karens1 as they while away the cool1 quiet nights which succeed the burning days of ,burmah3 8,we once1 oh6 children and grandchildren1 had the ,law of ,yuah1 and worshiped him as the only living and true ,god4 ,this law was a written book1 and was made of skin1 the skin of an animal4 ,yuah gave us his law because we were his favored children4 ,yuah had seven sons1 and his oldest son1 the first-born of his creation1 was our ancestor1 the first of our nation and the first of men4 8,yuah told us to be very careful of his law1 and for a time our ancestors read his book and kept his commandments1 for they feared that if they did not1 ,pa ,k'tsah 7,father ,god1 for that is the real name of ,yuah7 would flow 7,yuah7 away from them4 8,by and by1 however1 our ancestors became careless4 ,they had many gardens to make1 and they grew forgetful of the book of the law1 and one day they left it upon a low tree1 and the fowls flew up to roost in the evening1 and threw the book down to the ground2 and then a dog came and carried it away1 and gnawed it4 ,pa ,k'tsah was so displeased that he took away his law from us and gave it to our younger brother1 the white man4 ,then ,yuah left us4 ,he said3 #8,oh1 my children1 you are now in the power of the evil spirits1 who hate men4 ,you can only appease their anger by sacrifices4 ,i am going far away2 but do not despair4 ,one day your younger brother1 the white man1 will come to you in ships from the west1 and will bring you back again the long-lost law of ,yuah4 ,then you will be happy1 for the evil ones will leave you1 and ,i will return4 ,till then you must wait and watch4 ,you shall be afflicted with sickness when the evil ones eat your spirits4 ,you shall be slaves to your brethren2 but one day all will be right1 when your younger brother1 the white stranger1 brings you again my law40 ,then1 say the ,karens1 began our troubles and sorrows4 ,since then the ,karens have regarded themselves as living in a world of evil spirits1 and their religious ceremonies are simply propitiatory sacrifices and prayers to these evil beings1 intended to conciliate and flatter them4 ,illustration3 ,,christian ,,karen ,,girls4 ,when sickness afflicts a ,karen1 it is supposed to be the result of an attack upon him by one of these evil beings4 ,the ,karens say that a man has seven spirits2 that when we sleep all these spirits leave us and wander about the earth2 what they see in their wanderings1 we will see in our dreams4 ,now1 the evil spirits1 according to the belief of the ,karens1 are on the watch to catch the spirits of men and devour them4 ,if one is caught1 the man falls sick2 if another1 he grows worse2 if all1 he dies4 ,the evil spirits may be appeased by a sacrificial feast1 and may release the captive soul4 ,so a feast is proclaimed1 and all the family of the sick man--sometimes all his immediate relations--gather together and partake of it with great ceremony1 offering portions of the food to the spirits1 by exposing them outside the house or village1 where they are quickly seized by birds4 ,these feasts are accompanied by intercessory prayer to the evil spirits to release the captive soul from their toils4 ,the streams1 the forest1 even particular trees1 are supposed to be the haunts of these evil ones4 ,so a ,karen1 when fishing1 mutters a prayer to the tutelary spirit1 or if he fells a tree1 first mutters a prayer or makes a propitiatory offering4 ,in sowing and reaping the grain1 or planting fruit-trees1 and gathering fruit1 similar ceremonies are observed4 ,after death solemn funeral services are held4 ,the soul is supposed to be immortal and to exist in ,hades4 ,from this ,hades we are separated by a stream1 impassable1 save as the soul is carried over upon the wings of a bird1 to which they give various names4 ,the soul is supposed to linger near the grave or place of sepulture until a solemn commemorative service is held1 a month1 or more commonly1 a year1 after the decease of the body4 ,at this time a feast is proclaimed4 ,all the villagers and relatives are gathered together4 ,a bone of the deceased is then taken from the grave1 usually the back-bone1 and shrined in a carved wooden shrine1 which is surmounted by the figure of the sacred bird4 ,dirges1 exceedingly poetic and beautiful1 are sung to minor strains4 ,a procession of young men and maidens moves round the shrine1 bewailing the deceased and speaking of the hopes of his safe entrance into a beautiful land1 or1 as the northern tribes call it1 the 8silver city40 ,the feast lasts for a number of days1 usually seven1 but if the family of the deceased is rich1 it is sometimes prolonged to a month4 ,the bone is then buried with great ceremony1 and the soul is supposed to enter its state of rest2 yet not a state of perfect happiness1 for say the ,karens1 8,no one can obtain blessedness until ,yuah returns and brings with him happiness for this life and for that which is to come40 ,mrs4 ,vinton1 a missionary to ,burmah1 wrote3 8,the ,karens in general listen with great interest when we tell them of ,god1 and frequently exclaim1 #8,that is what our forefathers told us6 ,that is right6 ,that is good6' ,i have endeavored to discover how their forefathers came by a knowledge of ,god2 but they always answer1 #8,our ancestors knew ,him from the beginning1 but when they sinned against ,him ,he hid ,himself from them2 and their descendants after them knew not how to worship ,him2 and1 as ,he did not protect them from evil spirits1 they were obliged to offer sacrifices to them to appease their wrath4' 8,they tell us of many attempts #8to return to the worship of the ,god who made the earth1 and the heavens1 and all things4' 8,these efforts have sometimes been continued for months1 and even years2 but the poor ,karens have invariably fallen a sacrifice to the brutal persecutions of the ,burmans4 8,one village of nearly a thousand inhabitants worshiped ,god in this way for some time1 unknown to the ,burmans2 but when the latter learned the fact they sent an armed force to destroy the village4 ,some of the ,karens inquired of their leader if they should fight4 #8,no1' replied the chief1 #8it is inconsistent with the worship of our ,god to fight4 ,we will cast ourselves upon ,his protection4' ,they then opened their gates1 brought forth their weapons of defense1 and laid them at the feet of their enemies4 ,thus defenseless1 they were immediately slain by their cruel oppressors1 the ,burmans40 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,the ,,fire-,,worshipers4 ,a ,parsee believes in one ,god1 to whom he addresses his prayers4 ,his morality is comprised in these words--pure thoughts1 pure words1 pure deeds4--,f4 ,,max ,m,,ller4 ,modern ,parsees decidedly object to being called fire-worshipers1 and declare the designation untrue4 ,they are undoubtedly taught from their youth up to turn their face to some light-giving object while engaged in worshiping ,god1 and they certainly regard the fire as an emblem of the power of ,god4 ,yet they declare that they never worship these1 neither they nor their fathers4 ,the name has been given them from most ancient times2 and they confess that if there is not a national worship of the sun and fire1 there is yet an indescribable awe which every ,parsee feels toward these objects4 ,the ,parsees are the only ,eastern people who totally abstain from smoking tobacco4 ,they do not even like to blow out a candle4 ,in many other respects1 this is a singular people1 whose religious faith we are about to describe4 ,but1 first1 let us turn to its history4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,parsee ,,merchant ,,of ,,bombay4 ,to-day only about one one-hundredth part of the whole human race are ,parsees2 but there have been times when this system bade fair to become the prevalent religion of the world4 ,it is one of the oldest of reformed religions4 ,it grew up upon the idolatrous worship of the ancient ,assyrian empire4 ,in the days of ,cyrus the ,great this was the ,state religion of ,persia4 ,had ,greece fallen before him1 and been absorbed into his vast empire1 as had ,assyria1 ,babylon and ,egypt1 the ,grecian religion would have yielded a place to the ,parsee's faith4 ,parseeism was possessed of great strength1 and resisted all attacks upon its life until a thousand years since1 when the ,arabians brought ,mohammedanism into the land of ,persia4 ,from that time it has been a curiosity to historians1 and its followers are rapidly dwindling away2 and ere long the fires of its faith will die out1 and it will become one of the religions of the past4 ,,zoroaster1 ,,the ,,prophet ,,of ,,ormazd4 ,this system is called generally by either one of three names--,parseeism1 ,fire-worship or ,zoroasteranism4 ,it is sometimes called the doctrine of the ,magi4 ,its usual name is derived from him who was the most celebrated man in the history of this faith4 ,zoroaster is sometimes called the son of ,ormazd4 ,he probably lived about #a1bjj years before ,christ4 ,the exact date cannot be ascertained4 ,it is certain that it was in very early times1 because he and his religious reform are referred to in the ,vedas1 whose great antiquity has been proven4 ,his writings stand at the head of the sacred ,parsee books1 just as ,moses' writings stand at the beginning of our ,bible4 ,it took hundreds of years for the sacred ,parsee books to grow1 and they were completed in #djj ,b4,c4 ,pliny compares ,moses and ,zoroaster as founders of great religions4 ,he certainly was one of the earliest and greatest of religious reformers4 ,his teachings can be learned only from the older ,parsee books1 the ,gathas4 ,his principal tenet was that there is one ,god and not many gods4 ,in his speculations he taught that there were two forces opposed to each other1 a good being and an evil being2 his followers afterwards declared these to be a good god and an evil god--,ormazd and ,ahriman4 ,in his moral teachings he declared that three things were to be kept pure2 namely1 thoughts1 words and deeds4 ,,zoroaster',s ,,worship ,,of ,,one ,,god4 ,in one of the ,gathas 7a division of the ,zend-,avesta or sacred ,parsee books71 ,zoroaster is represented as standing before the sacred fire1 in a speech seeking to induce his countrymen to forsake the worship of the devas or gods1 and to bow only to ,ormazd4 ,in his speech he declares that from the worship of one ,god flow all prosperities1 while from the worship of many gods comes ruin to the race4 ,the following is a translation of his speech1 made by ,haug the famous ,parsee scholar3 8#a4 ,i will now tell you who are assembled here the wise sayings of ,mazda 7i4e41 ,ormazd7 the hymns of the good spirit1 the sublime truth which ,i see arising out of these sacred flames40 8#b4 ,you shall1 therefore1 hearken to the soul of nature1 7i4e41 to plow and cultivate the soil72 contemplate the beams of fire with a most pious mind6 ,every one1 both men and women1 ought to-day to choose his creed 7between deva-worship and the ,ormazd religion74 ,ye offspring of renowned ancestors1 awake to agree with us40 ,again and again ,zoroaster reverts to this theme4 ,it does seem as if his ideas of ,ormazd greatly resembled those of ,moses of ,elohim or ,jehovah4 ,though the ancient ,zoroastrians believed in an evil spirit of almost equal power with ,ormazd1 yet ,zoroaster himself taught nothing of this4 ,with all the ardor of ,mohammed he waged war against the worship of many gods and idols1 but with none of ,mohammed's iconoclastic zeal4 ,zoroaster pursued his course peacefully1 seeking to win his countrymen by his words2 ,mohammed sought to carry his faith at the point of the sword4 ,both sought the same end1 to establish the worship of one ,god4 ,,ormazd ,,and ,,ahriman4 ,zoroaster taught that there were two spirits always at war with one another4 ,his followers changed his teaching into belief in a good ,god1 ,ormazd1 and an evil god1 ,ahriman4 ,ormazd brings blessings1 ,ahriman cursings4 ,ormazd is the father of truth1 ,ahriman is father of lies4 ,ormazd favors the good1 ,ahriman causes the evil to triumph4 ,with the two gods is associated the idea of two lives1 a good and a bad2 of two future homes for man1 a ,heaven and a ,hell4 ,heaven is literally a 8house of hymns10 and ,hell a 8house of destruction40 ,the first is the dwelling-place of ,ormazd1 the latter of ,ahriman4 ,between ,heaven and ,hell is the 8bridge of the gatherer10 over which the souls of the pious can pass1 while those of the wicked fall into ,hell4 ,throughout the ,zend-,avesta we find many teachings bearing a wondrous resemblance to those of the ,christian and ,jewish ,scriptures4 ,beyond a question1 these are not derived from one another1 but are founded on those convictions of truth which are a part of our human nature4 ,,finding ,,of ,,the ,,zend-,,avesta4 ,it is only recently that ,europeans have been able to learn the contents of the ,bible of the ,fire-,worshipers1 the ,zend-,avesta4 ,in the middle of the last century a ,frenchman1 ,anquetil ,duperron1 happened to see some pages written in the ,avesta characters4 ,hoping to earn the honor of opening the sacred scriptures of the ,parsees to the western world1 he determined to go and get in ,western ,india full copies of these writings and there to learn the language4 ,being very poor1 he joined one of the ,french ,indian ,company's ships as a common sailor1 for the ,french ,government had refused to encourage his enterprise4 ,but when he arrived in ,india he found that the government had determined differently and would aid him4 ,but the ,parsee priests would neither give nor loan him manuscripts nor teach him the language of the ,zend-,avesta4 ,finally he managed to bribe a learned priest4 ,his translation appeared in the year #agga1 after seventeen years of toil and study4 ,his work created an immense sensation in ,europe4 ,for fifty years but little was done in ,europe in addition to ,duperron's work4 ,in #ahcj1 ,eugene ,burnouf1 a most gifted scholar1 gave his attention to the work4 ,others followed in his track1 until now we have complete and accurate translations of all the ,parsee sacred books in existence4 ,,the ,,parsee ,,bible4 ,this consists of the writings and sayings of ,zoroaster and the commentaries on these prepared by his disciples4 ,much of the ,zend-,avesta is lost beyond recovery4 ,when ,alexander the ,great conquered the ,persian empire1 he and his soldiers destroyed many of these books4 ,in the royal library at ,persepolis was a complete copy of the ,zend-,avesta1 which1 by ,alexander's orders1 was burned with the building containing them4 ,the names of these books1 of which there were twenty-one1 remain1 together with a description of them4 ,in these books was gathered the whole religious and scientific literature of the ancient ,persian empire4 ,they treated not only of religious topics1 but of medicine1 astronomy1 agriculture1 botany1 philosophy1 etc4 ,the foundation underlying all these books was given by ,zoroaster4 ,god revealed all this to him1 as the ,parsees have always believed1 and hence all these books are inspired4 ,the prophet was supposed to have talked with ,god1 asking ,him questions and receiving answers4 ,these answers ,zoroaster communicated to his disciples4 ,thus we read in the ,zend-,avesta3 8,that ,i shall ask ,thee1 tell it me right1 ,o ,ormazd6 ,who was in the beginning the father and creator of righteousness8 ,who created the path of the sun and stars8 ,who caused the moon to increase and wane but ,thou8 ,this ,i wish to know1 ,o ,mazda6 besides what ,i know already4 8,that ,i shall ask ,thee1 tell it me right1 ,o ,ormazd6 ,who is holding the earth and the skies above it8 ,who made the waters and the trees of the field8 ,who is in the winds and storms that they so quickly run8 ,who is the creator of the good-minded beings1 ,o ,ormazd8 8,that ,i shall ask ,thee1 tell it me right1 ,o ,ormazd6 ,who created the lights of good effect and the darkness8 ,who created the sleep of good effect and the activity8 ,who created morning1 noon and night1 reminding the priest always of his duties8 8,that ,i shall ask ,thee1 tell it me right1 ,o ,ormazd6 ,what guardian angel may tell me good things to perform five times a day1 the duties which are enjoined by ,thyself1 ,o ,mazda8 and to recite those prayers which are communicated for the welfare of all beings by the good mind8 ,whatever good1 intended for the increase of life1 is to be had1 may it come to me60 ,the ,dashers or high-priests are the only ones who are now expected to be able to understand the meaning of the ,zend-,avesta2 they are expected to thoroughly study it4 ,all that remains of the ,parsee ,bible to-day are the following books3 the ,yasna1 ,visparad1 ,vendidad and twenty-four ,yashts4 ,the ,yasnas are hymns used for sacrifice4 ,they are solemnly recited before the fire4 ,the priest takes some consecrated water1 bread1 butter1 fresh milk1 meat1 the branches of the ,homa plant with a pomegranate branch1 the hair of an ox and a bundle of twigs4 ,these are all placed on a marble table opposite to the fire on the hearth of the temple4 ,then the priest repeats the ,yasnas1 sometimes half-chanting1 half-reciting them4 ,thus1 8,blessed is he1 blessed is every one1 to whom ,ormazd1 ruling by his own will1 shall grant the two everlasting powers1 health and immortality4 ,for this very good1 ,i beseech ,thee4 ,mayest ,thou through ,thine angel of piety1 ,armaiti1 give me happiness1 the good true things1 and the possession of the good mind4 8,i believe ,thee to be the best ,being of all1 the source of light for all the world4 ,every one shall choose ,thee as the source of light1 ,thee1 ,o ,mazda1 most beneficent spirit6 ,thou createst all good true things by means of the power of ,thy good mind at any time1 and promised us1 who believe in ,thee1 a long life4 8,standing at ,thy fire1 amongst ,thy worshipers who pray to ,thee1 ,i will be mindful of righteousness as long as ,i shall be able40 ,the ,visparad is a collection of prayers in twenty-three chapters4 ,they are used much in the same way as the ,yasnas4 ,they resemble many of the ,vedic prayers of the ,hindu religion4 ,the ,yashts contain directions for the sacrifices and hymns of prayer and praise4 ,the ,vendidad is the code of the religious1 civil and criminal laws of the ,parsees4 ,it consists of twenty-two chapters4 ,,parsee ,,worship4 ,the ,parsee religion enters into the home-life of all its adherents4 ,the holy fire is kept always burning in the high-priest's house1 and the people go there to re-light their household altar-fires4 ,a ,parsee merchant1 ,mr4 ,dadabhai ,naoroji1 has described the daily life of the fire-worshiper4 ,some of their practices are decidedly disgusting4 ,a pious ,parsee must say his prayers at least sixteen times every day--on getting out of bed1 in washing with nirang 7a vile fluid1 supposed to be sacred71 in taking his bath1 cleansing his teeth4 ,every time that he washes his hands he repeats his prayers1 and every meal begins and ends with prayers4 ,the priests of to-day do not even understand the old ,zend language1 in which these prayers are said4 ,mr4 ,naoroji says3 8,all prayers1 on every occasion1 are said1 or rather recited1 in the old original ,zend language2 neither the reciter nor the people around intend to be edified1 no one understanding a word of it4 ,there is no pulpit among the ,parsees4 ,on some special occasions there are assemblages in the temples1 and prayers are repeated4 ,ordinarily1 every one goes to the fire-temple whenever he likes1 or1 if it is convenient to him1 recites his prayers himself1 and as long as he likes1 and gives1 if so inclined1 something to the priests to pray for him40 ,the ,parsees have only one wife4 ,they never eat food cooked by a person of another religion than their own2 they object to eating beef1 pork or ham4 ,the priesthood is a family office2 none but the son of a priest can become a priest4 ,fire is used in connection with all their worship as the symbol and 7so some say7 the representative of ,god4 ,often one may see in ,bombay1 ,india1 as the sun lowers in the west1 a group of ,parsees with heads reverently bowed1 and hands clasped1 repeating their prayers4 ,light and fire of any sort are regarded with great reverence1 and the ,parsee always turns his face to a light-giving object when praying4 ,the greatest respect is shown to the source of light and heat1 the sun1 and to the sacred fire in the temple or the high-priest's house4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,china ,,and ,,her ,,philosophers4 ,the teachings of ,lao-,tsze are not unlike those of ,zeno2 both recommend retirement and contemplation as the most effectual means of purifying the spiritual part of our nature1 annihilating the material passions and finally returning to the bosom of the supreme ,reason4 ,,hon4 ,s4 ,,wells ,,williams1 ,,ll4 ,d4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,ornaments ,,with ,,words ,,of ,,cheer4 ,we now proceed to notice two of the three religions of ,china1 ,taoism and ,confucianism1 leaving ,buddhism until the chapter on ,buddhism4 ,one-third of all the people of the world are gathered in ,china4 ,considered in every way it is a gigantic empire4 ,its territory stretches over about one-third of the continent of ,asia and1 next to ,russia1 is the largest connected empire on the earth4 ,within its borders occur some of the highest mountains and largest rivers in the world4 ,the pass over the ,mei-ling in the north of ,kwang-tung province1 is #h1jjj feet above the sea4 ,the ,yellow ,river is over #b1jjj miles long and the ,yangtse ,kiang is nearly #d1jjj4 ,china's various climates allow almost every kind of vegetable and plant to be cultivated4 ,minerals and metals of all sorts abound1 so that no country in the world contains greater wealth4 ,the ,great ,chinese ,wall extends from twenty-two degrees of longitude a little north of ,peking1 and is from fifteen to thirty feet high1 fifteen feet broad and over #a1ejj miles long4 ,this was built more than #b1jjj years ago4 ,the history of ,china goes back to #b1jjj years before ,christ2 it has had from those early days a sort of civilization4 ,two thousand years ago it had canals and other works of inland navigation4 ,the ,chinese have from very early times worn silk4 ,the art of engraving on wooden blocks for printing with movable types was known #ejj years before the days of ,gutenberg4 ,they have used the compass1 and gunpowder1 and paper for many years4 ,they have had libraries of thousands of volumes from ancient times4 ,every village has its school4 ,the conceit of the ,chinese of their position has been fostered very greatly by their isolation and ignorance of other nations4 ,their ruler is called the ,son of ,heaven and his dynasty the heavenly dynasty1 whence foreigners sometimes wrongly call the people ,celestials4 ,china is called the ,middle ,kingdom and the ,flowery ,land4 ,they call foreigners ,i-,jin or barbarians1 also ,fank-wei or foreign devils4 ,,chinese ,,contrarieties ,,and ,,language4 ,they do many things almost in a way directly the contrary of that in which we do it4 ,their customs and ideas are diametrically opposite to ours4 8,we read horizontally1 they perpendicularly2 and the columns run from right to left4 ,we uncover the head as a mark of respect1 they put on their caps4 ,we black our boots1 they whiten them4 ,we give the place of honor on the right1 they on the left4 ,we say the needle points to the north1 they to the south4 ,we shake the hand of a friend in salutation1 they shake their own4 ,we locate the understanding in the brain1 they in the belly4 ,we place our foot-notes at the bottom of a page1 they at the top4 ,in our libraries we set our books up1 they lay theirs down4 ,we now turn thousands of spindles and ply hundreds of shuttles without a single hand to propel1 they employ a hand for each40 ,illustration3 ,a ,,chinese ,,book4 ,but the most singular thing of all1 perhaps1 is the language4 ,the fundamental conception of the language is ideographic4 ,it is entirely monosyllabic1 and has only characters1 no alphabet or letters4 ,in one respect it is as colossal as the nation in the number of its characters4 ,every character is the name of a thing4 ,an immense number of seemingly arbitrary signs is therefore to be mastered4 ,the labor is alleviated1 however1 by the fact that there are certain root forms1 variously estimated at from #cae to #d1jjj4 ,out of the characters #bad have been selected as keys or radicals1 one or other of which is found in every character of the language4 ,the number of words contained in the official dictionary is #dc1ejj1 and other authorities reckon as many more4 ,but the missionary ,doolittle1 affirms that a knowledge of #c1jjj or #d1jjj characters is sufficient for the reading of most books4 ,the most complicated characters in the language contain fifty-two strokes1 but such are very rare4 ,the language is still further complicated in its pronunciation by a system of tones1 which vary according to the meaning of the word4 ,the language1 like the people1 is of the earth earthy1 for among its thousands of words rankly luxuriant there1 there was found to be no expression suitable to express one of the graces of the spirit1 and it was for half a century a matter of grave discussion what should be the proper rendering of the word ,god4 ,,the ,,three ,,chinese ,,religions4 ,a ,chinaman may at the same time be an adherent of all three of the national religions4 ,the mass of the ,chinese people accept the three1 and see no inconsistency in so doing4 ,it is somewhat as if we ,americans were at the same time ,protestant1 ,romanist and skeptic4 ,the ,chinese support the priests of all religions1 worship in all their temples1 and believe in the gods of each and all4 ,these three religions differ from each other1 however4 ,dr4 ,edkins has so well defined this difference that we give his words3 8,confucianism speaks to the moral nature4 ,it discourses on virtue and vice1 and the duty of compliance with law and the dictates of conscience4 ,its worship rests on this basis4 ,the religious veneration paid to ancestors--for that is the worship of this system--is founded on the duty of filial piety4 ,the moral sense of the ,chinese is offended if they are called on to resign this custom4 8,taoism is materialistic4 ,its notion of the soul is of something physical1 a purer form of matter4 ,the soul it supposes to gain immortality by a physical discipline1 a sort of chemical process1 which transmutes it into a more ethereal essence1 and prepares it for being transferred to the regions of immortality4 ,the gods of ,taoism are also very much what might be expected in a system which has such notions as these of the soul4 ,it looks upon the stars as divine4 ,it deifies hermits and physicians1 magicians and seekers after the philosopher's stone and the plant of immortality4 8,buddhism is different from both4 ,it is metaphysical4 ,it appeals to the imagination1 and deals in subtle argument4 ,it says that the world of the senses is altogether unreal1 and upholds this proposition by the most elaborate proofs4 ,its gods are personified ideas4 ,it denies matter entirely1 and concerns itself only with ideas4 ,most of the personages adored by the ,buddhists are known to be nothing but fictitious impersonations of some of these ideas4 ,the ,buddhist worship is not reverence paid to beings believed to be actually existing2 it is a homage rendered to ideas1 and it is only supposed to be reflex in its effects4 ,their worship is useful as a discipline1 but not effectual as prayer4 ,the ,buddhist1 if he can obtain abstraction of mind from the world in any other mode1 need not pray or worship at all4 8,these three systems1 occupying the three corners of a triangle--the moral1 the metaphysical and the material--are supplemental to each other1 and are able to co-exist without being mutually destructive4 ,they rest each on a basis of its own1 and address themselves each to different parts of man's nature4 ,it was because ,confucianism #8knew ,god1 but did not honor ,him as ,god1' that the way was left open for a polytheism like that of the ,buddhists4 ,in the old books of ,china1 ,god is spoken of as the ,supreme ,ruler4 ,he is represented as exercising over mankind an infinitely just and beneficent providence4 ,but the duty of prayer is not enjoined4 ,no worship of ,god by the people is permitted4 ,it was only by the emperor acting vicariously for the people that the ,deity was adored in that country4 ,the system of ,confucius1 wanting this1 was more a morality than a religion4 8,buddhism came to fill this vacancy4 ,individual faith in ,god1 with a rational mode of worship to accompany it1 could not be a result of the religious teaching which preceded it in ,china1 nor were they inculcated by it4 ,in ,buddhism1 the ,chinese found objects to adore of mysterious grandeur1 and richly endowed with the attributes of wisdom and benevolence4 ,the appeal thus made to their religious faith was strengthened by a pompous form of worship4 ,processions and the ringing of bells1 fumes of sweet-smelling incense1 prayers1 chanting and musical instruments were their aids to devotion4 ,no wonder that these additions should prove welcome to the religious susceptibilities of a nation which had hitherto been restricted within the bounds of a system almost exclusively moral1 and which discouraged the worship of ,god by the mass of the people4 8,how ,taoism meets certain other wants which the other two systems fail to gratify1 we will now show by an illustration3 ,it was a cold morning in ,january1 when a missionary walked1 on one occasion1 to a temple near the west gate of ,shanghai4 ,there is a medical divinity much honored1 who resides in this temple1 to heal1 as his worshipers think1 the ailments of those who pray to him4 ,the ,taoist priest in charge addressed the foreign visitor with a somewhat unexpected exhortation3 #8,you come to our country giving us good advice2 now let me address a little to you4 ,your religion does not meet the requirements of the people4 ,when they worship1 they wish to know whether they can grow rich1 and recover from disease2 but in the case of believing in ,jesus1 there are no benefits of this kind to be looked for4' ,he pointed to the little image1 representing some physician of a former dynasty1 sitting in its shrine in a dim light1 just visible through the opening of the curtains4 #8,see1' said he1 #8here is the god1 ready to tell the believing devotee what medicine he needs1 and to guarantee its healing effect4 ,look at the inscriptions fixed on the roof above and on each side of the shrine4 ,they describe his marvel-working power4' ,he was asked who placed those tablets there4 #8,they are1' he replied1 #8the offerings of persons cured by this divinity4' ,in the ,central ,kingdom1 the setting of the tablets in the temples by individuals is customary1 and they are intended to commemorate benefits received from the divinities to whom they are dedicated4 ,a visitor from a village in the country1 at a distance of some miles1 now appeared1 and went through the usual ceremonies4 ,he was asked1 #8,why do you not consult a physician8 ,this idol is dead wood4 ,it cannot see or hear4 ,why apply to it8' ,the devotee answered with great simplicity1 #8,i do not know what my disease is2 how1 then1 can ,i apply to a physician8 ,it is on this account that ,i ask the god4 ,he will heal me4 ,i have come a long way on purpose4 ,his fame is very widely spread4' ,he was again asked1 #8,will you not go to the foreign free hospital8' ,he answered1 #8,it is not the right time of day1 and1 besides1 ,i like to come here2 and why should ,i not8' ,he was asked again1 #8,do you know that this burning of incense and seeking for oracular information at an idol's shrine is displeasing to ,god8 ,it is as unwise1 therefore1 as it is unreasonable1 to apply to this god to tell you what medicine you should use4' ,at this point1 the ,taoist priest came to the defense of his system4 #8,you believe in ,jesus4 ,we believe in our gods4 ,religions differ according to place1 and every country has its own divinities4 ,we have ,kwan-kung1 for example1 the god of war1 and other divinities1 holding the same place among us that ,jesus does among you4' ,he was asked1 #8,how can these supposed gods benefit you8 ,they are but the imaginary representatives of men belonging to your nation1 who long ago died4' ,the ,taoist asked in reply1 #8,is it not the same with ,jesus8 ,he also is long since dead4 ,what benefit do you expect from him8' ,he was then told1 #8,we do not make an image of ,him1 place it in a shrine1 and cast lots before it1 expecting to learn1 by so doing1 how a disease is to be cured4 ,the parallel is not accurate4 ,the benefit we expect from ,him is that ,he will help us in becoming virtuous1 and in attaining a happy future life4 ,the object of our religious books is to free us from sin1 and ,jesus1 who still lives in ,heaven1 is able to secure us this4' ,the reference to books led him to remark1 #8,we have our books1 too1 to exhort men to virtue4' ,he took up a copy of a well-known work1 often distributed gratuitously in ,china4 #8,this1' he said1 #8is the ,kan-ying-peen 7,book of ,retribution72 all that it contains is intended to make men better4 ,it promises long life to the good1 and all kinds of calamities to the wicked4 ,our object is the same as yours--to make men good4' ,he was reminded that1 according to the doctrine of this book1 happiness and misery were the rewards of virtue and vice1 and that this did not agree with the system of divination on which his temple depended for its support1 and was asked why he encouraged those who frequented it to expect good from the throwing of sticks on the floor1 and the shaking of lots together in a wooden cup1 if good and ill fortune were awarded to men by ,heaven only according to character4 ,to this the priest of ,tao replied1 as he sat surrounded by his boxes of medicines1 arranged in pigeon-holes1 with his recipe-book on the table before him1 from which he selected the appropriate nostrum under the guidance of the oracle1 #8,if the person who comes to worship is wicked at heart1 he will not be heard2 the oracle will fail4' #8,but1' it was remarked1 #8if he be only virtuous1 he need not come here at all4 ,the great thing is to be good4'0 ,such are the tenets of ,taoism4 ,,the ,,old ,,boy4 ,confucius became the prophet of the practical4 ,about fifty years before ,confucius1 was born one who became a deep thinker who looked with scorn upon the work of ,confucius4 ,this was ,lao-tsze1 who was born #fjd ,b4,c4 ,according to the legends of the ,taoists he had the appearance1 when born1 of an old man with gray hair1 and so they called him ,lao-tsze1 which means the old boy4 ,when he was born1 so they say1 he was wise as men are when they become old4 ,other legends say that as soon as he was born1 he mounted into the air and pointing with his left hand to heaven1 and with his right to the earth1 he said3 8,in heaven above and on earth beneath1 ,tao alone is worthy of honor40 ,his complexion was white and yellow2 his ears were of extraordinary size1 and were each pierced with three passages4 ,he had handsome eyebrows1 large eyes1 ragged teeth1 a double-ridged nose and a square mouth2 on each foot he had ten toes4 ,all of this was to distinguish him from common men4 ,he became a hermit-student4 ,his chief disciple was named ,yin-,he4 ,the following story will serve to illustrate the miraculous powers ascribed to ,lao-tsze4 ,,the ,,talisman ,,of ,,long ,,life4 ,the philosopher's servant1 ,senke1 who had served him for #bjj years without receiving any wages1 finding that his master was going to take a journey whither he knew not1 suddenly demanded his arrears of pay1 which upon calculation were found to amount to #gb1jjj ounces of silver4 ,fearing to face his master1 he induced an acquaintance to ask ,yin-,he to broach the subject to ,lao-tsze4 ,the acquaintance being ignorant of the relation existing between the master and servant1 and already deeming in anticipation ,senke to be a rich man1 promised him his daughter in marriage4 ,the beauty of the girl added to the persistency of the serving-man1 whom ,lao-tsze summoned to his presence4 8,i hired you originally10 he said1 8to perform the most humble duties2 your circumstances were poor and no one else would employ you4 ,i have given you the talisman of long life1 and it is due to this alone that you are now in existence4 ,how have you so far forgotten the benefits ,i have heaped upon you as to cover me with reproaches8 ,i am now about to set out for the ,western ,sea 7the ,caspian72 ,i intend to visit the kingdoms of ,ya ,t'sin 7the ,roman ,empire71 of ,ke-pin 7,cabal71 of ,tien-chuh 7,india71 and of ,gan-se 7,parthia72 and ,i order you to act as my charioteer thitherwards4 ,on my return1 ,i will pay you that which ,i owe you40 ,but ,senke still refused to obey4 ,whereupon ,lao-tsze ordered him to lean forward and open his mouth1 and instantly there escaped from his lips the talisman1 and at the same moment his body became a heap of dry bones4 ,at the earnest prayer of ,yin-,he the servant was restored to life1 and was dismissed with a present of #bj1jjj ounces of silver4 ,having nothing further to detain him1 ,lao-tsze bade farewell to the keeper of the pass1 and mounting upon a cloud1 disappeared into space4 ,some ,taoist writers claim ,lao-tsze as the author of #icj of the current works on the superstitious varieties of modern ,taoism1 and add complacently that all other books are unworthy of the same regard1 having been secretly added by the followers of ,tao in later ages4 ,,the ,,visit ,,of ,,confucius ,,to ,,lao-,,tsze4 ,confucius once held an interview with ,lao-tsze4 ,from this he returned to his disciples1 and for three days he did not utter a word4 ,according to his own account1 ,lao-tsze exercised a complete fascination over him4 ,he felt1 when conversing with the older philosopher1 that he was in the presence of a master mind1 and the merciless criticism of which his doctrines were the object1 shook his faith somewhat in their truth4 8,at his voice10 said he1 8my mouth gaped wide1 my tongue protruded1 and my soul was plunged in trouble40 ,to ,yang-tsze1 a disciple of ,confucius1 ,lao-tsze spoke in the same strain4 8,the spots of the tiger1 and of the leopard1 and the agility of the monkey1 are that which exposes them to the arrows of the hunter40 ,and in reply to a question concerning the administration of the illustrious kings of antiquity1 he said1 8,such was the administration of the illustrious kings1 that their merits overspread the empire unknown to themselves2 the influence of their example extended to all beings2 they effected the happiness of the people without letting them feel their presence4 ,their virtue was so sublime that human speech is unable to express it2 they lived in an impenetrable retreat1 and were absorbed in ,tao40 ,,the ,,voyage ,,in ,,search ,,of ,,the ,,talisman ,,of ,,long ,,life4 ,the talisman of long life was said to have been lost after ,lao-tsze's death4 ,but ,che ,hwang-te determined to find it4 ,he was persuaded into believing that in the ocean to the east of ,china there were 8,golden ,islands of the ,blest10 where genii dwelt1 whose business and delight it was to dispense to all visitors to their shores a draught of immortality1 compounded of the fragrant herbs which grew in abundance round them2 that here also was the talisman of long life kept4 ,so sincere was ,che ,hwang-te's faith that he fitted out a naval expedition to discover these much-to-be-desired regions1 and placed a ,taoist magician at the head of the undertaking4 ,on the plea that it had been revealed to him that the expedition was likely to meet with a more favorable reception at the ,golden ,isles if a company of youths and maidens accompanied it1 ,sen ,she1 the leader1 persuaded the ,emperor to send several thousands of girls and young men with him4 ,on the return of the voyagers they reported that they had sailed within sight of the islands1 but had been driven back by contrary winds4 ,the ,emperor determined to try again4 ,this second expedition failed4 ,but private individuals declared that they had succeeded in reaching the islands1 in seeing the genii1 in securing the draughts of the elixir of life1 and that they had seen the ,talisman4 ,che ,hwang-te's failures would not let him see the imposture that was being played upon him4 ,again and again he sent1 and great sums were expended1 and finally an emptied treasury forced him to relinquish his project4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,the ,,taoist ,,sacred ,,books ,,and ,,gods4 ,the ,tao-te-king still remains the monument of ,lao-tsze's extraordinary power and penetration2 and it gives ample reason for assigning him a place indefinitely higher than the mass of his contemporaries4--,,archdeacon ,,charles ,,hardwick4 ,lao-,tsze gave to ,yin-,he1 when he left ,china on his last journey1 the results of his long life of meditation in a little book of #e1jjj characters4 ,on this little book the immense volumes of the ,taoist religion are built up4 ,this is called the ,tao-,te-,king1 or ,book of the ,way and of ,virtue4 ,this is a metaphysical treatise1 and its meaning is very obscure4 ,there is much of materialistic speculation1 magic and divination in this book4 ,the first chapter tells us that 8that which is nameless is the beginning of ,heaven and earth40 8,taou produced one1 the first great cause2 one produced two1 the male and female principles of nature2 from the two came three1 and the three produced all things that are in ,heaven and earth40 ,all things endure for a set time1 and then perish4 ,together they came into being1 and to each is allotted a certain period of growth and maturity2 but when the highest point of vigor has been reached1 it straightway becomes old and returns home to its root4 8,this is said to be a reversion to destiny40 ,emptiness is the only thing which endures1 and this is at the same time of the highest use4 ,the space between ,heaven and earth1 for example1 may be likened to a pair of bellows1 which1 though it is empty1 never collapses1 and which1 the more it is exercised1 the more it brings forth4 ,so also with the wheel of a carriage1 or an earthen vessel1 or the windows and doors of a house4 ,in each case it is the non-existing or empty part which is useful4 ,the spokes and nave of the wheel1 the walls of the earthen vessel1 and the frames of the doors and windows are advantageous1 but the use of each depends on the part which is empty4 8,so1 then1 existence may be said to correspond to gain1 but non-existence to use40 ,when a thing is to be weakened1 it must first be strengthened2 when it is about to be brought low1 it must first be raised up2 and that which is to be taken away from it must first be given to it4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,censer1 ,,from ,a ,,taoist ,,temple4 ,in the superiority of non-existence over existence lies the lesson which1 above all others1 ,lao-tsze desired to impress on man4 ,the great concern of all men in all ages has been to take care of the things of the body1 and to neglect the cultivation of the inner man2 to seek after the gratification of sense1 and to forget the importance of the soul4 ,and what is the result8 ,the five colors1 which so delight the eyes1 not unfrequently produce blindness4 ,the five sounds which so enchant the ear are often the cause of deafness4 ,a man's palate1 which at first revels in the five tastes1 soon loses all sense of flavor4 ,the pursuit of pleasure or of ambition is equally deceptive4 ,riding and hunting will drive a man mad1 and things hard to procure bring evil upon their possessors4 8,therefore1 the sage makes provision for the inner man1 and not for his eyes4 ,he puts aside the one1 that he may take the other in hand40 ,he remembers that rest is the lord of motion1 and never allows himself to depart from a state of quietude and gravity4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,rewards ,,and ,,punishments4 ,the ,taoists have long been in the habit of printing by subscription1 and circulating as a matter of religious duty1 the collection of maxims known as the ,book of ,rewards and ,punishments4 ,each maxim is followed by a gloss or commentary1 and in almost every case elucidated by appropriate tales and anecdotes4 ,the high repute in which this volume stands is further indicated by the circumstance that the authorship has in modern times been attributed to ,lao-tsze himself1 in his capacity of deified and venerable ,prince or incarnation of ,tao4 8,every wise man10 writes a commentator1 8ought to be full of respect for this book3 he ought to believe sincerely all the maxims it delivers1 and ought to practice them faithfully1 regardless of all obstacles1 and without suffering the zeal he had evinced at the commencement to diminish at the close of his career4 ,he ought every morning to read it aloud1 and to meditate on every phrase with serious attention4 ,let him redouble his efforts to perform good works1 and his anxiety and ardor to correct past failings4 ,then will happiness spring up within himself to recompense his merits2 and his end will be advancement to the rank of the immortals40 ,while the general tone of this production harmonizes with the older treatise1 it bears frequent witness also to the presence of a more eclectic and accommodating spirit4 ,so highly is this book esteemed as a guide and instructor that its distribution is considered to be a religious duty4 ,edition after edition appears from the local presses at the demand of the charitable subscribers1 who give them to the poor4 ,,some ,,selections ,,from ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,rewards ,,and ,,punishments4 8,advance along the right way1 and retreat from the evil way40 8,do not betray the secret of the household40 8,be humane to animals40 8,rectify yourself and convert men40 8,have pity for orphans1 and show compassion to widows40 8,rejoice at the success of others1 and sympathize with their reverses1 even as though you were in their place40 8,do not expose the faults of others40 8,bestow favors without expecting recompense40 8,give willingly40 8,a man who does these things is called virtuous4 ,all men respect him4 ,providence protects him4 ,good fortune and office attend him4 ,the demons flee from him4 ,the godlike spirits guard him4 ,he succeeds in all that he lays his hand to1 and to him is given the hope of immortality40 8,he who wishes to become an immortal of ,heaven must do a thousand and three hundred good works4 ,he who wishes to become an immortal of earth must do three hundred good works40 8,he who inflicts an injury in broad daylight1 will be punished by men2 but he who inflicts an injury in secret will be punished by demons40 8,don't take advantage of the ignorance of men to deceive them with lying words40 8,never divulge the faults of your parents40 8,don't rank faults as crimes40 8,don't shoot at birds1 nor hunt animals40 8,don't drive insects from their holes1 nor frighten roosting birds40 8,don't buy groundless praise40 8,don't kill and cook domestic animals except in accordance with the rites40 8,don't destroy or throw away the five kinds of grain40 8,when you see others covered with glory and honor1 don't desire to see them exiled from the country40 8,a handsome figure excites the admiration of the world1 but it does not deceive ,heaven40 8,don't laugh at the deformities of others40 8,don't bury the effigy of a man to inflict an incubus upon him40 ,this refers to the practice of burying a wooden figure of a man to charm away his life1 much in the same way that lately1 in ,shanghai and elsewhere1 men were accused of making paper men which suffocated people in their sleep4 8,don't deceive the innocent and set snares for them40 8,live in harmony with your wife40 8,wives1 respect your husbands40 8,wives1 be not wanting in your duties toward your father and mother-in-law40 8,don't treat with contempt the souls of your ancestors40 8,wells and hearths are presided over by certain spirits1 and if you leap over them1 not only do you insult the gods1 but you show that you have forgotten the two things which are the foundation of the life of men40 8,a good man is virtuous in his words1 looks and actions4 ,if each day he practices these three virtues1 at the end of three years ,heaven will pour down blessings upon him4 ,the wicked man is vicious in his words1 looks and actions4 ,if each day he practices these three vices1 at the end of three years ,heaven will send misfortune upon him40 ,illustration3 ,,ceremonies ,,in ,a ,,taoist ,,temple4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,secret ,,blessings4 ,this book contains a number of moral injunctions1 and while it is a ,taoist book there is no reference to ,taoist doctrines in it4 ,it consists of #edj words4 ,some of its leading maxims are given below4 8,redeem the lives of animals1 and abstain from shedding blood4 ,be careful not to tread upon insects on the road1 and set not fire to the forests1 lest you should destroy life4 ,burn a candle in your window to give light to the traveler1 and keep a boat to help voyagers across rivers4 ,do not spread your net on the mountains to catch birds1 nor poison the fish and reptiles in the waters4 ,never destroy paper which is written upon1 and enter into no league against your neighbor4 ,avoid contentions1 and beware not to stir up ill blood4 ,use not your power to discredit the good1 nor your riches to persecute the poor4 ,love the good1 and flee from the face of a wicked man1 lest you fall into evil4 ,hide your neighbor's faults1 and speak only of their good deeds1 and let your mouth utter the true sentiments of your heart4 ,remove stones and dbris from the roadway1 repair the footpaths and build bridges4 ,publish abroad lessons for the improvement of mankind1 and devote your wealth to the good of your fellow-men4 ,in all your actions follow the principles of ,heaven1 and in all your words follow the purified heart of man4 ,have all the sages of antiquity before your eyes1 and examine carefully your conscience4 ,what good thing will be withheld from him who practices secret benefits80 ,,the ,,gods ,,of ,,the ,,taoists4 ,lao-tsze had nothing to say of gods and goddesses4 ,when ,buddhism came to ,china it taught ,lao-tsze's disciples to have gods4 ,as the ,buddhists had deified ,lakya-muni1 so the ,taoists now deified ,lao-tsze4 ,as the ,buddhists worshiped under the form of the 8,three ,precious ,ones10 so the ,taoists worshiped ,lao-tsze as ,san-,tsing1 or the 8,three ,pure ,ones40 ,they had an image for each one of the three1 and seated them side by side4 ,the priests generally1 and but rarely the common people1 worship the ,san-,tsing4 ,for the common people a god was introduced1 called the 8,pearly ,emperor ,supreme ,ruler40 ,he is the chief ,taoist god4 ,he is called the producer of all things and governor of all4 ,to him all the gods make their reports4 ,in times of drought1 the governors1 the mandarins1 go to his temple to burn incense and pray for rain4 ,they carry idols with them and make thanksgiving offerings after the rain has come4 ,the ,taoist worships the mountains1 valleys1 streams1 rivers and stars4 ,the ,great ,bear is supposed to be the palace of the goddess ,tow-,mu and the god ,kwei-,sing4 ,the ,god of ,thunder is a common object of worship1 and is represented as passing through many metamorphoses and filling all regions with his assumed forms4 ,while he discourses on doctrine his foot rests on nine beautiful birds4 ,thirty-six generals wait on him for orders4 ,a certain celebrated book of instruction is said to have emanated from him4 ,his commands are swift as winds and fire4 ,he overcomes demons by the power of his wisdom1 and he is the father and teacher of all living beings4 ,among other like deities are 8the ,mother of ,lightning10 8the ,spirit of the ,sea10 8the ,king of the ,sea10 and 8the ,lord of the ,tide40 ,the temples of the ,dragon ,king are also favorite resorts of worshipers1 who in all convulsions of nature recognize the agency of this potent and amphibious monster4 ,serpents are looked upon as manifestations of this deity1 and in times of flood often receive worship at the hands of the educated and the uneducated alike4 ,during the flood which overspread the country round ,tient-sin1 in the year #ahgd1 a serpent sought shelter in a temple near the city1 and ensconced himself beneath one of the altars4 ,far from desiring to get rid of the intruder1 the priests welcomed it as a sacred guest of good omen1 and ,li-,hung-chang1 the viceroy of the province1 came in person to pay reverence to it as the personification of the ,dragon ,king4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,three ,,pure ,,ones4 ,illustration3 ,,god ,,of ,,the ,,kitchen4 ,illustration3 ,,god ,,of ,,thunder4 ,illustration3 ,,carrying ,,the ,,dragon4 ,illustration3 ,,dragon ,,boat-,,races1 ,a ,,chinese ,,festival4 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,letters4 ,apart from these more general deities are gods who preside over the different pursuits and callings of men4 ,as the number of deities is unlimited1 and as it is obviously to the interest of the priests to encourage worship of whatever kind at their temples1 there has never been any difficulty in adding a god or two to the ,pantheon4 ,thus students have chosen to appropriate to themselves a god1 who is supposed to watch over the literary efforts of his votaries4 ,wan-chang te-keun1 or the god of literature1 is1 according to legend1 the disembodied spirit of ,chang ,chung1 an official of the ,chow ,dynasty4 ,under subsequent dynasties1 he appeared on earth in the persons of men renowned for their scholarship and virtue1 and finally1 under the ,yuen ,dynasty1 he was deified under the title of 8,supporter of the ,yuen ,dynasty1 diffuser of renovating influences1 ,sze-luh of ,wan-chang1 ,god and ,lord40 ,such is the ,chinese conception4 ,illustration3 ,,charm ,,to ,,ward ,,off ,,evil ,,spirits ,,from ,a ,,bride4 ,illustration3 ,,god ,,of ,,thieves4 ,,charms4 ,dr4 ,williams says1 8the ,chinese have an almost infinite variety of superstitious practices1 the most of which are of a deprecatory rather than an intercessory character1 growing out of their belief in demons and genii who trouble