210 A NATURAL HISTORY 



In South- America^ they worfhip evil Spirits in various Forms, 

 and Sun and Moon. When it thunders, and lightens, they fay 

 the Sun is angry with them : When the Moon is eclipfed, they fay 

 the Siin is angry with her. 



In Peru^ next to their chief God, they wor/liip'd the Sun, 

 and after it, the Thunder. They took Sun and Moon for Huf- 

 band and Wife. In the feventh Month they facrificed to the Sun, 

 and in the tenth to the Honour of the Moon. 



The fame Paganifm was profeft among the Europeans ; yea 

 the Greeks d.n^ Romans that were the moft knowing and polite Na-^ 

 tions, their chief Gods were Sun, Moon, and Stars. 



The Air, and Meteors in it, were made into Gods : Thus 

 the Perfians ador'd the Wind ; Thunder and Lightning were ho- 

 nour'd under the Name Geryon. Comets and the Rainbow alfo 

 have been prefer'd from Meteors, to be Gods. Socrates deify 'd the 

 Clouds, if Credit may be given to Arijiophanes. 



Their high Veneration for Water was fuch, that to fpit, to 

 urine, or wafli in a River was made a high Crime ; perhaps, the 

 Water of Jealoufy that determin'd the Cafe about the Jewijh Wo- 

 men, fufpeded of Adultery, might heighten their Veneration for 

 this Element. 



I N Sicily^ Rivers were worfhlpped by the Agrigentes (in the 

 fhape of a beautiful Boy) to which they facrificed . . . The Cathaif^ 

 ans worfhip Earth and Water. 



The Indians count the River Ganges facred, and to have a 

 Power of expiating their Sins. When the Idolaters wafh in it, 

 they cry, Oh Gajiges, purify met And when any are fick, they dip 

 ihem in it, in order to recover their Health. The Water of this 

 River is convey'd to fuch as live at a diftance, and are not in a. 

 Capacity to travel ; fo that they afcribe as much Virtue to this 

 River, as the Papifts do to their holy Water, and chief Relicks. 



The People ot Bengal don't only worfhip the River Ganges^ 

 bat give Divine Honours to its Image. Bemier fays, that King- 

 dom is well water'd by Channels cm out of the Ganges, which is 

 vifited by many Pilgrims, who think themfelves happy if they 

 can wafh in it. There is alfo a Well in that Country, which 

 they adore, and think, by wafhing therein, they are purify 'd from, 

 their Sins. Their Priefts travel about with the Water of the 

 Ganges, which they fell at vafl Prices ; becaufe the poor igno- 



£ rant. 



