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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY    14S80 

(716)  B72-4S03 


ZP< 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibiiogrcphically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


n 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvertura  da  coulaur 


j      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couvertura  endommagee 


I  Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

I I    Couverture  restaur^a  et/ou  pelliculee 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  da  couverture  manque 


I       I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.e.  autre  qua  blaua  ou  noiral 


D 

□     Boun 
Rati* 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  at/ou  illustrations  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 

avac  d'autras  documants 


Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliura  sarree  paut  causer  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  la  long  de  la  marga  Interieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  taxte. 
mais.  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  cas  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplementaires 


L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'll  lui  a  ete  possible  de  se  procurer    Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peutatre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous 


j       I    Coloured  pages/ 


0 


Pages  da  coulaur 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommageas 


I       I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6colorees,  tachet^es  ou  piquees 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachees 

0Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varie 
Quality  in^gale  de  I'i 


n 


es/ 
mpression 


□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  supplamentaire 

□    Only  edition  available/ 
Saula  Edition  disponibl« 


isponibia 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc  .  haua  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possit"!"*  image/ 
Les  pages  totalament  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc..  cnt  ite  fllm^es  A  nouveau  de  facon  a 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible 


This  item  Is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqua  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  "loX  22X 


T 


T 


12X 


16X 


26X 


30X 


y 


20X 


24  X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), Of  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  At6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  teru  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  s-^nt  fllmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  ternilnant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  cummenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »-  signifle  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts   etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  fiimA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

irii> 


NEW  MATERIALS 


FOR    THE    HISTORY    OF    MAN, 


oniTis  rsoK 


A  COMPARISON  OF  THE  CUSTOMS  AND  SUPERSTITIONS 

OF  NATIONS. 


Read  bipobs  th«  Nova  Scotian  Institote  or  Natural  Science. 


/ 


f.,    ' 


BT 


R.    G.    HALIBURTON,    F.  A.  S. 

V.  P.  of  N.  S.  Institute. 


*  » I  ■  ♦■ 


HALIFAX.  N.  S. 

PBINTED  BY  THEOPHILUS  CHAMBERLAIN 

1869. 


■i 


A 


f. 


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■\ 


V 


INTRODUCTION. 


Wtu-.N  a  .school  of  Ethnol.ijrists,  who  include  in  their  number  the 
illu>triou>  name  of  Agasr-iz,  dispute  the  truth  of  revelation,  maintaining 
that  th,..  \iV.  .!!.  A.,..  ri.-;m.  .i,.i  (^ih.r  r;i  ..^  ^jvanj!  ^.n  diff^ront  -centres 
of  creation;'  any  arguments  tiiai  c...  usLi'.l.row  so  dangerous  a  theory  arc 
ontiilfd  to  great  consideration,  no  matter  how  trivial  or  absurd  may  be  the 
^ubjL•ct  to  whi.'l)  they  refer.  It  i.  hardly  ueeessary  to  premise  that,  if  the 
view  of  the  American  Ethnologists  is  correct— that  certain  branches  of  the 
huiuiid  toHiily  weic  creuicd  iu  I'uc  tuuiuric-  \>-lmii  U'-'-}  li-w  ii:i:aU!i,— 
there  can  be  nu  similarity  in  the  customs  and  suiierstitions  of  all  nations, 
excepting  in  those  which  the  common  want3,  impulses,  or  perceptions  of 
men    wmdd    necessarily   suggest   to    them   in  all  countries,    and   at  all 

time-. 

Any  very  marked  id-ntitv  in  th-s  p'.rfip„1ar  i<  a  difficulty  in  the  way  of 
l*rofes.-or  Agassiz  and  hi<  U«.ini>.  Hut  th.'  difecuhy  becomes  greater,  if 
tlie  identity  exists  in  the  ob-eivauct-  ul  a  custom,  that  is  of  a  nature  so 
trivial  or  absurd,  as  not  to  be  likely  to  Ije  suggested  by  nature  to  all  men 
iu  all  ccamtries  ;  and  the  argument  against  their  view  becomes  irresistible, 
when  we  tind  a  large  number  of  ..uper..titions  and  customs  common  to  all 
men,  identical  in  their  meaning  and  mode  of  observance;  and  still  more 
wlien  there  is  a  marked  rescuiblance  in  the  very  time  when  these  customs 
are  observed,  especially  when  tlic  raujic  of  the  cu.-tom  extends  from  far 
north  of  the  Eijuator  to  tlie  most  southerly  portions  of  the  world,  and  is 
found  encircling  the  globe,  existing  in  all  latitudes  and  in  every  cli- 
mate. 

It  is  needless  to  say,  that  if  such  customs  exist,  and  cannot  be  supitoscd 
to  have  been  b.,rrowed,  we  are  inevitably  driven  to  the  conclusion  that 
they  were  i»/>rnted,  and.    i.'  inlu  ,:,.vl.   i;  ui'.-t  have  been  from  u  common 

origin 

My    attention  has   eonsequenth    '     ri  devoted,   during  the   past  nine 
."   .    .u„  .._:„* ,.♦•  nort«;ii   .u.nnlar  custom.s  and  suDerstitions,  the 


Sii'i'i 


I 


riS 


antiquity  of  wbieh   has  for  eonmrin     i 

-ivcalit,.  however,  hafl:  ^I^I^^L:  y''V'  ^*'"^^^^    ^^- 

To  attempt  to  trace  them  u^  their  ori^i,,  h-.     I 
have  treated  of  the.n,  as  bein,  a  wl  ^V  T"'  ^T' >  ^''  ''  '''  "'^ 
v.owe.l  as  curious  «..V^«..««:.l,,,,r;;';  /"^   ''"'   ^•"-'  '-» 
"^  -«!'!-  A;^A...VW  n,e.o..iaIs  in  the  ^  H  ""'  '■*■''"''■■''  "  ''' 

Ji>oprmc,,mlwork.ou,hcH,l.,Vct  are   ■   U       r    r 

i-His;  "Hone's  Kvery-.lav  lUk- •••  T^  7'. '^^'"^'' ^^Juseum,  Sir  ll.nrv 
Mr.  llolcrt  Chambers'  -^  /j  J"'^'  f  ^  '''^^  ^'^'-'^-i^'  =' '  and 
published  Jast  year.  '^''      ''"'  '^''■^^  ^•"''"-'<'  "f-  whi.  I.   was 

abi^tXLinai!!:  'u^;,::"!  .^^  't"  ''^'^^^^  ^"'--""-  '^ 

the  fountain-heads  of  those  st^::!:^^-  ''^'"^  "'''^  '"  "-'> 
since  the  very  eom,uence,.ent  of  ti^^e  '  ""  '•"""'""-'■-'  "—in^' 

r  turned  ,ny  attention  to  this  sul.jeet  m.n.lv   f      n 
ourmg  „,atenals  tor  un  a.nu.ln.  U,^ .        ^^   ^"  ^'",  ^"^P"-^*^  "f'  F"'- 
Witl.  the  subject,  the  n.ore  on^il'      T  ,'  '  '"'"  ^   ^'^^"^  ^^"'"•- 

