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diff --git a/27228.txt b/27228.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a429e89 --- /dev/null +++ b/27228.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9061 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Moon Lore, by Timothy Harley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Moon Lore + +Author: Timothy Harley + +Release Date: November 10, 2008 [EBook #27228] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOON LORE *** + + + + +Produced by Ruth Hart + + + + +[Note: the original text had two footnotes 160 and two +footnotes 396. I have indicated these by naming them 160a and b, +and 396a and b. In the Index, I changed the spelling of +"Aglonquins" to "Algonquins". All other spelling remains the same.] + + +[Illustration: moon01] + +VOYAGING TO THE MOON +_From Domingo Gonsales [A.D. 1638]_ +_See page_ 46. + + + +MOON LORE + +BY THE + +REV. TIMOTHY HARLEY, F.R.A.S. + +"And when the clear moon, with its soothing influences, rises full +in my view,--from the wall-like rocks, out of the damp underwood, +the silvery forms of past ages hover up to me, and soften the +austere pleasure of contemplation." + +_Goethe's "Faust." Hayward's Translation, London_, 1855, +_p_. 100. + + +LONDON: +SWAN SONNENSCHEIN, LE BAS & LOWREY, +PATERNOSTER SQUARE +1885 + +BUTLER & TAYLOR +THE SELWOOD PRINTING WORKS +FROME, AND LONDON + + + +"I beheld the moon walking in brightness."--_Job_ xxxi. 26. + +"The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained."--_Psalm_ +viii. 3. + +"Who is she that looketh forth, fair as the moon?"--_Solomon's +Song_ vi. 10. + +"The precious things put forth by the moon."--_Deuteronomy_ +xxxiii. 14. + +"Soon as the evening shades prevail, +The moon takes up the wondrous tale."--Addison's _Ode_. + +"In fall-orbed glory, yonder moon Divine +Rolls through the dark-blue depths."--Southey's _Thalaba_. + +"Queen of the silver bow! by thy pale beam, + Alone and pensive, I delight to stray, +And watch thy shadow trembling in the stream, + Or mark the floating clouds that cross thy way; +And while I gaze, thy mild and placid light + Sheds a soft calm upon my troubled breast: +And oft I think-fair planet of the night-- + That in thy orb the wretched may have rest; +The sufferers of the earth perhaps may go-- + Released by death-to thy benignant sphere; +And the sad children of despair and woe + Forget in thee their cup of sorrow here. +Oh that I soon may reach thy world serene, + Poor wearied pilgrim in this toiling scene!" + --_Charlotte Smith_. + + + +PREFACE + +This work is a contribution to light literature, and to the literature +of light. Though a monograph, it is also a medley. + +The first part is mythological and mirthsome. It is the original +nucleus around which the other parts have gathered. Some years +since, the writer was led to investigate the world-wide myth of the +Man in the Moon, in its legendary and ludicrous aspects; and one +study being a stepping-stone to another, the ball was enlarged as it +rolled. + +The second part, dealing with moon-worship, is designed to show +that anthropomorphism and sexuality have been the principal factors +in that idolatry which in all ages has paid homage to the hosts of +heaven, as _heaved_ above the aspiring worshipper. Man adores +what he regards as higher than he. And if the moon is supposed to +affect his tides, that body becomes his water-god. + +The third part treats of lunar superstitions, many of which yet live in +the vagaries which sour and shade our modern sweetness and light. + +The fourth and final part is a literary essay on lunar inhabitation, +presenting _in nuce_ the present state of the enigma of "the plurality +of worlds." + +Of the imperfections of his production the author is partly +conscious. Not _wholly_ so; for others see us often more +advantageously than we see ourselves. But a hope is cherished that +this work--a compendium of lunar literature in its least scientific +branches--may win a welcome which shall constitute the worker's +richest reward. To the innumerable writers who are quoted, the +indebtedness felt is inexpressible. + + + +CONTENTS. + +I _MOON SPOTS_ +1 Introduction 1 +2 The Man in the Moon 5 +3 The Woman in the Moon 53 +4 The Hare in the Moon 60 +5 The Toad in the Moon 69 +6 Other Moon Myths 71 + +II _MOON WORSHIP_ +1 Introduction 77 +2 The Moon Mostly a Male Deity 82 +3 The Moon a World-Wide Deity 87 +4 The Moon a Water Deity 132 + +III _MOON SUPERSTITIONS_ +1 Introduction 145 +2 Lunar Fancies 152 +3 Lunar Influences 175 + +IV _MOON INHABITATION_ + +_APPENDIX_ 259 +_NOTES_ 263 +_INDEX_ 285 + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + +1 Voyaging to the Moon _Frontispiece_ + From Domingo Gonsales, 1638 +2 The Man in the Moon 9 + From Hone's _Facetiae and Miscellanies_, 1821. + Drawn by George Cruikshank. +3 "The Man in the Moon Drinks Claret" 12 + (From the _Bagford Ballads_, ii, 119, Brit. Mus.) +4 "Who'll Smoak with the Man in the Moon?" 13 + (Banks Collection in Brit. Mus.) +5 The Man in the Moon 22 + From Ludwig Richter's _Der Familienshatz_, Leipzig, p. 25 +6 Seal 28 + In the _Archaeological Journal_ for March, 1848, p. 68 +7 Representation of the Sabbath-Breaker in Gyffyn Church, + Near Conway 32 + From Baring-Gould's _Curious Myths_ +8 The Hare in the Moon 63 + From Colin de Plancy's _Dictionnaire Infernal_ + + + +MOON SPOTS. + +I. INTRODUCTION. + +With the invention of the telescope came an epoch in human +history. To Hans Lippershey, a Dutch optician, is accorded the +honour of having constructed the first astronomical telescope, which +he made so early as the 2nd of October, 1608. Galileo, hearing of +this new wonder, set to work, and produced and improved +instrument, which he carried in triumph to Venice, where it +occasioned the intensest delight. Sir David Brewster tells us that +"the interest which the exhibition of the telescope excited at Venice +did not soon subside: Sirturi describes it as amounting to frenzy. +When he himself had succeeded in making one of these instruments, +he ascended the tower of St. Mark, where he might use it without +molestation. He was recognised, however, by a crowd in the street, +and such was the eagerness of their curiosity, that they took +possession of the wondrous tube, and detained the impatient +philosopher for several hours till they had successively witnessed its +effects." [1] it was in May, 1609, that Galileo turned his telescope +on the moon. "The first observations of Galileo," says Flammarion, +"did not make less noise than the discovery of America; many saw +in them another discovery of a new world much more interesting +than America, as it was beyond the earth. It is one of the most +curious episodes of history, that of the prodigious excitement which +was caused by the unveiling of the world of the moon." [2] Nor are +we astonished at their astonishment when they beheld mountains +which have since been found to be from 15,000 to 26,000 feet in +height--highlands of the moon indeed--far higher in proportion to +the moon's diameter than any elevations on the earth; when they saw +the surface of the satellite scooped out into deep valleys, or spread +over with vast walled plains from 130 to 140 miles across. No +wonder that the followers of Aristotle resented the explosion of their +preconceived beliefs; for their master had taught that the moon was +perfectly spherical and smooth, and that the spots were merely +reflections of our own mountains. Other ancient philosophers had +said that these patches were shadows of opaque bodies floating +between the sun and the moon. But to the credit of Democritus be it +remembered that he propounded the opinion that the spots were +diversities or inequalities upon the lunar surface; and thus +anticipated by twenty centuries the disclosures of the telescope. The +invention of this invaluable appliance we have regarded as marking +a great modern epoch; and what is usually written on the moon is +mainly a summary of results obtained through telescopic +observation, aided by other apparatus, and conducted by learned +men. We now purpose to go back to the ages when there were +neither reflectors nor refractors in existence; and to travel beyond +the bounds of ascertained fact into the regions of fiction, where +abide the shades of superstition and the dreamy forms of myth. +Having promised a contribution to light literature, we shall give to +fancy a free rein, and levy taxes upon poets and story-tellers, wits +and humorists wherever they may be of service. Much will have to +be said, in the first place, of the man in the moon, whom we must +view as he has been manifested in the mask of mirth, and also in the +mirror of mythology. Then we shall present the woman in the moon, +who is less known than the immortal man. Next a hare will be +started; afterwards a frog, and other objects; and when we reach the +end of our excursion, if we mistake not, it will be confessed that the +moon has created more merriment, more marvel, and more mystery, +than all of the other orbs taken together. + +But before we forget the fair moon in the society of its famous man, +let us soothe our spirits in sweet oblivion of discussions and +dissertations, while we survey its argentine glories with poetic +rapture. Like Shelley, we are all in love with + + "That orbed maiden, with white fire laden, + Whom mortals call the moon." (_The Cloud_.) + +Our little loves, who take the lowest seats in the domestic +synagogue, if they cannot have the moon by crying for it, will rush +out, when they ought to be in bed, and chant, + + "Boys and girls come out to play, + The moon doth shine as bright as day." + +The young ladies of the family, without a tincture of affectation, +will languish as they gaze on the lovely Luna. Not, as a grumpy, +grisly old bear of a bachelor once said, "Because there's a man in +it!" No; the precious pets are fond of moonlight rather because they +are the daughters of Eve. They are in sympathy with all that is +bright and beautiful in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath; +and it has even been suspected that the only reason why they ever +assume that invisible round-about called crinoline is that, like the +moon, they may move in a circle. Our greatest men, likewise, are +susceptible to Luna's blandishments. In proof of this we may +produce a story told by Mark Lemon, at one time the able editor of +Punch. By the way, an irrepressible propensity to play upon words +has reminded some one that punch is always improved by the +essence of lemon. But this we leave to the bibulous, and go on with +the story. Lord Brougham, speaking of the salary attached to a new +judgeship, said it was all moonshine. Lord Lyndhurst, in his dry and +waggish way, remarked, "May be so, my Lord Harry; but I have a +strong notion that, moonshine though it be, you would like to see +the _first quarter_ of it." [3] That Hibernian was a discriminating +admirer of the moon who said that the sun was a coward, because he +always went away as soon as it began to grow dark, and never came +back till it was light again; while the blessed moon stayed with us +through the forsaken night. And now, feeling refreshed with these +exhilarating meditations, we, for awhile, leave this lovable orb to +those astronomical stars who have studied the heavens from their +earliest history; and hasten to make ourselves acquainted with the +proper study of mankind, the ludicrous and legendary lunar man. + + + +II. THE MAN IN THE MOON. + +We must not be misunderstood. By the man in the moon we do not +mean any public tavern, or gin-palace, displaying that singular sign. +The last inn of that name known to us in London stands in a narrow +passage of that fashionable promenade called Regent Street, close to +Piccadilly. Nor do we intend by the man in the moon the silvery +individual who pays the election expenses, so long as the elector +votes his ticket. Neither do we mean the mooney, or mad fellow +who is too fond of the cup which cheers and then inebriates; nor +even one who goes mooning round the world without a plan or +purpose. No; if we are not too scientific, we are too straightforward +to be allured by any such false lights as these. By the man in the +moon we mean none other than that illustrious personage, whose +shining countenance may be beheld many a night, clouds and fogs +permitting, beaming good-naturedly on the dark earth, and singing, +in the language of a lyric bard, + + "The moon is out to-night, love, + Meet me with a smile." + +But some sceptic may assail us with a note of interrogation, saying, +"Is there a man in the moon?" "Why, of course, there is!" Those +who have misgivings should ask a sailor; he knows, for the punsters +assure us that he has been to _sea_. Or let them ask any _lunatic_; +he should know, for he has been so _struck_ with his acquaintance, +that he has adopted the man's name. Or ask any little girl in the +nursery, and she will recite, with sweet simplicity, how + + "The man in the moon + Came down too soon, + And asked the way to Norwich." + +The darling may not understand why he sought that venerable city, +nor whether he ever arrived there, but she knows very well that + + "He went by the south, + And burnt his mouth + With eating hot pease porridge." + +But it is useless to inquire of any stupid joker, for he will idly say +that there is no such man there, because, forsooth, a certain single +woman who was sent to the moon came back again, which she +would never have done if a man had been there with whom she +could have married and remained, Nor should any one be misled by +those blind guides who darkly hint that it is all moonshine. There is +not an Indian moonshee, nor a citizen of the Celestial Empire, some +of whose ancestors came from the nocturnal orb, who does not +know better than that. Perhaps the wisest course is to inquire within. +Have not we all frequently affirmed that we knew no more about +certain inscrutable matters than the man in the moon? Now we +would never have committed ourselves to such a comparison had +we not been sure that the said man was a veritable and creditable, +though somewhat uninstructed person. But our feelings ought not to +be wrought upon in this way. We "had rather be a dog, and bay the +moon, than such a Roman" as is not at least distantly acquainted +with that brilliant character in high life who careers so +conspicuously amid the constellations which constitute the upper +ten thousand of super-mundane society. And now some inquisitive +individual may be impatient to interrupt our eloquence with the +question, "What are you going to make of the man in the moon?" +Well, we are not going to make anything of him. For, first, he is a +man; therefore incapable of improvement. Secondly, he is in the +moon, and that is out of our reach. [*] All that we can promise just +now is, to furnish a few particulars of the man himself; some +account of calls which he is reported to have made to his friends +here below; and also some account of visits which his friends on +earth have paid him in return. + +[*] Besides, as old John Lilly says in the prologue to his _Endymion_ +(1591), "There liveth none under the sunne, that knows what to +make of the man in the moone." + +We know something of his residence, whenever he is at home: what +do we know of the man? We have been annoyed at finding his lofty +name desecrated to base uses. If "imagination may trace the noble +dust of Alexander, till he find it stopping a bung-hole," literature +traces the man in the moon, and discovers him pressed into the +meanest services. Our readers need not be disquieted with details; +though our own equanimity has been sorely disturbed as we have +seen scribblers dragging from the skies a "name at which the world +grows pale, to point a moral, or adorn a tale." Political squibs, paltry +chapbooks, puny satires, and penny imbecilities, too numerous for +mention here, with an occasional publication of merit, have been +printed and sold at the expense of the man in the moon. For the sake +of the curious we place the titles and dates of some of these in an +appendix and pass on. We have not learned very many particulars +relating to the domestic habits or personal character of the man in +the moon, consequently our smallest biographical contributions will +be thankfully received. We must not be pressed for his photograph, +at present. We certainly wish it could have been procured; but +though photography has taken some splendid views of the + +[Illustration: moon02] + +_Geo. Cruikshank_. Hone's "_Facetiae_," 1821. +THE MAN IN THE MOON + + "If Caesar can hide the sun with a blanket, or put the moon + in his pocket, we will pay him tribute for light" (_Cymbeline_). + +face of the moon, it has not yet produced any perfect picture of the +physiognomy of the man. It should always be borne in mind that, as +Stilpo says in the old play of _Timon_, written about 1600, "The +man in the moone is not in the moone superficially, although he bee +in the moone (as the Greekes will have it) catapodially, +specificatively, and quidditatively." [4] This beautiful language, let +us explain for the behoof of any foreign reader, simply means that +he is not always where we can get at him; and therefore his +venerable visage is missing from our celestial portrait gallery. One +fact we have found out, which we fear will ripple the pure water +placidity of some of our best friends; but the truth must be told. + + "Our man in the moon drinks clarret, + With powder-beef, turnep, and carret. + If he doth so, why should not you + Drink until the sky looks blew?" [5] + +Another old ballad runs: + + "The man in the moon drinks claret, + But he is a dull Jack-a-Dandy; + Would he know a sheep's head from a carrot, + He should learn to drink cyder and brandy." + +In a _Jest Book of the Seventeenth Century_ we came across the +following story: "A company of gentlemen coming into a tavern, +whose signe was the Moone, called for a quart of sacke. The drawer +told them they had none; whereat the gentlemen wondring were told +by the drawer that the man in the moon always drunke claret." [6] +Several astronomers assert the absence of water in the moon; if this +be the case, what is the poor man to drink? Still, it is an +unsatisfactory announcement to us all; for we are afraid that it is the +claret which makes him look so red in the face sometimes when he +is full, and gets a little fogged. We have ourselves seen + +[Illustration: moon03] + +"THE MAN IN THE MOON DRINKS CLARET." +"_Bagford Ballads_," ii. 119. + +him actually what sailors call "half-seas over," when we have been +in mid-Atlantic. We only hope that he imbibes nothing stronger, +though it is said that moonlight is but another name for smuggled +spirits. The lord of Cynthia must not be too hastily suspected, for, at +most, the moon fills her horn but once a month. Still, the earth itself +being so invariably sober, its satellite, like Caesar's wife, should be +above suspicion. We therefore hope that our lunar hero may yet take +a ribbon of sky-blue from the milky way, and become a staunch +abstainer; if only for example's sake. + +Some old authors and artists have represented the + +[Illustration: moon04] + +BANKS' COLLECTION OF SHOP BILLS. + +man in the moon as an inveterate smoker, which habit surprises us, +who supposed him to be + + "Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot + Which men call Earth," + +as the magnificent Milton has it. His tobacco must be bird's-eye, as +he takes a bird's-eye view of things; and his pipe is presumably a +meer-sham, whence his "sable clouds turn forth their silver lining on +the night." Smoking, without doubt, is a bad practice, especially +when the clay is choked or the weed is worthless; but fuming +against smokers we take to be infinitely worse. + +We are better pleased to learn that the man in the moon is a poet. +Possibly some uninspired groveller, who has never climbed +Parnassus, nor drunk of the Castalian spring, may murmur that this +is very likely, for that all poetry is "moonstruck madness." Alas if +such an antediluvian barbarian be permitted to "revisit thus the +glimpses of the moon, making night hideous" as he mutters his +horrid blasphemy! We, however, take a nobler view of the matter. +To us the music of the spheres is exalting as it is exalted; and the +music of earth is a "sphere-descended maid, friend of pleasure, +wisdom's aid." We are therefore disposed to hear the following +lines, which have been handed down for publication. Their title is +autobiographical, and, for that reason, they are slightly egotistical. + + "A SHREWD OLD FELLOW'S THE MAN IN THE MOON." + + "From my palace of light I look down upon earth, + When the tiny stars are twinkling round me; + Though centuries old, I am now as bright + As when at my birth Old Adam found me. + Oh! the strange sights that I have seen, + Since earth first wore her garment of green! + King after king has been toppled down, + And red-handed anarchy's worn the crown! + From the world that's beneath me I crave not a boon, + For a shrewd old fellow's the Man in the Moon. + And I looked on 'mid the watery strife, + When the world was deluged and all was lost + Save one blessed vessel, preserver of life, + Which rode on through safety, though tempest tost. + I have seen crime clothed in ermine and gold, + And virtue shuddering in winter's cold. + I have seen the hypocrite blandly smile, + While straightforward honesty starved the while. + Oh! the strange sights that I have seen, + Since earth first wore her garment of green! + I have gazed on the coronet decking the brow + Of the villain who, breathing affection's vow, + Hath poisoned the ear of the credulous maiden, + Then left her to pine with heart grief laden. + Oh! oh! if this, then, be the world, say I, + I'll keep to my home in the clear blue sky; + Still to dwell in my planet I crave as a boon, + For the earth ne'er will do for the Man in the Moon." [7] + +This effusion is not excessively flattering to our "great globe," and +"all which it inherit"; and we surmise that the author was in a +misanthropic mood when it was written. Yet it is serviceable +sometimes to see ourselves as others see us. On the other hand, we +have but little liking for those who "hope to merit heaven by making +earth a hell," in any sense. We prefer to believe that the tide is +rising though the waves recede, and that our dark world is waxing +towards the full-orbed glory "to which the whole creation moves." + +Here for the present we part company with the man in the moon as +material for amusement, that we may track him through the mythic +maze, where, in well-nigh every language, he has left some traces of +his existence. As there is a side of the moon which we have never +seen, and according to Laplace never shall see, there is also an +aspect of the matter in hand that remains to be traversed, if we +would circumambulate its entire extent. Our subject must now be +viewed in the magic mirror of mythology. The antiquarian Ritson +shall state the question to be brought before our honourable house of +inquiry. He denominates the man in the moon "an imaginary being, +the subject of perhaps one of the most ancient, as well as one of the +most popular, superstitions of the world." [8] And as we must +explore the vestiges of antiquity, Asiatic and European, African and +American, and even Polynesian, we bespeak patient forbearance and +attention. One little particular we may partly clear up at once, +though it will meet us again in another connection. It will serve as a +sidelight to our legendary scenes. In English, French, Italian, Latin, +and Greek, the moon is feminine; but in all the Teutonic tongues the +moon is masculine. Which of the twain is its true gender? We go +back to the Sanskrit for an answer. Professor Max Mueller rightly +says, "It is no longer denied that for throwing light on some of the +darkest problems that have to be solved by the student of language, +nothing is so useful as a critical study of Sanskrit." [9] Here the +word for the moon is _mas_, which is masculine. Mark how even +what Hamlet calls "words, words, words" lend their weight and +value to the adjustment of this great argument. The very moon is +masculine, and, like Wordsworth's child, is "father of the man." + +If a bisexous moon seem an anomaly, perhaps the suggestion of +Jamieson will account for the hermaphrodism: "The moon, it has +been said, was viewed as of the masculine gender in respect of the +earth, whose husband he was supposed to be; but as a female in +relation to the sun, as being his spouse." [10] Here, also, we find a +clue to the origin of this myth. If modern science, discovering the +moon's inferiority to the sun, call the former feminine, ancient +nescience, supposing the sun to be inferior to the moon, called the +latter masculine. The sun, incomparable in splendour, invariable in +aspect and motion, to the unaided eye immaculate in surface, too +dazzling to permit prolonged observation, and shining in the +daytime, when the mind was occupied with the duties of pastoral, +agricultural, or commercial life, was to the ancient simply an object +of wonder as a glory, and of worship as a god. The moon, on the +contrary, whose mildness of lustre enticed attention, whose phases +were an embodiment of change, whose strange spots seemed +shadowy pictures of things and beings terrestrial, whose appearance +amid the darkness of night was so welcome, and who came to men +susceptible, from the influences of quiet and gloom, of superstitious +imaginings, from the very beginning grew into a familiar spirit of +kindred form with their own, and though regarded as the +subordinate and wife of the sun, was reverenced as the superior and +husband of the earth. With the transmission of this myth began its +transmutation. From the moon being a man, it became a man's +abode: with some it was the world whence human spirits came; with +others it was the final home whither human spirits returned. Then it +grew into a penal colony, to which egregious offenders were +transported; or prison cage, in which, behind bars of light, miserable +sinners were to be exposed to all eternity, as a warning to the +excellent of the earth. One thing is certain, namely, that, during +some phases, the moon's surface strikingly resembles a man's +countenance. We usually represent the sun and the moon with the +faces of men; and in the latter case the task is not difficult. Some +would say that the moon is so drawn to reproduce some lunar deity: +it would be more correct to say that the lunar deity was created +through this human likeness. Sir Thomas Browne remarks, "The sun +and moon are usually described with human faces: whether herein +there be not a pagan imitation, and those visages at first implied +Apollo and Diana, we may make some doubt." [11] Brand, in +quoting Browne, adds, "Butler asks a shrewd question on this head, +which I do not remember to have seen solved:-- + + "Tell me but what's the natural cause, + Why on a Sign no Painter draws + The _Full Moon_ ever, but the _Half_?" + (Hudibras, B. II., c. iii.) [12] + +Another factor in the formation of our moon-myth was the +anthropomorphism which sees something manlike in everything, not +only in the anthropoid apes, where we may find a resemblance more +faithful than flattering, but also in the mountains and hills, rivers +and seas of earth, and in the planets and constellations of heaven. +Anthropomorphism was but a species of personification, which also +metamorphosed the firmament into a menagerie of lions and bears, +with a variety of birds, beasts, and fishes. Dr. Wagner writes: "The +sun, moon, and stars, clouds and mists, storms and tempests, +appeared to be higher powers, and took distinct forms in the +imagination of man. As the phenomena of nature seemed to +resemble animals either in outward form or in action, they were +represented under the figure of animals." [13] Sir George W. Cox +points out how phrases ascribing to things so named the actions or +feelings of living beings, "would grow into stories which might +afterwards be woven together, and so furnish the groundwork of +what we call a legend or a romance. This will become plain, if we +take the Greek sayings or myths about Endymion and Selene. Here, +besides these two names, we have the names Protogenia and +Asterodia. But every Greek knew that Selene was a name for the +moon, which was also described as Asterodia because she has her +path among the stars, and that Protogenia denoted the first or early +born morning. Now Protogenia was the mother of Endymion, while +Asterodia was his wife; and so far the names were transparent. Had +all the names remained so, no myth, in the strict sense of the word, +could have sprung up; but as it so happened, the meaning of the +name Endymion, as denoting the sun, when he is about to plunge or +dive into the sea, had been forgotten, and thus Endymion became a +beautiful youth with whom the moon fell in love, and whom she +came to look upon as he lay in profound sleep in the cave of +Latmos." [14] To this growth and transformation of myths we may +return after awhile; meanwhile we will follow closely our man in +the moon, who, among the Greeks, was the young Endymion, the +beloved of Diana, who held the shepherd passionately in her +embrace. This fable probably arose from Endymion's love of +astronomy, a predilection common in ancient pastors. He was, no +doubt, an ardent admirer of the moon; and soon it was reported that +Selene courted and caressed him in return. May such chaste +enjoyment be ours also! We may remark, in passing, that classic +tales are pure or impure, very much according to the taste of the +reader. "To the jaundiced all things seem yellow," say the French; +and Paul said, "To the pure all things are pure: but unto them that +are defiled is nothing pure." According to Serapion, as quoted by +Clemens Alexandrinus, the tradition was that the face which appears +in the moon is the soul of a Sibyl. Plutarch, in his treatise, _Of the +Face appearing in the roundle of the Moone_, cites the poet +Agesinax as saying of that orb, + + "All roundabout environed + With fire she is illumined: + And in the middes there doth appeere, + Like to some boy, a visage cleere; + Whose eies to us doe seem in view, + Of colour grayish more than blew: + The browes and forehead tender seeme, + The cheeks all reddish one would deeme." [15] + +The story of the man in the moon as told in our British nurseries is +supposed to be founded on Biblical fact. But though the Jews have a +Talmudic tradition that Jacob is in the moon, and though they +believe that his face is plainly visible, the Hebrew Scriptures make +no mention of the myth. Yet to our fireside auditors it is related that +a man was found by Moses gathering sticks on the Sabbath, and that +for this crime he was transferred to the moon, there to remain till the +end of all things. The passage cited in support of this tale is +_Numbers_ xv. 32-36. Upon referring to the sacred text, we +certainly find a man gathering sticks upon the Sabbath day, and the +congregation gathering stones for his merciless punishment, but we +look in vain for any mention of the moon. _Non est inventus_. Of +many an ancient story-teller we may say, as Sheridan said of +Dundas, "the right honourable gentleman is indebted to his memory +for his jests and to his imagination for his facts." + +Mr. Proctor reminds us that "according to German nurses, the day +was not the Sabbath, but Sunday. Their tale runs as follows: Ages +ago there went one Sunday an old man into the woods to hew sticks. +He cut a faggot and slung it on a stout staff, cast it over his shoulder, +and began to trudge home with his burthen. On his way he met a +handsome man in Sunday suit, walking towards the church. The +man stopped, and asked the faggot-bearer, 'Do you know that this is +Sunday on earth, when all must rest from their labours?' 'Sunday on +earth, or Monday in heaven, it's all one to me!' laughed the +woodcutter. 'Then bear your bundle for ever!' answered the stranger. +'And as you value not Sunday on earth, yours shall + +[Illustration: moon05] + +be a perpetual moon-day in heaven; you shall stand for eternity in +the moon, a warning to all Sabbath-breakers.' Thereupon the +stranger vanished, and the man was caught up with his staff and +faggot into the moon, where he stands yet." [16] + +In Tobler's account the man was given the choice of burning in the +sun, or of freezing in the moon; and preferring a lunar frost to a +solar furnace, he is to be seen at full moon seated with his bundle of +sticks on his back. If "the cold in clime are cold in blood," we may +be thankful that we do not hibernate eternally in the moon and in the +nights of winter, when the cold north winds blow, "we may look up +through the casement and "pity the sorrows of this poor old man." + +Mr. Baring-Gould finds that "in Schaumberg-lippe, the story goes, +that a man and a woman stand in the moon: the man because he +strewed brambles and thorns on the church path, so as to hinder +people from attending mass on Sunday morning; the woman +because she made butter on that day. The man carries his bundle of +thorns, the woman her butter tub. A similar tale is told in Swabia +and in Marken. Fischart says that there 'is to be seen in the moon a +mannikin who stole wood'; and Praetorius, in his description of the +world, that 'superstitious people assert that the black flecks in the +moon are a man who gathered wood on a Sabbath, and is therefore +turned into stone.'" [17] + +The North Frisians, among the most ancient and pure of all the +German tribes, tell the tale differently. "At the time when wishing +was of avail, a man, one Christmas Eve, stole cabbages from his +neighbour's garden. When just in the act of walking off with his +load, he was perceived by the people, who conjured (wished) him +up in the moon. There he stands in the full moon, to be seen by +everybody, bearing his load of cabbages to all eternity. Every +Christmas Eve he is said to turn round once. Others say that he stole +willow-boughs, which he must bear for ever. In Sylt the story goes +that he was a sheep-stealer, that enticed sheep to him with a bundle +of cabbages, until, as an everlasting warning to others, he was +placed in the moon, where he constantly holds in his hand a bundle +of cabbages. The people of Rantum say that he is a giant, who at the +time of the flow stands in a stooping posture, because he is then +taking up water, which he pours out on the earth, and thereby causes +the flow; but at the time of the ebb he stands erect and rests from his +labour, when the water can subside again." [18] + +Crossing the sea into Scandinavia, we obtain some valuable +information. First, we find that in the old Norse, or language of the +ancient Scandinavians, the sun is always feminine, and the moon +masculine. In the _Voelu-Spa_, a grand, prophetic poem, it is +written-- + + "But the sun had not yet learned to trace + The path that conducts to her dwelling-place + To the moon arrived was not the hour + When he should exert his mystic power + Nor to the stars was the knowledge given, + To marshal their ranks o'er the fields of heaven." [19] + +We also learn that "the moon and the sun are brother and sister; they +are the children of Mundilfoeri, who, on account of their beauty, +called his son Mani, and his daughter Sol." Here again we observe +that the moon is masculine. "Mani directs the course of the moon, +and regulates Nyi (the new moon) and Nithi (the waning moon). He +once took up two children from the earth, Bil and Hiuki, as they +were going from the well of Byrgir, bearing on their shoulders the +bucket Soeg, and the pole Simul." [20] These two children, with +their pole and bucket, were placed in the moon, "where they could +be seen from earth"; which phrase must refer to the lunar spots. +Thorpe, speaking of the allusion in the _Edda_ to these spots, says +that they "require but little illustration. Here they are children +carrying water in a bucket, a superstition still preserved in the +popular belief of the Swedes." [21] We are all reminded at once of +the nursery rhyme-- + + "Jack and Jill went up the hill, + To fetch a pail of water; + Jack fell down and broke his crown, + And Jill came tumbling after." + +Little have we thought, when rehearsing this jingle in our juvenile +hours, that we should some day discover its roots in one of the +oldest mythologies of the world. But such is the case. Mr. +Baring-Gould has evolved the argument in a manner which, if not +absolutely conclusive in each point, is extremely cogent and clear. +"This verse, which to us seems at first sight nonsense, I have no +hesitation in saying has a high antiquity, and refers to the Eddaic +Hjuki and Bil. The names indicate as much. Hjuki, in Norse, would +be pronounced Juki, which would readily become Jack; and Bil, for +the sake of euphony and in order to give a female name to one of the +children, would become Jill. The fall of Jack, and the subsequent +fall of Jill, simply represent the vanishing of one moon spot after +another, as the moon wanes. But the old Norse myth had a deeper +signification than merely an explanation of the moon spots. Hjuki is +derived from the verb jakka, to heap or pile together, to assemble +and increase; and Bil, from bila, to break up or dissolve. Hjuki and +Bil, therefore, signify nothing more than the waxing and waning of +the moon, and the water they are represented as bearing signifies the +fact that the rainfall depends on the phases of the moon. Waxing and +waning were individualized, and the meteorological fact of the +connection of the rain with the moon was represented by the +children as water-bearers. But though Jack and Jill became by +degrees dissevered in the popular mind from the moon, the original +myth went through a fresh phase, and exists still under a new form. +The Norse superstition attributed _theft_ to the moon, and the +vulgar soon began to believe that the figure they saw in the moon +was the thief. The lunar specks certainly may be made to resemble +one figure, but only a lively imagination can discern two. The girl +soon dropped out of popular mythology, the boy oldened into a +venerable man, he retained his pole, and the bucket was transformed +into the thing he had stolen--sticks or vegetables. The theft was in +some places exchanged for Sabbath-breaking, especially among +those in Protestant countries who were acquainted with the Bible +story of the stick-gatherer." [22] + +The German Grimm, who was by no means a grim German, but a +very genial story-teller, also maintains this transformation of the +original myth. "Plainly enough the water-pole of the heathen story +has been transformed into the axe's shaft, and the carried pail into +the thornbush; the general idea of theft was retained, but special +stress laid on the keeping of the Christian holiday, the man suffers +punishment not so much for cutting firewood, as because he did it +on a Sunday." [23] Manifestly "Jack and Jill went up the hill" is +more than a Runic rhyme, and like many more of our popular strains +might supply us with a most interesting and instructive +entertainment; but we must hasten on with the moon-man. + +We come next to Britain. Alexander Neckam, a learned English +abbot, poet, and scholar, born in St. Albans, in 1157, in commenting +on the dispersed shadow in the moon, thus alluded to the vulgar +belief: "Nonne novisti quid vulgus vocet rusticum in luna portantem +spinas? Unde quidam vulgariter loquens ait, + + Rusticus in Luna + Quem sarcina deprimit una + Monstrat per spinas + Nulli prodesse rapinas." [24] + +This may be rendered, "Do you not know what the people call the +rustic in the moon who carries the thorns? Whence one vulgarly +speaking says, + + The Rustic in the moon, + Whose burden weighs him down, + This changeless truth reveals, + He profits not who steals." + +Thomas Wright considers Neckam's Latin version of this popular +distich "very curious, as being the earliest allusion we have to the +popular legend of the man in the moon." We are specially struck +with the reference to theft; while no less noteworthy is the absence +of that sabbatarianism, which is the "moral" of the nursery tale. + +In the British Museum there is a manuscript of English poetry of the +thirteenth century, containing an old song composed probably about +the middle of that century. It was first printed by Ritson in his +_Ancient Songs_, the earliest edition of which was published in +London, in 1790. The first lines are as follows: + + "Mon in the mone stond ant strit, + On is bot-forke is burthen he bereth + Hit is muche wonder that he na down slyt, + For doute leste he valle he shoddreth and shereth." [25] + +[Illustration: moon06] + +In the _Archaeological Journal_ we are presented with a relic from +the fourteenth century. "Mr. Hudson Taylor submitted to the +Committee a drawing of an impression of a very remarkable +personal seal, here represented of the full size. It is appended to a +deed (preserved in the Public Record Office) dated in the ninth year +of Edward the Third, whereby Walter de Grendene, clerk, sold to +Margaret, his mother, one messuage, a barn and four acres of +ground in the parish of Kingston-on-Thames. The device appears to +be founded on the ancient popular legend that a husbandman who +had stolen a bundle of thorns from a hedge was, in punishment of +his theft, carried up to the moon. The legend reading _Te Waltere +docebo cur spinas phebo gero_, 'I will teach you, Walter, why I +carry thorns in the moon,' seems to be an enigmatical mode of +expressing the maxim that honesty is the best policy." [26] + +About fifty years later, in the same century, Geoffrey Chaucer, in +his _Troylus and Creseide_ adverts to the subject in these lines: + + "(Quod Pandarus) Thou hast a full great care + Lest the chorl may fall out of the moone." + (Book i. Stanza 147.) + +And in another place he says of Lady Cynthia, or the moon: + + "Her gite was gray, and full of spottis blake, + And on her brest a chorl painted ful even, + Bering a bush of thornis on his backe, + Whiche for his theft might clime so ner the heaven." + +Whether Chaucer wrote the _Testament and Complaint of +Creseide_, in which these latter lines occur, is doubted, though it is +frequently ascribed to him. [27] + +Dr. Reginald Peacock, Bishop of Chichester, in his _Repressor_, +written about 1449, combats "this opinioun, that a man which stale +sumtyme a birthan of thornis was sett in to the moone, there for to +abide for euere." + +Thomas Dekker, a British dramatist, wrote in 1630: "A starre? Nay, +thou art more than the moone, for thou hast neither changing +quarters, nor a man standing in thy circle with a bush of thornes." +[28] + +And last, but not least, amid the tuneful train, William Shakespeare, +without whom no review of English literature or of poetic lore could +be complete, twice mentions the man in the moon. First, in the +_Midsummer Night's Dream_, Act iii. Scene 1, Quince the carpenter +gives directions for the performance of Pyramus and Thisby, who +"meet by moonlight," and says, "One must come in with a bush of +thorns and a lanthorn, and say he comes to disfigure, or to present, +the person of Moonshine." Then in Act v. the player of that part +says, "All that I have to say is, to tell you that the lanthorn is the +moon; I, the man in the moon; this thorn-bush, my thorn-bush; and +this dog, my dog." And, secondly, in the _Tempest_, Act ii., Scene +2, Caliban and Stephano in dialogue: + + "_Cal_. Hast thou not dropp'd from heaven? + _Ste_. Out o' the moon, I do assure thee. I was the man i' the + moon, when time was. + _Cal_. I have seen thee in her, and I do adore thee: my mistress + show'd me thee, thy dog, and bush." + +Robert Chambers refers the following singular lines to the man in +the moon: adding, "The allusion to Jerusalem pipes is curious; +Jerusalem is often applied, in Scottish popular fiction, to things of a +nature above this world": + + "I sat upon my houtie croutie (hams), + I lookit owre my rumple routie (haunch), + And saw John Heezlum Peezlum + Playing on Jerusalem pipes." [29] + +Here is an old-fashioned couplet belonging probably to our northern +borders: + + "The man in the moon + Sups his sowins with a cutty spoon." + +Halliwell explains _sowins_ to be a Northumberland dish of coarse +oatmeal and milk, and a _cutty_ spoon to be a very _small_ spoon. +[30] + +Wales is not without a memorial of this myth, for Mr. Baring-Gould +tells us that "there is an ancient pictorial representation of our friend +the Sabbath-breaker in Gyffyn Church, near Conway. The roof of +the chancel is divided into compartments, in four of which are the +evangelistic symbols, rudely, yet effectively painted. Besides these +symbols is delineated in each compartment an orb of heaven. The +sun, the moon, and two stars, are placed at the feet of the Angel, the +Bull, the Lion, and the Eagle. The representation of the moon is as +follows: in the disk is the conventional man with his bundle of +sticks, but without the dog." [31] Mr. Gould says, "our friend the +Sabbath-breaker" perhaps the artist would have said "the thief," for +stealing appears to be more antique. + +[Illustration: moon07] + +REPRESENTATION IN GYFFYN CHURCH, NEAR CONWAY. + +A French superstition, lingering to the present day, regards the man +in the moon as Judas Iscariot, transported to the moon for his +treason. This plainly is a Christian invention. Some say the figure is +Isaac bearing a burthen of wood for the sacrifice of himself on +Mount Moriah. Others that it is Cain carrying a bundle of thorns on +his shoulder, and offering to the Lord the cheapest gift from the +field. [32] This was Dante's view, as the succeeding passages will +show: + + "For now doth Cain with fork of thorns confine + On either hemisphere, touching the wave + Beneath the towers of Seville. Yesternight + The moon was round." + (_Hell_. Canto xx., line 123.) + + "But tell, I pray thee, whence the gloomy spots + Upon this body, which below on earth + Give rise to talk of Cain in fabling quaint?" + (_Paradise_, ii. 50.) [33] + +When we leave Europe, and look for the man in the moon under +other skies, we find him, but with an altogether new aspect. He is +the same, and yet another; another, yet the same. In China he plays a +pleasing part in connubial affairs. "The Chinese 'Old Man in the +Moon' is known as _Yue-lao_, and is reputed to hold in his hands +the power of predestining the marriages of mortals--so that +marriages, if not, according to the native idea, exactly made in +heaven, are made somewhere beyond the bounds of earth. He is +supposed to tie together the future husband and wife with an +invisible silken cord, which never parts so long as life exists." [34] +This must be the man of the Honey-moon, and we shall not meet his +superior in any part of the world. Among the