256 BULLETIN 139, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



morning, for in the early mytlis these were considered identical or at 

 least interconvertible. ''" 



The Haida Indians of British Columbia also had a myth on the 

 origin of light. ^^ 



LIGHT GODS 



Light is one of the attributes of many gods. It is penetrating, in- 

 tangible, shines far off, and is not harmful, but on the contrary benefi- 

 cent, so that its attribution points to a higher phase of culture. 



Wliile in a sense fire gods are also fight gods, it is difficult to select 

 from the innumerable spiritual beings a light god. The Assyrian 

 god Ao or Bin seems to be of this order. He is regarded as the 

 divine light, the intelfigence penetrating, directing, and vivifying 

 the universe. One form of Ao represents him as god of the atmos- 

 phere or firmament. In this Ao relates to Indra, the Hindu 

 god of the atmosphere. 



The closing chapter appears to require only the final word to com- 

 plete the record of the phase of free energy which extends from the 

 beginning so far as man is concerned to now. To draw forth fric- 

 tional heat sufficient to ignite his wood dust savage man put forth all 

 the physical strength he possessed ; to unlock the new energy enlight- 

 ened man must attack the atom with voltage of millions, grinding it 

 out by superfriction foreshadowed by the savage. Thus the old will 

 pass and become a matter of curious interest to the philosophic mind. 



" C. Hart Merriam. The Dawn of the World, Cleveland, 1910, p. 18. 

 " Geological Survey of Canada. Progress Kept., 18S0, p. 151. 



