I 



TRIBES IN WESTERN SZECHCWAN 69 



The White Stone referred to under (1) is of untrimmed 

 quartz and may be conical, triangular, or cylindrical in 

 shape. They are seen en commanding hills, houses, graves, 

 altars and in rude temples and even on lamaseries. Known 

 as the God of the Mountains (UiaE^gi), and The God cf 

 Heaven (^HH) they suggest the litholatry of Semitic 

 paganism. These stones, like the " bethels " of the ancient 

 Syrians seem to be regarded as the matter in which the 

 Deity is embodied, (ot Xt©ot efoiv ^vxot ...). Litholatry 

 and other forms of Sunitic paganism travelled far by land 

 and sea ; and we find the idea that stones were animated 

 perpetuated in Manicheism. For further information consult 

 CUMONT'S " Oriental Eeligions," page 116, and also Note 

 29, page 244. 



