246 REV. 8. D. PEET ON THE TRADITIONS OF 
of benevolence, so that we may say that an approach to the 
high standard of character which appears in the Bible is here 
found. We do not say where this standard came from, but 
only state that it was here. 
The two sides of the aboriginal religion are in great con- 
trast. ‘The Divine side is always advancing towards a better 
moral standing, and is full of good. But the human side is 
always ee into a very inhuman and gross supersti- 
tion. 
VI. The closmg thought of this paper is the most 1m- 
portant. Was there any historic connexion between the 
aboriginal religions of America and the teachmg of the 
Bible? On this point we will not give a decisive answer. 
There are evidences for and against the position. ‘The common 
opinion or train of thought of American ethnologists is in 
favour of the autochthonous origin of everything which is 
native American. Yet there are many things which go to 
prove the contrary :— 
1. There are many symbols in America which are analo- 
gous to those in the Hast; symbols which remind one at once 
of those mentioned in the Bible. (a) The cross or sacred 
Tau of Egypt is found in America. It assumed not one 
form, but many. (b) The serpent 1s a very common symbol. 
(c) The tree ; this with the serpent reminds us of the Garden 
of Eden, and of the serpent and tree-worship so widely spread 
over the world. (d) The symbol of the ark. (e) The symbol 
of the cloven tongue reminds one of the confusion of tongues. 
(f) There are towers or pyramids around which traditions hang 
reminding one of the Tower of Babel. 
2. There are customs in America which resemble the com- 
mon customs recorded in the Bible. (a) Circumcision was 
practised. (b) There were baptisms and lustrations which 
remind us of the Scripture rites. (c) There were vestal virgins, 
and the custom of burying alive those who had violated the 
vow, reminding one of the custom which was common in Rome. 
3. There are many traditions which remind us of those 
found in the Bible. (a) The tradition of the Creation. 
(b) The tradition of the Flood. (c) The tradition of the 
Dispersion of the race. (d) The tradition of the incest of 
Lot and his daughters, with the reproach upon the origin of 
the Moabites. ‘hese have their correlatives in the mytholo- 
gies of America. We do not say that they are the same 
traditions, or that the American tribes derived their ideas 
from the Bible, or even from any one who was familiar with 