or help the people4 ,it may be said that most of the religious acts of the ,chinese1 especially those performed in temples1 are intended to avert misfortune rather than supplicate blessings4 ,in order to ward off malignant influences1 amulets are worn and charms hung up by persons of all rank4 ,among the latter are money-swords1 made of coins of different monarchs strung together in the form of a dagger2 and leaves of the sweet flag and ,artemisia tied in a bundle1 or a sprig of peach-blossoms2 the first is placed near beds1 the latter over the lintel1 to drive away demons4 ,brass mirrors to cure mad people1 are hung up by the rich in their halls1 and figures or representations of the unicorn1 of gourds1 of tiger claws1 etc41 abound40 ,illustration3 ,,sword ,,charm4 ,,kwan-,,te1 ,,god ,,of ,,war4 ,soldiers worship ,kwan-te1 the ,god of ,war1 who when on earth bore the name of ,kwan-yu4 ,in early life he carried on the trade of selling bean-curd1 but having a soul above so mean a calling1 and the times in which he lived being favorable to ambitious enterprise1 he embarked on the career of a soldier of fortune1 and won for himself both honor and renown4 ,he lived to receive the title of ,baron1 but being entrapped through a crafty enemy1 he was taken and beheaded4 ,for many centuries his name remained embalmed only in history1 but during the twelfth century he was made a god under the title of ,chung-hun ,kung1 8the ,patriotic and ,clever ,duke10 and a little later he was promoted to the rank of ,prince4 ,thus gods are manufactured by pagan nations4 ,illustration3 ,,kwan-,,te1 ,,god ,,of ,,war4 ,,tsai-,,shin1 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,riches4 ,but probably no god is worshiped with greater fervor than is ,tsai-shin1 the ,god of ,riches4 ,though the pursuit of riches and honor is discountenanced by all the leading ,taoist writers1 the natural desire for wealth has overcome all religious warnings and denunciations1 and is as strong among the ,taoists of ,china as among the most money-loving nation in the world4 ,no god can boast more temples raised to his honor than ,tsai-shin4 ,every trader who at the end of the year finds the balance of his accounts in his favor acknowledges the mercy shown him by making a votive offering to the dispenser of wealth1 and he who fears a loss attempts to propitiate the god whom he believes able to help by sacrifices and gifts4 ,,taoist ,,superstitions4 ,illustration3 ,,taoists ,,consulting ,,the ,,oracles ,,at ,,the ,,magicians4 ,there is nothing distinctively ,taoist in the worship of these gods except the gross superstition which accompanies it1 and it is evidence of the present very degraded condition of ,taoism that1 whenever a popular deity has to be enthroned1 ,taoist priests are the servitors chosen to wait upon his shrine4 ,combined with the office of guardian1 these back-sliding charlatans ply the trades of fortune-tellers1 prophets and doctors4 ,if a merchant wishes to know whether a venture will turn out profitably or the reverse1 or if a mother wants to be assured whether her infant's future is to lie among the blessings of office1 wealth and long life1 or to be accompanied by poverty and misfortune1 they betake themselves to a ,taoist priest1 who1 well versed in the tricks which ape superhuman knowledge1 returns oracular responses1 which satisfy1 for the time being at least1 the superstitious wants of the applicants4 ,nor is their medical advice based on any surer basis4 ,dr4 ,gray1 in his recent work on ,china1 gives the following description of an incident he witnessed at a temple in ,canton3 8,whilst ,i was visiting one of these temples1 a father brought his son to the priests 444 saying that the child was possessed of a devil4 ,having consulted the idol1 the priests informed him that there were no fewer than five devils in the body of his son1 but that they were prepared to expel them all on the payment of a certain sum4 ,the father agreed4 ,the child was then placed in front of the altar1 and on the ground near his feet were placed five eggs1 into which the priests adjured the devils to go4 ,as soon as they were supposed to have entered the eggs1 the chief of the priests covered them over with an earthenware vase1 and at the same time sounded a loud blast upon a horn4 ,when the vase was removed1 the eggs1 by a trick of legerdemain1 were found no longer on the ground but in the vase4 ,the priest then proceeded to uncover his arm1 and made an incision with a lancet on the fleshy part4 ,the blood which flowed from the wound was allowed to mingle with a small quantity of water in a cup4 ,the seal of the temple1 the impression of which was the name of the idol1 was then dipped into the blood and stamped upon the wrists1 neck1 back and forehead of the poor heathen child1 who was suffering from an attack of fever and ague40 ,illustration3 ,,stone ,,pillars ,,erected ,,by ,,the ,,chinese ,,to ,,keep ,,off ,,evil ,,spirits4 ,illustration3 ,,tall ,,white ,,devil4 ,illustration3 ,,short ,,black ,,devil4 ,the ,chinese believe that when disease does not yield to medical treatment1 the vitals of the sick and suffering one are being preyed upon by an evil spirit2 the physician is cast aside1 and the ,taoist priests are called in1 to exercise their exorcising powers4 ,one can scarcely pass along the streets of a ,chinese city1 at night1 without finding these priests at work4 ,just as in ,japan1 one may hear1 every night1 the beating of the tom-tom as some priest is drumming the devil out of some poor wretch's body4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,confucius ,,and ,,the ,,classics4 ,confucius6 ,confucius6 ,how great was ,confucius6 ,before him there was no ,confucius6 ,since him there has been no other4 ,confucius6 ,confucius6 ,how great was ,confucius6 ,one-third of the human race would probably join in honoring ,confucius4 ,the #cdj1jjj1jjj of ,chinese would1 without doubt1 accept the sentiment of the verse at the head of this chapter--taken from a popular history of ,confucius4 ,no man in any country has left so decided an impression on his countrymen for so long a time as ,confucius has left upon the ,chinese4 ,he was1 without question1 a great man1 and was wise far beyond the men of his age4 ,his sayings1 writings and deeds stand out above those of his countrymen4 ,he found the moral sense and religious observances of his countrymen very much debased during his time1 and set himself to reform them by reviving the ancient observances and teaching the highest principles of pure morals and beneficent government4 ,,the ,,background ,,of ,,the ,,picture4 ,before looking at the story of ,confucius's life let us pause to look at the times in which he lived and his surroundings4 ,he was born in the year #eej ,b4,c4 ,he was 8a transmitter and not a maker10 as he said2 so it is important that we should see what there was for him to transmit4 ,we must look into the past history of the ,chinese people1 into their traditions and habits1 and1 above all1 their early religion4 ,in dim antiquity the ,chinese people came into the valley of the ,yellow ,river1 through ,central ,asia1 from the west1 which was1 perhaps1 the cradle of the race4 ,they journeyed across the weary wastes of the ,mongolian ,desert until they came to the fertile plains along the great ,hwang ,ho4 ,the mountains were clad with forests4 ,by the regular rains and fruitful soil the labors of the people were rewarded by abundant harvest1 and they gradually took possession of the land4 ,the aboriginal tribes gradually yielded to their superior prowess1 discipline and civilization4 ,colonies were planted all over the land under the control of chieftains1 or1 as ,mencius calls them1 8,pastors of ,men40 ,the history of ,china1 down to about #bcef ,b4,c41 is made of legendary stories4 ,with this period the 8,book of ,history10 which ,confucius edited1 begins4 ,dr4 ,r4 ,k4 ,douglass1 of the ,british ,museum1 thus describes the reign of the two first emperors and the religion of their times3 ,illustration3 ,,traditional ,,likeness ,,of ,,confucius4 ,anciently there was an ,emperor ,yaou1 all-informed1 intelligent1 accomplished and thoughtful2 and if we are to accept the received account of his reign1 this description does not do more than justice to his character4 ,his first care1 we are told1 was to advance the able and virtuous to offices in the ,state1 and finally he united and harmonized the myriad ,states of the ,empire2 and1 lo6 the black-haired people were transformed4 ,he appointed astronomers to calculate and delineate the movements and appearances of the sun1 the moon1 the stars and the zodiacal spaces2 and he then determined the four seasons and the length of the year4 ,he adopted intercalary months1 and the calendar he arranged is that which is still in use in ,china4 ,on the death of ,yaou1 ,shun who had shared his throne for some years1 succeeded as sole emperor4 ,like his predecessor1 he was profound1 wise1 accomplished and intelligent4 ,he was mild1 respectful and quite sincere4 ,the report of his mysterious virtue was heard on high1 and he was appointed to take the throne4 ,one of his first public acts1 after having still further perfected the astronomical calculations of ,yaou1 was to sacrifice to ,shang-te1 the ,supreme ,ruler or ,god4 8,thereafter10 we are told1 8he sacrificed specially1 but with the ordinary forms1 to ,shang-te2 sacrificed with purity and reverence to the six ,honored ,ones2 offered appropriate sacrifice to the hills and rivers2 and extended his worship to the hosts of spirits40 ,this is the first mention we have in ,chinese history of religious worship1 though the expressions used plainly imply that the worship of ,shang-te at least1 had previously existed4 ,it is to this ,supreme ,being that all the highest forms of adoration have been offered in all ages4 ,by ,his decree kings were made and rulers executed judgment4 ,in ,his hands were the issues of life and death1 and he whom ,he blessed was blessed1 and he whom ,he cursed1 was cursed4 ,in all probability there was a time when the worship of ,shang-te was the expression of the pure monotheistic faith of the ,chinese4 ,by degrees1 however1 corruptions crept in1 and though ,shang-te always remained the supreme object of veneration1 they saw no disloyalty to ,him in rendering homage to the powers of nature which they learnt to personify1 and to the spirits of their departed ancestors1 who were supposed to guard and watch over1 in a subordinate manner1 the welfare of their descendants4 ,illustration3 ,,monumental ,,gateway ,,erected ,,in ,,honor ,,of ,,confucius4 ,during this reign the empire was divided into twelve provinces1 and ministers of agriculture1 crime1 works1 forests1 religious worship and of music were appointed4 ,that the standard of morality was high1 even at this early period1 appears from the conversations which are reported between ,shun's vice-regent ,yu and one of his advisers4 ,in answer to the question put by ,yu3 8,what are the nine virtues80 the minister replied3 8,affability combined with dignity2 mildness combined with firmness2 bluntness combined with respectfulness2 aptness for government combined with reverence2 docility combined with boldness2 straightforwardness combined with gentleness2 easiness combined with discrimination2 vigor combined with sincerity2 and valor combined with righteousness40 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,sage',s ,,life4 ,heih1 the father of ,confucius1 was a military officer of great bravery and immense strength4 ,he was married to ,yen ,ching ,tsai1 ,confucius's mother1 when he was seventy years old4 ,confucius1 the child of this aged couple1 was born1 so the legends say1 in a cave in ,mount ,ne4 ,the legends tell how his birth was heralded by strange signs and appearances1 how fairies attended the birth of him of whose coming ,yen ,ching ,tsai had been warned by genii4 ,while he was yet a boy1 he loved to play in arranging the vessels of the temple-worship1 and listened earnestly to the stories of the reigns of ,yaou and ,shun4 ,when fifteen years old1 he gave himself to more earnest study1 and when nineteen he was married4 ,his married life was unhappy1 and after a year or so he was divorced from his wife4 ,soon after this1 being very poor1 he accepted the office of keeper of the stores of grain1 and in the next year he became the guardian of the public fields and lands4 ,when twenty-two years old1 ,confucius gave up his offices and became the teacher of an earnest band of students4 ,he refused to teach dull or idle scholars4 ,he said3 8,i do not open the truth to one who is not eager after knowledge1 nor do ,i help any one who is not himself anxious to explain4 ,when ,i have presented one corner of a subject1 and the listener cannot from it learn the other three1 ,i do not repeat my lesson40 ,when twenty-eight years of age1 ,confucius studied archery1 and in the next few years studied music under the celebrated music-master1 ,siang4 ,the master directed his pupil to learn the air composed by the sage ,wan ,wang of ancient days4 ,confucius at once took the lute1 and in obedience to ,siang's instructions1 commenced to play the air4 ,he continued it day by day4 8,five days went by1 and still ,confucius ,played all day long the ancient simple air2 ,and when ,siang would teach him more he said3 #8,not yet1 my master1 ,i would seize the thought1 ,the subtle thought which hides within the tune4' ,to which the master answered3 #8,it is well4 ,take five days more6' ,and when the time was passed ,unto ,siang thus spoke ,confucius3 #8,i do begin to see1 and yet what ,i see ,is very dim4 ,i am as one who looks1 ,and nothing sees except a luminous cloud2 ,give me but five more days1 and at the end1 ,if ,i have not attained the great idea ,hidden of old within the melody1 ,i will leave music as beyond my power4' #8,do as thou wilt1 ,o pupil6' cried ,siang ,in deepest admiration2 #8never yet ,had ,i a scholar who was like to thee4 ,and on the fifteenth day ,confucius rose ,and stood before ,siang1 and cried aloud3 #8,the mist which shadowed me is blown away2 ,i am as one who stands upon a cliff1 ,and gazes far and wide upon the world1 ,for ,i have mastered every secret thought1 ,yea1 every shadow of a feeling dim ,which flitted through the spirit of ,wan ,wang ,when he composed that air4 ,i speak to him1 ,i hear him clearly answer me again2 ,and more than that1 ,i see his very form3 ,a man of middle stature1 with a hue ,half blended with the dark and with the fair2 ,his features long1 and large sweet eyes which beam ,with great benevolence--a noble face6 ,his voice is deep and full1 and all his air ,inspires a sense of virtue and of love4 ,i know that ,i behold the very man1 ,the sage of ancient days1 ,wan ,wang the just4' 8,then good ,siang lay down upon the dust1 ,and said3 #8,thou art my master4 ,even thus ,the ancient legend1 known to none but me1 ,describes our first great sire4 ,and thou hast seen ,that which ,i never yet myself beheld1 ,though ,i have played the sacred song for years1 ,striving with all my soul to penetrate ,its mystery unto the master's form1 ,whilst thou hast reached it at a single bound2 ,henceforth the gods alone can teach thee tune4'0 ,now1 at the age of thirty1 he became famous4 ,many youths1 sons of nobles1 became his willing scholars4 ,at this time he visited ,lao-tsze1 the founder of ,taoism4 ,while in the capital1 where ,lao-tsze lived1 he entered an old temple where he found a metal statue of a man with a triple clasp upon his mouth4 ,on the back of the statue were engraved the words3 8,the ancients were guarded in their speech1 and like them we should avoid loquacity4 ,many words invite many defeats4 ,avoid also engaging in many businesses1 for many businesses create many difficulties40 8,observe this1 my children10 said the sage to his disciples4 8,these words are true1 and commend themselves to our reason40 ,he visited various great cities and courts of emperors1 and everywhere was received with honor4 ,confucius was saddened by the sight of so much disorder4 ,soon after writing the 8,book of ,odes0 and the 8,book of ,history10 he became magistrate of the town of ,chung-,too4 ,he now had an opportunity of putting his principles of government to the test1 and the result partly justified his expectations4 ,he framed rules for the support of the living1 and for the observance of rites for the dead2 he arranged appropriate food for the old and the young2 and he provided for the proper separation of men and women4 ,and the results were1 we are told1 that anything dropped on the road was not picked up2 there was no fraudulent carving of vessels2 coffins were made of the ordained thickness2 graves were unmarked by mounds raised over them2 and no two prices were charged in the markets4 ,the duke1 surprised at what he saw1 asked the sage whether his rule of government could be applied to the whole ,state4 8,certainly10 replied ,confucius1 8and not only to the ,state of ,loo1 but to the whole empire40 ,forthwith1 therefore1 the duke made him ,assistant ,superintendent of ,works1 and shortly afterwards appointed him ,minister of ,crime4 ,here1 again1 his success was complete4 ,as soon as he was appointed he began to carry the laws into effect by punishing high-handed criminals and ere long good government resumed its sway4 ,illustration3 ,,temple ,,of ,,confucius1 ,,the ,,chinese ,,sage1 ,,in ,,peking4 ,though eminently successful1 the results obtained under his system were not quite such as his followers have represented them to have been4 ,no doubt crime diminished under his rule1 but it was by no means abolished4 ,in fact1 his biographers mention a case which must have been peculiarly shocking to him4 ,a father brought an accusation against his son1 in the expectation1 probably1 of gaining his suit with ease before a judge who laid such stress on the virtues of filial piety4 ,but to his surprise1 and that of the on-lookers1 ,confucius cast both father and son into prison1 and to the remonstrance of the head of the ,ke-clan answered3 8,am ,i to punish for a breach of filial piety one who has never been taught to be filially minded8 ,is not he who neglects to teach his son filial duties1 equally guilty with his son who fails in them8 ,crime is not inherent in human nature1 and therefore the father in the family1 and the government in the ,state are responsible for the crimes committed against filial piety and the public laws4 ,if a king is careless about publishing laws1 and then peremptorily punishes in accordance with the strict letter of them1 he acts the part of a swindler2 if he collect the taxes arbitrarily without giving warning1 he is guilty of oppression2 and if he puts the people to death without having instructed them1 he commits a cruelty40 ,confucius had great faith in the power of example4 ,he could not carry out all his schemes nor always adhere to his rules4 ,yet the people rejoiced in his rule1 and at their work sang songs1 describing him as their saviour from oppression and injustice4 ,the tendencies of the times were against the enthusiastic reformer1 yet he struggled on4 ,after he was dismissed from office in ,loo he became the counselor of princes4 ,he went from ,state to ,state1 and ruler to ruler1 until he was sixty-nine years old4 ,he never lost confidence in himself or in his mission4 ,one morning1 in the spring of the year #dgh ,b4,c41 he walked in front of his door1 saying3 8,the great mountain must crumble2 ,the strong beam must break1 ,and the wise man withers away like a plant40 ,he was now without honor among the princes4 ,as he said1 8,no intelligent monarch arises2 there is not one in the empire who will make me his master4 ,my time is come to die40 ,that same day he took to his bed1 and after a week's sickness he died4 ,he was buried with great tokens of respect by his disciples4 ,,teachings ,,and ,,writings ,,of ,,the ,,chinese ,,sage4 ,no man1 probably1 has been treated with so much contempt during his lifetime1 and with so much veneration after his death1 as ,confucius4 ,his life was a standing protest against the iniquities of his time4 ,the teachings of ,confucius are contained in three thin volumes1 called the ,lun ,yu1 or 8,confucian ,analects20 the ,ta ,hioh1 or 8,great ,learning20 and the ,chung ,yung1 or 8,doctrine of the ,mean40 ,confucius also edited the ,yeh ,king1 or 8,book of ,changes20 the ,she ,king1 or 8,book of ,odes20 and the ,shoo ,king1 or 8,book of ,history40 ,he derided spiritual teaching1 did not refer to the future life1 and had little to say about the gods4 ,as to where man came from1 or where he was going1 ,confucius was never troubled4 ,he taught1 man is master of his own happiness and destiny4 ,he might1 by his own efforts1 become the equal of heaven4 ,as to morals and good government ,confucius's teachings rank high4 ,he was really a ,statesman and ,reformer1 rather than a ,religious ,teacher4 ,some selections from his three books will be of use as illustrating the style and substance of his teachings3 ,,the ,,wisdom ,,of ,,the ,,sage4 8,is he not a man of complete virtue who feels no discomposure1 though men may take no note of him80 ,tsng1 the philosopher1 said1 8,i daily examine myself on three points--whether1 in transacting business for others1 ,i may have been not faithful2 whether1 in intercourse with friends1 ,i may have been not sincere2 whether ,i may have not mastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher40 ,the ,master said1 8,he who aims to be a man of complete virtue1 in his food does not seek to gratify his appetite1 nor in his dwelling-place does he seek the appliances of ease2 he is earnest in what he is doing1 and careful in his speech2 he frequents the company of men of principle1 that he may be rectified4 ,such a person may be said1 indeed1 to love to learn40 ,the ,master said1 8,i will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me2 ,i will be afflicted that ,i do not know men40 ,the ,master said1 8,at fifteen1 ,i had my mind bent on learning4 8,at thirty1 ,i stood firm4 8,at forty1 ,i had no doubts4 8,at fifty1 ,i knew the decrees of ,heaven4 8,at sixty1 my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth4 8,at seventy1 ,i could follow what my heart desired1 without transgressing what was right40 ,the ,master said1 8,the superior man is catholic and no partisan2 the mean man is a partisan and no catholic40 ,the ,master said1 8,learning without thought is labor lost2 thought without learning is perilous40 ,the ,master said1 8,for a man to sacrifice to a spirit which does not belong to him is flattery4 8,to see what is right1 and not to do it1 is want of courage40 ,the ,master said1 8,a man should say1 #8,i am not concerned that ,i have no place2 ,i am concerned how ,i may fit myself for one4 ,i am not concerned that ,i am not known2 ,i seek to be worthy to be known4'0 ,the ,master said1 8,the reason why the ancients did not readily give utterance to their words was that they feared lest their actions should not come up to them40 ,tsae ,yu1 being asleep during the daytime1 the ,master said1 8,rotten wood cannot be carved2 a wall of dirty earth will not receive the trowel4 ,this ,yu6--what is the use of my reproving him80 ,the ,master said1 8,i have not seen a firm and unbending man40 ,some one replied1 8,there is ,shin ,ch'ang40 8,ch'ang10 said the ,master1 8is under the influence of his lusts2 how can he be firm and unbending80 ,tsze-kung said1 8,what ,i do not wish men to do to me1 ,i also wish not to do to men40 ,the ,master said1 8,tsze1 you have not attained to that40 ,the ,master said1 8,not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself40 ,tsze-kung asked1 saying1 8,is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life80 ,the ,master said1 8,is not ,,reciprocity such a word8 ,what you do not want done to yourself1 do not do to others40 8,when one cultivates to the utmost the principles of his nature1 and exercises them on the principle of reciprocity1 he is not far from the path4 ,what you do not like1 when done to yourself1 do not do to others40 ,tsze-loo said1 8,i should like1 sir1 to hear your wishes40 ,the ,master said1 8,they are1 in regard to the aged1 to give them rest2 in regard to friends1 to show them sincerity2 in regard to the young1 to treat them tenderly40 ,the ,master said1 8,admirable1 indeed1 was the virtue of ,hwuy6 ,with a single bamboo dish of rice1 a single gourd dish of drink1 and living in his mean1 narrow lane1 while others could not have endured the distress1 he did not allow his joy to be affected by it4 ,admirable1 indeed1 was the virtue of ,hwuy60 ,the ,master said1 8,they who know the truth are not equal to those who love it2 and they who love it are not equal to those who find delight in it40 ,the ,master was mild1 and yet dignified2 majestic1 and yet not fierce2 respectful1 and yet easy4 ,tsng said1 8,when a bird is about to die1 its notes are mournful2 when a man is about to die1 his words are good40 ,confucius1 in his village1 looked simple and sincere1 and as if he were one who was not able to speak4 ,tsze-loo asked about government4 ,the ,master said1 8,go before the people with your example1 and be laborious in their affairs40 ,the ,master said1 8,the progress of the superior man is upwards2 the progress of the mean man is downwards40 ,the ,master said1 8,in ancient times1 men learned with a view to their own improvement4 ,nowadays1 men learn with a view to the approbation of others40 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,confucian ,,temples ,,and ,,worship4 ,the ,emperor plowing in the ,sacred ,field1 ,what time the ,new ,year comes in solemn state4 ,,richard ,,henry ,,stoddard4 ,among the prominent objects of worship in ,china may be specified ,shang-te1 who is alone worshiped by the ,emperor2 the worship of ,confucius2 and that of the spirits of deceased ancestors among the common people4 ,besides these1 there is a host of deities who receive worship with the host of spirits who are dreaded and who may be propitiated by worship4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,school-,,boys4 ,the tenets of ,confucius have been generally regarded as a system of religion and have received the name of 8,confucianism0 among the ,western authors4 ,his precepts form the basis of morals1 but in the worship of ,shang-te by the ,emperor1 who is at the head of the system1 he in person can alone officiate at the most important ceremonies4 ,at the same time that he worships ,shang-te he unites the worship of ,confucius with it on the great altar of heaven in ,peking4 ,the homage of ,confucius enters into the daily life of all students4 ,in every school-room there is a tablet1 containing the name of the sage1 before which every scholar makes his bow when he enters the room4 ,a missionary thus describes the worship paid to him3 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,joss-,,stick4 ,as there is no image of ,confucius for use on such occasions1 a slip of red paper1 of only a few inches in length1 on which has been written in black ink an expression meaning 8,the ,teacher and ,pattern for #aj1jjj ages10 is put upon the wall of the school-room4 ,in front of this is placed a table1 having upon it a censer and a pair of candlesticks4 ,when everything is ready the teacher1 having first lighted and put in the censer three sticks of incense1 and in the candlesticks a couple of candles1 kneels down before the table1 and placing his hands on the floor1 bows his head toward the earth slowly and reverently three times4 ,he then arises1 and one of his pupils takes his place before the table1 and kneels down1 making the same number of bowings in the same manner4 ,another pupil now takes the place1 and performs the same ceremony2 and so on till all have engaged in the worship of the sage4 ,after this1 the food which is to be consumed in the feast is placed on the table before the inscription to ,confucius1 where it remains a short time4 ,it is then removed to another table1 or tables1 around which the teacher and his pupils gather and partake of it4 ,before the feast the teacher usually presents to each one of his pupils a white paper fan1 on which he sometimes writes a quotation from the classics1 or a favorite stanza of poetry4 ,besides this1 he provides a number of toys1 equal to the number of his pupils1 each representing a graduate of the first1 second or third literary degrees1 which are distinguishable by the shape and color of their dresses4 ,it is decided by the throwing of dice in what order the pupils shall choose these toys4 ,these toys are valued as an omen for good1 or rather as an index of the success in study which each may hope to attain4 ,it is often an interesting and exciting time among the members of a school4 ,on a ,chinese youth entering a school as pupil for the first time in any year1 he is expected to bring with him two small candles1 a few sticks of incense1 and a small quantity of mock-money1 which are to be lighted and consumed before a slip of paper1 having some title of ,confucius written upon it1 the pupil making the usual prostration before it after these things have been lighted and while they are being consumed4 ,this is called 8entering school10 or 8worshiping the sage40 ,one morning1 some six years ago1 a lad1 dressed in his best clothes1 marched into a free-school under the charge of a missionary1 carrying1 beside his books1 three sticks of incense1 two small candles1 and a few sheets of mock-money1 designed1 in accordance with established usage1 as an offering to the ,chinese sage4 ,it seemed that the teacher had neglected to inform his parents that in the mission school the sage was not worshiped4 ,the lad was quietly told that the articles he had brought would not be used1 inasmuch as those who studied the books of ,jesus did not burn incense in honor of ,confucius4 ,thus from earliest childhood the youth of ,china are taught to reverence their great countryman1 ,confucius4 ,,the ,,worship ,,of ,,shang-,,te1 ,,at ,,peking4 ,notwithstanding the silence of ,confucius on the subject of ,shang-te1 his worship has been maintained1 not1 perhaps1 in its original purity1 but with marks of reverence which place its object on the highest pinnacle of the ,chinese ,pantheon4 ,at the present day1 the imperial worship of ,shang-te1 on the round hillock to the south of the city of ,peking1 is surrounded with all the solemnity of which such an occasion is capable4 ,the altar is a beautiful marble structure1 ascended by twenty-seven steps3 a balustrade surrounds each terrace4 ,on the upper of these three terraces are five tables or altars1 on which the offerings to ,shang-te are laid4 ,this is the central point of attraction in this whole inclosure of a square mile1 which contains thousands of beautiful trees and many subordinate buildings4 ,on another terrace stands a magnificent triple-roofed circular structure1 ninety-nine feet in height1 which constitutes the most conspicuous object of the whole4 ,on the day before the annual sacrifices at the ,winter ,solstice1 the ,emperor proceeds to the ,hall of ,fasting1 on the west side of the south altar4 ,here he spends the night in watching and meditation1 after first inspecting the offerings4 ,the tablets to the ,supreme ,ruler of ,heaven 7i4e41 ,shang-te17 and to the ,emperor's ancestors are preserved in the chapel at the back of each altar4 ,there are no images4 ,both these chapels are circular1 and covered with blue glazed tiles4 ,the south altar1 the most important of all ,chinese religious structures1 has the following dimensions4 ,it consists of a triple circular terrace1 #baj feet wide at the base1 #aej in the middle1 and #ij at the top4 ,the heights of the three terraces1 upper1 middle and lower1 are #e feet1 #f feet1 and #e feet respectively4 ,at the time of sacrificing1 the tablets to ,heaven and to the ,emperor's ancestors are placed on the top2 they are two feet five inches long and five inches wide4 ,the title is in gilt letters2 that of ,heaven faces the south1 and those of the ancestors east and west4 ,the ,emperor1 with his immediate suite1 kneels in front of the tablet to ,shang-te1 and faces the north4 ,the platform is laid with marble stones1 forming nine concentric circles4 ,the inner circle consists of nine stones1 cut so as to fit with close edges round the central stone1 which is a perfect circle4 ,here the ,emperor kneels1 and is surrounded first by the circles of the terraces and their inclosing walls1 and then by the circle of the horizon4 ,he thus seems to himself and his court to be in the centre of the universe2 and1 turning to the north1 assuming the attitude of a subject1 he acknowledges in prayer and by his position that he is inferior to ,heaven1 and to ,heaven alone4 ,round him1 on the pavement1 are the nine circles of as many heavens1 consisting of nine stones1 then eighteen1 then twenty-seven1 and so on in successive multiples of nine till the square of nine1 the favorite number of ,chinese philosophy1 is reached in the outermost circle of eighty-one stones4 ,as might be expected1 careful distinctions are made in the sacrifices4 ,the animals ordinarily used for food by the ancient ,chinese1 and the fruits of the earth known to them1 are almost all included4 ,but productions recently introduced into the country are not offered4 ,to ,heaven alone is offered a piece of blue jade1 cylindrical in shape and a foot long1 formerly used as a symbol of sovereignty4 ,but the great distinguishing sign of superiority is the offering of a whole burnt sacrifice to ,heaven4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sacred ,,altar ,,of ,,heaven1 ,,at ,,peking4 ,after the same style of building1 and used as a part of the worship of ,heaven and earth1 is the ,temple of the ,sun1 at ,peking4 ,this temple has been dedicated by the ,chinese to the sun as the great source of light and heat1 and it has been put under the protection of the god of fire4 ,farmers frequent this temple in dull1 cold weather1 to pray for the sunshine to ripen their grain and fruit1 and the people generally pray to this god for protection against fire4 ,the fourth day of every month is a high day at this temple1 and it is then crowded with worshipers4 ,on this day1 a band of music is provided1 and1 in addition to the ordinary priests of the temple1 extra priests go about swinging incense1 and conducting many other imposing services4 ,in the spring of every year1 the ,chinese pay great honors to agriculture4 ,the ,emperor proceeds to the park surrounding the ,temple of ,agriculture1 at ,peking1 and in a plot of ground reserved for the purpose1 and in the presence of the grandees of the empire1 he guides the imperial plow1 and uses the seed-planter1 rake1 etc4 ,after this1 the ,emperor and the attendant princes and officials proceed to the ,temple of ,agriculture1 which is dedicated to ,shin-nung1 or the 8,divine ,husbandman10 the fabulous originator of the art4 ,here bullocks1 swine and sheep are offered in sacrifice1 and prayers made to ,shin-nung1 and also to the god of the land1 the grain1 the ocean1 the wind1 the thunder and the rain4 ,similar plowing and worshiping are performed by the leading mandarins near the south gates of all the principal cities of the empire1 after which the mandarins mount a platform1 and calling around them the principal farmers of the vicinity1 exhort them to the proper discharge of their duties as husbandmen4 ,at the close of the addresses1 they present to each of the farmers1 who have been selected to receive them1 certain presents or medals in the name of the ,emperor1 in order to encourage them4 ,illustration3 ,,temple ,,of ,,agriculture1 ,,at ,,peking1 ,,china4 ,apart from the idolatrous worship1 this conduct of the ,emperor and his officials is very praiseworthy2 but it is sad to know that while 8,god has not left ,himself without witness among them in that ,he does good1 and sends them rain and fruitful seasons1 filling their hearts with food and gladness10 they yet do not recognize ,his existence and beneficence1 but give ,his glory to others1 and ,his praise to graven images4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,temple ,,built ,,of ,,bronze ,,in ,,honor ,,of ,,confucius4 ,,temple ,,to ,,confucius4 ,the most important and sacred temple is that adjoining the tomb of ,confucius in ,shantung1 on which all the art of the ,chinese architecture has been lavished4 ,the main building consists of two stories1 the upper veranda surrounding which 8rests on gorgeous marble pillars1 twenty-two feet high1 and about two feet in diameter1 which at a distance appear as if huge dragons were coiled around them and hanging from the top4 ,the tiles of the roof are of yellow1 as in ,peking1 and the ornamentation under the eaves is covered with wire-work to keep it from the birds4 ,inside the building is the image or statue of ,confucius1 in a gorgeously-curtained shrine1 holding in his hand a slip of bamboo1 such as was used for writing upon in his days4 ,the statue is about eighteen feet by six feet1 and is life-like4 ,confucius was strong1 tall and well-built1 with a full red face1 and large and heavy head4 ,on the tablet is the simple inscription1 #8,the most ,holy prescient ,sage ,confucius4 ,his ,spirit's resting-place4' ,on the east side are images of his favorite disciples1 arranged according to the estimation in which he is said to have held them4 ,the ceiling of the building is crowded with tablets1 hung up in honor of the sage1 each vying with another in extravagant praise4 ,before him and also before his disciples1 were the usual frames for sacrifices1 and in front of these1 beautiful incense-pots1 beside them were several most interesting relics1 such as vases1 said to be of the ,shang ,dynasty1 ,b4,c4 #afaj1 the work of which was superb4 ,there were also two bronze elephants1 reported to be of the ,chow ,dynasty1 and a table of that same era of dark red-wood4 8,on the west side are two temples2 one in front1 in honor of the father of ,confucius1 444 and one behind1 in honor of his mother4444 ,on the east side are temples to his five ancestors1 and a large block of marble1 whereon is a genealogical tree1 giving all the branches of his family4444 ,the building behind the grand temple is the temple in honor of his wife1 in which was only a tablet and no image4 ,the second temple behind that contained four tablets1 erected by ,k'ang-he in his honor1 one character on each1 and the interpretation was3 #8,the perspicuous teacher of #aj1jjj kingdoms4' ,here also are three pictures of the sage on marble2 one an old man1 full-length1 rather dim1 having no date2 the second smaller1 with seal characters on the side2 the third and best1 giving only his head and shoulders4 ,these varied somewhat but were substantially alike4 ,all of them have the mouth or lips open and front teeth exposed1 and the full contemplative eyes4 ,immediately behind these are engravings on marble1 illustrating all the chief incidents of his life1 with appropriate explanations at the side4 ,of these there were altogether #abj slabs1 which are built into the wall4 8,the image of ,confucius does not stand alone1 but is surrounded by images of his principal disciples1 while in a hall at the back of that dedicated to him are ranged those of his ancestors4 ,occasionally different emperors have visited his tomb in ,shantung1 at which times the imperial pilgrims have worshiped with extraordinary solemnity at his shrine in the adjoining temple4 ,k'ang-he1 the most celebrated both as a ruler and a scholar of the emperors of the present dynasty1 went on such a pilgrimage1 and #8set the example of kneeling thrice and each time lying his forehead thrice in the dust before the image of the sage4' 8,in the eighteen provinces there are #a1ejj temples dedicated to his worship1 where on the first and fifteenth days of each moon1 sacrificial services are performed before him1 and once in the spring and autumn the local officials go in state to take part in acts of specially solemn worship4 ,according to the ,shing meaou che1 or #8,history of the ,temples of the ,sage1' as many as six bullocks1 #bg1jjj pigs1 #e1hjj sheep1 #b1hjj deer and #b1gjj hares are sacrificed on these occasions1 and at the same time #bg1fjj pieces of silk are offered on his shrine40 ,we have before mentioned the examination of candidates for civil service in the classics4 ,it will be of interest now to give more in detail on these examinations4 ,,examinations ,,in ,,the ,,sacred ,,books4 ,dr4 ,h4 ,m4 ,field tells us of the ,examination ,hall that1 in the eastern quarter of ,canton1 is an inclosure of many acres1 laid off in a manner which betokens some unusual purpose4 ,the ground is divided by a succession of long1 low buildings not much better than horse-sheds around a ,new ,england meeting-house in the olden time4 ,they run in parallel lines1 like barracks for a camp1 and are divided into narrow compartments4 ,once in three years this vast camping-ground presents an extraordinary spectacle1 for then are gathered in these courts1 from all parts of the province1 some #aj1jjj candidates1 all of whom have previously passed a first examination1 and received a degree and now appear to compete for the second4 ,some are young1 and some are old1 for there is no limit put upon age4 ,as the candidates present themselves1 each man is searched1 to see that he has no books1 or helps of any kind1 concealed upon his person4 ,he is then put in a stall about three feet wide1 just large enough to turn round in and as bare as a prisoner's cell4 ,there is a niche in the wall1 in which a board can be placed for him to sit upon1 and another niche to support a board that has to serve as breakfast-table and writing-table4 ,this is the furniture of his room4 ,here he is shut in from all communication with the world1 his food being passed to him through a door1 as to a prisoner4 ,certain themes are then submitted to him in writing on which he is to furnish written essays1 intended generally1 and perhaps always1 to determine his knowledge of the classics4 ,it is sometimes said that these are frivolous questions1 the answers to which afford no proof whatever of one's capacity for office1 but it should be remembered that these classics are the writings of ,confucius1 which are the political ethics of the country1 the very foundation of the government1 without knowing which1 one is not qualified to take part in its administration4 ,the candidate goes into his cell in the afternoon1 and spends the night there1 which gives him time for reflection1 and all the next day and next night1 when he comes out1 and after a few days is put in again for another trial of the same character1 and this is repeated a third time2 at the end of which he is released1 and his essays are submitted for examination4 ,of the #aj1jjj1 only #ge can obtain a degree--not one in a hundred6 ,the #i1ibe must go back disappointed1 their only consolation being1 that after three years they can try again4 ,even the successful ones do not thereby get an office1 but only the right to enter for a third competition1 which takes place at ,peking1 by which of course their ranks are thinned still more4 ,the few who get through this threefold ordeal take a high place in the literary class1 from which all appointments to the public service are made4 ,here is the system of examination complete4 ,no trial can be imagined more severe1 and it ought to give the ,chinese the best civil service in the world4 ,,anecdotes ,,of ,,students4 ,,how ,,mencius',s ,,mother ,,incited ,,her ,,son ,,to ,,study4 ,during the ,chow dynasty 7,b4,c4 #aabb-bbe71 ,mencius1 at the age of three years1 lost his father4 ,his mother1 whose name was ,sin1 was a woman of distinguished worth and virture4 ,mencius went to school1 but soon threw aside his books and returned home4 ,his mother was very much incensed at this course1 and taking a knife1 cut the web of cloth she was weaving1 saying3 8,my son1 your desisting from your studies is like my cutting this web40 ,mencius1 trembling with apprehension1 returned to school and studied with diligence1 nor did he intermit his literary pursuits until he became a worthy1 next in rank to the sage ,confucius4 ,,how ,a ,,tired ,,student ,,was ,,led ,,back ,,to ,,his ,,studies4 ,in the time of the ,tang dynasty 7#fbj-ijf ,a4,d47 ,lei ,peh1 while yet young1 and before he had completed his studies left school and started for home4 ,on the road he saw an old woman engaged in grinding away on an iron pestle4 ,peh inquired why she was thus grinding the pestle8 ,she answered3 8,i want to make a needle40 ,he was surprised at her words1 and influenced by them1 returned to school1 and studied with most assiduous application4 ,he finally became a member of the ,imperial college at the capital4 ,,the ,,little ,,sage ,,who ,,hid ,,fire ,,to ,,light ,,his ,,lamp4 ,probably between #dgi-eja ,a4,d41 lived ,y'su ,yung1 who when he was only eight years old1 was so fond of study1 that his parents were afraid he would impair his eyes by his diligence4 ,they therefore forbade him the use of books1 but he would not obey them4 ,constantly he hid fire until his parents had retired to rest1 when he would light his lamp and study4 ,he took his clothes1 and the coverlet of his bed and hung them up over the window of his room1 lest the light escaping through it1 should be seen by some one of the family4 ,in this way his name became very widely celebrated as a scholar4 ,at home and abroad the people called him 8the little sage40 ,at the age of twelve he became a high officer of government1 and was afterward promoted to the ,superintendency of the ,offering of ,wine4 ,,an ,,example ,,of ,a ,,studious ,,ancestor4 ,fan ,shun ,jin1 in the ,sung dynasty1 day and night was diligent in study4 ,he was in the habit of placing his lamp within the curtains of his bed1 and thus studying till past midnight4 ,afterward1 he became a very distinguished officer4 ,his wife preserved the curtain1 which1 at the top1 had become black by the soot4 ,occasionally she would bring it forth1 and show it to her children and grandchildren1 saying1 8,your father and grandfather1 when he was a boy1 was very studious4 ,here are the marks of the smoke of his lamp40 ,,the ,,student ,,with ,a ,,round ,,stick ,,for ,a ,,pillow4 ,during the ,sung dynasty1 ,sie ,ma ,wan1 when a boy1 whether he was moving about or at rest1 in all his conduct was dignified and decorous1 like a perfect old gentleman4 ,at seven years of age he heard an explanation of the classic called 8,spring and ,autumn40 ,he was very much pleased1 and1 having returned home1 conversed with the members of his family in such a manner as to show that he understood its principles4 ,he was accustomed to use a round block of wood for a pillow4 ,when he became sleepy1 and fell into a doze1 this pillow would roll a little and awaken him4 ,once awakened1 he would apply himself to his studies again with vigor4 ,he finally became an object of worship1 his tablet being placed in the temple of ,confucius4 ,,the ,,student ,,with ,a ,,hole ,,in ,,the ,,wall4 ,in the ,han dynasty1 which began about #bje ,b4,c41 and ended about #be ,a4,d41 lived ,kwang ,hung1 who was very indigent4 ,though very fond of books1 he was destitute of the means of purchasing oil4 ,his neighbor1 in the adjoining house1 had candles2 but the light could not penetrate through the wall4 ,hung therefore made a hole in it1 in order to procure rays of light by which he could prosecute his studies4 ,in the city1 a wealthy man1 whose surname was ,great1 had a large number of books4 ,hung was anxious to work for him1 though not for the purpose of receiving wages4 ,he only desired the privilege of reading the rich man's books as his pay4 ,mr4 ,great was so much interested in the proposal and in the man that he gave him some of his books as his wages4 ,hung became a very learned man1 and finally obtained the office of prime minister4 ,with stories like these the ,chinese encourage the people to study the sacred books4 ,besides the gods above mentioned there are hundreds of others1 gods of occupations1 professions and callings2 gods of literature1 of art1 of play-acting1 of gambling1 and a host of others are found everywhere4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,home-,,life ,,under ,,confucianism4 ,a man do good1 he go to ,joss2 he no do good1 very much bamboo catchee he4--,,the ,,famous ,,howqua',s ,,reply ,,to ,,an ,,american ,,sea-,,captain4 ,one of the most prominent features of the ,chinese religion is the excessive reverence that is paid to parents4 ,we remember the commandment of old1 8,honor thy father and thy mother1 that thy days may be long upon the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee40 ,the ,chinese have long lived in their land2 they have outlived the kingdoms of ,persia1 ,egypt1 ,judea1 ,babylon1 ,greece and ,rome4 ,it certainly seems as if this were a fulfillment of the promise of ,god1 that1 as they honor their parents1 so are they permitted to live long in their land4 ,this reverence for parents1 while living and after death1 is found among other nations2 but nowhere is so great stress laid upon this part of duty as in ,china4 ,the ancient ritual on filial duty directs that1 during the lifetime of his parents1 a son should not go abroad1 or1 if he do so1 then to a fixed place4 ,when at home1 he should rise with the first cock-crow1 and having washed and dressed himself carefully1 should inquire what the wishes of his parents are as to the food they would eat and drink4 ,he should not enter a room unless invited by his father1 nor retire without permission2 neither should he speak unless spoken to4 ,when leaving the house1 he should report himself1 and on returning should make his presence known4 ,he should be regular in his amusements1 attentive to his calling1 constant in speech1 and avoiding all reference to old age4 ,this last is a point strongly insisted upon1 and every boy has held up to him as an example to be followed the conduct of ,laoa ,lai tsze1 who1 fearing that the recognition by his parents of the fact that he was seventy years old would remind them of their own great age1 used to dress himself in a child's frock1 and play about the room like an infant6 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,sitting-,,room4 8,of all things10 said ,confucius1 8which derive their natures from ,heaven and earth1 man is the most noble2 and of all the duties which are incumbent on him1 there is none greater than filial obedience2 nor1 in performing this is there anything so essential as to reverence one's father2 and1 as a mark of reverence1 there is nothing more important than to place him on an equality with ,heaven4 ,thus did the noble ,duke ,chow4 ,formerly1 he sacrificed on the round altar to the spirits of his remote ancestors1 as equal with ,heaven2 and in the open hall he sacrificed to ,wan ,wang 7his father71 as equal with ,shang-te40 ,repeatedly1 throughout the teachings of the sage and of ,mencius1 reference is made to ancestral worship4 ,yet1 it did not originate with ,confucius1 for he but handed down a more ancient form of worship4 ,confucius merely revived that4 ,really1 ,confucius cared very little about worship of any sort2 his system was of the earth1 earthy4 ,all the worship of modern ,confucianism is the addition of later days4 ,whatever of worship or of strictly religious teaching is to be found in ,confucius's writings is there because of some connection with government or moral teachings4 ,the idea of filial piety is carried up to the government4 ,the common people must respect and obey the officers as fathers2 lower officers must look upon the higher officers as fathers2 and all must look to the ,emperor as father4 ,he1 in turn1 must look upon his people as his children4 ,thus the paternal idea prevails4 ,,worshiping ,,the ,,tablet4 ,almost every ,chinese house has either a 8hall of ancestors0 or at least a closet1 where the ancestral tablet is kept4 ,the tablet is called ,shin ,chu1 meaning house of the spirit4 ,it is made of wood1 and is generally about twelve inches high and three inches wide4 ,the wood is generally fragrant1 and parts are elaborately carved4 ,it consists of three pieces1 a pedestal and two upright pieces4 ,often a place is cut in the back1 in which pieces of paper containing the names of ancestors are inserted4 ,every day before this tablet incense and paper prayers are burned4 ,the prayers are written upon the paper1 and the ,chinese believe that when the papers are burned they go to their dead fathers and mothers4 ,these are not prayers for these dead parents1 but prayers to them4 ,they believe that each man has three souls1 one of which at his death goes to ,heaven1 one remains with the body in the grave and one returns home and lives in the ancestral tablet4 ,in ,april of each year a day is selected1 when especial worship is paid at the graves4 ,every man1 woman and child hastens away to the family tombs1 taking offerings and candles to worship at the graves4 ,to neglect this ceremony is counted a slight to one's dead parents4 ,illustration3 ,,ancestral ,,tablet4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,chinaman ,,burning ,,prayers ,,instead ,,of ,,saying ,,them4 ,the following translation of a prayer offered at the tomb shows that it is a real worship which is given3 8,,tankwang1 #abth ,year1 #c;d ,moon1 #ast ,day4 8,i1 ,lin ,kwang1 the second son of the third generation1 presume to come before the grave of my ancestor1 ,lin ,kung4 ,revolving years have brought again the season of spring4 ,cherishing sentiments of veneration1 ,i look up and sweep your tomb4 ,prostrate1 ,i pray that you will come and be present1 and that you will grant to your posterity that they may be prosperous and illustrious4 ,at this season of genial showers and gentle breezes1 ,i desire1 to recompense the root of my existence1 and exert myself sincerely4 ,always grant your safe protection4 ,most reverently1 ,i present the five-fold sacrifice of a pig1 a fowl1 a duck1 a goose1 and a fish2 also1 an offering of five plates of fruit1 with libations of spirituous liquors1 earnestly entreating that you will come and view them4 ,with the most attentive respect1 this announcement is presented on high40 ,illustration3 ,,bringing ,,home ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,souls ,,of ,a ,,dead ,,man ,,in ,,his ,,clothes4 ,to a ,chinaman there is no greater sin than to neglect the worship of an ancestor2 no greater calamity can happen than that he should die and be buried away from his native land4 ,almost every steamer that crosses the ,pacific from ,america carries one or more preserved bodies of ,chinamen1 taking them home to be buried4 ,,ceremony ,,of ,,turning ,,the ,,bridge-,,ladder4 ,after the dead body has been laid out1 this singular custom is observed in many families4 ,sometimes those families which have no married or betrothed daughters do not practice it on the death of its head4 ,the married daughters are expected then to return home4 ,illustration3 ,,ceremony ,,of ,,turning ,,around ,,the ,,bridge ,,ladder4 ,several ,taoist priests are employed to prepare the 8bridge-ladder0 and aid in the celebration of the ceremony at the expense of the son-in-law or sons-in-law of the deceased4 ,a post seven or eight feet high is placed in a socket or frame standing on the ground4 ,into holes made in the sides of this post are fastened several bamboos two or three feet long4 ,these sticks project outward and upward a little from the post4 ,sometimes these sticks amount to several tens4 ,the longer ones are placed toward the bottom and the shorter ones toward the top1 the lowest tier being three or four feet from the ground4 ,at the extreme outer end of each is suspended by a wire a kind of glass cup containing oil and wicking1 the whole constituting a lamp4 ,on the top of the post is placed a candle4 ,into a hole1 about three feet from the ground1 made in the upright post1 is inserted a pole projecting at a right-angle1 some two or three feet longer than the longest of the sticks having lamps at their ends4 ,this 8bridge ladder10 is placed in the middle of the room4 ,on one side of the room is placed a table having candles and incense on it4 ,on the wall or partition of the room by this table are suspended one or two large paper hangings1 relating to the infernal regions4 ,the body of the deceased is lying on one side of the room1 or1 if there is an adjoining room which can be used it is placed in that4 ,when everything is ready1 the ceremony is commenced by lighting the lamps and candle on the 8bridge-ladder10 as well as the candles and incense on the table4 ,the priests chant their liturgy amid the noise of cymbals4 ,the married daughter comes forward1 having a white cotton cloth bound about her head1 partially concealing her eyes1 or she holds to her eyes a white cotton cloth much as one would a handkerchief while crying4 ,the eldest son of the deceased1 if there be a living son1 now advances and taking hold of the end of the long pole pushes gently against it4 ,the post turning on its socket1 the entire 8bridge-ladder0 moves4 ,the wife of the eldest son1 his younger brothers and their wives1 the married daughter of the deceased and her children1 etc41 now follow1 slowly1 the elder brother as he turned around the 8bridge-ladder0 for a few times4 ,in case there is no son a married or affianced daughter leads the company4 ,during the period that this 8bridge-ladder0 is thus made to revolve1 all of the party join in loud lamentation and wailing4 ,their outcry1 taken in connection with the chanting of the priests and the noise of the cymbals1 make a very confused hubbub and tumult of voices and sounds4 ,these1 together with the sight of so many lamps and candles burning brightly in broad daylight1 produce a very singular spectacle for the foreign beholder1 which1 once seen1 will not be quickly forgotten4 ,the object of this performance with the bridge-ladder is to lighten and assist the deceased on his way4 ,it is called 8bridge-ladder0 because it is fancied to resemble a bridge and a ladder4 ,the bridge would aid the dead to pass rivers1 and the ladder would help him to climb steep places1 should he meet such impediments in his journey4 ,with this extreme reverence for the dead1 of course1 there can be no question but that the ,chinese hold most determinedly to the belief in a future life4 ,in reality1 the whole character of ,buddhism in ,china is shaped by this4 ,buddhism has no distinct teaching of an immortal life2 and when it was brought to ,china1 it gained no acceptance until the blank1 despairing tenets of the ,nirvana was changed into a bright1 cheerful ,paradise of the ,blessed ,dead4 ,examination will show that the ,buddhism of ,china and the ,buddhism of ,india very little resemble one another1 and1 if we mistake not1 the difference grew out of the belief in a future life1 which is a prime teaching in the ,chinese faith4 ,the worship of ancestors enters into all the home life1 manners and customs of the entire ,chinese people4 ,,worship ,,of ,,ancestors ,,at ,a ,,wedding4 ,the tablets of the family are arranged on a table standing in the back part of the reception-room1 or in a shrine placed on the table4 ,incense and candles1 arranged1 according to custom1 near the tablets1 having been lighted1 the bridegroom and his bride kneel down three or four times before the tablets1 the wife being on the right-hand side of her husband4 ,while on their knees1 at each kneeling1 they bow their heads down toward the ground once4 ,on rising to their feet they change places1 and then kneel down three or four times again1 and bow their heads as before in front of and toward the tablets4 ,they now arise1 and two chairs are placed before the table which contains the incense1 candles and tablets4 ,if the paternal grandparents of the groom are living and present1 they take their seats in the chairs1 the grandmother being on the right hand of the grandfather1 with their faces turned away from the table or toward the front part of the room4 ,in case either has deceased1 the tablet which represents that person is placed in the chair which he or she would have occupied if living4 ,the bridegroom and bride advance1 and kneel down three or four times before them1 bowing their heads toward the ground as in worshiping the tablets4 ,they then arise1 and1 having changed positions1 kneel down and bow again three or four times4 ,the parents of the groom then take their seats in the chairs1 and the ceremony of kneeling and bowing is repeated1 in like manner1 the customary number of times4 ,while the bride is on her knees1 her new mother usually arranges some costly ornaments in her hair1 as gold or pearls1 or gives her some valuable finger-rings1 if able to afford the expense of such2 or1 if poor1 she presents her with such head ornaments as she can afford4 ,the women who assist the bride in performing these ceremonies improve the opportunity to offer tea to her parents at this period1 and are rewarded for their attentions with a present of money on the spot4 ,in case either parent is dead1 the ancestral tablet for that person is placed in the chair1 as in the supposed case of one of the grandparents having deceased4 ,the paternal and maternal uncles and aunts of the groom1 if present1 in the order of their seniority1 now take their turns of being worshiped by the couple4 ,oftentimes1 these relatives will not sit1 but content themselves to stand during the worship rendered them4 ,standing1 on these occasions and during the reception of these honors1 is regarded as a mark of humility4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,marriage ,,procession4 ,illustration3 ,,worship ,,of ,,ancestors ,,at ,a ,,wedding4 ,,mother1 ,,goddess ,,of ,,children4 ,married but childless women twice a year go to the temple of ,mother1 taking incense and candles to burn before her image4 ,they come to the temple to get a shoe which is to represent the goddess in their homes4 ,they declare that if the goddess will give them a male child1 they will render thanksgiving to her4 ,they do not cherish the slightest desire to have a female child4 ,the ,chinese classics say3 8,when a son is born1 ,he sleeps on a bed2 ,he is clothed in robes2 ,he plays with gems2 ,his cry is princely loud6 ,but when a daughter is born1 ,she sleeps on the ground2 ,she is clothed with a wrapper2 ,she plays with a tile2 ,she is incapable either of evil or good2 ,it is hers only to think of preparing wine and food1 ,and not giving any occasion of grief to her parents60 ,this is an accurate expression of the ,chinese preference for a male child4 ,indeed1 a very great many of the ,chinese mothers and fathers drown their girl babies when they are but a few hours old1 rather than keep them4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,baby ,,in ,,its ,,cradle4 ,whenever a child is born1 the mother takes to some temple two shoes1 just like the one she has been worshiping as the representative of 8,mother0 at home4 ,just before a child is born the husband and wife offer gifts as a propitiation to two female demons which are supposed to seek to destroy the mother at the birth of her child4 ,a priest is called in to recite classics appropriate to the occasion4 ,sometimes several live crabs are turned out into the streets to take the evil spirits with them1 and other curious devices are employed4 ,,teaching ,a ,,child ,,to ,,worship ,,idols4 ,from childhood1 the ,chinese are accustomed to worship idols and ancestors4 ,family parties may often be seen in the temples2 grandmothers and mothers teaching the little ones to bow down to idols4 ,here is a description given by an eye-witness4 ,he was introduced into an idol temple1 and stood in the back part of the great hall1 where the chief idols are placed1 and from thence he could watch what went forward4 ,soon a well-dressed lady came in with her three children1 of about seven1 five and three years of age4 ,the two elder boys ran forward1 and bowed down before the idol in the usual way1 and then called their little brother to come forward also and do as they had done4 ,but this was evidently his first visit to the temple2 for the little fellow was very much frightened at the sight of the idol4 ,the mother then dragged the child into position1 and standing behind and holding him fast by both arms1 forced him to bow slightly three times1 and then adroitly slipped out of her sleeve some toys and sweets1 which she gave the child1 saying that the god had given him these nice things because he was a good boy2 and she told him to thank the idol1 which he did with great heartiness4 ,illustration3 ,,teaching ,a ,,child ,,to ,,worship4 ,when the child grows up1 and is able to see through such tricks1 the priest has taken the mother's place1 and1 by carefully-concealed deceits1 manages to delude him into believing just what it may be thought best to teach him4 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,the ,,kitchen4 ,illustration3 ,,offering ,,sacrifice ,,to ,,the ,,kitchen-,,god4 ,there is another important object of ,chinese worship1 whose place of abode is in the kitchen4 ,his name is ,tszmin2 foreigners call him 8god of the kitchen40 ,incense and candles are burned before the kitchen-god on the first and fifteenth days of each month4 ,to represent this god1 the poorer people use simply a piece of red paper1 with the god's name written on it4 ,generally1 a sheet of white paper is used1 on which the likeness of an old man and woman has been stamped1 together with pictures of fowls1 dogs1 buffaloes1 etc41 and tables4 ,this paper is pasted to a board and suspended in the kitchen4 ,the ,chinese say that there are two objects of worship in every house1 and these are the ancestral tablet and the kitchen-god4 ,this god is supposed to have charge of the family2 and his duty is to keep a strict watch over all the members of it4 ,this he must do1 because1 at the end of each year1 he has to make a report of the year's conduct to the great god ,yuh-,hwang1 the 8,pearly ,emperor1 ,supreme ,ruler10 who rules in ,heaven over all the lesser gods4 ,five days before the ,chinese ,new ,year1 this kitchen-god is supposed to leave every house and ascend to ,heaven1 to make his yearly report4 ,on the day before his supposed departure1 feasts are offered to him1 and more than usual honors paid him1 in the hope that he may be bribed to give a good account4 ,at the exact time of his departure1 fire-crackers are let off1 incense burned1 and worship offered1 in order that he may start on his long journey in a good temper1 and with as much dignity as possible4 ,his return is expected1 and he is received with the same marks of respect which attend his going away4 ,every shop-keeper1 banker and merchant has a piece of red paper1 on which the words 8god of wealth0 are written1 pasted on his wall4 ,seldom do they make an image of this god4 ,incense and candles are burned1 and prayers are offered daily4 ,often1 after the festivals of this god1 mock-money and mock-clothing are burned for the benefit of the spirits of beggars in purgatory4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,ma-,,chu1 ,,goddess ,,of ,,the ,,sailors4 ,she was the daughter of a man who1 with his sons1 was engaged on the ocean in the pursuit of a living4 ,he was born during the ,sung dynasty1 and lived in the ,hing ,hua prefecture of the province of ,fuh-kien4 ,one day1 while she was engaged in the employment of weaving in her mother's house she fell asleep through excessive weariness1 her head resting upon her loom4 ,she dreamed that she saw her father and two brothers on their separate junks in a terrific storm4 ,she exerted herself to rescue them from danger4 ,she immediately seized upon the junk which contained her father1 with her mouth1 while with her hands she caught a firm hold upon the two junks which contained her two brothers4 ,she was dragging them all toward the shore when1 alas6 she heard the voice of her mother calling to her1 and1 as she was an obedient girl1 forgetting that she held her father's junk in her mouth1 she hastily opened it to answer her mother4 ,she awoke in great distress and1 lo6 it was a dream1 but not all a dream1 for in a few days the news arrived that the fleet of junks had encountered a dreadful storm1 and that the one in which her father was had been wrecked1 and he had perished1 while those in which her brothers were had been signally rescued4 ,the girl knew that she had been the means of the salvation of her brothers1 and that opening her mouth to answer her mother's call was the occasion of her failure to rescue her father's vessel4 ,this girl became1 as the result of her dream1 one of the most popular objects of worship in the empire4 ,the emperors of ,china have1 at different times since her death1 conferred various high-sounding titles upon her1 some of which seem blasphemous4 ,she is called 8,queen of ,heaven0 and 8,the ,holy ,mother in the heavens above40 ,one is often reminded by the titles given her and the worship and honors paid her1 of the titles which are given to the mother of ,jesus by the authority of the ,pope of ,rome4 ,sailors often take with them some embers or ashes which they obtain from the censer before some popular image of the goddess4 ,these ashes they carry about their person in a small red bag1 or they suspend them about the junk in convenient places1 or they put them in the censer before the image of that which they worship4 ,when there is a violent storm1 and there seems but little hope that the junk will outride it1 the sailors all kneel down near the bow with incense in their hands1 and call out in doleful and bitter tones upon ,ma-,chu to send deliverance4 ,in case they reach the port without shipwreck1 they are bound to offer her an especial thanksgiving of food1 with or without theatrical plays in her honor1 according to their vow4 ,thus we have seen that the ,chinese1 though standing high above other ,asiatic nations in point of civilization1 are yet as idolatrous as any4 ,buddhism and ,taoism have somewhat lessened the hold of ,confucius upon the great ,chinese nation2 and ,christianity and western civilization have done much toward introducing a new order of things in ,china4 ,,the ,,god ,,of ,,gambling ,,outwitted4 ,illustration3 ,,god ,,of ,,gambling4 ,a lady living in ,china narrates the following ,chinese myth3 ,a gambler once went to a temple1 to secure the help of a certain god therein4 ,his luck had been bad1 and he was unable to bring any oblation besides incense and paper money2 but he promised that1 if the god would help him to win a certain sum1 he would then bring a thank-offering having ten feet4 ,the god reckoned the sorts of tribute usually paid to him2 and1 as the feet of a pig1 a kid and a duck would together make ten1 he supposed that these were the animals that would be laid upon his altar1 should the gambler succeed4 ,so he favored the gambler1 and caused him to gain even more than the stipulated sum4 ,the gambler fulfilled the letter of his promise by laying a single crab on the altar4 ,the god was very angry at being thus duped1 and thenceforth exerted so unpropitious an influence in the gambler's affairs that he went and ascertained through a spirit medium the cause of his misfortunes4 ,again he came with fair words1 promising that1 if the god would once more grant his aid1 he should have a whole pig as compensation4 ,the god was mollified1 and again favored the gambler1 so that his winnings were large4 ,he brought the pig as a thank-offering4 ,it was a fine1 strong one2 but it was alive1 and not in a condition in which it would be edible for either gods or men4 ,while the god looked in astonishment at this departure from the established customs in the payment of a vow1 the gambler fastened the pig by a strong rope to the leg of the throne on which the god sat1 and began to light the fire-crackers1 by which an offering is announced4 ,the explosion of the fire-crackers frightened the pig1 so that it ran away dragging both god and throne after it1 till both were upset and broken4 ,thus the astute gambler outwitted the honest god4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,buddha1 ,,the 8,,light ,,of ,,asia40 ,the ,saviour of the ,world1 ,lord ,buddha--,prince ,siddartha styled on earth-- ,in ,earth and ,heavens and ,hells ,incomparable1 ,all-honored1 ,wisest1 ,best1 most ,pitiful2 ,the ,teacher of ,nirvana and the ,law4 ,,edwin ,,arnold4 ,je n'hsite pas ajouter que1 sauf le ,christ tout seul1 il n'est point1 parmi les fondateurs de religion1 de figure plus pure ni plus touchante que celle du ,bouddha4--,,barth,,lemy ,,saint-,,hilaire4 ,we now come to the study of the last of the systems of idol worship1 ,buddhism4 ,this is one of the most interesting of all4 ,it stands at once nearest to and farthest from ,christianity4 ,in its extent1 it is the greatest religion of the world4 ,it includes four-tenths 7nearly one-half7 of all the world's population4 ,the following figures indicate the comparative strength of the different existing religions3 ,parsees1 #aej1jjj4 ,jews1 #g1jjj1jjj 7being about per ct4 of total74 ,greek ,church1 #ge1jjj1jjj #f ,roman ,catholics1 #aeb1jjj1jjj #ab ,other ,christians1 #ajj1jjj1jjj #h ,hindus1 #afa1bjj1jjj #ac ,mohammedans1 #aee1jjj1jjj #ab ,buddhists1 #ejj1jjj1jjj #dj ,not included in the above1 ,fetichists1 etc41 #ajj1jjj1jjj #h ------------- --- ,total1 #a1bej1cej1jjj #ajj ,illustration3 ,briton ,riviere ,,ara1 ,painter4 ,illman ,brothers1 ,engravers ,printers4 ,,the ,,fulfillment ,,of ,,prophecy4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,bronze ,,idol ,,of ,,buddha1 ,,at ,,kamakura1 ,,japan4 ,sixty-five feet high1 thirty feet across the shoulders1 six hundred years old2 covered with bronze plates1 its interior forming a temple4 ,from an original photograph4 ,it must be remembered1 however1 that very few of the #ejj1jjj1jjj of ,buddhists are ,buddhists only4 ,many of the ,chinese ,buddhists are ,confucianists and ,taoists as well4 ,many of the ,ceylonese 7or rather ,singhalese7 ,buddhists are devil-worshipers and star-worshipers as well4 ,so1 also1 one often sees in the ,buddhist temples of ,japan the ,shinto symbols4 ,indeed1 the rapid and wide growth of ,buddhism is due to the readiness with which it tolerates other religions4 ,to write the history of ,buddhism is to write the history of the hopes1 and aspirations1 and most sacred feelings of nearly one-half the human race of modern times4 ,buddhism has been received by both very savage and very civilized peoples--the wild ,nomad hordes of the cold northern lands of ,tartary1 ,thibet and ,nepal2 the cultured ,chinese and ,japanese1 and the quiet ,siamese1 ,burmese and ,ceylonese4 ,a religion of such wide acceptance by nations and individuals of such different characters and circumstances1 and which has controlled the destinies of thousands of millions of souls during nearly twenty-three hundred years1 and which comes nearest to ,christianity in the purity of its morals and the benefits it proposes to confer upon the human race1 is certainly worthy of very careful attention4 ,in studying it we must carefully avoid either a wholesale condemnation or an unqualified approval2 we must recognize that there are both good and evil in it4 ,it is to be remembered1 also1 that we can only look upon ,buddha's teachings after the lapse of ages1 and from this long distance the view is likely to be anything else than clear4 ,without a doubt the doctrines of ,buddha have been so perverted1 that he would scarcely recognize the religion that bears his name to-day4 ,then1 too1 being an ,oriental religion1 we ,western people cannot study it under as favorable circumstances as the ,eastern people4 ,oriental religions can be seen best by ,oriental eyes4 ,buddhism is a reform upon ,brahminism4 ,it is of ,hindu origin1 and while it has but little sway in the land of its birth1 it retains the ,hindu cast in all its wanderings into other lands and its observances among other peoples4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,gautama1 ,,the ,,founder ,,of ,,buddhism4 ,in giving these legends of the life of ,gautama1 it should be stated that they are derived from the writings of ,buddhists who lived long after ,gautama was dead4 ,they are to be received1 of course1 with that degree of credulity which would attend the legends of devoted disciples of any such teacher4 ,those who have studied ,buddhism in its native land have collected these legends with great care1 among whom one of the most careful authors is ,rev4 ,spence ,hardy1 who has collected and commented on them with great candor4 ,at the end of the sixth century before ,christ1 a wise and good king reigned in the capital city of his country1 ,kapila-vastu1 about one hundred miles north-east from the great city of ,benares1 in ,india4 ,around this city the snow-crowned1 giant peaks of the ,himalayas towered up in the clear blue of the ,indian sky4 ,the city was on the banks of an insignificant river1 the ,rohini4 ,the people lived from the produce of their cattle and their rice-fields2 they adhered to the ,hindu religion4 ,the wife of ,king ,suddhodana was named ,maya1 because of her wondrous beauty4 ,she was childless until her forty-fifth year4 ,little ,prince ,siddartha was born under the shade of a satin-tree1 in the year #eeb ,b4,c4 ,in later years he was called the 8,buddha40 ,at this time1 in addition to the name ,siddartha1 he received the name of ,sakya-muni from his family1 and that of ,gautama from his clan4 ,just as in the case of other famous men1 many marvelous stories are told concerning his miraculous birth1 and the precocious wisdom and power of the infant prince4 ,at his birth1 the legends say1 ten thousand worlds were filled with light1 the blind received their sight1 the deaf heard1 the lame walked1 the imprisoned were set free1 the trees burst forth in blossom1 the air was filled with sweet songs of birds1 and even the fires of hell were for the time being extinguished4 ,on the fifth day after his birth1 at the 8name-choosing festival10 #ajh ,brahmin priests met to select the most fitting name4 ,one of them1 the most learned in divination1 predicted that he will be a 8,buddha10 who will remove the veils of sin and ignorance from the world4 ,gautama is the name by which he is most commonly known among the southern ,buddhists4 ,buddha1 or1 more properly1 the ,buddha1 means the ,enlightened ,one1 and is an official title1 just as we say ,jesus1 the ,christ1 or the ,anointed ,one4 ,during his youth ,gautama is noted for his prowess1 and for teaching even his masters in the arts and sciences4 ,he has1 so the legends go on to say1 most magnificent equipages and many servants4 ,he is early married to his cousin4 ,he devotes himself to study and meditation1 and his relatives charge him with neglecting to train himself in manly exercises4 ,gautama1 being told of their murmurings1 appoints a day by beat of drum to prove his skill against all comers4 ,at the trial he surpasses the cleverest bowmen1 and exhibits wonderful strength and skill in his feats of horsemanship4 ,in his twenty-ninth year1 ,gautama abandons his home to devote himself entirely to the study of religion and philosophy4 ,he had been accustomed to say1 8,nothing is stable on earth1 nothing is real4 ,life is like the spark produced by the friction of wood4 ,it is lighted1 and it is extinguished2 we know not whence it came and whither it goes4 ,it is like the sound of a lyre1 and the wise man asks in vain from whence it came and whither it goes4 ,there must be some supreme intelligence where we could find rest4 ,if ,i attained to it1 ,i could bring light to man2 if ,i were free myself1 ,i could deliver the world40 ,with this hope1 and being moved thereto by four incidents1 he gave himself1 as we have just said1 to seeking the light of the world4 ,these were but ordinary events1 and yet they had a great effect upon ,gautama4 ,,gautama',s ,,four ,,visions4 ,one day when the prince1 with a large retinue1 was driving through the eastern gate of the city on the way to one of his parks1 he met on the road an old man1 broken and decrepit4 ,one could see the veins and muscles over the whole of his body2 his teeth chattered1 he was covered with wrinkles1 bald and hardly able to utter hollow and unmelodious sounds4 ,he bent on his stick1 and all his limbs and joints trembled4 8,who is that man80 said the prince to his coachman4 8,he is small and weak1 his flesh and his blood are dried up1 his muscles stick to his skin1 his head is white1 his teeth chatter1 his body is wasted away2 leaning on his stick he is hardly able to walk1 stumbling at every step4 ,is there something peculiar in his family1 or is this the common lot of all created beings80 8,sir10 replied the coachman1 8that man is sinking under old age2 his senses have become obtuse1 suffering has destroyed his strength1 and he is despised by his relations4 ,he is without support and useless1 and people have abandoned him1 like a dead tree in a forest4 ,but this is not peculiar to his family4 ,in every creature youth is defeated by old age4 ,your father1 your mother1 all your relations1 all your friends1 will come to the same state2 this is the appointed end of all creatures40 8,alas60 replied the prince1 8are creatures so ignorant1 so weak and foolish1 as to be proud of the youth by which they are intoxicated1 not seeing the old age which awaits them6 ,as for me1 ,i go away4 ,coachman1 turn my chariot quickly4 ,what have ,i1 the future prey of old age--what have ,i to do with pleasure80 ,and the young prince returned to the city without going to his park4 ,another time the prince was driving through the southern gate to his pleasure-garden1 when he perceived on the road a man suffering from illness1 parched with fever1 his body wasted1 covered with mud1 without a friend1 without a home1 hardly able to breathe1 and frightened at the sight of himself and the approach of death4 ,having questioned his coachman1 and received from him the answer which he expected1 the young prince said3 8,alas6 health is but the sport of a dream1 and the fear of suffering must take this frightful form4 ,where is the wise man who1 after having seen what he is1 could any longer think of joy and pleasure80 ,the prince turned his chariot and returned to the city4 ,a third time he was driving to his pleasure-garden through the western gate1 when he saw a dead body on the road1 lying on a bier1 and covered with a cloth4 ,the friends stood about1 crying1 sobbing1 tearing their hair covering their heads with dust1 striking their breasts and uttering wild cries4 ,the prince1 again calling his coachman to witness this painful scene1 exclaimed3 8,o woe to youth1 which must be destroyed by old age6 ,woe to health1 which must be destroyed by so many diseases6 ,woe to this life1 where a man remains so short a time6 ,if there were no old age1 no disease1 no death2 if these could be made captive forever60 ,then betraying for the first time his intentions1 the young prince said3 8,let us turn back1 ,i must think how to accomplish deliverance40 ,a last meeting put an end to his hesitation4 ,he was driving through the northern gate1 on the way to his pleasure-gardens1 when he saw a mendicant1 who appeared outwardly calm1 subdued1 looking downwards1 wearing with an air of dignity his religious vestment1 and carrying an alms-bowl4 8,who is this man80 asked the prince4 8,sir10 replied the coachman1 8this man is one of those who are called bhikshus1 or mendicants4 ,he has renounced all pleasures1 all desires1 and leads a life of austerity4 ,he tries to conquer himself4 ,he has become a devotee4 ,without passion1 without envy1 he walks about asking for alms40 8,this is good and well said10 replied the prince2 8the life of a devotee has always been praised by the wise4 ,it will be my refuge1 and the refuge of other creatures2 it will lead us to a real life1 to happiness and immortality40 ,with these words1 the young prince turned his chariot and abandoning his proposed ride returned to the city4 ,,the ,,great ,,renunciation4 ,we now come to a most touching incident in ,gautama's life4 ,moved by the visions of which we have just spoken1 ,gautama determines to seek the solitude of the hermit's hut4 ,his life had been full of intense yearning which had never been satisfied4 ,not all the comfort and prosperity about him could drive away his desire to obtain peace4 ,to him1 life was a great enigma1 and he determined to solve it4 ,he was not dissatisfied1 but1 rather1 unsatisfied4 ,his determination to retire from active life was1 however1 by no means easy4 ,for his wife and his only son1 ,rahula1 he felt the warmest affection4 ,it was to be a difficult task to break these ties4 ,at midnight1 he summoned his charioteer1 ,channa1 to bring his horse to the palace gate4 ,while ,channa was gone to the stable1 ,gautama turned back to take a last look at his wife and child4 ,the princess lay asleep upon her couch1 surrounded with flowers1 and her hand was embracing her little one4 ,gautama saw that he could not take the child up in his arms without disturbing the mother1 and he was afraid that she might succeed in shaking his resolution1 did she plead with him4 8,so with his brow he touched her feet1 and bent ,the farewell of fond eyes1 unutterable ,upon her sleeping face1 still wet with tears2 ,and thrice around the bed in reverence1 ,as though it were an altar1 softly stepped ,with clasped hands laid upon his beating heart1 #8,for never1' spake he1 #8lie ,i there again6' ,and thrice he made to go1 but thrice came back1 ,so strong her beauty was1 so large his love3 ,then1 o'er his head drawing his cloth1 he turned1 ,and raised the purdah's edge3 99 99 99 99 99 8,then1 lightly treading where those sleepers lay1 ,into the night ,siddartha passed3 its eyes1 ,the watchful stars1 looked love on him2 its breath1 ,the wandering wind1 kissed his robe's fluttered fringe2 ,the garden-blossoms1 folded for the dawn1 ,opened their velvet hearts to waft him scents1 ,from pink and purple censers2 o'er the land1 ,from ,himalaya unto the ,indian ,sea1 ,a tremor spread1 as if earth's soul beneath ,stirred with an unknown hope2 and holy books-- ,which tell the story of our ,lord--say1 too1 ,that rich celestial music thrilled the air ,from hosts on hosts of shining ones1 who thronged ,eastward and westward1 making bright the night-- ,northward and southward1 making glad the ground4 ,also those four dread ,regents of the ,earth1 ,descending at the doorway1 two by two-- ,with their bright legions of ,invisibles ,in arms of sapphire1 silver1 gold and pearl-- ,watched with joined hands the ,indian ,prince1 who stood1 ,his tearful eyes raised to the stars1 and lips ,close-set with purpose of prodigious love4 ,then strode he forth into the gloom and cried1 #8,channa1 awake6 and bring out ,kantaka6' 8#8,what would my lord8' the charioteer replied-- ,slow-rising from his place beside the gate-- #8,to ride at night1 when all the ways are dark8' 8#8,speak low1' ,siddartha said1 #8and bring my horse1 ,for now the hour is come when ,i should quit ,this golden prison1 where my heart lives caged1 ,to find the truth2 which henceforth ,i will seek1 ,for all men's sake1 until the truth be found4'0 ,shortly after he had passed through the ponderous gate of the city--which1 it was said1 took a thousand men to open it--he was met by the evil god ,mara4 ,mara knew that if ,gautama proceeded1 his power would be lessened and so he sought to turn him back4 ,he said to ,gautama3 8,be entreated to stay1 that you may possess the honors that are within your reach2 go not6 go not60 ,to this ,gautama replied3 8,a thousand or a hundred thousand honors such as those to which you refer would have no power to charm me to-day2 ,i seek the ,buddhaship2 therefore1 begone1 hinder me not40 ,mara left him in great anger1 determined to foil him4 ,,gautama ,,becomes ,,an ,,ascetic4 ,gautama then exchanged his clothes with a poor passer-by1 cut off his hair1 and sent ,channa1 the charioteer back and became a begging1 homeless hermit4 ,several hermits had taken up their abode in the caves of the ,vindhya mountains2 here they were at once surrounded by the solitudes of nature and sufficiently near to a large city to get their supplies4 ,after coming to these caves he attaches himself to a ,brahmin teacher1 and under his guidance seeks1 by undergoing severest penances1 to gain superhuman power4 ,after a little1 he withdraws by himself to the jungles1 where he spends six years in fasting and self-mortification4 ,his severity of self-control gains him great fame1 and disciples gather about him4 ,a fear that1 lest after all his efforts should be fruitless and that he should die1 having gone wrong1 made him finally give up the attempt4 ,now came the crisis of his life4 ,the second struggle of ,gautama was most intense4 ,he wandered back to a village to get his morning meal4 ,he sat down to eat it under a tree1 known from that day to this as the 8,bo-tree10 or tree of ,wisdom4 ,there he remained through the long hours of that day1 debating with himself what next to do4 ,the philosophy he had trusted in seemed to be doubtful2 the penance he had practiced so long had brought no certainty1 no peace2 and all his old temptations came back upon him with renewed force4 ,for years he had looked at all earthly good as vanity1 worthless and transitory4 ,nay1 more1 he had thought that it contained within itself the seeds of evil1 and must inevitably1 sooner or later1 bring forth its bitter fruit4 ,but now to his wavering faith the sweet delights of home and love1 the charms of wealth and power1 began to show themselves in a different light and to glow again with attractive colors4 ,they were yet within his reach2 he knew he would be welcomed back1 and yet--would there even then be satisfaction8 ,were all his labors to be lost8 ,was there no sure ground to stand on8 ,thus he agonized in his doubt from the early morning until sunset4 ,but as the day ended the religious side of his nature had won the victory2 his doubt had cleared away2 he had become a ,buddha1 that is an ,enlightened ,one2 he had grasped1 as it seemed to him1 the solution of the great mystery of sorrow1 and had learned at once its causes and its cure4 ,he seemed to have gained the haven of peace1 and in the power over the human heart of inward culture1 and of love to others1 to rest at last on a certitude that could never be shaken4 ,he renounced his penances1 and from that time declared that no good resulted from them4 ,it was a grand theory of self-salvation that he had wrought out for himself--salvation by self-control and love--without any rites1 ceremonies1 charming priestly powers1 without even the aid of the gods1 man could save himself4 ,like the later great reformer1 ,mohammed1 ,gautama the ,buddha1 had the most perfect confidence in himself1 his convictions and his mission2 this mission was 8to set rolling the royal chariot-wheel of a universal empire of truth and righteousness40 ,he went to ,benares1 and there1 by teaching1 sought to spread the knowledge of his method of reaching a perfect inward peace4 ,in about three months he had gathered together sixty disciples2 these he sends forth to preach his faith4 ,he himself was accustomed to travel1 preach and teach1 except during the four rainy months1 from ,june to ,october1 when he remained in one place1 instructing his declared disciples4 ,once he visited his old home1 and his wife1 ,yasodhara1 became one of his disciples2 she was the first of the ,buddhist nuns4 ,gautama died at the age of eighty years4 ,his body was burned with much pomp1 and his disciples contended for the unburned bones4 ,they were divided in eight parts1 and temple-mounds1 called topes1 were built over each4 ,,the 8,,light ,,of ,,asia0 ,,and ,,the 8,,light ,,of ,,the ,,world40 ,one cannot help comparing ,gautama1 the ,buddha1 and ,jesus1 the ,christ4 ,there is1 beyond question1 a great deal of both good and evil in ,buddha's life and teaching4 ,it is wise for us to recognize both good and evil1 and to 8hold fast to that which is good40 ,we do not think that it is placing ,buddha on too high a ground when we say that he stands nearest to ,christ of all the founders of religions4 ,we must not confound the teachings of ,buddha with the superstitious notions of his followers of to-day4 ,the present ,buddhism of ,asia is but little like the ,buddhism of ,gautama's teaching4 ,further1 we must strip off the legends1 the additions of a later day1 and seek to read the story of his life that lies beneath them4 ,in addition to this1 we must try to place ourselves in closest sympathy with our subject4 ,illustration3 ,,idol ,,of ,,buddha4 ,,his ,,idols ,,are ,,usually ,,of ,,this ,,shape1 ,,proportion ,,and ,,position1 ,,though ,,infinitely ,,varied ,,in ,,size ,,and ,,quality4 ,thus we see the beauties of this life4 ,looked at in this way1 we discover a great deal in ,buddha's character to admire4 ,saint-,hilaire says 7we give a free translation from the ,french73 8,his life has no stain4 ,his constant heroism equals his conviction2 and if the theory which he extols is faultless1 the personal example which he presents is irreproachable4 ,he is the finished model of all the virtues which he preached2 his teaching of self-denial1 of charity1 of an unchangeable mildness1 do not for a single instant receive the contradiction of a different life4 ,he abandons1 at the age of twenty-nine years1 the court of his royal father to become a devotee and a mendicant2 he prepares silently his doctrines during six years of meditation and retreat2 he extends his faith only by the power of speech and persuasion1 during half a century2 and when he dies in the arms of his disciples1 it is with the serenity of a sage who has lived well1 and who is assured that he has found the truth40 ,it is not our purpose to compare here the teachings of ,buddha and ,christ1 but simply the life4 ,it is a comparison that we would make1 and not a contrast4 ,buddha's self-denial for the world's good1 his wondrously pure life1 and the heavenliness of his manners and of some of his teachings greatly resemble those of ,jesus ,christ4 ,yet1 after all1 he stands a long way off4 ,he is a light1 it is true1 yet but feebly shining beside the light of the ,sun of ,righteousness4 ,to ,christ1 ,gautama is but 8,as moonlight is to sunlight1 and as water is to wine40 ,the ,buddha was the son of a king2 ,jesus1 the ,christ1 was the son of a carpenter4 ,the ,buddha grew up in the midst of the splendors of a court2 ,jesus1 the ,christ1 was reared in a despised city1 in an humble home4 ,yet the aspect of the ,buddha is that of a disciple1 a learner1 an inquirer2 that of the ,christ is that of a master1 a teacher4 ,the ,buddha seems rather to be a subject1 and the ,christ the king4 ,the ,buddha approaches the solution of the great problems of sin1 suffering and death from below4 ,he walks as one in a maze1 with uncertain steps2 he tries experiments2 he goes from one teacher to another4 ,finally1 of a sudden1 comes the answer to the problems with which he has been puzzled2 he throws the spectre with which he has been grappling4 ,the ,christ approaches the great and grave questions1 that have been puzzling the world1 as one who has the answers in his possession4 ,he comes to teach1 and not to learn2 to settle1 and not to disturb4 ,there is no hesitating uncertainty about ,his words or steps as there is about the ,buddha's4 ,in meeting temptation1 the ,buddha shows weakness1 where the ,christ shows strength4 ,the ,buddha's life was long2 the ,christ's was short4 ,the ,buddha gave1 undoubtedly1 many wholesome precepts2 but there is an element of kindly1 self-forgetting love about the ,christ's teachings that is absent from the ,buddha's4 ,indeed1 this is the emphatic point of superiority1 that the ,buddha kept constantly before his disciples their welfare2 he taught how a man might deliver himself from suffering4 ,the ,christ makes self-salvation but a part of ,his disciples' work4 ,the ,buddha has next to nothing to say about ,god2 the ,christ has all to say about ,god4 ,the ,christ seeks to show how man's life is attached to ,god at every point2 he exhibits the true character of ,god1 presenting a picture infinitely superior to that drawn by the hand of any of the founders of religions1 or by the highest imaginations of the purest men4 ,in brief1 the ,buddha's life and teachings were unquestionably good1 but the ,christ's unquestionably better4 ,this will be more apparent as1 in the following chapters1 we study the working out of the ,buddha's teachings4 ,we shall see how much and how little they benefited the race4 ,let the test of time be applied to the answers he brought to the puzzling problems of sin1 suffering and sorrow1 and see if they have wrought out the good for which the ,buddha looked1 hoped and prayed4 ,we shall see a partial success and a partial failure1 and see the undoubted necessity of giving the knowledge of the ,gospel to the nations who have known nothing better than that which ,buddha had to tell4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,the ,,buddhist ,,bible1 ,,the 8,,three ,,baskets10 ,,and ,,its ,,teachings4 ,there is that in ,buddhism1 intelligible to the poor and the suffering1 which has endeared ,buddhism to the hearts of millions not the silly1 metaphysical phantasmagorias of worlds of gods and worlds of ,brahma1 or final dissolution of the soul in ,nirvna4 ,no1 the beautiful1 the tender1 the humanly true1 which1 like pure gold1 lies buried in all religions1 even in the sand of the ,buddhist canon4--,f4 ,,max ,m,,ller4 ,gautama had himself thoroughly worked out his system of religion4 ,with regard to his teachings1 we have more reliable information than in regard to his life4 ,during his fifty years of teaching he had ample time to repeat over and over again to his disciples the principles of his faith4 ,in the interval between ,buddha's death and the reign of the ,buddhist king1 ,asoka 7in #cjg ,b4,c471 legends and stories of miraculous deeds multiplied about the narrative of ,buddha's life4 ,gautama ,buddha's teachings were committed to writing and commentaries were written upon these4 ,to determine what were the genuine ,buddhist sacred books1 and what were apocryphal1 a council was called by ,king ,asoka4 ,this king was to the ,buddhists what ,constantine the ,great was to the early ,christian ,church4 ,king ,asoka said to the assembled priests1 8what has been said by ,buddha1 that alone is well said40 ,the canon of sacred books1 as declared by this council1 include the collection called the ,tripitaka1 or 8,three ,baskets40 ,these are to ,buddhism what the ,new ,testament is to ,christianity2 in these we find the orthodox belief4 ,the first of these baskets is called the ,vinaya1 and contains all of ,buddha's teachings that refer to morality2 the second is called the ,sutras1 containing the sermons of ,buddha2 the third is called the ,abhidharma1 containing all that treats of philosophy and metaphysics4 ,the general name1 ,dharma1 or 8law10 is applied to the second and third ,pitakas1 or baskets4 ,the first and second baskets each contain five separate works1 and the third basket seven4 ,in addition to these books the ,buddhists look upon the commentaries and parables of the famous ,buddhist missionary1 ,buddhaghosha1 as of nearly equal value4 ,these were written about #dcj ,a4,d4 ,still further1 we have the work called the ,dharma ,pada1 or 8,footsteps of the ,law40 ,this is a book of ,buddhist's morals1 and ,spence ,hardy1 one of the best writers on ,buddhism1 says that a collection of precepts might be made from this work1 which in purity of morals could hardly be equaled by any heathen author4 ,we now give a summary of ,buddha's teachings on the more important topics as found in the ,tripitakas4 ,,the ,,buddhist ,,way ,,of ,,salvation4 ,the method of salvation which was wrought out by ,buddha has been admirably summarized by ,rhys-,david as follows3 8,so long as man is bound up by bodily existence with the material world he is liable to sorrow1 decay and death4 ,so long as he allows unholy desires to reign within him1 there will be unsatisfied longings1 useless weariness and care4 ,to attempt to purify himself by oppressing his body would be only wasted effort2 it is the moral evil of a man's heart which keeps him chained down in the degraded state of bodily life--of union with the material world4 ,it is of little avail to add virtue to his badness1 for so long as there is evil1 his goodness will only insure him for a time1 and in another birth1 a higher form of material life2 only the complete eradication of all evil will set him free from the chains of existence and carry him to the #8other side1' where he will be no longer tossed about on the waves of the ocean of transmigration4 ,but ,christian ideas must not be put into these ,buddhist expressions4 ,of any immaterial existence1 ,buddhism knows nothing4 ,the foundations of its creed have been summed up in the very ancient formula probably invented by its founder1 which is called the ,four ,great ,truths4 ,these are3 #a4 ,that misery always accompanies existence4 #b4 ,that all modes of existence 7of men or animals1 in earth and heaven7 result from passion or desire 7tantra74 #c4 ,that there is no escape from existence except by destruction of desire4 #d4 ,that this may be had by following the fourfold way to ,nirvna4 8,of these four prescribed stages called #8the ,paths1' the first is an awakening of the heart4 ,there are few that do not acknowledge that no man can be really called happy1 and that men are born to trouble as the sparks fly upward1 but the majority glide through life filling up their time with business or with pleasure1 buoyed up with ever-changing hopes in their mad pursuit of some fancied good4 ,when the scales fall from their eyes1 when they begin to realize the great mystery of sorrow1 that pain is inseparable from existence1 and that all earthly good leads to vexation of spirit1 when they turn for comfort and for guidance to the ,enlightened ,one1 then they may be said to be awake1 and to have entered the first stage of the ,buddhist way of salvation4 ,when the awakened believer has gone further1 and got rid1 first1 of all impure desires1 and then of all revengeful feelings1 he has reached the second stage2 in the third he successively becomes free 7#a7 from all evil desires1 7#b7 from ignorance1 7#c7 from doubt1 7#d7 from heresy1 and 7#e7 from unkindliness and vexation4 #8,as even at the risk of her own life a mother watches over her child1 her only child1 so let him 7the ,buddhist saint7 exert good-will without measure toward all beings4'0 ,the order here observed is very remarkable4 ,the way to be freed from doubt and heresy lies through freedom from impurity and revenge1 and evil longings of all kinds2 or1 in other words1 if a man awakened to a deep sense of the mystery of sorrow wishes to understand the real facts of existence1 wishes to believe not the false or the partly false1 but the true altogether1 ,buddha tells him not to set to work and study1 not to torture himself with asceticism or privation1 but to purify his mind from all unholy desires and passions3 right actions spring from a pure mind1 and to the pure in heart all things are open4 ,again1 the first enemy which the awakened believer has to fight against is sensuality1 and the last is unkindliness4 ,it is impossible to build anything on a foundation of mire2 and the topstone of all that one can build1 the highest point he can reach1 the point above purity1 above justice1 above even faith1 is1 according to ,buddha1 universal charity4 ,till he has gained that1 the believer is still bound2 he is not free2 his mind is still dark4 ,true enlightenment1 true freedom1 are complete only in love4 ,the believer who has gone thus far has reached the last stage2 he has cut the meshes of ignorance1 passion and sin1 and has thus escaped from the net of transmigration2 ,nirvna is already within his grasp2 he has risen above the laws of material existence2 the secrets of the future and the past lie open before him2 and when this one short life is over1 he will be free forever from birth with its inevitable consequences1 decay and death4 ,no ,buddhist now hopes to reach this stage on earth2 but he who has once entered the 8paths0 cannot leave them2 the final perseverance of the saints is sure2 and sooner or later1 under easier conditions in some less material world1 he will win the great prize1 and1 entering ,nirvna1 be at rest forever with other triumphant victors4 ,,what ,,is ,,nirv,,na8 ,the central doctrine of ,buddhism1 the goal of all its hopes1 the end of all its struggles1 is ,nirvna or ,nigban4 ,but what does this mean8 ,some learned men say1 absorption or swallowing up into the ,deity2 others1 that it means a perfect annihilation1 a ceasing to be or exist2 while still others say that it simply means reaching a state of perfect inward rest4 ,nirvna means1 literally1 8a blowing out10 as of a candle4 ,we cannot conceive it possible that any one could teach the hopeless1 despairing doctrine of annihilation1 and cannot help believing that the last interpretation is the true one--that ,nirvna means a perfect1 inward peace4 ,certain it is that ,buddha's followers of to-day believe in a definitely located ,paradise1 a place of perfect enjoyment4 ,nirvna is an extinction1 but of what8 ,of the life of the soul8 or of the passions1 of selfishness1 desire and sin8 and of the unrest produced by these8 ,nirvna is called the highest happiness4 ,as ,max ,mller says1 8,it represented the entrance of the soul into rest1 a subduing of all wishes and desires1 indifference to joy and pain1 to good and evil1 an absorption of the soul in itself1 and a freedom from the circles of existences from birth to death1 and from death to a new birth4 ,this is still the meaning which educated people attach to it1 whilst to the minds of the larger masses1 ,nirvna suggests rather the idea of a ,mohammedan ,paradise or of blissful ,elysian fields40 ,buddha1 himself1 once said3 8,those only who have arrived at ,nirvna are at rest40 ,closely associated with ,nirvna is the idea of the transmigration of the soul2 that the soul after death passes from one body to another2 sometimes the body in which the soul is born again is that of an animal1 sometimes of a man4 ,the ,buddhists kill no animals1 for fear of annoying the soul of a dead man1 which may be living in the animal4 ,for this reason they also take great care of wounded and sick animals4 ,in ,bombay is a hospital for animals1 carried on very successfully by the ,jains1 a ,buddhist sect4 ,,buddhist ,,morals4 ,the wonderfully pure and exalted teachings of ,buddha have been gathered together in the ,dharma ,pada1 or 8,footsteps of the ,law40 ,many of them greatly resemble the teachings of our ,holy ,scriptures1 others are absurdly ridiculous1 while still others are metaphysical abstractions1 and are wholly meaningless4 ,the great majority are1 however1 full of wondrous wisdom4 ,the following selections are translations from the ,pali language3 ,,some ,,of ,,the 8,,footsteps ,,of ,,the ,,law40 ,there is no fire like passion2 there is no shark like hatred2 there is no snare like folly2 there is no torrent like greed4 ,a man is not learned because he talks much4 ,a man is not an elder because his head is gray2 his age may be ripe1 but he is called 8,old-in-vain40 ,for hatred does not cease by hatred at any time2 hatred ceases by love4 ,this is an old rule4 ,he who lives looking for pleasure only1 his senses uncontrolled1 immoderate in his enjoyments1 idle and weak1 ,mra 7the tempter7 will certainly overcome him1 as the wind throws down a weak tree4 ,he who lives without looking for pleasures1 his senses well controlled1 in his enjoyments moderate1 faithful and strong1 ,mra will certainly not overcome him1 any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain4 ,as rain breaks through an ill-thatched house1 passion will break through an unreflecting mind4 ,the evil-doer suffers in this world1 and he suffers in the next2 he suffers in both4 ,he suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done2 he suffers more when going on the evil path4 ,the virtuous man is happy in this world1 and he is happy in the next2 he is happy in both4 ,he is happy when he thinks of the good he has done2 he is still more happy when going on the good path4 ,the scent of flowers does not travel against the wind1 nor 7that of7 sandal-wood1 or of a bottle of ,tagara oil2 but the odor of good people travels even against the wind2 a good man pervades every place4 ,as on a heap of rubbish cast upon the highway the lily will grow full of sweet perfume and delightful1 