O F S E R P E N T S. 209 



and were proper only to the Ladies of Condition, who generally- 

 had Slaves to carry them. 



N. B. The real Buskin was the Cothurnus, a very high Shoe 

 rais'd on Soals of Cork, wore by the ancient Adlors in Tragedy, 

 to make them appear taller, and more like the Heroes they re- 

 prefented, moft of whom were fuppofed to be Giants. 



The Perjians had no Temples, Altars, nor Images, holding 

 fuch little Things improper for the high Gods. Tlierefore they 

 worfhipp'd upon the Top of Hills, where they offer'd Sacrifices 

 to the Sun;, Moon, and Stars. The Babylo?iians adored the 

 Sun, to which the King offer'd every Day a white Horfe 

 richly furnifli'd : The Sun was in high Efteem among the Phe- 

 nicians, whofe Priefts were crown'd w^ith Gold. The I'artars and 

 Cathaians worfliip the Sun, and Stars.Ho which they offer the firft 

 Fruits of their Meat every Morning before they eat and drink 

 themfelves. They have divers Monafteries of Idols, to whorrx 

 they dedicate their Children. 



I N 'Nova Zembla there is no Religion prefcrib'd by Law, but 

 they worihip the Sun, fo long as 'tis with them, and the Moon 

 and North-Star in its abfence. In China are great Numbers of 

 facred Temples, where the Priefts have fo much Power over their 

 Gods, that they may beat them . when they don't anfwer their 

 Expedation : Their chief Gods are the S^iin, Moon, and Stars^ 

 where they are not chriftianis'd. 



In the Philippine Ijlands, the Natives worfhip the Stars^ 

 which they hold to be the Children of the Sun and Moon : Their 

 Priefts, for the moft part, are Women. Thtyapojiians •woriKi'^ 

 an Image, with three Faces, . by which they mean. Sun, Moon, 

 and the elementary World *. 



I N America their chief Deities are the Sun and Moon ; which 

 they honour with Dances and Songs. In Virginia and Florida^ 

 when they eat, drink, and facrifice, they ufe to throw up to- 

 wards the Sun, fome part of their Food : The Spaniards taking 

 Advantage of this Superftition, made the poor ignorant People 

 -believe they were Meffengcrs fent to them from the Sun ; where- 

 upon they fubmitted to the Spanijli Yoke. Hacluyt, ibid. At 

 .Mexico, when they facrificed a Man, they puU'd out his Heart, 

 ,and offer'd it to the Sun. 



E e In 



* jicofia, and Jefuits Ep. in K. Oliver. Noort's Navigation. 