-to,nsof  nations  was  ds::^^"^""^'   ''-'l  l'^'  '''--y  -   the 

t'-i.  origin  was  not  as  unatbk  n"'  '"^■^'   '"''"''^'   '""^   ^^'^'^ 

I--li„,lywrotetJ  ,;;j    ''•^^''^"'•P-''- 

^^I'i^'-  I  was  ,h.„  cuuneec;,  ,/       7  !'"''''"'"  '"^  '"Ve.ri.ation.. 

conviction  .f  ,|,„  L    Z      '^\r':  '^  P''-   ''  ^^''''^""^'  '"'''-^-  '- 
.-To,  P-'^->>.'^k  that  I  had  undertaken:- 

-,'c:,;;;';:::;:;,;::':'.;7  '-;'ib-  ^umi-h.,  n,e  with ....  i,torn,atio„ 

^^^  t-  -ny  .dumat..:.,,.,..       |.-„.,;   .  "'rl':^  ^^'^  "^'^''""J  v^'iy  sceptical 
J'ad,hep|.aMUv,t„.cv-;M.V  "'   ''"'"  ^^'  '^'":-' I  have 

^ivenK.a.    a...,unt  of  uJl^-JJZ  TIT"'   '"""•    "   "'^"■''  >'"" 
^I.I.:1.  ^ ...  a:<.  c.  .^...1       T^,  ^  ^'^  ^  ^  ""'""""^  ^■^^'^^'"h-  i" 

a'-uHiMt   ,,f  ,,„,„ii.^.  ,,  ,  iJOok  ot  JJa}^,     giving  an 

unive,>al,ty  'riheiroiv!;;!:     "'    '"'  ^""°   '"'^   '''«   ^'^'^-"t   -f  Lir 

«''lo^;r';i,r:::;,;;;,:,^;^:^7^;;:^--- J;''  ""---"..t  hm  see  s,„„ethin.  r.nnrk 


Had  I  not  been  already  convinced  that  the  undertaking  I  l^J^  com- 
menced was  not  only  practicable,  but  also  comparatively  easy,  I  should 
have  been  effectually  deterred  from  any  fr.rther  investigations  into  a  field 
regarded  by  all,  who  had  treated  of  it,  as  beyond  the  range  of  enquiry. 
Hut  I  felt  assured  that  the  difficulty  that  had  previously  appeared  so 
ereat   arose  fro.u  the  mode  in  wh^eh  the  subject  had  In^en  handled^ 

None  can  question  the  accuracy  of  Sir  Henry  Ellis'  remark,  that  "  o 
trace  back''  customs  to  their  origin  is  a  hopeless  task.  Philology  would 
have  made  but  slow  progress,  if  students  of  that  science  had  been  com. 
nelled  to  trace  back  languages  to  their  origin.  I  have  adopted  therefore, 
exactlv  the  sanio  principles  of  investigation  as  Professor  Max  Muller 
and  other  philologists  have  made  use  of,  viz.,  a  eo,npar>sou  of  customs. 

Phil,ilo-ists  fin.l  Sanscrit,  Creek  and  German  sister  languages,  not  by 
feelin-^thoirwav  through  the  mists  of  antiquity,  that  veil  the  wanderings 
of  the  wide-spread  Indo-European  races  from  the  home  of  their  Anan 
,ncestor..  but  by  a  ronwariso"  and  analysis  of  <'^isfinj  languages;  the 
results  have  opened  up  an  era  in  the  life  of  our  race  long  anterior  to  the 
biith  of  history  or  even  of  tradition. 

I  have  pur-uod  precisely  the   s.une  iikkIc  of  investigation,   which  ..  a 
roiniKuatively  e;i-y  ami  simple  one. 

On,-,.  ..>tabll-h  tlKit  a  large  nvnnl,er  of  arbitrary  cu.^toni>.  such  us  cjuld 
not  have  naturally  suggested  themselves  to  all  men  at  all  tune,  are  un,- 
vcTsdlv  ol>.erve,l  and  we  arrive  at  the  eonelasion  that  they  are  pr>mnrc 
,.n<tun:<  whl.h  iK.v.'  been  in/wrHcd  from  a  common  source  ;  ami  it  inl.ei- 
,e,l.  that  thev  owe  their  origin  to  an  era  anterior  to  the  dispersion  ot  the 
,,un.an  ra,v.  '  Heme  a  comparison  of  -ustoms  leads  us  at  once  to  t^.r 
„ri,in  without  the  hopeless  task  of  -  tracing  then,  back  through  that 
va^^t  l.rri-Ml  when  history  is  but  an  unsafe  guide. 

Vlopthi'^.  then,  the  principle  of  a  comparison  of  eu^toms,  I  have  toun,l 
that  there  Is  a  peculiarity  In  man  never  yet  duly  apprecate.l,  v./..:  a 
,,a:Trlh,K.rcrpenntyoU'ustn>ns.  and  superstition,  a.iwng  the  common 
people.  llellglons  may  change,  and  civilisation  may  be  developed  or 
i.L  but  they  cannot  afflict  the  existence,  though  they  may  slightly 
n.oalfy  the  meaning  of  ,ho,-e  memorials  -.f  primitive  m.n  wluch  are  per- 
netuatcd  In  the  manners  of  the  people.  ,.       „ 

I  have  foun,l  festivals,  still  mentioned  in  uur  Calendar,  observed  in  al 
parts  of  the  worM.     Thus  a  primeval  festival  in  honor  of  the  dead,  (oj 
\j,rce  d.!js  deration  in  Europe,  .Vsia,  and  Japan.)  known  to  our  Calendar 
as  Hall-'ween,  All  Saints  and  All  Souls  (Oetr  :Ust,  Novr.  1st  and  .nd). 
is  observed,  at  or  near  the  beginning  of  November,    in    Europe,    Asia, 

,   .  _     .  m.„  c ^inwic  irorp  rerv  naturaliv  surpriseu  at 

Polynesia  and  Auienca.      i"-  -|---"""'    •  -•  .  '         • 


0 


finding  that,  while  thoy  were  celebrating  a  solemn  mass  for  Afl  Souls  on 
the  'Jd  of  NoveiiilKT,  the  heathen  I'eruvians  were  al.-o  hol(li?ii^  their 
annual  commemoration  of  the  dead. 

The  uniformity  in  the  time  of  the  year  when  the  Festival  was  ubherved, 
affordri  strong  grounds  for  assuming  the  existence  ipf  two  [iiimltive  calen- 
dars during  the  Stone  ago,  probably  one,  if  not  both  of  which,  like  the 
year  of  the  Pleiades  of  the  Pacific  Islanders,  divided  tlie  yi-ar  into  two 
equal  parts ;  one  of  these  having  prolialtly  a  Southern  origin,  dividing  the 
year  in  November  and  May,  the  otiier  in  Fi  bniary  and  August.  Thu> 
tliis  festival  is  observed  at  the  beginning  of  Xovendicr  by  the  Polyne.-ians, 
the  Peruvian-,  the  Hindoos,  the  Celts,  \c.,  there  being  some  traee- 
(tlumgli  rare)  of  its  having  been  oliserved  in  Minif  countries  in  May. 
.\nionir  tlie  .Vliromiiiins.  tl  e  Per-ians  and  t!ic  Kuniau.--  it  w;is  held  in 
I'ebruary,  and  liy  tlie  dapane-e,  &e.,  in  Aug^i-i.  Thi.-  will,  liowevei.  be 
ireateil  of  in  a  pa[ier  on  this  festival,  wliich  is  now  in  eonise  of  piepaiaiion. 
.Vlthough  the  universality  of  thi.-  fotival  !ia.-~  hiliierto  e.-caped  the 
observation  of  tlie  learned,  it  i>  iinouc.-tioiiably  the  iiio>i  ancient  reli^rious 
romnieinoration  in  tlie  world,  dating  liack  to  the  earliest  era  nf  the  Stone 
age,  and  to  a  date  aiUerior  to  the  fir-t  niiu'iaiioii  (.f  n.atioii>  t'loiu  tiie 
parent  >toi-k. 

