210 A NATURAL HISTORY 



In South-America^ they worfliip evil Spirits in various FormSj,. 

 and Sun and Moon. When it thunders, and lightens, they lay 

 the Sun is angry with tJiem : When the Moon is eclipfcd, they fay 

 tlie Sun is angry with her. 



In Peru^ next to their chief Cod, they worfliip'd the Sun, 

 and after it, the Thunder. They took Sun and Moon for Huf- 

 band and Wife. In the feventh Month they (acrificed to the Sun, 

 and \n the tenth to the Honour of the Moon. 



The fame Paganifni was profcft among the Europeans ) yea 

 the Greeksi\ni\ Romans that were the mofl knowing and polite Na- 

 tions, their chief Gods were Sun, Moon, and Stars. 



The Air, and Meteors in it, were made into Gods: Thus 

 the Ferjlam ador'd the Wind ; Thunder and Lightning were ho- 

 nour'd under the Name Gcryon. Comets and the Rainbow alfo 

 have been prefer'd from Meteors^ to be Gods, Socrates deify 'd the 

 Clouds, if Credit may be given to Artjlophancs. 



Their Iiigh Veneration for Water was fuch, that to fpit, to 

 urine, or wadi in a River was made a high Crime ; perhaps, the 

 Water of yealoujy that dctermin'd the Cafe about the yewifi Wo- 

 men, fufpeded of i\dultery, might heighten their Veneration for 

 this Element. 



In Sicily^ Rivers were worfliipped by the Agrigentcs (in the 

 fhape of a beautiful Boy) to which they facrificed . . . The Cathai- 

 ans worfliip Earth and Water. 



The Indians count the River Ganges facred, and to have a 

 Power of expiating their Sins. When the Idolaters wafli in it, 

 they cry, Ofj Ganges ^purify me I And when any are fick, they dip 

 them in it, in order to recover their Health. The Water of this 

 River is convey 'd to fuch as live at a diflance, and are not in a 

 Capacity to travel j fo that they alcribe as much Virtue to this 

 River, as the Papills do to their holy Water, and chief Relicks. 



The People of Bcfigal don't only worfliip the River Ganges^ 

 but give Divine Honours to its Image. Bernier fiys, that King- 

 dom is well watei'd by Channels cut out of the Ganges^ which is 

 vifited by many Pilgrims, who think themfelves happy if they 

 can wath in it. There is alio a Well in that Country, which 

 they adore, and think, by wafliing therein, they are purify 'd from 

 their Sins. I'heir Fric/is travel about with tiie Water of the 

 Ganges, which they fell at vail Prices > becaufe the poor igno- 



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