Khasias of the +Himalaya Mountains "the changes of the moon are accounted for by +the theory that this orb, who is a man, monthly falls in love with his +wife's mother, who throws ashes in his face. The sun is female." +[35] The Slavonic legend, following the Himalayan, says that "the +moon, King of night and husband of the sun, faithlessly loves the +morning Star, wherefore he was cloven through in punishment, as +we see him in the sky." [36] + +"One man in his time plays many parts," and the man in the moon is +no exception to the rule. In Africa his _role_ is a trying one; for "in +Bushman astrological mythology the moon is looked upon as a man +who incurs the wrath of the sun, and is consequently pierced by the +knife (_i.e._ rays) of the latter. This process is repeated until almost +the whole of the moon is cut away, and only a little piece left; which +the moon piteously implores the sun to spare for his (the moon's) +children. (The moon is in Bushman mythology a male being.) From +this little piece, the moon gradually grows again until it becomes a +full moon, when the sun's stabbing and cutting processes +recommence." [37] + +We cross the Atlantic, and among the Greenlanders discover a myth, +which is _sui generis_. "The sun and moon are nothing else than +two mortals, brother and sister. They were playing with others at +children's games in the dark, when _Malina_, being teased in a +shameful manner by her brother _Anninga_, smeared her hands +with the soot of the lamp, and rubbed them over the face and hands +of her persecutor, that she might recognise him by daylight. Hence +arise the spots in the moon. Malina wished to save herself by flight, +but her brother followed at her heels. At length she flew upwards, +and became the sun. Anninga followed her, and became the moon; +but being unable to mount so high, he runs continually round the +sun, in hopes of some time surprising her. When he is tired and +hungry in his last quarter, he leaves his house on a sledge harnessed +to four huge dogs, to hunt seals, and continues abroad for several +days. He now fattens so prodigiously on the spoils of the chase, that +he soon grows into the full moon. He rejoices on the death of +women, and the sun has her revenge on the death of men; all males +therefore keep within doors during an eclipse of the sun, and +females during that of the moon." [38] This Esquimaux story, which +has some interesting features, is told differently by Dr. Hayes, the +Arctic explorer, who puts a lighted taper into the sun's hands, with +which she discovered her brother, and which now causes her bright +light, "while the moon, having lost his taper, is cold, and could not +be seen but for his sister's light." [39] This belief prevails as far +south as Panama, for the inhabitants of the Isthmus of Darien have a +tradition that the man in the moon was guilty of gross misconduct +towards his elder sister, the sun. [40] + +The Creek Indians say that the moon is inhabited by a man and a +dog. The native tribes of British Columbia, too, have their myth. +Mr. William Duncan writes to the Church Missionary Society: "One +very dark night I was told that there was a moon to be seen on the +beach. On going to see, there was an illuminated disk, with the +figure of a man upon it. The water was then very low, and one of the +conjuring parties had lit up this disk at the water's edge. They had +made it to wax with great exactness, and presently it was at full. It +was an imposing sight. Nothing could be seen around it; but the +Indians suppose that the medicine party are then holding converse +with the man in the moon." [41] Mr. Duncan was at another time led +to the ancestral village of a tribe of Indians, whose chief said to him: +"This is the place where our fore fathers lived, and they told us +something we want to tell you. The story is as follows: 'One night a +child of the chief class awoke and cried for water. Its cries were +very affecting--"Mother, give me to drink!" but the mother heeded +not. The moon was affected, and came down, entered the house, and +approached the child, saying, "Here is water from heaven: drink." +The child anxiously laid hold of the pot and drank the draught, and +was enticed to go away with the moon, its benefactor. They took an +underground passage till they got quite clear of the village, and then +ascended to heaven.' And," said the chief, "our forefathers tell us +that the figure we now see in the moon is that very child; and also +the little round basket which it had in its hand when it went to sleep +appears there." [42] + +The aborigines of New Zealand have a suggestive version of this +superstition. It is quoted from D'Urville by De Rougemont in his +_Le Peuple Primitif_ (tom. ii. p. 245), and is as follows:--"Before +the moon gave light, a New Zealander named Rona went out in the +night to fetch some water from the well. But he stumbled and +unfortunately sprained his ankle, and was unable to return home. All +at once, as he cried out for very anguish, he beheld with fear and +horror that the moon, suddenly becoming visible, descended +towards him. He seized hold of a tree, and clung to it for safety; but +it gave way, and fell with Rona upon the moon; and he remains +there to this day." [43] Another account of Rona varies in that he +escapes falling into the well by seizing a tree, and both he and the +tree were caught up to the moon. The variation indicates that the +legend has a living root. + +Here we terminate our somewhat wearisome wanderings about the +world and through the mazes of mythology in quest of the man in +the moon. As we do so, we are constrained to emphasize the striking +similarity between the Scandinavian myth of Jack and Jill, that +exquisite tradition of the British Columbian chief, and the New +Zealand story of Rona. When three traditions, among peoples so far +apart geographically, so essentially agree in one, the lessons to be +learned from comparative mythology ought not to be lost upon the +philosophical student of human history. To the believer in the unity +of our race such a comparison of legends is of the greatest +importance. As Mr. Tylor tells us, "The number of myths recorded +as found in different countries, where it is hardly conceivable that +they should have grown independently, goes on steadily increasing +from year to year, each one furnishing a new clue by which +common descent or intercourse is to be traced." [44] The same +writer says on another page of his valuable work, "The mythmaking +faculty belongs to mankind in general, and manifests itself in the +most distant regions, where its unity of principle develops itself in +endless variety of form." [45] Take, for example, China and +England, representing two distinct races, two languages, two forms +of religion, and two degrees of civilization yet, as W. F. Mayers +remarks, "No one can compare the Chinese legend with the popular +European belief in the 'Man in the Moon,' without feeling convinced +of the certainty that the Chinese superstition and the English nursery +tale are both derived from kindred parentage, and are linked in this +relationship by numerous subsidiary ties. In all the range of Chinese +mythology there is, perhaps, no stronger instance of identity with +the traditions that have taken root in Europe than in the case of the +legends relating to the moon." [46] This being the case, our present +endeavour to establish the consanguinity of the nations, on the +ground of agreement in myths and modes of faith and worship, +cannot be labour thrown away. The recognition of friends in heaven +is an interesting speculation; but far more good must result, as +concerns this life at least, from directing our attention to the +recognition of friends on earth. If we duly estimate the worth of any +comparative science, whether of anatomy or philology, mythology +or religion, this is the grand generalization to be attained, essential +unity consistent and concurrent with endless multiformity; many +structures, but one life; many creeds, but one faith; many beings and +becomings, but all emanating from one Paternity, cohering through +one Presence, and converging to one Perfection, in Him who is the +Author and Former and Finisher of all things which exist. Let no +man therefore ridicule a myth as puerile if it be an aid to belief in +that commonweal of humanity for which the Founder of the purest +religion was a witness and a martyr. We have sought out the man in +the moon mainly because it was one out of many scattered stories +which, as Max Mueller nobly says, "though they may be pronounced +childish and tedious by some critics, seem to me to glitter with the +brightest dew of nature's own poetry, and to contain those +very touches that make us feel akin, not only with Homer or +Shakespeare, but even with Lapps, and Finns, and Kaffirs." [47] +Vico discovered the value of myths, as an addition to our +knowledge of the mental and moral life of the men of the +myth-producing period. Professor Flint tells us that mythology, as +viewed by the contemporaries of Vico, "appeared to be merely a +rubbish-heap, composed of waste, worthless, and foul products of +mind; but he perceived that it contained the materials for a science +which would reflect the mind and history of humanity, and even +asserted some general principles as to how these materials were to be +interpreted and utilised, which have since been established, or at +least endorsed, by Heyne, Creuzer, C O Mueller, and others." [48] +Let us cease to call that common which God has cleansed, and with +thankfulness recognise the solidarity of the human race, to which +testimony is borne by even a lunar myth. + +We now return to the point whence we deflected, and rejoin the +chief actor in the selenographic comedy. It is a relief to get away +from the legendary man in the moon, and to have the real man once +more in sight. We are like the little boy, whom the obliging visitor, +anxious to show that he was passionately fond of children, and +never annoyed by them in the least, treated to a ride upon his knee. +"Trot, trot, trot; how do you enjoy that, my little man? Isn't that +nice?" "Yes, sir," replied the child, "but not so nice as on the real +donkey, the one with the four legs." It is true, the mythical character +has redeeming traits; but then he breaks the Sabbath, obstructs +people going to mass, steals cabbages, and is undergoing sentence +of transportation for life. While the real man, who lives in a +well-lighted crescent, thoroughly ventilated; whose noble profile is +sometimes seen distinctly when he passes by on the shady side of +the way; whose beaming countenance is at other times turned full +upon us, reflecting nothing but sunshine as he winks at his many +admirers: he is a being of quite another order. We do not forget that +he has been represented with a claret jug in one hand, and a claret +cup in the other; that he frequently takes half and half; that he is a +smoker; that he sometimes gets up when other people are going to +bed; that he often stops out all the night; and is too familiar with the +low song-- + + "We won't go home till morning." + +But these are mere eccentricities of greatness, and with all such +irregularities he is "a very delectable, highly respectable" young +fellow; in short, + + "A most intense young man, + A soul-full-eyed young man, + An ultra-poetical, super-aesthetical, + Out-of-the-way young man." + +Why, he has been known to take the shine out of old Sol himself; +though from his partiality to us it always makes him look black in +the face when we, Alexander-like, stand between him and that +luminary. We, too, are the only people by whom he ever allows +himself to be eclipsed. Illustrious man in the moon I he has lifted +our thoughts from earth to heaven, and we are reluctant to leave +him. But the best of friends must part; especially as other lunar +inhabitants await attention. + +"Other inhabitants!" some one may exclaim. Surely! we reply; and +though it will necessitate a digression, we touch upon the question +_en passant_. Cicero informs us that "Xenophanes says that the +moon is inhabited, and a country having several towns and +mountains in it." [49] This single dictum will be sufficient for those +who bow to the influence of authority in matters of opinion. +Settlement of questions by "texts" is a saving of endless pains. For +that there are such lunar inhabitants must need little proof. Every +astronomer is aware that the moon is full of craters; and every +linguist is aware that "cratur" is the Irish word for creature. Or, to +state the argument syllogistically, as our old friend Aristotle would +have done: "Craturs" are inhabitants; the moon is full of craters; +therefore the moon is full of inhabitants. We appeal to any unbiased +mind whether such argumentation is not as sound as much of our +modern reasoning, conducted with every pretence to logic and +lucidity. Besides, who has not heard of that astounding publication, +issued fifty years since, and entitled _Great Astronomical +Discoveries lately made by Sir John Herschel, LL.D., F.R.S., etc., at +the Cape of Good Hope_? One writer dares to designate it a singular +satire; stigmatizes it as the once celebrated _Moon Hoax_, and +attributes it to one Richard Alton Locke, of the United States. What +an insinuation! that a man born under the star-spangled banner +could trifle with astronomy. But if a few incredulous persons +doubted, a larger number of the credulous believed. When the first +number appeared in the New York Sun, in September, 1835, the +excitement aroused was intense. The paper sold daily by thousands; +and when the articles came out as a pamphlet, twenty thousand went +off at once. Not only in Young America, but also in Old England, +France, and throughout Europe, the wildest enthusiasm prevailed. +Could anybody reasonably doubt that Sir John had seen wonders, +when it was known that his telescope contained a prodigious lens, +weighing nearly seven tons, and possessing a magnifying power +estimated at 42,000 times? A reverend astronomer tells us that Sir +Frederick Beaufort, having occasion to write to Sir John Herschel at +the Cape, asked if he had heard of the report current in England that +he (Sir John) had discovered sheep, oxen, and flying _men_ in the +moon. Sir John had heard the report; and had further heard that an +American divine had "improved" the revelations. The said divine +had told his congregation that, on account of the wonderful +discoveries of the present age, lie lived in expectation of one day +calling upon them for a subscription to buy Bibles for the benighted +inhabitants of the moon. [50] What more needs to be said? Give our +astronomical mechanicians a little time, and they will produce an +instrument for full verification of these statements regarding the +lunar inhabitants; and we may realize more than we have imagined +or dreamed. We may obtain observations as satisfactory as those of +a son of the Emerald Isle, who was one day boasting to a friend of +his excellent telescope. "Do you see yonder church?" said he. +"Although it is scarcely discernible with the naked eye, when I look +at it through my telescope, it brings it so close that I can hear the +organ playing." Two hundred years ago, a wise man witnessed a +wonderful phenomenon in the moon: he actually beheld a live +elephant there. But the unbelieving have ever since made all manner +of fun at the good knight's expense. Take the following burlesque of +this celebrated discovery as an instance. "Sir Paul Neal, a conceited +virtuoso of the seventeenth century, gave out that he had discovered +'an elephant in the moon.' It turned out that a mouse had crept into +his telescope, which had been mistaken for an elephant in the +moon." [51] Well, we concede that an elephant and a mouse are +very much alike; but surely Sir Paul was too sagacious to be +deceived by resemblances. If we had more faith, which is +indispensable in such matters, the revelations of science, however +extraordinary or extravagant, would be received without a murmur +of distrust. We should not then meet with such sarcasm as we found +in the seventeenth century _Jest Book_ before quoted: "One asked +why men should thinke there was a world in the moone? It was +answered, because they were lunatique." + +According to promise, we must make mention of at least one visit +paid by our hero to this lower world. We do this in the classic +language of a student of that grand old University which stands in +the city of Oxford. May the horns of Oxford be exalted, and the +shadow of the University never grow less, while the moon endureth! + + "The man in the moon! why came he down + From his peaceful realm on high; + Where sorrowful moan is all unknown, + And nothing is born to die? + The man in the moon was tired, it seems, + Of living so long in the land of dreams; + 'Twas a beautiful sphere, but nevertheless + Its lunar life was passionless; + Unchequered by sorrow, undimmed by crime, + Untouched by the wizard wand of time; + 'Twas all too grand, there was no scope + For dread, and of course no room for hope + To him the future had no fear, + To make the present doubly dear; + The day no cast of coming night, + To make the borrowed ray more bright; + And life itself no thought of death, + To sanctify the boon of breath:-- + In short, as we world-people say, + The man in the moon was _ennuye_." [52] + +Poor man in the moon! what a way he must have been in! We hope +that he found improving fellowship, say among the Fellows of some +Royal Astronomical Society; and that when e returned to his +skylight, or lighthouse on the coast of immensity's wide sea, he +returned a wiser and much happier man. It is for us, too, to +remember with Spenser, "The noblest mind the best contentment +has." + +And now we record a few visits which men of this sublunary sphere +are said to have paid to the moon. The chronicles are unfortunately +very incomplete. Aiming at historical fulness and fidelity, we turned +to our national bibliotheca at the British Museum, where we fished +out of the vasty deep of treasures a MS. without date or name. We +wish the Irish orator's advice were oftener followed by literary +authors. Said he, "Never write an anonymous letter without signing +your name to it." This MS. is entitled "_Selenographia_, or News +from the world in the moon to the lunatics of this world. By Lucas +Lunanimus of Lunenberge." [53] We are here told how the author, +"making himself a kite of ye hight(?) of a large sheet, and tying +himself to the tayle of it, by the help of some trusty friends, to +whom he promised mountains of land in this his new-found world; +being furnished also with a tube, horoscope, and other instruments +of discovery, he set saile the first of Aprill, a day alwaies esteemed +prosperous for such adventures." Fearing, however, lest the date of +departure should make some suspicious that the author was desirous +of making his readers April fools, we leave this aerial tourist to +pursue his explorations without our company, and listen to a learned +bishop, who ought to be a canonical authority, for the man in the +moon himself is an overseer of men. Dr. Francis Godwin, first of +Llandaff, afterwards of Hereford, wrote about the year 1600 _The +Man in the Moone_, or a discourse of a voyage thither. This was +published in 1638, under the pseudonym of Domingo Gonsales. The +enterprising aeronaut went up from the island of El Pico, carried by +wild swans. _Swans_, be it observed. It was not a wild-goose chase. +The author is careful to tell us what we believe so soon as it is +declared. "The further we went, the lesser the globe of the earth +appeared to us; whereas still on the contrary side the moone showed +herselfe more and more monstrously huge." After eleven days' +passage, the exact time that Arago allowed for a cannon ball to +reach the moon, "another earth" was approached. "I perceived that it +was covered for the most part with a huge and mighty sea, those +parts only being drie land, which show unto us here somewhat +darker than the rest of her body; that I mean which the country +people call _el hombre della Luna_, the man of the moone." +This last clause demands a protest. The bishop knocks the +country-people's man out of the moon, to make room for his own +man, which episcopal creation is twenty-eight feet high, and weighs +twenty-five or thirty of any of us. Besides ordinary men, of +extraordinary measurement, the bishop finds in the moon princes +and queens. The females, or lunar ladies, as a matter of course, are +of absolute beauty. Their language has "no affinity with any other I +ever heard." This is a poor look-out for the American divine who +expects to send English Bibles to the moon. "Food groweth +everywhere without labour": this is a cheering prospect for our +working classes who may some day go there. "They need no +lawyers": oh what a country! "And as little need is there of +physicians." Why, the moon must be Paradise regained. But, alas! +"they die, or rather (I should say) cease to live." Well, my lord +bishop, is not that how we die on earth? Perhaps we need to be +learned bishops to appreciate the difference. If so, we might accept +episcopal distinction. + +Lucian, the Greek satirist, in his _Voyage to the Globe of the +Moon_, sailed through the sky for the space of seven days and +nights and on the eighth "arrived in a great round and shining island +which hung in the air and yet was inhabited. These inhabitants were +Hippogypians, and their king was Endymion." [54] Some of the +ancients thought the lunarians were fifteen times larger than we are, +and our oaks but bushes compared with their trees. So natural is it to +magnify prophets not of our own country. + +William Hone tells us that a Mr. Wilson, formerly curate of Halton +Gill, near Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire, in the last century wrote a +tract entitled _The Man in the Moon_, which was seriously meant to +convey the knowledge of common astronomy in the following +strange vehicle: A cobbler, Israel Jobson by name, is supposed to +ascend first to the top of Penniguit; and thence, as a second stage +equally practicable, to the moon; after which he makes the grand +tour of the whole solar system. From this excursion, however, the +traveller brings back little information which might not have been +had upon earth, excepting that the inhabitants of one of the planets, I +forget which, were made of "pot metal." [55] This curious tract, full +of other extravagances, is rarely if ever met with, it having been +zealously bought up by its writer's family. + +We must not be detained with any detailed account of M. Jules +Verne's captivating books, entitled _From the Earth to the Moon_, +and _Around the Moon_. They are accessible to all, at a trifling +cost. Besides, they reveal nothing new relating to the Hamlet of our +present play. Nor need we more than mention "the surprising +adventures of the renowned Baron Munchausen." His lunarians +being over thirty-six feet high, and "a common flea being much +larger than one of our sheep," [56] Munchausen's moon must be +declined, with thanks. + +"Certain travellers, like the author of the _Voyage au monde de +Descartes_, have found, on visiting these different lunar countries, +that the great men whose names they had arbitrarily received took +possession of them in the course of the sixteenth century, and there +fixed their residence. These immortal souls, it seems, continued +their works and systems inaugurated on earth. Thus it is, that on +Mount Aristotle a real Greek city has risen, peopled with peripatetic +philosophers, and guarded by sentinels armed with propositions, +antitheses, and sophisms, the master himself living in the centre of +the town in a magnificent palace. Thus also in Plato's circle live +souls continually occupied in the study of the prototype of ideas. +Two years ago a fresh division of lunar property was made, some +astronomers being generously enriched." [57] + +That the moon is an abode of the departed spirits of men, an upper +hades, has been believed for ages. In the Egyptian _Book of +Respirations_, which M. p. J. de Horrack has translated from the +MS. in the Louvre in Paris, Isis breathes the wish for her brother +Osiris "that his soul may rise to heaven in the disk of the moon." +[58] Plutarch says, "Of these soules the moon is the element, +because soules doe resolve into her, like as the bodies of the dead +into the earth." [59] To this ancient theory Mr. Tylor refers when he +writes, "And when in South America the Saliva Indians have +pointed out the moon, their paradise where no mosquitoes are, and +the Guaycurus have shown it as the home of chiefs and medicine-men +deceased, and the Polynesians of Tokelau in like manner have +claimed it as the abode of departed kings and chiefs, then these +pleasant fancies may be compared with that ancient theory +mentioned by Plutarch, that hell is in the air and elysium in the +moon, and again with the mediaeval conception of the moon as the +seat of hell, a thought elaborated in profoundest bathos by Mr. M. F. +Tupper: + + 'I know thee well, O Moon, thou cavern'd realm, + Sad satellite, thou giant ash of death, + Blot on God's firmament, pale home of crime, + Scarr'd prison house of sin, where damned souls + Feed upon punishment. Oh, thought sublime, + That amid night's black deeds, when evil prowls + Through the broad world, thou, watching sinners well, + Glarest o'er all, the wakeful eye of--Hell!' + +Skin for skin, the brown savage is not ill-matched in such +speculative lore with the white philosopher." [60] + +The last journey to the moon on our list we introduce for the sake of +its sacred lesson. Pure religion is an Attic salt, which wise men use +in all of their entertainments: a condiment which seasons what is +otherwise insipid, and assists healthy digestion in the compound +organism of man's mental and moral constitution. About seventy +years since, a little tract was published, in which the writer imagined +himself on _luna firma_. After giving the inhabitants of the moon an +account of our terrestrial race, of its fall and redemption, and of the +unhappiness of those who neglect the great salvation, he says, "The +secret is this, that nothing but an infinite God, revealing Himself by +His Spirit to their minds, and enabling them to believe and trust in +Him, can give perfect and lasting satisfaction." He then adds, "My +last observation received the most marked approbation of the lunar +inhabitants: they truly pitied the ignorant triflers of our sinful world, +who prefer drunkenness, debauchery, sinful amusements, exorbitant +riches, flattery, and other things that are highly esteemed amongst +men, to the pleasures of godliness, to the life of God in the soul of +man, to the animating hope of future bliss." [61] + +Here the man in the moon and we must part. Hitherto some may +have supposed their thoughts occupied with a mere creature of +imagination, or gratuitous creation of an old-world mythology. +Perhaps the man in the moon is nothing more: perhaps he is very +much more. Possibly we have information of every being in the +universe; and possibly there are beings in every existing world of +which we know nothing whatever. The latter possibility we deem +much the more probable. Remembering our littleness as contrasted +with the magnitude of the whole creation, we prefer to believe that +there are rational creatures in other worlds besides this small-sized +sphere in, it may be, a small-sized system. Therefore, till we acquire +more conclusive evidence than has yet been adduced, we will not +regard even the moon as an empty abode, but as the home of beings +whom, in the absence of accurate definition, we denominate men. +Whether the man in the moon have a body like our own, whether his +breathing apparatus, his digestive functions, and his cerebral organs, +be identical with ours, are matters of secondary moment. The +Fabricator of terrestrial organizations has limited himself to no one +type or form, why then should man be the model of beings in distant +worlds? Be the man in the moon a biped or quadruped; see he +through two eyes as we do, or a hundred like Argus; hold he with +two hands as we do, or a hundred like Briarius; walk he with two +feet as we do, or a hundred like the centipede, "the mind's the +standard of the man" everywhere. If he have but a wise head and a +warm heart; if he be not shut up, Diogenes--like, within his own +little tub of a world, but take an interest in the inhabitants of kindred +spheres; and if he be a worshipper of the one God who made the +heavens with all their glittering hosts;--then, in the highest sense, he +is a _man_, to whom we would fain extend the hand of fellowship, +claiming him as a brother in that universal family which is confined +to no bone or blood, no colour or creed, and, so far as we can +conjecture, to no world, but is co-extensive with the household of +the Infinite Father, who cares for all of His children, and will +ultimately blend them in the blessed bonds of an endless +confraternity. Whether we or our posterity will ever become better +acquainted in this life with the man in the moon is problematical; +but in the ages to come, "when the manifold wisdom of God" shall +be developed among "the principalities and powers in heavenly +places," he may be something more than a myth or topic of +amusement. He may be visible among the first who will declare +every man in his own tongue wherein he was born the wonderful +works of God, and he may be audible among the first who will lift +their hallelujahs of undivided praise when every satellite shall be a +chorister to laud the universal King. Let us, brothers of earth, by +high and holy living, learn the music of eternity; and then, when the +discord of "life's little day" is hushed, and we are called to join in +the everlasting song, we may solve in one beatific moment the +problem of the plurality of worlds, and in that solution we shall see +more than we have been able to see at present of the man in the +moon. + + + +III. THE WOMAN IN THE MOON. + + "O woman! lovely woman! nature made thee + To temper man; we had been brutes without you. + Angels are painted fair, to look like you: + There's in you all that we believe of heaven + Amazing brightness, purity, and truth, + Eternal joy, and everlasting love." + (Otway's _Venice Preserved_, 1682.) + +It is not good that the man in the moon should be alone; therefore +creative imagination has supplied him with a companion. The +woman in the moon as a myth does not obtain to any extent in +Europe; she is to be found chiefly in Polynesia, and among the +native races of North America. The _Middle Kingdom_ furnishes +the following allusion: "The universal legend of the man in the +moon takes in China a form that is at least as interesting as the ruder +legends of more barbarous people. The 'Goddess of the Palace of the +Moon,' Chang-o, appeals as much to our sympathies as, and rather +more so than, the ancient beldame who, in European folk-lore, picks +up perpetual sticks to satisfy the vengeful ideas of an ultra-Sabbatical +sect. Mr. G. C. Stent has aptly seized the idea of the Chinese +versifier whom he translates + + "On a gold throne, whose radiating brightness + Dazzles the eyes--enhaloing the scene, + Sits a fair form, arrayed in snowy whiteness. + She is Chang-o, the beauteous Fairy Queen. + Rainbow-winged angels softly hover o'er her, + Forming a canopy above the throne; + A host of fairy beings stand before her, + Each robed in light, and girt with meteor zone.'" [62] + +A touching tradition is handed down by Berthold that the moon is +Mary Magdalene, and the spots her tears of repentance. [63] +Fontenelle, the French poet and philosopher, saw a woman in the +moon's changes. "Everything," he says, "is in perpetual motion; +even including a certain young lady in the moon, who was seen with +a telescope about forty years ago, everything has considerably aged. +She had a pretty good face, but her cheeks are now sunken, her nose +is lengthened, her forehead and chin are now prominent to such an +extent, that all her charms have vanished, and I fear for her days." +"What are you relating to me now?" interrupted the marchioness. +"This is no jest," replied Fontenelle. "Astronomers perceived in the +moon a particular figure which had the aspect of a woman's head, +which came forth from between the rocks, and then occurred some +changes in this region. Some pieces of mountain fell, and disclosed +three points which could only serve to compose a forehead, a nose, +and an old woman's chin." [64] Doubtless the face and the +disfigurements were fictions of the author's lively imagination, and +his words savour less of science than of satire; but Fontenelle was +neither the first nor the last of those to whom "the inconstant moon +that monthly changes" has been an impersonation of the fickle and +the feminine. The following illustration is from Plutarch: "Cleobulus +said, As touching fooles, I will tell you a tale which I heard my +mother once relate unto a brother of mine. The time was (quoth she) +that the moone praied her mother to make her a peticoate fit and +proportionate for her body. Why, how is it possible (quoth her +mother) that I should knit or weave one to fit well about thee +considering that I see thee one while full, another while croissant or +in the wane and pointed with tips of horns, and sometime again +halfe rounde?" [65] Old John Lilly, one of our sixteenth-century +dramatists, likewise supports this ungallant theory. In the +_Prologus_ to one of his very rare dramas he writes: + + "Our poet slumb'ring in the muses laps, + Hath seen a woman seated in the moone." [66] + +This woman is Pandora, the mischief-maker among the Utopian +shepherds. In Act v. she receives her commission to conform the +moon to her own mutability: + + "Now rule _Pandora_ in fayre _Cynthia's_ steede, + And make the moone inconstant like thyselfe, + Raigne thou at women's nuptials, and their birth, + Let them be mutable in all their loves. + Fantasticall, childish, and folish, in their desires + Demanding toyes; and stark madde + When they cannot have their will." + +In North America the woman in the moon is a cosmological myth. +Take, for example, the tale told by the Esquimaux, which word is +the French form of the Algonquin Indian _Eskimantsic_, "raw-flesh +eaters." "Their tradition of the formation of the sun and moon is, +that not long after the world was formed, a great conjuror or angikak +became so powerful that he could ascend into the heavens when he +pleased, and on one occasion took with him a beautiful sister whom +he loved very much, and also some fire, to which he added great +quantities of fuel, and thus formed the sun. For a time the conjuror +treated his sister with great kindness, and they lived happily +together; but at last he became cruel, ill-used her in many ways, and, +as a climax, burnt one side of her face with fire. After this last +indignity she ran away from him and became the moon. Her brother +in the sun has been in chase of her ever since; but although he +sometimes gets near, will never overtake her. When new moon, the +burnt side of her face is towards the earth; when full moon, the +reverse is the case." [67] The likeness between this tradition and the +Greenlanders' myth of Malina and Anninga is very close, the +difference consisting chiefly in the change of sex; here the moon is +feminine, there the moon is masculine. [68] + +In Brazil the story is further varied, in that it is the sister who +falls in love, and receives a discoloured face for her offence. Professor +Hartt says that Dr. Silva de Coutinho found on the Rio Branco and Sr. +Barbosa has reported from the Jamunda a myth "in which the moon +is represented as a maiden who fell in love with her brother and +visited him at night, but who was finally betrayed by his passing his +blackened hand over her face." [69] + +The Ottawa tale of Indian cosmogony, called Iosco, narrates the +adventures of two Indians who "found themselves in a beautiful +country, lighted by the moon, which shed around a mild and +pleasant light. They could see the moon approaching as if it were +from behind a hill. They advanced, and the aged woman spoke to +them; she had a white face and pleasing air, and looked rather old, +though she spoke to them very kindly. They knew from her first +appearance that she was the moon. She asked them several +questions. She informed them that they were halfway to her +brother's (the sun), and that from the earth to her abode was half the +distance." [70] + +Other American Indians have a tradition of an old woman who lived +with her grand-daughter, the most beautiful girl that ever was seen +in the country. Coming of age, she wondered that only herself and +her grandmother were in the world. The grandam explained that an +evil spirit had destroyed all others; but that she by her power had +preserved herself and her grand-daughter. This did not satisfy the +young girl, who thought that surely some survivors might be found. +She accordingly travelled in search, till on the tenth day she found a +lodge inhabited by eleven brothers, who were hunters. The eleventh +took her to wife, and died after a son was born. The widow then +wedded each of the others, beginning with the youngest. When she +took the eldest, she soon grew tired of him, and fled away by the +western portal of the hunter's lodge. Tearing up one of the stakes +which supported the door, she disappeared in the earth with her little +dog. Soon all trace of the fugitive was lost. Then she emerged from +the earth in the east, where she met an old man fishing in the sea. +This person was he who made the earth. He bade her pass into the +air toward the west. Meanwhile the deserted husband pursued his +wife into the earth on the west, and out again on the east, where the +tantalizing old fisherman cried out to him, "Go, go; you will run +after your wife as long as the earth lasts without ever overtaking her, +and the nations who will one day be upon the earth will call you +_Gizhigooke_, he who makes the day." From this is derived +_Gizis_, the sun. Some of the Indians count only eleven moons, +which represent the eleven brothers, dying one after another. [71] + +Passing on to Polynesia, we reach Samoa, where "we are told that +the moon came down one evening, and picked up a woman, called +Sina, and her child. It was during a time of famine. She was +working in the evening twilight, beating out some bark with which +to make native cloth. The moon was just rising, and it reminded her +of a great bread-fruit. Looking up to it, she said, 'Why cannot you +come down and let my child have a bit of you?' The moon was +indignant at the idea of being eaten, came down forthwith, and took +her up, child, board, mallet, and all. The popular superstition is not +yet forgotten in Samoa of the _woman_ in the moon. 'Yonder is +Sina,' they say, 'and her child, and her mallet, and board.'" [72] The +same belief is held in the adjacent Tonga group, or Friendly Islands, +as they were named by Captain Cook, on account of the supposed +friendliness of the natives. "As to the spots in the moon, they are +compared to the figure of a woman sitting down and beating +_gnatoo_" (bark used for clothing). [73] + +In Mangaia, the southernmost island of the Hervey cluster, the +woman in the moon is Ina, the pattern wife, who is always busy, and +indefatigable in the preparation of resplendent cloth, _i.e. white +clouds_. At Atiu it is said that Ina took to her celestial abode a +mortal husband, whom, after many happy years, she sent back to the +earth on a beautiful rainbow, lest her fair home should be defiled by +death. [74] Professor Max Mueller is reminded by this story of +Selene and Endymion, of Eos and Tithonos. + + + +IV. THE HARE IN THE MOON. + +When the moon is waxing, from about the eighth day to the full, it +requires no very vivid imagination to descry on the westward side of +the lunar disk a large patch very strikingly resembling a rabbit or +hare. The oriental noticing this figure, his poetical fancy developed +the myth-making faculty, which in process of time elaborated the +legend of the hare in the moon, which has left its marks in every +quarter of the globe. In Asia it is indigenous, and is an article of +religious belief. "To the common people in India the spots look like +a hare, _i.e._ Chandras, the god of the moon, carries a hare (sasa), +hence the moon is called Sasin or Sasanka, hare mark or spot." [75] +Max Mueller also writes, "As a curious coincidence it may be +mentioned that in Sanskrit the moon is called Sasanka,_i.e._ 'having +the marks of a hare,' the black marks in the moon being taken for the +likeness of the hare." [76] This allusion to the sacred language of the +Hindus affords a convenient opportunity of introducing one of the +most beautiful legends of the East. It is a Buddhist tract; but in the +lesson which it embodies it will compare very favourably with +many a tract more ostensibly Christian. + +"In former days, a hare, a monkey, a coot, and a fox, became +hermits, and lived in a wilderness together, after having sworn not +to kill any living thing. The god Sakkria having seen this through +his divine power, thought to try their faith, and accordingly took +upon him the form of a brahmin, and appearing before the monkey +begged of him alms, who immediately brought to him a bunch of +mangoes, and presented it to him. The pretended brahmin, having +left the monkey, went to the coot and made the same request, who +presented him a row of fish which he had just found on the bank of +a river, evidently forgotten by a fisherman. The brahmin then went +to the fox, who immediately went in search of food, and soon +returned with a pot of milk and a dried liguan, which he had found +in a plain, where apparently they had been left by a herdsman. The +brahmin at last went to the hare and begged alms of him. The hare +said, 'Friend, I eat nothing but grass, which I think is of no use to +you.' Then the pretended brahmin replied, 'Why, friend, if you are a +true hermit, you can give me your own flesh in hope of future +happiness.' The hare directly consented to it, and said to the +supposed brahmin, 'I have granted your request, and you may do +whatever you please with me.' The brahmin then replied, 'Since you +are willing to grant my request, I will kindle a fire at the foot of the +rock, from which you may jump into the fire, which will save me +the trouble of killing you and dressing your flesh.' The hare readily +agreed to it, and jumped from the top of the rock into the fire which +the supposed brahmin had kindled; but before he reached the fire, it +was extinguished; and the brahmin appearing in his natural shape of +the god Sakkria, took the hare in his arms and immediately drew its +figure in the moon, in order that every living thing of every part of +the world might see it." [77] All will acknowledge that this is a very +beautiful allegory. How many in England, as well as in Ceylon, are +described by the monkey, the coot, and the fox--willing to bring +their God any oblation which costs them nothing; but how few are +like the hare--ready to present themselves as a living sacrifice, to be +consumed as a burnt offering in the Divine service! Those, however, +who lose their lives in such self-sacrifice, shall find them, and be +caught up to "shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the +stars for ever and ever." + +Another version of this legend is slightly variant. Grimm says: "The +people of Ceylon relate as follows: While Buddha the great god +sojourned upon earth as a hermit, he one day lost his way in a wood. +He had wandered long, when a _hare_ accosted him: 'Cannot I help +thee? Strike into the path on thy right. I will guide thee out of the +wilderness.' Buddha replied: 'Thank thee, but I am poor and hungry, +and unable to repay thy kindness.' 