44 MYTH AND SCIENCE. 



organ -with which various physiological superstitions 

 were connected. The}- believed that stones, especially 

 certain kinds of quartz crystals, were means of com- 

 munication with spirits, with the dead, and also with 

 ahsent persons. A woman often wore round her neck 

 the phallus extracted from the body of her dead 

 husband. The movements of the sun and moon, and 

 some of their phases, had a mythical bearing- on 

 various social acts, or on the date of their assemblies, 

 since the sun was the object of great veneration ; and 

 the full moon, the epoch of assemblies, was celebrated 

 with feasting and dancing. Dances of many different 

 kinds were connected with traditional myths, astro- 

 logical superstitions, and the phallic worship. Some 

 remains of circular buildings and concentric com- 

 partments, discovered by Field and others, had 

 reference to their feasts, assemblies, and dances. 

 Among their cosmic myths, Milligan has preserved 

 one relating to the double stars which perhaps refers 

 to the invention of fire. 



From this cursory view of the conditions of society 

 in its simplest form, and among the most savage 

 peoples, and of the mythical beliefs which prevailed 

 under such conditions, it clearly appears how myth, 

 dating from the first beginnings of human associa- 

 tion, has regarded, invested, sanctioned, and gene- 

 rated all special acts and relations, and the whole 

 social order, both private and public. The exercise 

 of thought in primitive times not only consisted of 