When  memorials  of  primitive  man  are  p'^rpi  tn.-ited  in  I'otivaU.  the 
labor  of  identitication  i- liut  .-light  :  the  -iniilarity  in  thi'  inodc.  the  uitni- 
iier  and  the  tiii:e  of  observance,  aid  lis  in  c.-taMi.-hing  theiii  .-i.-  idcntii'al, 
and  as  derived  from  primeval  anti'juity  :  b\it  when  we  ileal  with  nic'ie 
superstitious  fears  oi'  trivial  obxM'vaiico,  the  dillicidty  of  idi^ntilieatioii 
liceoiiies  gfeatei  :  lor  as  ;dl  such  r-ii|ier,-titioii>  ate  nece^-arily  \a^ue. 
the  re-ults  mu-t  bt.'  eipi  dly  so,  no  matter  liuw  phiinly  we  a-eertaiii  tiieii 
eonnnoi'  -ouree  aid  iheir  origina!  meaning,  il'iiie  iih.'iitity  in  the  cu>toni> 
and  ^uper.-titioiis  of  nations  were  limited  to  a  {'>-a\  points  of  re,-emlilanee, 
(he  coinciil.eiiees  niiLiht  be  reiiaiilLil  a-  aceiileiital  ;  but  wlicii  I  .-tate  that 
there  are  a  v,i-t  \arieiv  of  eu.-ioiiis  eoinniou  to  ail  nation-,  and  that  -ome 
of  these  eiistoiii.s  aie  o'i-ei\ed  every  whe].-  ill  the  -aiiie  |!ecnliar  niaiiiier, 
how  can  We  -n|ipo«e  that  aceidi.'iit  ean  liave  1  iiiii;;lit  about  -ueli  startling 
result-. 

J[a\:!!i;  onci'  established  the  universality  of  a  '■ii-toiii  oi  -uper-tiiioii. 
tlieri'  is  but  little  diilicuhy  in  arriving  .it  it-  on-Jnal  iin'aiiing.  Among 
civili/cd  nations  it  .nay  e.'^l-t  unkieiwn  to  tlie  eduiated,  .uid  lingering  (rnly 
in  secluded  di.-tricts  among  t!ie  most  ignorant  part  of  the  community  aiul 
even  among  them  it  may  have  entirely  lost  its  signiticance  and  become  a 
senseless  irrational  otiservance,  wiiicii  is  mereiy  retained  ue(!ause  tiieir 
fathers  ob.-ervod  it  before  them.     But  there  are  portions  of  the  human 


rii<-(«  th.1t  have  Ix'.'ii  f(ir  thipusaii<l>  ')f  yours  occluded  from  the  influence   of 
.loveK)i)in'.'nt  and  M.:m^. — that  are  probably  the  .same  now  as  they  wore 
ill  the  days  of  the  patriarchs ;  that  use  the  same  rude  flint  axes  as  are 
„„w  found  buried  deep  in  tlu-  drift  in  Europe,  or  covered  up  by  the  gra- 
dual f^niwth  of  peat,  liy  the  .lianges  of  rivers,  and  the  various  agencies 
tliat  have  ahered   tlie  aspect  <.f  I'luropc  ^ince  tlie  remote  age  when  the 
ra.c-  that  u.scl  them  existed.      Simple  in  tlicir  idea>  and  unchanged  in 
,\n'\v  h:il>lt>.  they  liavc  but  few  tr-tivals,  and  tlio  meaning  of  their  religious 
lit.-  i>  >in!plc  and  apparent.      <  )iKr  identify  one  of  tlieir  customs  or  festi- 
val- with  tlie  superMitioii  of  civili/cd  nations,  and  what  i^  inexplicable  in 
.he  latter  case,  can  be,  with  but  little  difficulty,  investigated  in  the  former 
.•aM;,  and  identified  as  a  rude  creation  uf  a  rude  and  simple  faith.     The  con- 
eln>i..n  thus  arrived  at  re-.-eive.-  a  very  >ignitieant  ecjntirHiation.  wlien  we  turu 
tVoni  one  nation  of  savago  to  aimther  in  a  difterent  j.art  of  the  world,  and 
.ire  led  to  precisely  the  same  -onrhi-ion.      lieuee  we  e.-tablish,   by  a  com- 
parison uf  "the  custom-  of  all   uatiun>.    what   are    oninrsnl  mstoms:  and 
we  an-ive  at  their  primeval  meaning,  by  making  the  >imple  religious  eu8- 
„,ni  "f  the  nnehanged  ravage  a  due  fn  the  nibeiwi>e   inexplicable   popular 
.-upei>titioii  of  civilized  nations. 

!t  i^  htirdly  nece-saiy  to  ^ta;.'  that  if  it  i'an   lie   [.roved   that  there  are 
i,.ti,.-  nf  primhive  -ocietv  inherited  by  all  nation.-,  it  is  apparent  that  they 
.  ,,11-iitiite  tlie  mn-t  lemarkalile  hl-turieal  meuK.rials  in  the  worhl.     While 
rlie  iv-eurehes<if  the  tleologi-l  have  i;nabled  him   to  di.>cover  with  what 
..x'tinei  animaU  man  ha>  been  coeval,  and  with  what  weapons  he  contended 
with  hi>  Ltiguiitic  fne-,   and   while  \\w  ancient  homes  of  extinct  races  in 
Hurnpe  have  ,li-cl.,-ed  to  the  eye  u[  tlie  eii.iuirer  the  nature  of  the  food 
tiiat  tl;ey  ate,  and  the  rude  implement.-  that  they  u^ed.   the  .>^tmly  of  uni- 
ver-al  custom^,  if  my  conclusions  are  correct,  may  do   far  more;  it  may 
open  tip  to  us  the  social  and  religious  life  of  jirimitive  man,  his  festivals 
of  rejoieings  and  hi>  day>  -f  mour-iing,— his  vague  belief  in  the  existence 
uf  >pivitual'  being>.  and  hi-  dim  glimmerings  of  a  future  existence. 

rarrying  u-  back  to  an  anterior  to  the  dispor.sio-i  of  man.  it  may  give 
u-  a  new  gl-ound  uj^on  whi.'h  to  inve.-tigate  many  i(ue.-tioii.-  a>  to  the  reli- 
„i„i,-  of  e-rvillzed  nations  which  have  eluded  the  empiiry  uf  the  ingenious 
and  the  learned.  It  may  give  us  a  basis  upmi  which  we  may  a>^ume  that 
eivilization  and  superstition,  hand  in  hand,  constructed  the  .strange  creeds 
iind  mythologie,-  of  ancient  nations 