'If thou art hungry,' said the hare, +'light a fire, and kill, roast, and eat me.' Buddha made a fire, and the +hare immediately jumped in. Then did Buddha manifest his divine +power; he snatched the beast out of the flames, and set him in the +moon, where he may be seen to this day." [78] Francis Douce, the +antiquary, relates this myth, and adds, "this is from the information +of a learned and intelligent French gentleman recently arrived from +Ceylon, who adds that the Cingalese would often request of him to +permit them to look for the hare through his telescope, and exclaim +in raptures that they saw it. It is remarkable that the Chinese +represent the moon by a rabbit pounding rice in a mortar. Their +mythological moon Jut-ho is figured by a beautiful young woman +with a double sphere behind her head, and a rabbit at her feet. The +period of this animal's gestation is thirty days; may it not therefore +typify the moon's revolution round the earth." [79] + +[Illustration: moon08] + +SAKYAMUNI AS A HARE IN THE MOON. +_Collin de Plancy's_ "_Dictionnaire Infernal_." + +In this same apologue we have doubtless a duplicate, the original or +a copy, of another Buddhist legend found among the Kalmucks of +Tartary; in which Sakyamuni himself, in an early stage of existence, +had inhabited the body of a hare. Giving himself as food to feed the +hunger of a starving creature, he was immediately placed in the +moon, where he is still to be seen. [80] + +The Mongolian also sees a hare in the lunar shadows. We are told +by a Chinese scholar that "tradition earlier than the period of the +Han dynasty asserted that a hare inhabited the surface of the moon, +and later Taoist fable depicted this animal, called the gemmeous +hare, as the servitor of the genii, who employ it in pounding the +drugs which compose the elixir of life. The connection established +in Chinese legend between the hare and the moon is probably +traceable to an Indian original. In Sanskrit inscriptions the moon is +called Sason, from a fancied resemblance of its spots to a leveret; +and pandits, to whom maps of the moon's service have been shown, +have fixed on _Loca Paludosa_, and _Mons Porphyrites_ or +_Keplerus_ and _Aristarchus_, for the spots which they think +exhibit the similitude of a hare." [81] On another page of the same +work we read: "During the T'ang dynasty it was recounted that a +cassia tree grows in the moon, this notion being derived apparently +from an Indian source. The _sal_ tree (_shorea robusta_), one of the +sacred trees of the Buddhists, was said during the Sung dynasty to +be identical with the cassia tree in the moon. The lunar hare is said +to squat at the foot of the cassia tree, pounding its drugs for the +genii. The cassia tree in the moon is said to be especially visible at +mid-autumn, and hence to take a degree at the examinations which +are held at this period is described as plucking a leaf from the +cassia." [82] + +This hare myth, attended with the usual transformation, has +travelled to the Hottentots of South Africa. The fable which follows +is entitled "From an original manuscript in English, by Mr. John +Priestly, in Sir G. Grey's library." "The moon, on one occasion, sent +the hare to the earth to inform men that as she (the moon) died away +and rose again, so mankind should die and rise again. Instead, +however, of delivering this message as given, the hare, either out of +forgetfulness or malice, told mankind that as the moon rose and died +away, so man should die and rise no more. The hare, having +returned to the moon, was questioned as to the message delivered, +and the moon, having heard the true state of the case, became so +enraged with him that she took up a hatchet to split his head; falling +short, however, of that, the hatchet fell upon the upper lip of the +hare, and cut it severely. Hence it is that we see the 'hare-lip.' The +hare, being duly incensed at having received such treatment, raised +his claws, and scratched the moon's face; and the dark parts which +we now see on the surface of the moon are the scars which she +received on that occasion." [83] In an account of the Hottentot myth +of the "Origin of Death," the angered moon heats a stone and burns +the hare's mouth, causing the hare-lip. [84] Dr. Marshall may tell us, +with all the authority of an eminent physiologist, that hare-lip is +occasioned by an arrest in the development of certain frontal and +nasal processes, [85] and we may receive his explanation as a +sweetly simple solution of the question; but who that suffers from +this leporine-labial deformity would not prefer a supernatural to a +natural cause? Better far that the lip should be cleft by Shakespeare's +"foul fiend Flibbertigibbet," than that an abnormal condition should +be accounted for by science, or comprised within the reign of +physical law. + +Even Europe is somewhat hare-brained: for Caesar tells us that the +Britons did not regard it lawful to eat the hare, though he does not +say why; and in Swabia still, children are forbidden to make +shadows on the wall to represent the sacred hare of the moon. + +We may pursue this matter even in Mexico, whose deities and +myths a recent Hibbert lecturer brought into clearer light, showing +that the Mexicans "possessed beliefs, institutions, and a developed +mythology which would bear comparison with anything known to +antiquity in the old world." [86] The Tezcucans, as they are usually +called, are described by Prescott as "a nation of the same great +family with the Aztecs, whom they rivalled in power, and surpassed +in intellectual culture and the arts of social refinement." [87] Their +account of the creation is that "the sun and moon came out equally +bright, but this not seeming good to the gods, one of them took a +rabbit by the heels and slung it into the face of the moon, dimming +its lustre with a blotch, whose mark may be seen to this day." [88] + +We have now seen that the fancy of a hare in the moon is universal; +but not so much importance is to be attached to this, as to some +other aspects of moon mythology. The hare-like patch is visible in +every land, and suggested the animal to all observers. That the +rabbit's period of gestation is thirty days is a singular coincidence; +but that is all--nay, it is not even that, for "the moon's revolution +round the earth," which Douce supposed the Chinese myth to typify, +is accomplished in a little more than _twenty-seven_ days. Neither +is much weight due to the fanciful comparison of Gubernatis: "The +moon is the watcher of the sky, that is to say, she sleeps with her +eyes open; so also does the hare, whence the _somnus leporinus_ +became a proverb." [89] The same author says on another page, and +here we follow him: "The mythical hare is undoubtedly the moon. +In the first story of the third book of the _Pancatantram_, the hares +dwell upon the shore of the lake Candrasaras, or lake of the moon, +and their king has for his palace the lunar disk." [90] It is this story, +which Mr. Baring-Gould relates in outline; and which we are +compelled still further to condense. In a certain forest there once +lived a herd of elephants. Long drought having dried up the lakes +and swamps, an exploring party was sent out in search of a fresh +supply of water. An extensive lake was discovered, called the moon +lake. The elephants with their king eagerly marched to the spot, and +found their thirsty hopes fully realized. All round the lake were in +numerable hare warrens, which the tread of the mighty monsters +crushed unmercifully, maiming and mangling the helpless +inhabitants. When the elephants had withdrawn, the poor hares met +together in terrible plight, to consult upon the course which they +should take when their enemies returned. One wise hare undertook +the task of driving the ponderous herd away. This he did by going +alone to the elephant king, and representing himself as the hare +which lived in the moon. He stated that he was deputed by his +excellency the moon to say that if the elephants came any more to +the lake, the beams of night would be withheld, and their bodies +would be burned up with perpetual sunshine. The king of the +elephants thinking that "the better part of valour is discretion," +decided to offer an apology for his offence. He was conducted to the +lake, where the moon was reflected in the water, apparently +meditating his revenge. The elephant thrust his proboscis into the +lake, which disturbed the reflection. Whereupon the elephant, +judging the moon to be enraged, hurried with his apology, and then +went off vowing never to return. The wise hare had proven that +"wisdom is better than strength"; and the hares suffered no more +molestation. "We may also remark, in this event, the truth of that +saying of Euripides, 'that one wise counsel is better than the strength +of many'" (_Polybius_, i. 35). + + + +V. THE TOAD IN THE MOON. + +We owe an immense debt of gratitude and honour to the many +enterprising and cultivated men who have gone into all parts of the +earth and among all peoples to investigate human history and habit, +mythology and religion, and thus enrich the stores of our national +literature. With such a host of travellers gathering up the fragments, +nothing of value is likely to be lost. We have to thank intelligent +explorers for all we know of the mythical frog or toad in the moon: +an addition to our information which is not unworthy of thoughtful +notice. + +The Selish race of North-west American Indians, who inhabit the +country between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains, have a +tradition, which Captain Wilson relates as follows: "The expression +of 'a toad in the moon,' equivalent to our 'man in the moon,' is +explained by a very pretty story relating how the little wolf, being +desperately in love with the toad, went a-wooing one night and +prayed that the moon might shine brightly on his adventure; his +prayer was granted, and by the clear light of a full moon he was +pursuing the toad, and had nearly caught her, when, as a last chance +of escape, she made a desperate spring on to the face of the moon, +where she remains to this day." [91] Another writer says that "the +Cowichan tribes think that the moon has a frog in it." [92] + +From the Great Western we turn to the Great Eastern world, and in +China find the frog in the moon. "The famous astronomer Chang +Heng was avowedly a disciple of Indian teachers. The statement +given by Chang Heng is to the effect that 'How I, the fabled inventor +of arrows in the days of Yao and Shun,[*] obtained the drug of +immortality from Si Wang Mu (the fairy 'Royal Mother' of the +West); and Chang Ngo (his wife) having stolen it, fled to the moon, +and became the frog--_Chang-chu_--which is seen there.' The lady +_Chang-ngo_ is still pointed out among the shadows in the surface +of the Moon." [93] Dr. Wells Williams also tells us that in China +"the sun is symbolized by the figure of a raven in a circle, and the +moon by a rabbit on his hind legs pounding rice in a mortar, or by a +three-legged toad. The last refers to the legend of an ancient beauty, +Chang-ngo, who drank the liquor of immortality, and straightway +ascended to the moon, where she was transformed into a toad, still +to be traced in its face. It is a special object of worship in autumn, +and moon cakes dedicated to it are sold at this season." [94] We +have little doubt that what the Chinese look for they see. We in the +West characterize and colour objects which we behold, as we see +them through the painted windows of our predisposition or +prejudice. As a great novelist writes: "From the same object +different conclusions are drawn; the most common externals of +nature, the wind and the wave, the stars and the heavens, the very +earth on which we tread, never excite in different bosoms the same +ideas; and it is from our own hearts, and not from an outward +source, that we draw the hues which colour the web of our +existence. It is true, answered Clarence. You remember that in +two specks of the moon the enamoured maiden perceived two +unfortunate lovers, while the ambitious curate conjectured that they +were the spires of a cathedral." [95] Besides, it must be confessed +that the particular moon-patch that has awakened so much interest in +every age and nation is quite as much like a frog or toad as it is like +a rabbit or hare. + +[*] Mr. Herbert A. Giles says that How I was a legendary chieftain, +who "flourished about 2,500 B.C." _Strange Stories from a Chinese +Studio_, London, 1880, i. 19, _note_. + + + +VI. OTHER MOON MYTHS. + +It is almost time that we should leave this lunar zoology; we will +therefore merely present a few creatures which may be of service in +a comparative anatomy of the whole subject, and then close the +account. There is a story told in the Fiji Islands which so nearly +approaches the Hottentot legend of the hare, that they both seem but +variations of a common original. In the one case the opponent of the +moon's benevolent purpose affecting man's hereafter was a hare, in +the other a rat. The story thus runs: There was "a contest between +two gods as to how man should die. Ra Vula (the moon) contended +that man should be like himself--disappear awhile, and then live +again. Ra Kalavo (the rat) would not listen to this kind proposal, but +said, 'Let man die as a rat dies.' And he prevailed." [96] Mr. Tylor, +who quotes this rat story, adds: "The dates of the versions seem to +show that the presence of these myths among the Hottentots and +Fijians, at the two opposite sides of the globe, is at any rate not due +to transmission in modern times." [97] + +From the rat to one of its mortal enemies is an easy transition. The +Australian story is that Mityan, the moon, was a native cat, who fell +in love with another's wife, and while trying to induce her to run +away with him, was discovered by the husband, when a fight took +place. Mityan was beaten and ran away, and has been wandering +ever since. [98] We are indebted for another suggestion to Bishop +Wilkins, who wrote over two centuries ago: "As for the form of +those spots, _Albertus_ thinks that it represents a lion, with his tail +towards the east, and his head the west; and some others have +thought it to be very much like a fox, and certainly 'tis as much like +a lion as that in the _zodiac_, or as _ursa major_ is like a bear." [99] +This last remark of the old mathematician is "a hit, a very palpable +hit," at those unpoetical people who catalogue the constellations +under all sorts of living creatures' names, implying resemblances, +and then "sap with solemn sneer" our myths of the moon. + +We have now seen that the moon is populated with men, women, +and children,--hares and rabbits, toads and frogs, cats and dogs, and +sundry small "cattle"; we observe in making our exit that it is also +planted with a variety of trees; in short, is a zoological garden of a +high order. Even among the ancients some said the lunar spots were +forests where Diana hunted, and that the bright patches were plains. +Captain Cook tells us that in the South Pacific "the spots observed +in the moon are supposed to be groves of a sort of trees which once +grew in Otaheite, and, being destroyed by some accident, their seeds +were carried up thither by doves, where they now flourish." [100] +Ellis also tells of these Tahitians that "their ideas of the moon, +which they called _avae_ or _marama_, were as fabulous as those +they entertained of the sun. Some supposed the moon was the wife +of the sun; others that it was a beautiful country in which the aoa +grew." [101] These arborary fancies derive additional interest, if not +a species of verisimilitude, from the record of a missionary that "a +stately tree, clothed with dark shining leaves, and loaded with many +hundreds of large green or yellowish-coloured fruit, is one of the +most splendid and beautiful objects to be met with among the rich +and diversified scenery of a Tahitian landscape." + +Our collection of lunar legends is now on exhibition. No thoughtful +person will be likely to dispute the dictum of Sir John Lubbock that +"traditions and myths are of great importance, and indirectly throw +much light on the condition of man in ancient times." [102] But they +serve far more purposes than this. They are the raw material, out of +which many of our goodly garments of modern science and religion +are made up. The illiterate negroes on the cotton plantation, and the +rude hunters in the jungle or seal fishery, produce the staple, or +procure the skins, which after long labour afford comfort and +adornment to proud philosophers and peers. The golden cross on the +saintly bosom and the glittering crown on the sovereign brow were +embedded as rough ore in primeval rocks ages before their wearers +were born to boast of them. We shall esteem our treasures none the +less because their origin is known, as we love "the Best of men" +none the less because he was born of a woman. We closed our series +of moon myths with a vision of a beautiful country, ornamented +with groves of fruitful trees, whose seeds had been carried thither by +white-winged doves; and carried thither because "some accident" +had destroyed the trees in their native isles on earth. Thus the lunar +world had become a desirable scene of superior and surpassing +loveliness. Who can reflect upon this dream of human childhood, +and not recall some dreams of later years? Who can fail to discern +slight touches of the same hand which we see displayed in other +designs? "Happily for historic truth," says Mr. Tylor, "mythic +tradition tells its tales without expurgating the episodes which +betray its real character to more critical observation." [103] Who is +not led on from Tahiti to Greece, and to the Isles of the Blessed, the +Elysium which abounds in every charm of life, and to the garden of +the Hesperides, with its apples of gold; thence to the Meru of the +Hindoos, the sacred mountain which is perpetually clothed in the +rays of the sun, and adorned with every variety of plants and trees; +thence again to the Heden of the Persians, of matchless beauty, +where ever flourishes the tree Hom with its wonderful fruit; on to +the Chinese garden, near the gate of heaven, whose noblest spring is +the fountain of life, and whose delightful trees bear fruits which +preserve and prolong the existence of man? [104] Thence an easy +entrance is gained to the Hebrew Paradise, with its abounding trees +"pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the +midst of the garden"; and finally arises a sight of the "better land" of +the Christian poetess, the incorruptible and undefiled inheritance of +the Christian preacher, the prospect which is "ever vernal and +blooming,--and, best of all, amid those trees of life there lurks no +serpent to destroy,--the country, through whose vast region we shall +traverse with untired footsteps, while every fresh revelation of +beauty will augment our knowledge, and holiness, and joy." [105] +Who will travel on such a pilgrimage of enlarged thought, and not +come to the conclusion that if one course of development has been +followed by all scientific and spiritual truth, then "almost the whole +of the mythology and theology of civilized nations maybe traced, +without arrangement or co-ordination, and in forms that are +undeveloped and original rather than degenerate, in the traditions +and ideas of savages"? [106] Such a conclusion may diminish our +self-esteem, if we have supposed ourselves the sole depositaries of +Divine knowledge; but it will exalt our conception of the generosity +of the Father of all men, who never left a human soul without a +witness of His invisible presence and ineffable love. + + + +MOON WORSHIP. + +I. INTRODUCTION. + +We have now to show that the moon has been in every age, and +remains still, one of the principal objects of human worship. Even +among certain nations credited with pure monotheism, it will be +manifested that there was the practice of that primitive polytheism +which adored the hosts of heaven. And, however humiliating or +disappointing the disclosure may prove, it will be established that +some of the foremost Christian peoples of the world maintain +luniolatry to this day, notwithstanding that they have the reproving +light of the latest civilization. We are so prone to talk of heathenism +as abroad, that we forget or neglect the gross heathenism which +abounds at home; and while we complacently speak of the march of +the world's progress with which we identify ourselves, we are +oblivious of the fact that much ancient falsehood survives and +blends with the truth in which our superior minds, or minds with +superior facilities, have been trained. How few of us reflect that the +signs and symbols of rejected theories have passed into the +nomenclature of received systems! Nay, we plume ourselves upon +the new translation or revision as if we were the favoured recipients +of some fresh revelation. Not only in the names of our days and +months, but also in some of our most cherished dogmas, we are but +the "liberal-conservatives" in religion, who retain the old, while we +congratulate ourselves upon being the apostles of the new. That the +past must always run into the present, and the present proceed from +the past, we readily enough allow as a natural and necessary law; +yet baptized heathenism is often heathenism still, under another +name. Again, we are sometimes so short-sighted that we deny to +former periods the paternity of their own more fortunate offspring, +and behave like prosperous children who ungratefully ignore their +poorer parents, to whom they owe their breath and being. Such +treatment of history is to be emphatically deprecated, whether it +arises from ignorance or ingratitude. We ought to know, if we do +not, and we ought also to acknowledge, that our perfect day grew +out of primeval darkness, and that the progress was a lingering +dawn. This we hold to be the clearest view of the Divine causation. +Our modern method in philosophy, largely owing to the _Novum +Organum_ of Bacon, is evolution, the _novum organum_ of the +nineteenth century; and this process recognises no abrupt or +interruptive creations, but gradual transformations from pre-existent +types, "variations under domestication," and the passing away of the +old by its absorption into the new. Our religion, like our language, is +a garden not only for indigenous vegetation, but also for +acclimatisation, in which we improve under cultivation exotic plants +whose roots are drawn from every soil on the earth. And, as Paul +preached in Athens the God whom the Greeks worshipped in +ignorance, so our missionaries carry back to less enlightened +peoples the fruit of that life-giving tree whose germs exist among +themselves, undeveloped and often unknown. No religion has fallen +from heaven, like the fabled image of Athene, in full-grown beauty. +All spiritual life is primordially an inspiration or intuition from the +Father of spirits, whose offspring all men are, and who is not far +from every one of them. This intuition prompts men to "seek the +Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him." Thus prayer +becomes an instinct; and to worship is as natural as to breathe. But +man is a being with five senses, and as his contact with his +fellow-creatures and with the whole creation is at one or other of +those five points, he is necessarily sensuous. Endowed with native +intelligence, the _intellectus ipse_ of Leibnitz, he nevertheless +receives his impressions on _sensitive_ nerves, his emotions are +_sentiments_, his words become _sentences_, and his stock of +wisdom is his common _sense_. A few, very few, words express his +sensations, a few more his perceptions, and so on; but he is +conscious of _objects_ at first, he deals with _subjects_ afterwards. +Soon the sun, moon, and stars, as bright lights attract his eyes, as we +have all seen an infant of a few days fix its gaze upon a candle or +lamp. These heavenly orbs are found to be in motion, to be far +away, to be the glory of day and night: what wonder if _ideas_ of +these _images_ are formed in the religious mind, if the worshipper +imagines the sun and moon to be reflections of the God of light, and +pays homage to the creature which renders the Creator visible? Thus +in the childhood of man religion grows, and with the multiplication +of intellect and sensation, endless diversity of language, conception +and faith is the result. Another result, of course, is the endless +diversity of deities. Every race, every nation, every tribe, every +household, every heart, has had its own God. And yet, with all this +multiplicity in religious literature and dogma, subject and object, a +unity co-exists which the student of the science notes with profound +interest. All nations of men are of one blood; and all forms of God +embody the one Eternal Spirit. To this unity mythology tends. As +one writer says: "We must ever bear in mind that the course of +mythology is from many gods toward one, that it is a synthesis, not +an analysis, and that in this process the tendency is to blend in one +the traits and stories of originally separate divinities." +[107] The ancient Hebrew worshipped God as "the Eternal, our +righteousness"; the Greek worshipped Him as wisdom and beauty; +the Roman as power and government; the Persian as light and +goodness; and so forth. Few hymns have surpassed the beauty of +Pope's _Universal Prayer_. It is the _Te Deum laudamus_ of that +catholic Church which embraces God-loved humanity. + + "Father of all! in every age, + In every clime, adored, + By saint, by savage, and by sage, + Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!" + +The Christian, believing his to be the "One Religion," as a recent +Bampton Lecturer termed it, too often forgets that his system is a +recomposition of rays of a religious light which was decomposed in +the prismatic minds of earlier men. And further, with a change of +metaphor, if Christianity has flourished and fructified through +eighteen centuries, it must not be denied that it is a graft upon an old +stock which through fifteen previous centuries had borne abundant +fruit. The same course must be adopted still. We find men +everywhere holding some truth; we add further truth; until, as a +chemist would say, we saturate the solution, which upon +evaporation produces a crystallized life of entirely new colour and +quality and form. Thus Professor Nilsson writes: "Every religious +_change_ in a people is, in fact, only an intermixture of religions; +because the new religion, whether received by means of convincing +arguments, or enforced by the eloquence of fire and sword, cannot +_at once_ tear up all the wide-spreading roots by which its +forerunner has grown in the heart of the people; this must be the +work of many years, perhaps of many generations." [108] We +cannot better close this lengthy introduction than by reminding +Christians of the saying of their Great and Good Teacher, "I am not +come to destroy, but to fulfil." + + + +II. THE MOON MOSTLY A MALE DEITY. + +We have already in part pointed out that the moon has been +considered as of the masculine gender; and have therefore but to +travel a little farther afield to show that in the Aryan of India, in +Egyptian, Arabian, Slavonian, Latin, Lithuanian, Gothic, Teutonic, +Swedish, Anglo-Saxon, and South American, the moon is a male +god. To do this, in addition to former quotations, it will be sufficient +to adduce a few authorities. "Moon," says Max Mueller, "is a very old +word. It was _mona_ in Anglo-Saxon, and was used there, not as a +feminine, but as a masculine for the moon was originally a +masculine, and the sun a feminine, in all Teutonic languages; and it +is only through the influence of classical models that in English +moon has been changed into a feminine, and sun into a masculine. It +was a most unlucky assertion which Mr. Harris made in his +_Hermes_, that all nations ascribe to the sun a masculine, and to the +moon a feminine gender." [109] Grimm says, "Down to recent +times, our people were fond of calling the sun and moon _frau +sonne_ and _herr mond_." [110] Sir Gardner Wilkinson writes: +"Another reason that the moon in the Egyptian mythology could not +be related to Bubastis is, that it was a male and not a female deity, +personified in the god Thoth. This was also the case in some +religions of the West. The Romans recognised the god Lunus; and +the Germans, like the Arabs, to this day, consider the moon +masculine, and not feminine, as were the Selene and Luna of the +Greeks and Latins." [111] Again, "The Egyptians represented their +moon as a male deity, like the German _mond_ and _monat_, or the +_Lunus_ of the Latins; and it is worthy of remark, that the same +custom of calling it male is retained in the East to the present day, +while the sun is considered female, as in the language of the +Germans." [112] "In Slavonic," Sir George Cox tells us, "as in the +Teutonic mythology, the moon is male. His wedding with the sun +brings on him the wrath of Perkunas [the thunder-god], as the song +tells us + + 'The moon wedded the sun + In the first spring. + The sun rose early + The moon departed from her. + The moon wandered alone; + Courted the morning star. + Perkunas, greatly wroth, + Cleft him with a sword. + 'Wherefore dost thou depart from the sun, + Wandering by night alone, + Courting the morning star?'" [113] + +"In a Servian song a girl cries to the sun-- + + 'O brilliant sun! I am fairer than thou + Than thy brother, the bright moon.'" + +In South Slavonian poetry the sun often figures as a radiant youth. +But among the northern Slavonians, as well as the Lithuanians, the +sun was regarded as a female being, the bride of the moon. 'Thou +askest me of what race, of what family I am,' says the fair maiden of +a song preserved in the Tambof Government-- + + 'My mother is--the beauteous Sun, + And my father--the bright Moon.'" [114] + +"Among the Mbocobis of South America the moon is a man and the +sun his wife." [115] The Ahts of North America take the same view; +and we know that in Sanskrit and in Hebrew the word for moon is +masculine. + +This may seem to many a matter of no importance; but if mythology +throws much light upon ancient history and religion, its importance +may be considerable, especially as it lies at the root of that sexuality +which has been the most prolific parent of both good and evil in +human life. The sexual relation has existed from the very birth of +animated nature; and it is remarkable that a man of learning and +piety in Germany has made the strange if not absurd statement that +in the beginning "Adam was externally sexless." [116] Another +idea, more excusable, but equally preposterous, is, that grammatical +gender has been the cause of the male and female personation of +deities, when really it has been the result. The cause, no doubt, was +inherent in man's constitution; and was the inevitable effect of +thought and expression. The same necessity of natural language +which led the Hebrew prophets to speak of their land as married, of +their nation as a wife in prosperity and a widow in calamity, of their +Maker as their husband, who rejoices over them as the bridegroom +rejoiceth over the bride: [117] this same necessity, becoming a habit +like that of our own country folks in Hampshire, of whom Cobbett +speaks, who call almost everything _he_ or _she_; led the sensuous +and imaginative ancients, as it leads simple and poetical peoples +still, to call the moon a man and to worship him as a god. Objects of +fear and reverence would be usually masculines; and objects of love +and desire feminines. We may thus find light thrown upon the +honours paid to such goddesses as Astarte and Aphrodite: which +will also help us to understand the deification by a celibate +priesthood of the Virgin Mary. We may, moreover, account partly +for the fact that to the sailor his ship is always she; to the swain the +flowers which resemble his idol, as the lily and the rose, are always +feminine, and used as female names; while to the patriot the mother +country is nearly always of the tender sex. [118] Prof. Max Mueller +thinks that the distinction between males and females began, "not +with the introduction of masculine nouns, but with the introduction +of feminines, _i.e._ with the setting apart of certain derivative +suffixes for females. By this all other words became masculine." +[119] Thus the sexual emotions of men created that grammatical +gender which has contributed so powerfully to our later mythology, +and has therefore been mistaken for the author of our male and +female personations. What beside sexuality suggested the thought of +the Chevalier Marini? "He introduces the god _Pan_, who boasts +that the spots which are seen in the moon are impressions of the +kisses he gave it." [120] That grammar is very much younger than +sexual relations is proven by the curious fact mentioned by Max +Mueller that _pater_ is not a masculine, nor _mater_ a feminine. +Gender, we must not forget, is from _genus_, a kind or class; and +that the classification in various languages has been arranged on no +fixed plan. We in our modern English, with much still to do, have +improved in this respect, since, in Anglo-Saxon, _wif_ = wife, was +neuter, and _wif-mann_ = woman, was masculine. In German still +_die frau_, the woman, is feminine; but _das weib_, the wife, is +neuter. [121] Dr. Farrar finds the root of gender in the imagination: +which we admit if associated with sex. Otherwise, we cannot +understand how an _unfelt_ distinction of this sort could be +mentally _seen_. But Dr. Farrar means more than imagination, for +he says, "from this source is derived the whole system of genders +for inanimate things, which was perhaps inevitable at that early +childish stage of the human intelligence, when the actively working +soul attributed to everything around it some portion of its own life. +Hence, well-nigh everything is spoken of as masculine or feminine." +[122] We are surprised that Dr. Farrar seems to think German an +exception, in making a masculine noun of the moon. He has failed +to apply to this point his usual learned and laborious investigation. +[123] + +Diogenes Laertius describes the theology of the Jews as an offshoot +from that of the Chaldees, and says that the former affirm of the +latter "that they condemn images, and especially those persons who +say that the gods are male and female." [124] Which condemnation +implies the prevalence of this sexual distinction between their +deities. + +In concluding this chapter we think that it will be granted that +gender in the personification of inanimate objects was the result of +sex in the animate subject: that primitive men saw the moon as a +most conspicuous object, whose spots at periods had the semblance +of a man's face, whose waxing and waning increased their wonder: +whose coming and going amid the still and solemn night added to +the mystery: until from being viewed as a man, it was feared, +especially when apparently angry in a mist or an eclipse, and so +reverenced and worshipped as the heaven-man, the monthly god. + + + +III. THE MOON A WORLD-WIDE DEITY. + +Anthropomorphism, or the representation of outward objects in the +_form_ of _man_, wrought largely, as we have seen, in the +manufacture of the man in the moon; it entered no less into the +composition of the moon-god. The twenty-first verse of the fiftieth +Psalm contains its recognition and rebuke. "Thou thoughtest that I +was altogether as thyself"; or, still more literally, "Thou hast thought +that being, I shall be like thee." As Dr. Delitzsch says, "Because +man in God's likeness has a bodily form, some have presumed to +infer backwards therefrom that God also has a bodily form like to +man, which is related by way of prototype to the human form." +[125] As well might we say that because a watchmaker constructs a +chronometer with a movement somewhat like that of his own heart, +therefore he is mechanical, metallic, and round. Against this +anthropomorphic materialism science lifts up its voice; for what +modern philosopher, worthy of the name, fails to distinguish +between phenomenon and fact, inert matter and active force? Says a +recent writer, "We infer that as our own master of the mint is neither +a sovereign nor a half-sovereign, so the force which coins and +recoins this ulh, or matter, must be altogether in the god-part and +none of it in the metal or paste in which it works." [126] With the +progress of man's intelligence we shall observe improvement in this +anthropomorphism, but it will still survive. As Mr. Baring-Gould +tells us: "The savage invests God with bodily attributes; in a more +civilized state man withdraws the bodily attributes, but imposes the +limitations of his own mental nature; and in his philosophic +elevation he recognises in God intelligence only, though still with +anthropomorphic conditions." [127] + +Xenophanes said that if horses, oxen, and lions could paint, they +would make gods like themselves. And Ralph Waldo Emerson says: +"The gods of fable are the shining moments of great men. We run +all our vessels into one mould. Our colossal theologies of Judaism, +Christism, Buddhism, Mahometism, are the necessary and structural +action of the human mind. The student of history is like a man going +into a warehouse to buy clothes or carpets. He fancies he has a new +article. If he go to the factory, he shall find that his new stuff still +repeats the scrolls and rosettes which are found on the interior walls +of the pyramids of Thebes. Our theism is the purification of the +human mind. Man can paint, or make, or think nothing but man. He +believes that the great material elements had their origin from his +thought. And our philosophy finds one essence collected or +distributed." [128] And a devout author, whose orthodoxy +--whatever that may mean--is unquestioned, acknowledges that man +adored the unknown power in the sun, and "in the moon, which +bathes the night with its serene splendours. Under this latter form, +completed by a very simple anthropomorphism which applies to the +gods the law of the sexes, the religions of nature weighed during +long ages upon Western Asia." [129] A volume might be written +upon this subject; but we have other work in hand. + +It seems to be generally admitted that no form of idolatry is older +than the worship of the moon. Lord Kames says, "It is probable that +the sun and moon were early held to be deities, and that they were +the first visible objects of worship." [130] Dr. Inman says, "That the +sun and moon were at a very early period worshipped, none who has +studied antiquity can deny." [131] And Goldziher maintains that +"the lunar worship is older than the solar." [132] Maimonides, "the +light of Israel," says that the Zabaists not only worshipped the moon +themselves, but they also asserted that Adam led mankind to that +species of worship. No doubt luniolatry is as old as the human race. +In some parts the moon is still the superior god. Mr. Tylor writes: +"Moon worship, naturally ranking below sun worship in importance, +ranges through nearly the same district of culture. There are +remarkable cases in which the moon is recognised as a great deity +by tribes who take less account, or none at all, of the sun. An old +account of the Caribs describes them as esteeming the moon more +than the sun, and at new moon coming out of their houses crying, +Behold the moon!" [133] This deity, then, is ancient and modern: +also a chief of the gods: let us now show that he is a god whose +empire is the world. + +We begin in Asia, and with the Assyrian monuments, which display +many religious types and emblems. "Representations of the +heavenly bodies, as sacred symbols, are of constant occurrence in +the most ancient sculptures. In the bas-reliefs we find figures of the +sun, moon, and stars, suspended round the neck of the king when +engaged in the performance of religious ceremonies." [134] In +Chaldaea "the moon was named Sin and Hur. Hurki, Hur, and Ur +was the chief place of his worship, for the satellite was then +considered as being masculine. The name for the moon in Armenian +was _Khaldi_, which has been considered by some to be the origin +of the word Chaldee, as signifying moon worshippers." [135] With +this Chaldaean deity may be connected "the Akkadian moon god, +who corresponds with the Semitic Sin," and who "is Aku, 'the +seated-father,' as chief supporter of kosmic order, styled 'the maker +of brightness,' En-zuna, 'the lord of growth,' and Idu, 'the measuring +lord,' the Aides of Hesychios." [136] + +"With respect to the name of Chaldaean, perhaps the most probable +account of the origin of the word is, that it designates properly the +inhabitants of the ancient capital, Ur or Hur,--_Kkaldi_ being in the +Burbur dialect the exact equivalent of _Hur_, which was the proper +name of the moon god, and Chaldaeans being thus either 'moon +worshippers,' or simply, inhabitants of the town dedicated to, and +called after, the moon." [137] Again: "The first god of the second +triad is Sin or Hurki, the moon deity. It is in condescension to Greek +notions that Berosus inverts the true Chaldaean order, and places the +sun before the moon in his enumeration of the heavenly bodies. +Chaldaean mythology gives a very decided preference to the lesser +luminary, perhaps because the nights are more pleasant than the +clays in hot countries. With respect to the names of the god, we may +observe that Sin, the Assyrian or Semitic term, is a word of quite +uncertain etymology, which, however, is found applied to the moon +in many Semitic languages." [138] "_Sin_ is used for the moon in +Mendaean and Syriac at the present day. It is the name given to the +moon god in St. James of Seruj's list of the idols of Harran; and it +was the term used for Monday by the Sabaeans as late as the ninth +century." [139] Another author writes: "The Babylonian and +Assyrian moon god is Sin, whose name probably appears in Sinai. +The expression, 'from the origin of the god Sin,' was used by the +Assyrians to mark remote antiquity; because, as chaos preceded +order, so night preceded day, and the enthronement of the moon as +the night-king marks the commencement of the annals of kosmic +order." [140] + +When we search the Hebrew Scriptures, we find too many allusions +to the Queen of Heaven, to Astarte and the groves, for us to doubt +that the Israelites adored + + "--mooned Ashtaroth, + Heaven's queen and mother both." (Milton's _Odes_.) + +Dr. Goldziher is an incontestable authority, and thus writes: "Queen +or Princess of Heaven is a very frequent name for the moon." [141] +Again, "Even in the latest times the Hebrews called the moon the +'Queen of Heaven' (Jer. vii. 18), and paid her Divine honours in this +character at the time of the captivity." [142] And, to complete this +author's witness, he again says: "What was the antiquity of this lunar +worship among the Hebrews, is testified (as has long been known) +by the part played by Mount Sinai in the history of Hebrew religion. +For this geographical name is doubtless related to _Sin_, one of the +Semitic names of the moon. The mountain must in ancient times +have been consecrated to the moon. The beginning of the Hebrew +religion, which was connected with the phenomena of the night-sky, +germinated first during the residence in Egypt on the foundation of +an ancient myth. The recollection of this occasioned them to call the +part of Egypt which they had long inhabited, eres Sinim, 'moonland' +(Isa. xlix. 12)." [143] It is but just that we should hear the other side, +when there is a difference of opinion. The above mentioned 'Queen +of Heaven' is beyond question the Ashtoreth or Astarte (identical +with our _star_), which was the principal goddess of the +Phoenicians; and we believe she was originally the goddess of the +moon. This is doubted by a modern writer, who says, "Baal is +constantly coupled with Astarte; and the more philosophical opinion +is that this national god and goddess were the lord and lady of +Phoenicia, rather than the sun and moon: for to a people full of +political life the sun and moon would have been themselves +representatives, while a Divine king and queen were the realities. +And if so, the habitual inclination of the Israelites, an essentially +political people, for this worship becomes the more easily +understood." [144] Professor F. D. Maurice, in his _Moral and +Metaphysical Philosophy_, also takes this view. The question here +is not whether the Jews worshipped Astarte, but whether Astarte +was the moon. This we cannot hesitate to answer in the affirmative. +Kenrick writes: "Ashtoreth or Astarte appears physically to +represent the moon. She was the chief local deity of Sidon; but her +worship must have been extensively diffused, not only in Palestine, +but in the countries east of the Jordan, as we find Ashtaroth-Karnaim +(Ashtaroth of two horns) mentioned in the book of Genesis +(xiv. 5). This goddess, like other lunar deities, appears to have been +symbolized by a heifer, or a figure with a heifer's head, whose horns +resembled the crescent moon. The children of Israel renounced her +worship at the persuasion of Samuel; and we do not read again of +her idolatry till the reign of Solomon (1 Kings xi. 5), after which it +appears never to have been permanently banished, though put down +for a time by Josiah (2 Kings xxiii. 13). She is the Queen of Heaven, +to whom, according to the reproaches of Jeremiah (vii. 18, xliv. 25), +the women of Israel poured out their drink-offerings, and burnt +incense, and offered cakes, regarding her as the author of their +national prosperity. This epithet accords well with the supposition +that she represented the moon, as some ancient authors inform us." +[145] Dr. Gotch, an eminent Hebrew scholar, says that there is no +doubt that the moon is the symbol of productive power and must be +identified with Astarte. "That this goddess was so typified can +scarcely be doubted. The ancient name of the city, Ashtaroth-Karnaim, +already referred to, seems to indicate a horned Astarte, that +is an image with a crescent moon on her head like the Egyptian +Athor. At any rate, it is certain that she was by some ancient writers +identified with the moon, as Lucian and Herodian. On these grounds +Movers, Winer, Keil, and others maintain that originally Ashtoreth +was the moon goddess." [146] Clearly, then, the Hebrews +worshipped the moon. But, even apart from Astarte, this worship +may be proven on other evidence. Dr. Jamieson says that the word +_mena_ (moon: Anglo-Saxon, _mona_) "approaches most nearly to +a word used by the prophet Isaiah, which has been understood by +the most learned interpreters as denoting the moon. 