2i8 A NATURAL HISTORY 



of domeftick Serpents, that were in the Houfes of the Egyptians, 

 and look'd upon as houjhold Gods j and of another Serpent wor- 

 fliipped in a Tower at Melitus in Egypt, that had a Prieft and 

 other Officers attending it, and ferved every day upon an Altar 

 with Meal kneaded up with Honey, which the next day was 

 found to be eaten. In Melite Eg. Draco di'vinis honoribus aji~ 

 citur in turri qiiadam . . . adjunt ei facerdotes & minijiri ; me?ifa . . . 

 ex farina fiibaBa .... Herod, lib. ii. cap. 17. 



The ^Fhenicians alfo facrificed to Dragons., calling them their 

 good Angels, their propitious and kind Spirits. Nothing more 

 common in the Heathen Religion, than the Appearance of a Ser- 

 pent in fome Form or other. 



The Babylonians worfliipped a Dragon, which the Prophet 

 Daniel, by a Commiffion from the King, killed ; which, one 

 would think, was fufficient to convince the Royal Idolater of his 

 egregious Stupidity in worfhipping a Creature as Confervator of 

 Mankind, that could not preferve its own Life. They reprefented 

 the World by a Circle in the Form of a Greek Theta 0, and the 

 good Demon, by a Serpent in the midft of it ; under which Figure, 

 the Protedlors of Countries and Cities, called tutelary Gods, were 

 worfliipped. 



The Arabians reputed Serpents facred Beings, and therefore 

 would allow no Violence to be offered to them j and this Super- 

 llition yet remains among thofe People, according to Vejlingius, 

 fays my Author. They take them into their Houfes, feed and 

 worfliip them as the Genii, or Guardians of the Place: Not only 

 ■ Men, but every kind of Things, had its peculiar Genius. Two 

 M'ere afligned to each Perfon, a good and evil Genius, and thofe 

 were thought to attend them from the Cradle to the Grave. We 

 read of a facred Dragon that was kept in Phrygia in Af,a Minor, 

 v/hofe Refidence was in a Wood, dedicated to Diana, Goddefs 

 of the Woods. 



Among other ftrange Animals in the Eaji-Indies, Alexander 

 found in a Cave, a jnofiftrous Dragon, which the Inhabitants 

 counted facred, and was adored by them, and daily fupplied with 

 Food: The poor, ignorant, lliperflitious People, humbly addreft 

 the Ccnquerory not to attack that holy Place, and diiiurb the Re- 

 pofe of their God. The vidlorious Army hearing its hideous and 

 dreadful Roarings, Vi'ere not a little terrify 'd i they only faw its 

 monflrous Head, when ftretch'd out of its Manfion, and its Eyes 



appeared 



