156 ESSAY ON^ 



of his son, either the first man of the Catpd, or the 

 most ancient king and legislator of the country. 



There were four Jdams, and four Buddlias also ; 

 and we are now under the fourth, according to the 

 traditions of the Muselmaiis, and of the Bcmddlias. 

 Adam's body was, at his own request, entombed in 

 a cave or vault, called Alconuz, in a mountain in the 

 center of the world ; and of course the Meru of the 

 Hindus, and represented by artiticial hills, eitlier of 

 stone or earth, and of various shapes, like Meru. 



His descendants removed to that holy mountain ; 

 the wicked offspring of Cain were allowed only to 

 dwell at the foot of it, whilst that of Seth were 

 seated higher up, as far as the top; where they lived 

 in great sanctity and purity of manners, every day 

 worshipping God on the summit of the mountain, 

 and visiting the body of Adam in his vault, as the 

 means of procuring the divine blessing.* This 

 mountain, in the center of the earth, with seven 

 steps or stories, or mount Meru, was really the 

 mountain of God, the worldly temple of the spirit 

 of heaven, and the tomb of his son. Cointus 

 of Smyrna says, that this holy mountain was de- 

 picted upon the shield of Achilles ; and that on its 

 summit resided the efficacy or ^Sact't of the world, or 

 of the supreme being, towering to the skies : and he 

 adds, that this most sacred place was very difficult 

 of access. 



The limbs, or bones, of this son of the spirit of 

 heaven, Puencu in Chinese, Budd'ha, Osirts, Dio- 

 NYSius, or Adam, were dispersed all over the 



* Anc. Uuiv. Hist. vol. I. &c. 