'Ye are they that +prepare a table for _Gad_, and that furnish the offering unto +_Meni_.' (Isa. lxv. 11). As _Gad_ is understood of the _sun_, we +learn from Diodor Sicul that _Meni_ is to be viewed as a +designation of the _moon_." [147] This is Bishop Lowth's view. +"The disquisitions and conjectures of the learned concerning Gad +and Meni are infinite and uncertain: perhaps the most probable may +be, that Gad means good fortune, and Meni the moon." [148] One +point is worthy of notice. In our English version _Meni_ is rendered +"number"; and we know very well that by the courses of the moon +ancient months and years were numbered. In Isaiah iii. 18 we find +the daughters of Zion ornamented with feet-rings, and networks, and +_crescents_: or, as our translation reads, "round tires like the moon." +And, once more, in Ezekiel xlvi., we read that the gate of the inner +court of the sanctuary that "looketh toward the east, shall be opened +on the day of the new moon"; and the meat offering on "the day of +the new moon shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six +lambs, and a ram." If there was no sacred significance in the +observance of these lunar changes, why did the writer of the New +Testament Epistle to the Colossians say, "Let no man judge you in +respect of the new moon"? A competent scholar, in recognising this +consociation of Hebrew religion with the moon's phases, rightly +ascribes to it an earlier origin. Says Ewald: "To connect the annual +festivals with the full moon, and to commence them in the evening, +as though greeting her with a glad shout, was certainly a primitive +custom, both among other races and in the circle of nations from +which in the earliest times Israel sprang." [149] And the Bishop of +Derry remarks: "To a religious Hebrew it was rather the moon than +the sun which marked the seasons, as the calendar of the Church +was regulated by it." [150] We have sought to place this Hebrew +luniolatry beyond dispute, because so many Christians have +supposed that "the chosen people" lived in unclouded light, and "the +uncovenanted heathen" in outer and utter darkness. + +Passing on we find that "in Pontus and Phrygia were temples to +_Meen_, and Homer says _Meen_ presides over the months, whilst +in the Sanskrit _Mina_, we see her connected with the Fish and +Virgin. It is not improbable that the great Akaimenian race, as +worshipping and upholding sun and moon faiths, were called after +_Meni_, the moon." [151] Among the Arabians the moon was the +great divinity, as may be learned from Pocock's _Specimen +Historiae Arabum_; Prideaux's _Connection_; Gibbon's _Decline +and Fall of the Roman Empire_; and Sale's _Preliminary Discourse_ +to his translation of the _Koran_. Tiele says: "The ancient religion +of the Arabs rises little higher than animistic polydaemonism. The +names Itah and Shamsh, the sun god, occur among all the Semitic +peoples; Allat, or Alilat, and Al-Uzza, as well as the triad of moon +goddesses to which these last belong, are common to several, and +the deities which bear them are reckoned among the chief." [152] +The Saracens called the moon _Cabar_, the great; and its crescent is +the religious symbol of the Turks to this day. Tradition says that +"Philip, the father of Alexander, meeting with great difficulties in +the siege of Byzantium, set the workmen to undermine the walls, +but a crescent moon discovered the design, which miscarried; +consequently the Byzantines erected a statue to Diana, and the +crescent became the symbol of the state." Dr. Brewer, who cites this +story, adds: "Another legend is that Othman, the sultan, saw in a +vision a crescent moon, which kept increasing till its horns extended +from east to west, and he adopted the crescent of his dream for his +standard, adding the motto, _Donec repleat orbem_." [153] Schlegel +mentions the story that Mahomet "wished to pass with his disciples +as a person transfigured in a supernatural light, and that the +credulity of his followers saw the moon, or the moon's light, +descend upon him, pierce his garments, and replenish him. That +veneration for the moon which still forms a national or rather +religious characteristic of the Mahometans, may perhaps have its +foundation in the elder superstition, or pagan idolatry of the Arabs." +[154] No doubt this last sentence contains the true elucidation of the +crescent. For astrolatry lives in the east still. The _Koran_ may +expressly forbid the practice, saying: "Bend not in adoration to the +sun or moon"; [155] yet, "monotheist as he is, the Moslem still claps +his hands at sight of the new moon, and says a prayer." [156] + +We come next to the Persians, whom Herodotus accuses of adoring +the sun and moon. But, as Gibbon says, "the Persians of every age +have denied the charge, and explained the equivocal conduct, which +might appear to give colour to it." [157] It will certainly require +considerable explanation to free from lunar idolatry the following +passage, which we find in the _Zend Avesta_: "We sacrifice unto +the new moon, the holy and master of holiness: we sacrifice unto the +full moon, the holy and master of holiness." [158] Unquestionably +the Persian recognised the Lord of Light _in_ the ordinances of +heaven; and therefore his was superior to many forms of blind +idol-worship. So far we may accept Hegel's interpretation of the _Zend_ +doctrine. "Light is the _body of Ormuzd_; thence the worship of +fire, because Ormuzd is present in all light; but he is not the sun or +moon itself In these the Persians venerate only the light, which is +Ormuzd." [159] In fact, we owe to the Persians a valuable testimony +to the God in whom is no darkness at all. "The prayer of Ajax was +for light"; and we too little feel the Fire which burns and shines +beyond the stars. + +In Central India the sun and moon are worshipped by many tribes, +as the Khonds, Korkus, Tunguses, and Buraets. The Korkus adore +the powers of nature, as the gods of the tiger, bison, the hill, the +cholera, etc., "but these are all secondary to the sun and the moon, +which among this branch of the Kolarian stock, as among the Kols +in the far east, are the principal objects of adoration." [160a] +"Although the Tongusy in general worship the sun and moon, there +are many exceptions to this observation. I have found intelligent +people among them, who believed that there was a being superior to +both sun and moon; and who created them and all the world." +[160b] This last sentence we read with gratitude, but not with +surprise. There is some good in all, if there seem to be all good in +some. + +"The aboriginal tribes in the Dekkan of India also acknowledge the +presence of the sun and moon by an act of reverence." [161] + +The inhabitants of the island of Celebes, in the East Indian +Archipelago, "formerly acknowledged no gods but the sun and the +moon, which were held to be eternal. Ambition for superiority made +them fall out." [162] According to Milton, ambition created +unpleasantness in the Hebrew heaven. + +In Northern Asia the moon had adoring admirers among the +Samoyedes, the Morduans, the Tschuwasches, and other tribes. This +is stated by Sir John Lubbock. [163] Lord Kames says: "The people +of Borneo worship the sun and moon as real divinities. The +Samoides worship both, bowing to them morning and evening in the +Persian manner." [164] The _Samoides_ are the "salmon-eaters" of +Asia. + +Moon-worship in China is of ancient origin, and exists in our own +time. Professor Legge tells us that the primitive _shih_ "is the +symbol for manifestation and revelation. The upper part of it is the +same as that in the older form of Ti, indicating 'what is above'; but +of the three lines below I have not found a satisfactory account. Hsue +Shan says they represent 'the sun, moon, and stars,' and that the +whole symbolizes 'the indications by these bodies of the will of +Heaven! Shih therefore tells us that the Chinese fathers believed that +there was communication between heaven and men. The idea of +revelation did not shock them. The special interpretation of the +strokes below, however, if it were established, would lead us to +think that even then, so far back, there was the commencement of +astrological superstition, and also, perhaps, of Sabian worship." +[165] Sabianism, as most readers are aware, is the adoration of the +armies of heaven: the word being derived from the Hebrew _tzaba_, +a host. Dr. Legge leaves Chinese Sabianism in some doubt, in the +above quotation; but later on he speaks of the spirits associated with +the solstitial worship, whose intercession was thus secured, "I, the +emperor of the Great Illustrious dynasty, have respectfully prepared +this paper, to inform the spirit of the sun, the spirit of the moon, the +spirits of the five planets, of the constellations of the zodiac, and of +all the stars in all the sky," and so on: and the professor adds: "This +paper shows how there had grown up around the primitive +monotheism of China the recognition and worship of a multitude of +celestial and terrestrial spirits." [166] This is ample evidence to +prove moon-worship. True, these celestial beings were "but +ministering spirits," and the "monotheism remained." There was no +_henotheism_, no worship of several _single_ supreme deities: +_One only_ was supreme. So among the Hebrews, Persians, +Hindoos, there was one only God; and yet they offered prayers and +sacrifices to heaven's visible and innumerable host. When we come +to modern China we shall find some very remarkable celebrations +taking place, which throw sunlight upon these ancient mists. +Meanwhile to strengthen our position, we may draw additional +support from each of the three great stages reached in the progress +of Chinese religion: namely, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. +Dr. Edkins describes them as the moral, materialistic, and +metaphysical systems, standing at the three corners of a great +triangle. [167] The god of Confucianism is _Shang-ti_ or _Shang-te_. +And with the universal anthropomorphism "Shang-te is the +great father of gods and men: Shang-te is a gigantic man." [168] +Again "Heaven is a great man, and man is a little heaven." [169] +And now what does Confucianism say of moon-worship? "The sun +and moon being the chief objects of veneration to the most ancient +ancestors of the Chinese, they translated the soul of their great father +heaven or the first man (Shang-te) to the sun, and the soul of their +great mother earth or the first woman (the female half of the first +man) to the moon." [170] In Taoism there is no room for question. +Dr. Legge says that it had its Chang and Liu, and "many more gods, +supreme gods, celestial gods, great gods, and divine rulers." [171] +And Dr. Edkins writes: "The Taouist mythology resembles, in +several points, that of many heathen nations. Some of its divinities +personate those beings that are supposed to reside in the various +departments of nature. Many of the stars are worshipped as gods." +[172] Buddhism not only supplies further evidence, it also furnishes +a noteworthy instance of mythic transformation. Sakchi or Sasi, the +moon, is literally one who made a sacrifice. This refers to the legend +of the hare who gave himself to feed the god. The wife of Indra +adopted the hare's name, and was herself called Sasi. "The Tantra +school gave every deity its Sakti or consort, and speculation +enlarged the meaning of the term still further, making it designate +female energy or the female principle." [173] Buddhism, then, the +popular religion in China at the present day, the religion which Dr. +Farrar ventures to call "atheism fast merging into idolatry," [174] is +not free from the nature worship which deifies the moon. But +Buddhism, like most other imperfect systems, has precious gold +mixed with its dross; and at the expense of a digression we delight +to quote the statement of a recent writer, who says: "There is no +record, known to me, in the whole of the long history of Buddhism, +throughout the many countries where its followers have been for +such lengthened periods supreme, of any persecution by the +Buddhists of the followers of any other faith." [175] How glad we +should feel if we could assert the same of the Christian Church! + +We come at once to those celebrations which still take place in +China, and illustrate the worship of the moon. The festival of +_Yue-Ping_--which is held annually during the eighth month, from the +first day when the moon is new, to the fifteenth, when it is full--is of +high antiquity and of deep interest. Dr. Morrison says that "the +custom of civil and military officers going on the first and fifteenth +of every moon to the civil and military temples to burn incense, +began in the time of the Luh Chaon," which would be not far from +A.D. 550. Also that the "eighth month, fifteenth day, is called +Chung-tsew-tsee. It is said that the Emperor Ming-hwang, of the +dynasty Tang, was one night led to the palace of the moon, where he +saw a large assembly of Chang-go-seen-neu--female divinities +playing on instruments of music. Persons now, from the first to the +fifteenth, make cakes like the moon, of various sizes, and paint +figures upon them: these are called Yue-ping, 'mooncakes.' Friends +and relations pay visits, purchase and present the cakes to each +other, and give entertainments. At full moon they spread out +oblations and make prostrations to the moon." [176] Dennys writes: +"The fifteenth day of the eighth month is a day on which a +ceremony is performed by the Chinese, which of all others we +should least expect to find imitated among ourselves. Most people +resident in China have seen the moon-cakes which so delight the +heart of the Chinese during the eighth month of every year. These +are made for an autumnal festival often described as 'congratulating' +or 'rewarding' the moon. The moon, it is well known, represents the +female principle in Chinese celestial cosmogony, and she is further +supposed to be inhabited by a multitude of beautiful females; the +cakes made in her honour are therefore veritable offerings to the +Queen of the Heavens. Now in a part of Lancashire, on the banks of +the Ribble, there exists a precisely similar custom of making cakes +in honour of the 'Queen of Heaven,'--a relic, in all probability, of the +old heathen worship which was the common fount of the two +customs." [177] Witness is also borne to this ceremony by a +well-known traveller. "We arrived at Chaborte on the fifteenth day of the +eighth moon, the anniversary of great rejoicings among the Chinese. +This festival, known as the _Yue-Ping_ (loaves of the moon), dates +from the remotest antiquity. Its original purpose was to honour the +moon with superstitious rites. On this solemn day, all labour is +suspended; the workmen receive from their employers a present of +money, every person puts on his best clothes; and there is +merry-making in every family. Relations and friends interchange cakes of +various sizes, on which is stamped the image of the moon; that is to +say, a hare crouching amid a small group of trees." [178] And +Doolittle says: "It is always full moon on the fifteenth of every +Chinese month; and, therefore, for several days previous, the +evenings are bright, unless it happens to be cloudy, which is not +often the case. The moon is a prominent object of attention and +congratulation at this time. At Canton, it is said, offerings are made +to the moon on the fifteenth. On the following day, young people +amuse themselves by playing what is called _'pursuing_,' or +'_congratulating_' the moon. At this city [Fuhchau], in the +observance of this festival, the expression '_rewarding the moon_' is +more frequently used than 'congratulating the moon.' It is a common +saying that there is 'a white rabbit in the moon pounding out rice.' +The dark and the white spots on the moon's face suggest the idea of +that animal engaged in the useful employment of shelling rice. The +notion is prevalent that the moon is inhabited by a multitude of +beautiful females, who are called by the name of an ancient beauty +who once visited that planet; but how they live, and what they do, is +not a matter of knowledge or of common fame. To the question, 'Is +the moon inhabited?' discussed by some Western philosophers, the +Chinese would answer in the affirmative. Several species of trees +and flowers are supposed to flourish in the moon. Some say that, +one night in ancient times, one of the three souls of the originator of +theatrical plays rambled away to the moon and paid a visit to the +Lunar Palace. He found it filled with Lunarians engaged in +theatrical performances. He is said to have remembered the manner +of conducting fashionable theatres in the moon, and to have imitated +them after his return to this earth. About the time of the festival of +the middle of autumn, the bake shops provide an immense amount +and variety of cakes: many of them are circular, in imitation of the +shape of the moon at that time, and are from six to twelve inches in +diameter. Some are in the form of a pagoda, or of a horse and rider, +or of a fish, or other animals which please and cause the cake to be +readily sold. Some of these 'moon-cakes' have a white rabbit, +engaged with his pounder, painted on one side, together with a lunar +beauty, and some trees or shrubs; on others are painted gods or +goddesses, animals, flowers, or persons, according to fancy." [179] + +If we turn now to Jeremiah vii. 18, and read there, "The women +knead dough, to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour +out drink offerings unto other gods," and remember that, according +to Rashi, these cakes of the Hebrews had the image of the god or +goddess stamped upon them, we are in view of a fact of much +interest. We are so unaccustomed to think that our peasants in +Lancashire can have anything in common with the Chinese five +thousand miles away, and with the Jews of two thousand five +hundred years ago, that to many these moon-cakes will give a +genuine surprise. But this is not all. Other analogies appear between +Buddhist and Christian rites, such as those mentioned by Dr. +Medhurst. "The very titles of their intercessors, such as 'goddess of +mercy,' 'holy mother,' 'queen of heaven,' with the image of a virgin, +having a child in her arms, holding a cross, are all such striking +coincidences, that the Catholic missionaries were greatly stumbled +at the resemblance between the Chinese worship and their own, +when they came over to convert the natives to Christianity." [180] It +is for the philosophical historian to show, if possible, whether these +Chinese ceremonies are copies of Christian or Hebrew originals; or +whether, many of our own Western forms with others of Oriental +character, are not transcripts of primitive faiths now well-nigh +forgotten in both East and West. The hot cross buns of Good Friday, +at first sight, have little relevancy to moon worship, and those who +eat them suppose they were originated to commemorate the +Christian Sacrifice; but we know that the cross was a sacred symbol +with the earliest Egyptians, for it is carved upon their imperishable +records; we know too that _bun_ itself is ancient Greek, and that +Winckelmann relates the discovery at Herculaneum of two perfect +buns, each marked with a cross: while the _boun_ described by +Hesychius was a cake with a representation of _two horns_. +Incredible as it may seem to some, the cross bun in its origin had +nothing to do with an event with which it is in England identified; it +probably commemorates the worship of the moon. In passing from +China, we may also note the influence of that sexuality of which we +have spoken before. Dr. Medhurst remarks: "The principle of the +Chinese cosmogony seems to be founded on a sexual system of the +universe." [181] + +Dr. Prichard tells us that among the Japanese "sacred festivals are +held at certain seasons of the year and at changes of the moon." +Also, "It appears that _Sin-too_, or original Japanese religion, is +merely a form of the worship of material objects, common to all the +nations of Northern Asia, which, among the more civilized tribes, +assumes the aspect of mythology." [182] + +From Asia we come to Africa, and to Egypt, that wonderful land +with a lithographed history at least five thousand years old; a land +that basked in the sunshine of civilization and culture when nearly +the whole world without was in shadow and gloom. The mighty +pyramid of Gizeh still stands, a monument of former national +greatness, and a marvel to the admirer of sublimity in design and +perfection in execution. "The setting of the sides to the cardinal +points is so exact as to prove that the Egyptians were excellent +observers of the elementary facts of astronomy." [183] But they +went farther. Diodorus says: "The first generation of men in Egypt, +contemplating the beauty of the superior world, and admiring with +astonishment the frame and order of the universe, judged that there +were two chief gods that were eternal, that is to say, the sun and the +moon, the first of which they called _Osiris_, and the other _Isis_." +[184] This passage is proof that the Greeks and Romans had a very +limited acquaintance with Egyptian mythology; for the historian +was indubitably in error in supposing Osiris and Isis to be sun and +moon. But he was right in calling the sun and moon the first gods of +the Egyptians. Rawlinson says: "The Egyptians had two moon-gods, +Khons or Khonsu, and Tet or Thoth." [185] Dr. Birch has translated +an inscription relating to Thoth, which reads: "All eyes are open on +thee, and all men worship thee as a god." [186] And M. Renouf +says: "The Egyptian god Tehuti is known to the readers of Plato +under the name of Thoyth. He represents the moon, which he wears +upon his head, either as crescent or as full disk." [187] The same +learned Egyptologist tells us that Khonsu or Chonsu was one of the +triad of Theban gods, and was the moon one of his attributes being +the reckoner of time. [188] Of the former divinity, Rawlinson +relates an instructive myth. "According to one legend Thoth once +wrote a wonderful book, full of wisdom and science, containing in it +everything relating to the fowls of the air, the fishes of the sea, and +the four-footed beasts of the mountains. The man who knew a single +page of the work could charm the heaven, the earth, the great abyss, +the mountains and the seas. This marvellous composition he +inclosed in a box of gold, which he placed within a box of silver; the +box of silver within a box of ivory and ebony, and that again within +a box of bronze; the box of bronze within a box of brass; and the +box of brass within a box of iron; and the book, thus guarded, he +threw into the Nile at Coptos. The fact became known, and the book +was searched for and found. It gave its possessor vast knowledge +and magical power, but it always brought on him misfortune. What +became of it ultimately does not appear in the manuscript from +which this account is taken; but the moral of the story seems to be +the common one, that unlawful knowledge is punished by all kinds +of calamity." [189] There is also a story of the moon-god Chonsu, +which is worthy of repetition. Its original is in the _Bibliotheque +Nationale_ at Paris, and for its first translation we are indebted to +Dr. Birch, of the British Museum. [190] A certain Asiatic princess +of Bechten, wherever that was, was possessed by a spirit. Being +connected, through her sister's marriage, with the court of Egypt, on +her falling ill, an Egyptian practitioner was summoned to her aid. +He declared that she had a demon, with which he himself was +unable to cope. Thereupon the image of the moon-god Chonsu was +despatched in his mystic ark, for the purpose of exorcising the spirit +and delivering the princess. The demon at once yielded to the divine +influence; and the king of Bechten was so delighted that he kept the +image in his possession for upwards of three years. In consequence +of an alarming dream he then sent him back to Egypt with presents +of great value. Whatever evil powers the moon may have exerted +since, we must credit him with having once ejected an evil spirit and +prolonged a royal life. + +Returning to Thoth, we find the following valuable hints in the great +work of Baron Bunsen:--"The connection between Tet and the moon +may allude, according to Wilkinson, to the primitive use of a lunar +year. The ancients had already remarked that the moon in Egyptian +was masculine, not feminine, as the Greeks and Romans generally +made it. Still we have no right to suppose a particular moon-god, +separate from Thoth. We meet with a deity called after the moon +(Aah) either as a mere personification, or as Thoth, in whom the +agency of the moon and nature become a living principle. We find +him so represented in the tombs of the Ramesseum, opposite to +Phre; a similar representation in Dendyra is probably symbolical. +According to Champollion he is often seen in the train of Ammon, +and then he is Thoth. He makes him green, with the four sceptres +and cup of Ptah, by the side of which, however, is a sort of Horus +curl, the infantine lock, as child or son. In the inscriptions there is +usually only the crescent, but on one occasion the sign _nuter_ +(god) is added. In the tombs a moon-god is represented sitting on a +bark, and holding the sceptre of benign power, to whom two +Cynocephali are doing homage, followed by the Crescent and Nuter +god. Lastly, the same god is found in a standing posture, +worshipped by two souls and two Cynocephali." [191] + +With these "dog-headed" worshippers of the moon may be +associated another animal that from an early date has been +connected with the luminaries of the day and night. We saw that the +Australian moon-myth of Mityan was of a native cat. Renouf says: +"It is not improbable that the cat, in Egyptian _maeu_, became the +symbol of the Sun-god, or Day, because the word maeu also means +light." [192] Charles James Fox, with no thought of Egyptian, told +the Prince of Wales that "cats always prefer the sunshine." The +native land of this domestic pet, or nuisance, is certainly Persia, and +some etymologists assign _pers_ as the origin of _puss_. Be this as +it may, the pupil of a cat's eye is singularly changeable, dilating +from the narrow line in the day-time to the luminous orb in the dark. +On this account the cat is likened to the moon. But in Egypt feline +eyes shine with supernatural lustre. Mr. Hyde Clarke tells us that +"the mummies of cats, which Herodotus saw at Bubastis, attested +then, as they do now, to the dedication of the cat to Pasht, the moon, +and the veneration of the Egyptians for this animal. The cat must +have been known to man, and have been named at least as early as +the origin of language. The superstition of its connection with the +moon is also of pre-historic date, and not invented by the Egyptians. +According to Plutarch, a cat placed in a lustrum denoted the moon, +illustrating the mutual symbology. He supposes that this is because +the pupils of a cat's eyes dilate and decrease with the moon. The +reason most probably depends, as before intimated, on another +phenomenon of periodicity corresponding to the month. Dr. Rae +has, however, called my attention to another possible cause of the +association, which is the fact that the cat's eyes glisten at night or in +the dark. It is to be observed that the name of the sun in the Malayan +and North American languages is the day-eye, or sky-eye, and that +of the moon the night-eye." [193] Our own daisy, too, is the _day's +eye_, resembling the sun, and opening its little pearly lashes when +the spring wakes to newness of life. + +The Nubians "pay adoration to the moon; and that their worship is +performed with pleasure and satisfaction, is obvious every night that +she shines. Coming out from the darkness of their huts, they say a +few words upon seeing her brightness, and testify great joy, by +motions of their feet and hands, at the first appearance of the new +moon." [194] The Shangalla worship the moon, and think that "a +star passing near the horns of the moon denotes the coming of an +enemy." [195] In Western Africa moon-worship is very prevalent. +Merolla says: "They that keep idols in their houses, every first day +of the moon are obliged to anoint them with a sort of red wood +powdered. At the appearance of every new moon, these people fall +on their knees, or else cry out, standing and clapping their hands, 'So +may I renew my life as thou art renewed.'" [196] + +H. H. Johnston, Esq., F.Z.S., F.R.G.S., who had just returned from +the region of the Congo, related the following curious incident +before the Anthropological Institute, in January, 1884. It looks +remarkably like a relic of ancient worship, which gave the fruit of +the body for the sin of the soul, and committed murder on earth to +awaken mercy in heaven! "At certain villages between Manyanga +and Isangila there are curious eunuch dances to celebrate the new +moon, in which a white cock is thrown up into the air alive, with +clipped wings, and as it falls towards the ground it is caught and +plucked by the eunuchs. I was told that originally this used to be a +human sacrifice, and that a young boy or girl was thrown up into the +air and torn to pieces by the eunuchs as he or she fell, but that of late +years slaves had got scarce or manners milder, and a white cock was +now substituted." [197] + +The Mandingoes are more attracted to the varying moon than to the +sun. "On the first appearance of the new moon, which they look +upon to be newly created, the Pagan natives, as well as +Mahomedans, say a short prayer; and this seems to be the only +visible adoration which the Kaffirs offer up to the Supreme Being." +The purport of this prayer is "to return thanks to God for His +kindness through the existence of the past moon, and to solicit a +continuation of His favour during that of the new one." [198] Park +writes on another page: "When the fast month was almost at an end, +the Bushreens assembled at the Misura to watch for the appearance +of the new moon; but the evening being rather cloudy, they were for +some time disappointed, and a number of them had gone home with +a resolution to fast another day, when on a sudden this delightful +object showed her sharp horns from behind a cloud, and was +welcomed with the clapping of hands, beating of drums, firing +muskets, and other marks of rejoicing." [199] The Makololo and +Bechuana custom of greeting the new moon is curious. "They watch +most eagerly for the first glimpse of the new moon, and when they +perceive the faint outline after the sun has set deep in the west, they +utter a loud shout of 'Ku?!' and vociferate prayers to it." [200] The +degraded Hottentots have not much improved since Bory de St. +Vincent described them as "brutish, lazy, and stupid," and their +worship of the moon is still demonstrative, as when Kolben wrote: +"These dances and noises are religious honours and invocations +to the moon. They call her _Gounja_. The Supreme they call +_Gounja-Gounja_, or _Gounja Ticquoa_, the god of gods, and place him +far above the moon. The moon, with them, is an inferior visible god +--the subject and representation of the High and Invisible. They +judge the moon to have the disposal of the weather, and invoke her +for such as they want. They assemble for the celebration of her +worship at full and change constantly. No inclemency of the +weather prevents them. And their behaviour at those times is indeed +very astonishing. They throw their bodies into a thousand different +distortions, and make mouths and faces strangely ridiculous and +horrid. Now they throw themselves flat on the ground, screaming +out a strange, unintelligible jargon. Then jumping up on a sudden, +and stamping like mad (insomuch that they make the ground shake), +they direct, with open throats, the following expressions, among +others, to the moon: '_I salute you; you are welcome. Grant us +fodder for our cattle and milk in abundance_.' These and other +addresses to the moon they repeat over and over, accompanying +them with dancing and clapping of hands. At the end of the dance +they sing '_Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!_' many times over, with a variation of +notes; which being accompanied with clapping of hands makes a +very odd and a very merry entertainment to a stranger." [201] In +reality they hold a primitive watch-night service; their welcome of +the new moon being very similar to our popular welcome of the new +year. Nor should it be omitted that the ancient Ethiopians +worshipped the moon; and that those who lived above Meroe +admitted the existence of eternal and incorruptible gods, among +which the moon ranked as a chief divinity. + +Descending the Nile and crossing the Mediterranean, we come to +Greece. + + "The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece + Where burning Sappho loved and sung, + Where grew the arts of war and peace, + Where Delos rose, and Phoebus sprung + Eternal summer gilds them yet, + But all, except their sun, is set." [202] + +Yes, Pericles and Plato, Sophocles and Pheidias, are dust; and much +of their nation's pristine glory has "melted into the infinite azure of +the past": but the sun shines as youthful yet as on that eventful day +when unwearied he sank in ocean, "loth, and ere his time: + + "So the sun sank, and all the host had rest + From onset and the changeful chance of war." [203] + +Where Phoebus sprang, sprang Phoebe also--the bright and beautiful +moon. To a people addicted to the idolatry of perfect form and +comeliness, no object could be more attractive than the queen of the +night. When Socrates was accused of innovating upon the Greek +religion, and of ridiculing the Athenian deities, he replied on his +trial, "You strange man, Meletus, are you seriously affirming that I +do not think Helios and Selene to be gods, as the rest of mankind +think?" [204] Pausanias, the historian, tells us that in Phocis there +was a chapel consecrated to Isis, which of all the places erected by +the Greeks to this Egyptian goddess was by far the most holy. It was +not lawful for any one to approach this sacred edifice but those +whom the goddess had invited by appearing to them for that purpose +in a dream. [205] By Isis, as we saw from Diodorus, the Greeks +understood the moon. Diana was also one of the Grecian moon-goddesses, +but Sir George C. Lewis thinks that this was not till a +comparatively late period. The religion of Greece was so mixed up, +or made up, with mythology, that for an interpretation of their +theogony we must resort to poetry and impersonation. Here again +we see the working of sexual anthropomorphism. _Ouranos_ +espoused _Ge_, and their offspring was _Kronos_; which is but an +ancient mode of saying that chronology is the measurement on earth +of heavenly motion. Solar and lunar worship was but the recognition +in the primitive consciousness of the superior _worth-ship_ of these +celestial bodies. As Grote says: "To us these now appear puerile, +though pleasing fancies, but to our Homeric Greek they seemed +perfectly natural and plausible. In his view, the description of the +sun, as given in a modern astronomical treatise, would have +appeared not merely absurd, but repulsive and impious." [206] What +an amount of misunderstanding would be obviated if readers of the +Bible would bear this in mind when they meet with erroneous +conceptions in Hebrew cosmogony. Grote further says on the same +page of his magnificent history: "Personifying fiction was blended +by the Homeric Greeks with their conception of the physical +phenomena before them, not simply in the way of poetical +ornament, but as a genuine portion of their everyday belief." We +cannot better conclude our brief glance at ancient Greece than by +quoting that splendid comparison from the bard of Chios, which +Pope thought "the most beautiful night-piece that can be found in +poetry." Pope's own version is fine, but, as a translation, Lord +Derby's must be preferred: + + "As when in heaven, around the glittering moon + The stars shine bright amid the breathless air; + And every crag and every jutting peak + Stands boldly forth, and every forest glade + Even to the gates of heaven is opened wide + The boundless sky; shines each particular star + Distinct; joy fills the gazing shepherd's heart." [207] + +The Romans had many gods, superior and inferior. The former were +the _celestial_ deities, twelve in number, among whom was Diana; +and the _Dii Selecti_, numbering eight. Of these, one was Luna, the +moon, daughter of Hyperion and sister of the Sun. [208] Livy +speaks of "a temple of Luna, which is on the Aventine"; and Tacitus +mentions, in his Annals, a temple consecrated to the moon. In +Horace, Luna is "_siderum regina_"; [209] and in Apuleius, +"_Regina coeli_," [210] Bishop Warburton, in his synopsis of +Apuleius, speaks of the hopeless condition of _Lucius_, which +obliged him to fly to heaven for relief. "The _moon_ is in full +splendour; and the awful silence of the night inspires him with +sentiments of religion." He then purifies himself, and so makes his +prayer to the moon, invoking her by her several names, as the +celestial _Venus_ and _Diana_. [211] This whole section of the +_Divine Legation_ is worthy of close study. + +"The ancient Goths," says Rudbeck ("Atalantis," ii. 609), "paid such +regard to the moon, that some have thought that they worshipped +her more than the sun." [212] + +And of the ancient Germans Grimm says: "That to our remote +ancestry the heavenly bodies, especially the sun and moon, were +divine beings, will not admit of any doubt." [213] Gibbon, Friedrich +Schlegel, and others, say the same. + +The Finns worshipped "Kun, the male god of the moon, who +corresponded exactly with the Aku, Enizuna, or Itu of the +Accadians." [214] + +In ancient Britain the moon occupied a high position in the religion +of the Druids, who had superstitious rites at the lunar changes, and +who are "always represented as having the crescent in their hands." +[215] "From the _Penitential_ of Theodore, Archbishop of +Canterbury, in the seventh century, and the _Confessional_ of +Ecgbert, Archbishop of York, in the early part of the eighth century, +we may infer that homage was then offered to the sun and moon." +[216] Again, "There are many proofs, direct and circumstantial, that +place it beyond all doubt that the moon was one of the objects of +heathen worship in Britain. But under what name the moon was +invoked is not discoverable, unless it may have been Andraste, +the goddess to whom the British queen Boadicea, with hands +outstretched to heaven, appealed when about to engage in battle +with the Romans." [217] A writer of the seventeenth century, says: +"In Yorkeshire, etc., northwards, some country woemen do-e +worship the New Moon on their bare knees, kneeling upon an +earthfast stone. And the people of Athol, in the High-lands in +Scotland, doe worship the New Moon." [218] Camden writes of the +Irish: "Whether or no they worship the moon, I know not; but, when +they first see her after the change, they commonly bow the knee, +and say the Lord's Prayer; and near the wane, address themselves to +her with a loud voice, after this manner: 'Leave us as well as thou +foundest us.'" [219] Sylvester O'Halloran, the Irish general and +historian, speaking of "the correspondent customs of the +Phoenicians and the Irish," adds: "Their deities were the same. They +both adored Bel, or the sun, the Moon, and the stars. The house of +Rimmon (2 Kings v. 18), which the Phoenicians worshipped in, like +our temples of Fleachta, in Meath, was sacred to the moon. The +word 'Rimmon' has by no means been understood by the different +commentators; and yet by recurring to the Irish (a branch of the +Phoenicians) it becomes very intelligible; for _Re_ is Irish for the +moon, and _Muadh_ signifies an image; and the compound word +_Reamham_ signifies prognosticating by the appearances of the +moon. It appears by the life of our great St. Columba, that the Druid +temples were _here_ decorated with figures of the sun, the moon, +and the stars. The Phoenicians, under the name of Bel-Samen, +adored the Supreme; and it is pretty remarkable that _to this very +day_, to wish a friend every happiness this life can afford, we say in +Irish, '_the blessings of Samen and Eel be with you_!' that is, of all +the seasons; Bel signifying the sun, and Samhain the moon." [220] +And again: "Next to the sun was the moon, which the Irish +undoubtedly adored. Some remains of this worship may be traced, +even at this day; as particularly borrowing, if they should not have it +about them, a piece of silver on the first night of a new moon, as an +omen of plenty during the month; and at the same time saying in +Irish, 'As you have found us in peace and prosperity, so leave us in +grace and mercy.'" [221] Tuathal, the prince to whom the estates +(_circa_ A.D. 106) swore solemnly "by the sun, moon, and stars," to +bear true allegiance, "in that portion of the imperial domain taken +from Munster, erected a magnificent temple called Flachta, sacred +to the fire of Samhain, and to the Samnothei, or priests of the moon. +Here, on every eve of November, were the fires of Samhain lighted +up, with great pomp and ceremony, the monarch, the Druids, and +the chiefs of the kingdom attending; and from this holy fire, and no +other, was every fire in the land first lit for the winter. It was +deemed an act of the highest impiety to kindle the winter fires from +any other; and for this favour the head of every house paid a +Scrubal, or threepence, tax, to the Arch-Druid of Samhain." [222] +Another writer mentions another Irish moon-god. "The next heathen +divinity which I would bring under notice is St. Luan, _alias_ +Molua, _alias_ Euan, _alias_ Lugidus, _alias_ Lugad, and Moling, +etc. The foundations, with which this saint under some of his +_aliases_ is connected, extend over eight counties in the provinces +of Ulster, Leinster, and Munster. Luan is to this; day the common +Irish word for the moon. We read that there were fifteen saints of +the name of Lugadius; and as Lugidus was one of Luan's _aliases_, I +have set them all down as representing the moon in the several +places where that planet was worshipped as the symbol of Female +nature." [223] We have already seen that the moon was the +embodiment of the female principle in China, and now we see that +the primitive Kelts associated sexuality with astronomy and +religion. It but further proves that "one touch of nature makes the +whole world kin." + +Moreover, to show that former moon-worship still colours our +religion, it is not to be overlooked that, as our Christmas festivities +are but a continuation of the Roman saturnalia, with their +interchanges of visits and presents, so "the Church, celebrating in +August the festival of the harvest moon, celebrates at the same time +the feast of the Assumption and of the Sacred Heart of the Virgin. +And Catholic painters, following the description in the Apocalypse, +fondly depict her as 'clothed with the sun, and having the moon +under her feet,' and both as overriding the dragon. Even the triumph +of Easter is not celebrated until, by attaining its full, the moon +accords its aid and sanction. Is it not interesting thus to discover the +true note of Catholicism in the most ancient paganisms, and to find +that the moon, which for us is incarnate in the blessed Virgin Mary, +was for the Syrians and Greeks respectively personified in the virgin +Ashtoreth, the queen of heaven, and Diana, or Phoebe, the feminine +of Phoebus?" [224] + +A recent contributor to one of our valuable serials writes: "I take the +following extract from a little book published under the auspices of +Dr. Barnardo. It is the 'truthful narrative' of a little sweep-girl picked +up in the streets of some place near Brighton, and 'admitted into Dr. +Barnardo's Village Home.' 'She had apparently no knowledge of +God or sense of His presence. The only thing she had any reverence +for was the moon. On one occasion, when the children were going +to evening service, and a beautiful moon was shining, one of them +pointed to it, exclaiming, 'Oh, mother! look, what a beautiful moon!' +Little Mary caught hold of her hand, and cried, 'Yer mustn't point at +the blessed moon like that; and yer mustn't talk about it!' Was it +from constantly sleeping under hedges and in barns, and waking up +and seeing that bright calm eye looking at her, that some sense of a +mysterious Presence had come upon the child?" [225] To this query, +the answer we think should be negative. The cause more likely was +that she had heard the common tradition which is yet current in East +Lancashire, Cumberland, and elsewhere, that it is a sin to point at +the moon. Certain old gentlemen, who ought to be better informed, +still touch their hats, and devout young girls in the country districts +still curtsey, to the new moon, as an act of worship. + +The American races practise luniolatry very generally. The +Dakotahs worship both sun and moon. The Delaware and Iroquois +Indians sacrifice to these orbs, and it is most singular that "they +sacrifice to a hare, because, according to report, the first ancestor of +the Indian tribes had that name." But, although they receive in a +dream as their tutelar spirits, the sun, moon, owl, buffalo, and so +forth, "they positively deny that they pay any adoration to these +subordinate good spirits, and affirm that they only worship the true +God, through them." [226] This reminds us of some excellent +remarks made by one whose intimate acquaintance with North +American Indians entitled him to speak with authority. We have +seen from Dr. Legge's writings that though the Chinese worshipped +a multitude of celestial spirits, "yet the monotheism remained." Mr. +Catlin will now assure us that though the American Indians adore +the heavenly bodies, they recognise the Great Spirit who inhabits +them all. These are his words: "I have heard it said by some very +good men, and some who have even been preaching the Christian +religion amongst them, that they have no religion--that all their zeal +in their worship of the Great Spirit was but the foolish excess of +ignorant superstition--that their humble devotions and supplications +to the sun and the moon, where many of them suppose that the +Great Spirit resides, were but the absurd rantings of idolatry. To +such opinions as these I never yet gave answer, nor drew other +instant inferences from them, than that, from the bottom of my +heart, I pitied the persons who gave them." [227] Mr. Catlin +undoubtedly was right, as the Apostle Paul was right, when he +acknowledged that the Athenians worshipped the true God, albeit in +ignorance. At the same time, though idolatry is in numberless +instances nothing more than the use of media and mediators, in +seeking the One, Invisible, Absolute Spirit, it is so naturally abused +by sensuous beings who rest in the concrete, that no image +worshipper is free from the propensity to worship the creature more +than the Creator, and to forget the Essence in familiarity with the +form. The perfection of worship, we conceive, is pure theism; but +how few are capable of breathing in such a supersensuous air! Men +must have their "means of grace," their visible symbols, their holy +waters and consecrated wafers, their crucifixes and talismans, their +silver shrines and golden calves. "These be thy gods, O Israel." + +"The Ahts undoubtedly worship the sun and the moon, particularly +the full moon, and the sun while ascending to the zenith. Like the +Teutons, they regard the moon as the husband, and the sun as the +wife; hence their prayers are more generally addressed to the moon, +as being the superior deity. The moon is the highest of all the +objects of their worship; and they describe the moon--I quote the +words of my Indian informant--as looking down upon the earth in +answer to prayer, and as seeing everybody." [228] Of the Indians of +Vancouver Island, another writer says: "The moon is among all the +heavenly bodies the highest object of veneration. When working at +the settlement at Alberni in gangs by moonlight, individuals have +been observed to look up to the moon, blow a breath, and utter +quickly the word, '_Teech! teech!