who dwelt in plains formed artificial hills, on which they erected altars for the same commemorative worship; and that to the same source may be ascribed the great pyramidal mounds and buildings which still exist in various parts of the world. The remains of the Tower of Babel still show its original form; and stupendous works of that kind have recently been discovered in Mexico and Peru." "But that idea must be chiefly conjecture. Can we now reasonably suppose that distant hill to have really been the origin of those curious remains?" "I think we may, my dear; and indeed it is not so extraordinary, if you consider that such was the general veneration for Mount Ararat that there are few mountainous countries in the world which have not claimed the honour of its belonging to them. Double-peaked hills were sanctified, as more particularly resembling it; and in the course of time not hills only, but anything which could be imagined to bear even a remote resemblance to its double peak." "Why do you lay such an emphasis on its double peak?" said Evelyn. 66 Because," he replied, "as the ark was considered to have rested between the peaks of Mount Ararat, everything of that form-things which had not even the slightest resemblance to the mount or the ark—were held sacred, and hills and high places became the scenes of religious rites; so strong was the desire to commemorate the abating of the waters, when Noah, opening the ark, and seeing the dry ground, must have originally poured forth his gratitude for his release." "You say other things were held sacred, papa, besides real hills with double peaks?" "It would be endless to detail the various things which were sanctified as emblems of the ark when resting between the peaks of Ararat: small islets, even rocks with a double crest; the misseltoe, the leaves of which, being in pairs, appear when expanded somewhat in form of a crescent, with the fruit resting in it, was looked upon as a holy symbol; the head of a bull, with an egg placed between the horns, was another. And besides innumerable types of that sort, when in after ages the worship of the sun and moon became intermixed with the religion handed down by the patriarchs, we find that the crescent of the moon was held in veneration, the horns of which, when represented with a globe or a boat in the centre, was considered as a type of the mountain of Ararat.” "In short, many things which had but little real resemblance to it were imagined to have some?” "Yes, an extraordinary degree of sanctity was given even to things of very inferior nature, if a shadow of resemblance to that early object of devotion was perceptible. Among others, I must tell you that there was a scarabæus, or sacred beetle, which was held in much veneration." "A beetle held in veneration, papa! I suppose it must have been a very large and handsome creature. Do pray describe it." "I will describe it to you some other opportunity, but now we have not time." "This ancient worship seems to be quite different from the fire-worship that you once mentioned. What, then, do you call it, papa?" "It has been named by some Arkite worship, as derived from the ark; and however it may afterwards have degenerated, there was at first no intentional idolatry-only the expression of gratitude for escape from the deluge, and for restored freedom. Fire-worship was invented much later, and was essentially idolatrous-it arose from a fanciful idea that great men were placed after death in the heavenly bodies, which thus shared in the worship that was paid to them. The sun, or Baal, was thought to reign supreme over all, and was at first only honoured as being the source of light and heat, but it was afterwards worshipped; and then fire, as being its emblem, was likewise worshipped. In some countries, however, the sacred flame, preserved in honour of the sun, was only hallowed, not adored." "Was not the moon adored also ?" "Yes, the moon was adored as Queen of Heaven, and in honour of it there were many rites and ceremonies; and so general were the superstitions connected therewith, that in the third century of the Christian era, when serious errors crept into the Christian church, many of those ceremonies were transferred to the Holy Virgin, and the offerings of spotted calves and other things formerly sacred to that luminary were then devoted to her. It is curious to observe the variety of meaning given to every part of those ancient systems, and the confused enchainment of allusions and sacred objects." "How very interesting it would be to trace all these ancient superstitions and ceremonies to their origin! But where, papa, can I learn all the particulars relative to them." "Yes, they are interesting," said Mr. Desmond, "but very fanciful; and any superficial inquiry into them, instead of making you better acquainted with history, would only tend to mystify your mind. In all your studies of ancient history your principal object should be to work out the connexion of events-the progress of civilization-the causes that led to the rise and fall of nations—and the opposite effects of superstition or of pure religion on mankind. History then becomes a rational study: it enables us to comprehend those early times, and it unravels the truth from the fables and mysteries in which it is apparently involved." CHAPTER XXXVIII. Meaning of Cromdarragh Cairns Pillar Stones Cromleachs On the summit of one of the hills near Cromdarragh Castle there was a remarkable lump or knoll which had long excited Evelyn's curiosity, and which she learned, upon inquiring, was called a cairn. In her drives about the neighbourhood she had observed others in different places; and as the country people always spoke of them with an appearance of veneration, she applied to her father for information respecting their use and origin. "They are mere heaps of stones," said Mr. Desmond, “and are supposed to be memorials of remarkable events, or, perhaps, rude monuments to some great men. "What is the meaning, papa, of the word cairn?" "The word is supposed by some to be derived from the Arabic word Keren; and the meaning seems to be a structure of some kind raised on the summit of a hill or mountain-top. They were certainly called cairns by the ancient Britons; and have preserved that name here as well as in Great Britain." “Then, are they merely loose heaps, and not of any regular form, but just as it happened that the stones were thrown together?" 66 'They are more or less pyramidal in their form, because that is the shape that they naturally assume, and were possibly in very early times meant to imitate Mount Ararat.' "Are they found in other countries, papa?" "Yes; but I think rough heaps of stones are not so common as earthen mounds, which are abundant not only in Europe but throughout the East, and even in America; in Ireland they are very numerous." "I believe," said Mrs. Manvers, "that those mounds or tumuli are supposed to have been places of interment.” 66 Yes," said Mr. Desmond, "there is reason to believe that most of those erected in later ages have been placed over the remains of warriors and chieftains; but there is no doubt that their origin may be traced up to the most remote times, and that they were consecrated to some religious purpose; so that the greater part of those now extant may have been applied to the use you mention, though established at first for other objects. Besides the cairn, which is simply, as I said, a heap of stones in somewhat of a pyramidal form, there are various other stone memorials of past events, such as pillar-stones, and also cromleachs of different forms." "How wonderful, now that their origin and their use are alike forgotten, that such a variety of them should still be preserved! But how very delightful it would be, papa, if there had been some record or inscription on each of those curious memorials, giving a little history of the objects for which they had been erected! I do not know what you mean by cromleach, though I have heard the word sometimes used by different people. I wish I could see one of those places." "There is a remarkable one within a few miles of this place," replied Mr. Desmond, "which you ought to see, for your castle takes its name from it. Why not drive there in the pony-carriage this morning?" "Oh! by all means - how pleasant!" exclaimed both Evelyn and her sister. The morning was charming, and Evelyn instantly rang the bell to order the carriage; but suddenly recollecting herself, she said to Mrs. Desmond, blushing as she spoke, "I beg your pardon; in my heedlessness I forgot to consult you, or inquire if you would like to drive this morning to the cromleach!" 66 Yes, I see you forgot me," said Mrs. Desmond smiling; "but do not think of it, my dear: I know, and can allow for, youthful ardour in following up any object; so pray think no more about the omission. I should like to be of the cromleach |