166 PEIMITIYE EELIGION AMONG THE PEOPLE OF ASIA MINOR. 



paper, the word " primitive " was ambiguous. It might mean 

 " ancient," but it might also mean " original." There was a tendency 

 at the present time to regard the most degraded and superstitious 

 cults as nearest to the original. This idea was to be deprecated. 



The author had omitted direct reference to the Jewish religion. 

 But many members of the Hebrew race had found their way into 

 Asia Minor at least as far back as the days of Joel ; and various 

 rites referred to in the paper looked like reminiscences of Jewish 

 ceremonies. 



After referring to the Goddess Ma, who might be identified with 

 the Egyptian Goddess Thmei, who w^as also called Ma, he called 

 attention to the possibility of finding standing stones in Asia 

 Minor similar to those discovered in Palestine. 



Colonel C. E. Yates, G.S.I., C.M.G.— With reference to what 

 the Lecturer has told us regarding the custom of sheep sacrifice in 

 Asia Minor, I would just mention that a similar practice is common 

 throughout North-Eastern Persia. When I was Consul-General at 

 Meshed I travelled a great deal throughout that part of the country, 

 and it was a common thing to find myself welcomed on arrival at 

 any place by the sacrifice of a sheep as I alighted from my horse. 

 Also when paying a visit to any local chief or man of importance I 

 often found my host waiting for me at the outer door with a sheep 

 whose throat was cut just in front of me as I arrived, so that I 

 stepped over its blood as I entered his house. 



This custom is mentioned, I think, in my book Khurasan and 

 Sisian, published by Blackwood in 1900. 



The vote of thanks having been put from the Chair, was carried 

 unanimously, and the author having briefly replied, the meeting 

 separated. 