("ouK-ious  that  the  eonclu>ions  to  which  1  had  been  led  were  of  great 
importance,  in  throwing  light  on  the  history  of  our  race,  and  on  ancient 
i,:^te.rv  T  b.ave  avoided  prematurely  bringing  them  before  the  public.  In 
IS.-V,),"'  although  my  nam"  was  put  down   by  the  Society  of  Anti4uaried 


l\ 


8 

for  a  paper  to  k.  rea.i  at  ,„.,.  of  tl...,.  .....tin..  ,-.,  > t.,  Iluu.-     (  Mt 

that  even  the  lalx.r  of  five  year^  xva.  .ar-Mv  ..„„w,l.   t..   uarnmt   i„ 

bringing  the  matter  to  the  iioti,.,.  ,,f  the  p-iMi,- 

Having  during  ni,,,-  year.  ..oIlcfMl  a  larg,    : „nt  .,f  n.uterial   illu>. 

trating  the  subject,  an.l  being  eneourage.l  by  »in,liM,  ,hat.  .,„  m,,,,,.  ,,.,i„t. 
recent  geological  investigations  have  bom.  ou,   ,nv   n,„..h.Mo„     I    hav.' 
written  a  short  paper  on  one  of  our  pop„l„.  ,.,,.,0,.,:      I,  „..„.M,  ,,.,„..,,r 
be  hardly  fair  to  the  subj......    ,0   ),,   ,1,....   b,i,.f  ,,n.li„,i„,,,v    rnnark^    b. 

conBidered  even  an  outline  of  th..M.l,i..,.,.  .„•  ,)„.  .l,,,,,   ,     ;,,  „„  „„..,,, 

torn   I    have  selee.ed-a  ni.ton.   th.   >t   .brtl.ul.   of  ..x,,l,n,atio„  of  .11 

that  I  have  studied-as  anythin.L'  b„f  an  ilh..tni,oM  of  ,1,,.  hm.m.I.t  ,lnn,- 
t.on  of  customs,  and  of  the  mode  of  hncsti^atio,,  adop,,.!  bv  ,„.. 

The  enormou>  field  ov.t  whi.-h  th.  en.,uirv  .stnuU.  uHi   b.  iodi,,,,,.! 

when  It  ean  l,e  >howp.  that •  „„iv..,>:d  ..„„,o,n.  and  ^uper-titio,;.  bolo,,.^ 

N)  an  early,  and  others  to  a  h,„.  on,  of,|„.  St.,,,,.  a..;  tha,    uv  ,,.»   .till 
hn.    in  rcrtain  euston.s  n.li,.<  of  ,|„.    |?n,n,...   a,o.    >o,„o    l,.do„.nn.'   to  an 
earlier  penod  of  i,  than  o,h.r.:  a„d  ,l,ar  tn,,-,.:  of  ah„o.,    all 't!,.^.   m... 
and  festivals  of  ,,ri„u.valM„.i..,y  an.., ill  ,.,.,..„,,,.,,   ;„  ,,„.   „.li„i,„„   ,;,. 
"r  popular  ,.u>to,„,,  and  Mipc^titio,,.  ,,f  natio,,, 

Tooutli.u.aM.lM..,.,  so,.,,,,,.,,.  ,,,,,i,i,,,,,|,,..,,^,,.,,^^,,,,,^^^^^.^.   ^,^^^^^   ^,.^ 

lyrwd    artord:   win!,,  to  ,,„r  i,„o  ,;,,„,„..  !a,.,.. of  ,„.w  .,au.nai- 

-lle,.t.d  by  „„.  wonid  t,,,,,,,,,  ,  „„,,,  „^„  ,,..,  vob„„i,„„„  ,|.a„   S;,-  CI,-. 
liVi'll  -    ■■  .\iitii|uity  of  ^lan  '■ 

I'';'vethereto,vw>it.o„,  ,„,,,.Iva-:.„i„d:,.a,;,.„„r,|,,   „„..|„  .,f  „, 

.nvest>.at,on.,  a  p.p..,  „„  a   ..;,,;„„,,„„  .„,„.,.,;,;„,,  ,.„^„.,,,   ^.„,^,,,  ,,^.^,^.^._ 

wheiv,  re>po..t,n.  m„.,..„„       ,  ,„,,.  ,,,..,.,..,1  U.  I ..,-0,  H,o,„|,  „.:vi:d  in 

itsell.  ,t  has  Ix.oM  al!u,(,.d  to  l,v  lb,,,..,,  a,„l  !,,,,  p„;..l,.i    N,;.,,,-!,      rVm 

J^U- 'lho„,as  JS,.,„.  a„d  a    U^t   of  o,!,.,    ,,.io.,.    i„    „„•;,.„.    a,,.,    , Ln^ 

i.ne-;y,.taltl,ou.i,i,  ha.  ox,.i,.d    ,no,.,.   ., „!a„„„    M,a,:    anv  oth,.,- ,.„.. 

t-M...    up  ,0  the.  pre-.,.,,,  ho,„.  not    ovo,,   .    ,,|a,.:i,, ,.,,„;,    ,,„.  ,„.^.„ 

ntiere,i  a>  to  Hs  on.m  a,„l  .nvanio^  I  h.v,-  a!-„  pu.p:...!,.  .,.l,„.t,.,,  ;, 
'""'"^"';.'^ -;';■-'  "-"—.-  p,vt,.,„i  tl.a,  n:,t,„.,.  ,.o,dd  have 
^uggeste,!  ,t  to  all  men  a,  all  tinio^  a,:d  in  all  oonnt,,,..  ;  „o,.  .a,,  u  1„. 
«ed(evenifsuehathin.wor..po..il,I,.,  ,,,,  .„  a.tion.  in  Ku,.op,. 
Asia.  Myne>,a.  an,l  A„,e,i,.a  oan  hav,-  bofrou-.l,..,.  ,„„.  ano.h,.;  a 
-.«ton.  that  ha.  apparently  so  littl..  to  ,.,eo,„„„.n.l  i,  to  tl,.  .on.inon 
jWrohepscUmen       ||idi.d,.us.^^ 

h     noUung  whieh  ten.l.  to  illustrate  th,.  hi.orv  of  n,an  i.  unitnpo.tant  • 
ouseBunsen'.  words,   -above  all  wo  .hotd,l   ,„...,   ,.onten,n,  I,r  over- 

range  of  prunitive  monumontnl  i.ist,..v   ' 


No.  1. 

THE  UNITY  OF  (<RI<;iN  OV  TIIH  IIIMAN   IIACK. 

ru'ivi.h  itT  nit  I  vi\  i.iiSM.i  n   m    (  i  r.i  viv  >i  I'hu-ri  i  ion:^  i  unm  i  i  i  i>  «  i  rii 

SSI.I,/  IM.. 


r.i     I  lijiniui    .'ifji     i;  i,\  iu!ii\  —  Aii.^f.    .11    /'/"''I'lll. 