thus the disciple of the truly enlightened ,buddha shines forth by his knowledge among those who are like rubbish1 among the people that walk in darkness4 ,the fool who knows his foolishness1 is wise at least so far4 ,but a fool who thinks himself wise1 he is called a fool indeed4 ,the gods even envy him whose senses have been subdued1 like horses well broken in by the driver1 who is free from pride1 and free from frailty4 ,even though a speech be a thousand 7of words7 but made up of senseless words1 one word of sense is better1 which if a man hears1 he becomes quiet4 ,if one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men1 and if another conquer himself1 he is the greatest of conquerors4 ,let no man think lightly of evil1 saying in his heart1 ,it will not come near unto me4 ,even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled4 ,the fool becomes full of evil1 even if he gathers it little by little4 ,let no one forget his own duty for the sake of another's1 however great4 ,let a man1 after he has discerned his own duty1 be always attentive to his duty4 ,the wise who control their body1 who control their tongue1 the wise who control their mind1 are indeed well controlled4 ,and the man who gives himself to drinking intoxicating liquors1 he1 even in this world1 digs up his own root4 ,akin to these are the following blessings of ,buddha3 ,,buddhist ,,beatitudes4 ,one of the gods says to ,gautama3 #a4 ,many angels and men ,have held various things blessings1 ,when they were yearning for happiness4 ,do thou declare to us the chief good4 ,gautama answers3 #b4 ,not to serve the foolish1 ,but to serve the wise2 ,to honor those worthy of honor3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #c4 ,to dwell in a pleasant land1 ,good works done in a former birth1 ,right desires in the heart3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #d4 ,much insight and education1 ,self control and pleasant speech1 ,and whatever word be well-spoken3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #e4 ,to support father and mother1 ,to cherish wife and child1 ,to follow a peaceful calling3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #f4 ,to bestow alms and live righteously1 ,to give help to kindred1 ,deeds which cannot be blamed3 ,these are the greatest blessings4 #g4 ,to abhor and cease from sin1 ,abstinence from strong drink1 ,not to be weary in well-doing3 ,these are the greatest blessings4 #h4 ,reverence and lowliness1 ,contentment and gratitude1 ,the hearing of the ,law at due seasons3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #i4 ,to be long-suffering and meek1 ,to associate with the tranquil 7i4 e41 ,buddhist monks71 ,religious talk at due seasons3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #aj4 ,self-restraint and purity1 ,the knowledge of the ,noble ,truths1 ,the realization of ,nirvna3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #aa4 ,beneath the stroke of life's changes1 ,the mind that shaketh not2 ,without grief or passion1 and secure3 ,this is the greatest blessing4 #ab4 ,on every side are invincible ,they who do acts like these1 ,on every side they walk in safety1 ,and theirs is the greatest blessing4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,buddhism--,,the ,,buddhist ,,order ,,of ,,mendicants4 ,what proud ,emperors ,carved his sweet words upon the rocks and caves2 ,and how--in fullness of the times--it fell ,the ,buddha died1 the great ,tathagato1 ,even as a man 'mongst men1 fulfilling all3 ,and how a thousand thousand crores#e since then ,have trod the ,path which leads whither he went ,unto ,,nirvana where the ,silence lives4 ,,edwin ,,arnold1 ,,in ,,the 8,,light ,,of ,,asia40 ,buddhism is a missionary system4 ,it has spread far beyond the land of its birth1 all over ,asia4 ,the methods of its spread were entirely different from those of ,mohammedanism1 while they somewhat resembled those of ,christianity4 ,to-day ,buddhism numbers about two-fifths of the world's population among its adherents4 ,it is still in vigorous life4 ,it has been propagated mainly through the ,sangha1 or ,buddhist ,order of ,mendicants4 ,the dates usually assigned for the entrance of ,buddhism into other lands are as follows3 ,into ,ceylon1 #bej ,b4,c42 into ,china1 #fe ,a4,d42 into ,corea1 #cgb ,a4,d42 into ,burmah1 #dej ,a4,d42 into ,japan1 #eeb ,a4,d42 into ,thibet1 about #fbe ,a4,d42 and into ,siam1 #fch ,a4,d4 ,while some of these have been questioned1 no good reason has yet been given for accepting any others4 ,we shall at present discuss the character and constitution of the ,buddhist brotherhood of the ,sangha1 leaving the stories of the introduction of ,buddhism into the various countries to be told in their respective places4 ,,the ,,sangha1 ,,or ,,buddhist ,,brotherhood4 ,all of ,buddha's disciples who had taken the vows of asceticism were known by the name of ,sangha1 meaning 8congregation0 or 8church40 ,the organization of this order had the most to do with the spread of ,buddhism4 ,keep in mind that1 in common with almost all reformers1 ,gautama1 the ,buddha1 did not intend to cut loose from his old faith4 ,he hoped to make the new wine of his teachings go into the old bottles of ,brahminism4 ,we believe that he did not intend or expect that his religion should spread over ,asia4 ,further1 it was not so much due to his doctrine of the ,dharma1 or 8law10 that his religion gained so wide an acceptance1 as it was due to his establishment of the order of the ,sangha4 ,here is one point of wide divergence from the missionary labors of ,christianity4 ,its founder1 ,jesus ,christ1 did intend1 and distinctly stated ,his intention of giving ,his religion to the world4 ,the order of the ,sangha was a growth4 ,little by little1 as occasion demanded1 ,gautama laid down rules for those who would be his disciples1 and unconsciously these disciples became more and more exclusive1 shutting in themselves and shutting out all others4 ,finally1 after ,gautama's death1 they became a distinct body4 ,,the ,,initiation ,,ceremony4 ,any one who was free from contagious disease1 who was neither a slave1 a debtor nor a soldier1 and who had obtained the consent of his parents1 might be admitted to the order4 ,the following account of the ceremony of admission has been compiled by ,t4 ,w4 ,rhys-,david1 late of the ,ceylon civil service3 8,the layman who wishes for entrance to the ,order must be at least eight years old before obtaining the novitiate1 and at least twenty before receiving full ordination4 ,on the day appointed1 a chapter is held1 of not less than ten monks1 the president being of at least ten years' standing4 ,the monks forming the chapter sit on mats1 in two rows1 facing each other1 the president being at the head of one row4 ,the candidate1 in lay dress1 but carrying the three yellow robes of a mendicant1 is introduced by his proposer 7always a monk71 makes a salutation to the president1 and offers him a small present as a token of respect4 ,he then three times asks for admission as a novice4 #8,have pity on me1 lord2 take these robes1 and let me be ordained1 that ,i may escape from sorrow and experience ,nirvna4' ,the president then takes the bundle of robes1 and ties them around the candidate's neck1 repeating1 meanwhile1 a formula of meditation on the perishable nature of the human body4 ,the candidate then retires1 and changes his dress1 repeating the while a formula to the effect that1 though he wears robes1 he does so only out of modesty1 and as a protection from heat1 cold1 etc4 ,when he reappears clad as a mendicant1 he kneels before the president1 and repeats after him three times two well-known ,buddhist formulas4 ,the first of these is that called the #8,three ,refuges4' 8#8,i go for refuge to the ,buddha4 8#8,i go for refuge to the ,law4 8#8,i go for refuge to the ,order4' 8,the other is called the #8,ten ,precepts1' which are as follows3 8#8#a4 ,i take the vow not to destroy life4 8#8#b4 ,i take the vow not to steal4 8#8#c4 ,i take the vow to abstain from impurity4 8#8#d4 ,i take the vow not to lie4 8#8#e4 ,i take the vow to abstain from intoxicating drinks1 which hinder progress and virtue4 8#8#f4 ,i take the vow not to eat at forbidden times4 8#8#g4 ,i take the vow to abstain from dancing1 singing1 music and stage-plays4 8#8#h4 ,i take the vow not to use garlands1 scents1 unguents or ornaments4 8#8#i4 ,i take the vow not to use a high or broad bed4 8#8#aj4 ,i take the vow not to receive gold or silver4' 8,the candidate then rises1 pays respect to the president1 and retires a novice4 ,here1 for the novitiate1 the ceremony ends40 ,,rules ,,of ,,the ,,order4 ,solid food is forbidden1 except between sunrise and noon1 and total abstinence from intoxicating drinks is required4 ,the monks1 or brothers of the order1 usually get their food by begging from door to door2 each usually carries his brown earthenware begging-bowl4 ,he says nothing1 but only stands1 waiting1 at the open door of the hut4 ,if something is given him1 he mutters a prayer for the giver1 but if nothing1 he passes on in silence4 ,the monks generally live together in groves1 gardens or monasteries4 ,at first they led a lonely life1 but afterwards they gathered together in communities4 ,they were required to dress in simple garments of a dull orange color1 first torn in pieces and then sewn together again1 so that they had no salable value4 ,they wear three robes2 and1 while the people of the warmer countries wear only the loin-cloth1 the members of the order were required to keep their bodies covered4 ,to 8put off the robes0 was equivalent to leaving the society4 ,personal indulgence1 theft and murder would cause the monk who committed them to be expelled from the order4 ,no monk was allowed to possess more than eight articles--the three robes1 a girdle for the loins1 a begging-bowl1 a razor1 a needle and a water-strainer4 ,the communities of monks1 however1 were permitted to own property4 ,unquestioning obedience to superiors is never required of a monk among the ,buddhists4 ,,daily ,,life ,,of ,a ,,monk4 ,according to the 8,manual of ,exercises10 the daily life of a monk should be as follows3 ,he shall rise before daylight and wash2 then sweep the wihra or residence--as the clean little hut where the mendicant lives is called--then sweep round the ,bo-tree1 fetch the drinking-water for the day1 filter it1 and place it ready for use4 ,retiring to a solitary place1 he shall then meditate on the regulations4 ,then he shall offer flowers before the sacred dgaba--the solid dome-shaped shrine in which relics of the ,buddha are buried--or before the ,bo-tree1 thinking of the great virtues of the ,teacher and of his own faults4 ,soon after1 taking the begging-bowl1 he is to follow his superior in his daily round for food1 and1 on their return1 is to bring water for his feet and place the alms-bowl before him4 ,after the meal is over1 he is to wash the alms-bowl1 then again to worship ,buddha and meditate on kindness and affection4 ,about an hour afterwards1 he is to begin his studies from the books1 or copy one of them1 asking his superior about passages he does not understand4 ,at sunset1 he is again to sweep the sacred places1 and1 lighting a lamp1 to listen to the teaching of his superior1 and repeat such passages from the canon that he has learned4 ,if he finds he has committed any fault1 he is to tell his superior2 he is to be content with such things as he has1 and1 keeping under his senses1 to grow in grace without haughtiness of body1 speech or mind4 ,,the ,,three ,,great ,,buddhist ,,councils4 ,soon after ,buddha's death a council of #ejj members of the order was held in a cave1 near the city of ,rajagriha4 ,this council met to form ,buddha's teachings into some sort of a system4 ,a second council of #gjj was held a hundred years later4 ,this was to effect a settlement between certain heretics and the orthodox party4 ,the ,rules of the ,order and the ,doctrines of the ,faith were passed in review and again settled4 ,then the heretics advanced still different opinions and called an opposition council4 ,this was the first great schism4 ,from this time sects multiplied among the ,buddhists4 ,the next council was the ,great ,council of ,king ,asoka4 ,asoka was to the ,buddhist ,order what ,constantine was to the early ,christian ,church4 ,there are more men to honor him to-day than there are to honor ,charlemagne or ,csar4 ,yet ,asoka really caused the downfall of ,buddhism in ,india by the aid he gave it4 ,as ,dante had said3 8,ah6 ,constantine1 of how much ill was cause1 ,not thy conversion1 but those rich domains ,that the first wealthy ,pope received of thee40 ,asoka built many monasteries and provided for the support of many monks4 ,he became a very zealous supporter of ,buddhism4 ,some of his edicts1 based upon ,gautama's teachings1 have been discovered within the last fifty years4 ,in the eighteenth year of ,asoka's reign1 a great council of #a1jjj monks was held in ,patna4 ,this council finally determined the canon of the sacred ,buddhist books4 ,this council1 held1 probably1 in the year #bdf ,b4,c41 lasted nine months4 ,asoka was filled with an aggressive1 missionary spirit1 and at the close of this council missionaries were sent into various countries1 or provinces of ,india1 from ,cashmere to ,ceylon4 ,the mission to ,ceylon of ,asoka's own son1 ,mahinda1 was the most important4 ,in the year #fb ,a4,d41 the ,chinese ,emperor ,ming-,ti sent to ,india and brought ,buddhist books to ,china4 ,from ,china ,buddhism spread into ,corea and ,japan and ,thibet4 ,from ,ceylon it spread to ,burmah and ,siam4 ,of late years the sources of our information as to ,buddhist teachings and history have greatly changed4 ,formerly only ,ceylon was looked to for this information1 but of late years the work of ,bigandet in ,burmah1 ,alabaster in ,siam1 ,schlagintweit in ,thibet1 and ,beal in ,china1 have given more thorough knowledge of the facts of ,buddhist doctrine and history4 ,,buddhaghosha1 ,,the ,,famous ,,monk ,,and ,,missionary4 ,buddhaghosha lived in the middle of the fifth century after ,christ4 ,he is1 next to ,asoka1 the most celebrated man in ,buddhist history4 ,he visited ,ceylon1 where he greatly revived the ,buddhist faith4 ,he then went to ,burmah1 where he established ,buddhism among the ,burmese4 ,from these people it spread into ,arracan1 ,pegu1 and finally into ,siam4 ,he wrote a famous commentary on the ,buddhist ,bible2 some scholars believe that this is but a translation of older commentaries which ,buddhaghosha made1 and that his parables are but the parables of ,mahinda or even of ,gautama re-written4 ,at any rate1 they go by ,buddhaghosha's name among the ,burmese ,buddhists4 ,his parables are very interesting1 and are used by the monks and preachers in all their sermons4 ,the accompanying story of ,king ,kkavanna is quoted from ,captain ,rogers' translation of ,buddhaghosha's ,parables1 and will serve as a fair specimen of the stories as a whole4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,king ,k,,kavanna4 ,a ,rahanda once preached the ,law to ,kkavanna1 his queen and concubines1 in the island of ,ceylon4 ,king ,kkavanna1 filled with love for the ,law1 resolved to make an offering of the putzo which he was wearing4 ,in a spirit of niggardliness1 however1 he thought he would defer the offering until the next day4 ,two crows1 a husband and wife1 who were perched upon the tree at the foot of which the ,law had been preached1 knowing what was passing in the king's mind1 said to each other3 8,the king1 from his niggardly spirit1 excellent as the ,law is1 cannot make up his mind to make an offering of the putzo40 ,neither the queen1 nor the concubines1 nor the nobles understood what the two crows were saying to each other2 but the king1 directly he heard the sound of the crows1 knew what they said4 8,o you pair of crows10 he exclaimed1 8how dare you speak so of a king like me80 ,the crows replied1 8,your majesty1 do not take the putzo you have at home1 but make an offering of the one you are wearing1 worth a hundred thousand pieces of gold4 ,in seven days hence you will receive the five rewards40 ,the king smiled at the crows' speech4 ,my lord1 the ,rahanda1 who had been preaching the ,law1 said to the king1 8,why does your majesty smile at me80 8,i was not smiling at my lord ,rahanda10 replied the king2 8,i was smiling at what the two crows said40 ,the ,rahanda1 who possessed the ,nat's eye1 which could behold eight past and eight future existences1 and who saw the previous life of the king1 said to him1 8,great king1 ,i will tell you something2 will you be angry with me80 8,my lord10 replied the king1 8,i shall not be angry with you2 deign to tell it to me40 ,my lord1 the ,rahanda1 proceeded3 8,when your majesty was a poor man in the ,anurdha country1 you used to collect firewood1 and live by the sale of it4 ,one day1 when you went out to your work1 you took with you a small cupful of boiled rice4 ,coming across a heap of white sand which looked like sheet-silver1 you reflected that your poverty must have been occasioned by your not possessing the merit of having made offerings1 and accordingly you raised a pagoda of the white sand1 placed in front of it1 as an offering1 one-half of the rice you had with you1 and gave the remaining half to the crows to eat1 as an offering to the ,rahans4 ,these two crows1 husband and wife1 are the very same two crows who ate the rice of which you made the offering when you were a poor man40 ,when the king heard this1 he exclaimed1 8,oh1 how unstable is prosperity6 ,i have obtained the position of king only from making offerings at a sand pagoda60 ,so saying1 he made an offering to the ,law of the putzo he was wearing4 ,seven days afterwards1 the five rewards came to the king4 ,the five rewards were these3 ,the ,nats1 wrapping up in a thingan the relics of an excellent ,rahanda who had obtained ,paranibbna while he was up in the sky1 and which were like a jasmine-bud1 came and laid them down before the king4 ,in front of his palace a mountain of gold arose4 ,the ,nats brought a virgin from the island of ,uttarakuru4 ,this woman was ten cubits in stature4 ,she brought with her a kuns of rice1 which1 though one were to cook it and eat it during a whole lifetime1 would never be exhausted4 ,an elephant of priceless value1 which could travel a hundred yoganas even before breakfast4 ,seven vessels arrived at the port completely filled with valuable putzos4 ,,buddhist ,,countries ,,of ,,the ,,present ,,day4 ,buddhism in ,india has almost died out4 ,in ,ceylon1 and among the sect of the ,jains1 in ,western ,india1 it still remains2 but1 excepting these parts of the country1 ,brahminism has triumphed in putting down ,buddhism4 ,in ,farther ,india1 that is1 in ,burmah and ,malacca1 ,buddhism is very strong4 ,among the ,karens of ,burmah1 ,buddhism never gained any acceptance4 ,in ,siam1 ,cambodia and ,cochin ,china1 ,buddhism is prevalent4 ,in ,china proper and in ,corea it is associated with ,confucianism and ,taoism4 ,in ,thibet it has taken the peculiar form called ,lamaism1 a regular hierarchy having developed4 ,in ,japan it is often associated with ,shintoism4 ,the ,loo ,choo ,islands are also ,buddhist4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,buddhism ,,in ,,india ,,and ,,ceylon4 ,they sat in silent watchfulness ,the sacred cypress-tree about1 ,and1 from beneath old wrinkled brows1 ,their failing eyes looked out4 ,they waited for that falling leaf ,of which the wandering ,jogees sing3 ,which lends once more to wintry age ,the greenness of its spring4 ,,john ,,greenleaf ,,whittier4 ,illustration3 ,,religious ,,meeting ,,of ,,the ,,jains1 ,,the ,,only ,,buddhists ,,left ,,in ,,india4 ,in the time of ,asoka1 ,buddhism had almost become the ,state religion of ,india4 ,the conversion of the king1 however1 proved the beginning of its decline4 ,it continued to exist until the eighth or ninth century after ,christ4 ,to-day there is scarcely a trace of the religion among all the people of ,india proper4 ,the only body of people in ,india that has any connection with ,buddhism is the singular sect of the ,jains4 ,the views of this body are half ,buddhist and half ,brahmin4 ,they are found especially on the ,western coast of ,india1 in and around the city of ,bombay4 ,they are divided into two classes1 the ,soetambaras1 or 8clothed in white garments10 and the ,digambaras1 or 8sky-clad10 that is naked4 ,the last class now wear colored garments1 though formerly they went naked4 ,like the ,buddhists they reject the ,vedas or sacred books of the ,brahmins4 ,the principal point of their practice is the reverence paid to holy men1 who1 by long discipline1 have raised themselves to divine perfection4 ,these men are called ,jinas or 8conquering saints10 whence comes the name of their followers1 the ,jains4 ,they believe in two ever-returning cycles of time1 of immense duration1 which defy all human calculation4 ,the first ,jina of the second cycle1 in which we now live1 attained the age of #h1djj1jjj years1 and each ,jina since has lived a shorter and shorter time4 ,there are three ways1 they say1 by which the soul is delivered1 viz43 right intuition1 right knowledge and right conduct4 ,this last consists in observing five duties1 or vows of self-restraint4 #a4 ,do not kill or injure4 7,strict ,jains carry this to a ridiculous extent4 ,they strain water before drinking it1 sweep the ground with a brush before treading it1 never eat or drink in the dark1 and sometimes wear a muslin strip over their mouths to prevent the risk of swallowing minute insects4 ,they will never eat figs or any fruit containing seeds1 nor even touch flesh-meat with their finger-tips74 #b4 ,do not tell lies4 #c4 ,do not steal4 #d4 ,be chaste and temperate in thought1 word or deed4 #e4 ,do not desire anything immoderately4 ,in ,bombay there is a hospital temple of the ,jains where sick animals are received and cared for4 ,in this temple one may see oxen1 some with bandages over their eyes1 and some lame lying upon beds of clean straw2 others1 blind and paralyzed1 are having their food brought to them and are being rubbed down by pious devotees4 ,here are gathered sick or wounded dogs1 cats1 fowls of every sort1 crows1 buzzards1 vultures1 rats1 mice1 sparrows1 peacocks1 jackals1 etc41 and are tenderly cared for4 ,,the ,,famous ,,topes4 ,a ,tope is a structure built to contain some relic of ,buddha4 ,they were generally erected by a king1 who used die following form of words in its dedication3 8,thrice over do ,i dedicate my kingdom to the redeemer of the world1 the divine teacher1 the bearer of the triple canopy1 the canopy of the heavenly host1 the canopy of mortals1 and the canopy of eternal emancipation40 ,the whole structure was dome-shaped1 or1 more exactly1 canopy-shaped4 ,the relic of ,buddha--a tooth1 a piece of bone1 or the like--was placed in a gold casket4 ,this was placed in the relic-chamber on a golden altar4 ,then the erection of the building proceeded amidst great rejoicings and with many ceremonies4 ,at its completion the king guided a golden plow1 drawn by two elephants1 and marked out thus with a furrow a line all around the ,tope4 ,all within this line was considered sacred ground4 ,the most famous ,topes are those at ,sanchi4 ,these are now in ruins4 ,the ,topes themselves are all grass-grown and crumbling1 and almost all of the magnificent gate-ways lie in ruins4 ,as we have just said1 the purpose of these ,topes was--not for use as a temple or as a place of living for the ,buddhist monks--but simply as a place in which to preserve relics of the dead ,buddha4 ,as ,byron1 in ,childe ,harold1 has sung3 8,there is a stern round tower of other days1 ,firm as a fortress with its fence of stone2 ,such as an army's baffled strength delays1 ,standing with half its battlements alone1 ,and with two thousand years' of ivy grown1 ,the garland of eternity--where wave ,the green leaves1 over all by ,time o'erthrown4 ,what was this tower of strength8 ,within its case ,what treasure lays so locked1 so hid8 ,a hermit's grave40 ,,the ,,great ,,sanchi ,,tope4 ,this is a dome-like structure of solid brick and stone1 one hundred and six feet in diameter at the base1 and forty-two feet high from the base2 the base is fourteen feet high1 giving a total height of fifty-six feet4 ,the base is a terrace1 extending all around the ,tope4 ,on this the worshipers walked4 ,a colonnade extended all around the ,tope4 ,there is an extrance to the ,tope at each of the four cardinal points4 ,these four gate-ways are very picturesque objects4 ,they are covered with sculptures representing various domestic scenes and religious ceremonies4 ,each gate-way is formed of two square pillars1 two feet three inches thick and thirteen feet eight inches high4 ,the capitals of these pillars vary4 ,those of the western gate contain four human dwarfs2 of the southern gate1 four lions2 and of the other gate-ways four elephants4 ,the height of these capitals is four feet six inches4 ,the carvings on these gate-ways represent sieges1 triumphal processions1 worshiping ,topes1 or the sacred ,bo-tree1 processions escorting relic-caskets1 and certain domestic scenes4 ,these carvings are not surpassed1 in the beauty of their design and execution1 by those of any other temples in the world4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,famous ,,sanchi ,,tope4 ,,built ,,to ,,contain ,a ,,relic ,,of ,,gautama ,,the ,,buddha4 ,illustration3 ,,capital ,,of ,a ,,pillar ,,of ,,gateway ,,of ,,sanchi ,,tope4 ,exactly in the centre of the second ,sanchi ,tope1 there was a small chamber4 ,this was opened by ,major ,alexander ,cunningham1 an ,englishman1 in #ahea4 ,he found in this chamber a relic-box1 of white sandstone1 nearly one foot square4 ,on it was inscribed3 8,teacher of all branches of ,vinaya1 the ,arhat#f ,kasyapa1 ,gotra1 ,upadiya2#g and the ,arhat#f ,vachhi ,suvijayata1 teacher of ,vinaya40 ,inside the stone box were found four small caskets of mottled steatite4 ,each one of these contained small pieces of burnt bone1 and on each casket was written the name of the holy man whose ashes were enshrined therein4 ,as these holy men1 whose names are given1 are known to have lived in ,asoka's time1 it is almost certain that these ,topes1 containing their relics1 were built not long after their death1 or not later than1 say1 #bbj ,b4,c4 ,there are other ,topes at ,sonari and ,sadthara1 at ,bhojpur and ,andher4 ,these were all used as relic structures1 like the pagodas of ,burmah4 ,,ceylonese ,,buddhism4 ,king ,asoka was not content with spreading ,buddhism in his own territory4 ,he built hospitals for man and beast1 dug wells and planted trees by the roadsides1 and performed many other good works in other lands4 ,these lands are described in the old ,buddhist chronicles of ,ceylon as being ,southern ,india and ,ceylon1 and 8to the land of the ,greek king1 ,antiochus40 ,he is said to have sent embassies to four ,greek kings1 and to have 8won from them a victory1 not by the sword1 but by religion40 ,illustration3 ,,sculptured ,,gateway ,,to ,,the ,,tope ,,of ,,sanchi1 ,,india4 ,the most important of all ,asoka's missionary enterprises was that which he sent to ,ceylon4 8,tissa1 the delight of the gods10 was at this time king of ,ceylon4 ,to him1 ,asoka's own son1 ,mahinda1 was sent as a ,buddhist missionary4 ,mahinda had been for twelve years a member of the ,sangha1 or order of mendicants4 ,one year after the great council of the thousand monks1 he started for ,ceylon4 ,he took with him a band of monks and copies of the ,tripitakas1 the ,buddhist ,bible1 which had just been adopted by the ,patna council4 ,he took also copies of the commentaries upon these4 ,illustration3 ,,roadway ,,to ,a ,,buddhist ,,temple ,,in ,,ceylon4 ,tissa received ,mahinda with great favor1 and soon became a zealous worker in the new religion4 ,at ,mahinda's suggestion1 ,tissa built the ,thuparama ,dagaba in the city of ,anurdha-pura4 ,this relic-house was said to have contained the right collar-bone of ,gautama ,buddha4 ,near the ,dagaba the king built a beautiful monastery4 ,on this hill the missionary ,mahinda spent most of his after life4 ,he had his study cut out of the solid rock1 and steps cut in the rock4 ,before his view spread out the great plains and beautiful forests of ,ceylon4 ,within the cave there still exists the stone couch on which he rested4 ,in this lonely1 cool and quiet rock-chamber1 the great teacher of ,ceylon sat1 thought1 wrote1 more than #b1jjj years ago4 ,mahinda's sister came over shortly after her brother1 to instruct some of the king's female relations1 who wished to become nuns4 ,she brought with her a branch of the sacred ,bo-tree1 the tree under which ,gautama ,buddha had fought and won the battle of his life1 and where he gained the ,buddha-hood4 ,,the ,,sacred ,,bo-,,tree ,,of ,,ceylon4 ,this branch was planted near the ,dagaba1 and1 as it has always been tended with great care1 it still grows there4 ,this is the tree upon which ,whittier has founded his poem1 8,the ,cypress-tree of ,ceylon20 of which ,ibn ,batuta1 the celebrated ,mussulman traveler of the fourteenth century1 has spoken4 8,it was10 says ,ibn ,batuta1 8held sacred by the natives1 and its leaves were said to have fallen only at certain intervals2 he who had the happiness to find and eat one of them was restored1 at once1 to youth and vigor40 ,sir ,emerson ,tennent1 who wrote about #ahfj1 says of it3 8,the ,bo-tree of ,anurdha-pura is1 in all probability1 the oldest historical tree in the world4 ,it was planted #bhh years before ,christ1 and hence is now #b1adg years old4 ,ages varying from one to four thousand years have been assigned to the ,baobabs of ,senegal1 the ,eucalyptus of ,tasmania1 the ,dragon-tree of ,orotava1 the ,sequoia of ,california1 and the chestnut of ,mount ,etna4 ,but all these estimates are matters of conjecture1 and such calculations1 however ingenious1 must be purely inferential4 ,whereas the age of the ,bo-tree is matter of record1 its conservancy has been an object of solicitude to successive dynasties1 and the story of its vicissitudes has been preserved in a series of continuous chronicles1 among the most authentic that have been handed down to mankind4 ,compared with it1 the ,oak of ,ellerslie is but a sapling1 and the ,conqueror's ,oak in ,windsor ,forest barely numbers half its years4 ,the yew trees of ,fountain's ,abbey are believed to have flourished there #a1bjj years ago2 the olives in the ,garden of ,gethsemane were full grown when the ,saracens were expelled from ,jerusalem2 and the ,cypress of ,senna1 in ,lombardy1 is said to have been a tree in the time of ,julius ,csar2 yet the ,bo-tree is older than the oldest of these by a century1 and would almost seem to verify the prophecy pronounced when it was planted1 that it would flourish and be green forever40 ,to which ,rhys-,david adds3 8,the tree could scarcely have lived so long had it not been for the constant care of the monks4 ,as it showed signs of decay terraces were built up around it1 so that it now grows more than twenty feet above the surrounding soil2 for the tree being of the fig species--its botanical name is ficus religiosa--its living branches could then throw out fresh roots4 ,where its long arms spread beyond the inclosure1 rude pillars of iron or masonry have been used to prop them up2 and it is carefully watered in seasons of drought4 ,the whole aspect of the tree and its inclosure bear evident signs of extreme age2 but we could not be sure of its identity were it not for the complete chain of documentary evidence which has been so well brought together by ,sir ,emerson ,tennent40 ,,reducing ,,the ,,tripitaka ,,to ,,writing4 ,in the year #hh ,b4,c4 7,buddhism had long before this become the religion of the whole of this great island71 the king built the largest ,dagaba in ,ceylon1 #bej feet in height4 ,it was at this time that the whole of the ,three ,pitakas were reduced to writing4 ,this was #ccj years after ,gautama's death4 ,the ,ceylonese history says3 8,the wise monks of former days handed down by word of mouth ,the text of the ,three ,pitakas1 and the ,commentary upon them3 ,seeing the destruction of men1 the monks of this time assembled1 ,and1 that the ,faith might last long1 they wrote them in books40 ,this has more significance than is at first apparent to a ,european accustomed to believe that books can only be preserved by writing4 ,the ,hindus believe just the opposite4 ,even at the present time1 if all copies of the ,vedas were destroyed1 the ,vedas would still be preserved in the memory of the priests1 as they have been for certainly more than #c1jjj years2 and those priests look upon the ,veda1 thus authenticated1 as the test to which all printed or written copies must give way4 ,if you depend upon written copies1 they would argue1 you are sure to make and to perpetuate mistakes2 but the text1 as handed down by word of mouth1 is preserved1 not only by being itself constantly repeated1 but by the assistance of the commentaries1 in which every word of the text is carefully enshrined4 ,so long as reliance can be placed on the succession of teachers and pupils1 this argument may not be so far from wrong2 but when a text has to be preserved in a small country1 liable to be overrun by persecuting enemies1 the condition of things is changed1 and it becomes necessary to preserve it also in writing4 ,mahinda could have written the texts1 had he so chosen4 ,we know that the square alphabet which ,asoka used was at least known in ,ceylon1 if it did not originate there4 ,that he did not choose to do so1 ought to throw no doubt upon the identity of the existing version of the text with that which he brought to ,ceylon4 ,illustration3 ,,devil-,,dancers' ,,mask ,,from ,,ceylon4 ,drawn from a ,mask now in the ,missionary ,house of the ,church of ,england4 ,this mask represents one who being a king's son and falling into awful sin was doomed in his next transmigration to be a demon4 ,in cases of serious illness the ,ceylonese invoke this demon1 the 8devil-priest0 wearing the mask4 ,,buddhaghosha ,,in ,,ceylon4 ,buddhaghosha1 the famous monk1 was born near the ,bo-tree4 ,he came to ,ceylon in #dcj ,a4,d4 ,he wrote a cyclopdia of ,buddhist doctrine1 and was readily accepted as a teacher by the ,sangha of ,ceylon4 ,he wrote out the ,buddhist commentaries in the ,pali language1 and those that had been made in the ,ceylonese language1 about #fjj years before were completely lost through disuse4 ,from ,ceylon he went to ,burmah in #dej ,a4,d4 ,he left an indelible impression on the ,buddhism of ,ceylon1 and through it on the ,buddhism of the whole of ,southern ,asia4 ,of the writings of this distinguished teacher we have before spoken4 ,a ,,buddhist ,,temple ,,in ,,ceylon4 ,the ,buddhist temples stand in the most beautiful situations4 ,waving cocoanut palms1 broad-leaved bread-fruit trees1 flowering shrubs1 with sweet-scented blossoms1 surround the temple court1 and astonish the visitor by their loveliness4 ,but enter the court and what a contrast6 ,what do we see8 ,a long narrow room1 with no light but what struggles in through the door1 or sometimes arises from a few dim oil-lamps2 a shelf running from end to end of it2 a huge image of painted clay1 more than forty feet long1 lying stretched upon the shelf1 with fixed staring eyes1 as if quite unconcerned with all things round about2 and a heavy1 oppressive smell of smoking lamps and dead flowers1 that have been offered to the image1 reminding one strongly of the spiritual death and darkness of the blind worshipers4 ,such are the places of worship of the one and a half millions of ,buddhists in ,ceylon4 ,surrounded by the most luxuriant beauties of the natural world1 religiously they are in darkness4 ,,worship ,,of ,,buddha',s ,,tooth4 ,illustration3 ,,buddhist ,,temple ,,in ,,the ,,island ,,of ,,ceylon4 ,there is a festival which takes place every year in ,kandy1 the chief city of the central province of ,ceylon and the ancient residence of its native kings4 ,in a ,buddhist temple at ,kandy there is a large tooth1 which from its shape and appearance1 seems to be the tooth of a baboon1 but which is called ,buddha's tooth1 and is believed to have been such by a large number of the people of ,ceylon4 ,this is exhibited with great pomp and a gorgeous procession once a year before vast crowds1 who come to worship it4 ,religious embassies come from ,siam1 and even from ,thibet to be present at this great festival of ,buddhism4 ,,the ,,sacred ,,ceylonese ,,books4 ,there are three books regarded as sacred by the ,buddhists of ,ceylon4 ,the first1 called the ,mahavanso1 is the most highly venerated4 ,it has been very carefully handed down and the ancient and modern copies vary but a very little4 ,it contains 8,the ,doctrine1 ,race and ,lineage of ,buddha10 and the authentic annals of ,ceylonese ,buddhism4 ,the second1 called the ,rajaratnacari1 was written by a priest4 ,it contains a history of ,buddha1 extracts from the most ancient books1 records of the erection of temples1 and the history of the kings from #edj ,b4,c4 down to modern times4 ,the third1 called the ,rajavali1 is the work of different hands1 and completes the other books4 ,it narrates the history of ,ceylon from the coming of the ,dutch to ,ceylon down to the time when they expelled the ,portuguese and gained possession of ,colombo4 ,illustration3 ,,worship ,,of ,,buddha',s ,,tooth ,,at ,,kandy1 ,,ceylon4 ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,burmah4 ,on the pagoda spire1 ,the bells are swinging1 ,their little golden circlet in a flutter1 ,with tales the wooing winds have dared to utter1 ,till all are ringing1 ,as if a choir ,of golden-nested birds in heaven were singing2 ,and with a lulling sound1 ,the music floats around1 ,and drops like balm into the drowsy ear4 ,,mrs4 ,,emily ,c4 ,,judson4 ,the early religion of the ,burmese was ,shamanism2 the belief in evil spirits and the necessity of warding off their hurtful influence by the use of charms and amulets4 ,buddhism has taken the place of this degrading system among the ,burmese4 ,besides the ,burmese there are other peoples in ,burmah2 the ,karens1 of whose religion we have already spoken1 the ,shans1 who are ,buddhists1 and the ,mns who adhere still to the old practice of ,shamanism4 ,the old evil-spirit worship of the ,burmese and ,shans still remains to some extent in the ,nat worship4 ,just when ,buddhism was introduced into ,burmah is a little uncertain4 ,dr4 ,francis ,mason1 an ,american missionary1 in his work on ,burmah speaks as follows1 and as the whole extract is an excellent account of the introduction of ,buddhism and a summary of its doctrines1 we present it entire3 8,three hundred years before ,alexandria was founded2 about the time that ,thales1 the most ancient philosopher of ,europe1 was teaching in ,greece that water is the origin of all things1 the soul of the world2 and ,zoroaster1 in ,media or ,persia1 was systematizing the fire-worship of the ,magi2 and ,confucius in ,china was calling on the teeming multitudes around him to offer to guardian spirits and the ,manes of their ancestors2 and ,nebuchadnezzar set up his golden image in the plain of ,dura1 and ,daniel was laboring in ,babylon to establish the worship of the true ,god2 a reverend sage1 with his staff and scrip1 who had left a throne for philosophy1 was traveling from ,gaya to ,benares1 and from ,benares to ,kanouj1 exhorting the people against theft1 falsehood1 adultery1 killing and intemperance4 ,no temperance lecturer advocates teetotalism now more strongly than did this sage ,gautama twenty-three centuries ago4 ,nor did he confine his instructions to external vices4 ,pride1 anger1 lust1 envy and covetousness were condemned by him in as strong terms as are ever heard from the ,christian pulpit4 ,love1 mercy1 patience1 self-denial1 alms-giving1 truth and the cultivation of wisdom he required of all4 ,good actions1 good words and good thoughts were the frequent subjects of his sermons1 and he was unceasing in his cautions to keep the mind free from the turmoils of passion and the cares of life4 ,immediately after the death of this venerable peripatetic1 his disciples scattered themselves abroad to propagate the doctrines of their master1 and tradition says one party entered the principal mouth of the ,irrawaddy1 where they traced its banks to where the first rocks lift themselves abruptly above the flats around4 ,here on the summit of this laterite ledge1 #afj feet above the river1 they erected the standard of ,buddhism1 which now lifts its spire to the heavens higher than the dome of ,st4 ,paul's40 ,but there is an entire absence of any historical confirmation of these traditions1 and we have no definite information of the coming of ,buddhism to ,burmah until ,buddhaghosha brought it about #dej ,a4,d4 ,burmese ,buddhism bears a very close resemblance to that of ,ceylon4 ,as we have already discussed the principles of ,buddhism in general1 we shall pass to notice more particularly the temples1 idols1 festivals and worship of ,burmah4 ,a good idea of ,burmese ,buddhism can be obtained from a visit to its ,grand ,shway-da-,gong ,pagoda4 ,,the ,,shway-,,da-,,gong ,,pagoda4 ,the ,mecca of ,southern ,buddhism is the great pagoda1 at ,rangoon4 ,this the largest building of the kind in ,burmah1 and1 perhaps1 also in the world4 ,it is situated about a mile from the city1 on a rocky ledge1 perhaps #ajj feet high1 overlooking the valley of the ,irrawaddy and the city of ,rangoon4 ,the entrance is guarded by two huge griffins of brick and mortar4 ,passing on between rows of long1 narrow sheds1 beautifully carved and gaudily painted1 and after climbing a staircase1 one stands upon an immense stone terrace1 upon which the pagoda itself stands4 ,the terrace is nearly #a1jjj feet square4 ,the pagoda tapers upwards to a height of #cjj feet1 and terminates in a h'tee4 ,the pagoda is round in shape1 and solid throughout4 ,it is built of bricks1 and1 unlike the ,pyramids of ,egypt1 there is no chamber in its interior1 nothing but the casket containing the staff of ,kanthathon1 the water-dipper of ,gaunagon1 a garment of ,kathapa and the eight hairs of ,gautama4 ,the whole of the exterior is covered with gold-leaf1 presenting a dazzling appearance1 as it reflects the rays of the sun4 ,the h'tee on the top--the umbrella-shaped finial--is made of a series of gilded iron rings1 from which hang a great many little silver and brass bells1 which are swung and rung by the wind4 ,not long ago1 the father of the present ,king of ,burmah placed a new h'tee upon the pagoda4 ,it cost him about #cjj1jjj4 ,the frame was made of seven gilded iron rings1 the largest of which was twelve feet in diameter1 and the rest smaller and smaller4 ,each ring was studded with gems4 ,at the very top was a large emerald4 ,this h'tee was brought to a landing-place about two miles from the pagodas4 ,the road over which it was to come was covered with white cloth by a devout merchant4 ,the pagoda was covered with a frame-work of bamboo1 which made it easy to ascend to its top4 ,weeks of religious festivities were held1 during which the worshipers poured their gold1 and silver1 and precious stones into the pagoda's treasury4 ,on the day appointed1 the old h'tee was removed1 and the new one hoisted ring by ring to its place4 ,illustration3 ,,shway-,,da-,,gong1 ,,the ,,great ,,pagoda ,,of ,,rangoon1 ,,burmah4 ,,it ,,contains ,,relics ,,of ,,buddha4 ,,the ,,exterior ,,is ,,covered ,,with ,,gilt4 ,,the ,,entrances ,,are ,,guarded ,,by ,,griffins4 ,within the pagoda inclosure there are many temples1 most containing huge images of ,gautama1 made of wood1 brick and lime1 or marble and metal4 ,on small tables1 in front of many of the images1 are placed candles1 flowers and little paper flags4 ,around the pagoda tall poles are placed at short intervals1 each crowned with a h'tee4 ,near the pagoda is a great bell1 under which a man may stand upright4 ,the worshipers strike upon this bell1 to attract the attention of the recording angels1 so that they may not omit to credit them with the worship about to be performed in honor of the gods4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,shway-,,da-,,gong4 ,two brothers1 said in the native books to have been ,mns or ,talaings1 having made an offering to ,gautama1 begged in return some relic of himself1 on which he stroked his head1 and gave them eight hairs that came out4 ,these he desired them to deposit in a pagoda in a spot where had already been buried certain relics of his three great predecessors4 ,they accordingly started with them for 8,suvarna-bhumi10 the ,sanskrit name of ,pegu1 but on the way lost six of the hairs4 ,however1 they were recovered in a miraculous manner1 and the holy site pointed out to them by the ,nats4 ,here1 on digging1 the relics of the former ,buddhas--viz41 a water-scoop of ,gaunagon1 a robe of ,kathapa1 and a staff of ,kanthathon1--were found1 and these1 together with the eight hairs of ,gautama1 were deposited in a hole on the top of the hill on which 8,shway-da-,gong0 now stands1 and a solid pagoda of stones1 sixty-six feet high was erected4 ,this pagoda is thus specially sacred to all ,buddhists1 as the only one known to them as now existing1 which is supposed to contain the relics not only of ,gautama1 but also of all the ,buddhas of this present world4 ,at the time of its erection1 and for centuries afterwards1 no town existed on the site of ,rangoon1 and the pagoda stood1 like many others at the present day1 in the midst of the wild forest4 ,the history of the pagoda1 which is rather a long one1 contains detailed particulars of the various improvements1 repairs and enlargements made to it by various kings4 ,the edifice has been cased several times 7as was also the custom with the ,ceylon dagabas7 with a fresh outer surrounding of bricks several feet thick1 thus each time increasing its height and size4 ,thus1 in ,a4,d4 #addg1 the ,king of ,pegu encased it afresh1 and made its height #cja feet4 ,in #adfb1 the ,king of ,pegu cast1 it is said1 a colossal bell1 #afh feet high1 #ab feet in diameter and #cf feet in circumference2 also several other smaller bells1 and paved the platform or terrace of the pagoda with #ej1jjj flat stones4 ,this wonderful bell1 it is perhaps unnecessary to say1 is not in existence at the present time4 ,,other ,,pagodas4 ,besides the ,shway-da-,gong ,pagoda1 there is a host of lesser ones4 ,the erection of pagodas is generally a work of merit4 ,it must be borne in mind that these are never temples1 but simply relic-houses4 ,there are temples and monasteries grouped around them4 ,at one place is the 8,seven ,pagodas10 built on the spot where ,gautama--when1 in the course of his transmigrations1 his soul inhabited the body of a rooster--is said to have scratched for his breakfast4 ,again1 there are others built where ,gautama has left the imprint of his footsteps4 ,illustration3 ,,sacred ,,gardens ,,attached ,,to ,a ,,buddhist ,,temple4 ,illustration3 ,,pagoda ,,at ,,maulmain1 ,,burmah4 ,,little ,,bells ,,suspended ,,from ,,its ,,summit ,,swing ,,in ,,the ,,wind4 ,there are a great many traditions told in regard to the building of these pagodas4 ,one legend runs thus3 ,a certain hermit1 having received one of the hairs of the ,lord1 wandered about searching for a suitable spot where to enshrine it4 ,in the meanwhile he reverently carried the sacred relic on his head4 ,after some time he arrived on the summit of this mountain1 and deposited the holy hair in the cleft of the rock1 and erected the pagoda on the great boulder4 ,from this legend is derived the name 8,kyeik-ethel-yh10 meaning 8the object of worship borne on the head of the hermit40 ,this boulder is more than half hanging over the perpendicular face of a cliff4 ,how it holds its position it is indeed difficult to say1 as it lies beyond the line of the centre of gravity4 ,the boulder is thirty feet high1 and the pagoda fifteen feet4 ,another legend is as follows3 ,two merchants joined together and built a small pagoda1 two feet high4 ,the next morning1 when they went to pay their homage at this shrine1 they found the pagoda had increased to double their work2 so1 taking this as a sign that the ,nats approved of their offering1 they continued to enlarge this pile of brick2 they working by day and the unseen power by night4 ,it now measures more than three hundred feet high4 ,they have also a stone1 which they call an impression of ,gautama's foot4 ,some of these stones are six feet long1 and covered with strange figures supposed to express their religious ideas4 ,,worship ,,of ,,nats4 ,the adoration and dread of ,nats enters into all the life and legends of the ,burmese4 ,these ,nats are spirits1 both good and evil4 ,offerings are presented and ceremonies performed to obtain favors and advantages from the good1 and to propitiate the evil ,nats4 ,the worship of ,nats is intimately related to the old worship of spirits before ,buddhism came to ,burmah4 ,the ,nats are supposed to live in the six lower heavens1 beyond the moon4 ,they are able to transport themselves with the utmost rapidity to and about our world4 ,they are believed to interfere in the affairs of man1 even more than the gods4 ,they correspond to the genii of the ,arabian ,nights' ,entertainment1 to the fairies and elfins of ,britain in olden times1 with perhaps the added ideas of angels and devils4 ,the story of ,king ,tektha1 which follows1 will probably give a more correct impression of the ,burmese notions of the ,nats than any description could impart4 ,this is but a single specimen of a great many such stories which are still current among the ,burmese3 ,a ,,nat ,,story4 ,once upon a time1 there lived1 in ,burmah1 a king named ,tektha4 ,the kings that were before him had been devout worshipers of ,gautama1 and had listened to what their teachers and priests taught them4 ,but ,tektha did not believe in ,gautama1 but listened to strange teachers1 who taught him that everything was ,god4 ,he would not hear the ,buddhist books1 nor worship the relics nor the images4 ,more than this1 instead of behaving reverently to the priests1 he destroyed their temples1 and threw the idols into the water4 ,he forbade his subjects also to worship ,gautama1 and threatened that if they did they should be severely punished4 ,the people were in dismay4 ,it was of no use for the priests to carry round their rice-pots2 no one dared offer them food2 the temples and pagodas were falling into ruins1 and the images of ,gautama were lying in the water1 spoilt and decaying4 ,what would be the consequence of this terrible treatment of their god8 ,the people were afraid of the punishment with which the king threatened them if they worshiped ,gautama2 they feared the evils which the great spirits1 the ,nats1 might bring upon them if they did not4 ,but a few of the people would not give up the worship to which they had been so long accustomed2 and among those who still in secret held to the old faith was a girl1 twelve years of age1 and her mother4 ,i do not know the girl's name2 but1 said she1 8,the king has thrown the idols into the water because he is afraid of them40 ,this was considered a very bold speech4 ,affairs continued in this state for four years4 ,when the girl was sixteen1 she happened one day to be bathing in a tank with a number of her companions1 and1 while amusing herself in the water1 she saw an idol lying near4 ,she ordered her attendants to lift it out and carry it to a zayat1 or rest-house1 that was at hand4 ,they reminded her that she would certainly be put to death for meddling with it2 but she was very determined1 and declared that she would worship that image as long as she lived4 ,it was accordingly lifted out of the water1 washed and carried into the zayat4 ,a report of what had been done was immediately taken to the king1 and you can imagine how enraged he was4 ,he ordered his servants to take a fierce elephant1 and make the savage animal trample this bold young woman to death1 thus making a terrible example of her case4 ,but it was not so easy to do this4 ,the seven principal ,nats1 who had been greatly displeased by the king's wickedness1 came to the defense of the girl4 ,these seven were1 the ,nat of the universe1 the ,nat of the earth1 the ,nat of the trees1 the ,nat of the air1 the ,nat of the cities1 the ,nat of the villages and the ,nat of the white umbrella4 ,the elephant was brought1 but he did not touch the girl2 he was beaten and goaded1 but it was of no avail2 he would not lift up a foot against her1 and instead of being angry only grew frightened1 and tried to run away from her without harming her in the least4 ,when the king heard that she could not be put to death this way1 he ordered a quantity of dry straw to be collected1 the girl placed in the midst of it1 and so be burnt to death4 ,the straw was brought1 she was put in the middle1 but no number of torches1 no quantity of fire would make it burn4 ,the ,nats were there1 and they would not allow her to be put to death4 ,then the king sent for her to his palace4 ,he was surprised as well as angry now1 and was wondering whether he might not possibly have been wrong in forsaking the gods of his forefathers4 8,if the image which you have dared to take from the water10 said he1 8will come through the air into my presence1 and ,i see it1 your life shall be spared2 but if not1 you shall be cut into seven pieces40 ,the young woman asked permission to return for a short time to the zayat4 ,her request was granted1 and there she went and prayed very earnestly that the image might be carried into the king's presence4 ,and1 lo6 not only one1 but eight images1 and the young woman herself with her attendants1 were immediately taken up by the ,nats1 conveyed through the air1 and put down before the king and his principal queen1 his commander-in-chief1 his officers1 and a multitude of people4 ,how they all shouted and wondered6 8,now10 said the girl1 turning to the king1 8now that the image of my god and teacher has flown to you1 will you order the teachers from whom you have learned this false religion to mount up also and fly through the air80 ,the king ordered them to do so1 but1 of course1 it was in vain2 they could not fly4 ,he was now convinced that the religion of ,gautama was the true religion2 he compelled the false teachers to leave the country2 the