Chap. XVIII. a M E%^1C J. ^ 



The <PerJhns accounted this Luminary for the greateftGod, and Confecrated to 

 him three feverai Fcafts, looking upon him as the Author of Wifdom, Goodnefs, 

 and Power, and is exprefs'd by three feverai Operations, W# Warmth,' Light, and 

 Diftin&ion of Time. 



The Egyptians honored the Name of Ofiris, whom fome will have to be the fame 

 with Mifraim, or Chamfzpon, thefirft Founder of the Egyptian Monarchy. 



In Egypt alfo was famous amongft many other Cities that of Heltopolu, which 

 fignifi'd The City of the Sun ; where the Ox Mnevit or Menapis being Confecrated to 

 the Sun, was religioufly worfhipp'd. This Image is defcrib'd by Macrobim. 



The Moors made likewife great Offerings to their Ajfabin, for fo they call'd the 

 Sun - and allowed their Priefts onely the priviledge to gather Cinamon, and that 

 with this Pro>//o, That they fliould firft Offer forty four Oxen, befides Goats and 

 Rams, to Jjfabin, nor fliould fetch the lcaft Stick of Cinamon either immediately 

 before or after Sun-fet : The Cinamon brought altogether, was to be divided by 

 the Chief Prieft, and the reft having each their Portion affign'd, that which re- 

 main'd was fold to the Merchants, to Trade with into Foreign Parts ; but if the 

 Sun chane'd to fet the Cinamon on fire, then they concluded they had not dealt 

 juftly. 



The Greeks, according to Vroclua, hung a long Pole full of Laurel and Flowers 

 on every feventh day of the Moneth , on the top thereof was a great Copper Ball, 

 from which hung others ftill lefler and lefler . about the middle of the Pole hung 

 three hundred and fixty five Garlands ; and the bottom thereof was cover'd with a 

 Womans Garment of a yellow colour : The uppermoft Ball reprefented the Sun, 

 the lefler the Stars, and the Garlands the Days of the Year . in which manner they 

 worfhipp'd the Sun. 



The fame Luminary the Majfagetes and old Germans ador'd in antient times ; and to 

 this day the People in the utmoft North, J apanners ,Cbinefes , Tartars, and the Eaft and 

 Weft-Indians, pay their chief Devotions to the Sun ; the reafon of which may eafily why Divine 

 be made out : for it is the common Opinion of all Men, as Jr'tftotle, Simplicim, The- ^iif/gi- 

 miflius, and other Heathens witnefs, to place the Omnipotent Godhead in the up- s™. to ** 

 permoft Orb, which furrounds the Earth ; wherefore thofe that Pray, lift up their 

 Hands to Heaven : but becaufe the reft of the Heavens appear not fo refplenden* as 

 the Sun, therefore they take the Sun for the onely chief God, whether for its ex- 

 ceeding luftre and glory, or for its being a hundred and fixty times bigger than the , 

 Earth; or for its fwift Courfe, in running ten hundred thoufand Leagues info 

 fhortatime, or for its nourifliing and genial Warmth, which gives Life to all 

 things, or for its neceflary Light, by which all worldly Affairs are manag'd, or for 

 its meafuring the Days by its moving from Eaft to Weft, and the Seafons of the 

 Year, by a Courfe from the South to the North ; for all thefe excellent qualities 

 being well confider'd by the moft Learned Heathens, or obferv'd by thofe of lefler 

 Judgment, have made them (hew that Honor to a vifible Creature, which is onely 

 due to the invifible Creator, 



Thefe and fuch like Arguments indue'd the Caribbeeans to go to 'Bemarin, where 

 the Feaft of the Sun was to be kept. 



The Apalacbite King alfo Entertain'd the neighboring People exceeding courte* "fajpaUcu- 

 oufly in the chief City Meltlot $ from whence he was carried in a Chair on theShoul- *"**> «*« 

 dersof four Men, with found of Pipes and Drums, and an innumerable company tSthcstUwi 

 of People, to the top of the Mountain Olaimi, where he made a ftately Offering to &***• 

 the Sun, and afterwards Feafting and Carefling the Caribbeeans with Gifts, he fenc 

 them home all well contented and fatisfi'd with their Entertainment. This Cu- 



ftom 