_' (health, or life). Life! life! this is +the great prayer of these people's hearts." [229] "Among the +Comanches of Texas, the sun, moon, and earth are the principal +objects of worship." The Kaniagmioutes consider the moon and sun +to be brother and sister. [230] + +Meztli was the moon as deified by the Mexicans. In Teotihuacan, +thirty miles north of the city of Mexico, is the site of an ancient city +twenty miles in circumference. Near the centre of this spot stand the +Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of +the Sun has a base 682 feet long and is 180 feet high (the Pyramid +of Cheops is 728 feet at the base, and is 448 feet in height). The +Pyramid of the Moon is rather less, and is due north of that of the +Sun. [231] No doubt the philosophy of all pyramids would show +that they embody the uplifting of the human soul towards the +Heaven-Father of all. + +In Northern Mexico still "the Ceris superstitiously celebrate the new +moon." [232] This luniolatry the Abbe Brasseur de Bourbourg +explains by a novel theory. He holds that the forefathers of +American civilization lived in a certain Crescent land in the Atlantic +that a physical catastrophe destroyed their country whereupon the +remnant that was saved commemorated their lost land by adopting +the moon as their god. [233] "The population of Central America," +says the Vicomte de Bussierre, "although they had preserved the +vague notion of a superior eternal God and Creator, known by the +name Teotl, had an Olympus as numerous as that of the Greeks and +the Romans. It would appear that the inhabitants of Anahuac joined +to the idea of a supreme being the worship of the sun and the moon, +offering them flowers, fruits, and the first fruits of their fields." +[234] Dr. Reville bids us "note that the ancient Central-American +cultus of the sun and moon, considered as the two supreme deities, +was by no means renounced by the Aztecs." [235] Regarding this +remarkable race, a writer in the _Quarterly Review_ for April, 1883, +says: "Even the Chaldaeans were not greater astrologers than the +Aztecs, and we need no further proof that the heavenly bodies were +closely and accurately observed, than we find in the fact that the +true length of the tropical year had been ascertained long before +scientific instruments were even thought of. Their religious festivals +were regulated by the movements of these bodies; but with their +knowledge was mingled so vast a mass of superstition, that it is +difficult to discern a gleam of light through the thick darkness." +"The Botocudos of Brazil held the moon in high veneration, and +attributed to her influence the chief phenomena in nature." [236] +The Indian of the Coroados tribe in Brazil, "chained to the present, +hardly ever raises his eyes to the starry firmament. Yet he is +actuated by a certain awe of some constellations, as of everything +that indicates a spiritual connection of things. His chief attention, +however, is not directed to the sun, but to the moon; according to +which he calculates time, and from which he is used to deduce good +and evil." [237] + +The celebrated Abipones honour with silver altars and adoration the +moon, which they call the consort of the sun, and certain stars, +which they term the handmaids of the moon: but their most singular +idea is that the Pleiades represent their grandfather; and "as that +constellation disappears at certain periods from the sky of South +America, upon such occasions they suppose that their grandfather is +sick, and are under a yearly apprehension that he is going to die; but +as soon as those seven stars are again visible in the month of May, +they welcome their grandfather, as if returned and restored from +sickness, with joyful shouts, and the festive sound of pipes and +trumpets, congratulating him on the recovery of his health." [238] + +The Peruvians "acknowledge no other gods than the Pachacamac, +who is the supreme, and the Sun, who is inferior to him, and the +Moon, who is his sister and wife." [239] In the religion of the Incas +the idol (huaco) of the Moon was in charge of women, and when it +was brought from the house of the Sun, to be worshipped, it was +carried on their shoulders, because they said "it was a woman, and +the figure resembled one." [240]_Pachacamac_, the great deity +mentioned above, signifies "earth-animator." + +Prescott, in describing the temple of the Sun, at Cuzco in Peru, tells +us that "adjoining the principal structure were several chapels of +smaller dimensions. One of them was consecrated to the Moon, the +deity held next in reverence, as the mother of the Incas. Her effigy +was delineated in the same manner as that of the Sun, on a vast plate +that nearly covered one side of the apartment. But this plate, as well +as all the decorations of the building, was of silver, as suited to the +pale, silvery light of the beautiful planet." [241] + +In the far-off New Hebrides the Eramangans "worship the moon, +having images in the form of the new and full moons, made of a +kind of stone. They do not pray to these images, but cleave to them +as their protecting gods." [242] + +We have now circumnavigated the globe, touching at many points, +within many degrees of latitude and longitude. But everywhere, +among men of different literatures and languages, colours and +creeds, we have discovered the worship of the moon. No nation has +outgrown the practice, for it obtains among the polished as well as +the rude. One thing, indeed, we ought to have had impressed upon +our minds with fresh force; namely, that we often draw the lines of +demarcation too broad between those whom we are pleased to +divide into the civilized and the savage. Israelite and heathen, +Grecian and barbarian, Roman and pagan, enlightened and +benighted, saintly and sinful, are fine distinctions from the Hebrew, +Greek, Roman, enlightened, and saintly sides of the question; but +they often reflect small credit upon the wisdom and generosity of +their authors. The antipodal Eramangan who cleaves to his moon +image for protection may be quite equal, both intellectually and +morally, with the Anglo-Saxon who still wears his amulet to ward +off disease, or nails up his horse-shoe, as Nelson did to the mast of +the _Victory_, as a guarantee of good luck. Sir George Grey has +written: "It must be borne in mind, that the native races, who +believed in these traditions or superstitions, are in no way deficient +in intellect, and in no respect incapable of receiving the truths of +Christianity; on the contrary, they readily embrace its doctrines and +submit to its rules; in our schools they stand a fair comparison with +Europeans; and, when instructed in Christian truths, blush at their +own former ignorance and superstitions, and look back with shame +and loathing upon their previous state of wickedness and credulity." +[243] + + + +IV. THE MOON A WATER-DEITY. + +We design this chapter to be the completion of moon-worship, and +at the same time an anticipation of those lunary superstitions which +are but scattered leaves from luniolatry, the parent tree. If the new +moon, with its waxing light, may represent the primitive +nature-worship which spread over the earth; and the full moon, the deity +who is supposed to regulate our reservoirs and supplies of water: the +waning moon may fitly typify the grotesque and sickly superstition, +which, under the progress of radiant science and spiritual religion, is +readier every hour to vanish away. + +"The name Astarte was variously identified with the moon, as +distinguished from the sun, or with air and water, as opposed in +their qualities to fire. The name of this goddess represented to the +worshipper the great female parent of all animated things, variously +conceived of as the moon, the earth, the watery element, primeval +night, the eldest of the destinies." [244] It is worthy of note that Van +Helmont, in the seventeenth century, holds similar language. His +words are, "The moon is chief over the night darkness, rest, death, +and the waters." [245] It is also remarkable that in the language of +the Algonquins of North America the ideas of night, death, cold, +sleep, water, and moon are expressed by one and the same word. +[246] In the oriental mythology "the connection between the moon +and water suggests the idea that the moon produces fertility and +freshness in the soil." [247] "Al Zamakhshari, the commentator on +the Koran, derives _Manah_ (one of the three idols worshipped by +the Arabs before the time of Mohammad) from the root 'to flow,' +because of the blood which flowed at the sacrifices to this idol, or, +as Millius explains it, because the ancient idea of the moon was that +it was a star full of moisture, with which it filled the sublunary +regions." [248] The Persians held that the moon was the cause of an +abundant supply of water and of rain, and therefore the names of the +most fruitful places in Persia are compounded with the word _mah_, +"moon"; "for in the opinion of the Iranians the growth of plants +depends on the influence of the moon." [249] In India "the moon is +generally a male, for its most popular names, _Candras_, _Indus_, +and _Somas_, are masculine; but as Somas signifies ambrosia, the +moon, as giver of ambrosia, soon came to be considered a +milk-giving cow; in fact, moon is one among the various meanings given +in Sanskrit to the word Gaus (cow). The moon, Somas, who +illumines the nocturnal sky, and the pluvial sun, Indras, who during +the night, or the winter, prepares the light of morn, or spring, are +represented as companions; a young girl, the evening, or autumnal +twilight, who goes to draw water towards night, or winter, finds in +the well, and takes to Indras, the ambrosial moon, that is, the Somas +whom he loves. Here are the very words of the Vedic hymn: 'The +young girl, descending towards the water, found the moon in the +fountain, and said: I will take you to Indras, I will take you to +Cakras; flow, O moon, and envelop Indras.'" [250] Here in India we +again find our old friend "the frog in the moon." "It is especially +Indus who satisfies the frog's desire for rain. Indus, as the moon, +brings or announces the Somas, or the rain; the frog, croaking, +announces or brings the rain; and at this point the frog, which we +have seen identified at first with the cloud, is also identified with the +pluvial moon." [251] This myth is not lacking in involution. + +In China "the moon is regarded as chief and director of everything +subject in the kosmic system to the Yin [feminine] principle, such as +darkness, the earth, female creatures, water, etc. Thus Pao P'ah Tsze +declares with reference to the tides: 'The vital essence of the moon +governs water: and hence, when the moon is at its brightest, the +tides are high.'" [252] According to the Japanese fairy tale the moon +was to "rule over the new-born earth and the blue waste of the sea, +with its multitudinous salt waters." [253] Thus we see that +throughout Asia, "as lord of moisture and humidity, the moon is +connected with growth and the nurturing power of the peaceful +night." [254] + +Of the kindred of the Pharaohs, Plutarch observes: "The sun and +moon were described by the Egyptians as sailing round the world in +boats, intimating that these bodies owe their power of moving, as +well as their support and nourishment, to the principle of humidity" +(Plut. de Isid. s. 34): which statement Sir J. Gardner Wilkinson says +is confirmed by the sculptures. The moon-god Khons bears in his +hands either a palm-branch or "the Nilometer." When the Egyptians +sacrificed a pig to the moon, "the first sacred emblem they carried +was a _hydria_, or water-pitcher." At another festival the Egyptians +"marched in procession towards the sea-side, whither likewise the +priests and other proper officers carried the sacred chest, inclosing a +small boat or vessel of gold, into which they first poured some fresh +water; and then all present cried out with a loud voice 'Osiris is +found.' This ceremony being ended, they threw a little fresh mould, +together with rich odours and spices, into the water, mixing the +whole mass together, and working it up into a little image in the +shape of a crescent. The image was afterwards dressed and adorned +with a proper habit, and the whole was intended to intimate that they +looked upon these gods as the essence and power of earth and +water." [255] + +The Austro-Hungarians have a man in the moon who is a sort of +aquarius. Grimm says: "Water, an essential part of the Norse myth, +is wanting in the story of the man with the thorn bush, but it +reappears in the Carniolan story cited in Bretano's Libussa (p. 421): +the man in the moon is called Kotar, he makes her grow by pouring +water." [256] The Scandinavian legend, distilled into Jack and Jill, +is, as we have seen, an embodiment of early European belief that the +ebb and flow of the tides were dependent upon the motions and +mutations of the moon. + +We find the same notion prevailing in the western hemisphere. "As +the MOON is associated with the dampness and dews of night, an +ancient and widespread myth identified her with the goddess of +water. Moreover, in spite of the expostulations of the learned, the +common people the world over persist in attributing to her a marked +influence on the rains. Whether false or true, this familiar opinion is +of great antiquity, and was decidedly approved by the Indians, who +were all, in the words of an old author, 'great observers of the +weather by the moon.' They looked upon her, not only as +forewarning them by her appearance of the approach of rains and +fogs, but as being their actual cause. Isis, her Egyptian title, literally +means moisture; Ataensic, whom the Hurons said was the moon, is +derived from the word for water; and Citatli and Atl, moon and +water, are constantly confounded in Aztec theology." [257] One of +the gods of the Dakotahs was "Unk-ta-he (god of the water). The +Dakotahs say that this god and its associates are seen in their +dreams. It is the master-spirit of all their juggling and superstitious +belief, From it the medicine men obtain their supernatural powers, +and a great part of their religion springs from this god." [258] +Brinton also says of this large Indian nation, "that Muktahe, spirit of +water, is the master of dreams and witchcraft, is the belief of the +Dakotahs." [259] We know that the Dakotahs worshipped the moon, +and therefore see no difficulty in identifying that divinity with their +god of dreams and water. "In the legend of the Muyscas it is Chia, +the moon, who was also goddess of water and flooded the earth out +of spite." [260] In this myth the moon is a malevolent deity, and +water, usually a symbol of life, becomes an agency of death. +Reactions are constantly occurring in the myth-making process. The +god is male or female, good or evil, angry or amiable, according to +the season or climate, the aspect of nature or the mood of the +people. "In hot countries," says Sir John Lubbock, "the sun is +generally regarded as an evil, and in cold as a beneficent being." +[261] We are willing to accept this, with allowance. There is little +question that taking men as a whole they are mainly optimistic in +their judgments respecting the gifts of earth and the glories of +heaven. Mr. Brinton, in reference to the imagined destructiveness of +the water deity, writes: "Another reaction in the mythological +laboratory is here disclosed. As the good qualities of water were +attributed to the goddess of night, sleep, and death, so her +malevolent traits were in turn reflected back on this element. +Taking, however, American religions as a whole, water is far more +frequently represented as producing beneficent effects than the +reverse." [262] + +"The time of full moon was chosen both in Mexico and Peru to +celebrate the festival of the deities of water, the patrons of +agriculture, and very generally the ceremonies connected with the +crops were regulated by her phases. The Nicaraguans said that the +god of rains, Quiateot, rose in the east, thus hinting how this +connection originated." [263] "The Muyscas of the high plains of +Bogota were once, they said, savages without agriculture, religion, +or law; but there came to them from the east an old and bearded +man, Bochica, the child of the sun, and he taught them to till the +fields, to clothe themselves, to worship the gods, to become a +nation. But Bochica had a wicked, beautiful wife, Huythaca, who +loved to spite and spoil her husband's work; and she it was who +made the river swell till the land was covered by a flood, and but a +few of mankind escaped upon the mountain tops. Then Bochica was +wroth, and he drove the wicked Huythaca from the earth, and made +her the moon, for there had been no moon before; and he cleft the +rocks and made the mighty cataract of Tequendama, to let the +deluge flow away. Then, when the land was dry, he gave to the +remnant of mankind the year and its periodic sacrifices, and the +worship of the sun. Now the people who told this myth had not +forgotten, what indeed we might guess without their help, that +Bochica was himself Zuhe, the sun, and Huytheca, the sun's wife, +the moon." [264] This interesting and instructive legend, to which +we alluded before in a brief quotation from Mr. Brinton, is worthy +of reproduction in its fuller form, and fitly concludes our moon +mythology and worship, as it presents a synoptical view of the chief +points to which our attention has been turned. It shows us primitive +or primeval man, the dawn of civilization, the daybreak of religion, +the upgrowth of national life. In its solar husband and lunar wife it +embraces that anthropomorphism and sexuality which we think +have been and still are the principal factors in the production of +legendary and religious impersonations. It includes that dualism +which is one of man's oldest attempts to account for the opposition +of good and evil. And finally it predicts a new humanity, springing +from a remnant of the old; and a progress of brighter years, when, +the deluge having disappeared, the dry land shall be fruitful in every +good; when men shall worship the Father of lights, and "God shall +be all in all." + +[*] For further information on the universality of moon-worship, see +_The Ceremonies and Religious Customs of the Various Nations of +the Known World_, by Bernard Picart. London: 1734, folio, vol. iii. + + + +MOON SUPERSTITIONS. + +I. INTRODUCTION. + +Superstition may be defined as an extravagance of faith and fear: +not what Ecclesiastes calls being "righteous overmuch," but +religious reverence in excess. Some etymologists say that the word +originally meant a "_standing_ still _over_ or by a thing" in fear, +wonder, or dread. [265] Brewer's definition is rather more classical: +"That which survives when its companions are dead (Latin, +_supersto_). Those who escaped in battle were called _superstites_. +Superstition is that religion which remains when real religion is +dead; that fear and awe and worship paid to the religious impression +which survives in the mind when correct notions of Deity no longer +exist." [266] Hooker says that superstition "is always joined with a +wrong opinion touching things divine. Superstition is, when things +are either abhorred or observed with a zealous or fearful, but +erroneous relation to God. By means whereof the superstitious do +sometimes serve, though the true God, yet with needless offices, and +defraud Him of duties necessary; sometimes load others than Him +with such honours as properly are His." [267] A Bampton Lecturer +on this subject says: "Superstition is an _unreasonable belief_ of +that which is mistaken for truth concerning the nature of God and +the invisible world, our relations to these unseen objects, and the +duties which spring out of those relations." [268] + +We may next briefly inquire into the origin of the thing, which, of +course, is older than the word. Burton will help us to an easy +answer. He tells us that "the _primum mobile_, and first mover of +all superstition, is the devil, that great enemy of mankind, the +principal agent, who in a thousand several shapes, after divers +fashions, with several engines, illusions, and by several names, hath +deceived the inhabitants of the earth, in several places and countries, +still rejoicing at their falls." [269] Verily this protean, omnipresent, +and malignant devil has proved himself a great convenience! He has +been the scapegoat upon whom we have laid the responsibility of all +our mortal woe: and now we learn that to his infernal influence we +are indebted for our ignorance and superstition. Henceforth, when +we are at our wit's end, we may apostrophize the difficulty, and +exclaim, "O thou invisible spirit, if thou hast no name to be known +by, let us call thee devil!" We hesitate to spoil this serviceable +illusion: for as we have known some good people, of a sort, who +would be distressed to find that there was no hell to burn up the +opponents of their orthodoxy; we fear lest many would be +disappointed if they found out that the infernal spirit was not at the +bottom of our abysmal ignorance. But we will give even the devil +his due. We are not like Sir William Brown, who "could never bring +himself heartily to hate the devil." We can, wherever we find him; +but we think it only honest to father our own mental deficiencies, as +well as our moral delinquencies, and instead of seeking a substitute +to use the available remedy. "To err is human"; and it is in humanity +itself that we shall discover the source of superstition. We are the +descendants of ancestors who were the children of the world, and +we were ourselves children not so long ago. Childhood is the age of +fancy and fiction; of sensitiveness to outer influences; of +impressions of things as they seem, not as they are. When we +become men we put away childish things; and in the manhood of +our race we shall banish many of the idols and ideas which please us +while we grow. Darwin has told us that our "judgment will not +rarely err from ignorance and weak powers of reasoning. Hence the +strangest customs and superstitions, in complete opposition to the +true welfare and happiness of mankind, have become all-powerful +throughout the world. How so many absurd rules of conduct, as well +as so many absurd religious beliefs, have originated, we do not +know; nor how it is that they have become, in all quarters of the +world, so deeply impressed on the mind of men; but it is worthy of +remark that a belief constantly inculcated during the early years of +life, whilst the brain is impressible, appears to acquire almost the +nature of an instinct; and the very essence of an instinct is that it is +followed independently of reason." [270] + +But if superstition be the result of imperfection, there is no +gainsaying the fact that it is productive of infinite evil; and on this +account it has been attributed to a diabolical paternity. Bacon even +affirms that "it were better to have no opinion of God at all, than +such an opinion as is unworthy of Him; for the one is unbelief, the +other is contumely: and certainly superstition is the reproach of the +Deity." [271] Most heartily do we hold with Dr. Thomas Browne: +"It is not enough to believe in God as an irresistible power that +presides over the universe; for this a malignant demon might be. It +is necessary for our devout happiness that we should believe in Him +as that pure and gracious Being who is the encourager of our virtues +and the comforter of our sorrows. + + Quantum religio potuit suadere malorum, + +exclaims the Epicurean poet, in thinking of the evils which +superstition, characterized by that ambiguous name, had produced; +and where a fierce or gloomy superstition has usurped the influence +which religion graciously exercises only for purposes of +benevolence to man, whom she makes happy with a present +enjoyment, by the very expression of devout gratitude for happiness +already enjoyed, it would not be easy to estimate the amount of +positive misery which must result from the mere contemplation of a +tyrant in the heavens, and of a creation subject to his cruelty and +caprice." [272] The above quoted line from Lucretius--To such evils +could religion persuade!--is more than the exclamation of righteous +indignation against the sacrifice of Iphigenia by her father, +Agamemnon, at the bidding of a priest, to propitiate a goddess. It is +still further applicable to the long chain of outrageous wrongs which +have been inflicted upon the innocent at the instigation of a stupid +and savage fanaticism. What is worst of all, much of this +bloodthirsty religion has claimed a commission from the God of +love, and performed its detestable deeds in the insulted name of that +"soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit," whom the loftiest and +best of men delight to adore as the Prince of peace. No wonder that +Voltaire cried out, "Christian religion, behold thy consequences!" if +he could calculate that ten million lives had been immolated on the +altar of a spurious Christianity. One hundred thousand were slain in +the Bartholomew massacre alone. Righteousness, peace, and love +were not the monster which Voltaire laboured to crush: he was most +intensely incensed against the blind and bigoted priesthood, against +the malicious and murderous servants who ate the bread of a holy +and harmless Master, against "their intolerance of light and hatred of +knowledge, their fierce yet profoundly contemptible struggles with +one another, the scandals of their casuistry, their besotted cruelty." +[273] We have been betrayed into speaking thus strongly of the +extreme lengths to which superstition will carry those who yield +themselves to its ruthless tyranny. But perhaps we have not gone far +from our subject, after all; for the innocent Iphigenia, whose doom +kindled our ire, was sacrificed to the goddess of the moon. + + + +II. LUNAR FANCIES. + +There are a few phosphorescent fancies about the moon, like _ignes +fatui_, + + "Dancing in murky night o'er fen and lake," + +which we may dispose of in a section by themselves. Those of them +that are mythical are too evanescent to become full-grown myths; +and those which are religious are too volatile to remain in the +solution or salt of any bottled creed. Like the wandering lights of the +Russians, answering to our will-o'-the-wisp, they are the souls of +still-born children. There is, for example, the insubstantial and +formless but pleasing conception of the Indian Veda. In the +Ramayanam the moon is a good fairy, who in giving light in the +night assumes a benignant aspect and succours the dawn. In the +Vedic hymn, Raka, the full moon, is exhorted to sew the work with +a needle which cannot be broken. Here the moon is personified as +preparing during the night her luminous garments, one for the +evening, the other for the morning, the one lunar and of silver, the +other solar and of gold. [274] Another notion, equally airy but more +religious, has sprung up in Christian times and in Catholic countries. +It is that heathen fancy which connects the moon with the Virgin +Mary. Abundant evidence of this association in the minds of Roman +Catholics is furnished by the style of the ornaments which crowd the +continental churches. One of the most conspicuous is the sun and +moon in conjunction, precisely as they are represented on +Babylonian and Grecian coins; and the identification of the Virgin +and her Child with the moon any Roman Catholic cathedral will +show. [275] The _Roman Missal_ will present to any reader "Sancta +Maria, coeli Regina, et mundi Domina"; the _Glories of Mary_ will +exhibit her as the omnipotent mother, Queen of the Universe; and +Ecclesiastical History will declare how, as early as the close of +the fourth century, the women who were called Collyridians +worshipped her "as a goddess, and judged it necessary to appease +her anger, and seek her favour and protection, by libations, +sacrifices, and oblations of cakes (_collyridae_)." [276] This is but a +repetition of the women kneading dough to make cakes to the queen +of heaven, as recorded by Jeremiah; and proves that the relative +position occupied by Astarte in company with Baal, Juno with +Jupiter, Doorga with Brahma, and Ma-tsoo-po with Boodh, is that +occupied by Mary with God. Nay more, she is "Mater Creatoris" +and "Dei Genetrix": Mother of the Creator, Mother of God. Having +thus been enthroned in the position in the universal pantheon which +was once occupied by the moon, what wonder that the ignorant +devotee should see her in that orb, especially as the sun, moon, and +stars of the Apocalypse are her chief symbols. Southey has recorded +a good illustration of this superstitious fancy. "A fine circumstance +occurred in the shipwreck of the _Santiago_, 1585. The ship struck +in the night; the wretched crew had been confessing, singing +litanies, etc., and this they continued till, about two hours before +break of day, the moon arose beautiful and exceeding bright; and +forasmuch as till that time they had been in such darkness that they +could scarcely sec one another when close at hand, such was the stir +among them at beholding the brightness and glory of that orb, that +most part of the crew began to lift up their voices, and with tears, +cries, and groans called upon Our Lady, saying they saw her in the +moon." [277] + +The preceding fancies would produce upon the poetic and religious +sense only an agreeable effect. Other hallucinations have wrought +effects of an opposite kind. The face in the moon does not always +wear an amiable aspect, and it is not unnatural that those who have +been taught to believe in angry gods and frowning providences +should see the caricatures of their false teachers reproduced in the +heavens above and in the earth beneath. We are reminded here of +the magic mirror mentioned by Bayle. There is a trick, invented by +Pythagoras, which is performed in the following manner. The moon +being at the full, some one writes with blood on a looking-glass +anything he has a mind to; and having given notice of it to another +person, he stands behind that other and turns towards the moon the +letters written in the glass. The other looking fixedly on the shining +orb reads in it all that is written on the mirror as if it were written on +the moon. [278] This is precisely the _modus operandi_ by which +the knavish have imposed upon the foolish in all ages. The +manipulator of the doctrine stands behind his credulous disciple, +writing out of sight his invented science or theology, and writing too +often with the blood of some innocent victim. The poor patient +student is meanwhile gazing on the moon in dreamy devotion; until +as the writing on the mirror is read with solemn intonation, it all +appears before his moon-struck gaze as a heavenly revelation. Woe +to the truth-loving critic who breaks the enchantment and the mirror, +crying out in the vernacular tongue, Your mysteries are myths, your +writings are frauds; and the fair moon is innocent of the lying +imposition! + +To multitudes the moon has always been an object of terror and +dread. Not only is it a supramundane and magnified man--that it +will always be while its spots are so anthropoid, and man himself is +so anthropomorphic--but it has ever been, and still is, a being of +maleficent and misanthropic disposition. As Mr. Tylor says, "When +the Aleutians thought that if any one gave offence to the moon, he +would fling down stones on the offender and kill him; or when the +moon came down to an Indian squaw, appearing in the form of a +beautiful woman with a child in her arms, and demanding an +offering of tobacco and fur-robes: what conceptions of personal life +could be more distinct than these?" [279] Personal and distinct, +indeed, but far from pleasant. Another author tells us that "in some +parts of Scotland to point at the stars or to do aught that might be +considered an indignity in the face of the sun or moon, is still to be +dreaded and avoided; so also it was not long since, probably still is, +in Devonshire and Cornwall. The Jews seem to have been equally +superstitious on this point (Jer. viii. 1, 2), and the Persians believed +leprosy to be an infliction on those who had committed some +offence against the sun." [280] Southey supplies us with an +illustration of the moon in a fit of dudgeon. He is describing the +sufferings of poor Hans Stade, when he was caught by the +Tupinambas and expected that he was about to die. "The moon was +up, and fixing his eyes upon her, he silently besought God to +vouchsafe him a happy termination of these sufferings. Yeppipo +Wasu, who was one of the chiefs of the horde, and as such had +convoked the meeting, seeing how earnestly he kept gazing +upwards, asked him what he was looking at. Hans had ceased from +praying, and was observing the man in the moon, and fancying that +he looked angry; his mind was broken down by continual terror, and +he says it seemed to him at that moment as if he were hated by God, +and by all things which God had created. The question only half +roused him from this phantasy, and he answered, it was plain that +the moon was angry. The savage asked whom she was angry with, +and then Hans, as if he had recollected himself, replied that she was +looking at his dwelling. This enraged him, and Hans found it +prudent to say that perhaps her eyes were turned so wrathfully upon +the Carios; in which opinion the chief assented, and wished she +might destroy them all." [281] Some such superstitious fear must +have furnished the warp into which the following Icelandic story +was woven. "There was once a sheep-stealer who sat down in a +lonely place, with a leg of mutton in his hand, in order to feast upon +it, for he had just stolen it. The moon shone bright and clear, not a +single cloud being there in heaven to hide her. While enjoying his +gay feast, the impudent thief cut a piece off the meat, and, putting it +on the point of his knife, accosted the moon with these godless +words:-- + + 'O moon, wilt thou + On thy mouth now + This dainty bit of mutton-meat?' + +Then a voice came from the heavens, saying:-- + + 'Wouldst thou, thief, like + Thy cheek to strike + This fair key, scorching-red with heat?' + +At the same moment, a red-hot key fell from the sky on to the cheek +of the thief, burning on it a mark which he carried with him ever +afterwards. Hence arose the custom in ancient times of branding or +marking thieves." [282] The moral influence of this tale is excellent, +and has the cordial admiration of all who hate robbery and +effrontery: at the same time it exhibits the moon as an irascible +body, with which no liberty may be taken. In short, it is an object of +superstitious awe. + +One other lunar fancy, born and bred in fear, is connected with the +abominable superstition of witchcraft. Abominable, unquestionably, +the evil was; but justice compels us to add that the remedy of +relentless and ruthless persecution with which it was sought to +remove the pest was a reign of abhorrent and atrocious cruelty. Into +the question itself we dare not enter, lest we should be ourselves +bewitched. We know that divination by supposed supernatural +agency existed among the Hebrews, that magical incantations were +practised among the Greeks and Romans, and that more modern +witchcraft has been contemporaneous with the progress of +Christianity. But we must dismiss the subject in one borrowed +sentence. "The main source from which we derived this superstition +is the East, and traditions and facts incorporated in our religion. +There were only wanted the ferment of thought of the fifteenth +century, the energy, ignorance, enthusiasm, and faith of those days, +and the papal denunciation of witchcraft by the bull of Innocent the +Eighth, in 1459, to give fury to the delusion. And from this time, for +three centuries, the flames at which more than a hundred thousand +victims perished cast a lurid light over Europe." [283] The singular +notion, which we wish to present, is the ancient belief that witches +could control the moon. In the _Clouds_ of Aristophanes, +Strepsiades tells Socrates that he has "a notion calculated to deprive +of interest"; which is as follows:-- + + "_Str_. If I were to buy a Thessalian witch, and draw down the + moon by night, then shut her up in a round helmet-case, like a + mirror, and then keep watching her--" + + "_Soc_. What good would that do you, then?" + + "_Str_. What? If the moon were not to rise any more anywhere, I + should not pay the interest." + + "_Soc_. Because what?" + + "_Str_. Because the money is lent by the month." [284] + +Shakespeare alludes to this, where Prospero says, "His mother was a +witch, and one so strong that could control the moon" (_Tempest_, +Act v.). + +If the witch's broom, on whose stick she rode to the moon, be a type +of the wind, we may guess how the fancy grew up that the airy +creation could control those atmospheric vapours on which the light +and humidity of the night were supposed to depend. [285] + + + +III. LUNAR ECLIPSES. + +All round the globe, from time immemorial, those periodic +phenomena known as solar and lunar eclipses have been occasions +of mental disquietude and superstitious alarm. Though now +regarded as perfectly natural and regular, they have seemed so +preternatural and irregular to the unscientific eye that we cannot +wonder at the consternation which they have caused. And it must be +confessed that a total obscuration of the sun in the middle of the day +casts such a gloom over the earth that men not usually timid are still +excusable if during the parenthesis they feel a temporary uneasiness, +and are relieved when the ruler of the day emerges from his dark +chamber, apparently rejoicing to renew his race. An eclipse of the +moon, though less awe-inspiring, is nevertheless sufficiently so to +awaken in the superstitious brain fearful forebodings of impending +calamity. Science may demonstrate that there is nothing abnormal in +these occurrences, but to the seeker after signs it wilt be throwing +words away; for, as Lord Kames says, "Superstitious eyes are never +opened by instruction." + +We will now produce a number of testimonies to show how these +lunar eclipses have been viewed among the various races of the +earth in ancient and modern times. The Chaldaeans were careful +observers of eclipses, and Berosus believed that when the moon was +obscured she turned to us her dark side. Anaximenes said that her +mouth was stopped. Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, and the +Mathematicians said that she fell into conjunction with the bright +sun. Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (born B.C. 499) was the first to +explain the eclipse of the moon as caused by the shadow of the earth +cast by the sun. But he was as one born out of due time. We are all +familiar with the use made by students of unfulfilled prophecy of +every extraordinary occurrence in nature, such as the sudden +appearance of a comet, an earthquake, an eclipse, etc. We know +how mysteriously they interpret those simple passages in the Bible +about the sun being darkened and the moon being turned into blood. +If they were not wilfully blind, such facts as are established by the +following quotations would open their eyes to the errors in their +exegesis. At any rate, they would find their theories anticipated in +nearly every particular by those very heathen whom they are wont +to pity as so benighted and hopelessly lost. + +Grimm writes: "One of the most terrible phenomena to heathens +was an _eclipse_ of the sun or moon, which they associated with a +destruction of all things and the end of the world. I may safely +assume that the same superstitious notions and practices attend +eclipses among nations ancient and modern. The Indian belief is that +a serpent eats up the sun and moon when they arc eclipsed, or a +demon devours them. To this day the Hindoos consider that a giant +lays hold of the luminaries and tries to swallow them. The Chinese +call the solar eclipse zhishi (solis devoratio), the lunar yueshi (lunae +devoratio), and ascribe them both to the machinations of a dragon. +Nearly all the populations of Northern Asia hold the same opinion. +The Finns of Europe, the Lithuanians, and the Moors in Africa, have +a similar belief." [286] Flammarion says: "Among the ancient +nations people used to come to the assistance of the moon, by +making a confused noise with all kinds of instruments, when it was +eclipsed. It is even done now in Persia and some parts of China, +where they fancy that the moon is fighting with a great dragon, and +they think the noise will make him loose his hold and take to flight. +Among the East Indians they have the same belief that when the sun +and the moon are eclipsed, a dragon is seizing them, and +astronomers who go there to observe eclipses are troubled by the +fears of their native attendants, and by their endeavours to get into +the water as the best place under the circumstances. In America the +idea is that the sun and moon are tired when they are eclipsed. But +the more refined Greeks believed for a long time that the moon was +bewitched, and that the magicians made it descend from heaven to +put into the herbs a certain maleficent froth. Perhaps the idea of the +dragon arose from the ancient custom of calling the places in the +heavens at which the eclipses of the moon took place the head and +tail of the dragon." [287] Sir Edward Sherburne, in his "Annotations +upon the _Medea_," quaintly says: "Of the beating of kettles, +basons, and other brazen vessels used by the ancients when the +moone was eclipsed (which they did to drown the charms of +witches, that the moon might not hear them, and so be drawne from +her spheare as they suppos'd), I shall not need to speake, being a +thing so generally knowne, a custom continued among the Turks to +this day; yet I cannot but adde, and wonder at, what Joseph Scaliger, +in his 'Annotations upon Manilius,' reports out of Bonincontrius, an +ancient commentator upon the same poet, who affirms that in a +town of Italy where he lived (within these two centuries of yeares), +he saw the same piece of paganisme acted upon the like occasion." +[288] Another, and more recent writer, also says of these eclipses: +"The Chinese imagine them to be caused by great dragons trying to +devour the sun and moon, and beat drums and brass kettles to make +the monsters give up their prey. Some of the tribes of American +Indians speak of the moon as hunted by huge dogs, catching and +tearing her till her soft light is reddened and put out by the blood +flowing from her wounds. To this day in India the native beats his +gong, as the moon passes across the sun's face, and it is not so very +long ago that in Europe both eclipses and rushing comets were +thought to show that troubles were near." [289] Respecting China, a +modern traveller speaks in not very complimentary language. "If +there is on the earth a nation absorbed by the affairs of this world +and who trouble themselves little about what passes among the +heavenly bodies, it is assuredly the Chinese. The most erudite +among them just know of the existence of astronomy, or, as they +call it, _tienwen_--'celestial literature.' But they are ignorant of the +simplest principles of the science, and those who regard an eclipse +as a natural phenomenon, instead of a dragon who is seeking to +devour the sun and moon, are enlightened indeed." [290] This +statement ought to be taken with more than one _granum salis_, +especially as Mrs. Somerville assures us that the Chinese had made +advances in the science of astronomy 1,100 years before the +Christian era, and also adds: "Their whole chronology is founded on +the observation of eclipses, which prove the existence of that empire +for more than 4,700 years." [291] With this discount the charge +against Chinese ignorance may be passed. "A Mongolian myth +makes out that the gods determined to punish Arakho for his +misdeeds, but he hid so effectually that no one could find out his +lurking-place. They therefore asked the _sun_, who gave an +unsatisfactory answer; but when they asked the _moon_, she +disclosed his whereabouts. So Arakho was dragged forth and +chastised; in revenge of which he _pursues both sun and moon_, +and whenever he comes to hand-grips with one of them, _an eclipse +occurs_. To help the lights of heaven in their sad plight, a +_tremendous uproar_ is made with musical and other instruments, +till Arakho is scared away." [292] "Referring to the Shoo, Pt. III., +Bk. IV., parag. 