A   cciitiiry  :igi',     in   f;i  liinimlil.'     nri.ty,    li'  "iin!    lo   «:i_v.    ••(iicl   liicsx 

Mo.-t  iiL-i>on.-  wli'j  Ikivc  trjivrllril  iti  M  '  liid"!  p m  - '.t  (!:.■  I'nit.'ii  KiiiL^ili.ni. 
or  even  in  tlif  JJriii.-h  Culniii,',.  Ikiv  ui'ii''':'!  tli:ii  llii>  ni-ium  >till  Mii-vi\f?: 
aiuon;^  tin;  iiunilikr  <la.-.-c.-.  It  i-  to  li'  t'MUnl  tlii"n;^li.'Ut  Kuioiju,  as  well 
a.-  in  ntlicr   pait;    of  tlic  woiM. 

I'nil.al.ly  U"  ui-ti'Ui  lia-  fX'-iti'l  iiiuiv  f'mitlos  iUnu-m.'ii  in  all  ago?, 
anii.iii;  tlk'  Icaiiii'.l.  Ilt.imT  nirnUMii-  it  in  hi-  <  >(ly-.M  y  ;  Aii>:citli,'  WM'tc 
on  llic  .-nl.jtel.  auil  in  vain  riiiluavdvil  lu  i;\|.l,.in  ii.~  f\i>!i me  among  his 
coiuitiynicn,    who,  lie  t<  11-  ii>   icvcnn'  •,]  ii   a-  M.nietlMii,!^  j^ncrcil, —  r,,,- 

.7,,r;.,...    :<^;>    ,,) '^>  ">'''' ■     ''"''    "~"''    ""     '■-'■l^''"'-    /'*'■  <Wu.  .     .\iv/uvV    [.IC-TVO 

yen!  A|iulrlu>  r.tVr-  to  it.  aiM  I'liuy  li:i  ■  a  jmoM^m  en  ilic  Miliicrt, 
"  Cur  >t.;inutantr-  -alutantur"  TiliLTiUo  ol'-eivcl,  an  I  iii;iitly  txaftiil 
the  ea.-toni.  Thr  Jiwi>h  llaMh.-  wriv  .■.jMally  im//l-l  l.y  it,- oxi-teneo 
ann.mg  thf  llelnew,-.  who  |,.  iIp-  dny  cxrlaim.  ■•'I'nl'iiM  ('li;iiin!."  fn  long 
lite  to  yon!)  on  -u.-li  o.-raMon.-.  Tli-  i!;J'1ii>,-  inM  m.il  a  !-.M.-  ;i- to 
,Iai-ol.,  ill  onlor    to  .-ohc  Oh-  niy-lrry.    in   tli'     -;iiii.    n'aii!ii  i  t!;;it  t  .n  ■■!; 

l)lii!o>M|,li,  r-.    who   wciv   aliiio-r    (''[Ually    inai-inaiivt.-.  i;ia\.  ly    ai iinccl 

the  oriiiin  to  haxc  Itoeii  in  an  im-iilent  roim  ri.  ,1  w;;'.  I'l' m.  ihi  us, 
Tile  exi'laiiatioii-  are  too  ah-nnl  to  Le  ivf..  ,iv,|  to  \"  i-  Dot  ihi-  i-ii-ioii, 
was  not  roiifmf.l  to  iMifoj.r.  ..i  to  .lu.Ica  It  ;.-  Ioil -I  to  ih;-  'lav  on  tk' 
nio.-t  iviiiote  parts  uf  A-ia,  an.l  anion-  the  m  '-t  -  ■  hji'  1  i."ii.i.-  i'\'  Afiiea. 

But  even  t!ie-e  three  eoiitiiient-  are  not  th.-  li.uii-  \^ithill  w,i;'-'i  we  tind 
thi.-  siniiular  ainl  irrational  eu-loin 

1  have  lieeii  snriiri.-'l  at  hii'l:!!,::  that  ii  i-  ol,-i\.'(l  !i\  tlio  native-  of 
the  new  worM.  l>e  Soto,  in  hi-  wiU'l/rin^-  in  I'Taila.  whali  he 
(li.-eoveiv.l,  noiii'eil  that  wlion  a  Saehom  -iier/.-.l  the  si\ij,e,-  aronuil  him 
buweil  ilowii.  and  invoki-l  the  Sun  te.  -^ve  Ihin  l.nt  we  may  timl  it 
even  in  the  seeluiUa  islau'U  of   I'-lynesia,      It   i-  the  eu-toiii  in  Otabcite 

to  invdl-ii  the  nvotei-tiou  ot'  hoaven  whei!  a  l)ei--..n  >liee7.e,s. 


10 


A 


T  was  much  struok,  in  reading  tlic  mlvcnturcs  of  Mariner  in  the  Tonga 
Islands,  a  group  near  tiio  Feejee  Islands,  at  finding  almost  a  second  edition 
of  what  liiipiicn*  !  -duiost  three  thousand  years  ago  to  Xenophon  and  the 

"  imiiiortal  fen  thuu^and." 

XenojiliMii  tells  us  in  his  Anahasis,  that  when  the  (IreeKs  were  about  to 
coniiiiriice  I  heir  eelehrated  n'treat  after  the  death  of  Cyrus  the  younger, 
and  jiisf  as  Xeimphon  was  addressing  them  with  these  words,  "we  havo 
i:>anv  n:;'  "ris  to  hope  fur  prfsi'mitio/i,''  a  soldier  unfortunately  sneezed, 
up'iii  whi -h  rhe  wtiole  army  invoked  Jupiter  the  Preserver  ;  Xenophon, 
priH'oi'ding  on,  -aid,  "  Since  at  tlie  mention  of  ^-our  preser.auon,  Jupiter 
lias  -Mit  this  iinien,"  &c  ,  an  ingenious  turn,  liy  which  he  converted  an 
evil  iai"  .1  goii'l  (iHicn. 

1  n;i;^iit  lu  re  to  nieiiti'in.  tliat  in  all  ages,  and  in  ITindostan  as  well  as 
In  (lii'cie,  if  ims  heon  rdways  considered  an  unlucky  omen  for  any  one  to 
sneez''  at  the  (•■inmieiieenient  of  an  undertaking.  The  existence  of  this  be- 
lief lUKHig  tlie  lliiidous  is  icfcrred  by  Lutfullah  in  his  memoirs,  p.  152, 
••  A  -'.K-'zy  in  an  opposite  direction  will  prevent  a  man  from  going  to  any 
pli'' '.  I'i'  c'u;.iiiKiK-ing  any  undertaking." 

^Irii'.er  lells  u-  that  when  Finow,  a  Chief  in  the  Tonga  Island.s,  was 
abiiui  1.0  pfii'Vi'd  on  a  warlike  expedition,  .'^ome  one  .sneezed.  In.stead  of 
sht'wiii!^  ilie  ii mly  wit  of  Xenophon,  the  Chief  regarding  it  as  au  ill 
nni.'ii  I'l'  !ii  the  U'lils.  (ii.tivd  them  to  do  their  wor.st. 

