1847.1 



Neilgherry Hills, S^c. 



125 



ly in some instances, tombs. Dr. Borlase and Wormius describe 

 them as altars. I have no doubt however that the " closed Crom- 

 lech," or Kistvaen^ of a chest-like figure, was a sepulchre, and I con- 

 sider it the prototype of Sarcophagi and other Mausoleums of that 

 description. 



In Central Asia, beyond the Himalaya, Cromlechs and other Drui- 

 dicai relics exist. In China, the Americas, and in Europe they occur 

 extensively : they are found in short in every region where the 

 deviation from the primeval sacrifice by fire to the worship of the sun 

 or fire, or Sabeism, took place amongst the early descendants of the 

 sons of Noah, and from which perversion descended the various 

 ancient religions I have previously mentioned, wherein fire, or the 

 sun maintained the most conspicuous place. 



Instead of Druidism being derived from Hindooism, as many 

 suppose, I consider the greater antiquity must be assigned to the 

 former, an opinion I am supported in by many learned men, and by 

 the most ancient writers, who fix the adoption of lonism or Hel- 

 lenism, which is the deification of heroes and the worship of their 

 images (for example Brahminism and Buddhism) as subsequent to 

 what is called Scuthism, in which the sun, fire, or the elements, 

 were regarded as typical of the deity but not actually worshipped. 

 Scythicism connects Scuthism with lonism, and is that form of religion 

 in which the first step was made towards idolatry by the use of up- 

 right stones, Sec. : it is the same with Druidism. 



The following is an extract from Epiphanius upon this subject. 



*' The second is Scythism,* which prevailed from the days of Noah 

 and thence downwards to the building of the Tower and Babylon, 

 and for a few years subsequently to that time, that is to the days of 

 Phalec and Ragau. But the nations \vhich incline upon the borders 

 of Europe continued addicted to the Scythic heresy, and the customs 

 of the Scythians to the age of Thera, and afterwards; of this sect 

 also were the Thracians." 



Brahminism may be easily shown to belong to lonism. AUM, 

 the holy name of the Hindu Triad, is the same with AMUN, of 

 the Theban Triad of Upper Egypt, and this Amun or Jupiter Am- 

 nion is the Hellenic perpetuation of Ham the son of Noah, and the 

 ancestors of the Egyptians, whose son Misraim gave the name of Misr 

 to that country, where it is preserved to this day- Bramah and Ha- 



* Scythism is the same as Scuthism. and must not be coufoumlod >vith Scythicism. 



