358 SOCIAL AND EELIGIOUS CONDITION OF 



The worsliip of the serpent is very prevalent. Its bite, so trifling in 

 appearance, and yet so deadly, producing fatal effects rapidly, and ap- 

 parently by no adequate means, suggests to the savage almost irresisti- 

 bly the notion of something divine, according to his notions of divinity. 



There were also some lower, but powerful considerations, which tended 

 greatly to the development of serpent-worship. The animal is long- 

 lived, and easily kept in confinement; hence the same individual might 

 be preserved for a long time, and easily exhibited at intervals to the 

 multitude. In Guinea, where the sea and the serpent were the principal 

 deities, the priests encouraged the worship of the latter expressly, as we 

 are told, because offerings presented to the sea were washed away by 

 the waves, W'hich was not the case with those offered to the serpent. 



It is somewhat more difficult to understand the deification of inani- 

 mate objects. In fact, however, savages scarcely believe in the exist- 

 ence of inanimate objects. Chapman mentions that the Busbmen in 

 South Africa thought his big wagon was the mother of his small one. 

 Hearue tells us, that the l^forth American Indians never hang up two 

 nets together, for fear they should be jealous of one another, and that 

 they prefer a hook which has caught a big fish to fifty which have not 

 been tried. 



The South Sea Islanders not only belioved that their animals had 

 souls, but also that this was the case with inanimate objects. Hence, 

 the savage broke the weapons and buried with the dead, so that their 

 souls might accompany that of their master to the land of spirits. 

 Hence, also, on one occasion the king of the Koussa KafQrs having bro- 

 ken a piece of iron from a stranded anchor, died soon after, upon which 

 the Kafiirs immediately concluded that the anchor was alive and had 

 killed their king. 



Some such accident probably gave rise to the ancient Mohawk notion, 

 that some great misfortune would befall any one who spoke while cross- 

 ing Saratoga Lake. A strong-minded English woman on one occasion 

 purposely did so ; and, after landing, rallied her boatman on his super- 

 stition ; but I think he had the best of it after all, for he at once replied, 

 that the Great Spirit was merciful, and knew that a white woman could 

 not hold her tongue. 



We find, indeed, the worship of lakes and rivers, or traces of it, all 

 over the world. Even our own island is full of sacred wells and springs, 

 and Scotland and Ireland especially abound with legends about water- 

 spirits. I have myself seen a well in Eosshire hung round with the 

 offerings of the peasantry, consisting principally of rags and half-pence. 



The worship of upright stones is also very widely distributed. This 

 form of worship has been explained by M. Dulaure as arising from the 

 respect paid to boundary stones. I do not doubt that, in the case of 

 some particular stones, it may have so arisen. The heathen deity, 

 Hermes, or Termes, was evidently of this character, and hence we may 

 explain the peculiar and apparently antagonistic peculiarities attached 

 to him. 



"Mercury or Hermes," says Lempriere, "was the messenger of the 

 gods; he was the patron of travelers and shepherds; he conducted the 

 souls of the dead into the infernal regions, and not only presided over 

 orators, merchants, and declaimers, but was also the god of thieves, 

 pickpockets, and all dishonest persons. He invented letters and the 

 lyre, and was the originator of the arts and sciences." 



It is difficult at first to see the connection between these various 

 offices, characterized as they are by such opposite peculiarities. Yet 

 they all follow from the custom of making boundaries by upright stones. 