■  I'iii'i.v  (rlie  late  King)  was  an  im})ious  person  in  many  respects,  but 
\T<'  li  iv.'  ulioa'ly  -I  en  how  much  the  people  wondered  at  his  succes.s.  The 
same  King  wa-  mv  day  prevented  from  going  out  upon  an  expedition 
ngain-t  tiie  eiiiiny,  oy  ciie  of  his  Chiefs  hajipening  to  sneeze,  which  is 
eiHi  ■  '  i:  I  n  1  1  iiimn.  Finow,  in  a  sudden,  greatly  exasperated,  with 
rai.-od  arm-,  and  el'uehed  li-ts,  exclaimed,  in  a  loud  voice,  "  Crowd  all 
ye  g 'ds  III  the  prototion  of  t!i'\-e  people,  nevevtlieless  I  will  wreak  my 
vonge.mee  up'n  iViii  teioi.ldl"  but  this  impious  exclamation  was  heard 
wii'i  '■■  '.r  :r  ly  e\!  ryl  "dy."" 

.Moiiier  liiinse'i'  t.liiiM-t  l"st  liis  life,  from  sneezing  when  Finow  and 
liis  fiHo  vers  wore  about  to  commence  a  religious  ceremony.  "  Tmmediately 
vvrtyi.ne  jir '.cnt  tlirew  linwn  his  club  fir  who  would  proceed  on  so 
iinj!' ii.'it  .;:i  I  vp.' liiiiin  after  so  dire  an  omen!  Finow's  eyes  flashed 
wi:li  i'  tlie  ,.|'  rai^e  DireiMiiig  tlii'in  full  on  Mr.  Mariner,  ho  cursed 
him  wi'.h  tlie  111  \-t  liitter  (nu'sc.  "Strike  your  God  I"  In  a  note  it  is 
.•~t.:i.  I.  •  T'l  :  li'^'Z'  at  the  moment  of  -otting  out  on  an  cxp'^dition,  argues 
ill  lii 'ir  opin';";]  I'le  ii>o>i  fatal  result."  Marine  having  by  a  prudent 
retreat  uv  I  lii-  lit'r.  I'iiiow  coii-ulled  with  hi<  men  on  the  subject  of 
]Mr   .^laiiner's  .  iieiv.ing,  and  re.-olvi'.l,  that  as  he  was  a  foreigner,  and  bad 


11 

ilifferont  gr><l^,  liis  >neezin<,'  wa*  not  to  lie  cnnsidored  of  ;iny  c(in.-('i|u<';ioe.'' 

IloiK'o  we  titul  tlial  in  all  ajies  luid  in  all  coiintriis,  l^t.,  a  >iKt7,(,'  is 
sn|i|io>e(l  to  ho  an  oiii<'n  of  iiiipoiiding  evil  to  the  piison  wlio  suci /c^.  or 
to  an  umlertakin;:  which  he  may  at  the  time  he  comniencintj. — ami  'Jmlly, 
that  an  invocation  of  tin'  |)eity.  is  a  jireservatioti  t'linii  tlie  ihiti-.i.  which 
a  iicison  ineurt;  hy  >nce/.in!i 

Struck  hy  these  leunnkalilo  identities  in  tlie  ohservanoe  ol'  mi  iirational 
a  eiistom,  I  felt  cunviiiicd  that  it  must  have  taken  its  ii,-e  in  ^otec 
ri'lijriniis  fear>  and  super^liiiiins  of  |irlMiiti\e  man.  th"  comninii  pari^nt  nf 
thii..c  hy  whom  it  lia.-  iiecn  <o  Inutr  [ireserved. 

<  >ii  louking  at  tho.-e  nations  that  present  the  m"-t  |iiimiiivc  ty|M'.  we 
find  a  .>lran2,e  uniformiiy  of  hclii't' 

The  Nortli  American  Indian.-,  the  nati\c^  nC  tiir  Imiiaii  Aiidii|i.d,ii;o, 
as  well  a-  the  I'olvne^ian'-,  lu'lji'veil,  not  only  in  tlir  exi.--trnc(-  ot  .-mne 
sn|ii'eini.'  and  lienetii.t.'Ut  powrr.  hut  al-o  in  th<'  e.xisic  hit  of  infei'lor  .-jiiiii- 
ual  licini!;s.  or  litih-  ^i"ls.  strntijily  lescndilinn  tlir  I'airir,-  <>{'  Niiitjicrn 
KiU'oiie.  Ihey  alsn  hclir\rd  ttiar  all  nature  Icui  a  ^"ui  as  wiTi  ,i-  m;in, 
and  that  llii'  .-oul  i.-  ]icculi;irlv  liahlr  lo  ilii-  imrnry  of  >|iinlii;ii  h'  iii;:s. 
Thus  till'  "  M  dicih"  Man"'  I'f  the  Noitli  .\iiii'riivin  r.e'c-  i-  mU^.i\.-  a 
norromanecr.      Hi-  patirnt  is  nnt  aHi'cted  iiy  natinal,  hut  hy  -npii  n.iiur.d 

eail.-r^.   only  to  he  reniii\cii     hy    coumi'r-cliarni-        Tin'    "    \Icdiriur   M;in 

wnrk^  himself  into  a  -in'iul.n  -i:iii'.  »oiri(.'timr>  cndiii'.'  in  roinuhi'in-:  he 
then  luH-omes  ins|iirril,  and  jirnrccds,  with  cfri.iin  i-orciiiuni"'.-.  f"  lirni'j 
hdck  the  |iailrnt'»  smJ.  (ir  n^  cnjicI  tlic  evil  -y\v'\\. 

The  sani"  helief  and  |irai-iir.  arc  ■■h.-nvaMi  aiiiomr  the  ^.w.^'::*  ■  of 
Hornco.  ami  of  Central  \fiir;i  .Vmnnir  t!ir>e  -im|ilo  ■on!  j;iimifi\>'  i:c-i-*. 
tli'^re  i-  a  ludirf  tli.ii  man  lia-  a  doid>lr  furm.  i!u-  nn-  i(.i|>iir'  al.  and  ih.' 
other  '■|iiritual.  and  iha!  I'Xcii  in  life  tln'  .-jcrit  or  .-"ul  an!  iMi'  ho.ly  ar. 
not  ni'i-c-.-ariK  united.  Imt  ihas  -irl<ni--  or  evil  sjiua^-  uciy  d'picc  tlir 
hiidv  iif  it>  -jiiritual  c'lmiianiun  *  ' 


^  'I'lii- liihrl' atiioiiL.' Ill'  ■\t\\-  .1-  in  iillii!- Ill  iii-iiic  |i.'i---i.>ii^  l.i'iiiLr  '■  ]i,i-.(.N.>>.l  i.j' 
I  \ii  -|iirit-,"  iii.iv  III'  roiiii.-.ii.l  \nili  ;li,'.  i.lr.i-  ll  i-  ri-iuarkaMr  tlcn  -ii'kii"-- 
.■mil  lU'iitli  ai'',  ill  ill'  .\rclir  ni;iiiil>.  in  .ViiMiili  i,  aial  ih  Ci'iiual  .VCi'iia.  altiilmti  •! 
Iiy  ihc  iialivi  -  III  till'  iiidiu'iire  (it' s)iinl-  ulm  hivi'  liri-n  I'liiiilnynl  l.y  I'licinii'-  to 
iiiiurr  tluiii.  'I'liu-  aiiiiiiiL:  ihr  An-lir  I/imrlirii\.  wIu'IU'mt  a  |n'r-iin  'lir-.  hi-  v  la- 
tiM".  kill  -iiTiir  "lie  lii'liiiiuiii.:  til  a  iH'i'^lilioriii'_'  tri!'!'.  In  .\ii-tralia  r  a  rtly  tlii' 
-aiiu-  tliiiiir  Mcriir-.  tiir  'latur-  l,nir\  iiii.  lliui  -miu' om-  li  i-  In  -uiiiniaiiiral  iiu'an- 
,-t'ilrii  till'  '■  kiiliii'\  tat  "  I'l'  till  i!iT.'M-i(|.  'I'lirv  :ii'i-orili!iL;l.v  kiimk  "ii  tin'  hniil  a 
iialoT  III'  aiiotdrr  Iriln'.  .iiiil  l.ik"  I'lu'ii  tini  l!i.'<  kiiliiry  tar,  wliiir  In-  is  >till  aiixc. 

