127 
patch of sedimentary rock, existing in an nnfossiliferons 
sandstone. And so, though little prejudiced in favour of the 
Mosaic record, he could not avoid arriving at the conclusion 
that the legend of the Maypures and Tamanacs, regarding a 
great destructive deluge, was simply one of the many forms 
of that oldest of traditions, which appears to be well-nigh 
co-existive with the human family, and which, in all its varied 
editions, seems to point at one and the same signal event.” 
But undoubtedly the most remarkable of all the traditions 
of the Deluge which have come down to our day, is that with 
which the Greeks familiarize us in connection with Deucalion. 
Claimed as king, both by the people of Thessaly and by the 
Syrians, it is extremely difficult to say anything more definite 
about Deucalion, than that he occupies a prominent place in 
Grecian mythology. Nor, indeed, for our present purpose, is 
it at all necessary to occupy ourselves with unravelling his 
mythical history. In Deucalion's time — so the tradition runs 
— the human race had degenerated into universal corruption 
and violence. Everywhere wickedness reigned, till heaven's 
just judgment was executed. Deluging rains descended till 
the sea rose over the dry land, and the whole earth was 
covered by the flood. Every living thing was drowned except 
those which Deucalion preserved. Having provided himself 
with an immense ark, he caused his family and his sons' wives 
to take refuge in it, as also pairs of various animals, which 
during the flood lived together in perfect amity. The ark 
ultimately rested on Mount Parnassus. We all remember the 
sequel — how Deucalion and his wife, Pyrrha, consulting the 
oracle at Themis, were commanded to re-people the earth 
by throwing over their shoulders the bones of their great 
mother — how Deucalion interpreted this to mean the stones, 
which might be regarded as the bones of grandmother earth 
— and how the stones which were flung by Deucalion became 
men ; while those which Pyrrha flung became women. 
This rapid, and therefore imperfect, review of the testimony 
of world-wide Paganism to the occurrence of such a Deluge 
as is recorded in Genesis, is both interesting and important. 
It is interesting as showing the deep, the indelible impression, 
which this terrible judgment made upon the world's memory, 
and as showing also the necessity of a written revelation, if 
the grand and solemn transactions of Jehovah with men are to 
be handed down to future generations in the sublime garb of 
truth. It is also important as a striking confirmation of the 
truthfulness of the Mosaic narrative of the Deluge. However 
distorted the story may appear as read through the curious 
lenses which mythology supplies ; whatever varieties may be 