4, we find this sentence: 'On the first day of the last +month of autumn the sun and moon did not meet harmoniously in +Fang.'" [293] In less euphemistic phrase, the sun and moon were +_crossed_. + +Dr. Wells Williams describes an interesting scene. "In the middle of +the sixth moon lanterns are hung from the top of a pole placed on +the highest part of the house. A single small lantern is deemed +sufficient, but if the night be calm, a greater display is made by +some householders, and especially in boats, by exhibiting coloured +glass lamps arranged in various ways. The illumination of a city like +Canton, when seen from a high spot, is made still more brilliant by +the moving boats on the river. On one of these festivals at Canton, +an almost total eclipse of the moon called out the entire population, +each one carrying something with which to make a noise, kettles, +pans, sticks, drums, gongs, guns, crackers, and what not to frighten +away the dragon of the sky from his hideous feast. The advancing +shadow gradually caused the myriads of lanterns to show more and +more distinctly, and started a still increasing clamour, till the +darkness and the noise were both at their climax. Silence gradually +resumed its sway as the moon recovered her fulness." [294] On +another page Dr. Williams tells us that "some clouds having on one +occasion covered the sky, so that an eclipse could not be seen, the +courtiers joyfully repaired to the emperor to felicitate him that +Heaven, touched by his virtues, had spared him the pain of +witnessing the 'eating of the sun.'" [295] The following passage +from Doolittle's work on the Chinese is sufficiently interesting to be +given without abridgment: "It is a part of the official duties of +mandarins to 'save the sun and moon when eclipsed.' Prospective +eclipses are never noticed in the Imperial Calendar, published +originally at Peking, and republished in the provinces. The imperial +astronomers at the capital, a considerable time previous to a visible +eclipse, inform the Board of Rites of its month, day, and hour. +These officers send this intelligence to the viceroys or governors of +the eighteen provinces of the empire. These, in turn, communicate +the information to all the principal subordinate officers in the +provinces of the civil and the military grade. The officers make +arrangements to save the moon or the sun at the appointed time. On +the day of the eclipse, or on the day preceding it, some of them put +up a written notice in or near their yamuns, for the information of +the public. + +"The Chinese generally have no rational idea of the cause of +eclipses. The common explanation is that the sun or the moon has +experienced some disaster. Some even affirm that the object +eclipsed is being devoured by an immense ravenous monster. This is +the most popular sentiment in Fuhchau in regard to the procuring +cause of eclipses. All look upon the object eclipsed with wonder. +Many are filled with apprehension and terror. Some of the common +people, as well as mandarins generally, enter upon some course of +action, the express object of which is to save the luminary from its +dire calamity, or to rescue it from the jaws of its greedy enemy. +Mandarins must act officially, and in virtue of their being officers of +government. Neither they nor the people seem to regard the +immense distance of the celestial object as at all interfering with the +success of their efforts. The various obstacles which ought +apparently to deter them from attempting to save the object eclipsed +do not seem to have occurred to them at all, or, if they have +occurred, do not appear to be sufficient to cause them to desist from +prosecuting their laudable endeavours. The high mandarins procure +the aid of priests of the Taoist sect at their yamuns. These place an +incense censer and two large candlesticks for holding red candles or +tapers on a table in the principal reception room of the mandarin, or +in the open space in front of it under the open heavens. + +"At the commencement of the eclipse the tapers are lighted, and +soon after the mandarin enters, dressed in his official robes. Taking +some sticks of lighted incense in both hands, he makes his +obeisance before or facing the table, raising and depressing the +incense two or three times, according to the established fashion, +before it is placed in the censer. Or sometimes the incense is lighted +and put in the censer by one of the priests employed. The officer +proceeds to perform the high ceremony of kneeling down three +times, and knocking his head on the ground nine times. After this he +rises from his knees. Large gongs and drums near by are now beaten +as loudly as possible. The priests begin to march slowly around the +tables, reciting formulas, etc., which marching they keep up, with +more or less intermissions, until the eclipse has passed off. + +"A uniform result always follows these official efforts to save the +sun and the moon. _They are invariably successful_. There is not a +single instance recorded in the annals of the empire when the +measures prescribed in instructions from the emperor's astronomers +at Peking, and correctly carried out in the provinces by the +mandarins, have not resulted in a complete rescue of the object +eclipsed. Doubtless the vast majority of the common people in +China believe that the burning of tapers and incense, the prostration +of the mandarins, the beating of the gongs and drums, and the +recitations on the part of the priests, are signally efficacious in +driving away the voracious monster. They observe that the sun or +the moon does not seem to be permanently injured by the attacks of +its celestial enemy, although a half or nearly the whole appeared to +have been swallowed up. This happy result is doubtless viewed with +much complacency by the parties engaged to bring it about. The +lower classes generally leave the saving of the sun or the moon, +when eclipsed, to their mandarins, as it is a part of their official +business. Some of the people occasionally beat in their houses a +winnowing instrument, made of bamboo splints, on the occasion of +an eclipse. This gives out a loud noise. Some venture to assert that +the din of this instrument penetrates the clouds as high as the very +temple of Heaven itself! The sailors connected with junks at this +place, on the recurrence of a lunar eclipse, always contribute their +aid to rescue the moon by beating their gongs in a most deafening +manner. + +"Without doubt, most of the mandarins understand the real occasion +of eclipses, or, at least, they have the sense to perceive that nothing +which they can do will have any effect upon the object eclipsed, or +the cause which produces the phenomenon; but they have no +optional course in regard to the matter. They must comply with +established custom, and with the understood will of their superiors. +The imperial astronomers, having been taught the principles of +astronomy and the causes which produce eclipses by the Roman +Catholic missionaries a long while since, of course know that the +common sentiments on the subject are as absurd as the common +customs relating to it are useless. But the emperor and his cabinet +cling to ancient practices, notwithstanding the clearest evidences of +their false and irrational character." [296] + +Mr. Herbert Giles accounts for this Chinese obtuseness, or, as some +would have it, opacity, in much the same way. Under the head of +_Natural Phenomena_, he writes: "It is a question of more than +ordinary interest to those who regard the Chinese people as a worthy +object of study, What are the speculations of the working and +uneducated classes concerning such natural phenomena as it is quite +impossible for them to ignore? Their theory of eclipses is well +known, foreign ears being periodically stunned by the gonging of an +excited crowd of natives, who are endeavouring with hideous noises +to prevent some imaginary dog of colossal proportions from +banqueting, as the case may be, upon the sun or moon. At such +laughable exhibitions of native ignorance it will be observed there is +always a fair sprinkling of well-to-do, educated persons, who not +only ought to know better themselves, but should be making some +effort to enlighten their less fortunate countrymen instead of joining +in the din. Such a hold, however, has superstition on the minds of +the best informed in a Chinese community, that under the influence +of any real or supposed danger, philosophy and Confucius are +scattered to the four winds of heaven, and the proudest disciple of +the master proves himself after all but a man." [297] No doubt Mr. +Doolittle and Mr. Giles are both right: custom and superstition form +a twisted rope which pinions the popular mind. But there is yet +another strand to be mentioned which makes the bond a threefold +cord which it will take some time to break. _Prescriptive right_ +requires that the official or cultured class in China, answering to the +clerical caste elsewhere, should keep the other classes in ignorance; +because, if science and religion are fellow-helpers, science and +superstition can never dwell together, and the downfall of +superstition in China would be the destruction of imperial despotism +and magisterial tyranny. "Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have +our wealth. But this Paul says that they be no gods, which are made +with hands: so that our craft is in danger to be set at nought. Great is +Diana of the Ephesians!" The mandarins know why they encourage +the mechanics and merchants to save the moon. + +We once met a good story in reading one of Jean Astruc's medical +works. "Theodore de Henry, of Paris, coming one time into the +church of St. Dionis, he fell prostrate at the foot of the statue of +Charles the Eighth, as in a sudden fit of devotion. When being told +by one of the monks that was not the image of any saint, he replied, +he was not ignorant of that, but was willing to pay a grateful +acknowledgment to the memory of that prince who had brought the +_Morbus Gallicus_ into France, by which he had made his own +fortune." Herein lies the secret of half of the hypocrisy of the world. +Thank God! the world moves; and the millennium of truth is at +hand. + +The literature of China is, happily, not all linsey-woolsey. The +following sample is of the finest silk, worthy to adorn the purest +saint. + +"MING TI of the HOUSE of WEI. + +"Reigned 227-239 A.D. + +"_On an Eclipse.--A Rescript_. WE have heard that if a sovereign is +remiss in government, Heaven terrifies him by calamities and +strange portents. These are divine reprimands sent to recall him to a +sense of duty. Thus, partial eclipses of the sun and moon are +manifest warnings that the rod of empire is not wielded aright. Ever +since WE ascended the throne, OUR inability to continue the +glorious traditions of our departed ancestors and carry on the great +work of civilization, has now culminated in a warning message from +on high. It therefore behoves Us to issue commands for personal +reformation, in order to avert the impending calamity. + +"But the relations of Heaven with Man are those of a father and son; +and a father about to chastise his son would not be deterred were the +latter to present him with a dish of meat. WE do not therefore +consider it part of OUR duty to act in accordance with certain +memorials advising that the prime minister and chief astronomer be +instructed to offer up sacrifices on this occasion. Do ye, governors +of districts and other high officers of State, seek rather to rectify +your own hearts; and if any one can devise means to make up for +OUR shortcomings, let him submit his proposals to the Throne." +[298] + +The writer of that was "not far from the kingdom of God." + +Father Borri, in his account of Cochin China, describes the effect of +a lunar eclipse upon several scholars in the city of Nuoecman in the +province of Pulucambi. "I showed them that the circle of the moon, +on that side the eclipse began, was not so perfect as it should be, and +soon after all the moon being darkened, they perceived the truth of +my prediction. The commander and all of them being astonished, +presently sent to give notice of it to all the ward, and spread the +news of the eclipse throughout the city, that every man might go out +to make the usual noise in favour of the moon; giving out +everywhere that there were no such men as the fathers, whose +doctrine and books could not fail being true, since they had so +exactly foretold the eclipse, which their learned men had taken no +notice of; and therefore, in performance of his promise, the +commander with all his family became Christians, as did many +more of his ward, with some of the most learned men of the city and +others of note." [299] In no unkind spirit we cannot refrain from +noticing, what will strike every reader, how ready divines of all +denominations are to turn the teachings of science to their own +account in the propagation of their faith. It would have been +seemlier for theologians in all ages, if their attitude towards physical +inquirers had been less hostile; they would then have made converts +through eclipses with a better grace. They would, moreover, have +prevented the alienation of many of their truest friends. + +Captain Beeckman gives an amusing story of an eclipse in +Cantongee, in the island of Borneo, on the 10th of November, 1714. +"We sat very merry till about eight at night, when, preparing to go to +bed, we heard all on a sudden a most terrible outcry, mixed with +squealing, halloing, whooping, firing of guns, ringing and clattering +of gongs or brass pans, that we were greatly startled, imagining +nothing less but that the city was surprised by the rebels. I ran +immediately to the door, where I found my old fat landlord +roaring and whooping like a man raving mad. This increased my +astonishment, and the noise was so great that I could neither be +heard, nor get an answer to know what the matter was. At last I +cried as loud as possibly I could to the old man to know the reason +of this sad confusion and outcry, who in a great fright pointed up to +the heavens, and said, '_Look there; see, the devil is eating up the +moon_!' I was very glad to hear that there was no other cause of +their fright but their own ignorance. It was only a great eclipse of +the moon. I smiled, and told him that there was no danger; that in a +little while the moon would be as well as ever. Whereupon, catching +fast hold of my sleeve, as I was returning to bed, he asked me if I +was sure on't (for they take us white men to be very wise in those +matters). I assured him I was, and that we always knew many years +before when such a thing would happen; that it proceeded from a +natural cause, according to the course and motion of the sun and +moon, and that the devil had no hand in it. After the eclipse was +over, the old man, being not a little rejoiced, took me in." [300] +Another writer speaks of the East India Islands in general. "There is +to this day hardly a country of the Archipelago in which the +ceremony of frightening the supposed monster from his attack on +the luminary is not performed. This consists in shouting, in striking +gongs, but, above all, in striking their stampers against the sides of +the wooden mortars which are used by the villagers in husking their +corn." [301] That the Indians of the continent regard the phenomena +in question with more than ordinary interest is evinced by their +resorting in large numbers to Benares, the ancient seat of +brahminical learning and religion, on every occasion of an eclipse of +the moon. Lord Kames reminds us that among the Greeks "an +eclipse being held a prognostic given by the gods of some grievous +calamity, Anaxagoras was accused of atheism for attempting to +explain the eclipse of the moon by natural causes: he was thrown +into prison, and with difficulty was relieved by the influence of +Pericles. Protagoras was banished Athens for maintaining the same +doctrine." [302] + +Thucydides tells us that an eclipse of the moon delayed the +departure of the expedition against the Syracusans. "The +preparations were made, and they were on the point of sailing, when +the moon, being just then at the full, was eclipsed. The mass of the +army was greatly moved, and called upon the generals to remain. +Nicias himself, who was too much under the influence of divination +and omens, refused even to discuss the question of their removal +until they had remained thrice nine days, as the soothsayers +prescribed. This was the reason why the departure of the Athenians +was finally delayed." [303] + +"At any eclipse of the moone, the Romanes would take their brazen +pots and pannes, and beat them, lifting up many torches and linckes +lighted, and firebrandes into the aire, thinking by these superstitious +meanes to reclaime the moone to her light." [304] + +_The Constantinople Messenger_ of December 23rd, 1880, contains +the following:--"Mgr. Mamarbasci, who represents the Syrian +Patriarch at the Porte, and who resides in St. Peter's Monastery in +Galata, underwent a singular experience on the evening of the last +eclipse of the moon. Hearing a great noise outside of the firing of +revolvers and pistols, he opened his window to see what could be +the cause of so much waste of powder. Being a native of Aleppo, he +was at no loss to understand the cause of the disturbance as soon as +he cast his eye on the heavens, and he therefore immediately +withdrew his head from the window again. Hardly had he done so, +however, ere a ball smashed the glass into a thousand pieces. Rising +from the seat into which he had but just sat down, he perceived a +conical ball on the floor of his room, which there is every reason to +believe would have killed him on the spot had he remained a +moment longer on the spot he had just quitted. From the yard of the +mosque of Arab-Djami, which is in front of the prelate's window, +the bullet had, it appears, been fired with the intention of frightening +the dragon or bear which, according to oriental superstition, lies in +wait to devour the moon at its eclipse. It is a fortunate circumstance +that the Syrian ecclesiastic escaped scathless from the snares laid to +destroy the celestial dragon." [305] + +In the _Edda_, an ancient collection of Scandinavian poetry, +embodying the national mythology, Managarmer is the monster who +sometimes swallows up the moon, and stains the heaven and the air +with blood. "Here," says M. Mallett, "we have the cause of eclipses; +and it is upon this very ancient opinion that the general practice is +founded, of making noises at that time, to fright away the monster, +who would otherwise devour the two great luminaries." [306] Of the +Germans, Grimm says:--"In a lighted candle, if a piece of the wick +gets half detached and makes it burn away too fast, they say 'a +_wolf_ (as well as a thief) is in the candle'; this too is like the wolf +devouring the sun or moon. Eclipses of sun or moon have been a +terror to many heathen nations; the incipient and increasing +obscuration of the luminous orb marks for them the moment when +the gaping jaws of the wolf threaten to devour it, and they think by +loud cries to bring it succour." [307] And again:--"The personality +of the sun and moon shows itself moreover in a fiction that has +well-nigh gone the round of the world. These two, in their unceasing +unflagging career through the void of heaven, appear to be in flight, +avoiding some pursuer. A pair of wolves are on their track, _Skoell_ +dogging the steps of the sun, _Hati_ of the moon: they come of a +giant race, the mightiest of whom, Managarmr (moon-dog), +apparently but another name for Hati, is sure some day to _overtake +and swallow the moon_." [308] Francis Osborn, whose _Advice_ +contains, in the opinion of Hallam, "a considerable sprinkling of +sound sense and observation," thus counsels his son: "Imitate not +the wild Irish or Welch, who, during eclipses, run about beating +kettles and pans, thinking their clamour and vexations available to +the assistance of the higher orbs." [309] "In eclipses of the moon, +the Greenlanders carry boxes and kettles to the roofs of their houses, +and beat on them as hard as they can." [310] With the Californian +Indians, "on an eclipse, all is consternation. They congregate and +sing, as some say to appease, and others to frighten, the evil spirits. +They believe that the devils are eating up the luminary, and they do +not cease until it comes forth in its wonted splendour." [311] +Among certain Indian tribes "dogs were supposed to stand in some +peculiar relation to the moon, probably because they howl at it, and +run at night; uncanny practices which have cost them dear in +reputation. The custom prevailed among tribes so widely asunder as +Peruvians, Tupis, Creeks, Iroquois, Algonkins, and Greenland +Eskimos, to thrash the curs most soundly during an eclipse. The +Creeks explained this by saying that the big dog was swallowing the +sun, and that by whipping the little ones they could make him desist. +What the big dog was they were not prepared to say. We know. It +was the night goddess, represented by the dog, who was thus +shrouding the world at midday." [312] + +It is well known that Columbus found his acquaintance with the +calculations of astronomy of great practical value. For when, during +his last expedition, he was reduced to famine by the inhabitants of +the newly discovered continent, who kept him and his companions +prisoners, he, aware that an eclipse was at hand, threatened to +deprive them of the light of the moon, if they did not forthwith bring +him provisions. At first they did not care; but when the moon +disappeared, they brought abundance of supplies, with much +entreaty of pardon. This occurred on the 1st day of March, 1504, a +date which modern tables of lunar eclipses may fully verify. + +"In the Mexican mythology we read of the woman serpent, or the +moon, devoured by the sun, a myth probably descriptive of the +changes in the phases of the moon." [313] More probably this myth +referred to the moon's eclipse; for Bradford tells us that "the +Mexicans believed when there was an eclipse of the sun or moon, +that one of those bodies was being devoured by the other. The +Peruvians believed these phenomena portended some great +calamity; that the eclipsed body was sick and about to die, in which +case the world would perish. As soon as an eclipse commenced, +they made a dreadful noise with their musical instruments; they +struck their dogs and made them howl, in the hope that the moon, +which they believed had an affection for those animals in +consequence of some signal service which they had rendered her, +would have pity on their cries. The Araucanians called eclipses the +'deaths' of the sun and moon." [314] In Aglio we are told of the +Mexicans that "in the year of Five Rabbits, or in 1510, there was an +eclipse of the sun; they take no account of the eclipses of the moon, +but only of those of the sun; for they say that the sun devours the +moon when an eclipse of the moon takes place." [315] "The +Tlascaltecs, regarding the sun and the moon as husband and wife, +believed eclipses to be domestic quarrels. Ribas tells how the +Sinaloas held that the moon in an eclipse was darkened with the +dust of battle. Her enemy had come upon her, and a terrible fight, +big with consequence to those on earth, went on in heaven. In wild +excitement the people beat on the sides of their houses, encouraging +the moon, and shooting flights of arrows up into the sky to distract +her adversary. Much the same as this was also done by certain +Californians." [316] "At a lunar eclipse the Orinoko Indians seized +their hoes and laboured with exemplary vigour on their growing +corn, saying the moon was veiling herself in anger at their habitual +laziness." [317] The umbrated moon did good in this way: as many +of us remember the beautiful comet of 1858 did good, when it +frightened some trembling Londoners into a speedy settlement of +old debts, in anticipation of the final account. Ellis says of the +Tahitians: "An eclipse of the moon filled them with dismay; they +supposed the planet was _natua_, or under the influence of the spell +of some evil spirit that was destroying it. Hence they repaired to the +temple, and offered prayers for the moon's release. Some imagined +that on an eclipse, the sun and moon were swallowed by the god +which they had by neglect offended. Liberal presents were offered, +which were supposed to induce the god to abate his anger, and eject +the luminaries of day and night from his stomach." [318] The +Tongans or Friendly Islanders have a notion that the earth's surface +is flat, that the sun and moon "pass through the sky and come back +some way, they know not how. When the moon is eclipsed, they +attribute the phenomenon to a thick cloud passing over it: the same +with the sun." [319] In the Hervey Islands, the common exclamation +during an eclipse is, "Alas! a divinity has devoured the moon!" + +Finally, to close this chapter where it commenced, in Chaldaea, the +cradle of _star-reading_, Sir Austen Henry Layard says: "I gained, +as other travellers have done before me, some credit for wisdom and +superhuman knowledge by predicting, through the aid of an +almanack, a partial eclipse of the moon. It duly took place, to the +great dismay of my guests, who well-nigh knocked out the bottoms +of all my kitchen utensils in their endeavour to frighten away the +jins who had thus laid hold of the planet. The common notion +amongst ignorant Mahometans is, that an eclipse is caused by some +evil spirit catching hold of the sun or moon. On such occasions, in +Eastern towns, the whole population assembles with pots, pans, and +other equally rude instruments of music, and, with the aid of their +lungs, make a din and turmoil which might suffice to drive away a +whole army of evil spirits, even at so great a distance." [320] We +have reached three general conclusions. _First_, when the moon is +occulted by the earth it is believed to be devoured by some evil +demon, or by wolves or dogs. This is the superstitious vagary of the +Hindoos, the Chinese, Asiatics generally, Europeans, Africans, +Americans, and Polynesians. _Secondly_, a lunar eclipse is the +precursor of some dreadful calamity to the inhabitants of the earth. +This notion is also traceable in every quarter of the globe. And +_thirdly_, during the obscuration the light of the moon is reddened, +and at last extinguished, by the blood which flows from its wounds; +which belief originates with the _Edda_, and obtains in the Western +world. Students of sacred prophecy may still elect to deem these +occurrences that are purely natural as of supernatural significance, +and may risk the interests of true religion in their insane disregard of +science; but the truth will remain, in spite of their misconceptions, +that eclipses of the moon have no concern with the moral destiny of +mankind. + + + +IV. LUNAR INFLUENCES. + +The superficies of the earth being twice seven times that of the +moon, what an influence the earth must exercise over its satellite! +We may be unable to describe this influence in all of its effects; but +we may observe its existence in some of its apparent signs. The +moon not only turns while we turn, but its rotations on its axis keep +exact time with its revolutions round our globe; it accompanies us as +we encircle the sun, facing us all the while, never turning its back +upon us; it waits on us like a link-bearer, or lackey; is our admiring +Boswell, living and moving and having its being in the equability it +derives from attending its illustrious master. An African sage once +illustrated this philosophical principle of the greater controlling the +less, by the following fine conundrum. "Why does the dog waggle +his tail?" This problem, being beyond his auditors, was given up. +The sage made answer, "Because the dog is bigger than the tail; else +the tail would waggle the dog." It is alarming to contemplate the +effect which the moon might have upon our august earth, if it were +fourteen times larger instead of fourteen times smaller in extent of +surface. As it is, Luna's influences are so many and so mighty, that +we will require considerable space merely to set them in order, and +to substantiate them with a few facts. We believe that most, if not +all, of them, are the offspring of superstition; but we shall none the +less find them in every land, in every age. In the nineteenth century +as well as in the dark ages, in London as well as in the ends of the +earth, men of all colours and clans are found turning their faces +heavenward to read their duty and destiny in the oracular face of the +moon. Many consult their almanacks more than their Bibles, and +follow the lunar phases as their sole interpretation of the will of +God. + +Among those who worship the moon as a personal deity, whether +beneficent or malign, its influences are of course welcomed or +dreaded as the manifestations of supreme power. In South America, +for example, "the Botocudos are said to give the highest rank among +the heavenly bodies to Taru, the moon, as causing thunder and +lightning and the failure of vegetables and fruits, and as even +sometimes falling to the earth, whereby many men die." [321] So, in +Africa, the emotions of the worshippers vary with their subjective +views of their god. "Negro tribes seem almost universally to greet +the new moon, whether in delight or disgust. The Guinea people +fling themselves about with droll gestures, and pretend to throw +firebrands at it; the Ashango men behold it with superstitious fear; +the Fetu negroes jumped thrice into the air with hands together and +gave thanks." [322] But even amongst men who neither personify +nor deify the moon, its dominion over the air, earth, and sea, over +human health and happiness, is held to be so all-important, that if +the Maker and Monarch of all were jealous, as men count jealousy, +such lunar fears and affections would be unpardonable sin. + +Let us proceed to particulars, rising from inorganic nature to beings +endowed with the highest instruments of life. Even the mineral +kingdom is supposed to be swayed by the moon; for in Scotland, +Martin says, "The natives told me, that the rock on the east side of +Harries, in the Sound of Island Glass, hath a vacuity near the front, +on the north-west side of the Sound; in which they say there is a +stone that they call the _Lunar Stone_, which advances and retires +according to the increase and decrease of the moon." [323] An +ancient instance of belief in lunar influence upon inanimate matter is +cited by Plutarch. "_Euthydemus_ of _Sunium_ feasted us upon a +time at his house, and set before us a wilde bore, of such bignesse, +that all wee at the table wondred thereat; but he told us that there +was another brought unto him farre greater; mary naught it was, and +corrupted in the carriage, by the beames of the moone-shine; +whereof he made great doubt and question, how it should come to +passe; for that he could not conceive, nor see any reason, but that +the sunne should rather corrupt flesh, being as it was, farre hotter +than the moone." [324] Pliny said that the moon corrupted carcases +of animals exposed to its malefic rays. As with the lifeless, so with +the living. "The inhabitants of St. Kilda observe that when the April +moon goes far in May, the fowls are ten or twelve days later in +laying their eggs than ordinarily they use to be." [325] The influence +of the moon upon vegetation is an opinion hoary with age. In the +_Zend-Avesta_ we read, "And when the light of the moon waxes +warmer, golden-hued plants grow on from the earth during the +spring." [326] An old English author writes:-- + + "Sowe peason and beanes, in the wane of the moone, + Who soweth them sooner, he soweth too soone + That they with the planet may rest and arise, + And flourish, with bearing most plentiful wise." [327] + +Cucumbers, radishes, turnips, leeks, lilies, horseradish, saffron, and +other plants, are said to increase during the fulness of the moon; but +onions, on the contrary, are much larger and are better nourished +during the decline. [328] To recur to Plutarch is to find him saying: +"The moone showeth her power most evidently even in those +bodies, which have neither sense nor lively breath; for carpenters +reject the timber of trees fallen in the ful-moone, as being soft and +tender, subject also to the worme and putrifaction, and that quickly, +by reason of excessive moisture; husbandmen, likewise, make haste +to gather up their wheat and other grain from the threshing-floore, in +the wane of the moone, and toward the end of the month, that being +hardened thus with drinesse, the heape in the garner may keepe the +better from being fustie, and continue the longer; whereas corne +which is inned and laied up at the full of the moone, by reason of +the softnesse and over-much moisture, of all other, doth most cracke +and burst. It is commonly said also, that if a leaven be laied in the +ful-moone, the paste will rise and take leaven better." [329] Still in +Cornwall the people gather all their medicinal plants when the moon +is of a certain age; which practice is very probably a relic of +druidical superstition. "In some parts it is a prevalent belief that the +growth of mushrooms is influenced by the changes of the moon, and +in Essex the subjoined rule is often scrupulously adhered to:-- + + "When the moon is at the full, + Mushrooms you may freely pull + But when the moon is on the wane, + Wait ere you think to pluck again.'" [330] + +Henderson says, "I may, perhaps, mention here, that apples are said +to 'shrump up' in Devonshire if picked when the moon is waning." +[331] A writer of miscellaneous literature tells us that "it has been +demonstrated that moonlight has the power, _per se_, of awakening +the sensitive plant, and consequently that it possesses an influence +of some kind on vegetation. It is true that the influence is very +feeble, compared with that of the sun; but the action is established, +and the question remains, what is the practical value of the fact? 'It +will immediately,' says Professor Lindley, 'occur to the reader that +possibly the screens which are drawn down over hothouses at +night, to prevent loss of heat by radiation, may produce some +unappreciated injury by cutting off the rays of the moon, which +nature intended to fall upon plants as much as the rays of the sun." +[332] The same author says elsewhere, "Columella, Cato, Vitruvius, +and Pliny, all had their notions of the advantages of cutting timber at +certain ages of the moon; a piece of mummery which is still +preserved in the royal ordonnances of France to the conservators of +the forests, who are directed to fell oaks only 'in the wane of the +moon' and 'when the wind is at north.'" [333] Of trees, astrologers +affirm that the moon rules the palm tree (which the ancients say +"sends forth a twig every time the moon rises") and all plants, trees, +and herbs that are juicy and full of sap. [334] + +"A description of the New Netherlands, written about 1650, remarks +that the savages of that land 'ascribe great influence to the moon +over crops.' This venerable superstition, common to all races, still +lingers among our own farmers, many of whom continue to observe +'the signs of the moon' in sowing grain, setting out trees, cutting +timber, and other rural avocations." [335] What is here said of the +new world applies also to the old; for in England a current +expression in Huntingdonshire is "a dark Christmas sends a fine +harvest": dark meaning moonless. + +Of the lunar influence upon the tides, old John Lilly writes: "There +is nothing thought more admirable, or commendable in the sea, than +the ebbing and flowing; and shall the moone, from whom the sea +taketh this virtue, be accounted fickle for encreasing and +decreasing?" [336] Another writer of the sixteenth century says, +"The moone is founde, by plaine experience, to beare her greatest +stroke uppon the seas, likewise in all things that are moiste, and by +consequence in the braines of man." [337] Dennys tells us that "the +influence exerted by the moon on tides is recognised by the +Chinese." [338] What some record in prose, others repeat in rhyme. +The following is _one_ kind of poetry. + + "Moone changed, keepes closet, three daies as a Queene, + Er she in hir prime, will of any be scene: + If great she appereth, it showreth out, + If small she appereth, it signifieth drout. + At change or at full, come it late, or else soone, + Maine sea is at highest, at midnight and noone, + But yet in the creekes, it is later high flood: + Through farnesse of running, by reason as good." [339] + +Indirectly, through the influence upon the tides, the moon is +concerned in human mortality. + + "Tyde flowing is feared, for many a thing, + Great danger to such as be sick it doth bring. + Sea eb, by long ebbing, some respit doth give, + And sendeth good comfort, to such as shal live." [340] + +Henderson says, "It is a common belief along the east coast of +England, from Northumberland to Kent, that deaths mostly occur +during the falling of the tide." [341] Every reader of the inimitable +Dickens will be reminded here of the death of poor old Barkis. + +"'He's a-going out with the tide,' said Mr. Peggotty to me, behind his +hand. + +"My eyes were dim, and so were Mr. Peggotty's; but I repeated in a +whisper, 'With the tide?' + +"'People can't die, along the coast,' said Mr. Peggotty, 'except when +the tide's pretty nigh out. They can't be born, unless it's pretty nigh +in-not properly born, till flood. He's a-going out with the tide. It's +ebb at half-arter three, slack water half an hour. If he lives till it +turns, he'll hold his own till past the flood, and go out with the next +tide.' + +"'He's coming to himself,' said Peggotty. + +"Mr. Peggotty touched me, and whispered with much awe and +reverence, 'They are both a-going out fast.' + +"He now opened his eyes. + +"I was on the point of asking him if he knew me, when he tried to +stretch out his arm, and said to me distinctly, with a pleasant +smile,-- + +"'Barkis is willin'.' + +"And, it being low water, he went out with the tide." [342] + +That the rise and fall of our tides twice a day, with spring and neap +tides twice in the lunar month, are the effect of the combined action +of the sun and moon, is never called in question. The water under +the moon is drawn up from the earth, and the earth is drawn from +the water on the opposite side, the consequence of which is two high +tides in the two hemispheres at the same hour. The rotation of the +earth bringing the same point of the ocean twice under the moon's +meridian, once under the upper meridian and once under the lower, +each hemisphere has two high tides in the course of the day. The +spring tide is caused by the attractive force of the sun and moon +acting in conjunction, or in a straight line; and the neap tide is +caused by the moon being in quadrature, or when the sun and moon +are at right angles to each other. They counteract each other's +influence, and our tides arc therefore low. So much is science; but +the connection of ebb and flow with life and death is superstition. + +From a very remote antiquity, in the twilight of natural astrology, a +belief arose that changes in the weather were occasioned by the +moon. [343] That the notion lives on, and will not soon die, is clear +to any one who is conversant with current literature and common +folk-lore. Even intelligent, well-informed people lend it +countenance. Professor Newcomb, of Washington, rightly says: +"Thus far there is no evidence that the moon directly affects the +earth or its inhabitants in any other way than by her attraction, +which is so minute as to be entirely insensible except in the ways we +have described. A striking illustration of the fallibility of the human +judgment when not disciplined by scientific training is afforded by +the opinions which have at various times obtained currency +respecting a supposed influence of the moon on the weather. Neither +in the reason of the case nor in observations do we find any real +support for such a theory. It must, however, be admitted that +opinions of this character are not confined to the uneducated." [344] +Mr. Edward B. Tylor holds similar language: "The notion that the +weather changes with the moon's quarterings is still held with great +vigour in England. That educated people to whom exact weather +records are accessible should still find satisfaction in the fanciful +lunar rule, is an interesting case of intellectual survival." [345] No +marvel that the "heathen Chinee" considers lunar observations as +forecasting scarcity of provisions he is but of the same blood with +his British brother, who takes his tea and sends him opium. "The +Hakkas (and also many Puntis) believe that if in the night of the +fifteenth day of the eighth month (mid autumn) there are clouds +obscuring the moon before midnight, it is a sign that oil and salt will +become very dear. If, however, there are clouds obscuring the moon +after midnight, the price of rice will, it is supposed, undergo a +similar change." [346] + +One of our provincial proverbs is: "So many days old the moon is +on Michaelmas Day, so many floods after." Sometimes a proverb is +a short saying spoken after long experience; at other times it is a +small crystal left after a lengthy evaporation. In certain instances our +rural apothegms are sacred relics of extinct but canonized fictions. +An equally wise prediction is that if Christmas comes during a +waxing moon we shall have a very good year; and the nearer to the +new moon, the better. But if during a waning moon, a hard year; and +the nearer the end of the moon, so much the worse. Another sage +belief is that the condition of the weather is dependent upon the day +of the week upon which the new moon chances to fall. We are told +that "Dr. Forster, of Bruges, well known as a meteorologist, declares +that by the _Journal_ kept by his grandfather, father, and self, ever +since 1767, to the present time, whenever the new moon has fallen +on a _Saturday_, the following _twenty days_ have been wet and +windy, in nineteen cases out of twenty." [347] In Italy it is said, "If +the moon change on a Sunday, there will be a flood before the +month is out." New moon on Monday, or moon-day, is, of course, +everywhere held a sign of good weather and luck. + +That a misty moon is a misfortune to the atmosphere is widely +supposed. In Scotland it is an agricultural maxim among the canny +farmers that-- + + "If the moon shows like a silver shield, + You need not be afraid to reap your field + But if she rises haloed round, + Soon we'll tread on deluged ground." [348] + +Others say that a mist is unfavourable only with the new moon, not +with the old. + + "An old moon in a mist + Is worth gold in a kist (chest) + But a new moon's mist + Will never lack thirst," [349] + +is a rugged rhyme found in several places. In Cornwall the idea is +that-- + + "A fog and a small moon + Bring an easterly wind soon." + +The east wind, as we know, is dry. Two of the Shepherd of +Banbury's rules are: + + "xii. If mists in the new moon, rain in the old. + xiii. If mists in the old, rain in the new moon." [350] + +One thing is a meteorological certainty: the full moon very +frequently clears the sky. But this may be partly accounted for by +the fact that a full moon shows the night to be clear, which in the +moon's absence might be called cloudy. + +Another observation shows that in proportion to the clearness of the +night is its cold. The clouds covering the earth with no thick +blanket, it radiates its heat into space. This has given rise to the +notion that the moon itself reduces our temperature. It is _cold_ at +night without doubt. But the cold moon is so warm when the sun is +shining full on its disk that no creature on earth could endure a +moment's contact with its surface. The centre of the "pale-faced +moon" is hotter than boiling water. This thought may cheer us when +"the cold round moon shines deeply down." We may be pardoned if +we take with a tincture of scepticism the following statement +"Native Chinese records aver that on the 18th day of the 6th moon, +1590, snow fell one summer night from the midst of the moon. The +flakes were like fine willow flowers on shreds of silk." [351] Instead +of cold, it is more likely that the white moon gives us heat, for from +Melloni's letter to Arago it seems to be already an ascertained fact. +Having concentrated the lunar rays with a lens of over three feet +diameter upon his thermoscopic pile, Melloni found that the needle +had deviated from 0 deg. 6' to 4 deg. 8', according to the lunar phase. Other +thermoscopes may give even larger indications; but meanwhile the +Italian physicist has exploded an error with a spark of science. + +"Another weather guide connected with the moon is, that to see 'the +old moon in the arms of the new one' is reckoned a sign of fine +weather; and so is the turning up of the horns of the new moon. In +this position it is supposed to retain the water, which is imagined to +be in it, and which would run out if the horns were turned down." +[352] On this novel idea of a lunar bason or saucer, Southey writes +from "Keswick, December 29th, 1828," as follows:--"Poor +Littledale has this day explained the cause of our late rains, which +have prevailed for the last six weeks, by a theory which will +probably be as new to you as it is to me. 'I have observed,' he says, +'that, when the moon is turned upward, we have fine weather after +it; but if it is turned down, then we have a wet season; and the +reason I think is, that when it is turned down, it holds no water, like +a bason, you know, and then down it all comes.' There, it will be a +long while before the march of intellect shall produce a theory as +original as this, which I find, upon inquiry, to be the popular opinion +here." [353] George Eliot has taken notice of this fancy in the burial +of "poor old Thias Bede." "They'll ha' putten Thias Bede i' the +ground afore ye get to the churchyard," said old Martin, as his son +came up. "It 'ud ha' been better luck if they'd ha' buried him i' the +forenoon when the rain was fallin'; there's no likelihoods of a drop +now, an' the moon lies like a boat there, dost see? That's a sure sign +o' fair weather; there's a many as is false, but that's sure." [354] + +In Dekker's _Match Me in London_, Act i., the King says, "My +Lord, doe you see this change in the moone? Sharp hornes doe +threaten windy weather." + +In the famous ballad of Sir Patrick Spens, concerning whose origin +there has been so much discussion, without eliciting any very +accurate information, we read: + + "O ever alack! my master dear, + I fear a deadly storm. + I saw the new moon late yestreen, + Wi' the auld moon in her arm + And if ye gang to sea, maister, + I fear we'll suffer harm." [355] + +Jamieson informs us that "prognostications concerning the weather, +during the course of the month, are generally formed by the country +people in Scotland from the appearance of the _new moon_. It is +considered as an almost infallible presage of bad weather, if she +_lies sair on her back_, or when her horns are pointed towards the +zenith. It is a similar prognostic, when the new moon appears _wi' +the auld moon in her arm_, or, in other words, when that part of the +moon which is covered with the shadow of the earth is seen through +it." [356] The last sentence is a _lapsus calami_. Dr. Jamieson +should have said, when that part of the moon which is turned from +the sun is dimly visible through the reflected light of the earth. + +"At Whitby, when the moon is surrounded by a halo with watery +clouds, the seamen say that there will be a change of weather, for +the 'moon dogs' are about." [357] At Ulceby, in Lincolnshire, "there +is a very prevalent belief amongst sailors and seafaring men that +when a large star or planet is seen near the moon, or, as they express +it, 'a big star is dogging the moon,' that this is a certain +prognostication of wild weather. I have met old sailors having the +strongest faith in this prediction, and who have told me that they +have verified it by a long course of observation." [358] + +"Some years ago," says a writer from Torquay, "an old fisherman of +this place told me, on the morning next after a violent gale, that he +had foreseen the storm for some time, as he had observed one star +ahead of the moon, towing her, and another astern, chasing her. 