temples1 and images1 and pagodas were restored2 this wonderful young woman he married1 and made one of his principal queens2 and ,king ,tektha was for the remainder of his life a devoted ,buddhist4 ,the fishermen make a small shed1 termed a ,ntsin1 near their fishery1 in which every morning offerings of fruit1 leaves1 rice1 or some such tribute is placed2 if this were not done1 they say the ,nat would destroy the fish4 ,a man going a journey through a forest1 comes to a large and conspicuous tree2 he halts1 plucks a few leaves near or perhaps takes a little boiled rice out of his bag1 and places them as an offering to the ,nat of the tree4 ,in a boat-race a preliminary row over the course is always taken1 a man in the prow holding in his extended arms a tray or basin containing a cocoanut1 bunch of plantains1 betel leaves1 etc41 as an oblation to the ,nats of the stream to insure their causing no accident to the boat in the race4 ,,superstitions ,,of ,,the ,,burmese4 ,the people have great faith in omens4 ,to meet a funeral1 or a person crying1 when starting on a journey1 is unlucky1 and the journey should be postponed4 ,a snake crossing the road shows that the journey will be long4 ,to meet with mushrooms foretells a prosperous journey4 ,any unusual wild animal or bird entering a house is a sign of great honor for the owner4 ,the earth-heaps thrown up by the white ants1 if under a house1 will bring wealth to the occupier4 ,the itching of the palms of the hand is a sign that some money will soon come into them4 ,in almost every bazaar1 and at all large gatherings of people1 will be found one or two old men sitting with a slate or a ,burman writing-board before them1 inviting the passers-by to have their horoscope cast1 and the best educated and most enlightened native officials will1 in any difficulty or trouble1 send for one of these diviners to consult the fates4 ,one or two lucky hits will1 of course1 raise any special prophet's reputation throughout the country1 and give him abundant business4 ,,the ,,funeral ,,of ,a ,,pongyee1 ,,or ,,monk4 ,as soon as a pongyee has expired1 the body is reverently washed by the elders1 who were his supporters4 ,the body is then opened1 the viscera extracted1 and buried anywhere without ceremony4 ,the cavity of the abdomen is filled with hot ashes and various preservative substances4 ,long swathes of white cotton-cloth are wrapped as tightly as possible round the corpse from head to foot1 over which are placed the yellow robes of the order4 ,another coarser wrapping of cotton-cloth is tightly wound over this1 and then thickly covered with black varnish1 on which gold leaf is applied1 so that the whole is gilt4 ,a coffin is prepared from a single log1 hollowed out1 which many old pongyees keep in their monasteries ready for their demise4 ,the body1 having been placed in this1 is left for some weeks to dry up1 for most of such venerable and aged recluses are little more than a frame-work of bones1 covered with a withered skin4 ,the cover is at length nailed on2 the coffin is thickly covered with a resinous varnish and gilt4 ,it is temporarily laid in state in the monastery1 on a high dais1 ornamented with tinsel1 gilding and paper lace1 surmounted by a white umbrella1 or canopy of muslin1 and is constantly visited by pilgrims from the surrounding country1 who make their obeisance and present offerings of flowers1 etc41 to it4 ,as soon as sufficient funds have been collected1 a building1 called ,nibban ,kyeng 7that is1 ,monastery of the ,dead71 is erected for the reception of the body4 ,with obscure and inferior monks this is only made of bamboos and thatch2 but with a distinguished and venerated monk it is a substantial structure1 with large1 handsome pillars of iron-wood or teak1 roofed with shingles4 ,this is open all around1 or is only surrounded by a railing to keep out animals4 ,in the centre1 within a high sarcophagus1 richly but rudely adorned with gilding1 glass1 mosaic work and painting1 is enshrined the coffin1 to await1 perhaps1 for four years the final funeral rites4 ,at length1 the time of waiting has passed2 the preparations are complete2 a fortunate day has been fixed upon1 and for weeks previous1 the town where the ceremony is to take place1 and all the surrounding country1 has been astir with the arrangements for and expectation of the great event4 ,the coffin is placed on a gigantic car1 solidly constructed1 and with four heavy solid wooden wheels1 surmounted with a canopy similar in form and construction to that crowning the funeral pyre4 ,this lofty turret is drawn along by hundreds of men1 and placed in the centre of the plain4 ,the next day1 the fun begins4 ,two great ropes of twisted canes1 or coirs1 are fastened to the funeral car in front and behind1 long enough for a hundred people to hold on to each and to pull each way4 ,the people group themselves about either rope as they belong to one or other of two neighboring villages4 ,then comes a tug1 each trying to pull the car away from the other4 ,illustration3 ,,funeral ,,procession ,,of ,a ,,buddhist ,,priest4 ,on the night before the last day of the festival1 the coffin is removed from the car and placed on the funeral pyre1 on an iron grating1 under which is a quantity of wood1 made more combustible by the use of oil1 resin and the like1 mixed with fragrant woods4 ,early on the day appointed for the burning of the pongyee's body1 parties come from the different villages1 bringing rude rockets of every size4 ,some are a foot long and an inch in calibre2 others are monsters1 nine and twelve feet in length1 and have a bore of six to nine inches diameter4 ,all are crammed to the muzzles with gunpowder1 the tubes being hollowed logs of wood strongly bound with cane4 ,the larger ones are placed on rude cars with four wheels1 while the smallest are hung on long guiding lines of cane1 or rope1 fastened at one end to a strong post1 and at the other to some point of the funeral pyre4 ,the object is to strike the pyre with the rocket1 and fire the combustibles placed inside4 ,happy will be the village which owns the fortunate rocket1 and great their prosperity during the ensuing year4 ,all being ready1 men of each village are allowed to go up in rotation and discharge their weapon4 ,the smoke1 the flame1 the roar is tremendous1 to the intense delight of the shouting crowd4 ,one at length strikes as it seems with full power3 a pause1 a little smoke1 then a little flame issues from one corner of the pyre1 and a shout from thousands of throats proclaims the auspicious event4 ,the crowd rushes forward1 fire is carefully applied to the mass of combustibles under and around the coffin1 and soon the whole is in a blaze4 ,the people watch round1 giving a cheer as each small pinnacle falls in1 and wait1 anxiously looking for the lofty canopy itself to topple over into the flames4 ,this event is greeted with a tremendous shout1 and then all disperse homewards1 happy and merry4 ,a few elders remain to watch the burning pyre till all is consumed1 and the next day the monks of the monastery collect the fragments of half-burnt bones and the ashes of the deceased1 and reverently inter them in some fitting place1 and1 perhaps1 a small pagoda is erected over them as a monument4 ,such is ,buddhism in ,burmah4 ,american missionaries have won many of the ,burmese1 as of the ,karens also1 from these ceremonies to the ,christian faith4 ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,,siam4 ,the 8,castle of ,indra10 call they the hall1 ,in which are displayed the deities all1 ,the golden images1 chiseled with care1 ,and all incrusted with jewels so rare4 ,full thirty thousand their numbers are3 ,their ugliness passes description far2 ,a compound of men and animals dread1 ,with many a hand and many a head4 ,,heinrich ,,heine4 ,siam is the land lying just to the east of ,burmah2 on account of the extreme reverence paid to the white elephant it is often called the ,land of the ,white ,elephant4 ,it has a population of #f1cjj1jjj1 who are1 with but a few exceptions1 ,buddhists4 ,buddhism entered this country in #fch ,a4,d41 and was thus the last nation to yield to the power of that religion4 ,the ,siamese people are gentle1 cheerful1 timid1 careless and almost passionless4 ,they are disposed to idleness1 inconstancy and inaction2 they are liberal almsgivers1 severe in enforcing decorum between the sexes4 ,they are fond of sports1 and spend half their time in amusements4 ,they are sharp and even witty in conversation1 and resemble the ,chinese in their dexterity in imitation4 ,of theatrical displays1 rope-dancing and the like1 they are extremely fond4 ,of the wit of the people1 the best evidence is to be found in their familiar proverbs1 of which a few are here cited3 8,when you go into a wood1 do not forget your wood-knife40 8,an elephant though he has four legs may slip2 and a doctor is not always right40 8,go up by land you meet a tiger2 go down by water you meet a crocodile40 8,if a dog bite you1 do not bite him again40 ,as in most ,oriental lands there is the greatest and most painful contrast between the luxury and splendor of the king's court and the poverty and squalor of the common people4 ,the royal palaces are filled with all that wealth and power can procure4 ,the peasants' hovels are denied even the common comforts of life2 they are bare and comfortless4 ,they contain no furniture1 but only a few roughly made vessels of earthenware1 and a mat or two spread upon the floor4 ,the food of a peasant consists of a bowl of rice with a morsel of fish4 ,at a ,siamese ,state dinner there are usually served with great ceremony from sixty to a hundred carefully cooked dishes4 ,,the ,,celebrated ,,wat ,,chang ,,pagoda4 ,this is the most splendid temple in ,bangkok4 ,it is shaped somewhat like a bell1 rising to the height probably of #bej feet4 ,every inch of its surface glitters with curious ornaments and carvings2 the forms of men and birds1 and beasts like nothing in heaven above1 nor earth beneath1 nor waters under the earth4 ,it is made of brick and plastered on the outside4 ,in a large niche in the sides1 about two-thirds of the way to the top are images of ,buddha1 riding on four white elephants made of shining porcelain each facing toward one of the points of the compass4 ,a sharp spire rises from the summit4 ,all over this temple tower1 from the base to the top1 from every projecting point hang a multitude of small sweet-toned bells1 swinging and ringing in the slightest breeze1 filling the air with liquid melody4 ,illustration3 ,,tower ,,of ,,wat ,,chang ,,pagoda ,,at ,,bangkok1 ,,siam4 ,illustration3 ,,funeral ,,temple ,,of ,,wood1 ,,bamboo ,,and ,,paper1 ,,to ,,be ,,burned ,,with ,,the ,,body ,,of ,a ,,dead ,,king4 8,how they tinkle1 tinkle1 tinkle1 ,while the stars that oversprinkle ,all the heavens1 seem to twinkle ,with a crystalline delight2 ,keeping time1 time1 time1 ,in a sort of ,runic rhyme1 ,to the tintinnabulation that so musically wells ,from the bells1 bells1 bells1 bells1 ,bells1 bells-- ,from the jingling and the tinkling of the bells40 ,within the ,wat ,chang inclosure1 besides the pagoda1 are priests' dwellings1 temples1 with their idols1 a preaching-hall1 a library and small parks1 with flower and fruit-gardens1 ponds1 caves and stone statues of ,chinese sages and warriors1 presenting a scene of bewildering richness4 ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,emerald ,,idol4 ,the ,wat ,p'hra ,keau is the temple where the reigning monarch worships4 ,on the road leading to this temple is another temple1 the ,wat ,poh1 where reposes in gigantic state the wondrous ,sleeping ,idol4 ,this is a reclining figure1 #aej feet long and #dj feet high1 entirely covered with gold-plate4 ,the soles of this giant figure's feet are covered with carvings inlaid with pearl and chased with gold4 ,the designs of these carvings represent the many transmigrations of ,buddha before he obtained ,nirvna 7or1 as the ,siamese call it1 ,niphan74 ,on the nails of the toes are engraven ,buddha's ten divine attributes4 ,beyond this temple are the stables1 or1 more properly speaking1 the ,palace of the ,white ,elephant1 where the huge creature is housed and cared for royally4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,siam ,,going ,,to ,,worship ,,at ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,emerald ,,idol4 ,illustration3 ,,altar ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,emerald ,,idol1 ,,siam4 ,beyond these is the ,temple of the ,emerald ,idol4 ,this is one of the most remarkable and beautiful structures of its kind in all the ,east4 ,its model is like that of all the others1 but its finish is of a much higher order4 ,the exterior is adorned with lofty octagonal pillars1 with quaint ,gothic doors and windows1 all carved with a great variety of emblems1 the lotus and the palm occurring most frequently4 ,this temple1 like all ,siamese temples1 is built of brick1 with a number of roofs rising in connected tiers1 and reaching out over broad verandas1 supported by rows of pillars1 the whole covered with white cement4 ,the roofs are usually made of many-colored tiles2 at the ends of the ridge-pole are many ornaments1 resembling bullocks' horns in size and shape4 ,the walls and ceiling of the interior are covered with finely-executed paintings4 ,mrs4 ,leonowens1 an ,english lady who lived for six years in the palace of the ,king of ,siam1 and who thereby enjoyed unusual privileges1 thus describes the interior and worship of the ,wat ,p'hra ,keau3 8,the altar is a wonder of dimensions and splendour--a pyramid #ajj feet high1 terminating in a fine spire of gold1 and surrounded on every side by idols1 all curious and precious1 from the bijou image in sapphire to the colossal statue in plate-gold4 ,a series of trophies these1 gathered from the triumphs of ,buddhism over the proudest forms of worship in the old pagan world4 ,in the pillars that surround the temple1 and the spires that taper far aloft1 may be traced types and emblems borrowed from the ,temple of the ,sun at ,baalbec1 the proud fane of ,diana at ,ephesus1 the shrines of the ,delian ,apollo2 but the ,brahminical symbols and interpretations prevail4 ,strange that it should be so with a sect that suffered by the slayings and the banishments of a ruthless persecution1 at the hands of their ,brahmin fathers1 for the cause of restoring the culture of that simple and pure philosophy which flourished before ,pantheism4 8,the floor is paved with diamond-shaped pieces of polished brass1 which reflect the light of tall tapers that have burned on for more than a hundred years1 so closely is the sacred fire watched4 ,the floods of light and depths of shadow about the altar are extreme1 and the effect overwhelming4 8,the ,emerald ,idol is about twelve inches high and eight in width4 ,into the virgin gold of which its hair and collar are composed1 must have been stirred1 while the metal was yet molten1 crystals1 topazes1 sapphires1 rubies1 onyxes1 amethysts and diamonds--the stones crude1 or rudely cut1 and blended in such proportions as might enhance to the utmost imaginable limit the beauty and the cost of the adored effigy4 ,the combination is as harmonious as it is splendid4 ,no wonder it is commonly believed that ,buddha himself alighted on the spot in the form of a great emerald1 and by a flash of lightning conjured the glittering edifice and altar in an instant from the earth1 to be a house and a throne for him there6 8,on either side of the eastern entrance--called #8,the ,beautiful ,gate'--stands a modern statue2 one of ,saint ,peter1 with flowing mantle and sandaled feet1 in an attitude of sorrow1 as when #8he turned away his face and wept2' the other of ,ceres1 scattering flowers4 ,the western entrance1 which admits only ladies1 is called #8,the ,angel's ,gate1' and is guarded by genii of ferocious aspect4 8,on a floor diamonded with polished brass sat a throng of women1 the lite of ,siam4 ,all were robed in pure white1 with white silk scarfs drawn from the left shoulder in careful folds across the bust and back1 and thrown gracefully over the right4 ,a little apart sat their female slaves1 of whom many were inferior to their mistresses only in social consideration and wordly gear1 being their half sisters--children of the same father by a slave mother4 ,illustration3 ,,ruined ,,temple ,,and ,,idol ,,of ,,buddha ,,at ,,ayudia1 ,,the ,,old ,,capital ,,of ,,siam4 8,the women sat in circles1 and each displayed her vase of flowers and her lighted taper before her4 ,in front of all were a number of my younger pupils1 the royal children1 in circles also4 ,close by the altar1 on a low square stool1 overlaid with a thin cushion of silk1 sat the high-priest1 ,chow ,khoon ,sh4 ,in his hand he held a concave fan1 lined with pale-green silk1 the back richly embroidered1 jeweled and gilt4 ,he was draped in a yellow robe1 not unlike the ,roman toga1 a loose and flowing habit1 closed below the waist1 but open from the throat to the girdle1 which was simply a band of yellow cloth1 bound tightly4 ,from the shoulders hung two narrow strips1 also yellow1 descending over the robe to the feet1 and resembling the scapular worn by certain orders of the ,roman ,catholic clergy4 ,at his side was an open watch of gold1 the gift of his sovereign4 ,at his feet sat seventeen disciples1 shading their faces with fans less richly adorned4 8,we put off our shoes--my child and ,i--having respect for the ancient prejudice against them1 feeling not so much reverence for the place as for the hearts that worshiped there2 caring to display not so much the love of wisdom as the wisdom of love2 and well were we repaid by the grateful smile of recognition that greeted us as we entered4 8,we sat down cross-legged4 ,no need to hush my boy2 the silence there1 so subduing1 checked with its mysterious awe even his inquisitive young mind4 ,the venerable high-priest sat with his face jealously covered1 lest his eyes should tempt his thoughts to stray4 ,i changed my position to catch a glimpse of his countenance4 ,he drew his fan-veil more closely1 giving me a quick1 but gentle half-glance of remonstrance4 ,then raising his eyes1 with lids nearly closed1 he chanted in an infantile1 wailing tone4 8,that was the opening prayer4 ,at once the whole congregation raised themselves on their knees1 and1 all together1 prostrated themselves thrice profoundly1 thrice touching the polished brass floor with their foreheads1 and then1 with heads bowed and palms folded and eyes closed1 they delivered the responses after the priest1 much in the manner of the ,english ,liturgy2 first the priest1 then the people1 and finally all together4 ,there was no singing1 no standing up and sitting down1 no changing of robes and places1 no turning the face to the altar1 nor north1 nor south1 nor east1 nor west4 ,all knelt still1 with hands folded straight before them1 and eyes strictly1 tightly closed4 ,indeed1 there were faces there that expressed devotion and piety1 the humblest and the purest1 as the lips murmured1 #8,o1 ,thou ,eternal ,one1 ,thou perfection of ,time1 ,thou truest ,truth1 ,thou immutable essence of all ,change1 ,thou most excellent radiance of ,mercy1 ,thou infinite ,compassion1 ,thou ,pity1 ,thou ,charity6' 8,i lost some of the responses in the simultaneous repetition1 and did but imperfectly comprehend the exhortation that followed1 in which was inculcated the strictest practice of charity1 in a manner so pathetic and so gentle as might be wisely imitated by the most orthodox of ,christian priests4 ,there was majesty in the humility of those pagan worshipers1 and in their shame of self they were sublime40 ,,worship ,,of ,,the ,,white ,,elephant4 ,with regard to this subject1 before referred to1 we prefer using another's description3 ,sir ,john ,bowring tells us that the ,buddhists have a special reverence for white quadrupeds2 that he has himself seen a white monkey honored with special attention4 ,also1 that white elephants have been the cause of many a war1 and their possession more an object of envy than the conquest of territory or the transitory glories of the battle-field4 ,in the money market a white elephant is almost beyond price4 ,fifty thousand dollars would hardly represent its pecuniary value2 a hair from its tail is worth a ,jew's ransom4 8,it was my good fortune10 he says1 8to present to the ,first ,king of ,siam 7the ,siamese have two kings exercising supreme authority7 presents with which ,i had been charged by my royal mistress4 ,i received many presents in return2 but the monarch placed in my hand a golden box1 locked with a golden key1 and he informed me the box contained a gift far more valuable than all the rest1 and that was a few hairs of the white elephant4 ,and perhaps it may be well to state why the white elephant is so specially reverenced4 8,it is because it is believed that ,buddha1 the supreme emanation from the ,deity1 will necessarily1 in his multitudinous metamorphoses or transmissions through all the grades of existences1 and through millions of ons1 delight to abide for some time in that grand incarnation of purity which is represented by1 and found in the white elephant4 ,while all the bonzes teach that there is no spot in the heavens above or the earth below1 or the waters under the earth1 which is not visited in the peregrinations of the divinity--whose every stage or step is toward purification--they hold that his tarrying may be longer in the white elephant than in any other abode1 and that in the possession of the sacred creature they may possess the presence of ,buddha himself4 ,it is known that the ,ceylonese have been kept in subjection by the belief that their rulers have a tooth of ,buddha in the temple of ,kandy1 and that on various tracts of the ,east impressions of the foot of ,buddha are reverenced1 and are the objects of weary pilgrimages to places which can only be reached with difficulty2 but with the white elephant some vague notions of a vital ,buddha are associated1 and there can be no doubt that the marvelous sagacity of the creature has served to strengthen their religious prejudices4 ,siamese are known to whisper their secrets into an elephant's ear1 and to ask a solution of their perplexities by some sign or movement4 ,and most assuredly there is more sense and reason in the worship of an intelligent beast than in that of stocks and stones1 the work of men's hands4 ,illustration3 ,,siamese ,,worshiping ,,the ,,white ,,elephant4 ,illustration3 ,,tomb ,,of ,a ,,buddhist ,,saint4 8,and yet10 continues ,sir ,john1 8after all1 the white elephant is not white1 nor anything like it4 ,it is of a coffee-color2 not of unburnt1 but of burnt coffee--dull brownish yellow or yellowish brown--white only by contrast with his darker brother4 ,the last which reached ,bangkok was caught in the woods4 ,the king and court went a long way out into the country to meet him1 and he was conducted with a grand procession1 much pomp and music1 and flying banners1 to the capital4 ,there a grand mansion awaited him1 and several of the leading nobility were appointed his custodians4 ,the walls were painted to represent forests1 no doubt to remind him of his native haunts1 and to console him in his absence from them4 ,all his wants were sedulously provided for1 and in his #8walks abroad1' when #8many men he saw1' he was escorted by music and caparisoned by costly vestments4 ,his grandest and farthest promenades were to bathe in the river1 when other elephants were in attendance1 honored by being made auxiliaries to his grandeur4 ,now and then the two sovereigns sought his presence1 but ,i did not learn that his dignity condescended to oblige them with any special notice4 ,but he wanted no addition to his dignity4 ,everything associated with majesty and rank bore his image4 ,a white elephant is the badge of distinction4 ,the royal flags and seals1 medals and moneys--on all sides the white elephant is the national emblem1 as the cross among ,christians1 or the crescent among ,turks2 and the ,siamese are prouder of it than ,americans1 ,russians1 ,germans or ,french are of their eagles1 or ,spaniards of the golden fleece4 ,the ,bourbon ,oriflamme1 the ,british ,union ,jack1 show but faintly in the presence of the white elephant40 ,,ruins ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,temple ,,of ,,nagkon ,,wat4 ,some of the most famous ruins of the world1 and but little known to general readers1 are those at ,angkor1 in ,eastern ,siam4 ,the ,frenchman1 ,m4 ,mouhot1 says the ruins of ,nagkon ,wat--a temple which must have rivaled the temple of ,solomon in its splendor--might take a most honorable place beside our most beautiful buildings4 ,it is grander than anything left to us by ,greece and ,rome4 ,another writer says the ruins of ,angkor are as imposing as the ruins of ,thebes or ,memphis1 and more mysterious4 ,modern travelers have proved in their descriptions of these ruins that these are not words of fulsome praise4 ,there are no certain answers to the questions who built it8 when was it built8 and what has become of the builders8 ,but recent researches in ,chinese history seem to show that it was built between the tenth and twelfth centuries ,a4,d4 ,illustration3 ,,ruins ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,temple ,,of ,,nagkon ,,wat4 ,the visitor enters upon an immense causeway1 #gbe feet long1 with six gigantic griffins1 each carved from a single block of stone1 ranged along its sides4 ,on either side of the causeway are artificial lakes1 each of about five acres in extent4 ,the temple is romantically1 as well as beautifully and impressively situated in the midst of a forest of palm-trees4 ,the outer wall of the ,nagkon ,wat is about half a mile square1 and is built of sandstone1 with gate-ways upon each side4 ,these are handsomely carved with figures of gods and dragons4 ,the main gate-way is on the western side1 passing through which and up a causeway1 for a distance of #a1jjj feet1 one comes to the central main entrance of the temple4 ,the entire building is raised on three terraces1 each about thirty feet above the other4 ,the whole is built of stone1 without cement1 with joints so closely fitting that even the lapse of years has not seamed4 ,the immense blocks of stone were quarried about thirty miles away4 ,the central temple is oblong1 being #gif feet long1 #ehe feet wide1 and #bej feet high in the centre4 ,from the doorway1 on either side1 runs back a hall-way1 with a double row of columns1 each cut--base1 shaft and capital--from a single block4 ,this hall-way has an oval-shaped roof1 covered with carvings and walls covered with sculptures4 ,this gallery of sculptures1 which forms the exterior of the temples1 consists of over half a mile of continuous pictures1 cut upon sandstone slabs1 each six feet in width4 ,these sculptures represent subjects taken from the ,hindu book called the ,ramayana1 which describes the adventures of the god ,rama and the son of the king of ,oudh4 ,in the ,nagkon ,wat #a1ecb solid columns have been counted4 ,passing on up steep staircases1 we come to several image-houses4 ,these contain several hundred images1 made of stone1 wood1 brass1 clay1 of all shapes1 sizes and ages4 ,galleries cross and recross each other4 ,finally we come to the central pagoda1 in which are at present placed colossal images of ,buddha4 ,this temple is believed to be at least #b1jjj years old4 ,illustration3 ,,statue ,,of ,,the ,,leper ,,king4 ,a little ways from the ,nagkon ,wat rests the statue of the ,leper ,king1 who is supposed to have assisted in the building of the temple4 ,this famous statue is carved from sandstone1 in a sitting posture2 the eyes are closed2 a thin mustache1 twisted up at the ends1 covers the upper lip2 the ears are long2 the hair is thick1 and displayed in curls upon the head1 the top of which is surmounted by a small1 round crown4 ,the tradition says that this king was an ,egyptian1 who for some wicked deed was turned into a leper1 and who built the temple in fulfillment of a vow that he might be freed from his disease4 ,,some ,,other ,,temples4 ,near ,pechaburi is a cavern1 or series of small caves1 called the ,cave of ,idols4 ,one or two small openings in the ceiling permit the light to enter4 ,rows of gilt ,buddhas line its sides1 and a huge reclining image of ,buddha lies at one end of the halls4 ,just outside of the cave1 and at the bottom of the hill1 is a temple containing another immense reclining ,buddha4 ,this is built of brick and mortar1 covered with thick gold-leaf4 ,it is clothed with yellow garments1 such as the ,siamese and ,burmese ,buddhist priests wear4 ,its head rests upon the right hand and presses upon a gayly-ornamented pillow4 ,the idol is #ace feet high4 ,we notice that very many of these immense reclining idols of ,buddha are found in ,siam alone4 ,there are #c1jjj1jjj of ,chinese in ,siam1 who are ,buddhists and have their own temples4 ,the largest of these is in ,bangkok1 and contains a brass ,buddha1 sitting cross-legged1 and about fifty feet high1 and forty feet wide at the knees4 ,the immense temple roof is #ajj feet from the ground4 ,in a smaller temple1 in the same inclosure1 is another brass ,buddha1 seated upon a rock1 with a copper elephant on one side and a leaden monkey on the other1 looking up1 in reverence1 at the idol ,buddha4 ,when the ,king of ,siam dies1 the funeral ceremonies are participated in by the nation4 ,during about four months1 #cjj or #djj men are engaged in building the funeral temple4 ,the funeral pile1 on which the body is to be burned1 is placed in the centre1 and the temple built around and above it4 ,its style is similar to other ,siamese temples4 ,the trunks of teak trees1 not less than #agj feet high1 are placed upright so as to form a square about thirty feet each way4 ,on this is built an octagonal1 sixty-foot spire1 covered with gold-leaf4 ,around this central building poles are erected1 on which are hung peculiar ornaments covered with crimson cloth4 ,around the interior are grouped pictures of the gods and of the ,buddhist's heaven1 with lakes1 groves and gardens4 ,all around the temple is a screen of woven bamboo work1 and the ground is covered with the same4 ,the whole exterior of the temple is decorated with objects of glass1 porcelain1 alabaster and silver1 with artificial flowers and images of birds1 beasts1 men and angels4 ,splendid chandeliers are suspended from the ceiling4 ,under the central tower is a pyramidal pile1 on which the body is to be burned4 ,thousands of priests are engaged in prayers during the service4 ,the scene and service at such a time is impressive beyond the power of description4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,,thibet4 ,ah6 blessed ,lord6 ,oh1 ,high ,deliverer6 ,forgive this feeble script1 which doth thee wrong1 ,measuring with little wit thy lofty love4 ,ah6 ,lover6 ,brother6 ,guide6 ,lamp of the ,law6 ,i take my refuge in ,thy name and ,thee6 ,i take my refuge in ,thy ,law of ,good6 ,i take my refuge in ,thy ,order6 ,om6 ,the ,dew is on the ,lotus6 ,rise1 ,great ,sun6 ,and lift my leaf and mix me with the wave4 ,om ,mani ,padme ,hum1 the ,sunrise comes6 ,the ,dewdrop slips into the shining ,sea6 ,,edwin ,,arnold4 7,,peroration ,,of 8,,the ,,light ,,of ,,asia407 ,thibet is a country lying north of ,india and west of ,china4 ,it has a population of about six millions4 ,the early worship of the ,thibetans was that of spirits1 devils and of nature4 ,the old worship1 called the ,bon religion1 bore a strong resemblance to the ,taoism of ,china1 and even to-day ,buddhism has not destroyed that old religion entirely4 ,the people still have gods of the hills1 trees1 dales and lakes1 and still use charms and resort to magic4 ,just when ,buddhism was introduced into this branch of the ,mongolian family we cannot tell1 but it certainly was not well-established until #fcj ,a4,d4 ,all around ,thibet ,buddhist missionaries had gone long before this1 and it is probable that there is some myth in the tradition that a few missionaries toiled1 though in vain1 to bring the ,thibetans to the ,buddhist belief4 ,at the beginning of the fifth century ,fa-,hian1 the ,chinese monk1 made a pilgrimage to the sacred places of ,buddhism in ,india4 ,he and his four companions were forced to avoid crossing ,great ,thibet4 ,,sketch ,,of ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,lamaism4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,thibetan ,,lad4 ,a ,thibetan king established his seat of government at ,h'lassa in #fag ,a4,d4 ,he married a ,chinese princess of the ,buddhist faith4 ,by her request1 he sent a minister to ,india1 who brought back with him a great number of the ,buddhist sacred books4 ,the king had great difficulty in overcoming the objections of both priests and people1 but finally succeeded4 ,about the middle of the fourteenth century a great reformer arose in ,thibet named ,tsong-khapa4 ,he forbade the priests to marry1 and declared that magic and necromancy were against ,buddhism1 and introduced other changes4 ,another great reformer lived about the same time named ,gedeen-tubpa2 he built the great monastery at ,teshu ,lumbo in #adde1 and in him commenced the perpetual incarnation of ,buddha1 in the persons of the ,grand ,lamas4 ,in #afej the sixth successor of this last reformer visited the ,emperor of ,china1 and accepted from him the designation of ,dalai ,lama1 ,lama meaning priest1 and ,dalai1 ocean4 ,there are several rival ,grand ,lamas1 the ,dalai ,lama1 the ,teshu ,lama and the ,taranath ,lama4 ,there rapidly grew up in ,thibet a system of organized priesthood1 which has made the ,buddhism of ,thibet almost altogether unlike that of any other land4 ,,monks ,,and ,,monasteries4 ,illustration3 ,,monastery ,,of ,,hemis ,,in ,,the ,,himalayas4 ,there are the monks and clergy1 who are subordinate to the holy and sacred ,lamas1 the monks and nuns1 the abbots and abbesses1 chief ,lamas1 and1 over all1 the ,grand ,lama4 ,the monks go bare-headed1 though those of high rank wear caps2 their heads are shaved1 and they are dressed in a yellow robe and high leathern boots1 with the mendicant's food-bowl and the prayer-wheel in their hands4 ,they are collected in vast monasteries scattered over the country1 the largest and most numerous being round the city of ,h'lassa4 ,these monasteries contain many thousands of lamas1 and similar establishments are scattered not only in the inhabited valleys1 but over the wildest parts of ,great ,thibet4 ,as there is little wood in the country1 the people rarely burn their dead4 ,the dead bodies are usually carried to a high mountain1 to be devoured by beasts and birds4 ,the monks' bodies are1 however1 burned1 and their ashes carefully gathered as relics4 ,women are not buried or exposed with the bodies of their dead husbands1 as was once the case with ,hindu women4 ,in fact1 this is rendered impossible by the existence of polyandry1 one woman in ,thibet generally having many husbands4 ,illustration3 ,,tartar ,,woman4 ,the monasteries are called ,gonpas2 the ,lamas' house1 ,labrang2 and the temple1 consisting of a room full of images and pictures1 ,lhakhang4 ,the ,dung-ten is a relic repository1 such as the ,tope of ,india2 and immense votive piles of stones or dykes1 from a few feet to half a mile in length1 covered with slabs and stuck over with banners inscribed with the ,thibetan prayer ,om mani padme hum1 are called ,mani4 ,the images of ,buddha are always seated1 with the right hand resting on the knee1 the left on the lap1 and holding the alms-dish2 the body painted yellow or gilt1 and the hair short and curly and painted blue4 ,they are of all sizes1 and there are other images of beings connected with ,buddhistic ideas4 ,the services consist of recitations and chanting of the ,sutras1 or precepts and rules of discipline1 to the sound of musical instruments1 trumpets1 drums1 cymbals and conch-shells4 ,the tunes are impressive and solemn2 incense is burned during the services1 and there are offerings of fruits and grain to ,buddha and to the ,buddhisatwas1 especially to ,avaloki-teswara1 who is incarnate in the ,dalai ,lama4 ,mystical sentences and titles of ,buddha are also recited4 ,the bell is used during the performance of service1 and the prayer-wheels--metal cylinders1 containing printed prayers in rolls1 with the axes prolonged to form handles--are in constant use1 not only during the service1 but on every occasion1 being fixed in rows on the walls of temples1 near villages1 and in streams1 to be turned by water4 ,the prayer-wheels have been in use among these people for more than a thousand years1 for they are mentioned by the pilgrim ,fa-,hian4 ,,temple ,,at ,,teshu ,,lumbo ,,monastery4 ,it contains thirteen gigantic figures1 which would be about eight feet high standing1 but they are all1 except the image of the god of war and another1 sitting cross-legged4 ,they are of copper-gilt1 holding a pot with flowers or fruit in their lap4 ,they are represented covered with mantles1 and crowns or mitres on their heads2 and altogether1 particularly the drapery1 are far from being badly executed4 ,the thrones upon which they sit are also of copper-gilt1 adorned with turquois1 cornelians and other inferior stones4 ,the mouldings and ornaments of the thrones are in a good style4 ,behind each figure the wall is covered with a piece of carved work1 like unto the heavy gilt frames of our forefathers' portraits or looking-glasses4 ,behind them are china vases1 some of them very handsome2 loads of china and glass-ware1 the last partly ,chinese1 partly ,european1 filled with grain1 fruit or gum flowers1 a variety of shells1 large conches set in silver1 some ostrich eggs1 cocoanuts1 cymbals1 and a variety of other articles1 making a most heterogeneous gathering4 ,round the necks of the images are strings of coral1 ill-shaped pearls1 cornelian1 agate and other stones1 and their crowns are set with the like ornaments4 ,the ceiling of the gallery is covered with satins of a variety of patterns1 some ,chinese1 some ,kalmuk1 some ,european1 brought through ,russia and overland4 ,the gallery is lighted on the south side from five windows1 and the walls between are hung with paintings of the different deities and views of heaven4 ,the opposite side1 where the images are1 is shut in all the length of the gallery with a net of iron-work that meddlers may be kept off4 ,,services ,,at ,,the ,h',,lassa ,,cathedral4 ,kppen presents a very full account of the worship in one of the chief ,buddhist temples1 in the centre of ,buddhism1 the city of ,h'lassa4 ,rhys-,david condenses this as follows3 ,the entrance to the chief temples of the holy city is through a large hall where holy water and rosaries are sold1 and in which stand four statues of the archangels4 ,the walls are covered with rude paintings of scenes from the legends of ,buddha1 and its roof is supported by six massive pillars1 covered with beautiful carving1 spoilt by gorgeous paint and gilding4 ,the temple itself is a long nave1 divided by rows of pillars from two aisles1 and by silver screens of open trellis-work from two large chancels4 ,into the aisle on each side open fourteen chapels2 at the end is the holy place4 ,in its furthest niche1 in a kind of apse1 is the magnificent golden statue of the now deified ,gautama ,buddha4 ,in front of the idol is the high altar or table of offerings1 raised by several stages from the floor2 on the upper levels being images of gold1 silver and clay2 on the lower1 the bells1 lamps1 censers and other vessels used in the holy service4 ,at the sound of a trumpet the clergy assemble in the entrance hall1 wearing the cloak and cap2 at its third blast the procession1 with the living ,buddha1 the ,grand ,lama1 at its head1 marches down the aisle4 ,when he is seated on his throne1 each ,lama1 or cardinal1 bows three times before him1 and then seats himself on a divan according to his rank4 ,after a bell is rung1 the ten ,buddhist commandments are repeated and other formulas1 then the priests sing in choir pieces from the sacred books4 ,the monks burst out into a hymn of prayer for the presence of the spirits of all the ,buddhists4 ,one of them raises aloft over his head a looking-glass1 the idea of which seems to be to catch the image of the spirit as it comes2 a second raises a jug2 a third a mystic symbol of the world2 a fourth a cup1 and so on4 ,meanwhile the voices of the singers1 and the sound of the bells1 drums and trumpets grows louder and louder1 and the temple is filled with incense from the sacred censers4 ,the monk with the jug pours several times water1 mixed with saffron and sugar1 over the mirror1 which another wipes each time with a silk napkin4 ,the water flows over the mirror to the symbols of the world1 and is caught in the cup beneath4 ,thence the holy mixture is poured into another jug1 and a drop or two is allowed to trickle on to the hands of each of the worshiping monks1 who marks the crown of his shaven head1 the forehead and his breast with the sacred liquid4 ,he then reverently swallows the remaining drops1 and1 in so doing1 believes himself to be swallowing a part of the divine being1 whose image has been caught in the mirror over which the water has passed4 ,,praying-,,wheels4 ,among the most curious things in ,thibet are the praying-wheels4 ,they are little wooden drums covered round the sides with leather1 and fitted vertically in niches in the walls4 ,a spindle running through the centre enables them to revolve at the slightest push4 ,they are generally in rows of eight and ten1 and well thumbed and worn they usually are4 ,others1 of larger dimensions1 are placed by themselves1 decorated with the words1 8,om mani padmi hum10 in the ,lanza character1 all round the barrel4 ,in the vicinity of the monasteries are various small temples1 like chapels of ease1 rudely decorated with grotesque figures in red and yellow1 and having queer-looking structures fastened on the top of them1 generally a trident1 with tufts of hair attached1 or strips of colored calico1 horns of animals and other rude devices4 ,illustration3 ,,praying ,,machine4 ,instead of saying prayers they set a machine in motion1 each revolution counting as a prayer4 ,the more prayers one says or turns1 the more sure he is to get to ,heaven4 ,sometimes the wheel is set so as to be turned by water or machinery1 and these machine-prayers are counted as good as others4 ,in one place there is a praying-wheel turned by water2 but one cannot ascertain whether the benefit accrues to the water1 or to the possessor of the stream1 or to the public generally4 ,sometimes the people carry portable wheels1 and one often meets them provided with huge brass ones1 with a wooden handle4 ,they are suspended from their necks1 in company with a collection of square leather charms fastened by a string to the coat1 the whole collection presenting a very odd appearance4 ,,the ,,mystic ,,sentence ,,of ,,thibet4 ,illustration3 ,,praying ,,wheel ,,whirled ,,in ,,the ,,hand4 ,there is one sentence which the ,thibetans and ,mongolians have continually in their mouths4 ,the same sentence is written upon their monuments1 temple-walls1 relic-houses1 prayer-wheels--indeed1 almost everywhere4 ,it is ,,om ,,mani ,,padmi ,,hum4 ,these are words from the ,sanskrit language4 8,om10 among the ,hindus1 is the mystic name of divinity1 which begins all their prayers4 ,it corresponds to our interjection ,oh6 only that it is uttered with a religious emphasis1 due to its hidden1 sacred meaning4 8,mani0 means jewel2 8padmi10 the lotus2 and 8hum10 amen4 ,so the whole sentence is1 8,oh6 the jewel of the lotus4 ,amen40 ,but the ,thibetan ,buddhists have attached mysterious meanings to each of the six syllables of the sentence4 ,these meanings grew out of the legendary history of the introduction of ,buddhism into ,thibet2 but even this is all but forgotten1 and the words are repeated by the millions of ,thibetans without the slightest knowledge of their force1 but with a superstitious belief in their sacredness1 which is unshaken and immovable as the rocks themselves ,,the ,,incarnation ,,of ,,buddha ,,in ,,the ,,grand ,,lama4 ,illustration3 ,,stone ,,with ,,the ,,mystic ,,sentence1 8,,om ,,mani ,,padmi ,,hum40 ,illustration3 ,,mani ,,padee1 ,a ,,buddhist ,,tomb ,,in ,,thibet4 ,the ,thibetans believe that the soul of ,buddha dwells in the body of their high-priest or ,grand ,lama2 that1 at the time of his death1 the soul passes into the body of another person1 who is to be the ,grand ,lama until his death4 ,thus ,buddha is born and re-born over and over again4 ,it is an easy matter to determine into whose body the soul of ,buddha enters1 because they make it so4 ,it is very much the same as if the chief ,lamas were to elect the ,grand ,lama's successor1 because1 in reality1 they determine where the soul of ,buddha shall be found4 ,at present1 however1 it seems that the ,emperor of ,china exercises a paramount influence on the discovery of these transmigrations1 or1 in other words1 on the filling up of clerical posts2 and there can be no doubt that his influence is supreme in the case of determining the election of the two highest functionaries of this theocracy4 ,in order to ascertain the re-birth of a departed ,lama1 various means are relied upon4 ,sometimes the deceased had1 before his death1 confidentially mentioned to his friends where and in which family he would re-appear1 or his will contained intimations to this effect4 ,in most instances1 however1 the sacred books and the official astrologers are consulted on the subject2 and if the ,dalai-lama dies1 it is the duty of the ,pan-chhen to interpret the traditions and the oracles2 whereas1 if the latter dies1 the ,dalai-lama renders him the same good service4 ,the proclamation of so great an event1 however1 as the metempsychosis of any ,dalai-lama or ,pan-chhen is preceded by a close examination of the child that claims to be in possession of the soul of either of these personages4 ,the re-born arch-saint1 usually a boy four or five years old1 is questioned as to his previous career2 books1 garments and other articles used and not used by the deceased are placed before him1 to point out those which belonged to him in his former life4 ,but1 however satisfactory his answers be1 they do not yet suffice4 ,various little bells1 required at the daily devotions of the ,lama1 are put before the boy1 to select that which he did use when he was the ,dalai-lama or ,pan-chhen4 8,but where is my own favorite bell10 the child exclaims1 after having searched in vain2 and this question is perfectly justified1 for1 to test the veracity of the re-born saint1 this particular bell has been withheld from him4 ,now1 however1 there can be no doubt as to the ,dalai-lama or ,pan-chhen being bodily before them4 ,the believers fall on their knees1 and the ,lamas who successfully performed all these frauds join them in announcing to the world the momentous fact4 ,,the ,,lamaist ,,bible4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,thibetan ,,woman4 ,the ,thibetan sacred books are called ,kanjur4 ,this contains #a1jhc works gathered in #ahj folio volumes4 ,these are divided into seven sections as follows3 #a4 ,the ,book of ,discipline4 #b4 ,the ,book of the ,transcendental ,wisdom4 #c4 ,the ,book of the ,association of ,buddhas4 #d4 ,the ,book of 8the ,jeweled ,peak10 7whatever that may mean74 #e4 ,the ,book of ,aphorisms4 #f4 ,the ,book of the ,doctrine of 8,deliverance from ,emancipation from ,existence0 7sic74 #g4 ,the ,book of ,mysticism4 ,these all are said to contain the words of ,buddha himself4 ,besides these is a work1 called the ,tanjur1 or translation of doctrine1 but has not the authority of the ,kanjur4 ,the art of printing from engraved wooden blocks has been long known to the ,thibetans4 ,this aided greatly in spreading the sacred books4 ,there is no ,buddhist monastery in ,thibet which has not a copy of these works4 ,sometimes these are very costly2 one was prepared about a quarter of a century ago1 which cost #aj1jjj4 ,four or five years ago a magnificent copy of ,buddha's works was being executed for a ,mongol prince1 in the ,thibetan language4 ,at that time #hj of the #ahj volumes were completed4 ,the printing was in letters of gold1 and the volumes are bound in embroidered silk with silver clasps4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4 ,,china--,,continued4 ,and yonder by ,nankin1 behold6 ,the ,tower of ,porcelain1 strange and old1 ,uplifting to the astonished skies ,its nine-fold painted balconies1 ,with balustrades of twining leaves1 ,and roofs of tile1 beneath whose eaves ,hang porcelain bells that all the time ,ring with a soft1 melodious chime2 ,while the whole fabric is ablaze ,with varied tints1 all fused in one ,great mass of color1 like a maze ,of flowers illumined by the sun4 ,,henry ,,wadsworth ,,longfellow4 ,fo 7or ,fuh7 is the imperfect rendering of ,buddha into the ,chinese language1 as the initial sound of ,b is almost unknown in ,chinese4 ,buddhist missionaries visited ,china as early as #bej ,b4,c41 and in the second year before ,christ a number of ,buddhist sacred books were presented to the ,emperor of ,china by an ambassador of the ,tochari ,tartars4 ,but it did not receive official recognition and did not really take root in ,china until about the year #fg ,a4,d4 ,in the year #fa the ,emperor ,ming-ti saw in a dream the image of a foreign god entering his palace4 ,impressed with the singular vision1 he sent1 at his brother's suggestion1 an embassy to secure ,buddhist images1 books and teachers4 ,an ,indian ,buddhist priest1 named ,kashiap-,madanga1 accompanied the embassy on its return4 ,he translated some of the ,buddhist books into ,chinese4 ,the religion spread rapidly after it received the imperial favor4 ,this it did the more readily as1 with ,india-rubber-like elasticity1 ,buddhism stretched itself to include the greater part of the ancient ,chinese faiths4 ,native ,chinese became ,buddhist monks about the year #cce ,a4,d4 ,the ,emperor ,hiau ,wu erected a pagoda in his palace at ,nankin in #cha ,a4 ,d4 ,the ancient ,chinese historians say that about this time large monasteries began to be established and that nine-tenths of the common people bowed to the faith of the saint and sage of ,india4 ,in #dje ,a4,d41 ,kumarajiva1 an ,indian ,buddhist1 translated the principal ,buddhist books into the ,chinese4 ,he was assisted by #hjj priests4 ,more than #cjj volumes were thus prepared4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,image ,,of ,,buddha4 ,illustration3 ,,bronze ,,lions4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,chinese ,,mandarin4 ,at this time the celebrated ,chinese traveler1 ,fa ,hien1 was collecting sacred books and visiting sacred places in ,india4 ,he went by land as far as ,ceylon1 and returned from that island by sea after an absence of fifteen years4 ,this journey furnishes an illustration of the intelligent earnestness of the ,chinese ,buddhists of this period4 ,from the years #dbj ,a4,d4 to #dea1 the ,buddhists suffered opposition on the part of the ruling ,tartar family of the ,wei dynasty4 ,in the year #ebf ,a4,d41 the famous ,bodhidharma came to ,canton4 ,he was received with great honor at the court of the ,emperor of ,southern ,china4 ,the emperor said to him3 8,from my accession to the throne1 ,i have been incessantly building temples1 transcribing sacred books1 and admitting new monks to take the vows4 ,how much merit may ,i be supposed to have accumulated80 ,the reply was3 8,none40 ,the emperor3 8,and why no merit80 ,the patriarch3 8,all this is but the insignificant effect of an imperfect cause not complete in itself4 ,it is the shadow that follows the substance1 and is without real existence40 ,the emperor3 8,then what is true merit80 ,the patriarch3 8,it consists in purity and enlightenment1 depth and completeness1 and in being wrapped in thought while surrounded by vacancy and stillness4 ,merit such as this cannot be sought by worldly means40 ,the emperor3 8,which is the most important of the holy doctrines80 ,the patriarch3 8,where all is emptiness1 nothing can be called #8holy' 7shing740 ,the emperor3 8,who is he that thus replies to me80 ,the patriarch3 8,i do not know40 ,the emperor--says the ,buddhist narrator--still remained unenlightened4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,sale ,,of ,,prayers1 ,,conducted ,,by ,,the ,,priests4 ,illustration3 ,,porcelain ,,tower ,,at ,,nanking1 ,,china4 ,bodhidharma1 not being satisfied with the result of his interview with royalty1 crossed the river ,yang-tsze into the ,wei kingdom and remained at ,lo-yang4 ,here he sat with his face to a wall for nine years4 ,the people called him the 8,wall-gazing ,brahmin40 ,when it was represented to the emperor of the house of ,liang1 that the great teacher1 who possessed the precious heirloom of ,shakya1 the symbol of the hidden law of ,buddha1 was lost to his kingdom1 he repented and sent messengers to invite him to return4 ,they failed in their errand4 ,the presence of the ,indian sage excited the more ardent ,chinese ,buddhists to make great efforts to conquer the sensations4 ,thus one of them1 we are told1 said to himself3 8,formerly1 for the sake of religion1 men broke open their bones and extracted the marrow1 took blood from their arms to give to the hungry1 rolled their hair in the mud or threw themselves down a precipice to feed a famishing tiger4 ,what can ,i do80 ,accordingly while snow was falling1 he exposed himself to it till it had risen above his knees1 when the patriarch observing him1 asked him what he hoped to gain by it4 ,the young aspirant to the victory over self wept at the question1 and said3 8,i only desire that mercy may open a path to save the whole race of mankind40 ,the patriarch replied1 that such an act was not worthy of comparison with the acts of the ,buddhas4 ,it required1 he told him1 very little virtue or resolution4 ,his disciple1 stung with the answer1 took a sharp knife1 severed his arm1 and placed it before the patriarch4 ,the latter expressed his high approval of the deed1 and when after nine years' absence he returned to ,india1 he appointed the disciple who had performed this strange act to succeed him as patriarch in ,china4 ,,pagodas4 ,the word ,pagoda has been applied by ,french and ,portuguese authors to temples where images are worshiped and priests