Sir  Sir  .tiiliii  liirliaril-nn'-  '■  .Ann.  l'..\ii''iritiii!i  in  scan  !i  iif  Si;-  'olm  Kiatikliri. 
cli.  IJ  "  Sec  aNd  lv'|ini'  nil  the  Alii'Viiiilh  • .  Iix  tin'  (  nniiiiiili  f  nt  il,.  I  i '^i-iaCM' 
Ci'iuu  il  dl'  N'litnria — Sr-.iioi  |,s.">s-;i, 

'I'lii-  lirlicf  in  S' nil. 111. I  .iiii|  ja  !'.i|ii  itoiial  .M'rica.  i  ('iiiiinl  to  lie  alliio-^t  |.r.'i'i-i'ly 
iijiiltiral  rc-jirrnii',^  ilirrr  l.'iiiL;  "//'■  r-  f,  n  nl  tin  '/'•'/.'/.  \vliii  an;  I'.Nri-i'dill'j-ly 
troiililc-iiiiH'  aid  piiuiiariim-.  aial  i  .m  In-  -nini'liiiu'-  killnl  li;  .i  -ilvrr  liiil'.i'f.  nr 
^rrcai  skci. 


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Tn  Polynesia,  not  only  man,  but  also  inanimate  objects,  are  supposed  to 
be  liable  to  lose  their  spirits,  or  .-oul. 

The  little  gods  sometimes  steal  the  souls  or  sliadowi  of  those  artiele?  to 
whieh  they  take  a  faney.  (See  "  We^tniin.-i.r  Itevitw  "  loi  April  18(V_'  ) 
There  is  a  IVilyncMan  legend  "in  whit-li  thoy  (the  little  goJ,>)  carry  off 
the  shadows  ot'Tcr  Kanawa's  jewel>,  leavini;  the  costly  substances  behind 
them,  the  soul-;  of  the  fairie-  being  (juitc  contented  with  tlio  shadows  alone." 

In  the  I]ighland>  of  ScMilmd,  and  aiimng  th.'  1\\A\  pi.M  Niitry.  the  :ame 
super.-tition  prevails,  exrfpting  thr.t  ihc  fairies  appear  to  lie  cvmi  more 
exacting,  only  leaving  behind  a  worihlc-s  fub-fitute  or  ^cndllanc■.  t>f  the 
article  pilfered  liy  tliem.  'i'he-e  .su})er-tition>  have  c-os -ed  -iver  the 
Atlantic  with  the  Iri.-h  emigrant.  >Iany  a  eow,  nn  tljc  pcninnd.i  of 
Halifax,  has.  by  being  chalked  wlih  a  cro-.  escaped  from  the  pilferintr 
hand.-  of  the  ftirie-,  who  aii])a;-enily  are  .-up|..,-jd  to  hav-'  a  ]u:,ivha„t  fir 
new  milk. 

JJut  it  would  be  fi!tiiiial-e  if  the  f'.ir'cs  of  the  (\ltie  rare  confined  th"ir 
depiv,l,:,il,,n>  to  the  mil!;  pail.  It  i.-  a-ert.-l  ;!nd  believed  by  many  of 
the  Seoieh  and  Iri.h  peasantry,  that  not  oiiiy  infant-,  tmr  a)  o  irrown  up 
men  and  v»'im'-n.  are  liable  to  be  -I'llon  bv  the  fairies. 

^laj-'r  Tidd,  of  ihe  Tiiili  Ibgi.  toll  me  Ih.at  wi^l'in  the  i,'i,t  t^^niy 
years,  while  lie  was  ,^(:iti,ined  in  Irehrid.  'i  cb'ld  wa-  a'*;tal|y  lui'nt  to  dc.ith 
liy  ii-  I'lU'.Tits,  under  the  im}ire--sion  that  it  v,- 1-  only  n  ■•  f:i\rv  ^  b'dd  "  tlie 
real  child  having  been  eavrie  1  ott'  by  the  f.iirie-.  Tiaces  '"'  thi,-  lelii-f  arc 
to  1)C  fouml  even  among  tiie  liigidand  emigrant-  untl  their  de.-ecndants  in 
Cajie  JJreton.* 

'i'li's  b'Ing.  ihen,  -■,  wide-  p:  lid  ;.  .- iip.'i .  iiii-.n,  ivu.ii.lii:.:  th.'  influetieo 
of  fiine- or  .-ul.iordinate  (|.vi  ■-,  coi  we  in  ;inv  v.  iv  "ln-'ii  I'lMm  \\  w  <Aw 
to  ih"  haliit  of  -saving  '•(lei!  U.  -  y"ii  I"  'o  a  pa'-en  v.h'i  --v- /:•<''. 
Have  the  fiii'^  ,<  ■loyihing  to  d.i  v.iih  111.'  ne,  ^•lioii-  d:nio..i  .-ni  "d  Iv  a 
sne'cze,  and  d^  ■  the  inv.u- ■.ti.in  i.f  ibe  heiiv  tti.MOei  \V--  p"ivi-n  who 
sncez(,'-  fo.ei  lie.  iiiHif  me  nf  the  faiiic- '.' 

This  I  lie'ii'v,-  can  be  d.n.  hi  iv(  1_\  c-tabb  led  lev  r!ie  iii'ditien^  and 
super-titieii  •  nt  y\\  >  Crhie  iva  i'. 

1  need  iiardly  ict'-r  to  \]\o  in\ -'cridii  j'r.ai..  Mnii  w'e.ii  'lie  na'ie  if 
the  Deity  i,.  sniijio-.d  to  ati^rd  agiin-t  the  a^'ciii-v  nf  .  vil  'eit-'is. 
There  is,  howevci,  ;i  wrjl  known  -ony  which  will  illn-M-ite  the  l-li  f 
of  the  Celtic  race  as  to  the  effect,  which  the  habit  of  saying  "(Jod  bless 
you  !"  has  upon  the  fairic'^, 


*  See  Ilalliwi'H',-  Kakv  Mytlmldi^y  nf  Sliake<pear('  a>  to  the  prrvalonee  of  \)m 
bolii'f  in  tlie  l-le  of  Man  .mil  in  pari>  of  Kiii:iaiiil  ami  Ireland  y.  .'Jlo.  The  sii'.jeet 
opened  up  respecting  our  lielief  in  fairies,  ^Nic.,  is  only  glanced  at  liere— u  .'-eri' ..^  of 
ainu-iliy  pap..T;  irilgiU  bu  VuitLCii  uii  ilm  suhjeei  uiuiic. 


