UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 219 



are to be found at this day in the Hebrides and 

 Western Highlands. Baal-tine, for instance, as 

 Hertford mentioned in one of his letters, is an 

 expression still in use it means the fire of the 

 sun ; and several other vestiges of solar worship 

 may be also observed there. The name given 

 in Scripture to the temples of Baal signifies 

 those high places inclosed within walls in which 

 a perpetual fire was kept." 



Frederick asked why groves and high places 

 were so positively forbidden in the Bible as 

 places of worship? To this my uncle replied: 

 " Because it was usual for those idolatrous na- 

 tions to place their temples and altars in com- 

 manding situations, and to worship their false 

 gods in the groves which were formed on those 

 consecrated hills. Such places were well adapted 

 to their mysterious rites, and the Israelites were 

 enjoined to break their images and cut down 

 their groves ; and were further commanded never 

 to plant a grove near an altar dedicated to 

 Jehovah. Peor, to which Balak took Balaam, 

 was the most famous high place in Moab ; and 

 it was called Baalpeor, because there was a 

 temple there dedicated to the worship of Baal." 



I asked my uncle why they selected hills for 

 places of worship ? 



" Some learned men," said he, " have fancied 

 that it was in commemoration of the resting 

 of the ark on ; the mountain of Ararat, where 



U 2 



