1*93-94-] 8 9 



In the progress of civilisation the sorcerer and the exorcist 

 professed to be able to drive out the demon of affliction and to 

 cure the diseases that afflicted man, and in modern times the 

 scientist teaches that our diseases aie often attributable to 

 certain forces or agencies of nature operating as living beings 

 in the form of microbes, bacteria, &c, endued with various 

 powers for good or evil. Such modern conclusions to a certain 

 extent justify the early impressions of primitive mankind as to 

 the powers and actions of natural forces. Of the various 

 phenomena of nature supposed to be under the care of special 

 divinities, water and trees occupied the most prominent and 

 important position, and had the widest influence. All natural- 

 ists will understand why this should be, when we consider the 

 wonder-working effect of water in the physical world, and the 

 growth, development, and beauty of the vegetable world, the 

 stately grandeur of the forest, and the grace and dignity of 

 certain trees. 



The antiquity and universality of the adoration of wells and 

 trees is established by ancient authors and modern travellers. 

 The classic writers frequently refer to wells and fountains and 

 the respective powers of each. Among the Greeks every river, 

 fountain, or spring had its special deity. Seneca says — " We 

 worship the head of great rivers, and we raise altars to their 

 first springs." The Germans, Gauls, and other natives of 

 Europe regarded lakes and rivers as sacred. The American 

 Indians pay special respect to their lakes, as the eastern Indians 

 do to the river Ganges, and as Jews and Christians respect the 

 Jordan and the Nile. Sir William Bentham in his " Gail and 

 Cymbri" says — "The Celts were much addicted to the worship 

 of fountains and rivers as deities." Similar evidence can be 

 furnished as to the respect for trees, particularly those of 

 venerable appearance, which are supposed to be the homes of 

 the spirits of the woods. 



Perhaps, with reference to Ireland, we could not select a 

 better case than Lough Creevy, in County Meath, to show the 

 connection between the old Celtic and the modern Christian 



