J 8 QUINTUS to M. TULLIUS CICERO. Sept. I4, 



myriads, of the votaries of the god, to a^Tord their 

 labour, the high prieft, who directed the operations, 

 caufed to be rolled up upon inclined planes of folid 

 earth, which were formed from the excavation of 

 ti"enches, until they were brought to a heighth 

 equal to their own altitude j then pits having been 

 dug, they were launched from the terrace, and funk 

 fo as to fland perpendicularly at due and equal 

 diftances in the circle, and over them were placed 

 others horizontally ; and after having compleated one 

 circle they form another that is concentric, at fome 

 diftance, and towards the extremity of the area of the 

 inner circle, they place a huge ftone for the perform- 

 ance of their religious rites. When the fun enters the 

 fign of Cancer is their great feftival of the god : and 

 on all the high mountains and eminences of the country 

 they light fires at the approach of that day, and make 

 their wives, their children, and their cattle, to pafs 

 through the fire in honour of the deity. Deep and 

 profound is the filence of the multitude during this ce- 

 remony, until the appearance of the fun above the ho- 

 rizon, when, with loud and continued exclamations, 

 and fongs of joy, they hail the utmoft exaltation of 

 that tranfcendant luminary, as the fupreme triumph of 

 the god of their adoration. 



From the Eaft, they fay, they drew their original ; 

 and their religion actually refembles that of the Hyper- 

 borean nations. In their temples, furrounded by ve- 

 nerable and deep forefts, and adjoining to pools of wa- 

 ter, they annually worfhip, (by wafliing in the living 

 itreams) a rude image, rcprefentative of the mother of 

 the gods, and giver of fruitful feafons. This goddefs 

 they call Andate, or Anaite, and her tem.ples are mod 

 facred. By her they fwear, to her they offer facrifices, 

 and by her name I caufed them to vow fidelity to the 

 commonwealth. Into ten tribes they are divided in 

 their refpe^live communities ; and to the king, who is 

 alfo king of the facred things, as well as fupreme go- 

 vernor, is allotted the tenth of all tlie fruits of the 



