THE ABORIGINES OP AUSTRALIA. 19 



and preservative against evil, as already shown ; hence the 

 Hindoos dedicate white stones to Siva, the eternally blessed 

 one. 



Under this head I venture to refer to the promise given to 

 the Church in Pergainos (Revelation ii. 1 7) in these words : 

 " I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name 

 written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." 

 On this passage commentators have given the most diverse 

 opinions in explanation of the white stone and the new name. 

 The very diversity of their opinions leads me to think that in 

 this passage there is a reference to some heathen and idolatrous 

 rites well known to the Pergamenes, part, it may be, of tho 

 religion of their ancestors, as in the Bora ceremonies; for in the 

 Bora there is the white stone and the new name which must 

 not be divulged. I cannot stay to examine this curious 

 analogy, but I think that some light might be got to illustrate 

 the passage if one were to explore the source of the early 

 population of Pergamos and its forms of worship. It will 

 probably be found that both were in some way Chaldean, and 

 that the worship was very sensual and degrading, such as was 

 the worship of Mulitta in Babylon. This would explain how 

 it is that in the message to the Church in Pergamos the expres- 

 sion occurs, " I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's 

 throne is"; and again, "Among you where Satan chvelleth," 

 the city being thus twice in one short message described as a 

 stronghold of Satan; it would also explain the reference to 

 "fornication," and "things sacrificed to idols," and "the 

 teaching of Balaam." If I were for a moment to assume the 

 garb of a commentator, I would paraphrase the promise to 

 the Pergamene Church somewhat in this manner : "To him 

 that overcometh, that is, to him that rises above the abound- 

 ing evil and remains faithful in his new profession, will I 

 give .... a white stone, a pledge of purity and a safeguard 

 against the wicked practices so common among you where 

 Satan dwelleth, and a new name to show that he has put off 

 his former state of slavery to sin, and has become a new man 

 in the service of a new master, who is pure, and holy, and 

 nndefiled." 



(F.) The initiated lad is next led to a camp at a distance ; 

 he is kept there for eight or ten days receiving instruction, 

 specially in songs and dances; he also eats here, and his 

 confidence in divine protection is tested by hideous noises 

 during the darkness of the night. 



(/.) It is rather singular, as a coincidence, that Festus 

 speaks of Roman ceremonies as lasting ten days, and that 

 the Dionysia and the greater Eleusinia of Greece also lasted 

 B 2 



