210 Idolatry and Philosophy of the Zabians. 
the wild imagination of the Zabian, easily divided, and yet as easily 
jomed. Diminutive as to size, and yet possessing much more power 
than man, they gamboled in the watery recesses of the brook, or 
danced in mazy circles beneath the azed oak. Whilst the moon, 
with whom it was supposed that they held communion, drew nearer, 
to light with her beams, their midnight revels. In the eve of an 
autumn, the enfevered mind of the Zabian, heard the soft swell of 
their music, mingled with the songs of the nightingale, and the half 
audible sound of the distant cascade, as they, riding on the yellow 
leaf, and borne along by the nightfall breezes, chanted the praise of 
their superior master, and ruled in the midst of revelry, the destiny of 
man. 
But the coolness of the refreshing river was not the only habitation 
given by the Zabian, to these scions of his heated fancy. Some 
were supposed to love the pinnacled height of the mountain, to de- 
light in the mossy grot, or to riot in the forest; and as they stood 
next in the chain of creation to the evil principles, and were the con- 
necting link between darkness and man, man naturally feared them. 
It was these beings who were inimical to all good, it was these daugh- 
ters of darkness who wept, when the stars of the morning rejoiced, 
and all the sons of Ormusd shouted for joy. 
The principles of the Zabian religion may be exhibited thus, 
The First Cause. 
Ormusd Mithras fi Abriman 
who continually preserves a bal- | 
Light ance between the contending | Darkness 
powers. 5 
Rising sun Meridian sun } Setting sun 
Too good to be os | To be adored oe evil to be adored. 
Former Preserver Changer 
The various natural powers of the 
Sun personified. 
Astronomical occurrences, as day, night, 
years, cycles, eclipses, comets, &c. &c. to be 
held sacred. 
The Lunar influence in dispelling Ahriman 
celebrated in mysteries. 
The astrologic influences of the sun and shining 
bodies, whether stars or the element of 
Fire. 
On these principles the Chaldeans founded their religion, we now 
come to the practical part of it. For, when a few years had elapsed, 
the common people had entirely forgotten the existence of one First 
