64 Buddhism and Odinism. [No. 1. 



and the breadth of these constructions are generally very much alike, 

 but the length varies from a few feet to near half a mile. The charac- 

 ters represent the mystic formula Om mani padme hum repeated a 

 number of times, and the construction itself is called after the 

 second word of the formula a Mani. In Scandinavia these con- 

 structions have undergone but little change. In their height and 

 breadth they are alike, and in length they vary just as much as 

 the Tibetan Manis. Their roofs have suffered much from decay, 

 and, in many instances, are altogether gone ; and they have no 

 inscriptions. 



In the eighteenth section M. Holmboe passes on from relics to 

 historical testimony to " prove the birth of Odinism in the bosom of 

 Buddhism." He avails himself of the opinion started by Snorro 

 that ou the fall of Mithridates, Odin and his followers proceeded 

 northwards from Asia to escape the Koman yoke, and that on reach- 

 ing Scandinavia they supplanted the Celts who had before them taken 

 the country from the Mongols — a race whom we now recognize 

 in the Laplander, the Samoeid and the Esquimaux. He says,* — 



" The father of Norwegian history Snorro Sturlason, after having 

 pointed out Tanaqvisl (Tanais on the Don) as the frontier between 

 Europe and Asia, continues in these words : — 



" ' The country east of the Tanaqvisl was called Asaland (the 

 country of Ases) or Asaheim (the home or native laud of Ases), and 

 the chief city in that land was called Asgard (the city of Ases) . 

 In that city was a chief called Odin, and it was a great place for 

 sacrifice.'! 



" A little after he says ; * There goes a great mountain barrier 

 from North-east to South-west, which divides the great Svithiod from 

 other kingdoms. South of this mountain ridge it is not far to Turk- 

 land, where Odin had great possessions.'} The great mountain 

 barrier mentioned is the Caucasus, for he has said before that 

 Svithiod was situated to the North of the Black Sea ; and by the 

 country of the Turks he alludes evidently to the country which at 

 present bears the name of Turkistan, for he says subsequently that 

 Odin, quitting his native home with his companions, proceeded on 

 towards the West and arrived in Gardarike (Bussia). 

 * Holmboe, p. 63, efc seq. f Ynglinga Saga, Chap. II. J Id. Chap. V . 