live1 but ,english writers confine the word to the high1 tapering polygonal structures seen in ,china1 which are called tours by the ,french4 ,etymologically1 the word signifies 8house of idols10 or 8abode of ,god10 being derived from the ,persian words but1 an idol1 and kadah1 a house1 a temple4 ,some of the pagodas are built upon hill-tops and other places for the purpose of securing the prosperity of the locality by the laws of geomancy4 ,these latter are not used for worshiping in4 ,some authors use interchangeably the words dagaba and pagoda4 ,exactness with reference to ,oriental terms is very difficult to attain4 ,the same word is not unfrequently used among the natives themselves1 to denote different objects1 and travelers frequently confound the terms and use them confusedly4 ,we aim at the highest precision4 ,dagabas are lofty1 tapering1 cylindrical buildings1 erected over a relic of ,buddha1 though sometimes pagodas also are used for keeping the relics of ,buddha4 ,the pagoda at ,tung ,cho1 near ,peking1 has thirteen stories1 and is #aej feet high2 its base is forty feet in diameter4 ,it stands near the northern wall of the city1 and is the most conspicuous object to be seen for many miles around the place4 ,once a year it is the custom1 in some cities1 to illuminate the pagodas4 ,a large number of paper lanterns are used1 each having a lamp or common candle in it4 ,the priests hang the lighted lanterns at each corner of each story of the pagoda4 ,at ,nanking there stood1 a short time since1 a celebrated pagoda1 called the 8,porcelain ,tower40 ,this tower was of equal stories1 the lower one being #abj feet around4 ,it rested upon a solid foundation of brick work1 ten feet high1 up which a flight of twelve steps led to the tower4 ,a spiral staircase led to the top1 which was #bfj feet from the ground4 ,the body of the tower was of brick2 this was encased with tiles of glazed porcelain of green1 red1 yellow and white1 and various other colors4 ,the stories had projecting roofs1 which were covered with green tiles1 and seventy-two bells were suspended from each corner4 ,these bells were rung by the wind1 and sent their tinkling tones down among the busy crowds below4 ,in the interior were hundreds of little gilded images4 ,the tower was commenced #adcj ,a4,d41 and finished in #addi ,a4,d4 ,it was totally destroyed by the ,tae-,ping rebels about #ahfj4 ,,chinese ,,buddhist ,,temples4 ,the temples of the ,buddhists1 in ,china1 are of varied construction4 ,very many of them bear evidences of neglect and decay4 ,in the cities and their suburbs1 along the highways1 standing alone by the roadside or on the hill-tops1 are thousands of these edifices1 called joss-houses by foreigners1 in which are idols of every description1 before which incense is burning4 ,these temples are devoted to the worship of various deities1 as the goddess of sailors1 the god of war1 the gods of special neighborhoods or occupations4 ,generally at the entrance of the temple drums or bells are placed4 ,these are struck by the worshipers as they enter1 either to call the attention of the gods to the worship about to be begun1 or to summon the attendant priests4 ,elijah taunted the priests of ,baal1 when they gashed themselves before their altar on ,mount ,carmel1 as they shouted to the sun1 as it rose majestically in the heavens1 calling him to come and consume their offerings4 ,he suggested that perhaps their god1 ,baal1 was asleep1 and needed to be awakened by a noise1 or that he might be away on a journey and needed to be recalled4 ,so the ,chinese worshipers seem to deem it necessary to arouse their gods to hear their prayers4 ,on entering the temple1 the worshiper faces the idols1 which are generally in a sitting posture1 on a platform about five feet from the floor4 ,guarding the entrance1 generally1 there are two gigantic images standing1 facing each other4 ,sometimes1 as in the temple of the ,kushan ,monastery1 there are four statues2 these represent the ministers of ,buddha4 ,the first has black eyes1 and a fierce countenance1 intended to strike awe to the heart2 he holds a huge1 drawn sword in his hands2 a horrible1 black1 dwarfish figure crouches beneath his feet4 ,the second is a merry god1 playing on a guitar4 ,the third stands with an unfolded umbrella4 ,the fourth holds in one hand a struggling serpent1 in the other a ball4 ,generally1 there are three images of ,buddha1 seated side by side1 in a sort of pavilion2 these are called the 8,three ,precious ,ones10--,buddha past1 present and to come4 ,illustration3 ,,beating ,,on ,a ,,temple ,,drum ,,to ,,attract ,,the ,,god4 ,illustration3 ,,temple ,,of ,,the 8,,three ,,precious ,,buddhas10 ,,at ,,san ,,francisco4 ,,cal4 ,illustration3 ,,the 8,,three ,,precious ,,buddhas40 ,the ,chinese who have come to ,america have brought with them their idolatries1 so that heathen temples have been opened for worship of idols1 even in this ,christian land4 ,as most of these ,chinese are in ,san ,francisco1 the largest ,buddhist temple in ,america is to be found there4 ,the three idols of ,buddha are seated under a lacquered canopy4 ,before them is a sort of altar1 on which is a vessel of ashes1 in which the incense-sticks are placed4 ,beside this is a shallow dish1 filled with pebbles and water1 and the narcissus 7daffodil7 plant growing in it4 ,in front of the altar stands a large ,chinese table1 on which five bronze vases are placed--the end ones for flowers1 the central for the symbols of the three ,buddhas1 and the others for candles4 ,the central figure of the three idols represents the ,buddha1 the ,intelligence2 the one to his right is ,dharma1 the ,law1 and the other is ,sangha1 the ,priesthood4 ,beside the main pavilion is the shrine of ,kwan-,yin1 the goddess of mercy and the queen of ,heaven4 ,the idols in ,chinese temples range from six to twelve feet high1 and are mostly made of wood1 covered with gilt4 ,sometimes they are of bronze1 wood or stucco1 gilded1 and of gigantic size4 ,crowds of secondary divinities are ranged round the walls of the temples4 ,the worship in the temples is very simple4 ,the worshiper first presents an offering of money or rice1 then prostrates himself on his mat1 before the idols1 rubbing the palms of his hands together1 telling his beads and mumbling his prayers4 ,the people are coming and going all the day long1 for the temples are never shut4 ,in ,peking is a temple called the 8,temple of the ,thousand ,lamas40 ,in ,canton is the 8,temple of the ,five ,hundred ,gods40 ,these are the 8,arhans10 or scholars of ,buddha4 ,as a temple1 it is much like all the other ,chinese temples1 but it differs from all in the images of the deified disciples of ,buddha4 ,these are life-size1 sitting on their heels1 in ,oriental style1 each exhibiting the wonderful act for which he has been deified4 ,the eyes of one are perpetually turned to ,heaven1 and are supposed never to have winked4 ,another held his hand above his head until it has become immovable4 ,another has held his hand out so steadily and softly that a bird has come and built its nest in it4 ,another became so holy that ,buddha opened his breast and entered his heart4 ,they are made of clay1 and gilded4 ,before each is a vessel of ashes for the joss-sticks1 and vases for flowers4 ,this is one of the most interesting places in ,canton1 and is one of the temples most visited by foreigners4 ,illustration3 ,,worship ,,of ,,buddha ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,thousand ,,lamas1 ,,peking1 ,,china4 ,one of the most splendid temples1 and occupied by one of the most devout assemblages of all heathendom4 ,illustration3 ,,temple ,,of ,,kwan ,,yin1 ,,queen ,,of ,,heaven1 ,,at ,,canton1 ,,china4 ,,the ,,worship ,,of ,,kwan-,,yin4 ,kwan-,yin1 the goddess of mercy1 is worshiped with great pomp on the nineteenth day of the second month1 which is the anniversary of her birth1 and also on the anniversaries of her death and canonization4 ,the story of the career of this canonized ,buddhist nun is full of marvels1 and it is scarcely possible to enter her temples without finding women and children in them4 ,on her anniversaries1 women resort to them in large numbers1 and light incense-sticks at the sacred lamp above the altar4 ,they carry the burning incense to their homes1 as the smoke is supposed to possess a purifying effect4 ,other votaries1 who have sick relatives1 expose tea to the smoke1 which rises in clouds from the incense burning on the altar4 ,on their return home they administer the tea to the sick4 ,kwan-,yin is also much worshiped during the ,tsing-,ming1 or ,worshiping of ,graves1 as she is supposed to extend her protecting care over the souls of departed ones4 ,paper representations of clothes1 houses1 servants and sedan chairs1 fashioned of the same material1 are at such a season burnt in front of her altars4 ,the goddess is supposed to convey these offerings to the departed spirits for whom they are intended4 ,the ceremony is usually performed at midnight4 ,at this season1 also1 ladies resort to her temples to pray for afflicted husbands or children4 ,the form of worship observed on such occasions is conducted by ,buddhist priests4 ,two tables are placed1 about six feet apart1 in front of the idol1 and fruits and flowers are arranged upon them as offerings4 ,the ladies sit or kneel near the tables1 and the priests march round them to slow music4 ,the music quickens1 and at last the priests are found careering round the tables4 ,this absurd service is brought to a close by the priests rushing wildly toward the ladies1 and in most extravagant terms tendering them their congratulations4 ,illustration3 ,,colossal ,,gilded ,,buddha--,fifty feet high2 carved from the solid rock4 ,illustration3 ,,altar ,,of ,a ,,chinese ,,pagoda1 ,,near ,,the ,,kin-,,cha ,,river1 ,,western ,,china4 ,the temples in honor of the ,goddess of ,mercy are very numerous throughout the empire4 ,in the most important of these1 at ,canton1 were at one time several ornaments of great value1 which had been presented to the goddess by the ,emperor ,taou-kwang1 in return for blessings which she was supposed to have conferred on the southern portion of the empire4 ,one of these was a jade-stone ornament of great value1 which was presented in acknowledgment of a victory which the goddess was supposed to have given to the ,chinese troops over the ,british barbarians1 as they are called1 in #ahda4 ,,the ,,worship ,,of ,,kum-,,fa4 ,another goddess who is popular with ,chinese wives is ,kum-,fa1 the tutelary goddess of women and children4 ,a native of ,canton1 she flourished during the reign of ,ching-hwa1 who ascended the throne ,a4,d4 #adfe4 ,when a girl of tender years1 she was a constant and regular visitor to all the temples in her immediate neighborhood4 ,she is said to have had the power of communing with the spirits of the departed4 ,becoming at length tired of the world1 she committed suicide by drowning4 ,in course of time1 her body rose to the surface of the water1 and when it was taken out the air became impregnated with sweet-smelling odors4 ,it was placed in a coffin1 and a sandal-wood statue or idol of ,kum-,fa rose apparently from the bed of the river1 and remained stationary4 ,a temple was erected for the image1 but an iconoclast deliberately destroyed it by fire1 and it is now replaced by a clay figure4 ,her principal temple stands on the south side of the river at ,canton4 ,her votaries are mostly wives who desire to become mothers4 ,the list of the duties which her ministering attendants divide among them is a complete summary of the art of rearing children4 ,one is considered to be the guardian of children suffering from small-pox4 ,the second presides over the ablutions of infants4 ,the third superintends the feeding of new-born babes and young children4 ,the fourth is the especial patroness of male infants4 ,the fifth attends to the careful preparation of infants' food4 ,the sixth watches over women laboring with child4 ,it is in the power of the seventh to bestow upon women who have conceived1 male or female children1 in answer to their prayers4 ,the eighth can bless women with male offspring4 ,the ninth makes children merry and joyful4 ,the tenth superintends the cutting of the umbilical cord4 ,the eleventh causes women to conceive4 ,it is the privilege of the twelfth to make children smile4 ,the thirteenth has the care of infants until they are able to walk4 ,the fourteenth teaches them to do so4 ,it is the calling of the fifteenth to teach them how to suck4 ,the sixteenth watches over unborn babes4 ,on the seventeenth1 it devolves to see that their bodies are1 immediately before birth1 free from sores or ulcers4 ,the eighteenth is regarded as the special patroness of female infants4 ,to impart strength to infants is the duty of the nineteenth2 and the twentieth is named ,fo-shee-fa-fu-yan4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,goddess ,,ma-,,chu ,,and ,,her ,,assistants4 ,illustration3 ,,thirteen-,,storied ,,pagoda ,,at ,,tung-,,cho1 ,,china4 ,,idols4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,idol4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,idol4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,idol4 ,in some of the temples the idols are very numerous1 and in ,yang-chow there is one in which there are said to be no fewer than #aj1jjj4 ,the idols1 which are very diminutive1 are contained in one large hall1 and in their fanciful1 but orderly arrangement1 present a very singular appearance4 ,in the centre of the hall stands a pavilion of wood1 most elaborately carved1 under which is placed a large idol of ,buddha4 ,the pavilion1 within and without1 is literally studded with small idols1 which are different representations of the same deity4 ,on each of the four sides of the hall are small brackets1 supporting idols of ,buddha2 and a still larger number of these are placed on the beams and pillars of the vaulted roof4 ,two are full-sized figures of the sleeping ,buddha4 ,at ,peking and ,canton there are halls precisely similar4 ,the hall of #aj1jjj idols1 at ,canton1 is1 like the monastery of which it forms a part1 in a most ruinous state1 and the majority of the idols with which its walls were at one time adorned have disappeared in ways not now understood4 ,in the prefecture of ,shu-hing1 where marble quarries abound1 idols are in many cases made of that material4 ,at ,pun-new-chan1 a market-town on the banks of the ,grand ,canal1 one sees in a ruined monastery three large iron idols1 representing the ,past1 ,present and ,future ,buddhas4 ,there are in certain temples stone1 earthenware and porcelain figures4 ,the three large idols in the ,tai-fan monastery1 at ,canton1 are said to be made of copper1 and many of the small idols of ,buddha are also made of the same material4 ,buddha is represented in a variety of postures1 and some of the figures have smiling countenances1 whilst others appear decidedly sorrowful4 ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,horrors4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,buddhist',s ,,idea ,,of ,,hell4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,chinese ,,picture ,,of ,,the ,,goddess ,,of ,,mercy ,,delivering ,a ,,soul ,,from ,,purgatory ,,by ,,the ,,sacred ,,lotus-,,flower4 ,near the ,temple of the ,five ,hundred ,gods is the 8,temple of ,horrors10 so called by foreigners1 where are ten cells1 in which are exhibited the various pains of the ,buddhist purgatory4 ,the actual scenes are exhibited in clay figures1 about two-thirds life-size4 ,the first cell1 about ten feet square1 which is the measurement of each of them1 is the hall of judgment1 where the poor wretches are tried4 ,then comes one chamber where a man is receiving from the demons a terrible whipping1 being stretched on the ground face downward1 by two men1 while a third is beating him with a paddle4 ,the next cell exhibits a criminal fastened in a frame1 head downward1 and being sawn in two1 lengthwise4 ,in the next1 another is suffering the tortures of slow burning2 another is supposed to be sitting under a red-hot bell4 ,in the next there are cages1 and some chained with a ,chinese cangue2 in another they are being beheaded2 and1 in another1 they are ground in a mill and pounded in a mortar4 ,in the next they are boiling a poor fellow in oil2 and1 in the last1 some poor wretches1 for having been guilty of eating beef1 are being themselves slowly transformed into oxen4 ,several figures in this cell present the various steps of this transformation4 ,in all these cells numerous figures of demons are looking on with expressions of diabolical satisfaction1 and1 strange to say1 around the sides of each of the cells are ranged in scenic manner mountain and hillside retreats1 on which are seen smaller figures of the good and saved1 seeming to take an equal delight in witnessing the pains of the unhappy ones who have missed of paradise4 ,notwithstanding all these horrors1 booths are rented out before all these cells1 and a lively traffic is carried on1 and the priests themselves drive a large trade in selling fans1 sacrificial money1 etc41 which are to be burned for the use of these suffering wretches4 ,but a ,buddhist may be sent by the judges to purgatory without being obliged to remain there4 ,the living relations1 if they but pay enough to the priests1 and beg often and long enough to persuade the priests to pray to ,kwan-,yin1 the goddess of mercy1 to deliver their dead friends from purgatory1 it will be accomplished1 so say the priests1 by means of the sacred lotus-flowers4 ,the clay images in many of the 8,temples of ,horrors0 are sometimes made so as to move their limbs and jaws1 when a string is pulled by some unseen person4 ,occasionally the people meet in great crowds for the purpose of worshiping ,kwan-,yin1 and beseeching her to deliver from the ten departments of hell those who have no friends to intercede for them2 then a wholesale delivery is supposed to take place4 ,the priests are greatly enriched at such seasons1 and therefore these occasions are numerous4 ,,monasteries4 ,the monasteries are often embosomed among the hills1 and surrounded by groves of bamboo and other trees4 ,these are sometimes in the neighborhood of crowded cities2 at other times1 away in the lonely wilds of the mountains4 ,they are generally used as temples1 as well as dwellings for the priests4 ,the monasteries have kitchens1 eating-rooms1 sleeping apartments and libraries4 ,most of the larger monasteries own land1 or other property1 from which annual rent1 payable in crops or money1 is received4 ,in connection with some of these monasteries are large bells4 ,these have no tongues1 but are struck on the outside by a ponderous swinging beam4 ,in some few cases the sound of the bell is not suffered to cease2 relays of priests keep it always ringing4 ,in the monasteries generally1 morning worship is held before daylight1 and evening worship about five o'clock in the afternoon4 ,the service lasts from an hour to an hour and a half4 ,all the priests join in it4 ,the service consists1 principally1 of a chant or recitation of passages from the ,buddhist sacred books1 the ,sanskrit prayers in which have been transliterated in ,chinese characters4 ,this is accompanied1 not by the music of organs1 but by one or two of the priests beating the time on a hollow 8wooden fish40 ,the chant is impressive1 though monotonous4 ,often they move in slow processions about the room1 chanting as they march1 and bowing when they pass and re-pass the image of ,buddha4 ,illustration3 ,,monument ,,of ,a ,,buddhist ,,lama1 ,,near ,,peking1 ,,china4 ,in the monasteries great attention is paid to comfort4 ,there are rooms for the reception of officers1 for the common people1 study rooms and the room for daily worship2 in addition1 a place is sometimes provided for keeping living animals4 ,these are not kept for food1 but are donated by devotees who send them there4 ,it is a part of the ,buddhist faith not to kill any living creature1 because1 if one kills or injures a horse1 or any other animal1 he may be inflicting suffering on his mother1 or some other friend4 ,for the same reason1 the ,buddhist priests of ,china sometimes take care of sick and wounded animals4 ,no animal is put to death1 but permitted to die a natural death1 and then is buried4 ,when you tell the priests that the air1 water1 vegetables or grain they eat are full of tiny1 living animals1 and when you try to show them by the help of the microscope1 they refuse to believe that they are really animals having organic life4 ,the ,chinese dislike the ,buddhist priests1 because they disown the family relation1 and yet they patronize them and follow their teachings with an unquestioning faith and an implicit obedience4 ,illustration3 ,,priest ,,at ,a ,,praying-,,wheel4 ,a ,,monk',s ,,monument4 ,illustration3 ,,chinese ,,bonze1 ,,or ,,priest4 ,within the grounds of an old ,buddhist temple1 about half a mile from ,peking1 is a magnificent marble monument4 ,a hundred years ago1 or more1 the ,teshu ,lama of ,thibet1 a man of great sanctity1 died4 ,he died of the small-pox4 ,while his body was embalmed and sent back to ,thibet1 over his clothing was built this great mausoleum4 ,it is built of beautiful marble1 and from the base of the terrace to the large gilt ball on the top is about ninety feet in height4 ,scenes from the life of this ,lama1 distinguished for his piety and devotion1 are sculptured in bas-relief on the monument4 ,these include his birth1 his conversion to the ,buddhist religion1 his teaching his disciples and his death4 ,the carving is executed by the ,chinese1 with a high degree of artistic taste and skill4 ,on the top of the monument is a neat marble urn1 and on this a lotus-flower and a gilded marble globe4 ,not only ,chinese ,buddhists1 but even the ,thibetans1 greatly venerate this monument4 ,often they may be seen measuring their length on the ground1 and in this way proceeding entirely around the monument4 ,,chinese ,,buddhist ,,bonzes4 ,the priests often go in companies of thirty and forty1 dressed in loose1 yellow robes of cotton or silk1 with a wide collar1 with beads around their necks1 begging for the support of their monasteries4 ,the people will give them rice1 or oil1 or1 perhaps1 8cash10 which is the name of the common round ,chinese coin1 having a square hole in the centre4 ,the priests shave the hair from their heads1 and often spots on their heads are burnt with coals of fire so that the hair will never grow again2 this is a badge of their profession4 ,they never marry1 and they leave their homes forever4 ,they never even sleep in dwelling-houses with other people4 ,they make no friendships1 but shut themselves off from the rest of mankind4 ,they profess to have given up the world and all its pleasures4 ,they pass their time in chanting from the ,buddhist sacred books4 ,they are employed in private families to pray for the sick and dying1 or for the dead1 for which they are paid4 ,the ranks of the priests are recruited by buying boys who are trained for the priesthood4 ,often1 mandarins tired of business1 or shop-keepers unsuccessful in trade1 or scholars failing to pass the examinations1 will enter the monasteries and become monks1 or1 perhaps1 priests4 ,there are often priests who retire from the world altogether1 for a time2 who receive their food through a hole in the wall of their cells4 ,these profess to give themselves entirely and only to meditation1 and so hope to become ,buddhas when they die4 ,the bodies of the priests are usually burned with great ceremony and are not buried as is the custom prevalent with us4 ,,buddhist ,,devotees4 ,many ,buddhist devotees seek to subdue the flesh by inflicting painful severities on their bodies4 ,one will meet1 frequently1 a company of priests1 one of whom will pull up the sleeve of his coat and uncovering an arm without a hand1 beg for alms1 assuring you that he had1 by a slow process1 burned his hand to the stump1 as an atonement for his sins and as a recommendation for his promotion at some future time to the state of ,buddha-hood4 ,at ,peking a priest will often be seen sitting in a sedan chair1 the interior of which is thickly studded with sharp nails and spikes1 so that he can neither move nor sleep4 ,he informs those who stand round his penitential chair that the nails acquire a heavenly virtue in proportion to the misery which they cause him1 and that he is prepared to sell them for a fair price each1 as antidotes against evil4 ,he assures them that he had resolved to remain in the sedan chair until every nail has been sold4 ,at ,tien-tsin there formerly lived a priest who had passed through his cheek a sharp skewer1 to the end of which he had attached a chain4 ,to relieve him of its weight1 some little boys held up the chain--an act which was1 of course1 regarded as very meritorious4 ,sometimes these devotees perform pilgrimages of penance to distant shrines1 traveling hundreds of miles on foot4 ,it is remarkable that the ,buddhists should subject themselves to such self-torture1 as ,buddha himself1 on one occasion1 preached a most powerful sermon against self-torture and all such follies4 ,,ceremony ,,of ,,the ,,water-,,lamps4 ,doolittle1 in his work on ,china1 says3 ,frequently a large number of small and cheap earthen vessels1 shaped somewhat like bowls1 is provided4 ,a preparation of pitch and some other inflammable material1 or some oil1 or a candle1 is put in each4 ,around the top of the outside of each are fastened paper imitations of lotus-flowers or some other pretty plant4 ,early in the evening1 these vessels are carried in a procession of priests from the place where the principal ceremonies are performed to the edge of the nearest running water1 where1 the pitch or oil having been lighted1 the vessels are placed carefully on the water and allowed to float away4 ,the object of this is explained to be1 to afford lights for the spirits that come or go by water4 ,the priests coming to the water and going from it1 on this occasion chant their classics1 and clap their cymbals together1 walking along slowly and in single file4 ,this ceremony is called letting go the water-lamps4 ,illustration3 ,,letting ,,go ,,the ,,water-,,lamps4 ,,the ,,do-,,nothing ,,sect ,,of ,,reformed ,,buddhists4 ,for about two hundred years there has existed a sect in ,china which bears quite a close resemblance to ,buddhism1 and yet differs widely from this faith in that it opposes idolatry4 ,they are called the ,wu-,wei-,kiau1 or 8,the ,do-nothing ,sect40 ,their central doctrine seems to be that religion does not consist in outward ordinances and ceremonies1 but in quiet meditation4 ,they have temples but no idols4 ,in a discussion with some priests1 who had brought a huge brass ,buddha to the court of the king1 ,lo-tsu1 the founder of this sect1 said3 8,a brazen ,buddha melts1 and a wooden ,buddha burns1 when exposed to fire4 ,an earthen ,buddha cannot save itself from water4 ,it cannot save itself1 then how can it save me8 ,in every particle of dust there is a kingdom ruled by ,buddha4 ,in every temple the king of the law resides4 ,the mountains1 the rivers1 and the great earth form ,buddha's image4 ,why1 then1 carve or mould an image80 ,this sect worships1 in addition to ,buddha1 a goddess called the ,kin-mu1 or 8golden mother40 ,she is believed to protect from dangers1 from sickness and from the miseries of the unseen world4 ,this sect eat only vegetables4 ,,booldo1 ,,the ,,buddhism ,,of ,,the ,,coreans4 ,corea is a country lying between ,china and ,japan4 ,buddhism entered it in #cgb ,a4,d41 from ,china4 ,the ,coreans have two names for ,god2 one1 a native name1 ,hannonim1 meaning the ,heavenly ,one2 the other1 the ,chinese name1 ,shang-te4 ,buddhism is called ,booldo in ,corea4 ,the priests or monks1 called ,joong1 are very numerous2 they are said to form one-fourth of the whole male population4 ,their principal images are of brass1 the secondary ones of carved stone2 they have none of clay4 ,the priests dress in black or gray1 while the rest of the people generally dress in white4 ,they use rosaries4 ,confucius is worshiped twice a year by the magistrate of each city in ,corea4 ,there are two very popular gods--belonging to the old religion that existed in ,corea before ,buddhism was introduced--they are the god of the mountains and the god of rain4 ,the ,buddhists have four sects in ,corea4 ,in their doctrines and general worship there is but little difference between the ,corean and the ,chinese ,buddhists4 ,these few notices of ,buddhism in ,corea must be taken with caution1 for our information respecting that secluded country is too imperfect to enable us to describe it fully or with confidence4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiv4 ,,japanese ,,buddhism4 ,buddhism1 that worship without ,god1 that religion of nothingness1 invented by despair1 is superior1 in many respects1 to the religion which it has displaced in ,japan4--,,aim ,,humbert4 ,my mountain dwelling's roof of thatch ,is with ,yahemugura moss o'ergrown1 ,of passer-by no glimpse ,i catch1 ,i dwell uncheered and alone4 ,,the ,,priest',s ,,lament ,,for ,,the ,,deserted ,,temple 7translated from the ,japanese74 ,buddhism was introduced into ,japan in #eeb ,a4,d4 ,by this time1 the original ,buddhism of ,india had been very greatly altered4 8,it now had a vast and complicated ecclesiastical and monastic machinery1 a geographical and sensuous paradise1 definitely-located hells and purgatories1 populated with a hierarchy of titled demons4 ,of these1 the priests kept the keys1 regulated the thermometers1 and timed or graded the torture or bliss40 ,the ,chinese had very greatly modified the ,buddhism of ,india1 and the ,coreans had still further changed the ,buddhism which they had received from ,china2 and now1 ,japan1 in her turn1 modifies the religion she received from ,corea4 ,the way was prepared for the coming of ,buddhism to ,japan4 ,shintoism had become an empty1 cold system of political management1 used as a support of the government4 ,it had lost its hold on the affections of the people1 and they were heart-hungry for just such a warm religious system as ,buddhism had to offer4 ,in the year #eeb1 ,king ,petsi1 of ,corea1 sent to ,kin-,mei1 the thirteenth ,mikado of ,japan1 a statue of ,gautama1 together with books1 banners1 a baldaquin and other objects of worship4 ,buddha had said3 8,my doctrine shall extend to the ,east20 and ,king ,petsi desired to aid in fulfilling that prophecy4 ,the mikado suffered the statue to remain2 a chapel was built for it1 and worship offered by a few of the members of the mikado's court4 ,an epidemic broke out2 it was declared that the new image was the cause of it1 and the chapel was thereupon burned and the statue cast into the river4 ,in the reign of the next mikado1 ,bidasu1 a ,buddhist bonze 7priest7 came over from ,corea4 ,he had been warned of the difficulties before him1 but surmounted them by a pleasant device4 ,when he was presented to the mikado at his court1 he saw his little grandson1 a boy of six years old1 at whose birth there had been some extraordinary signs4 ,he prostrated himself at the child's feet1 and worshiped him1 declaring that he recognized in him the incarnation of one of ,buddha's disciples1 the new patron of the empire4 ,the mikado left the child in the care of the ,corean priest1 to be educated by him4 ,as might be expected1 the child became the first high-priest of ,buddhism4 ,through his efforts1 being so closely related to the ,emperor1 the religion spread with greater rapidity1 and soon became the dominant religion of the land4 ,,bodhidharma ,,in ,,japan4 ,in ,japan1 as in ,india1 there have been many ascetics1 noted for their wonderful penances4 ,one of the first and most famous of these is called ,bodhidharma1 who founded the ,shin-,shin sect of ,buddhists4 ,he came from ,corea1 in #fac ,a4,d41 according to the legend1 floating upon a large lotus-leaf4 ,kobo ,daishi1 the inventor of the ,japanese syllabary or alphabet1 was a celebrated priest1 born in #ggd ,a4,d4 ,fodaishi was a remarkable inventive genius1 who came from ,china4 ,the priests had been required to read the 8wheel of the law10 as it was called1 with great regularity4 ,he constructed a movable desk1 and spread on it the rolls of the sacred books4 ,he allowed his disciples1 instead of reading all the books through--which would have been a most tiresome task--to give this desk a half or three-quarters of a turn1 counting it as if they had read the books which passed before them4 ,he and great priests of later days did much to mix the two religions1 ,buddhism and ,shintoism together1 and thus secure its readier acceptance4 ,the thirteenth century was the time when ,buddhism attained the height of its prosperity4 ,at this time1 many of the greatest temples were built1 and most of the sects founded4 ,of these sects1 there are seven chief and some twenty minor ones1 illustrating the utmost diversity4 ,,the ,,sun-,,child ,,and ,,his ,,miraculous ,,deliverance4 ,in #abbb1 a child was born1 who was named ,nichiren1 because his mother dreamed that the sun 7nichi1 in ,japanese7 had entered her4 ,while still a child1 he was intrusted to the care of a priest4 ,as he grew up1 he turned away from all the accepted teachings1 and resolved to found a new and purer sect4 ,he changed the common ,japanese prayer from 8,save us6 ,o ,eternal ,buddha60 to 8,glory to the salvation-bringing book of the law60 ,this prayer is inscribed in the temples of this sect1 upon their tomb-stones and shrines1 and was even engraven on the shields of their warriors4 ,nichiren was a traveling preacher1 and he founded many temples4 ,he bitterly opposed all other ,buddhists1 and made many bitter enemies4 ,the story is thus told by ,griffis3 8,on a certain day1 he was taken out to a village on the strand of the bay1 beyond ,kamakura1 and in front of the lovely island of ,enoshima4 ,this village is called ,koshigoye4 ,at this time1 ,nichiren was forty-three years old4 ,kneeling down upon the strand1 the saintly bonze calmly uttered his prayers1 and repeated #8,namu mio ho ren ge kio' upon his rosary4 ,the swordman lifted his blade and1 with all his might1 made the downward stroke4 ,suddenly a flood of blinding light burst from the sky1 and smote both the executioner and the official inspector deputed to witness the severed head4 ,the sword-blade was broken in pieces1 while the holy man was unharmed4 ,at the same moment1 ,hojo1 the ,lord of ,kamakura1 was startled at his revels in the palace by the sound of rattling thunder and the flash of lightning1 though there was not a cloud in the sky4 ,dazed by the awful signs of ,heaven's displeasure1 ,hojo ,tokoyori1 divining that it was on account of the holy victim1 instantly dispatched a fleet messenger to stay the executioner's hand1 and reprieve the victim4 ,simultaneously1 the official inspector1 at the still unstained blood-pit1 sent a courier to beg reprieve for the saint whom the sword could not touch4 ,the two men1 coming from opposite directions1 met at the small stream which the tourist still crosses on the way from ,kamakura to ,enoshima1 and it was thereafter called ,yukiai 7meeting on the way7 ,river1 a name which it retains to this day4 ,through the pitiful clemency and intercession of ,hojo ,tokimuni1 son of the ,lord of ,kamakura1 ,nichiren was sent to ,sado ,island4 ,he was afterward released by his benefactor1 in a general amnesty4 ,nichiren founded his sect at ,kioto1 and it greatly flourished under the care of his disciple1 his reverence1 ,nichizo4 ,after a busy and holy life1 the great saint died at ,ikegami1 a little to the north-west of the ,kawasaki ,railroad station1 between ,yokohama and ,tokio1 where the scream of the locomotive and the rumble of the railway car are but faintly heard in the solemn shades4 ,there are to be seen gorgeous temples1 pagodas1 shrines1 magnificent groves and cemeteries4 ,the dying presence of ,nichiren has lent this place peculiar sanctity2 but his bones rest on ,mount ,minobu1 in the province of ,kai1 where was one of his homes when in the flesh40 ,illustration3 ,,miraculous ,,deliverance ,,of ,a ,,bonze4 ,illustration3 ,,shrine ,,of ,,kwanon4 ,the disciples of ,nichiren drank in their master's spirit1 and they long continued the most powerful sect of the ,buddhists in ,japan4 ,the ,shin sect1 which was brought to great strength by ,shinran in #abfb ,a4,d41 discarded fasting1 penances1 pilgrimages1 separation from society1 nunneries and monasteries1 and taught salvation by faith in ,buddha1 and not by works4 ,they use the sacred ,buddhist books in a translation into ,japanese1 while the other sects used the 7to them7 unintelligible ,sanskrit and ,chinese4 ,their temples are built mainly in crowded cities4 ,their priests marry1 and their sons succeed them in office4 ,this sect wields a vast influence over the religious life of the people4 ,to these two men1 ,shinran and ,nichiren1 and their missionary labors1 the great progress of ,buddhism in ,japan is due4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,,kwanon',s ,,temple1 ,,tokio1 ,,japan4 ,,further ,,history ,,of ,,buddhism ,,in ,,japan4 ,the books and idols were brought from ,corea in #eeb4 ,in #ehd several of the nobles at court professed faith in the new religion4 ,in #ehe the pestilence broke out1 and the progress of ,buddhism seemed to be checked4 ,in #gda an imperial decree was given that two temples and a seven-storied pagoda be built in each province4 ,this would seem to indicate the establishment of ,buddhism in ,japan4 ,but1 from the time 7#hjj7 when ,kobo ,daishi showed that1 according to ,buddhism1 patriotism and piety were one1 and that the ,shinto gods were but ,japanese manifestations of ,buddha1 it gained a sure foothold in ,japan2 the religion spread more and more extensively1 until the fourteenth century1 when the zeal of ,nichiren1 ,shinran and their co-workers were somewhat forgotten4 ,many of the largest ,buddhist temples now standing were built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries1 and are therefore1 five or six hundred years old4 ,in the fourteenth century the great majority of the soldiers were ,buddhists4 ,images of ,buddha were sewed into their helmets2 texts from the sacred books were woven into their banners2 and amulets or charms1 with sacred characters written on the papers within them1 were worn as a protection in battle4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,hiogo ,,buddha4 ,from the year #aegj ,nobunaga1 a famous warrior1 appears as a persecutor of the ,buddhists4 ,the ,buddhists were then very powerful2 they had enormous monasteries and stone-walled and moated fortresses4 ,the priests of the various sects were continually quarreling among themselves1 and used arms with the dexterity of the soldiery4 ,they grew to be less and less strict in their observance of religious rites and rules as they grew prosperous4 ,on the shore of ,lake ,biwa was the largest monastery in all ,japan4 ,here thousands of monks were gathered together4 ,they chanted their prayers before gorgeous altars1 while they reveled in luxury and licentiousness1 drinking wine1 eating forbidden food1 and yielded to the charms of concubines or fanned the flames of wars between their followers and those of other sects4 ,nobunaga1 who had been trained among priests1 had no respect for such characters2 he was born1 bred and educated as a ,shintoist1 and he hated ,buddhism4 ,in #aega he ordered his soldiers to set fire to this and other monasteries1 and to destroy their occupants without exception4 ,before this1 ,xavier and other ,jesuit missionaries had come to ,japan1 and they were encouraged by ,nobunaga1 because he regarded them as opponents of the ,buddhists4 ,but ,buddhism thrived in spite of this persecution4 ,now the whole country1 with its #ce1jjj1jjj of people1 may be called ,buddhist4 ,but since the thirteenth century not many very extensive monasteries have been built4 ,that work is nearly abandoned4 ,,buddhist ,,sects ,,in ,,japan4 ,buddhism in ,japan is broken up into many sects4 ,these sects differ greatly1 much more than even ,protestantism and ,roman ,catholicism4 ,for a time they waged bitter wars against each other1 and sought to exterminate each other4 ,w4 ,e4 ,griffis has prepared the following tabular list of ,buddhist sects in ,japan3 ,chief ,sects4 ,total number of ,temples4 #a4 ,tendai1 founded by ,chisha1 in ,china1 #f1cia #b4 ,shingon1 ,kobo1 in ,japan1 ,a4,d4 #hac1 #ae1ejc #c4 ,zen1 ,dharma1 #ba1edg #d4 ,jodo1 ,hnen1 ,a4,d4 #aagc1 #i1hai #e4 ,shin1 ,shinran1 ,a4,d4 #abac1 #ac1gah #f4 ,nichiren1 ,nichiren1 in ,japan1 ,a4,d4 #abfb1 #g4 ,ji1 ,ippen1 0 ,a4,d4 #abhh1 #ehf ,according to the census taken in ,japan in #ahgb1 there was a population of #cc1aaj1hbe4 ,of these there were #ge1ibe priests1 abbots and monks2 #i abbesses2 #cg1cbg novices preparing to become monks or priests2 and #ih1ehe religious devotees were gathered in monasteries4 ,these last are mostly of the ,shin sect4 ,in #ahge the census showed a decrease of over #d1jjj of these religieux4 ,besides the seven chief sects above mentioned1 there are twenty-one 8irregular10 8local0 or 8independent0 sects1 which act apart from the others1 and in some cases have no temples or monasteries4 ,a number of other sects have originated in ,japan1 flourished for a time1 decayed and passed out of existence4 ,mr4 ,griffis estimates that it took #ijj years to convert the ,japanese from their nature-worship to ,buddhism4 ,,the ,,protestants ,,of ,,buddhism4 ,illustration3 ,,buddhist ,,shrine ,,at ,,kobe4 ,illustration3 ,,japanese ,,pilgrim ,,in ,,winter ,,dress4 ,illustration3 ,,dining-,,room ,,of ,a ,,buddhist ,,monastery4 ,the members of the ,shin sect1 founded in #abac1 sometimes called the ,shinshin1 at other times the ,monto sect1 are the ,protestants of ,japanese ,buddhism4 ,they protested and still protest against penance1 fasting1 pilgrimages1 convents and monasteries1 hermitages1 charms1 amulets and the reading of the ,buddhist sacred books in an unknown tongue4 ,its founder1 the priest ,shinran1 married a noble lady of ,kioto4 ,the ,monto priests always marry and oppose the celibacy of the priesthood4 ,this is the most thoroughly organized and earnestly aggressive of all the ,buddhist sects of ,japan4 ,its priests are wide-awake and active4 ,two of them have been studying the ,sanskrit language with the famous ,professor ,max ,mller1 preparing better to understand and preach their sacred books1 which are written in this tongue4 ,one of the foremost priests of to-day is ,akamatz1 who spent several years in ,england studying ,sanskrit and ,christianity4 ,their temples are the most magnificent in ,japan4 ,a specially favored visitor to the ,nishi-,hongu-wanji temple1 which may be described as the cathedral of the ,monto sect1 describes what she saw while there as follows3 8,we walked around the outside of the public rooms1 which are numerous1 large and lofty1 by a deep-corridor1 from which we saw the interior through the open doors and the dull gleam of rich dead gold hinted of the artistic treasures within4 ,for in these dimly-lighted rooms1 most of which have been set apart for guests for centuries1 there are painting's nearly #cjj years old1 and the walls are either paneled in gold1 or are formed of sliding-screens1 heavily overlaid with gold-leaf1 on which1 in the highest style of ,japanese art1 are depicted various sacred emblems--the lotus1 the stork1 the peony1 and the ,cleyera ,japonica--executed very richly and beautifully with slightly conventionalized fidelity to nature4 ,from thence are passed into the great temple1 the simple splendor of which exceeds anything ,i have yet seen4 ,the vast oblong space has a flat roof1 supported on many circular pillars of finely-planed wood2 a third part is railed off for the sanctuary2 the panels of the folding-doors and the panels at the back are painted with flowers on a gold ground2 behind a black lacquer altar stands a shrine of extreme splendor1 gleaming in the twilight2 but on the high altar itself there were only two candlesticks1 two vases of pure white chrysanthemums1 and a glorious bronze incense burner4 ,an incense-burner was the only object on the low altar4 ,besides these there were six black lacquer desks1 on each desk a roll of litanies1 and above the altar six lamps burned low4 ,it was imposingly magnificent4 ,the ,japanese have a proverb3 #8,as handsome as a ,monto altar4'0 ,illustration3 ,,religious ,,festival ,,at ,,night ,,in ,,the ,,temple-,,grounds ,,of ,,asakusa1 ,,tokio4 ,this sect rejects images and all sensuous paraphernalia addressed to the popular taste4 ,the ,creed of the ,monto sect is thus given by ,akamatz3 8,rejecting all religious austerities and other actions1 giving up all idea of self-power1 rely upon ,amita ,buddha with the whole heart for our salvation1 which is the most important thing2 believing that at the moment of putting one's faith in ,amita ,buddha our salvation is settled4 8,from that moment invocation of his name is observed to express gratitude and thankfulness for ,buddha's mercy4 ,moreover1 being thankful for the reception of this doctrine from the founder and succeeding chief priests1 whose teachings are as kind and welcome as the light in a dark night4 8,we must also keep the laws which are fixed for our duty during our whole life40 ,,kwanon',s ,,temple ,,at ,,asakusa1 ,,tokio4 ,tokio1 the eastern capital of ,japan1 is the most thickly populated city of the empire4 ,it has a very large number of temples and shrines4 ,the most famous and popular of all is the temple of ,kwanon1 at ,asakusa4 ,asakusa is really one great play-ground1 with the temple in the centre4 ,the people gather there for pleasure as well as worship4 ,the approach to the temple is by a long lane1 from twelve to fifteen feet wide1 and is lined with booths1 stalls and shops1 in which toys and articles of ornament and the like are sold4 ,it is always holiday time here4 ,the toys1 dolls and all manner of playthings are displayed in wonderful variety4 ,the shops are open all along their fronts1 and the toys are arranged on steps1 rising as they were farther and farther from the front1 so that everything in the shops could be seen at a glance4 ,the ,japanese are a very domestic people1 and think a great deal of their children1 and often when they go to the temple to worship they take the children with them1 and purchase toys1 games1 puzzles or dolls for them at these booths4 ,inside the temple-grounds are 8tea-houses10 as they are called1 where the people sit to quaff the tea from tiny cups1 while they listen to some interesting tale1 as it is told by the story-tellers4 ,the story-tellers are a regular profession in ,japan4 ,jugglers and gymnasts1 painters and play-actors are doing their best to amuse the worshipers4 ,little stands are erected1 where beans 7,japanese peanuts7 are being roasted1 where savory stews are being prepared1 where barley sugar-candy is being pulled1 or where sweetmeats are being prepared for little purchasers4 ,it is astonishing to see the manifold ways in which amusements are provided1 and all is in connection with the temple services4 ,the owners of the booths1 etc41 all pay a percentage of their profits to the priests4 ,just before coming into the temple proper1 one passes through a huge red gate-way1 having a compartment on each side of the doorway4 ,in these compartments are two gigantic wooden images1 painted red4 ,they are two of the guardians of ,heaven1 defending the passage-way1 to keep out evil spirits4 ,the idols are protected by wire screens1 such as are used to protect store windows4 ,to these gratings huge straw sandals are tied4 ,they are the offerings of the worshipers for the use of the gods4 ,on ,new ,year's ,eve the priests are placed on a platform1 suspended in this doorway and under the eyes of the gods4 ,from this position they distribute paper amulets to the people1 guaranteeing the protection of ,kwanon to such who shall be so fortunate as to secure one4 ,they throw them in the air1 their servants fanning them1 so as to distribute them the more thoroughly1 and the great1 surging crowds struggle in their search of them4 ,inside the gate-way are more booths2 these are for the sale of the objects to be used in worship--idols1 rosaries1 candles1 domestic altars and the like4 ,here1 in a little stable on the left of the way1 is an ,albino pony4 ,this is for the use of the goddess ,kwanon4 ,each morning the priests lead the pony before the goddess1 and ask her if she does not wish to take a ride4 ,at a large table near by1 an old woman sells large beans1 which the pious worshiper buys and give to the sacred white horse for food4 ,he has a priest to attend him4 ,on another table the worshiper purchases a small dish of beans1 which he throws on the ground1 and immediately flocks of pigeons sweep down and eat them4 ,these are sacred pigeons1 to whom the right of using the temple and all its buildings is given4 ,within the temple-grounds1 and surrounding the temple of ,kwanon1 are some forty or fifty sacred buildings1 temples and shrines1 devoted to the worship of almost all the national gods--shrines of ,sanno1 the ruler-god2 ,dai-,koka1 the rice god2 ,benten1 goddess of harmony2 ,hachiman1 god of war2 and even of the fox are to be found here4 ,the fox is worshiped because of the mischief he can do4 ,his little chapel is on the summit of a knoll2 just before it are two granite images of the fox1 representing him in a sitting posture1 with his eyes on every one approaching his sanctuary4 ,the faithful bow1 cast their coins in the box placed here for that purpose1 kneel in prayer1 hang up their offerings1 and turn away4 ,near the central temple is a seven-storied pagoda1 symbolizing the supremacy of ,buddhism4 ,from the eaves of each story are suspended wind-bells4 ,illustration3 ,,new ,,year',s ,,frolic ,,in ,,japan4 ,illustration3 ,,buddhist 8,,nio10 ,,or ,,temple ,,guard4 ,we turn to ascend the copper-edged steps of the central building4 ,this is a plain wooden structure1 built with great solidity1 and yet so planned as to be secure against the frequent earthquakes4 ,its massive sloping roof of gray tiles sweeps up from either side4 ,there are two main rooms in the temple1 a sort of vestibule1 where the worshipers perform their ceremonies1 and the screened shrine of the goddess4 ,the pigeons are perched about the rafters1 and the whole place is noisy and dirty4 ,huge lanterns are suspended from the ceiling2 private shrines are scattered here and there2 the walls are hung with pictures and white tablets4 ,around the great red columns which support the ceiling1 and on the wire screens before the idols1 are hung scores of braids of hair of men and women1 presented as offerings to ,kwanon4 ,the ceiling is covered with paintings of scenes from ,buddha's life4 ,the worshiper1 as he enters1 drops a coin in the lap of an old woman1 at the door1 who puts a pinch of incense on the fire burning in a brazier1 and passes on to the front of the altar to pray4 ,the great altar1 on which is the splendid gilt statue of ,kwanon1 is protected by a wire screen4 ,before the screen is a large coffer1 extending clear across the front of the altar1 with bars across its top4 ,into this1 before engaging in prayer1 each worshiper casts a coin4 ,then he kneels1 rubbing the palms of the hands together1 repeating his prayer and telling his beads4 ,often one will buy from the priest a written prayer1 put it in the mouth and chew it into pulp and then throw the 8spit-ball0 at the screen4 ,if it sticks1 he believes that his prayer will be heard2 if it falls1 he expects it to fail6 ,men1 women and children1 shop-keepers and soldiers1 peasants and princes1 country and city folks1 are all the time coming and going4 ,after worshiping at the main altar1 the devotee often turns to the side altars or to some of the shrines4 ,at the right of the altar sits an ugly wooden idol1 perched up on a table4 ,he rivals even the main altar in the number of worshipers that throng to touch him4 ,he is the god ,binzuru1 one of ,buddha's sixteen disciples who is reputed to cure disease4 ,it is a pitiable sight to see crowds of blind1 lame1 diseased1 sickly persons coming in a long string1 eagerly awaiting their turn to touch him2 for if they can but first rub their hands on him1 and then on the diseased spot1 it is sure to heal4 ,often a group of mothers1 each with a sickly little babe on her back1 carried in ,japanese fashion1 between her inner and outer garments1 will approach ,binzuru4 ,reaching around1 they take the tiny hand of the sick child1 and rub it on the face of the idol4 ,so constant has been the rubbing that the idol1 though made of hard wood1 has lost all its features2 eyes1 nose1 lips1 ears are all rubbed away4 ,near by is a stand where an old woman sells for the priest pictures1 or small shrines of ,kwanon1 which are exactly like the accompanying pictures4 ,illustration3 ,,japanese ,,picture ,,of ,,kwanon4 ,behind the screen are many smaller idols and altars1 and an inclosed matted space1 where those who choose may1 by paying an extra fee to the attendant priests1 enter and worship undisturbed4 ,on high days and great festival occasions1 a space near the altar is fenced in1 and the priests1 richly dressed1 chant their prayers1 while incense is smoking and candles are flaring4 ,the crowd presses against the fence1 and by making special gifts of money1 secure special prayers for themselves1 and extra candles1 representing such prayers1 are placed on the stand for them by the attendants4 ,to the left of the altar are placed1 by the symbols of the ,shinto-worship1 the mirror and white paper4 ,this enables all shades of opinion to be suited4 ,outside the building are groves of plum and cherry trees1 which are esteemed not so much for their fruit as for their blossoms4 ,here are carefully kept beds of lotus1 azaleas1 chrysanthemums1 and camellias and evergreens4 ,these evergreens are dwarfed and trimmed into all sorts of fanciful shapes1 even while growing4 ,trees many years old are made to represent cats1 dogs1 boats1 houses1 wagons and other objects4 ,around the bases of the idols of ,buddha1 scattered everywhere1 are heaps of small stones1 representing prayers offered4 ,a praying-machine--a stone wheel set to run on a stone post--stands close by4 ,there is an