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Put  once  went  to  sleep  at  a  place  frequented  \>y  the  fairies ;  and  in 
hi<  sleep  wa.s  carried  down  to  tiieir  palace.  He  was  ahout  to  drink 
..ome  of  their  ale,  which  woul  1  have  forever  prevented  his  return, 
wh.'n  fortunately  one  of  tlie  fairio  lKip|»-ii.;d  to  sneeze,  upon  which  Pat, 
in  a  courteous  mood,  exrliiimed  very  inn.KCiitly.  "  liod  bless  your 
honor'."  Wonderful  was  the  effiid  of  thu.-  invokiii-  the  name  of  the 
Deity  in  their  jire-cncc.  Witli  trrni>le  imiirecalidns,  and  in  j^reut  dis- 
may, the  fairie-  Hrd  away,  and  I'at  awoke  ciiee  moi  .■  upon  earth. 

I  could  cite  many  su.-li  stories  to  pmve  tht!  ta^t.  tiiat  the  Celtic  race 
believe  that  fr.>m  Sutim  down  to  the  milde.-t  form  of  evil  spirits,  tlie  name 
of  the  Deity  has  the  eticct  of  renderiiii;  them,  for  tlie  lime,  powerlc.s  to  do 

harm. 

Can  we  then  find  any  chv  to  &i-  .(U-iion  why  we  should  wi>h  to  keep 
off'fuiiioandcMl  sj.irits  when  a  man  Mir,7.o> ';  1  have  dl.Muvered  th>' 
explanation,  in  the  .-uper.-titions  of  tlie  Highlanders.  Tlie  followin;^  tru- 
•  litioii  :is  to  a  lli-lihind  Chiefs  family  in  IVnhdiire,  related  to  me  by  the 
Uev.  Dr.  Robort.^on.  a  n.itive  of  that  couuty,  shows  that  -.vlien  a  |»'i>on 
sneezes,  ho  is  suj.posed  to  be  h''i><l>  tu  be  stolm  l>i/  the  I'niiivs.  unless  pro- 
tected by  some  one  invokiiii;  the  name  of  the  i>eity. 

Soveiid  centuries  ayjo.  an  anee-ior  of  ;ti"  lu-e^eiit  I'luef  v:is  en;,M,u'ed  to 
be  mai-.iod  to  a  youi^  lady  lo  I'rauee.  wlio,  h-  le.-.viie  I,  ha  1  .irrowii  firklc 
and  w;!-  about  lo  b-  marriMJ  to  a  rival.  In  -r-ai  di.-tiv.-..-..  the  Cliiet 
applied  for  aid  to  iho  Kin-  of  the  i"airii>.  who  otf'ivd  him  a  fairy  lior>e. 
mounted  on  wliieli  he  ae.'omjianiod  lii.^  .MMJ-ty  to  i'ran<-.  Wli-n  they 
arrived  at  the   lioii^e   of  the   bride,    the    woddin-    wa-  ju-t   e ineneliii:. 

The   Kill-  of    '^W   F:Ulie~,     unseen     by     the    -iV-t.v   .-ileiv.l.   .■;lld   >e.'in-  tlie 

bride  for  a  momeut  withdraw  info  a  room  alone,  he  foUewd  lier.  dii-t 
then  she  sneeze'i — there  was  no   oiio    juvs'iif    to   -iv     •  i  omI  1,]..-- you  . 

iind    ill    a    moment    (he   fairy  hud    >|oleii    ilu     brid,,  \vi i    ho   ^aiiied    in 

triu.nph  ov.T  to  the  I  li-nliivb.  ulieie  Au-  nuirl'^i  ih''  elnetia'.ii.  and 
became  the  h,tppy  I'lotli.T  ot  a  Iom-  line  of  illn,-.-ii.oi-:  .Mae-,  it  i^  le^ed- 
Icss  to  add  that  hi-  rival,  the  unh-oo;,-  I'lvn -ioie -.  m,.oi,.~riou-ly  miriied 
"«  fairy  v'o»i'Vi 

This.  then.  i>  the  explanation  ot  the  en-t.-m  -itnoie.:  tin  C,  hi.-  la."  ;  but 
as  their  b-li.'t  a- to  fairies,  i- y,.,ve,\v/,/  sniuhn-  to  that  of  ilio  j'olynesi- 
!Ui.=.  and  a-  boih  hav  inheiiied,  in  ( ommoii  with  all  !:,aiMn-,  ih-  u-toin 
of  iuvokiii-  the  Deity  when  a  iier.-on  .mi,-/-  we  nia>  v-'\  n.  ually 
infer,  that  what  i:-  an  r.vplanatioii  for  the  eu-tom  m  the  lli'.;hlind-,  is  al,^. 
a  solution  for  it  anion-  the  pooph;  of  the  To^a  I,-lai,d<  Ibu  ii  i-  mani- 
fe.-t  that  if  ("V  1,11/ii-KS  po-e.-s  the  eu.-ton,.  ttay  mn-'  ha\e  inherited  it 
from    a   common   source  ;   an^i    if  ^o.  that    the   en,-.toui  inur^t    have   been   in 


14 

Tf   fVion   thp  solution  I  bavo  conjc*" 
existence  pnV  «.  Ae  d„p>m<m.    If,  *  °;7J"],      ,.,„„,  „„„  b,vo 

believed  in  a  supremo  prolectmg  "«;'>■ ''^.^  p°.l     lVin,eval 
„e„_also  in  .he  o.i.tenee  of  -^■f"^;^'^'J^^.,,  ,,  „  „,W,. 

tiTt,.: t  If  l:ra=  in  1,0  «a,,  ^euii.i,  o^^sin,  .ho 

•t:^:^::«i:!-=~---^^^^^ 

,,a.  all  ,l,e  n,o„u„,en.s  of    ,g>T  •  ";    _^'     ^  ,.„„„„„„  „„,J,„.  „f  ,Ue 

which  they  now  inluilnt.  ^^^^,.  ,,^  ^^f^^^. 

It  wouhl  cortuinly  bo  an  unms.n,.  .   n  t  a        M  .^^^^  ^^.^^^ 

tho   si.eculati.,us  ut  Au.ciK-un    hthnoU.^.>t>  hv    ..r^unn 

'"'^''''"■^-  ,  ^  ,i..,.v  the  truth  "f  revelatlnii,  iind  to  ae^'ept 

Bdore  they  can  ex,HM-t  us  to  .hmy  tlu  tmtt. 
t'- theovi..U.tth...na...e.  the  .,...,..    W^^^^ 

.,f   til..  ..•line  siiii'ular  (•(tiu-iu>i"ii.   as    n 
couutr.es.  urr.e  ^t    '-  --        "^.^  ,,^,.^f  ^,,  ,,,  i„,,,Ue,l  frou,  a  e.u- 
dangers  attendant  im  a  .-utcit,  u  uu. 

uiun  source  .' 


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