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CHAPTER II. 



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MONGST all peoples, and in all ages, there has 

 lingered a belief possessing peculiar powers of 

 fascination, that in some unknown region, remote 

 and unexplored, there existed a glorious and happy 

 land ; a land of sunshine, luxuriance, and plenty, 

 a land of stately trees and beauteous flowers, — 

 a terrestrial Paradise. 



A tradition contained in the sacred books of 

 the Parsis states that at the beginning of the world Ormuzd, the 

 giver of all good, created the primal steer, which contained the 

 germs of all the animals. Ahriman, the evil spirit, then created 

 venomous animals which destroyed the steer : while dying, there 

 sprang out of his right hip the first man, and out of his left hip the 

 first man's soul. From him arose a tree whence came the original 

 human pair, namely Mcishya and Mashyoi who were placed in 

 Heden, a delightful spot, wheregrew Horn (pxHaoma), the Tree of Life, 

 the fruit of which gave vigour and immortality. This Paradise was 

 in Iran. The woman being persuaded by Ahriman, in the guise of 

 a serpent, gave her husband fruit to eat, which was destrucftive. 



The Persians also imagined a Paradise on Mount Caucasus. 

 The Arabians conceived an El3^sium in the midst of the deserts of 

 Aden. The pagan Scandinavians sang of the Holy City of Asgard, 

 situated in the centre of the w^orld. The Celts believed an earthly 

 Paradise to exist in the enchanted Isle of Avalon — the Island of 

 the Blest— 



" Where falls not hail or rain, or any snow, 

 Nor even wind blows loudly ; but it lies 

 Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair, with orchard lawn 

 And bowery hollows. ' 



The Greeks and Romans picftured to themselves the delightful 

 gardens of the Hesperides, where grew the famous trees that 