exhibition of wax-works1 which would rival ,madame ,tussaud's1 of ,london4 ,these are intended to depict various deliverances from dangers and peril1 wrought by ,kwanon4 ,,temple ,,of ,,shiba1 ,,in ,,tokio1 ,,japan4 ,illustration3 ,,musicians ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,at ,,shiba4 ,illustration3 ,,torii1 ,,or ,,water ,,gate1 ,,to ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,miyajima1 ,,inland ,,sea1 ,,japan4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,shiba4 ,one of the finest temples of ,japan was that of ,shiba1 in ,tokio4 ,it was burned by a fanatic incendiary on the eve of ,new ,year's ,day1 ,december #cast1 #ahgd4 ,formerly the visitor passed through an immense red gate-way on the north side of the temple1 and then passed along a wide avenue lined with overhanging fir-trees4 ,after passing through another gate-way1 one enters a large court-yard1 in which were arranged #bjj stone lanterns1 each the gift of a ,japanese prince1 the head of a clan4 ,going on through another carved and gilded gate-way1 another court-yard is entered1 having six large gilt lanterns1 each the gift of a prince of the royal family4 ,then another gate-way1 more richly carved and ornamented than the last1 is passed1 and the visitor stood before the handsome shrines4 ,the lacquered steps lead up to gilt doors1 which swing open upon a room covered with the finest white matting4 ,the walls1 panels and beams are covered with sculpture4 ,there the great altars rise up1 resplendent with golden lacquer and sculpture4 ,in caskets are placed the tablets of the deceased shogouns and rulers4 ,images of ,buddha and ,kwanon are scattered about4 ,one of these idols represents ,buddha on his death-bed4 ,for many years the mikado lived in ,kioto1 secluded from the sight of the people4 ,the real ruler was called shogoun 7in later days1 termed tycoon74 ,this functionary lived in ,yedo or ,tokio4 ,he was accustomed to worship at ,shiba4 ,on the great festival occasions he proceeded there with an immense retinue1 and the services were performed with great magnificence4 ,there are very many idols and shrines in the country places1 as well as in the cities4 ,in every hamlet1 by the roadsides1 among the rice-fields1 by the sea-shore1 on the hill-tops1 by the running streams1 in groves of trees or in niches of the rocks4 ,generally1 the temples are placed in elevated positions2 these are reached by long flights of steps4 ,just outside of ,tokio1 and commanding a fine view of the city1 is the hill called ,atagosa ,yama4 ,one hundred steps lead to the top of this hill2 there1 amid the clumps of cedar and bamboo1 are two idols1 formerly much worshiped4 ,they are both ,buddhas2 the one is standing on a lotus-flower2 the other is sitting on a tortoise4 ,kob is the sea-port town of ,osaka4 ,high up on a mountain-peak1 near the city1 is a famous temple built by ,jingu ,kogo1 the ,amazonian empress of ,japan1 after her return from invading ,corea4 ,many hundreds of pilgrims visit it annually4 ,in ,kob is the shrine of a hero1 much loved and honored by the ,japanese4 ,this is one of the means used by the ,buddhist priests to intrench themselves and their religion in the affections of the people4 ,immediately1 on the death of any hero or noted personage1 they propose erecting a shrine or a monument to him1 thus drawing the devotions of the people anew to that particular shrine1 and through it1 to their faith4 ,,temple ,,of ,,five ,,hundred ,,gods4 ,the temples of the #ejj disciples of ,buddha are among the most celebrated in ,japan4 ,of these1 there are several--one in ,asakusa1 and one in ,honjo4 ,in one of these1 near the main image of ,buddha1 is an idol of ,hachiman1 having three eyes1 horns1 hoofs and long hair--a curious combination4 ,in each corner1 in iron cages1 are the gods ,daikoku and ,yebisu4 ,yebisu is the god of daily food1 and has a fish under his arm2 ,daikoku1 god of wealth1 sits on two sacks of rice1 with a mallet in his hand1 which1 when he shakes it1 is supposed to send wealth to the worshipers4 ,great numbers of strips of paper1 with prayers written on them1 are tied to the railing before these gods1 and this indicates their popularity4 ,these images are found in almost every household1 and receive daily worship4 ,the idols are seated under a scroll1 on their throne4 ,shallow dishes containing oil with floating wicks1 are placed on either side and lighted4 ,on low tables are placed loaves of mochi1 made of glutinous rice-flour and fishes1 and vases containing scrolls4 ,the head of the family1 kneeling between the tall candle-stick1 presents1 each morning before breakfast1 a cup of tea or saki--a very common drink1 brewed from the rice1 accompanied with a dish of rice4 ,in the ,temple of the ,five ,hundred ,gods1 there are1 besides these gods1 a statue of ,kwanon and images of the five hundred of ,buddha's disciples4 ,on a throne of weather-stained rocks and pieces of volcanic rock and lava1 is a colossal image of ,buddha1 seated on the lotus-flower4 ,on either side of him is a statue of an elephant and of a lion4 ,next to ,buddha is the statue of the disciple who collected all of ,buddha's sayings2 next1 the disciple who never forgot anything his master taught him1 and so on through all the list4 ,away in the rear is the black image of ,yema1 the god of hell4 ,in this representation of the ,buddhistic hell ,yema sits upon his throne behind a table1 as the ,japanese pictures put him1 with his pencil in hand1 ready to write out the sentence of the condemned4 ,on either side are those who keep the records of the misdeeds of men1 and1 in front1 the executioner ready to cast the condemned man from his boat into the lake of fire4 ,in the future state1 there are1 according to the teaching of the ,buddhist priests1 eight modes of torture4 8,first1 the wicked are alternately beaten and resuscitated2 secondly1 they are dragged limb from limb1 chopped to pieces1 pounded in a mortar1 sawn or planed into various shapes1 eyes gouged out1 and the tongue and nails are plucked out2 in the third1 the crowd of the wicked are beaten about like animals in a pen2 the fourth is weeping2 the fifth1 is great lamentation2 the sixth1 burning and roasting2 the seventh1 hills covered with large needles1 over which the wicked are driven2 the eighth1 being thrown into the bottomless pit of perdition40 ,these are specimens of the terrors which heathenism holds over its followers4 ,illustration3 ,,temple ,,of ,,five ,,hundred ,,gods1 ,,canton1 ,,china4 ,,the ,,casting ,,of ,a ,,temple ,,bell4 ,osaka is the greatest commercial city of ,japan4 ,in it are many temples4 ,one of the most beautiful sounds the traveler ever hears1 as he travels in ,asia1 is the sound of the temple bells of ,japan4 ,they are very large1 and generally sounded by striking a suspended beam against the bell4 ,some of these bells are ten feet high4 ,on their sides are cast or engraven texts from the ,buddhist sacred books1 images of ,buddha or ,kwanon1 or of heavenly beings4 ,the bell was stuck on a knob on its side by the small tree-trunk4 ,few sounds are sweeter than the quivering1 mellow tones of the ,japanese temple bells4 ,the bells are often1 as in ,osaka1 placed in separate buildings1 built for them2 this was to give a better effect to the sounds4 ,the occasion of the casting of a bell was one of great public rejoicing4 ,offerings of money or jewelry1 or utensils of tin1 copper1 silver or gold were brought by men and women4 8,when metal enough1 and in proper proportion1 had been amassed1 crucibles were made1 earth-furnaces dug1 the moulds fashioned1 and huge bellows--worked by standing men at each end1 like a see-saw--were mounted2 and1 after due prayers and consultations1 the auspicious day was appointed4 ,the place selected was usually a hill or elevated place4 ,the people1 in their gayest dress1 assembled in picnic parties1 and with song1 and dance1 and feast waited while the workmen1 in festal uniform1 toiled1 and the priests1 in canonical robes1 watched4 ,the fires were lighted1 the bellows oscillated1 the blast roared1 and the crucibles were brought to the proper heat and the contents to fiery fluidity1 the joy of the crowd increasing as each stage in the process was announced4 ,when the molten flood was finally poured into the mould1 the excitement of the spectators reached the height of uncontrollable enthusiasm4 ,another pecuniary harvest was reaped by the priests before the crowds dispersed1 by the sale of stamped kerchiefs or paper containing a holy text1 or certifying to the presence of the purchaser at the ceremony1 and the blessing of the gods upon him therefor4 ,such a token became an heirloom2 and the child who ever afterward heard the solemn boom of the bell at matin or evening1 was constrained by filial1 as well as by holy motives1 to obey and reverence its admonitory call40 ,such devotion to the idol-worship is not so frequently seen to-day1 as skepticism is becoming prevalent4 ,illustration3 ,,belfry ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,at ,,osaka1 ,,japan4 ,,the ,,colossal ,,idol1 ,,the ,,kamakura ,,dai ,,butsu4 ,there is a gigantic image about two miles from ,kamakura1 and twenty miles from ,yokohama4 ,the colossal idol of ,buddha here 7see frontispiece7 is of bronze1 and1 though sitting in ,oriental style1 is forty-four feet high1 and including the terrace on which it sits1 is sixty-five feet4 ,it is probably the most finished work of art the ,japanese possess1 regarded both for its beauty and the religious sentiment it expresses4 ,after leaving ,kamakura1 with its wonderful old temples1 the road passes out among the rice fields1 down toward the shore washed by the waves of the ,pacific ,ocean4 ,every here and there torii1 or birds' rests1 as they are called1 great gate-ways1 modeled after those before the topes in ,india1 are placed4 ,they consist of two upright shafts of stone1 about ten or twelve feet high1 with cross-pieces on their tops bending upwards at the ends1 and extending beyond the uprights1 and a square cross-piece about a foot from the top running from shaft to shaft4 ,knowing the immensity of the statue1 the visitor for the first time is on the lookout for it4 ,but its builders have used great judgment in placing it1 for it is not to be seen until one reaches the most favorable spot4 ,after passing through the red gate-way1 with its ,gog and ,magog1 the giant idols1 on either side1 the road seems to end in a clump of trees4 ,however1 it passes around the trees1 and there1 right from the best place to see the idol favorably1 there right before him it sits4 ,there is an irresistible charm about it2 the features of the face are in such perfect harmony1 the garments are so simple1 the face is so serene and benevolent in its contemplative ecstasy1 and the whole pose of the figure so well executed4 ,the hills1 clad with evergreens1 gently slope together in the background1 and all the buildings1 dwellings for priests1 etc41 are so dexterously concealed by the foliage4 ,the place is silent1 and time has so tempered the bronze idol itself and the stones of the terrace1 that the whole effect is grand1 and compels admiration4 ,but1 while the whole scene inspires one with a sense of its beauty and grandeur1 it saddens one to think that after all it is an idol4 ,even while one stops to study its beauty he is jostled by the pilgrims with their white garments1 broad hats1 little bells fastened to their girdles and their staves1 as they come bowing and rising alternately1 till they get near to the idol4 ,the idol is made of bronze plates1 nicely united1 though time and the weather have somewhat exposed some of these joints4 ,in front of it are vases with bronze lotus lilies1 and a bronze brazier where incense is burned day by day for the benefit of pilgrims4 ,the image is hollow1 and inside smaller idols are ranged4 ,a window in his shoulder lets in the light4 ,his ears are large1 as are the ears of almost all idols1 and the head is covered with representations of snail-shells1 to protect him from the sun4 ,the idol was cast and erected about six hundred years ago4 ,at first a building inclosed it1 but it was soon destroyed1 and for nearly six centuries past he has been exposed to wind and rain1 and snow and frost1 to earthquake and typhoon1 and yet he is there unharmed1 and widely admired and adored by hundreds of devout worshipers4 ,illustration3 ,,street ,,mountebanks ,,in ,a ,,japanese ,,new ,,year',s ,,festival4 ,,the ,,famous ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,buddha1 ,,at ,,nara4 8,long ere great ,buddha strode ,upon his calm1 colossal1 godlike way ,o'er the broad rolling river of ,cathay1 ,by the ,corean road1 8,and stepping stormy seas ,hither1 to mount the golden lotus throne1 ,o ,nara1 there to rule and muse alone1 ,through lingering centuries40 ,as usual in approaches to ,japanese temples1 there are several shops near to the temple itself4 ,in the centre of the large open space between the lesser gate-way and the temple is an immense and very old bronze lantern1 large enough for a man to stand in4 ,this lantern was presented to the temple by the renowned hero and statesman1 ,yoritomo1 who died in the year #aaii1 and is #gjj years old4 ,it is in daily use still4 ,this temple was originally founded1 and the immense image made1 by the ,mikado ,shomu1 the forty-sixth of the present line of emperors1 and the third of ,nara1 who died #gdh ,a4,d4 ,the temple was destroyed #gjj years ago1 in the terrible civil wars of the twelfth century1 and again seriously injured1 so that the head of the god had to be recast1 in the seventeenth century4 ,the great gate-way1 however1 with most of the other buildings of the great temple1 have escaped such injuries1 and1 although constructed of wood1 have stood as they now stand for more than eleven centuries4 ,illustration3 ,,japanese ,,idea ,,of ,,the ,,judge ,,of ,,hell4 ,the interest of this place centres in the great god of gold and bronze1 which has been the wonder of ,japan for so many ages past4 ,it has been positively stated by some that a considerable amount of gold entered into his composition2 but those on the spot seem to be uncertain as to whether the gold employed in making him was mixed with the bronze of which he is cast1 or applied superficially to him4 ,that much has been applied in the latter way there can be no doubt2 and in places in which the gold is visible1 and which ,i closely examined1 it seemed to me that it conformed to an external line of ornament in each case1 which would indicate that it was superficial only4 ,the dimensions of this god are truly colossal4 ,his height from the base of the lotus-flower1 on which he sits1 to the top of his head is sixty-three and one-half feet2 and above this rises an aureole fourteen feet wide1 above which again rises for several feet the flame-like glory which arches in the whole figure4 ,the face proper is sixteen feet long2 its width1 nine and one-half feet4 ,the eyes are three feet nine inches long2 the eyebrows1 five and one-half feet2 the ears1 eight and one-half feet4 ,the chest is twenty feet in depth4 ,its middle finger is five feet long4 ,around the head1 shoulders and sides of the god1 in front of the aureole1 are sixteen sitting figures1 said to be eight feet long4 ,the leaves of the immense lotus on which he sits are each ten feet long and six feet wide1 and there are fifty-six of them4 ,the casting must have been wonderfully well executed1 although the fineness of the leaf-edges1 and other parts which we were able to examine1 and the elaborate engraving which can be traced upon the lotus-leaves in the uninjured parts1 leaves no doubt that the founder's art was elaborately supplemented by the file and graver4 ,the countenance of the god is less mild and calm of expression than is usual in images of ,buddha4 ,the right hand is open and raised upwards2 the left rests on the lap4 ,,some ,,japanese ,,gods4 ,many of the gods of ,shintoism have been adopted by the ,buddhists4 ,hotei's image is carved into the shape of buttons1 and used for holding the pipe in the girdle 7a ,nitsuki74 ,inari1 the rice-god1 and his companion1 ,kitsune1 the fox1 are worshiped4 ,a very great many superstitions are connected with the fox4 ,if one is sick1 he is said to have a fox in him1 and a priest is sent for1 who1 by beating a drum--at1 say1 three beats each half minute all night long--will drive him out4 ,he is the cause of a thousand ills to the people4 ,he is reverenced because he is supposed to be the most cunning creature in creation4 ,kitsune becomes by turns a sacred1 amusing1 perfidious1 diabolical personage4 ,one superstitious notion is1 that if the traveler fail to honor the fox before his journey1 he1 ,kitsune1 will take revenge by causing will-o'-the-wisps to spring up all over the rice-swamps1 and so mislead the traveler1 and prolong his journey indefinitely4 ,this lighting the will-o'-the-wisp is called the ,festival of the ,foxes1 and is shown in the opposite picture4 ,,some ,,japanese ,,festivals4 ,new ,year's day is observed in ,japan with many ceremonies4 ,on the day before all accounts are squared1 new clothing is bought1 and the people prepare to spend the morrow with great joy4 ,the ,chinese seek to drive the devils out of their houses by exploding fire-crackers4 ,the ,japanese have a feast on ,new ,year's ,eve1 and when the merriment is almost over1 the head of the house takes a dish of beans and goes all over the house1 throwing the beans in every corner2 in this way they think they drive out the devils1 and when they are all out1 they place a sacred piece of paper1 which they have purchased from the priest1 on the door1 to prevent their re-entering4 ,on ,new ,year's day the streets are alive with the people4 ,it is the holiday of the nation1 and the temples are thronged with the gay worshipers and dexterous jugglers4 ,illustration3 ,,festival ,,of ,,the ,,foxes4 ,this is a supposed freak of the foxes in order to mislead travelers who do not honor them4 ,will-o'-the-wisps are regarded as originating in this way4 ,illustration3 ,,driving ,,the ,,devils ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,house ,,on ,,new ,,year',s ,,eve ,,with ,,beans4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,japanese ,,matsuri1 ,,or ,,religious ,,festival4 ,illustration3 ,,religious ,,procession ,,in ,,japan4 ,we will let an eye-witness describe a ,matsuri1 or festival scene4 ,he writes from ,osaka3 8,the other day a procession passed our door1 which you1 perhaps1 would like to hear of4 ,we heard a din1 a ,babel of voices1 growing louder and louder1 and on going to the door saw a crowd approaching1 composed largely of boys between five and ten years of age1 though some men were among them4 ,the first fifty or more were dressed in uniform colors1 a suit of red and white1 in squares of about an inch and a half1 the red being a dominant color1 looking1 indeed1 like circus clowns4 ,each person had a cloth tied around his head1 with apparently a paper stuck in it1 and a paper fan in his hand4 ,they were dancing along1 striking their hands1 or perhaps each other1 with the fan1 and singing and chatting4 ,the men especially were cutting up queer antics4 ,some of the boys had bells hung to their girdles4 ,then came a lot of older persons1 dressed in blue and white garments4 ,perhaps a hundred and fifty in all4 ,last of all came a triumphal car1 a miniature temple1 or shrine1 with a man in it4 ,they were having a jolly time altogether40 ,another festival is that of the god ,tengou4 ,the ,japanese mariner knows no festival so attractive as that of which the sea is the theatre4 ,when the sea-side inhabitants of ,sinagawa1 at ,tokio1 celebrate the anniversary of their favorite deity1 ,tengou1 they believe that they best show their affection for the idol by transporting it into the sea4 ,while the veterans of the priesthood and their servants attend to the annual purification of the temple and its furniture1 the most vigorous of the priests take upon their shoulders the frame on which the shrine or ,mikosi rests4 ,when they have reached the shore1 they lay aside their sacerdotal vestments1 and in good order plunge through the waves4 ,meanwhile the crowds of fishermen1 who follow them with tumultuous shouts1 encircle the cortge2 seize with their strong arms the sacred abode of the god2 raise it above the lacquered caps of the priests2 and in spite of the efforts1 real or pretended1 of its official guardians1 who struggle against the crowd in the midst of the waves1 the tottering1 but still upright shrine in the hands of the people accomplishes its maritime pilgrimage4 ,this ceremonial takes place on the sixth day of the sixth month1 which is about the end of our ,july4 ,it lasts1 with its different rites1 to the eighth day1 when1 to conclude1 the priests distribute to their flocks branches of trees laden with fruit in the condition in which the people most like it--that is to say1 when it has scarcely arrived at maturity4 ,,the ,,sacred ,,mountain1 ,,fuji4 ,illustration3 ,,fujisan1 ,,from ,a ,,village ,,on ,,the ,,tokaido4 ,one of the grandest sights to be seen in all the world is the view of the great ,sacred ,mountain of ,japan1 ,fuji-,yama4 ,the writer will never forget the impression it made upon him4 ,it rises in all its lonely majesty to a height of #ac1jhj feet high4 ,its beautifully sweeping sides rise1 cone-like1 from the almost level lands surrounding its base4 ,it is no wonder that the mountain is so dear to the heart of every ,japanese4 ,on almost all their works of art1 in bronze or lacquer-ware1 ,mount ,fuji is drawn or wrought4 ,long before the sun has lighted the earth below at the sunrise1 and long after the hills and valleys are shrouded in the darkness of the coming night1 ,fuji's snow-crowned summit is aglow with light2 the huge cone rising high above the clouds1 sublime1 colossal and beautiful in its ruddy purple4 ,to this mountain the ,japanese are accustomed to make pilgrimages4 ,all who have visited ,fuji-,yama in pilgrimage wear a little bell attached to their girdle1 in addition to their pilgrim suit4 ,longfellow has introduced into his ,poems of ,places1 in the volumes on ,asia1 the following translation of a ,japanese poem on ,fuji3 8,heaven above from earth below ,long ago the gods have parted1 ,henceforth hiding far from men4 ,round the hoary peak sublimely ,towering o'er ,suruga's land1 ,fuji's venerated mountain1 ,all the wide-arched azure sky ,though thou search with wistful gaze ,of the hastening sun's bright track1 ,not a glimpse shalt thou enjoy2 ,nor of gentlier beaming moon ,hail the shadow-fringing shimmer3 ,fleecy clouds are hovering1 ,hovering round the high1 bare summit1 ,veiling it from mortal ken4 ,hath thereon the white snow fallen2 ,would'st thou of the lofty gods ,know the annals1 only ,fuji ,can the secret story tell thee40 ,,customs ,,concerning ,,birth1 ,,marriage ,,and ,,death4 ,with but a very few exceptions the ,japanese ,buddhists are intensely superstitious4 ,some of the young men of ,japan1 who have come in contact with foreigners1 have given up their superstitions2 but the rest of the people1 more especially the peasants1 hold a firm faith in a multitude of superstitious customs4 ,these touch upon the most insignificant occupations of every-day life1 as well as upon birth1 marriage and death4 ,when a child is thirty days old it is taken to the temple of its parents' gods1 and1 with the assistance of the priest1 a name is chosen4 ,three names are selected by the parents1 and written on slips of paper4 ,these slips are tossed in the air by the priest1 while he mumbles incantations1 and the first slip that falls to the floor is believed to contain the name chosen by the gods for the little babe4 ,the priest then writes this name on a piece of sacred paper1 and it is given to the parents as a talisman4 ,in a few of the ,buddhist sects1 the priest assist at the marriage1 but in the great majority of cases he has no part to perform there4 ,at the marriage ceremony neither bride nor bridegroom can wear any garment containing purple color4 ,the ,japanese believe that to do this would be most fatal2 for as purple is the color which fades most readily1 so the marriage of those who wear purple would come to an end speedily4 ,the ,japanese marriage ceremony is a very simple one1 and is rather singular1 because religion finds no place in it4 ,when the bride and bridegroom and their friends are gathered together1 a small cup is filled with the native wine1 which a chosen friend hands to the bride1 who drinks from it1 and then passes it to the bridegroom2 he passes it back1 after drinking1 and thus it passes back and forth between the two a few times until it is emptied1 and this constitutes them man and wife4 ,the ,japanese say that it is thus1 that1 as husband and wife1 they must drink of the same cup of sorrow or of joy4 ,the writings of ,confucius1 are the basis of many of the laws of ,japan4 ,according to these1 among the seven causes for divorce is the one3 8,if she talk too much40 ,every heathen religion lowers women to a position far below that of man4 ,in ,india1 woman's lot is the saddest1 and in ,japan1 probably the happiest of all heathen countries4 ,according to ,buddhism there is no salvation for a woman unless she is born over again as a man4 ,the nature-worship of ,japan gives to woman a much higher place than ,buddhism does4 ,two things tend to cause the degradation of women in ,japan4 ,the one is the custom of having many wives2 the other is the demands of parental obedience4 ,in ,japan1 according to ,buddhist teaching1 a girl must obey her father in everything1 and no exception is allowed4 ,hence it not infrequently happens that the father commands his child to enter upon a life of sin1 that he may make money by it4 ,the daughter is bound to do as she is bidden1 and thus the greatest evil that can come upon a woman is brought upon her under the direction of a heathen system4 ,but1 thank ,god1 noble ,christian women have gone forth from our own and other ,christian lands1 and by their teachings and examples have done much to better the condition of the women of ,japan and a brighter day is rapidly dawning upon them4 ,from the moment when a person dies in ,japan1 religious ceremonies are performed in the house of the deceased until the body is removed to the grave4 ,priests are immediately sent for1 who light the candles and incense-sticks before the household gods1 and who recite their prayers4 ,the priests1 carrying their rosaries1 head the funeral procession as it goes to the temple4 ,the nearest relatives are dressed in white1 and carry various objects formerly used by the deceased4 ,the square coffin is set down in the temple before the altar1 and religious services are performed1 with more or less pomp1 according to the wealth of those who fee the priests for the services4 ,very frequently1 the bodies are then burned1 and the ashes placed in an urn2 at other times1 the bodies are buried4 ,after a time1 the nearest relative of the dead person buys from the priest a long1 narrow board or tablet1 containing the new name of the deceased4 ,this is placed on the grave4 ,fresh flowers and evergreens are kept on the tomb-stones in bamboo vases for a long time4 ,the relatives resort to the tombs for worship2 praying1 sometimes1 to the deceased1 asking his aid1 or at other times for the deceased1 that he may be freed from the pains of purgatory4 ,in either case they are very devout4 ,,some ,,japanese ,,superstitions4 ,illustration3 ,,worshiping ,,at ,,the ,,tomb ,,of ,,an ,,ancestor ,,in ,,japan4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,flowing ,,invocation4 ,scattered all over ,japan are trees1 which are specially devoted to the gods1 or ,kami1 as they are called in ,japanese4 ,often they twist some rice-straw into a rope1 and bind it around the base of a tree to indicate its sacredness4 ,like the ,greeks of old1 the ,japanese imagine that the mountains and valleys1 the rills and rivers1 the rocks and trees1 are all filled with spirits4 ,they tell tales of trees shedding blood1 or groaning in agony1 when the woodman cut them with his axe4 ,some trees1 we are told1 are believed to have wonderful power to attract men to commit suicide2 this is because they are possessed by evil spirits4 ,other trees are noted for the shelter they afford in storms1 for the protection they furnish when flying from enemies2 these are supposed to be inhabited by good and helping spirits4 ,many customs among ,christian nations1 so-called1 are decidedly superstitious4 ,for example1 it is counted unlucky in some parts of ,america to spill salt1 to break a looking-glass1 to have thirteen people sit down at table together2 and many are the stories1 undoubtedly true1 it is declared1 which are told to illustrate the certainty with which evils follow these signs4 ,so in ,japan there are many such superstitious signs and customs1 some of them just the opposite of signs in other lands4 ,these signs are almost innumerable1 and concern the actions of every day4 ,many are the fairy tales and ghost stories which the ,o-,baa-,san1 or grandmother1 tells to the children as they gather around the fire-box at night1 and which send them shivering and shaking to bed4 ,some of the superstitious customs1 however1 are not revolting1 but are very beautiful4 ,mr4 ,griffis1 an ,american teacher in ,japan1 tells us one of this better kind4 ,it is called 8,the ,mother's ,memorial40 ,it is popular with all classes1 being often used by the ,shintoists as well as the ,buddhists4 ,he writes thus3 8,a sight not often met with in the cities1 but in the suburban and country places as frequent as the cause of it requires1 is the nagare kanjo 7flowing invocation74 ,a piece of cotton-cloth is suspended by its four corners to stakes set in the ground near a brook or rivulet4 ,behind this is a high1 narrow board1 notched near the top1 and having an inscription written upon it4 ,resting by the brookside is a wooden dipper4 ,perhaps1 upon the four corners1 in the hollow ends of the upright bamboo stakes1 may be set bouquets of flowers4 ,the inscriptions and flowers are like those set up upon graves4 ,waiting long enough1 perchance but a few minutes1 there may be seen a passer who pauses1 and1 devoutly offering a prayer1 with the aid of his rosary1 reverently dips a ladleful of water1 pours it on the cloth1 and waits until it has strained through1 before moving on4 ,all this1 when the significance is understood1 is very touching4 ,it is a silent appeal to the passer-by1 by the love of ,heaven1 to shorten the penalties of a soul in pain4 ,the ,japanese believe that the mother dying in child-bed1 suffers1 by such a death1 for some sin committed long ago4 ,after death1 they say1 she sinks into a hell1 until this #8flowing invocation' ceases1 by the wearing out of the symbolic cloth4 ,when this is so utterly worn that the water no longer drips through1 but falls through at once1 the mother's soul is delivered from her sufferings4 ,but in addition to the sadness that this superstition brings upon us1 as we think of the delusion this people rest under1 there is a feeling of indignation awakened as we learn that these cloths can only be purchased from a priest1 and that for much money a cloth can be bought1 so thin in the middle1 that the water soon runs through1 while the poor person must be content with a cloth that it will take a long while to wear out40 ,,religion ,,of ,,the ,,ainos4 ,to the north of the main island of ,japan1 and almost touching it1 lies the island of ,yezzo4 ,the people of ,yezzo are called ,ainos2 they are savages in their manner of life1 though their disposition is kind and their manner gentle4 ,the following account of ,ainos worship1 particularly the strange 8sacrifice of the bear10 is from ,mr4 ,j4 ,j4 ,enslie1 ,consul at ,hakodate1 #ahfa-c3 8,the religious creed of the ,ainos is the ancient ,japanese #8,shintoism1' or the adoration of the ,kamis4 ,their rulers have made many attempts to convert them to ,buddhism2 but the only result of these endeavors is that the ,ainos now rub their hands together as a form of worship before their gods1 instead of raising the hands above the head as they formerly did4 ,there is a slight difference between the symbols of ,japanese and ,aino ,shintoism--the former exhibiting a looking-glass and a variety of white paper ornaments1 while the latter use a polished stone and garlands made of a peculiar description of very white wood4 ,the ,ainos1 however1 have numerous festivals totally distinct from ,shintoism4 ,the grandest and most solemn of these festivals is undoubtedly the ,sacrifice of the ,bear1 for which animal the ,ainos entertain a strange sort of veneration4 8,the savage denizen of the forest destined to be exalted to the position of a god is reared from a cub by the village chief1 and the female most distinguished in rank and beauty enjoys the honor of being its wet-nurse4 ,as soon as the bear is two years old1 he is carried in a cage to an eminence 7previously consecrated for the ceremony71 amid shouts of joy and the most inharmonious concert of various noises ever heard2 while from time to time the bereft nurse utters the most piercing and heart rending cries1 expressive of her poignant grief4 ,after this uproar has continued for some time1 the chief of the village approaches the bear1 and with an arrow gives him the first wound4 ,the animal1 previously maddened by the din around him1 now becomes furious1 the cage is opened1 and he springs out into the midst of the assemblage4 ,then1 at a signal given by the children of the nurse1 everybody in the crowd wounds him with the various weapons they have brought with them1 each one striving to inflict a wound1 as all believe that he who fails to wound the bear has no claim to any favor from the new ,kami1 or god4 ,as soon as the poor animal falls down exhausted from the loss of blood1 his head is cut off1 and the arrows1 spears1 knives1 sticks1 and in fact all the weapons by which he has been wounded1 are solemnly presented to the headless trunk by the village patriarch1 who requests the bear to avenge himself upon the weapons by which he has been insulted and slain4 ,the severed head is then affixed to the trunk1 and the dead bear is carried to the altar1 where the ,rama ,matsouri 7the sacrifice of the bear7 commences amid various solemnities1 such as singing1 music1 and offerings consisting of everything the ,ainos most esteem4 ,the nurse meanwhile deals blows with the branch of a tree upon every one who has taken part in the bear's death4 ,the flesh is then distributed among the people1 and the head is placed upon a pole opposite the hut of the chief1 where it is left to decay4 8,the ,ainos entertain great fear and profound respect for strength and courage2 and this is the cause of their veneration for the bear--the strongest and fiercest animal known to them4 ,their most energetic comparison is the bear4 ,a man is #8strong as a bear1' #8fierce as a bear1' etc4 ,the bear is the burden of their national songs1 and1 in a word1 this animal is the symbol of everything they think worthy of respect4 ,to compare an ,aino with a bear is the surest plan to gain his friendship2 and it must be acknowledged that the merit the ,ainos attach to the bear is more or less deserved1 as the ,yezzo bear is the finest specimen of his species40 ,,chapter ,,xxxv4 ,,mohammedanism4 ,utter the song1 ,o my soul6 the flight and return of ,mohammed1 ,prophet and priest1 who scattered abroad both evil and blessing1 ,huge wasteful empires founded1 and hallowed slow persecution1 ,soul-withering1 but crushed the blasphemous rites of the ,pagan4 ,,samuel ,,taylor ,,coleridge4 ,the story of the idol worship of the world would not be complete without having described that system of religion which began as an opposition to all idolatry4 ,this was the motive that led ,mohammed to start on his career of destroying idols1 and compelling their worshipers1 at the sword's point1 to believe in the one ,god4 ,add to this the fact that this religion has extended far beyond the bounds of its birthplace1 and it will be seen to be well worthy of our attention4 ,,extent ,,of ,,mohammedanism4 ,there are from #aej1jjj1jjj to #ahj1jjj1jjj of ,mohammedans1 or ,moslems 7as they are sometimes called71 in the world4 ,these are found in the south-east corner of ,europe1 and are scattered over ,asia and ,africa4 ,arabia and ,turkey are the ,mohammedan countries1 though in ,egypt and ,india1 and even in ,china1 they are to be found by the hundreds of thousands4 ,this system is a proselyting one1 and thus has come to spread so widely4 ,starting with but a handful of disciples1 the followers of ,mohammed include more than one-tenth of the human race4 ,its believers are true1 strong believers1 holding their faith with firmness and fervor4 ,for hundreds of years they have been trying to bring the world to the faith embodied in their motto1 8,god is ,god1 and ,mohammed is ,his ,prophet40 ,formerly1 in great armies1 they swept over ,asia and ,africa1 making their proselytes at the point of the sword2 to-day they borrow ,christian methods1 and ,moslem missionaries go forth to preach the ,koran 7their sacred book71 and thus seek to extend the dominion of ,mohammed4 ,in their university at ,cairo1 #aj1jjj students are gathered to-day1 preparing to go as the missionaries of the ,moslem faith4 ,a celebrated traveler describes this university thus3 8,this university is #ijj years old 7older than ,oxford71 and still flourishes with as much vigor as in the palmy days of the ,arabian ,conquest4 ,there ,i saw collected together #aj1jjj students4 ,as one expressed it1 #8there were two acres of turbans1' assembled in a vast inclosure1 with no floor but a pavement1 and with a roof over it1 supported by #djj columns1 and at the foot of every column a teacher1 surrounded by his pupils4 ,as we entered1 there rose a hum of thousands of voices1 reciting the ,koran4 ,these students are not only from ,egypt1 but from all parts of ,africa1 from ,morocco to ,zanzibar4 ,they come from far up the ,nile1 from ,nubia and ,soudan2 and from ,darfour1 beyond the great desert1 and from the western coast of ,africa4 ,asia1 too1 is largely represented in students from ,western ,asia1 from ,turkey1 ,arabia and ,persia2 and from ,central ,asia1 from ,khiva1 and ,bokhara1 and ,turkistan1 and ,afghanistan1 and the borders of ,china4 ,they live on the charities of the faithful2 and when their studies are ended1 those who are to be missionaries mount their camels1 and1 joining a caravan1 cross the desert1 and are lost in the far interior of ,africa40 ,and there1 we should say1 they meet our no less faithful and ardent ,christian missionaries1 who are laboring to elevate the depraved ,africans4 ,these carry to a happy completion the very imperfect work which ,moslem missionaries are able to perform4 ,now let us turn to the story of the man who founded ,mohammedanism4 ,,the ,,arabian ,,camel-,,driver ,,who ,,founded ,a ,,great ,,religion4 ,the descendants of ,ishmael and of ,abraham have inhabited uninterruptedly a land inclosed by the ,red ,sea1 the ,indian ,ocean1 the ,persian ,gulf1 the ,euphrates ,river and the land of ,syria4 ,there are a few fertile valleys and excellent pastures in ,arabia2 but a great part of the country consists of bleak wildernesses1 barren hills and wastes of sandy deserts4 ,there is not one navigable river in the whole country4 ,goods are carried on camels1 whose drivers travel in groups called caravans4 ,the ,arabs are a simple and temperate race1 quick to revenge1 yet exceedingly hospitable4 ,the great majority of the people in the interior live a tent life2 thus they are brought into close contact with nature1 and are reverential and imaginative4 ,from their out-door life1 they were early inclined to worship the sun1 moon1 planets and all the hosts of heaven and angels4 ,desiring a visible object of worship1 something to be seen and felt1 they made images of their deities4 ,the 8,black ,stone10 in the ,temple of the ,kaaba1 at ,mecca1 was an especially honored object of worship4 ,this stone1 about six inches by eight1 was one of the precious stones of ,paradise1 and fell down to the earth with ,adam4 ,at the deluge1 it was taken up again1 or otherwise preserved1 and afterward brought by ,gabriel to ,abraham1 when he and ,ishmael were building the ,kaaba4 ,this temple was placed in charge of one family4 ,in the year #egj ,a4,d41 of this family was born a child named ,mohammed1 destined to affect the religious life of hundreds of millions of his fellow-beings4 ,illustration3 ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,kaaba1 ,,at ,,mecca1 ,,arabia4 ,,the ,,prophet',s ,,youth ,,and ,,early ,,manhood4 ,miraculous signs were said to have attended his birth4 ,for five years1 he remained away from his mother2 at the end of that time1 he became subject to epileptic fits1 and returned to his home4 ,he then saw the multitude of pilgrims1 with their camels laden with spices and beautiful cloths1 coming yearly to visit ,mecca1 and undoubtedly was impressed with the sights and sounds in the ,kaaba4 ,when he was twelve years old1 an event occurred which greatly influenced his after life4 ,with his uncle's caravan he journeyed to ,palestine1 where he met ,jews and ,christians4 ,from these he must have gained that knowledge of the ,bible which he used in his teachings in after years4 ,the ,jews1 from the day when ,god cured them of idolatry1 by sending them away to ,babylon1 had persistently opposed the worship of idols1 and upheld and urged the worship of the one true ,god4 ,the ,christians were such in name only2 for1 with their ritual1 crosses1 pictures1 vestments and images1 they were hardly better than the idolaters around them4 ,but ,mohammed gained only a superficial knowledge of these faiths1 and knew almost nothing of their leading features4 ,when he was twenty-five years old he entered the service of the ,khadija1 a rich widow of ,mecca1 for his family was poor4 ,she appointed him as a camel-driver1 to care for the caravans4 ,the widow soon was charmed with the noble appearance and energetic manliness of ,mohammed1 and in a modest way led him to seek to marry her4 ,the marriage was a happy one1 and ,mohammed loved his wife long after her death1 even to his old age4 ,when all the world turned its back upon him in scorn1 she clung to him2 and while they called him cheat and impostor1 she recognized him as the prophet of ,god4 ,during all this time he always appeared as a very religious and upright person4 ,often with his wife he retired to a cave1 about three miles from ,mecca1 to pray and fast4 ,here1 when in his epileptic fits1 it is claimed1 he saw visions and received revelations4 ,,gabriel',s ,,message ,,to ,,mohammed4 ,in his fortieth year1 he was spending the sacred month in the cave4 ,one night1 as he said1 there appeared 8one mighty in power1 endued with understanding10 who stood about two bows' length from him4 ,it was the angel ,gabriel1 who held a silken scroll in his hand1 and bade ,mohammed read the writing thereon4 ,he replied that he could not2 then ,gabriel said1 8,read in the name of the ,lord1 who hath created all things4 ,read by the most beneficent ,lord1 who taught the use of the pen2 who teacheth man that which he knoweth not40 ,then the angel flew away1 leaving ,mohammed in perplexity4 ,after a time1 when doubt and despondency filled his mind1 the voice of the angel was heard speaking from a throne midway between heaven and earth1 saying3 8,o ,mohammed6 thou art the prophet of ,god1 and ,i am ,gabriel40 ,this he regards as his commission1 and straightway tells his wife4 ,secretly he commits the revelation made him to various persons1 and after four years gathers together thirty or forty converts4 ,then ,gabriel comes again1 and brings from the ,lord this message3 8,o thou covered1 arise and preach1 and magnify the ,lord1 and clean thy garments1 and fly every abomination40 ,he obeyed this1 and in consequence of the changes he urged1 was forced to suffer persecution4 ,even his relatives turned against him4 ,he was mocked and scorned1 and occasionally abused4 ,his disciples suffered with him1 and so he sent away to ,abyssinia eleven of them as missionaries4 ,at first his teachings had not been uncompromising2 but1 so he thought1 in a revelation he was warned that this was wrong1 and he proceeded to burn the bridges behind him4 ,of some of the idol gods he had said3 8,their intercession may be hoped for with ,god40 ,after his vision he said1 8,these are no other than empty names1 which ye and your fathers have made gods40 ,then the idol worshipers turned on him2 he was1 said they1 a fool1 a fanatic1 a forger4 ,then they ostracized him2 he was shut out from their homes and cut off from their friendship4 ,to escape personal violence he fled the city1 mingling with the pilgrims from distant lands as they journeyed to ,mecca1 and preaching to them his doctrines4 ,then his wife1 ,khadija1 died4 ,soon after this he married1 and was betrothed 7in his fiftieth year7 to a child of seven years1 as it is the custom of the ,arabs to allow a man to marry as many wives as he might wish4 ,now came the turn of the tide2 his failing fortunes began to rise again4 ,a few pilgrims from ,medina were converted4 ,with zeal they sought to spread ,mohammed's doctrine on their return home4 ,they met with astonishing success1 and soon the prophet's name was in every household in ,medina1 and the motto1 8,god is ,god1 and ,mohammed is ,his ,prophet10 was heard on every side4 ,the prophet was invited to go and live in ,medina4 ,after a year1 with many companions1 his ,medina converts returned to him at ,mecca1 and again pledged their fidelity4 ,,the ,,flight ,,of ,,mohammed4 ,on the #bjth of ,june1 ,a4,d4 #fbb1 the celebrated 8,hejira10 or flight1 took place4 ,from this day1 the ,mohammedans date their era1 as ,christians do from the birth of ,christ4 ,they regard this as the most momentous event of their history1 for from this time forth1 ,mohammed's course was one of constant progress4 ,after eight days' journey1 they arrived at ,medina1 and in great pomp made a triumphal entry into the city4 ,he waited until his camel voluntarily knelt and there built his house4 ,then a temple1 #aej feet square1 was built2 this is called to-day the ,mosque of the ,prophet4 ,here a simple worship was established4 ,mohammed was now married to ,ayesha1 the child to whom he had been betrothed4 ,as he already had one wife he thus indorsed the custom of having many wives4 ,this practice and1 growing out of it1 the enormity of treating women as really little better than slaves1 are the conspicuous blots on ,mohammed's career4 ,,converts ,,made ,,at ,,the ,,sword',s ,,point4 ,mohammed was now established in a secure position4 ,his prosperity spoiled him4 ,he longed for greater numbers of converts than he could make by preaching simply1 hence1 his disordered mind prompted him to see a vision in which he was directed to take the sword to compel converts4 ,in one of the sacred months he sent eight of his followers to waylay a ,mecca caravan4 ,one man they killed1 two others were taken prisoners and with their booty the ,mohammedans returned to ,medina4 ,the next was the celebrated battle of ,badr1 when a troop of ,meccans came out to destroy ,mohammed and his ,medina followers1 but were themselves destroyed4 ,mohammed asserted that #c1jjj angels fought with them1 and that thus they gained the battle4 ,this battle placed ,mohammad where he could command 7or rather demand7 unhesitating obedience from his followers4 ,battle after battle followed1 and converts were made by the thousands4 ,mecca was subdued1 and then the whole of ,arabia4 ,to his followers1 he promised ,paradise should they fall in the fight4 ,said they to him3 8,it is hot40 ,he replied3 8,hell is hotter40 ,mohammed was made of stern stuff2 his indomitable will supported him in his great undertakings4 ,he was not a true prophet1 neither was he an impostor4 ,his religion was begun1 developed and completed under what he took to be the inspiration of ,god4 ,to all appearance he was sincere1 though awfully mistaken4 ,he believed firmly in his mission and in the assistance of ,god2 he never faltered1 he never hesitated1 he went straight forward4 ,illustration3 ,,mohammedan ,,cemetery ,,at ,,mecca4 ,thus1 until his sixty-second year1 his religion kept growing1 embracing an increasing territory under its dominion4 ,at this time1 he was attacked with a violent fever1 which in less than a month ended his life4 ,he exclaimed3 8,oh1 to depart and be near the ,lord10 8,eternity of ,paradise60 8,pardon60 and then the ,prophet of ,mecca was dead4 ,mecca and ,medina long remained the strongholds1 the centres of ,mohammedan influence4 ,mecca especially became the ,holy ,place to which the faithful made their pilgrimages1 and in the cemetery of which city they longed1 at last1 to lie in death4 ,all ,mohammedans turn to ,mecca in saying their prayers1 and in all the mosques1 by a niche or by some other means1 the direction of ,mecca is indicated as a guide to the devotions of the faithful who assemble there4 ,,mohammed',s ,,successors1 ,,the ,,caliphs4 ,after ,mohammed's death1 his bosom friend1 ,abu ,bekr1 was elected to be his successor1 called the ,caliph4 ,from his attachment to ,mohammed he received the name of 8,the ,true40 ,the name ,abu ,bekr means 8,the ,father of the ,virgin10 and was given him because ,ayesha1 his daughter1 was the only virgin bride of ,mohammed4 ,the office of ,caliph was the highest that could be held in the ,mohammedan world4 ,all the 8,faithful0 recognized in the ,caliph both the temporal and spiritual head4 ,abu ,bekr proved a worthy successor to ,mohammed4 ,he put down the ,bedouin rebellions1 which began immediately after ,mohammed's death1 and not only conquered them1 but won them to his cause1 and turned their fierce fanaticism into the service of ,mohammedanism4 ,abu ,bekr was a man of the purest character1 and had the firmest faith in ,mohammed's mission4 ,he died after a reign of about two years and a half1 and ,omar became the next ,caliph4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,a ,,turkoman ,,tent1 ,,in ,,western ,,persia4 ,,caliph ,,omar4 ,illustration3 ,,mosque ,,of ,,omar1 ,,on ,,the ,,site ,,of ,,the ,,jewish ,,temple1 ,,at ,,jerusalem4 ,under ,omar1 who reigned from #fcd to #fdc ,a4,d41 ,mohammedanism spread northward and westward4 ,damascus and its neighborhood1 then ,palestine1 and finally all ,syria yielded to him4 ,in #fcf ,a4,d41 ,jerusalem surrendered to him4 8,mounted on his camel1 a bag of dates and a skin of water by his side--ample provision for his simple wants--he made his entry into the sacred city40 ,on the site of ,solomon's ,temple1 he built the 8,dome of the ,rock10 the ,mosque of ,omar1 as it is commonly1 but erroneously1 called to this day4 ,the ,mosque of ,omar stands upon an artificial plateau called the ,haram area4 ,this is sparingly ornamented with cypress and other trees and fountains4 ,the mosque is one of the most prominent belongings of ,jerusalem4 ,it is second in importance only to the ,mosque of the ,kaaba at ,mecca4 ,it is #agj feet high1 and #ecf feet around its eight sides4 ,in the interior is a gray limestone rock1 from which the mosque sometimes takes its name1 the 8,dome of the ,rock40 ,this stone is believed by the ,mohammedans to have 8descended from heaven and to have been suspended in the air2 that it attempted to follow the ,prophet on his ascension to ,paradise1 but was kept back from its native quarry by the angel ,gabriel1 who left his large hand-prints as a permanent memorial of the miracle60 ,illustration3 ,,mohammedans ,,praying ,,before ,,the ,,mosque ,,of ,,omar4 ,persia soon yielded to ,omar1 and then ,egypt4 ,his empire now extended from ,northern ,syria to ,southern ,arabia1 and from ,eastern ,persia to ,western ,egypt4 ,omar was the first ,caliph who was called the 8,prince of the ,faithful40 ,though his power and honor were so great1 8he affected no regal state1 was the friend and companion of the beggar and poor1 and in his mud palace1 at ,medina1 was ready to share his meal with the humblest brother of the faith40 ,omar was killed by a ,persian slave4 ,he was succeeded by the ,caliph ,othman4 ,he reigned amidst great turbulence and discontent until the year #fed ,a4,d41 when he was murdered4 ,the next ,caliph1 ,ali1 who reigned till #ffj ,a4,d41 was1 likewise1 assassinated4 ,hassan1 the next ,caliph1 was poisoned by his wife4 ,several ,caliphs1 ,muavia and ,hosein1 occupied the throne before ,valid ,i4 reigned4 ,his reign extended from #gje to #gaf ,a4,d4 ,under him the empire of the 8,prince of the ,faithful0 attained its greatest extent4 ,it then extended from ,india to ,spain4 ,thus1 just about one hundred years from the time when ,mohammed had received his call to enter upon his mission as the ,prophet of ,god1 to re-establish ,his worship and to destroy idolatry1 the empire which he had founded1 and the religion he had started1 had spread over ,arabia1 ,syria1 ,asia ,minor1 ,spain1 part of ,gaul 7now ,france71 ,egypt and ,northern ,africa1 and over ,persia and ,northern ,india4 ,soon after this1 reigned a ,caliph whose name is a household word among us1 ,haroun-al-,raschid1 of whom the 8,arabian ,nights0 has so much to say4 ,the ,caliph preceding him had moved his capital to ,bagdad4 ,as the first calendar says1 in the 8,arabian ,nights0 story1 8,haroun-al-,raschid's generosity was renowned through the world40 ,the stories tell us of his wandering in disguise among his people to ascertain more accurately their condition1 and thus to be better able to govern them4 ,hitherto the ,caliphate has been held by ,arabians1 soon after ,haroun-al-,raschid's time1 it passes into the hands of the ,turks4 ,they have retained it without interruption down to the present day4 ,,the ,,crusades4 ,attempts were often made to roll back the tide of ,mohammedan conquest1 but without avail4 ,rebellions were put down rapidly1 and no nation from without seemed disposed to dispute with the ,mohammedans their possession of the conquered countries4 ,but in the year #ajif ,a4,d41 fired by the desire to recover the land of the birthplace of ,christ1 and anxious to revenge the insults and injuries heaped upon the ,christian pilgrims to the ,holy ,land by the ,moslems1 led the ,christians of ,western ,europe to determine to begin a ,crusade4 ,the ,pope1 ,urban ,,ii41 aided by the preaching of ,peter the ,hermit1 succeeded in inducing an army to start for the conquest of ,palestine4 ,they seemed to succeed1 and yet theirs was a doubtful victory4 ,they reached ,jerusalem1 and slew multitudes of the ,saracen ,moslems4 ,but they could not retain their hold upon the city4 ,a second ,crusade was undertaken in #aadh ,a4,d41 but utterly failed to accomplish its object4 ,st4 ,bernard1 who had urged on this ,crusade1 declared that it had failed because of the sinfulness of the ,crusaders1 and that none but innocent hands could wrest the ,holy ,land from the ,moslem hands which held it4 ,so in #abab began the ,children's ,crusade2 #cj1jjj children1 under the boy-leader1 ,stephen1 and #bj1jjj ,german boys and girls1 under the peasant-lad1 ,nicholas1 started for the conquest of ,palestine1 only to perish by sea or land1 or to be carried to the slave markets4 ,two other ,crusades were commenced1 but both failed1 and to-day the ,holy ,land is under the dominion of the ,moslem ,turk4 ,the religion of ,mohammed is still spreading1 though only in ,africa4 ,it obtained a footing in ,western ,china some time ago1 and more lately spread throughout the ,indian ,archipelago4 ,we now pass to consider the ,mohammedan ,bible1 known as the ,koran1 and give attention to its teachings4 ,,the ,,writing ,,of ,,the ,,koran4 ,during the lifetime of ,mohammed no attempt was made to collect the multitudinous revelations constituting the ,koran into one book4 ,the various passages had been written down from his lips1 from time to time at their delivery1 by some friend or follower performing the office of amanuensis2 or they had been first committed to memory1 and then at some subsequent period recorded4 ,for this purpose the rude materials in use among the ,arabs were employed1 as palm-leaves1 leather1 stone tablets1 or the shoulder-blades of goats and camels4 ,there was no systematic arrangement of these materials4 ,there were1 indeed1 recognized 8,suras10 or chapters2 and it seems probable that the greater part of the revelation was so arranged during the ,prophet's lifetime1 and used in that form for private reading1 and also for recitation at the daily prayers4 ,some of the ,suras were short and self-contained2 others were longer1 and from time to time were added to by the command of ,mohammed1 who would direct a new revelation to be 8entered in the ,sura treating of such and such a subject40 ,there was no fixed repository for these materials2 but there is reason to conjecture that the greater portion1 or at least the most important chapters1 were laid up in the habitation of one of the ,prophet's wives 7for he had no separate room or dwelling-place of his own71 or left in the custody of the scribes or secretaries who had first recorded them4 ,they were1 moreover1 treasured up with pious reverence in the memories of the people1 and transcripts of the several ,suras or fragments1 especially of those most frequently in use for meritorious repetition1 or for public and private devotion1 were even before the ,flight in the hands of many persons1 and so preserved with religious and even superstitious care4 ,as the ,faith extended1 teachers were sent forth to the various tribes throughout ,arabia to instruct the new converts in the requirements of ,islam2 and these carried with them1 either in a recorded form or indelibly imprinted on the mind 7for the ,arab memory was possessed of a marvelous tenacity71 the leading portions of the ,mohammedan ,revelation4 ,,the ,,teaching ,,of ,,the ,,koran4 ,sir ,william ,muir1 one of the first expositors of the ,koran1 thus writes3 8,the teaching of the ,koran is very simple4 ,god has revealed ,himself in various ages1 under different dispensations1 through the instrumentality of inspired prophets4 ,the dispensations varied in outward and accidental form2 but the great catholic faith in the unity of ,god and ,islam 7that is1 submission to ,his will71 underlies them all4 ,the truth thus successively promulgated was as often lost or distorted by the ignorance and perversity of mankind4 ,the mission of ,mohammed was to establish the last of these dispensations2 and1 while at first professing to hold that his own teaching was simply concurrent with that of former revelations1 in the end he caused it to obliterate and override them all4 8,the first condition of ,islam is belief in the creed3 #8,there is no ,god but the ,lord1 and ,mohammed is ,his ,apostle4' ,this at once sweeps away idolatry1 and the #8association with ,god' of other objects of worship2 and it also establishes the ,koran as the paramount rule of faith and practice4 ,there is no priesthood in ,islam4 ,man deals immediately with the ,deity4 ,mohammed is but a ,prophet1 himself a sinner needing mercy and forgiveness4 ,salvation is promised to the believer2 but he is at the same time bound to abstain from evil1 and to do good works1 and1 in particular1 to observe the ordinances of ,islam4 ,these requirements1 though few and simple1 pervade the whole life of a ,mussulman4 ,the day opens with prayer at the dawn2 with prayer the night closes in2 and the ceremony is repeated three other times1 at fixed intervals1 during the day4 ,each prayer consists of two or more series of prostrations1 accompanied by ejaculatory prayer and the recital of short passages of the ,koran4 ,then there are the prescribed tithes1 or alms2 the fast throughout the whole month of ,ramodhn 7which1 though rigorous from dawn to sunset1 admits of entire relaxation by night72 and the pilgrimage to ,mecca1 which1 although not burdensome to the ,arabs for whom it was first established1 is evidently unsuitable for observance by all mankind4 8,that the fate of man1 and whatever happens1 great or small1 has been fixed by inevitable decrees is unconditionally asserted throughout the ,koran4 ,the doctrine is often intelligibly urged as a ground of resignation and patience under misfortune1 of equanimity in success1 and of calmness in danger2 but it is not confined to such innocent and legitimate purposes4 ,the dogma is constantly obtruded in its most naked and offensive form3 #8,god misleadeth whom ,he pleaseth1 and guideth whom ,he pleaseth aright4' #8,we created man upright1 and then caused him to be the vilest of the vile4' #8,the fate of every man have we bound about his neck2' and so forth4 ,but while there is nothing to be met with in the ,koran expressly of an opposite tenor1 there is much that by implication conveys the sentiment of free will4 ,prayer is continually enjoined4 ,it was practiced by ,mohammed himself1 and deliverance is often ascribed to its effect4 ,men are exhorted to believe and do good works4 ,they are warned against infidelity and sin1 #8lest they cast themselves into perdition4' ,salvation1 indeed1 is dependent on faith1 and faith upon the will of ,god2 yet there are not wanting passages which speak of man as choosing the wrong or choosing the right1 and of ,paradise or hell as the consequence4 ,the believer is frequently bid to beware of the wiles of ,satan4 ,discretion in the following of good or evil is implied in many parts of the ,koran and retribution set forth as the result of its exercise4 ,man is responsible for his own sin only4 #8,the burdened soul shall not bear the burthen of another4' ,hereditary taint from the fall is nowhere admitted4 ,adam fell1 it is true1 by eating the forbidden fruit2 but his fall 7as it would appear7 was the consequence1 not the cause of the proneness of his nature to sin4 ,all men have sinned1 but it has been each his own fault1 acting independently1 and not because of anything antecedent40 ,,some ,,selections ,,from ,,the ,,koran4 ,we first present one of the passages in which reference is made to ,jesus ,christ4 ,in the ninth ,sura1 the ,koran says3 8,fight against them who believe not in ,god1 nor in the last day1 and forbid not that which ,god and ,his apostle have forbidden1 and profess not the true religion1 of those unto whom the ,scriptures have been delivered1 until they pay tribute by right of subjection1 and they be reduced low4 ,the ,jews say ,ezra is the son of ,god2 and the ,christians say1 ,christ is the son of ,god4 ,this is their saying in their mouths3 they imitate the saying of those who were unbelievers in former times4 ,may ,god resist them4 ,how are they infatuated6 ,they take their priests and their monks for their lords1 besides ,god1 and ,christ1 the son of ,mary2 although they are commanded to worship one ,god only3 there is no ,god but ,he2 far be that from ,him1 which they associate with ,him6 ,they seek to extinguish the light of ,god with their mouths2 but ,god willeth no other than to perfect ,his light1 although the infidels be averse thereto4 ,it is ,he who hath sent ,his apostle with the direction and true religion2 that ,he may cause it to appear superior to every other religion2 although the idolators be averse thereto4 ,o1 true believers1 verily many of the priests and monks devour the substance of men in vanity1 and obstruct the way of ,god4 ,but unto those who treasure up gold and silver1 and employ it not for the advancement of ,god's true religion1 denounce a grievous punishment4 ,on the day of judgment their treasures shall be intensely heated in the fire of hell1 and their foreheads1 and their sides1 and their backs shall be stigmatized therewith2 and their tormentors shall say1 ,this is what ye have treasured up for your souls2 taste therefore that which ye have treasured up40 ,the ,koran says of idols3 8,omen1 a parable is propounded unto you2 wherefore hearken unto it4 ,verily1 the idols which ye invoke1 besides ,god1 can never create a single fly1 although they were all assembled for that purpose3 and if the fly snatch anything from them1 they cannot recover the same from it40 ,,mohammed',s ,,paradise4 ,sura ,,lvi41 of the ,koran1 says3 8,these are they who shall approach near unto ,god3 they shall dwell in gardens of delight4 ,reposing on couches adorned with gold and precious stones2 sitting opposite to one another thereon4 ,youths which shall continue in their bloom for ever1 shall go round about to attend them1 with goblets1 and beakers1 and a cup of flowing wine3 their heads shall not ache by drinking the same1 neither shall their reason be disturbed3 and with fruits of the sorts which they shall choose1 and the flesh of birds of the kind which they shall desire4 ,and there shall accompany them fair damsels having large black eyes1 resembling pearls hidden in their shells1 as a reward for that which they shall have wrought4 ,they shall not hear within any vain discourse1 or any charge of sin2 but only the salutation1 ,peace6 ,peace6 ,and the companions of the right hand 7how happy shall the companions of the right hand be67 shall have their abode among lote-trees free from thorns1 and trees of many1 loaded regularly with their produce from top to bottom2 under an extended shade1 near a flowing water1 and amidst fruits in abundance1 which shall not fail1 nor shall be forbidden to be gathered3 and they shall repose themselves on lofty beds4 ,verily1 we have created the damsels of ,paradise by a peculiar creation2 and we have made them virgins beloved by their husbands1 of equal age with them2 for the delight of the companions of the right hand4 ,there shall be many of the former religions1 and many of the latter4 ,and the companions of the left hand 7how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be67 shall dwell amidst burning winds and scalding water1 under the shade of a black smoke1 neither cool nor agreeable40 ,,the ,,koran ,,on ,,the ,,judgment4 ,sura ,,lxxxi4 says3 8,when the sun shall be folded up2 and when the stars shall fall2#h and when the mountains shall be made to pass away2 and when the camels ten months gone with young shall be neglected2 and when the wild beasts shall be gathered together2 and when the seas shall boil2 and when the souls shall be joined again to their bodies2 and when the girl who hath been buried alive shall be asked for what crime she was put to death2 and when the books shall be laid open2 and when the heavens shall be removed2 and when hell shall burn fiercely2 and when ,paradise shall be brought near2 every soul shall know what it hath wrought40 ,,chapter ,,xxxvi4 ,,mohammedan ,,mosques ,,and ,,worship4 ,one silver crescent in the twilight sky is hanging1 ,another tips the solemn dome of yonder mosque1 ,and now the ,muezzin's call is heard1 sonorous1 clanging1 ,through thronged bazaar1 concealed harem and cool kiosk3 8,in the ,prophet's name1 ,god is ,god1 and there is no other40 ,on roofs1 in streets1 or closets1 beside his brother1 ,each ,moslem kneels1 his forehead turned toward ,mecca's shrine1 ,and all the world forgotten in the one thought divine4 ,,william ,,rounseville ,,alger4 8,la ,illah il' ,allah60 the ,muezzin's call1 ,comes from the minaret1 slim and tall1 ,that looks o'er the distant city wall4 8,la ,illah il' ,allah60 the ,faithful heed1 ,with ,god and the ,prophet this hour to plead1 ,whose ear is open to hear their need4 ,,bayard ,,taylor4 ,illustration3 ,,mohammedan ,,mosque ,,on ,,the ,,hooghly ,,river1 ,,near ,,calcutta1 ,,india4 ,the ,mohammedan mosques vary somewhat in their style of architecture in different countries4 ,their builders borrowed1 generally1 from the style of the various nations who adopted the ,moslem faith4 ,in ,christian lands1 they seized upon the ,christian churches or cathedrals1 and turned them into mosques2 in ,india1 the mosques are patterned after the temples of the ,buddhist ,jains 7this may be seen in the ,mohammedan mosque on the ,hooghly ,river1 near ,calcutta72 and in ,turkey1 they accepted the model of the ,byzantine architecture of ,constantinople4 ,two or three features are common in all4 ,the dome is one of the most common and most beautiful features of the mosques4 ,sometimes there is an open square in each mosque1 in the centre of which is a tank or fountain1 for the washing required in ,mohammedan worship4 ,arabesques and sentences from the ,koran are inscribed upon the walls2 and never is there an image or picture of any living thing to be discovered in any part of a mosque4 ,sometimes the floors are covered with mats or rugs2 there are no pews1 seats or benches1 for the worshiper sits1 in ,oriental fashion1 with his feet doubled under him1 upon the floor4 ,in one corner--the south-east--is a pulpit for the ,imm or teacher4 ,the ,imm is the most honored of ,moslem teachers1 and always wears a turban higher than that of the common teachers1 readers or ,moslems generally4 ,the people hold them in great reverence4 ,in the direction of ,mecca1 there is a niche in every mosque1 toward which the faithful must look whenever they pray4 ,opposite the pulpit is a platform having a reading-desk1 upon which is a copy of the ,koran--in ,arabic1 of course--for the ,moslems never allow the ,koran to be translated2 and as to printing it1 that is not permitted them1 except from lithographs1 so as to keep up the appearance that it is written4 ,no copy for a public reading would be allowed to be printed4 ,publication in the languages is not permitted1 except far away from ,arabia4 ,it would be thought grossly unholy in ,turkey to attempt such a thing4 ,illustration3 ,,gorgeous ,,exterior ,,of ,a ,,mohammedan ,,mosque ,,in ,,persia4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,,mosque ,,at ,,delhi1 ,,india4 ,,worship ,,in ,,the ,,mosques4 ,the congregations of the faithful gather for worship in the mosques on ,fridays4 ,this is the ,moslem ,sabbath1 because1 say they1 ,adam was created and died on ,friday1 and because on ,friday the world will be judged4 ,the worship consists simply of prayers and washings1 with an occasional sermon on a text from the ,koran4 ,during the service every one maintains the utmost solemnity2 though1 after the service they lounge1 chat and even make bargains in the sacred building4 ,on entering the mosque1 the ,moslem removes his shoes1 carrying them in his left hand1 sole to sole1 with great care1 putting his right foot first over the threshold4 ,he then goes through with the necessary ablutions 7often a mere sham1 a mere going through the motions17 and takes his place upon the matting1 laying his shoes before him4 ,the worshipers generally arrange themselves in rows facing the niche toward ,mecca4 ,women seldom go to the mosques1 and if they do1 they sit apart from the men4 ,the reason for this is that the ,koran does not say that women must pray1 and many ,moslems believe that women have no souls4 ,yet they believe that they will enter ,paradise1 but this is only that they may continue to be slaves of men2 each of the faithful is to have in ,paradise1 so they believe1 #hj1jjj slaves and #gb wives1 in addition to those he had in life and who evinced a faithful spirit4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,,mosque ,,of ,,st4 ,,sophia4 ,,dancing ,,and ,,howling ,,dervishes4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,whirling ,,dervish4 ,the ,dervishes are ,mohammedan monks4 ,they are among the most curious devotees of the ,moslem religion4 ,they perform their wonderful feats on ,friday afternoons in the mosques4 ,dr4 ,philip ,schaff writes of one of their performances which he witnessed3 8,after the preliminary exercises of prayer and prostration1 they whirl around on their toes1 ring within ring1 without touching each other1 for about an hour1 until they are utterly exhausted4 ,i saw thirteen of them all dressed in flowing gowns1 and with high white hats of stiff woolen stuff2 their hands were stretched or raised to heaven1 their eyes half closed1 and their minds apparently absorbed in the contemplation of ,allah4 ,they made about forty or fifty turnings a minute4 ,the ,howling ,dervishes swing their heads up and down1 crying incessantly with all their might1 #8,la llaha1 ill' ,allah6' and some other phrases1 until they are stopped by sheer exhaustion40 ,all this is done for the same reasons for which the ,fakirs of ,india1 and the devotees of other nations torment their bodies4 ,,the ,,smart ,,and ,,smarting ,,answer ,,of ,a ,,dervish4 ,in the north-west provinces of ,india there lived a ,dervish who was never guilty of using his tongue too freely in conversation4 ,if a nod or a sign would do1 he would spare his words4 ,he was considered a quiet1 inoffensive1 but shrewd man4 ,he went by the name of 8the holy ,dervish40 ,in the same place there lived a rich1 native gentleman1 good-natured1 but given now and then to frolics4 ,one day he proposed to some friends to go together and pay the holy ,dervish a visit4 8,i wish10 the gentleman said1 8to puzzle him with three questions which he will never be able to answer40 ,they found the holy man sitting near his hut in a newly-plowed field4 ,the ,mohammedan gentleman walked up to him1 and with great mock humility said unto him1 8,holy father1 ,i am troubled with three questions2 will you kindly answer them to me80 ,the ,dervish gave an affirmative nod4 ,the gentleman began4 8,the first question1 holy father1 is about ,god4 ,people say that there is a ,god2 but ,i cannot see ,him1 and no one can show ,him to me1 and therefore1 ,i cannot believe that there is a ,god4 ,will you answer this question80 ,a nod was the answer of the ,dervish4 8,my second question10 the gentleman continued1 8is about ,satan4 ,the ,koran says that ,satan is created of fire4 ,now1 if ,satan be created of fire1 how can hell-fire hurt him8 ,will you explain that too80 ,a nod4 8,the third question refers to myself4 ,it is said in the ,koran1 that every action of man is decreed2 now1 if it be decreed that ,i must commit a certain action1 how can ,god bring me into judgment for that action1 ,himself having decreed it8 ,please1 holy father1 answer me40 ,a nod was given by the ,dervish1 and whilst the party were standing and gazing at him1 he quietly seized a clod from the newly-plowed field and sent it with all his might at the gentleman's face4 ,the gentleman became furious1 and had the ,dervish carried before the judge4 ,arriving in court the gentleman stated his complaint1 saying the pain in his head was so severe that he hardly knew how to bear it4 ,the judge looked at the ,dervish1 and asked whether these things were so8 ,a nod was the reply2 but the judge said1 8,please explain yourself1 for nods will not do in my court40 ,the ,dervish replied1 8,this gentleman came to me with his companions1 and asked three questions which ,i carefully answered40 8,he did no such thing10 the gentleman exclaimed2 8a clod of earth he threw into my face--and oh1 how it pains me60 ,the judge looked at the ,dervish1 and said1 8,explain yourself40 8,i will10 was the answer4 8,please1 your honor1 this gentleman said to me that people maintained that there was a ,god1 but he could not see ,him1 nor could any one show him ,god1 and therefore he could not believe that there was a ,god4 ,now he says he has pain in his face from the clod ,i threw at him1 but ,i cannot see his pain4 ,will your honor kindly ask him to show us his pain1 for how can ,i believe he has any if ,i cannot see it80 8,again1 this gentleman asked1 that if ,satan was created of fire1 how could hell-fire hurt him8 ,now1 the gentleman will admit that ,father ,adam was created of earth1 and that himself also is earth4 ,now if he be earth1 how could a clod of earth hurt him80 ,and as to the third question1 the ,dervish drew himself up and said with great dignity1 8,sir1 if it be written in my fate to throw a clod at this gentleman's face1 how can and dare he bring me before the judge80 ,the judge allowed that the ,dervish had answered the three questions with his clod1 but admonished him to answer questions in future in a more becoming way1 as he might not be able to get himself off so easily from the usual penalties at another time4 ,,daily ,,worship4 ,illustration3 ,,moslem ,,boy ,,studying ,,the ,,koran4 ,five times daily the ,moslem says his prayers4 ,on the ship1 in the street1 in the house or store1 wherever he may be1 and forgetful of all his surroundings1 at the hour of prayer he spreads his mat1 sits upon it1 turning his face toward ,mecca1 raises his hands to heaven1 then bends until his forehead almost touches the ground4 ,his prayer is1 generally1 a recital of the first chapter of the ,koran4 ,the five hours of prayer are1 first1 between daybreak and sunrise1 a little past noon1 in the afternoon1 four minutes after sunset1 and at night-fall4 ,the times of prayer are announced from the minaret1 or tower1 of each mosque1 by the ,muezzin1 one of the under-officers of the mosque4 ,he chants the words 8,allah is great4 ,i testify that there is no ,god but ,allah4 ,i testify that ,mohammed is the apostle of ,allah4 ,come to prayer4 ,come to security4 ,allah is most great4 ,there is no ,deity but ,allah60 ,in the morning he adds1 8,prayer is better than sleep40 ,at night1 for the sake of the very pious1 two extra calls for prayer are sounded4 ,blind men are often chosen to be ,muezzins1 because the high position of the minaret would enable one who could see to get too full a view of the interior of the neighboring houses and harems4 ,the faithful from earliest childhood are required to be diligent students of the ,koran4 ,,the ,,mosque ,,of ,,st4 ,,sophia4 ,illustration3 ,,mosque ,,of ,,st4 ,,sophia1 ,,at ,,constantinople1 ,,turkey4 ,one of the most celebrated mosques is that of ,st4 ,sophia1 at ,constantinople4 ,this was once a ,christian cathedral4 ,it was originally built by ,constantine the ,great1 in #cbe ,a4,d4 ,it was destroyed in #djd ,a4,d41 rebuilt1 and again destroyed in #ecb4 ,after this ,justinian restored it4 ,it took seven years to build it4 ,ten thousand workmen were employed in its erection4 ,it was built of materials gathered from all over the ,roman ,empire1 and comprised remains of almost every celebrated heathen temple of ancient times4 ,the dome of the tabernacle was of solid gold1 and was surmounted by a solid golden cross1 encrusted with precious stones1 in all weighing seventy-five pounds4 ,the whole cathedral is said to have cost more than #fe1jjj1jjj 7,mr4 ,neale's estimate1 in his volume on the 8,eastern ,church407 ,in the year #adec ,a4,d41 when the ,turks entered ,constantinople1 they appropriated this cathedral for a mosque4 ,the ,christian emblems were removed1 destroyed or covered up with plaster2 the crosses were chiseled out of the walls2 the great cross on the summit of the dome was removed1 and the crescent took its place4 ,the crescent is a half moon1 with the horns turned upward4 ,it is the distinctive ,turkish emblem1 and1 in some sense1 the ,mohammedan symbol also4 ,,the ,,jummah ,,musjid ,,at ,,delhi1 ,,india4 ,illustration3 ,,mosque ,,at ,,delhi1 ,,containing ,a ,,hair ,,from ,,mohammed',s ,,beard4 ,illustration3 ,,entrance ,,to ,,the ,,mosque ,,at ,,delhi4 ,illustration3 ,,tower ,,of ,,the ,,koutub1 ,,india4 ,in ,delhi itself is probably the finest ,mohammedan mosque in all ,india4 ,this is called the ,jummah ,musjid 7the ,pearl ,mosque74 ,it is built entirely of sandstone1 and is raised upon a high terrace4 ,this masterpiece of ,indo-,mohammedan architecture is the most venerable monument of the ,moslems in ,india4 ,vivid though severe colors clothe every part of the building4 ,after mounting long flights of steps1 the visitor passes through huge bronze doors into a large1 open court1 with a fountain in its centre4 ,at one side is a piece of black marble1 in which is the print of ,mohammed's foot--at least1 the priests say so4 ,in the interior1 the roof1 pillars and pavement are of the purest white marble1 embroidered with finest arabesques4 ,these arabesques are composed of colored marbles1 and precious stones inlaid in the marble in various patterns of scroll-work or of inscription4 ,bishop ,heber said of this structure3 8,this spotless sanctuary1 showing such a pure spirit of adoration1 made me1 a ,christian1 feel humbled1 when ,i considered that no architect of our religion had ever been able to produce anything equal to this temple of ,allah40 ,but the worship is not now so pure4 ,the building is reverenced by the ,mohammedans1 not merely on account of its age or wondrous beauty1 but because it contains a most highly esteemed relic of ,mohammed4 ,from a small nook of solid marble1 with a carefully-locked door1 the priests take1 for the inspection of visitors and devotees1 a small silver case2 with slowest1 most cautious reverence1 the casket is unlocked1 and the priest exposes to view--a hair from ,mohammed's beard4 ,what would that fierce hater of relics and idols1 ,mohammed1 say1 could he but see how far his modern disciples have departed from his teachings8 ,besides the hair1 they retain as relics a garment and a pair of sandals which once belonged to the prophet4 ,delhi is to the ,moslems of ,india what ,mecca is to the ,moslems of ,arabia and ,egypt4 ,the city is surrounded by walls seven miles in extent ,in the suburbs one rides through miles of ruins of mosques1 towers and tombs4 ,few cities have had as splendid a career as ,delhi1 and few have suffered as greatly4 ,one of the marks of the ,mohammedan conquest in ,india1 #fjj years ago1 is the giant tower of the ,koutub1 near ,agra4 ,it is the highest tower1 standing alone1 in the world2 built of red sandstone1 fluted1 and has five stories4 ,the mention of ,agra recalls one of the most famous structures of the world1 erected by a ,moslem ,mogul of ,india4 ,shortly after a visit to this famous ,mohammedan monument1 ,dr4 ,h4 ,m4 ,field wrote the accompanying description of it and of his visit3 ,,the ,,taj ,,mahal1 ,,the 8,,jewel ,,of ,,india40 ,illustration3 ,,taj ,,mahal1 ,,the ,,tomb ,,of ,,the ,,empress ,,mumtaj ,,mahal1 ,,at ,,agra1 ,,india4 ,the jewel of ,india--the ,koh-i-noor of its beauty--is the ,taj1 the tomb built by the ,emperor ,shah ,jehan1 the grandson of ,akbar1 for his wife1 whom he loved with an idolatrous affection1 and on her death-bed promised to rear to her memory such a mausoleum as had never been erected before4 ,to carry out his purpose1 he gathered architects from all countries1 who rivaled each other in the extravagance and costliness of their designs4 ,the result was a structure which cost fabulous sums of money 7the whole empire being placed under contribution for it1 as were the ,jews for the ,temple of ,solomon71 and employed #bj1jjj workmen for seventeen years4 ,the building thus erected is one of the most famous in the world--like the ,alhambra or ,st ,peter's--and of which enthusiastic travelers are apt to say that it is worth going around the world to see4 ,this would almost discourage the attempt to describe it1 but ,i will try and give some faint idea of its marvelous beauty4 ,but how can ,i describe to others what is but a picture in my memory8 ,descriptions of architecture are apt to be vague1 unless aided by pictorial illustrations4 ,mere figures and measurements are dry and cold4 ,the most ,i shall aim at will be to give a general 7but ,i hope not indistinct7 impression of it4 ,for this1 let us approach it gradually4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,scene ,,on ,,the ,,jumna4 ,it stands on the banks of the ,jumna1 a mile below the tort at ,agra4 ,as you approach it1 it is not exposed abruptly to view1 but is surrounded by a garden4 ,you enter under a lofty gate-way1 and before you is an avenue of cypresses1 a third of a mile long1 whose dark foliage is a setting for a form of dazzling whiteness at the end4 ,that is the ,,taj4 ,it stands1 not on the level of your eye1 but on a double terrace2 the first1 of red sandstone1 #bj feet high and #a1jjj feet broad1 at the extremities of which stand two mosques1 of the same dark stone1 facing each other4 ,midway between rises the second terrace1 of marble1 #ae feet high and #cjj feet square1 on the corners of which stand four marble minarets4 ,in the centre of all1 thus 8reared in air10 stands the ,,taj4 ,it is built of marble--no other material than this1 of pure and stainless white1 was fit for a purpose so sacred4 ,it is #aej feet square 7or rather1 it is eight-sided1 since the corners are truncated71 and surmounted by a dome1 which rises nearly #bjj feet above the pavement below4 ,these figures rather belittle the ,,taj1 or1 at least1 disappoint those who looked for great size4 ,there are many larger buildings in the world4 ,but that which distinguishes it from all others1 and gives it a rare and ideal beauty1 is the union of majesty and grace4 ,this is the peculiar effect of ,saracenic architecture4 ,the slender columns1 the springing arches1 the swelling domes1 the tall minarets1 all combine to give an impression of airy lightness1 which is not destroyed even when the foundations are laid with massive solidity4 ,but it is in the finish of their structure that they excelled all the world4 ,bishop ,heber said truly3 8,they built like ,titans and finished like jewelers40 ,this union of two opposite features makes the beauty of the ,,taj4 ,while its walls are thick and strong1 they are pierced by high arched windows which relieve their heaviness4 ,vines and arabesques running over the stone-work give it the lightness of foliage1 of trees blossoming with flowers4 ,in the interior there is an extreme and almost feminine grace1 as if here the strength of man would pay homage to the delicacy of woman4 ,inclosing the sacred place is a screen of marble1 carved into a kind of fret-work1 and so pure and white that light shines through it as through alabaster1 falling softly on that which is within4 ,the ,emperor1 bereaved of his wife1 lavished riches on her very dust1 casting precious stones upon her tomb as if he were placing a string of pearls around her neck4 ,it is overrun with vines and flowers1 cut in stone1 and set with onyx1 and jasper1 and lapis-lazuli1 carnelians and turquoises1 and chalcedonies1 and sapphires4 ,but the body rests in the crypt below4 ,we descend a few steps and stand by the very sarcophagus in which all that loveliness is enshrined4 ,another sarcophagus contains the body of her husband4 ,their tombs were covered with fresh flowers1 a perpetual tribute to that love which was so strong even on the throne1 to those who were thus united in life1 and in death are not divided4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,,the ,,taj1 ,,the ,,tomb ,,of ,,mahal4 ,here sentiment comes in to affect our sense of the beauty of the place4 ,if it were not for the touching history connected with it1 ,i could not agree with those who pronounce the ,,taj the most beautiful building in the world4 ,merely as a building1 it does not 8overcome0 me so much as another marble structure--the ,cathedral of ,milan4 ,i could not say with ,bishop ,heber that the mosques of ,islam are more beautiful1 or more in harmony with the spirit of devotion1 than ,christian churches or cathedrals4 ,but the ,,taj is not a mosque1 it is a tomb--a monument to the dead4 ,and that gives it a tender interest1 which spiritualizes the cold marble1 and makes it more than a building--a poem and a dream4 ,as we came out the moon was riding high overhead1 flooding the marble pile with beauty4 ,round and round we walked1 looking up at arch and dome and minaret4 ,at such an hour the ,,taj was so pale and ghost-like1 that it did not seem like a building reared by human hands1 but to have grown where it stood--like a night-blooming ,cereus1 rising slowly in the moonlight--lifting its domes and pinnacles 7like branches growing heavenward7 toward that world which is the home of the love which it was to preserve in perpetual memory4 ,with such thoughts we kept our eyes fixed on that glittering vision1 as if we feared that even as we gazed it might vanish out of our sight4 ,below us the ,jumna1 flowing silently1 seemed like an image of human life as it glided by4 ,and so at last we turned to depart1 and bade farewell to the ,,taj1 feeling that we should never look at it again2 but hoping that it might stand for ages to tell its history of faithful love to future generations4 ,flow on1 sweet ,jumna1 by the marble walls1 reflecting the moonbeams on thy placid breast2 and in thy gentle murmurs whispering evermore of ,love and ,death1 and ,love that cannot die6 ,,pilgrimages ,,and ,,festivals4 ,illustration3 ,,mohammaden ,,feast ,,of ,,mohurrim4 ,mecca1 the birthplace of ,mohammed1 is the holy place of the ,moslems4 ,the ,kaaba1 ,mohammed's homestead1 is the holy place of ,mecca4 ,from all over ,moslemdom once in every year great caravans go to visit the birth place of the prophet4 ,this is the event in the lives of the faithful4 ,the long processions1 mounted on camels1 gorgeously caparisoned1 file out from the cities1 and across hill1 and plain1 and over the desert to ,mecca4 ,mohammedanism is probably the most active of the non-,christian religions4 ,the pilgrimages1 the numbers of missionaries and the seeming devotion of the people1 as manifested in their attendance at the mosques1 and on the occasions of festivals indicate this4 ,one of their festivals1 celebrated in ,india1 arouses their religious zeal1 and carries it to the highest pitch of fanaticism4 ,this is the feast of ,mohurrim1 the ,moslem 8,feast of ,martyrs10 commemorating the bloody death of ,mohammed's grandsons4 8,the martyrdom of these ,moslem saints is commemorated by little shrines in their houses1 made of paper and tinsel1 and on the great day of the feast they go in procession out of the city 7of ,delhi7 to a cemetery five miles distant where they bury them in newly-opened graves4 ,men1 women and children by tens of thousands on foot1 and others in bullock-carts or mounted on horses1 camels and elephants4 ,immense crowds gather by the roadside1 mounting the steps of old palaces or climbing to the tops of houses1 to see this mighty procession pass1 as it goes rolling forward in a wild frenzy to the cemetery4 ,there they lay down these images of their saints as they would bury their dead40 ,,conclusion4 ,the ,mohammedan religion was established by the sword1 it has constantly suffered by the sword1 it seems destined to perish by the sword4 ,its history is tracked with blood4 ,it has kept back the nations that have accepted it1 retarding their progress4 ,it has degraded woman4 ,it has no teachings of sin or a ,sacrifice or a ,saviour4 ,god is the 8,all merciful10 but ,his mercy is1 according to ,moslem teachings1 with utter disregard of justice4 ,to be a ,moslem is all that is necessary to obtain mercy1 to refuse to yield to the faith of ,mohammed is all that is needed to deprive one of ,god's mercy4 ,the idea of ,god is cold and cruel1 with no idea of the ,father4 ,but ,mohammedanism has rendered this service to the world1 it has greatly lessened idolatry4 ,the most stubborn opposition to ,christian missionary work comes from the ,mohammedans4 ,but the whole building of ,mohammedanism1 especially in its political relations1 seems to be tottering and crumbling1 and threatens soon to fall in ruins4 ,may the ,cross soon gain a peaceful1 bloodless triumph over the ,crescent6 ,,chapter ,,xxxvii4 ,,winning ,,the ,,world ,,to ,,the ,,worship ,,of ,,the ,,one ,,god4 ,there is a cry in ,burmah1 and a rush ,of thousand footsteps from the distant bound ,of watery ,siam and the rich ,cathay4 ,not for food ,or raiment ask they4 ,simply girding on ,the scanty garment o'er the weary limb1 ,they pass unmarked the lofty domes of wealth ,inquiring for a stranger4 ,there he stands2 ,the mark of foreign climes is on his brow2 ,he hath no power1 no costly gifts to deal ,among the people1 and his lore perchance ,the earth-bowed worldling1 with his scales of gold1 ,accounteth folly4 ,yet to him is raised ,each straining eyeball1 8,tell us of the ,christ60 ,and like the far-off murmur of the sea ,lashed by the tempest1 swelled their blended tone1 8,sir1 we would hear of ,christ4 ,give us a scroll ,bearing ,his name40 ,,mrs4 ,l4 ,h4 ,,sigourney4 ,before concluding the pleasant task upon which he has been engaged so long1 the author feels that it will be necessary to meet the expectation that he should say something about the work of bringing the world back to its first worship4 ,at first1 we have seen1 the world worshiped one ,god2 then many gods and idols were introduced4 ,repeated efforts to restore the pure worship of primitive times ended in failure4 ,zoroaster tried and failed2 ,buddha tried1 and he failed2 ,mohammed tried1 and he failed2 ,jesus the ,christ tried1 and ,he did not fail4 ,,why ,,give ,,the ,,gospel ,,to ,,the ,,world8 ,illustration3 ,,two ,,new ,,zealanders3 ,,the ,,savage ,,te ,,wetere ,,and ,,the ,,christian ,,te ,,kote4 ,the ground of the success of ,christianity lies in its superior character4 ,its revelations are clearer and fuller1 its motives are purer1 and its hopes are higher than those of any heathen system4 ,one may glean the choicest sayings of the masters of religious teachings1 and in comparison with those of ,jesus the ,christ1 their light is as that of a candle compared with the light of the sun4 ,undoubtedly this conviction has forced itself upon the mind of the reader as he has considered the various systems of religion2 that there is not one among them all that can do for the world that which ,christianity can accomplish4 ,compare the founders of religions with the ,founder of ,christianity1 in their lives1 characters and teachings4 ,compare together the sacred books2 the ,vedas1 the laws of ,manu1 the ,zend-,avesta1 the ,tripitakas and the ,koran1 with the ,bible4 ,compare the effects of these religions upon the political1 social1 civil and domestic life of the people with the effects of ,christianity2 compare ,christian and heathen lands1 ,christian and heathen homes1 ,christian and heathen governments4 ,compare the best parts of the best of heathen religions with any part of ,christianity4 ,one cannot but see the marked contrasts1 and the infinite superiority of ,christianity4 ,this being so1 then does it not follow that they who are seeking to give the ,gospel of ,jesus the ,christ to the world are rendering a service to the cause of humanity8 ,and they are but obeying the command of ,jesus ,christ to 8preach the ,gospel to every creature40 ,a young curate1 who had fed on ,sydney ,smith's diet of sarcastic witticisms1 once approached the ,duke of ,wellington with the question1 8,do you not think that the work of converting the ,hindus is all a fanatical farce80 8,look to your marching orders1 sir60 the stern old ,iron ,duke replied4 ,common gratitude moves us to desire that the world shall be made to know of ,jesus ,christ4 ,when we read of the worship of our heathen ancestors1 and remember that we should have been doing to-day as they did1 had it not been for the ,christian men who took the ,gospel to ,england1 we feel new obligations resting upon us4 ,further1 all things are working to this end4 ,inventions1 explorations1 the discoveries of science1 progress in government1 everything waits upon this work4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,work4 ,it began #a1hej years ago4 ,a ,christian man named ,paul went among the heathen of ,asia ,minor and ,south-eastern ,europe--among the worshipers of the gods of ,greece and ,rome--to tell them of ,christ4 ,he was accompanied by other ,christians4 ,they met with considerable success1 though they were made to suffer for it4 ,in later years1 from ,rome1 that had then become the centre of ,christianity1 other ,christians went to ,western ,europe4 ,from ,greenland1 of the ,arctic ,zone1 to the ,west ,indies1 of the ,tropics1 ,christianity was extended4 ,nation after nation gave up its idols1 cruel customs were abolished1 and a purer life and worship was begun4 ,but it was left for the last hundred years to witness the development of this work to its greatest extent4 ,,the ,,present ,,position ,,of ,,the ,,christian ,,army4 ,the ,christian camp-fires are lighted and the tents of the ,christian army have been erected in almost every land of the globe4 ,the conquering army pursues only peaceful methods2 it does not seek to drive but to win2 not to harm but to help4 ,in gaining its present position many lives have been lost1 many sacrifices have been made4 ,it has had to contend for the ground it occupies1 inch by inch2 the forces of idolatry have been mustered against its advance4 ,the giant ,goliath1 ,heathenism1 has counted on a speedy destruction of the stripling ,david1 ,christianity4 ,one country after another has opened its doors to the coming of ,christianity4 ,india1 in the year #agje1 opened her doors only to close them again after a little2 since #ahcj1 however1 the work has been prosecuted vigorously4 ,china1 in #ahjg1 and ,japan1 in #ahei1 welcomed the first ,protestant ,christian missionaries4 ,thus1 too1 other countries of ,asia1 ,africa and the ,islands of the ,pacific have received the ,christian heralds1 within the last hundred years4 ,now behold them marshaled for the fight4 ,let us hastily glance at the various fields in succession4 ,a ,,flight ,,over ,,the ,,fields4 ,let us rub our ,aladdin's lamps1 and summon the genii to bear us away over the world4 ,let us on imagination's swift wings fly over the battle-fields4#i ,in ,japan we see ,buddhism being galvanized into a new life for the moment1 and ,shintoism cast off by the government and in great part by the people4 ,we see a few new temples being erected1 but many old ones falling into ruins4 ,western ideas have been introduced1 and western civilization is making rapid progress in this most eastern land4 ,one hundred and twenty-three ,christian missionaries have won #c1jjj ,japanese to join their churches4 ,the ,japanese have the ,new ,testament in their own language4 ,corea has just been reached by missionaries1 and the ,new ,testament is being published in the ,corean language4 ,old ,china is being brought to the childhood of conversion to ,christ2 her conservatism is passing away2 her exclusive policy is being yielded up2 her hatred of the foreigners 7the 8foreign devils0 and 8barbarians07 is being overcome and replaced by respect and in some cases by love4 ,to-day a man behaving himself properly and not bearing himself insolently1 can travel unmolested in any part of ,china1 even where foreigners once were murdered4 ,every one of its provinces has been visited by ,christian missionaries2 in almost all they reside4 ,the language 7said to have been invented by the devil to perplex missionaries7 is very thoroughly understood and used4 ,their false science and law is being replaced by true instruction4 ,christ is taking ,confucius's place1 as it is seen that his teaching can never regenerate ,china4 ,buddha's dreary faith of annihilation1 and ,lao-tze's superstitious materialism are being slowly yielded up by the people4 ,the taking of this ,gibraltar of heathenism is by no means accomplished2 yet her walls are being scaled1 and a foothold on their summit gained4 ,they that have turned the world upside down have gone thither also4 ,by unique and unexpected providence1 ,god is aiding ,his workers4 ,the recent terrible famine was such a providence4 ,yet while the number of converts is not great1 a very great deal of unseen work has been accomplished4 ,it seems as though a whole legion of devils catch up the seed of the ,gospel sown in ,china1 almost as quickly as it touches the ground2 still some1 and much1 brings forth good fruit4 ,considering the powerful opposition1 the gigantic obstacles1 the almost insurmountable difficulties1 that there should be #ai1jjj living ,chinese ,christians to-day1 and probably #he1jjj nominal ,christians1 is surprising4 ,to-day #dif missionaries are at work in ,china1 seeking to convert its #djj1jjj1jjj people4 ,moravian missionaries are preaching the ,gospel of ,christ on the borders of ,thibet1 the stronghold of ,buddhism4 ,it is here that the ,buddhist ,lama or ,pope resides4 ,in ,siam great changes have recently occurred4 ,the country is now open to foreigners2 a missionary is in charge of the government school and this nation1 like ,japan1 seems to be progressing toward the light4 ,twenty-four missionaries 7one among ,chinese colonists71 with #fca converts represent the strength of the church there4 ,in ,assam 8the light of a brighter day gilds the hill-tops and spreads along the valleys1 ripening the long corn-fields for the reaper's sickle40 ,long and patient toil has not as yet been rewarded with great harvest gatherings1 but the missionaries look forward in patient waiting for a better day4 ,there are #ac churches1 with #a1hjj members2 #bf missionaries1 and #ge native preachers4 ,there are ,european missionaries in ,borneo1 ,celebes1 and the ,moluccas2 among the aborigines of ,australia1 and in the ,island of ,mauritius4 ,what a grand work has been done in ,burmah1 where missionary labor has been so emphatically blessed2 among ,burmese1 ,karens1 ,shans and ,kakyens4 ,the young mission at ,bhamo is in a precarious condition at present1 owing to the relations of ,king ,thee-bau to ,england2 yet the missionaries there stand by their posts4 ,the ,buddhism of ,burmah seems as yet but little affected by the presence of ,christianity2 the work among the ,karens has made more rapid progress than among the ,burmese1 because of the preparation for the ,gospel by their singular traditions and prophecies4 ,there are #bc1jjj ,christians1 the nucleus of a ,christian community of about #ge1jjj4 ,there are #ajc missionaries in ,burmah4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,missionary ,,home ,,in ,,burmah4 ,india has been very thoroughly evangelized4 ,the opposition of the representatives of so-called ,christian nations1 the strength of caste1 and the attachment to the elaborate system of ,hinduism were the principal obstacles to the progress of ,christianity4 ,five-sixths of all the converts are from the lower castes or ranks of the people4 ,by education in mission-schools1 but mainly by direct preaching1 about #aae1jjj converts have been made4 ,there is a native ,christian community 7,m4 ,a4 ,sherring says7 of a half a million4 ,six hundred and seven missionaries were at work in #ahge4 ,one of the most extraordinary events of all modern missionary history was the sudden turning of the thousands of ,teloogoos to ,christ4 ,the people of ,india have been greatly enlightened1 thought awakened1 and a wonderful transformation is occurring4 ,the sacrifice of infants1 the horrible practice of suttee1 the ,juggernaut festivals1 are no more tolerated4 ,english and ,american ladies have gained an entrance into the zenanas1 and the women of ,india are becoming aware of a new life of which they never dreamed4 ,all over ,india1 ,christian villages and churches dot the land2 and before another generation has passed away1 if the increase shall be proportionate to the recent past1 ,india will be a ,christian country4 ,the ,brahmo-,somaj1 a sort of reform on ,brahminism1 has recently drawn very near to ,christianity1 and as illustrated by ,keshub ,chunder ,sen's recent remarkable address may soon become a ,christian body4 ,little has been undertaken in ,afghanistan1 ,beloochistan or ,arabia1 as yet4 ,there are #bi missionaries and #a1cgf converts in ,persia4 ,the converts are principally from the ,nestorians1 who have long been nominally ,christians4 ,access to the ,mohammedans is becoming easier4 ,in ,turkey1 momentous changes are occurring4 ,the despicable1 despotic government is losing its power4 ,here the first triumphs of the first missionaries were won4 ,the old ,armenian race1 the ,anglo-,saxons of the ,east1 who received ,christianity in the fourth century1 have in later years shown a remarkable readiness to receive ,protestant preaching4 ,the ,mohammedans1 here as elsewhere1 are almost inaccessible4 ,in ,constantinople alone1 a city of the size of ,philadelphia1 they have #cjj mosques4 ,there are #aeh missionaries in ,turkey1 and #g1bjj converts1 and #ad1jjj children in their schools4 ,in ,syria there is a strong missionary body4 ,it is difficult to reach the ,jews1 ,mussulmans and ,christians 7,greek and ,roman ,catholic churches71 because of their exceeding religiosity4 ,the ,american ,congregationalists and ,presbyterians1 and also the ,church of ,england1 have missionaries here4 ,there are #a1cag ,protestant ,christians1 #aaj missionaries1 and #ab1jeg scholars in ,syria4 ,central ,asia is almost the only part of the world yet closed against the ,gospel1 though even here a little has been done by the brave old ,joseph ,wolff and ,english officers4 ,africa1 the dark continent1 has a population of about #bjj1jjj1jjj4 ,mohammedanism has thoroughly overrun ,africa1 especially the northern portions4 ,fetichism1 the lowest form of idolatry1 holds the great mass of the ,african peoples4 ,there are two missions in ,egypt2 the ,british1 with one missionary and two stations1 and the ,american1 with twenty-two missionaries1 thirty-four stations and #a1jjj members1 mainly from the ,copts1 an old ,christian sect4 ,the children in the mission-schools are mostly ,mohammedan4 ,in ,south ,africa twelve or fifteen societies have not less than #dj1jjj converts4 ,the western coast1 from ,sierra ,leone to the ,gulf of ,guinea1 is fringed with ,christian missions4 ,at the mouth of the ,congo1 on the west1 and on the ,niger and ,zanzibar coast1 on the east1 the missions are flourishing4 ,the greatest interest attaches to the very recent occupancy of ,central ,africa4 ,on ,november #aeth1 #ahgf1 ,stanley's famous letter1 mentioning ,king ,mtesa's request for ,christian teachers1 was received4 ,a few days after1 #bj1jjj were offered to found a mission at ,victoria ,nyanza4 ,within seven months a picked party of seven missionaries stood on the eastern shore of ,africa4 ,they have experienced great difficulties and met with slight success4 ,madagascar may be called a ,christian country now1 as may also the ,sandwich ,islands1 the ,british ,west ,indies1 and1 perhaps1 the greater part of the islands of ,polynesia4 ,in ,mexico1 and in ,south ,america1 as in the ,papal lands of ,europe1 ,protestant missionaries are laboring4 8,the field is the world20 the motto is--the world for ,christ and ,christ for the world4 ,the great triumphs of the past are being eclipsed by the greater ones of the present4 ,the old decrepit and deformed sects of ,christianity1 long sleeping if not long dead1 are taking on a new life4 ,the ,pagan religions are attempting the impossible task of preventing the incoming of ,christianity2 but their thraldom is broken1 and everywhere the dropping of the broken fetters is heard4 ,mohammedanism alone is gathering itself with vigor to resist and repel and overcome ,christianity1 but its sword has been wrested from its grasp4 ,the conquests of ,christianity have not been won by might of sword2 her victories over old faiths have not been gained by worldly wisdom4 ,by love1 by persuasion1 by patient toil and suffering1 the self-offered but ,god-called missionaries have done this work4 ,god be praised for their lives1 their works and their successes4 ,may the day soon come when1 his 8,gospel having been published throughout the whole world for a testimony to all the nations10 ,christ1 by whose command they went forth1 shall come and gather out of all nations ,his own6 ,,index4 ,abhidharma1 #ead ,abu ,bekr1 #gbh ,abyssinia1 #gbd ,adar1 #acj 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,french scholar of ,assyrian antiquities1 is our authority for the main part of this chapter1 and we have quoted liberally from his writings4 #c ,king of ,congo4 #d ,contributed by the ,rev4 ,r4 ,m4 ,luther1 of ,burmah4 #e ,a crore is #aj1jjj1jjj2 a thousand thousand crores would be #aj million millions4 #f ,monk4 #g ,abbot4 #h ,bayard ,taylor writes thus3 8,till the sun grows cold ,and the stars are old ,and the leaves of the ,judgment ,book unfold40 #i ,the facts and figures that follow are gathered from the latest reports of over seventy missionary societies of ,germany1 ,france1 ,great ,britain and ,america4 ,these are in the writer's possession1 and from them he presents the latest ascertainable returns to ,march #bjth1 #ahha4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 #a4 ,obvious printers'1 punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently4 #b4 ,where hyphenation is in doubt1 it has been retained as in the original4 #c4 ,some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original4 #d4 ,italics are shown as xxx4