'I +know'd 'twas coming, safe enough.'" [359] The moon was simply in +apparent proximity to two stars; but the old Devonian descried +mischief. + +The following incident from Zulu life will be of interest. "1878. A +curious phenomenon occurred 7th January. A bright star appeared +near the moon at noonday, the sun shining brightly. _Omen_--The +natives from this foretold the coming war with the Amazulu. Intense +heat and drought prevailed at this time." [360] + +Hitherto we have reviewed only the imaginary influences of the +moon over inanimate nature and what are called irrational beings. +We have seen that this potent orb is supposed to affect the lightning +and thunder of the air; the rocks and seas, the vegetables and +animals of the earth; and generally to govern terrestrial matters in a +manner altogether its own. Furthermore, we have found these +imaginations rooted in all lands, and among men whose culture +might have been expected to refuse such fruitless excrescences. +When classical authors counsel us to set eggs under the hen at new +moon, and to root up trees only when the moon is waning and after +mid-day; and when "the wisest, brightest," if not the "meanest of +mankind" seriously attributes to the moon the extraction of heat, the +furtherance of putrification, the increase of moisture, and the +excitement of animal spirits, with the increase of hedges and herbs +if cut or set during certain phases of that body, we can but repeat to +ourselves the saying, "The best of men are but men at the best." The +half, however, has not been told; and we must now pass on to speak +of lunar influences upon the birth, health, intellect, and fortune of +microcosmical man. + +In the system of astrology, which professed to interpret the events of +human existence by the movements of the stars, the moon was one +of the primary planets. As man was looked upon in the light of a +microcosm, or world in miniature, so the several parts of his +constitution were viewed as but a reproduction in brief of the great +parts of the vast organism. Creation was a living, intelligent being, +whose two eyes were the sun and the moon, whose body was the +earth, whose intellect was the ether, whose wings were the heavens. +Man was an epitome of all this; and as the functions of the less were +held to correspond with the functions of the greater, the microcosm +with the macrocosm, man's movements could be inferred by first +ascertaining the motions of the universe. The moon, having +dominion in the twelve "houses" of heaven, through which she +passed in the course of the year, her _aspects_ to the other bodies +were considered as of prime significance, in indicating benignant or +malignant influences upon human life. This system, which was +based upon ignorance and superstition, and upheld by arbitrary rules +and unreasoning credulity, is so repugnant to all principles of +science and common sense, that it would be unworthy of notice, if +we did not know that to this day there are educated persons still to +be seen poring over old almanacs and peering into the darkness of +divination, to read their own fortune or that of their children by the +dim light of some lucky or unlucky configuration of the planets with +the moon. The wheel of fortune yet revolves, and the despotism of +astrology is not dead. The lunar influence is considered supreme in +the hour of birth. Nay, with some the moon is potential even before +birth. In Iceland it is said: "If a pregnant woman sit with her face +turned towards the moon, her child will be a lunatic." [361] And this +imagination obtains at home as well as abroad. We are told that +"astrologers ascribe the most powerful influence to the moon on +every person, both for success and health, according to her zodiacal +and mundane position at birth, and her aspects to other planets. The +sensual faculties depend almost entirely on the moon, and as she is +aspected so are the moral or immoral tendencies. She has great +influence always upon every person's constitution." [362] This is the +doctrine of a book published not thirty years ago. Another work, +issued also in London, says, "Cynthia, 'the queen of heaven,' as the +ancients termed her, or the MOON, the companion of the earth, and +chief source of our evening light, is a cold, moist, watery, +phlegmatic planet, variable to an extreme, in astrological science; +and partaking of good or evil, as she is aspected by good or evil +stars. When angular and unafflicted in a nativity, she is the +promissory pledge of great success in life and continual good +fortune. She produces a full stature, fair, pale complexion, round +face, gray eyes, short arms, thick hands and feet, smooth, corpulent, +and phlegmatic body. Blemishes in the eyes, or a peculiar weakness +in the sight, is the result of her being afflicted by the Sun. Her +conjunction, semi-sextile, sextile, or trine, to Jupiter, is exceeding +fortunate; and she is said by the old Astrologers to govern the +_brain_, _stomach_, _bowels_, _left eye_ of the male, and _right +eye_ of the female. Her usual diseases are rheumatism, consumption, +palsy, cholic, apoplexy, vertigo, lunacy, scrophula, smallpox, +dropsy, etc.; also most diseases peculiar to young children." +[363] Such teaching is not a whit in advance of Plutarch's odd +dictum that the moon has a "special hand in the birth of children." + +If this belief have disciples in London, it is not by any means +confined to that city. In Sweden great influence is ascribed to the +moon, not only in regulating the weather, but as affecting all the +affairs of man's daily life. The lower orders, and many of the better +sort, will not fell a tree for agricultural purposes in the wane of that +orb, lest it should shrink and decay; nor will the housewife then +slaughter for her family, lest the meat should shrivel and melt away +in the pot. The moon is the domestic deity, whom the household +must fear: the Fortuna who presides over the daily doings of +sublunary mortals. In the matter of birth, we find Francis Bacon +affirming that "the calculation of nativities, fortunes, good or bad +hours of business, and the like fatalities, are mere levities that have +little in them of certainty and solidity, and may be plainly confuted +by physical reasons"; [364] and yet in his Natural History he writes: +"It may be that children and young cattle that are brought forth in +the full of the moon, are stronger and larger than those that are +brought forth in the wane." [365] There surely can be no +superstition in studying the moon's conjunctions and oppositions if +her influence in a nativity have the slightest weight. And this +influence is still widely maintained by philosophers who read +Bacon, as well as by the peasants who read nothing at all. "In +Cornwall, when a child is born in the interval between an old moon +and the first appearance of a new one, it is said that it will never live +to reach the age of puberty. Hence the saying, 'no moon, no man.' In +the same county, too, when a boy is born in the wane of the moon, it +is believed that the next birth will be a girl, and vice versa; and it is +also commonly said that when a birth takes place on the 'growing of +the moon' the next child will be of the same sex." [366] + +As a natural proceeding, we find that the moon has influence when +the child is weaned. Caledonian mothers very carefully observe the +lunar phases on this account. Jamieson tells us that "this +superstition, with respect to the fatal influence of a waning moon, +seems to have been general in Scotland. In Angus, it is believed, +that, if a child be put from the breast during the waning of the moon, +it will decay all the time that the moon continues to wane." [367] So +in the heart of Europe, "the Lithuanian precept to wean boys at a +waxing, but girls on a waning moon, no doubt to make the boys +sturdy and the girls slim and delicate, is a fair match for the Orkney +Islanders' objection to marrying except with a growing moon, while +some even wish for a flowing tide." [368] As to marriage, the +ancient Greeks considered the day of the full moon the most +propitious period for that ceremony. In Euripides, Clytemnestra +having asked Agamemnon when he intended to give Iphigenia in +marriage to Achilles, he replies, "When the full moon comes forth +with good luck." In Pindar, too, this season is preferred. [369] + +Lunar influences over physical health and disease must be a fearful +contemplation to those who are of a superstitious turn. There is no +malady within the whole realm of pathology which the moon's +destroying angel cannot inflict; and from the crown of the head to +the sole of the foot the entire man is at the mercy of her beams. We +have all seen those disgusting woodcuts to which the following just +condemnation refers: "The moon's influence on parts of the human +body, as given in some old-fashioned almanacs, is an entire +_fallacy_; it is most untrue and absurd, often indecent, and is a +discredit to the age we live in." [370] Most of these inartistic +productions are framed upon the assumption of the old alchymists +that the physiological functions were regulated by planetary +influence. The sun controlled the heart, the moon the brain, Jupiter +the lungs, Saturn the spleen, Mars the liver, Venus the kidneys, and +Mercury the reproductive powers. But even with this distribution +among the heavenly bodies the moon was allowed plenipotentiary +sway. As in mythology it is the god or goddess of water, so in +astrology it is the embodiment of moisture, and therefore rules the +humours which circulate throughout the human system. No wonder +that phlebotomy prevailed so long as the reign of the moon endured. +"This lunar planet," says La Martiniere, "is damp of itself, but, by +the radiation of the sun, is of various temperaments, as follows: in +its first quadrant it is warm and damp, at which time it is good to let +the blood of sanguine persons; in its second it is warm and dry, at +which time it is good to bleed the choleric; in its third quadrant it is +cold and moist, and phlegmatic people may be bled; and in its fourth +it is cold and dry, at which time it is well to bleed the melancholic." +Whatever the moon's phase may be, let blood be shed! We are +reminded here of that sanguifluous theology, which even Christians +of a certain temperament seem to enjoy, while they sing of fountains +filled with blood: as though a God of love could take delight in the +effusion of precious life. La Martiniere continues, and physicians +will make a note of his words: "It is a thing quite necessary to those +who meddle with medicine to understand the movement of this +planet, in order to discern the causes of sickness. And as the moon is +often in conjunction with Saturn, many attribute to it apoplexy, +paralysis, epilepsy, jaundice, hydropsy, lethargy, catapory, +catalepsy, colds, convulsions, trembling of the limbs, etc., etc. I +have noticed that this planet has such enormous power over living +creatures, that children born at the first quarter of the declining +moon are more subject to illness, so that children born when there is +no moon, if they live, are weak, delicate, and sickly, or are of little +mind or idiots. Those who are born under the house of the moon +which is Cancer, are of a phlegmatic disposition." [371] + +That the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans believed in the +deleterious influence of the moon on the health of man, is very +evident. The Talmud refers the words, "Though I walk through the +valley of the shadow of death" (Ps. xxiii. 4) "to him who sleeps in +the shadow of the moon." [372] Another Psalm (cxxi. 6) reads, +literally, "By day the sun shall not smite thee, and the moon in the +night." In the Greek Testament we find further proof of this belief. +Among those who thronged the Great Teacher (Matt. iv. 24) were +the seleniaxomenoi (_lunatici_, Beza; _i lunatici_, Diodati; _les +lunatiques_, French version; "those who were lunatick"). The +Revised Version of 1881 reads "epileptic," but that is a comment, not +a translation. So again (Matt. xvii. 15) we read of a boy who was +"lunatick"--seleniaxetai. On which Archbishop Trench remarks, +"Of course the word originally, like mania (from mene) and +lunaticus, arose from the widespread belief of the evil influence of +the moon on the human frame." [373] Jerome attributes all this +superstition to daemons, of which men were the dupes. "The +_lunatics_," he says, "were not really smitten by the moon, but were +believed to be so, through the subtlety of the daemons, who by +observing the seasons of the moon sought to bring an evil report +against the creature, that it might redound to the blasphemy of the +Creator." [374] Demons or no demons, faith in moonstroke is clear +enough. Pliny was of opinion that the moon induced drowsiness and +stupor in those who slept under her beams. Galen, in the second +century, taught that those who were born when the moon was +falciform, or sickle-shaped, were weak and short-lived, while those +born during the full moon were vigorous and of long life. He also +took notice of the lunar influence in epilepsy [375] of which fearful +malady a modern physician writes, "This disease has been known +from the earliest antiquity, and is remarkable as being that malady +which, even beyond insanity, was made the foundation of the +doctrine of possession by evil spirits, alike in the Jewish, Grecian, +and Roman philosophy." [376] The terrible disorder was a fact; and +evil spirits or the moon had to bear the blame. + +In modern times the moon is no less the deity of insalutary disaster. +Of Mexico, Brinton says: "Very different is another aspect of the +moon-goddess, and well might the Mexicans paint her with two +colours. The beneficent dispenser of harvests and offspring, she +nevertheless has a portentous and terrific phase. She is also the +goddess of the night, the dampness, and the cold; she engenders the +miasmatic poisons that rack our bones; she conceals in her mantle +the foe who takes us unawares; she rules those vague shapes which +fright us in the dim light; the causeless sounds of night or its more +oppressive silence are familiar to her; she it is who sends dreams +wherein gods and devils have their sport with man, and slumber, the +twin brother of the grave." [377] So farther south, "the Brazilian +mother carefully shielded her infant from the lunar rays, believing +that they would produce sickness; the hunting tribes of our own +country will not sleep in its light, nor leave their game exposed to +its action. We ourselves have not outgrown such words as lunatic, +moon-struck, and the like. Where did we get these ideas? The +philosophical historian of medicine, Kurt Sprengel, traces them to +the primitive and popular medical theories of ancient Egypt, in +accordance with which all maladies were the effects of the anger of +the goddess Isis, the moisture, the moon." [378] Perhaps Dr. +Brinton's own Mexican myth is a better elucidation of this origin of +nocturnal evil than that which traces it to Egypt. According to an +ancient tradition in Mexico, "it is said that in the absence of the sun +all mankind lingered in darkness. Nothing but a human sacrifice +could hasten his arrival. Then Metzli, the moon, led forth one +Nanahuatl, the leprous, and building a pyre, the victim threw +himself in its midst. Straightway Metzli followed his example, and +as she disappeared in the bright flames, the sun rose over the +horizon. Is not this a reference to the kindling rays of the aurora, in +which the dark and baleful night is sacrificed, and in whose light the +moon presently fades away, and the sun comes forth?" [379] We +venture to think that it is, and that it is nearest to a natural +explanation of purely natural effects. + +Coming next to Britain, we find that "no prejudice has been more +firmly rivetted than the influence of the moon over the human +frame, originating perhaps in some superstition more ancient than +recorded by the earliest history. The frequent intercourse of +Scotland with the north may have conspired to disseminate or renew +the veneration of a luminary so highly venerated there, in +counteracting the more southern ecclesiastical ordinances." [380] +Forbes Leslie surely goes too far, and mixes matters up too much, +when he writes: "An ancient belief, adhered to by the ignorant after +being denounced and apparently disproved by the learned, is now +admitted to be a fact; viz. the influence of the moon in certain +diseases. This, from various circumstances, is more apparent in +some of the Asiatic countries, and may have given rise to the +custom which extended into Britain, of exposing sick children on +the housetops." [381] We know that the _solar_ rays, from the time +of Hippocrates, the reputed "father of medicine," were believed by +the Greeks to prolong life; and that the Romans built terraces on the +tops of their houses called _solaria_, where they enjoyed their solar +baths. "Levato sole levatur morbus," was one of their medical +axioms. But who ever heard of the _lunar_ rays as beneficial? If +sick children were exposed on the housetops, it must have been in +the daytime; and, unless it were intended as an alterative, it is +difficult to see what connection this had with the belief that disease +was the product of the lunar beam. Besides, is the moon's influence +in disease an admitted fact? The "certain diseases" should be +specified, and their lunar origin sustained. + +The following strange superstition is singularly like that interpolated +legend in the Gospel of John, about the angel troubling the pool of +Bethesda. In this case the medicinal virtue seems to come with the +change of the moon. But in both cases supernatural agency is +equally mythical. "A cave in the neighbourhood of Dunskey ought +also to be mentioned, on account of the great veneration in which it +is held by the people. At the change of the moon (which is still +considered with superstitious reverence), it is usual to bring, even +from a great distance, infirm persons, and particularly ricketty +children, whom they often suppose bewitched, to bathe in a stream +which pours from the hill, and then dry them in the cave." [382] + +Those who are in danger of apoplexy, or other cerebral disease, +through indulgence too freely in various liquids, vinous and +spirituous, should cherish Bacon's sapient deliverance: "It is like +that the brain of man waxeth moister and fuller upon the full of the +moon; and therefore it were good for those that have moist brains, +and are great drinkers, to take sume of _lignum aloes_, rosemary, +frankincense, etc., about the full of the moon. It is like, also, that the +humours in men's bodies increase and decrease as the moon doth; +and therefore it were good to purge some day or two after the full; +for that then the humours will not replenish so soon again." [383] +All this sounds so unphilosophical that it is almost incredible that +the learned Bacon believed what he wrote. Darker superstitions, +however, still linger in our land. "In Staffordshire, it is commonly +said, if you want to cure chin-cough, take out the child and let it +look at the new moon; lift up its clothes and rub your right hand up +and down its stomach, and repeat the following lines (looking +steadfastly at the moon, and rubbing at the same time):-- + + 'What I see, may it increase; + What I feel, may it decrease; + +In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.'" [384] +There is a little ambiguity here. What is felt is the child's stomach. +But the desire is not that that may decrease, but only the whooping +cough, which is _felt_, we take it, by proxy. A lady, writing of the +southern county of Sussex, says: "A superstition lingering amongst +us, worthy of the days of paganism, is that the new May moon, +aided by certain charms, has the power of curing scrofulous +complaints." [385] + +As the cutting of hair, finger-nails, and corns has some relation to +health and comfort, we may here mention that in Devonshire it is +said that hair and nails should always be cut in the waning of the +moon, thereby beneficial consequences will result. If corns are cut +after the full moon, some say that they will gradually disappear. In +the _British Apollo_ we have the following request for advice: + + "Pray tell your querist if he may + Rely on what the vulgar say, + That when the moon's in her increase, + If corns be cut they'll grow apace + But if you always do take care + After the full your corns to pare, + They do insensibly decay + And will in time wear quite away. + If this be true, pray let me know, + And give the reason why 'tis so." [386] + +The following passage is worth quoting, without any abbreviation, +as an excellent summary of wisdom and sense regarding the moon's +influence on health: "There is much reason for regarding the moon +as a source of evil, yet not that she herself is so, but only the +circumstances which attend her. With us it happens that a bright +moonlight night is always a cold one. The absence of cloud allows +the earth to radiate its heat into space, and the air gradually cools, +until the moisture it contained is precipitated in the form of dew, +and lies like a thick blanket on the ground to prevent a further +cooling. When the quantity of moisture in the air is small, the +refrigerating process continues until frost is produced, and many a +moonlight night in spring destroys half or even the whole of the +fruit of a new season. Moonlight, therefore, frequently involves the +idea of frigidity. With us, whose climate is comparatively cold, the +change from the burning, blasting, or blighting heat of day, or +sun-up, to the cold of a clear night, or sun-down, is not very great, but +within the tropics the change is enormous. To such sudden +vicissitudes in temperature, an Indian doctor, in whom I have great +confidence, attributes fevers and agues. As it is clear that those +persons only, whose business or pleasure obliges them to be out on +cloudless nights, suffer from the severe cold produced by the rapid +radiation into space of the heat of their own bodies and that of the +earth, those who remain at home are not likely to suffer from the +effects of the sudden and continued chill. Still further, it is clear that +people in general will not care to go out during the darkness of a +moonless night, unless obliged to do so. Consequently few persons +have experience of the deleterious influence of starlight nights. But +when a bright moon and a hot, close house induce the people to turn +out and enjoy the coldness and clearness of night, it is very probable +that refrigeration may be followed by severe bodily disease. +Amongst such a people, the moon would rather be anathematised +than adored. One may enjoy half an hour, or perhaps an hour, of +moonlight, and yet be blighted or otherwise injured by a whole +night of it." [387] In Denmark a superstition is current concerning +the noxious influences of night. The Danes have a kind of elves +which they call the "Moon Folk." "The man is like an old man with +a low-crowned hat upon his head; the woman is very beautiful in +front, but behind she is hollow, like a dough-trough, and she has a +sort of harp on which she plays, and lures young men with it, and +then kills them. The man is also an evil being, for if any one comes +near him he opens his mouth and breathes upon them, and his breath +causes sickness. It is easy to see what this tradition means: it is the +damp marsh wind, laden with foul and dangerous odours; and the +woman's harp is the wind playing across the marsh rushes at +nightfall." [388] It is the Queen of the Fairies in the +_Midsummer-Night's Dream_ who says to the Fairy King,-- + + These are the forgeries of jealousy + And never, since the middle summer's spring, + Met we on hill, in dale, forest or mead, + By paved fountain, or by rushy brook, + Or in the beached margent of the sea, + To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind, + But with thy brawls thou hast disturb'd our sport. + No night is now with hymn or carol blest: + Therefore the moon, the governess of floods, + Pale in her anger, washes all the air, + That rheumatic diseases do abound + And this same progeny of evils comes + From our debate, from our dissension + We are their parents and original. + +It will be thought rashly iconoclastic if we cast the least doubt upon +the idea that blindness is caused directly by the light of the moon. +So many cases have been adduced that it is considered a settled +point. We, however, dare to dispute some of the evidence. For +instance "A poor man born in the village _Rowdil_, commonly +called St. Clement's, blind, lost his sight at every change of the +moon, which obliged him to keep his bed for a day or two, and then +he recovered his sight." [389] If logic would enable us to prove a +negative to this statement, we would meet it with simple denial. But +we have no hesitation in saying that an investigation into this case +would have exonerated the moon of any share in the affliction, and +have revealed some other and likely cause. Our chief objection to +this story is its element of periodicity; and we would require +overwhelming testimony to establish even the probability of such a +miracle once a month. That permanent injury may accrue to those +whose sleeping eyes are exposed all night to the brightness of a full +moon is probable enough. But this would take place not because the +moon's beams were peculiarly baneful, but because any strong light +would have a hurtful effect upon the eyes when fixed for hours in +the condition of sleep. + +We can quite believe that in a dry atmosphere like that of Egypt, +where ophthalmia is very prevalent on account of constant irritation +from the fine sand in the air, the eye, weary with the heat and aridity +of the day, would be impaired if uncovered in the air to the rays of +the moon. Carne's statements are consequently quite credible. He +tells us: "The effect of the moonlight on the eyes in this country is +singularly injurious; the natives tell you, as I found they also +afterwards did in Arabia, always to cover your eyes when you sleep +in the open air. The moon here really strikes and affects the sight, +when you sleep exposed to it, much more than the sun; indeed, the +sight of a person who should sleep with his face exposed at night, +would soon be utterly impaired or destroyed." [390] For the same +reason, that strong light oppresses the slumbering eye, "the seaman +in his hammock takes care not to face the full moon, lest he be +struck with blindness." [391] Nor can we regard the following as +"an _extraordinary_ effect of moonlight upon the human subject." In +1863, "a boy, thirteen years of age, residing near Peckham Rye, was +expelled his home by his mother for disobedience. He ran away to a +cornfield close by, and, on lying down in the open air, fell asleep. +He slept throughout the night, which was a moonlight one. Some +labourers on their way to work, next morning, seeing the boy +apparently asleep, aroused him; the lad opened his eyes, but +declared he could not see. He was conveyed home, and medical +advice was obtained; the surgeon affirmed that the total loss of sight +resulted from sleeping in the moonlight." [392] This was sad +enough; but it was antecedently probable. No doubt a boy of +thirteen who for disobedience was cast out of home in such a place +as London had a hard lot, and went supperless to his open bed. His +optic nerves were young and sensitive, and the protracted light so +paralysed them that the morning found them closed "in endless +night." This was a purely natural result: to admitting it, reason +opposes no demur. But we must object, for truth's sake, to the +tendency to account for natural consequences by assigning +supernatural causes. The moon is no divinity; moonlight is no +Divine emanation, with a vindictive animus; and those who +countenance such silly superstition as that moonstroke is a +mysterious, evil agency, are contributing to a polytheism which +leads to atheism: for many gods logically means no GOD at all. + +Another branch of this umbrageous if not fructuous tree of lunar +superstition is the moon's influence on human fortune. Butler +satirizes the visionary who-- + + "With the moon was more familiar + Than e'er was almanac well-willer (compiler); + Her secrets understood so clear + That some believed he had been there; + Knew when she was in fittest mood + For cutting corns, or letting blood: + Whether the wane be, or increase, + Best to set garlick, or sow pease: + Who first found out the man i' th' moon, + That to the ancients was unknown."--_Hudibras_. + +A Swiss theologian amusingly describes the superstitious person +who reads his fortune in the stars. He, it is said, "will be more afraid +of the constellation fires than the flames of his next neighbour's +house. He will not open a vein till he has asked leave of the planets. +He will not commit his seed to the earth when the soil, but when the +moon, requires it. He will have his hair cut when the moon is either +in _Leo_, that his locks may stare like the lion's shag, or in _Aries_, +that they may curl like a ram's horn. Whatever he would have to +grow, he sets about when she is in her increase; but for what he +would have made less, he chuses her wane. When the moon is in +_Taurus_, he never can be persuaded to take physic, lest that animal +which chews its cud should make him cast it up again. He will avoid +the sea whenever _Mars_ is in the midst of heaven, lest that warrior-god +should stir up pirates against him. In _Taurus_ he will plant his +trees, that this sign, which the astrologers are pleased to call +_fixed_, may fasten them deep in the earth. If at any time he has a +mind to be admitted into the presence of a prince, he will wait till +the moon is in conjunction with the sun; for 'tis then the society of +an inferior with a superior is salutary and successful." [393] + +The _new moon_ is considered pre-eminently auspicious for +commencements,--for all kinds of building up, and beginning _de +novo_. Houses are to be erected and moved into; marriages are to be +concluded, money counted, hair and nails cut, healing herbs and +pure dew gathered, all at the new moon. Money counted at that +period will be increased. The _full moon_ is the time for pulling +down, and thinking of the end of all things. Cut your timber, mow +your grass, make your hay, not while the sun shines, but while the +moon wanes; also stuff your feather-bed then, and so kill the newly +plucked feathers completely, and bring them to rest. Wash your +linen, too, by the waning moon, that the dirt may disappear with the +dwindling light. [394] According to one old notion it was deemed +unlucky to assume a new dress when the moon was in her decline. +So says the Earl of Northampton: "They forbidde us when the +moone is in a fixed signe, to put on a newe garment. Why so? +Because it is lyke that it wyll be too longe in wearing, a small fault +about this towne, where garments seldome last till they be payd for. +But thyr meaning is, that the garment shall continue long, not in +respect of any strength or goodness in the stuffe, but by the durance +or disease of him that hath neyther leysure nor liberty to weare it." +[395] It is well known that the ancient Hebrews held the new moon +in religious reverence. The trumpets were blown, solemn sacrifices +were offered and festivals held; and the first clay of the lunar month +was always holy. In a Talmudic compilation, to which Dr. Farrar +has contributed a preface, we find an interesting account of the +_Blessing the new moon_. "It is a very pious act to bless the moon +at the close of the Sabbath, when one is dressed in his best attire and +perfumed. If the blessing is to be performed on the evening of an +ordinary week-day, the best dress is to be worn. According to the +Kabbalists the blessings upon the moon are not to be said till seven +full days after her birth, but, according to later authorities, this may +be done after three days. The reason for not performing this monthly +service under a roof, but in the open air, is because it is considered +as the reception of the presence of the Shekinah, and it would not be +respectful so to do anywhere but in the open air. It depends very +much upon circumstances when and where the new moon is to be +consecrated, and also upon one's own predisposition, for authorities +differ. We will close these remarks with the conclusion of the Kitzur +Sh'lu on the subject, which, at p. 72, col. 2, runs thus: + +"When about to sanctify the new moon, one should straighten his +feet (as at the Shemonah-esreh) and give one glance at the moon +before he begins to repeat the ritual blessing, and having +commenced it he should not look at her at all. Thus should he begin +--'In the united name of the Holy and Blessed One' and His +Shekinah, through that Hidden and Consecrated One! and in the +name of all Israel!' Then he is to proceed with the 'Form of Prayer +for the New Moon,' word for word, with out haste, but with solemn +deliberation, and when he repeats-- + + 'Blessed is thy Former, Blessed is thy Maker, + Blessed is thy Possessor, Blessed is thy Creator,' + +he is to meditate on the initials of the four Divine epithets, which +form 'Jacob'; for the moon, which is called 'the lesser light,' is his +emblem or symbol, and he is also called 'little' (see Amos vii. 2). +This he is to repeat three times. He is to skip three times while +repeating thrice the following sentence, and after repeating three +times forwards and backwards: thus (_forwards_)--'Fear and dread +shall fall upon them by the greatness of thine arm; they shall be as +still as a stone'; thus (_backwards_)--'Still as a stone may they be; +by the greatness of thine arm may fear and dread fall on them'; he +then is to say to his neighbour three times, 'Peace be unto you,' and +the neighbour is to respond three times, 'Unto you be peace.' Then +he is to say three times (very loudly), 'David, the King of Israel, +liveth and existeth!' and finally, he is to say three times, 'May a +good omen and good luck be upon us and upon all Israel! Amen!'" +[396a] + +That the ancient Germans held the moon in similar regard we know +from Caesar, who, having inquired why Ariovistus did not come to +an engagement, discovered this to be the reason: "that among the +Germans it was the custom for their matrons to pronounce from lots +and divination, whether it were expedient that the battle should be +engaged in or not; that they had said, 'that it was not the will of +heaven that the Germans should conquer, if they engaged in battle +before the new moon.'" [396b] + +Halliwell has reproduced an illustration of British superstition of the +same sort. "A very singular divination practised at the period of the +harvest moon is thus described in an old chap-book. When you go to +bed, place under your pillow a prayer-book open at the part of the +matrimonial service 'with this ring I thee wed'; place on it a key, a +ring, a flower, and a sprig of willow, a small heart-cake, a crust of +bread, and the following cards:--the ten of clubs, nine of hearts, ace +of spades, and the ace of diamonds. Wrap all these in a thin +handkerchief of gauze or muslin, and on getting into bed, cross your +hands, and say:-- + + 'Luna, every woman's friend, + To me thy goodness condescend + Let me this night in vision see + Emblems of my destiny.' + +If you dream of storms, trouble will betide you; if the storm ends in +a fine calm, so will your fate; if of a ring or the ace of diamonds, +marriage; bread, an industrious life; cake, a prosperous life; flowers, +joy; willow, treachery in love; spades, death; diamonds, money; +clubs, a foreign land; hearts, illegitimate children; keys, that you +will rise to great trust and power, and never know want; birds, that +you will have many children; and geese, that you will marry more +than once." [397] Such ridiculous absurdities would be rejected as +apocryphal if young ladies were not still in the habit of placing bits +of wedding cake under their pillows in the hope that their dreaming +eyes may be enchanted with blissful visions of their future lords. + +Hone tells us that in Berkshire, "at the first appearance of a new +moon, maidens go into the fields, and, while they look at it, say:-- + + 'New moon, new moon, I hail thee! + By all the virtue in thy body. + Grant this night that I may see + He who my true love is to be.' + +Then they return home, firmly believing that before morning their +future husbands will appear to them in their dreams." [398] + +In Devonshire also "it is customary for young people, as soon as +they see the first new moon after midsummer, to go to a stile, turn +their back to it, and say:-- + + 'All hail, new moon, all hail to thee! + I prithe, good moon, reveal to me + This night who shall my true love be + Who is he, and what he wears, + And what he does all months and years.'" [399] + +Aubrey says the same of the Scotch of his day, and the custom is not +yet extinct. "In Scotland (especially among the Highlanders) the +women doe make a curtsey to the new moon; I have known one in +England doe it, and our English woemen in the country doe retain +(some of them) a touch of this gentilisme still, _e.g._:-- + + 'All haile to thee, moon, all haile to thee + I prithe, good moon, declare to me, + This night, who my husband must be.' + +This they doe sitting astride on a gate or stile the first evening the +new moon appears. In Herefordshire, etc., the vulgar people at the +prime of the moon say, ''Tis a fine moon, God bless her.'" [400] "In +Ireland, at the new moon, it is not an uncommon practice for people +to point with a knife, and after invoking the Holy Trinity, to say:-- + + 'New moon, true morrow, be true now to me, + That I ere the morrow my true love may see.' + +The knife is then placed under the pillow, and silence strictly +observed, lest the charm should be broken." [401] + +Dr. Charles Mackay quotes from Mother Bridget's _Dream and +Omen Book_ the following prescription for ascertaining the events +of futurity. "_First new moon of the year_. On the first new moon in +the year take a pint of clear spring water, and infuse into it the +_white_ of an egg laid by a _white_ hen, a glass of _white_ wine, +three almonds peeled _white_, and a tablespoonful of _white_ +rose-water. Drink this on going to bed, not making more nor less than +three draughts of it; repeating the following verses three several +times in a clear distinct voice, but not so loud as to be overheard by +anybody:-- + + 'If I dream of water pure + Before the coming morn, + 'Tis a sign I shall be poor, + And unto wealth not born. + If I dream of tasting beer, + Middling, then, will be my cheer-- + Chequered with the good and bad, + Sometimes joyful, sometimes sad; + But should I dream of drinking wine, + Wealth and pleasure will be mine. + The stronger the drink, the better the cheer-- + Dreams of my destiny, appear, appear!'" [402] + +The day of the week on which the moon is new or full, is a question +that awakens the most anxious concern. In the north of Italy +Wednesday is dreaded for a lunar change, and in the south of France +the inauspicious day is Friday. [403] In most of our own rural +districts Friday's new moon is much disliked + + "Friday's moon, + Come when it wool, + It comes too soon." + +Saturday is unlucky for the _new_, and Sunday for the _full_ moon. +In Norfolk it is said:-- + + "Saturday's new and Sunday's full, + Never was good, and never wull." + +An apparently older version of the same weather-saw runs:-- + + "A Saturday's change, and a Sunday's prime, + Was nivver a good mune in nea man's time." + +In Worcestershire, a cottager near Berrow Hill told Mr. Edwin Lees, +F.L.S., that as the new moon had fallen on a Saturday, there would +follow twenty-one days of wind or rain; for + + "If the moon on a Saturday be new or full, + There always _was_ rain, and there always _wuell_." + +One rustic rhyme rehearsed in some places is:-- + + "A Saturday moon, + If it comes once in seven years, + Comes once too soon." + +Next to the day, the medium through which the new moon is first +beheld, is of vital moment. In Staffordshire it is unlucky to see this +sight through trees. A correspondent in _Notes and Queries_ (21st +January, 1882) once saw a person almost in tears because she +looked on the new moon through her veil, feeling convinced that +misfortune would follow. Henderson cites a canon to be observed +by those who would know what year they would wed. "Look at the +first new moon of the year through a silk handkerchief which has +never been washed. As many moons as you see through the +handkerchief (the threads multiplying the vision), so many years +will pass ere you are married." [404] Hunt tells us, what in fact is +widely believed, that "to see the new moon for the first time through +glass, is unlucky; you may be certain that you will break glass +before that moon is out. I have known persons whose attention has +been called to a clear new moon hesitate. 'Hev I seed her out o' +doors afore?' if not, they will go into the open air, and, if possible, +show the moon 'a piece of gold,' or, at all events, turn their money." +[405] Mrs. Latham says: "Many of our Sussex superstitions are +probably of Saxon origin; amongst which may be the custom of +bowing or curtseying to the new or Lady moon, as she is styled, to +deprecate bad luck. There is another kindred superstition, that the +Queen of night will dart malignant rays upon you, if on the first day +of her re-appearance you look up to her without money in your +pocket. But if you are not fortunate enough to have any there, in +order to avert her evil aspect, you must immediately turn head over +heels! It is considered unlucky to see the new moon through a +window-pane, and I have known a maidservant shut her eyes when +closing the shutters lest she should unexpectedly see it through the +glass. Do not kill your pig until full moon, or the pork will be +ruined." [406] In Suffolk, also, "it is considered unlucky to kill a pig +in the wane of the moon; if it is done, the pork will waste in boiling. +I have known the shrinking of bacon in the pot attributed to the fact +of the pig having been killed in the moon's decrease; and I have also +known the death of poor piggy delayed, or hastened, so as to happen +during its increase." [407] + +The desirability of possessing _silver_ in the pocket, and of turning +it over, when the new moon is first seen, is a point of some interest. +Forbes Leslie says, "The ill-luck of having no _silver_ money +--coins of other metals being of no avail--when you first see or hail a +new moon, is still a common belief from Cornwall to Caithness, as +well as in Ireland." [408] And Jamieson writes: "Another +superstition, equally ridiculous and unaccountable, is still regarded +by some. They deem it very unlucky to see the new moon for the +first time without having _silver_ in one's pocket. Copper is of no +avail." [409] We venture to think that this is not altogether +unaccountable. The moon at night, in a clear sky, reflects a brilliant +whiteness. The two Hebrew words used of this luminary in the +Bible, mean "pale light" and "white." "Hindooism says that the +moon, Soma, was turned into a female called Chandra--'the White +or Silvery One.'" [410] The Santhals of India call the sun _Chando_, +which means bright, and is also a name for the moon. Now pure +silver is of a very white colour and of a strong metallic lustre. It was +one of the earliest known metals, and used as money from the +remotest times. Its whiteness led the ancient astrologers, as it +afterwards led the alchemists, to connect it with the moon, and to +call it Diana and Luna, names previously given to the satellite. For +Artemis, the Greek Diana, the Ephesian craftsmen made silver +shrines. The moon became the symbol of silver; and to this day +fused nitrate of silver is called _lunar_ caustic. It was natural and +easy for superstition to suppose that silver was the moon's own +metal; and to imagine that upon the reappearance of the lunar deity +or demon, its beams should be propitiated by some argentine +possession. We find that silver was exclusively used in the worship +of the moon in Peru. + +In a book published in the earlier part of last century, and attributed +to Daniel Defoe, we read; "To see a new moon the first time after +her change, on the right hand, or directly before you, betokens the +utmost good fortune that month; as to have her on your left, or +behind you, so that in turning your head back you happen to see her, +foreshows the worst; as also, they say, to be without gold in your +pocket at that time is of very bad consequence." [411] The mistake +in substituting gold for silver here is easily explained. As among the +Romans _aes_ meant both copper and money; and among the +French _argent_ means both silver and money in general; so in +England gold is the common expression for coin of any substance. +Silver being _money_, the word gold was thus substituted; the +generic for the specific. Other superstitions besides those above +noticed are found in different parts of our enlightened land. Denham +says, "I once saw an aged matron turn her apron to the new moon to +insure good luck for the ensuing month." [412] And Halliwell +mentions a prayer customary among some persons:-- + + "I see the moon, and the moon sees me. + God bless the moon, and God bless me." [413] + +In Devonshire it is lucky to see the new moon over the right, but +unlucky to see it over the left shoulder; and to see it straight before +is good fortune to the end of the month. "In Renfrewshire, if a man's +house be burnt during the wane of the moon, it is deemed unlucky. +If the same misfortune take place when the moon is waxing, it is +viewed as a presage of prosperity. In Orkney, also, it is reckoned +unlucky to flit, or to remove from one habitation to another, during +the waning of the moon." [414] A recent writer tells us that in +Orkney "there are superstitions likewise associated with the moon. +The increase, and full growth, and wane of that satellite are the +emblems of a rising, flourishing, and declining fortune. No business +of importance is begun during the moon's wane; if even an animal is +killed at that period, the flesh is supposed to be unwholesome. A +couple to think of marrying at that time would be regarded as +recklessly careless respecting their future happiness Old people in +some parts of Argyllshire were wont to invoke the Divine blessing +on the moon after the monthly change. The Gaelic word for fortune +is borrowed from that which denotes the full moon; and a marriage +or birth occurring at that period is believed to augur prosperity." +[415] + +Kirkmichael, says another writer on the Highlands of Scotland, hath +"its due proportion of that superstition which generally prevails over +the Highlands. Unable to account for the cause, they consider the +effects of times and seasons as certain and infallible. The moon in +her increase, full growth, and in her wane, are with them the +emblems of a rising, flourishing, and declining fortune. At the last +period of her revolution they carefully avoid to engage in any +business of importance; but the first and the middle they seize with +avidity, presaging the most auspicious issue to their undertakings. +Poor Martinus Scriblerus never more anxiously watched the +blowing of the west wind to secure an heir to his genius, than the +love-sick swain and his nymph for the coming of the new moon to +be noosed together in matrimony. Should the planet happen to be at +the height of her splendour when the ceremony is performed, their +future life will be a scene of festivity, and all its paths strewed over +with rosebuds of delight. But when her tapering horns are turned +towards the north, passion becomes frost-bound, and seldom thaws +till the genial season again approaches. From the moon they not +only draw prognostications of the weather, but according to their +creed also discover future events. There they are clearly portrayed, +and ingenious illusion never fails in the explanation. The veneration +paid to this planet, and the opinion of its influences, are obvious +from the meaning still affixed to some words of the Gaelic +language. In Druidic mythology, when the circle of the moon was +complete, fortune then promised to be most propitious. Agreeably to +this idea, _rath_, which signifies in Gaelic a wheel or circle, is +transferred to signify fortune." [416] + +Forbes Leslie writes: "The influence which the moon was supposed +to exercise on mankind, as well as on inanimate objects, may be +traced in the practice of the Druids. It is not yet extinct in Scotland; +and the moon, in the increase, at the full, and on the wane, are +emblems of prosperity, established success, or declining fortune, by +which many persons did, and some still do, regulate the period for +commencing their most important undertakings." [417] And yet +once more, to make the induction most conclusive; we are told that +"the canon law anxiously prohibited observance of the moon as +regulating the period of marriage; nor was any regard to be paid to +certain days of the year for ceremonies. If the Lucina of the ancients +be identified with Diana, it was not unreasonable to court the care of +the parturient, by selecting the time deemed most propitious. The +strength of the ecclesiastical interdiction does not seem to have +prevailed much in Scotland. Friday, which was consecrated to a +northern divinity, has been deemed more favourable for the union. +In the southern districts of Scotland, and in the Orkney Islands, the +inhabitants preferred the increase of the moon for it. Auspicious +circumstances were anticipated in other parts, from its celebration at +full moon. Good fortune depended so much on the increase of that +luminary, that nothing important was undertaken during its wane. +Benefit even accrued to the stores provided during its increase, and +its effect in preserving them is still credited." [418] To what, but to +this prevalent belief in lunar influence on fortune can Shakespeare +allude, when Romeo swears: + + "_Rom_. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, + That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops-- + _Jul_. Oh, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, + That monthly changes in her circled orb, + Lest that thy love prove likewise variable." [419] + +Upon the physiological influence of the lunar rays in the generation +or aggravation of disease, we have but little to add to what has been +already written. It is a topic for a special treatise, and properly +belongs to those medical experts whose research and practice in this +particular branch of physics qualify them to speak with plenary +authority. Besides, it has been so wisely handled by Dr. Forbes +Winslow, in his admirable monograph on _Light_, that inquirers +cannot follow a safer guide than his little book affords. Dr. Winslow +accounts for the theory of planetary influence partly by the action of +the moon in producing the tides. He says: "Astronomers having +admitted that the moon was capable of producing this physical +effect upon the waters of the ocean, it was not altogether unnatural +that the notion should become not only a generally received but a +popular one, that the ebb and flow of the tides had a material +influence over the bodily functions. The Spaniards imagine that all +who die of chronic diseases breathe their last during the ebb. +Southey says, that amongst the wonders of the isles and city of +Cadiz, which the historian of that city, Suares de Salazar, +enumerates, one is, according to p. Labat, that the sick never die +there while the tide is rising or at its height, but always during the +ebb. He restricts the notion to the isle of Leon, but implies that the +effect was there believed to take place in diseases of all kinds, acute +as well as chronic. 'Him fever,' says the negro in the West Indies, +'shall go when the water come low; him always come not when the +tide high.' The popular notion amongst the negroes appears to be +that the ebb and flow of the tides are caused by a '_fever of the +sea_,' which rages for six hours, and then intermits for as many +more." [420] Dr. Winslow then subjoins a long list of learned +authorities, several of whose writings he subjects to a brief analysis. +He disapproves of the presumption that the subject is altogether +visionary and utopian; and affirms that it has not always been +pursued by competent observers. Periodicity is noted as an +important symptom in disease; a feature in febrile disturbance which +the present writer himself had abundant opportunity of marking and +measuring during an epidemic of yellow fever in the city of +Savannah in the year 1876. This periodicity Dr. Winslow regards as +the foundation of the alleged lunar influence in morbid conditions. +Some remarkable cases are referred to, which, if the fact of the +moon's interference with human functions could be admitted, would +go a long way to corroborate and confirm it. The supposed influence +of the moon on plants is not passed over, nor the chemical +composition of lunar light as a possible evil agency. Still +considering the matter _sub judice_, Dr. Winslow then proceeds to +the alleged influence of the moon on the insane; a question with +which he was pre-eminently competent to cope. After alluding to +the support given to the popular belief by poets and philosophers of +ancient and modern times, the question of periodicity, or "lucid +intervals," is again discussed, this time in its mental aspect, and the +hygienic or sanatory influence of light is allowed its meed of +consideration. The final result of the investigation is that the matter +is held to be purely speculative, and it is esteemed wise to hold in +reserve any theory in relation to the subject that may have been +formed. With this conclusion we are greatly disappointed. Dr. +Winslow's aid in the inquiry is most valuable, and if he, after his +careful review of pathological literature on lunar influence, coupled +with his own extended experience, holds the question in abeyance, +who will venture upon a decision? We however believe, notwithstanding +every existing difficulty, that the subject will be brought +into clear light ere long, and all superstition end in accurate +science. Meanwhile, many, even of the enlightened, will cling to the +unforgotten fancy which gave rise to the word _lunatic_, and in +cases of mental derangement will moralize with young Banks in the +_Witch of Edmonton_ (1658), "When the moon's in the full, then +wit's in the wane." + + + +MOON INHABITATION. + +Science having practically diminished the moon's distance, and +rendered distinct its elevations and depressions, it is natural for +"those obstinate questionings of sense and outward things" to urge +the inquiry, _Is the moon inhabited_? This question it is easier to +ask than to answer. It has been a mooted point for many years, and +our wise men of the west seem still disposed to give it up, or, at +least, to adjourn its decision for want of evidence. Of "guesses at +truth" there have been a great multitude, and of dogmatic assertions +not a few; but demonstrations are things which do not yet appear. +We now take leave to report progress, and give the subject a little +ventilation. We do not expect to furnish an Ariadne's thread, but we +may hope to find some indication of the right way out of this +labyrinth of uncertainty. _Veritas nihil veretur nisi abscondi_: or, as +the German proverb says, "Truth creeps not into corners"; its life is +the light. + +But before we advance a single step, we desire to preclude all +misunderstanding on one point, by distinctly avowing our +conviction that the teachings of Christian theology are not at all +involved in the issue of this discussion, whatever it may prove. +Infinite harm has been done by confusing the religion of science +with the science of religion. Religion _is_ a science, and science is a +religion; but they are not identical. Philosophy ought to be pious, +and piety ought to be philosophical; but philosophy and piety are +two quantities and qualities that may dwell apart, though, happily, +they may also be found in one nature. Each has its own faculties and +functions; and in our present investigation, religion has nothing +more to do than to shed the influence of reverence, humility, and +teachableness over the scientific student as he ponders his problem +and works out the truth. In this, and in kindred studies, we may +yield without reluctance what a certain professor of religion +concedes, and grant without grudging what a certain professor of +science demands. Dr. James Martineau says, "In so far as Church +belief is still committed to a given kosmogony and natural history of +man, it lies open to scientific refutation"; and again, "The whole +history of the Genesis of things Religion must unconditionally +surrender to the Sciences." [421] In this we willingly concur, for +science ought to be, and will be, supreme in its own domain. Bishop +Temple does "not hesitate to ascribe to Science a clearer knowledge +of the true interpretation of the first chapter of Genesis, and to +scientific history a truer knowledge of the great historical prophets. +Science enters into Religion, and the believer is bound to recognise +its value and make use of its services." [422] Then, to quote the +professor of science, Dr. John Tyndall says. "The impregnable +position of science may be described in a few words. We claim, and +we shall wrest from Theology, the entire domain of cosmological +theory." [423] We wish the eloquent professor all success. It was not +the spirit of primitive Christianity, but the spirit of priestly +ignorance, intolerance, and despotism, which invaded the territory +of natural science; and if those who are its rightful lords can recover +the soil, we bid them heartily, God speed! We have been driven to +these remarks by a twofold impulse. First, we can never forget the +injury that has been inflicted on science by the oppositions of a +headless religion; any more than we can forget the injury which has +been inflicted on religion by the oppositions of a heartless science. +Secondly, we have seen this very question of the inhabitation of the +planets and satellites rendered a topic of ridicule for Thomas Paine, +and an inviting theme for raillery to others of sophistical spirit, by +the way in which it has been foolishly mixed up with sacred or +spiritual concerns. Surely, the object of God in the creation of our +terrestrial race, or the benefits of the death of Jesus Christ, can have +no more to do with the habitability of the moon, than the doctrine of +the Trinity has to do with the multiplication table and the rule of +three, or the hypostatical union with the chemical composition of +water and light. Having said thus much of compulsion, we return, +not as ministers in the temple of religion so much as students in the +school of science, to consider with docility the question in dispute, +_Is the moon inhabited_? + +Three avenues, more or less umbrageous, are open to us; all of +which have been entered. They may be named _observation_, +_induction_, and _analogy_. The first, if we could pursue it, would +explicate the enigma at once. The second, if clear, would satisfy our +reason, which, in such a matter, might be equivalent to sight. And +the third might conduct us to a shadow which would "prove the +substance true." We begin by dealing briefly with the argument +from _observation_. Here our data are small and our difficulties +great. One considerable inconvenience in the inquiry is, of course, +the moon's distance. Though she is our next-door neighbour in the +many-mansioned universe, two hundred and thirty-seven thousand +miles are no mere step heavenward. Transit across the intervenient +space being at present impracticable, we have to derive our most +enlarged views of this "spotty globe" from the "optic glass." But this +admirable appliance, much as it has revealed, is thus far wholly +inadequate to the solution of our mystery. Robert Hooke, in the +seventeenth century, thought that he could construct a telescope +with which we might discern the inhabitants of the moon life-size +--seeing them as plainly as we see the inhabitants of the earth. But, +alas! the sanguine mathematician died in his sleep, and his dream +has not yet come true. Since Hooke's day gigantic instruments have +been fitted up, furnished with all the modern improvements which +could be supplied through the genius or generosity of such +astronomers as Joseph Fraunhofer and Sir William Herschel, the +third Earl of Rosse and the fourth Duke of Northumberland. But all +of these worthy men left something to be done by their successors. +Consequently, not long since, our scientists set to work to increase +their artificial eyesight. The Rev. Mr. Webb tells us that "the first +'Moon Committee' of the British Association recommended a power +of 1,000." But he discourages us if we anticipate large returns; for +he adds: "Few indeed are the instruments or the nights that will bear +it; but when employed, what will be the result? Since increase of +magnifying is equivalent to decrease of distance, we shall see the +moon as large (though not as distinct) as if it were 240 miles off, +and any one can judge what could be made of the grandest building +upon earth at that distance." [424] If therefore we are to see the +settlement of the matter in the speculum of a telescope, it may be +some time before we have done with what Guillemin calls "the +interesting, almost insoluble question, of the existence of living and +organized beings on the surface of the satellite of our little earth." +[425] Some cynic may interpose with the quotation,-- + + "But optics sharp it needs, I ween, + To see what is not to be seen." [426] + +True, but it remains to be shown that there is nothing to be seen +beyond what _we_ see. We are not prepared to deny the existence of +everything which our mortal eyes may fail to trace. Four hundred +years ago all Europe believed that to sail in search of a western +continent was to wish "to see what is not to be seen"; but a certain +Christopher Columbus went out persuaded of things not seen as yet, +and having embarked in faith he landed in sight. The lesson must +not be lost upon us. + + "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, + Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." + +Because we cannot now make out either habitations or habitants on +the moon, it does not necessarily follow that the night will never +come when, through some mightier medium than any ever yet +constructed or conceived, we shall descry, beside mountains and +valleys, also peopled plains and populous cities animating the fair +features of this beautiful orb. One valuable auxiliary of the +telescope, destined to play an important part in lunar discovery, +must not be overlooked. Mr. Norman Lockyer says, "With reference +to the moon, if we wish to map her correctly, it is now no longer +necessary to depend on ordinary eye observations alone; it is +perfectly clear that by means of an image of the moon, taken by +photography, we are able to fix many points on the lunar surface." +[427] With telescopic and photographic lenses in skilled hands, and +a wealth of inventive genius in fertile brains, we can afford to wait a +long while before we close the debate with a final negative. + +In the meantime, eyes and glasses giving us no satisfaction, we turn +to scientific _induction_. Speculation is a kind of mental mirror, that +before now has anticipated or supplemented the visions of sense. +Not being practical astronomers ourselves, we have to follow the +counsel of that unknown authority who bids us believe the expert. +But expertness being the fruit of experience, we may be puzzled to +tell who have attained that rank. We will inquire, however, with due +docility, of the oracles of scientific research. It is agreed on all sides +that to render the moon habitable by beings at all akin with our own +kind, there must be within or upon that body an atmosphere, water, +changing seasons, and the alternations of day and night. We know +that changes occur in the moon, from cold to heat, and from +darkness to light. But the lunar day is as long as 291 of ours; so that +each portion of the surface is exposed to, or turned from, the sun for +nearly 14 days. This long exposure produces excessive heat, and the +long darkness excessive cold. Such extremities of temperature are +unfavourable to the existence of beings at all like those living upon +the earth, especially if the moon be without water and atmosphere. +As these two desiderata seem indispensable to lunar inhabitation, +we may chiefly consider the question, Do these conditions exist? If +so, inductive reasoning will lead us to the inference, which +subsequent experience will strengthen, that the moon is inhabited +like its superior planet. But if not, life on the satellite similar to life +on the earth, is altogether improbable, if not absolutely impossible. + +The replies given to this query will be by no means unanimous. But, +for the full understanding of the state of the main question, and to +assist us in arriving at some sort of verdict, we will hear several +authorities on both sides of the case. The evidence being +cumulative, we pursue the chronological order, and begin with La +Place. He writes: "The lunar atmosphere, if any such exists, is of an +extreme rarity, greater even than that which can be produced on the +surface of the earth by the best constructed air-pumps. It may be +inferred from this that no terrestrial animal could live or respire at +the surface of the moon, and that if the moon be inhabited, it must +be by animals of another species." [428] This opinion, as Sir David +Brewster points out, is not that the moon has no atmosphere, but +that if it have any it is extremely attenuated. Mr. Russell Hind's +opinion is similar with respect to water. He says: "Earlier +selenographists considered the dull, grayish spots to be water, and +termed them the lunar seas, bays, and lakes. They arc so called to +the present day, though we have strong evidence to show that if +water exist at all on the moon, it must be in very small quantity." +[429] Mr. Grant tells us that "the question whether the moon +be surrounded by an atmosphere has been much discussed by +astronomers. Various phenomena are capable of indicating such an +atmosphere, but, generally speaking, they are found to be +unfavourable to its existence, or at all events they lead to the +conclusion that it must be very inconsiderable." [430] Humboldt +thinks that Schroeter's assumptions of a lunar atmosphere and lunar +twilight are refuted, and adds: "If, then, the moon is without any +gaseous envelope, the entire absence of any diffused light must +cause the heavenly bodies, as seen from thence, to appear projected +against a sky _almost black_ in the day-time. No undulation of air +can there convey sound, song, or speech. The moon, to our +imagination, which loves to soar into regions inaccessible to full +research, is a desert where silence reigns unbroken." [431] Dr. +Lardner considers it proven "that there does not exist upon the moon +an atmosphere capable of reflecting light in any sensible degree," +and also believes that "the same physical tests which show the +non-existence of an atmosphere of air upon the moon are equally +conclusive against an atmosphere of vapour." [432] Mr. Breen is +more emphatic. He writes: "In the want of water and air, the +question as to whether this body is inhabited is no longer equivocal. +Its surface resolves itself into a sterile and inhospitable waste, where +the lichen which flourishes amidst the frosts and snows of Lapland +would quickly wither and die, and where no animal with a drop of +blood in its veins could exist." [433] The anonymous author of the +Essay on the _Plurality of Worlds_ announces that astronomers are +agreed to negative our question without dissent. We shall have to +manifest his mistake. His words are: "Now this minute examination +of the moon's surface being possible, and having been made by +many careful and skilful astronomers, what is the conviction which +has been conveyed to their minds with regard to the fact of her +being the seat of vegetable or animal life? Without exception, it +would seem, they have all been led to the belief that the moon is not +inhabited; that she is, so far as life and organization are concerned, +waste and barren, like the streams of lava or of volcanic ashes on the +earth, before any vestige of vegetation has been impressed upon +them; or like the sands of Africa, where no blade of grass finds +root." [434] Robert Chambers says: "It does not appear that our +satellite is provided with an atmosphere of the kind found upon +earth; neither is there any appearance of water upon the surface. . . . +These characteristics of the moon forbid the idea that it can be at +present a theatre of life like the earth, and almost seem to declare +that it never can become so." [435] Schoedler's opinion is +concurrent with what has preceded. He writes: "According to the +most exact observations it appears that the moon has no atmosphere +similar to ours, that on its surface there are no great bodies of water +like our seas and oceans, so that the existence of water is doubtful. +The whole physical condition of the lunar surface must, therefore, +be so different from that of our earth, that beings organized as we +are could not exist there." [436] Another German author says: "The +observations of Fraunhofer (1823), Brewster and Gladstone (1860), +Huggins and Miller, as well as Janssen, agree in establishing the +complete accordance of the lunar spectrum with that of the sun. In +all the various portions of the moon's disk brought under +observation, no difference could be perceived in the dark lines of the +spectrum, either in respect of their number or relative intensity. +From this entire absence of any special absorption lines, it must be +concluded that there is no atmosphere in the moon, a conclusion +previously arrived at from the circumstance that during an +occultation no refraction is perceived on the moon's limb when a +star disappears behind the disk." [437] Mr. Nasmyth follows in the +same strain. Holding that the moon lacks air, moisture, and +temperature, he says, "Taking all these adverse conditions into +consideration, we are in every respect justified in concluding that +there is no possibility of animal or vegetable life existing on the +moon, and that our satellite must therefore be regarded as a barren +world." [438] A French astronomer holds a like opinion, saying: +"There is nothing to show that the moon possesses an atmosphere; +and if there was one, it would be perceptible during the occultations +of the stars and the eclipses of the sun. It seems impossible that, in +the complete absence of air, the moon can be peopled by beings +organized like ourselves, nor is there any sign of vegetation or of +any alteration in the state of its surface which can be attributed to a +change of seasons." [439] On the same side Mr. Crampton writes +most decisively, "With what we _do_ know, however, of our +satellite, I think the idea of her being inhabited may be dismissed +_summarily_; _i.e._ her inhabitation by intelligent beings, or an +animal creation such as exist here." [440] And, finally, in one of +Maunder's excellent _Treasuries_, we read of the moon, "She has no +atmosphere, or at least none of sufficient density to refract the rays +of light as they pass through it, and hence there is no water on her +surface; consequently she can have no animals like those on our +planet, no vegetation, nor any change of seasons." [441] These +opinions, recorded by so many judges of approved ability and +learning, have great weight; and some may regard their premisses +and conclusions as irresistibly cogent and convincing. The case +against inhabitation is certainly strong. But justice is impartial. +_Audi alteram partem_. + +Judges of equal erudition will now speak as respondents. We go +back to the seventeenth century, and begin with a work whose +reasoning is really remarkable, seeing that it is nearly two hundred +and fifty years since it was first published. We refer to the +_Discovery of a New World_ by John Wilkins, Bishop of Chester; +in which the reverend philosopher aims to prove the following +propositions:--"1. That the strangeness of this opinion (that the +moon may be a world) is no sufficient reason why it should be +rejected; because other certain truths have been formerly esteemed +as ridiculous, and great absurdities entertained by common consent. +2. That a plurality of worlds does not contradict any principle of +reason or faith. 3. That the heavens do not consist of any such pure +matter which can privilege them from the like change and +corruption, as these inferior bodies are liable unto. 4. That the moon +is a solid, compacted, opacous body. 5. That the moon hath not any +light of her own. 6. That there is a world in the moon, hath been the +direct opinion of many ancient, with some modern mathematicians; +and may probably be deduced from the tenets of others. 9. That +there are high mountains, deep valleys, and spacious plains in the +body of the moon. 10. That there is an atmosphoera, or an orb of +gross vaporous air, immediately encompassing the body of the +moon. 13. That 'tis probable there may be inhabitants in this other +world; but of what kind they are, is uncertain." [442] We go on to +1686, and listen to the French philosopher, Fontenelle, in his +Conversations with the Marchioness. "'Well, madam,' _said I_, 'you +will not be surprised when you hear that the moon is an earth too, +and that she is inhabited as ours is.' 'I confess,' _said she_, 'I have +often heard talk of the world in the moon, but I always looked upon +it as visionary and mere fancy.' 'And it may be so still,' _said I_. 'I +am in this case as people in a civil war, where the uncertainty of +what may happen makes them hold intelligence with the opposite +party; for though I verily believe the moon is inhabited, I live civilly +with those who do not believe it; and I am still ready to embrace the +prevailing opinion. But till the unbelievers have a more considerable +advantage, I am for the people in the moon.'" [443] Whatever may +be thought of his philosophy, no one could quarrel with the +Secretary of the Academy on the score of his politeness or his +prudence. A more recent and more reliable authority appears in Sir +David Brewster. He tells us that "MM. Maedler and Beer, who have +studied the moon's surface more diligently than any of their +predecessors or contemporaries, have arrived at the conclusion that +she has an atmosphere." Sir David himself maintains that "_every +planet and satellite in the solar system must have an atmosphere_." +[444] Bonnycastle, whilom professor of mathematics in the Royal +Military Academy, Woolwich, writes: "Astronomers were formerly +of opinion that the moon had no atmosphere, on account of her +never being obscured by clouds or vapours; and because the fixed +stars, at the time of an occultation, disappear behind her +instantaneously, without any gradual diminution of their light. But if +we consider the effects of her days and nights, which are near thirty +times as long as with us, it may be readily conceived that the +phenomena of vapours and meteors must be very different. And +besides, the vaporous or obscure part of our atmosphere is only +about the one thousand nine hundred and eightieth part of the earth's +diameter, as is evident from observing the clouds, which are seldom +above three or four miles high; and therefore, as the moon's +apparent diameter is only about thirty-one minutes and a half, or one +thousand eight hundred and ninety seconds, the obscure part of her +atmosphere, supposing it to resemble our own, when viewed from +the earth, must subtend an angle of less than one second; which is so +small a space, that observations must be extremely accurate to +determine whether the supposed obscuration takes place or not." +[445] Dr. Brinkley, at one time the Astronomer-Royal of Ireland, +writes: "Many astronomers formerly denied the existence of an +atmosphere at the moon; principally from observing no variation of +appearance on the surface, like what would take place, did clouds +exist as with us; and also, from observing no change in the light of +the fixed stars on the approach of the dark edge of the moon. The +circumstance of there being no clouds, proves either that there is no +atmosphere similar to that of our earth, or that there are no waters on +its surface to be converted into vapour; and that of the lustre of the +stars not being changed, proves that there can be no dense +atmosphere. But astronomers now seem agreed that an atmosphere +does surround the moon, although of small density when compared +with that of our earth. M. Schroeter has observed a small twilight in +the moon, such as would arise from an atmosphere capable of +reflecting the rays at the height of about one mile." [446] Dr. +Brinkley is inaccurate in saying that astronomers are agreed as to +the lunar atmosphere. Like students in every other department of +inquiry, spiritual as well as physical, they fail at present to see "eye +to eye"; which is not surprising, seeing that the eye is so restricted, +and the object so remote. + +Dr. Dick, whose productions have done much to popularize the +study of the heavens, and to promote its reverent pursuit, says: "On +the whole it appears most probable that the moon is surrounded with +a fluid which serves the purpose of an atmosphere; although this +atmosphere, as to its nature, composition, and refractive power, may +be very different from the atmosphere which surrounds the earth. It +forms no proof that the moon, or any of the planets, is destitute of +an atmosphere, because its constitution, its density, and its power of +refracting the rays of light are different from ours. An atmosphere +may surround a planetary body, and yet its parts be so fine and +transparent that the rays of light, from a star or any other body, may +pass through it without being in the least obscured, or changing their +direction. In our reasonings on this subject, we too frequently +proceed on the false principle, that everything connected with other +worlds must bear a resemblance to those on the earth." [447] Mr. +Neison, who has written one of the latest contributions to the +science of selenography, says, "Of the present non-existence of +masses of water upon the surface of the moon, there remains no +doubt, though no evidence of its entire absence from the lunar crust +can be adduced; and similarly, many well-established facts in +reference to the moon afford ample proof of the non-existence of a +lunar atmosphere, having a density equal to, or even much less than, +that of the earth; but of the absence of an atmosphere, whose mass +should enable it to play an important part in the moulding of the +surface of the moon, and comparable almost to that of the terrestrial +atmosphere, in their respective ratios to the masses of their planets, +little, if any, trustworthy evidence exists." On another page of the +same work, the author affirms "that later inquiries have shown that +the moon may possess an atmosphere that must be regarded as fully +capable of sustaining various forms of vegetation of even an +advanced type; and, moreover, it does not appear how it can justly +be questioned that the lunar surface in favourable positions may yet +retain a sufficiency of moisture to support vegetation of many kinds; +whilst in a very considerable portion of the entire surface of the +moon, the temperature would not vary sufficiently to materially +affect the existence of vegetable life." [448] Some of these writers +may appear to be travelling rather too fast or too far, and their +assumptions may wear more of the aspect of plausibility than of +probability. But on their atmospheric and aqueous hypothesis, +vegetation in abundance is confessedly a legitimate consequence. If +a recent writer has liberty to condense into a sentence the conclusion +from the negative premiss in the argument by saying, "As there is +but a little appearance of water or air upon the moon, the conclusion +has been inferred that there exists no vegetable or animal life on that +globe," [449] other writers, holding opposite views of the moon's +physical condition, may be allowed to expatiate on the luxuriant +life which an atmosphere with water and temperature would +undoubtedly produce. Mr. Proctor's tone is temperate, and his +language that of one who is conscious with Hippocrates that "art is +long and life is short." He says, in one of his contributions to lunar +science, "It may safely be asserted that the opportunities presented +during the life of any single astronomer for a trustworthy +investigation of any portion of the moon's surface, under like +conditions, are few and far between, and the whole time so +employed must be brief, even though the astronomer devote many +more years than usual to observational research." [450] This +prepares us to find in another of the same author's works the +following suggestive sentence: "With regard to the present +habitability of the moon, it may be remarked that we are not +justified in asserting positively that no life exists upon her surface. +Life has been found under conditions so strange, we have been so +often mistaken in assuming that _here_ certainly, or _there_, no +living creatures can possibly exist, that it would be rash indeed to +dogmatise respecting the state of the moon in this respect." [451] +Narrien, one of the historians of the science, may be heard, though +his contribution might be cast into either scale. He writes: "The +absence of those variations of light and shade which would be +produced by clouds floating above her surface, and the irregularities +of the ground, visible at the bottom and on the sides of her cavities, +have given reason to believe that no atmosphere surrounds her, and +that she is destitute of rivers and seas. Such are the opinions +generally entertained concerning the moon; but M. Schroeter, a +German astronomer, ventures to assert that our satellite is the abode +of living and intellectual beings; he has perceived some indications +of an atmosphere which, however, he admits, cannot exceed two +miles in height, and certain elevations which appear to him to be +works of art rather than of nature. He considers that a uniformity of +temperature must be produced on her surface by her slow rotation +on her axis, by the insensible change from day to night, and the +attenuated state of her atmosphere, which is never disturbed by +storms; and that light vapours, rising from her valleys, fall in the +manner of a gentle and refreshing dew to fertilize her fields." [452] +Dr. H. W. M. Olbers is fully persuaded "that the moon is inhabited +by rational creatures, and that its surface is more or less covered +with a vegetation not very dissimilar to that of our own earth." Dr. +Gruithuisen, of Munich, maintains that he has descried through his +large achromatic telescope "great artificial works in the moon +erected by the lunarians," which he considers to be "a system of +fortifications thrown up by the selenitic engineers." We should have +scant hope of deciding the dispute by the dicta of the ancients, were +these far more copious than we find them to be. Yet reverence for +antiquity may justify our quoting one of the classic fathers. Plutarch +says, "The Pythagoreans affirme, that the moone appeereth +terrestriall, for that she is inhabited round about, like as the earth +wherein we are, and peopled as it were with the greatest living +creatures, and the fairest plants." Again, "And of all this that hath +been said (my friend _Theon_) there is nothing that doth proove and +show directly, this habitation of men in the moon to be impossible." +[453] Here we close the argument based on _induction_, and sum +up the evidence in our possession. On the one hand, several +scientific men, whose names we need not repeat, having surveyed +the moon, deny it an atmosphere, water, and other conditions of life. +Consequently, they disbelieve in its inhabitation, solely because +they consider the fact undemonstrable; none of them being so +unscientific as to believe it to be absolutely impossible. On the other +hand, we have the valuable views of Maedler and Beer, whose lunar +labours are unsurpassed, and whose map of the moon is a marvel +and model of advanced selenography. They do not suppose the +conditions on our satellite to be exactly what they are on this globe. +In their own words, the moon is "no copy of the earth, much less a +colony of the same." They merely believe her to be environed with +air, and thus habitable. And when we recall our own Sir David +Brewster, Professor Bonnycastle, Dr. Brinkley, Dr. Dick, Mr. +Neison, and Mr. Proctor; and reckon with them the continental +astronomers, Dr. Gruithuisen, Dr. Olbers, and Schroeter, all of +whom attempted to fix the idea of planetary inhabitation on the +popular mind, we must acknowledge that they, with their opponents, +have a strong claim on our attention. The only verdict we are able +just now to render, after hearing these conflicting testimonies, is the +Scotch one, _Not proven_. We but append the legal indorsement +_ignoramus_, we do not know. The subject must remain _sub +judice_; but what we know not now, we hope to know hereafter. + +Having interrogated _sense_ and _science_, with the solution of our +enigma anything but complete, we resort last of all to the argument +from _analogy_. If this can illumine the obscurity, it will all be on +the positive side of the inquiry. At present the question resembles a +half-moon: analogy may show that the affirmative is waxing +towards a full-orbed conviction. We open with Huyghens, a Dutch +astronomer of note, who, while he thinks it certain "that the moon +has no air or atmosphere surrounding it as we have," and "cannot +imagine how any plants or animals whose whole nourishment +comes from fluid bodies, can thrive in a dry, waterless, parched +soil," yet asks, "What, then, shall this great ball be made for; +nothing but to give us a little weak light in the night time, or to raise +our tides in the sea? Shall not we plant some people there that may +have the pleasure of seeing our earth turn upon its axis, presenting +them sometimes with a prospect of Europe and Africa, and then of +Asia and America; sometimes half and sometimes full?" [454] Ray +was "persuaded that this luminary doth serve many ends and uses, +especially to maintain the creatures which in all likelihood breed +and inhabit there." [455] Swedenborg's _ipse dixit_ ought to +convince the most incredulous; for he speaks "from what has been +heard and seen." Thus he says: "That there are inhabitants in the +moon is well known to spirits and angels, and in like manner that +there are inhabitants in the moons or satellites which revolve about +Jupiter and Saturn. They who have not seen and discoursed with +spirits coming from those moons still entertain no doubt but there +are men inhabiting them, because they are earths alike with the +planets, and wherever an earth is, there are men inhabitants; for man +is the end for which every earth was created, and nothing was made +by the great Creator without an end." [456] If any are still sceptical, +Sir William Herschel, an intellectual light of no mean magnitude, +may reach them. He writes: "While man walks upon the ground, the +birds fly in the air, and fishes swim in water, we can certainly not +object to the conveniences afforded by the moon, if those that are to +inhabit its regions are fitted to their conditions as well as we on this +globe arc to ours. An absolute or total sameness seems rather to +denote imperfections, such as nature never exposes to our view; +and, on this account, I believe the analogies that have been +mentioned fully sufficient to establish the high probability of the +moon's being inhabited like the earth." [457] The voice of Dr. +Dwight, the American theologian, will not be out of harmony here. +In discoursing of the starry heavens, he says of the planets: "Of +these inferior worlds, the moon is one; and to us, far the most +interesting. How many important purposes which are known does +this beautiful attendant of our earth continually accomplish! How +many more, in all probability, which are hitherto unknown, and +which hereafter may be extensively disclosed to more enlightened, +virtuous, and happy generations of men! At the same time, it is most +rationally concluded that intelligent beings in great multitudes +inhabit her lucid regions, being far better and happier than +ourselves." [458] Whewell's _Bridgewater Treatise_ will furnish us +a fitting quotation. "The earth, the globular body thus covered with +life, is not the only globe in the universe. There are, circling about +our own sun, six others, so far as we can judge, perfectly analogous +in their nature: besides our moon and other bodies analogous to it. +No one can resist the temptation to conjecture, that these globes, +some of them much larger than our own, are not dead and barren: +--that they are, like ours, occupied with organization, life, +intelligence." [459] In a most eloquent passage, Dr. Chalmers, who +will always be heard with admiration, exclaims: "Who shall assign a +limit to the discoveries of future ages? Who shall prescribe to +science her boundaries, or restrain the active and insatiable curiosity +of man within the circle of his present acquirements? We may guess +with plausibility what we cannot anticipate with confidence. The +day may yet be coming when our instruments of observation shall +be inconceivably more powerful. They may ascertain still more +decisive points of resemblance. They may resolve the same question +by the evidence of sense which is now so abundantly convincing +by the evidence of analogy. They may lay open to us the +unquestionable vestiges of art, and industry, and intelligence. We +may see summer throwing its green mantle over those mighty tracts, +and we may see them left naked and colourless after the flush of +vegetation has disappeared. In the progress of years or of centuries, +we may trace the hand of cultivation spreading a new aspect over +some portion of a planetary surface. Perhaps some large city, the +metropolis of a mighty empire, may expand into a visible spot by +the powers of some future telescope. Perhaps the glass of some +observer, in a distant age, may enable him to construct the map of +another world, and to lay down the surface of it in all its minute and +topical varieties. But there is no end of conjecture; and to the men of +other times we leave the full assurance of what we can assert with +the highest probability, that yon planetary orbs are so many worlds, +that they teem with life, and that the mighty Being who presides in +high authority over this scene of grandeur and astonishment has +there planted the worshippers of His glory." [460] + +How fine is this outburst of the great Scotch orator! He spoke as one +inspired with prophetic foreknowledge; for in less than twenty years +after this utterance, Beer and Maedler published their splendid +_Mappe Selenographica_, or map of the moon; and photography +offered its aid to the fuller delineation of our silvery satellite. Who +can tell what the last fifteen years of this eventful century may +develop in the same direction? Verily these intuitions of reason +seem often favoured with an apocalypse of coming disclosures; and, +if we may venture to adopt with slight alteration a sentence of +Shelley, we will say: "It is impossible to read the compositions of +the most celebrated writers of the present day without being startled +with the electric life which burns within their words. They measure +the circumference and sound the depths of nature with a +comprehensive and all-penetrating spirit, and they are themselves +perhaps the most sincerely astonished at its manifestations; for it is +less their spirit than the spirit of the age." The poets of science, in +their analogies, are "the hierophants of an unapprehended +inspiration; the mirrors of the gigantic shadows which futurity casts +upon the present." [461] Equally noble with the language of +Chalmers is a paragraph which we have extracted from a work by +that scholarly writer, Isaac Taylor. He says: "There are two facts, +each of which is significant in relation to our present subject, and of +which the first has long been understood, while the latter (only of +late ascertained) is every day receiving new illustrations; namely, +that our planet is, in no sense, of primary importance in the general +system, or entitled, by its magnitude, or its position, or its +constitution, to be considered as exerting any peculiar influence +over others, or as the object of more regard than any others. This +knowledge of our real place and value in the universe is a very +important consequence of our modern astronomy, and should not be +lost sight of in any of our speculations. But then it is also now +ascertained that the great laws of our own planet, and of the solar +system to which it belongs, prevail in all other and the most remote +systems, so as to make the visible universe, in the strictest sense, +ONE SYSTEM--indicating one origin and showing the presence of +one Controlling Power. Thus the law of gravitation, with all the +conditions it implies, and the laws of light, are demonstrated to be in +operation in regions incalculably remote; and just so far as the +physical constitution of the other planets of our system can be either +traced, or reasonably conjectured, it appears that, amid great +diversities of constitution, the same great principles prevail in all; +and therefore our further conjecture concerning the existence of +sentient and rational life in other worlds is borne out by every sort +of analogy, abstract and physical; and this same rule of analogy +impels us to suppose that rational and moral agents, in whatever +world found, and whatever diversity of form may distinguish them, +would be such that we should soon feel at home in their society, and +able to confer with them, to communicate knowledge to them, and +to receive knowledge from them. Neither truth nor virtue is local; +nor can there be wisdom and goodness in one planet, which is not +wisdom and goodness in every other." [462] The writer of the +_Plurality of Worlds_, a little work distinct from the essay already +quoted, vigorously vindicates "the deeply cherished belief of some +philosophers, and of many Christians, that our world, in its present +state, contains the mere embryo of intelligent, moral, and religious +happiness; that the progress of man in his present state is but the +initiation of an interminable career of glory; and that his most +widely extended associations are a preparation for as interminably +an intercourse with the whole family of an intelligent universe." +[463] Dr. Arnott may add a final word, a last link in this evidential +chain of analogy. He writes: "To think, as our remote forefathers +did, that the wondrous array of the many planets visible from this +earth serve no purpose but to adorn its nocturnal sky, would now +appear absurd indeed; but whether they are inhabited by beings at +all resembling the men of this earth, we have not the means of +knowing. All the analogies favour the opinion that they are the +abodes of life and its satisfactions. On this earth there is no place so +hot or so cold, so illumined or so dark, so dry or so wet, but that it +has creatures constituted to enjoy life there." [464] + +Here our long list of learned authorities shall terminate. We have +strung together a large number of citations, and have ourselves +furnished only the string. Indeed, what more have amateurs that +they can do? For, as Pope puts it,-- + + "Who shall decide, when doctors disagree, + And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?" + +Besides, astronomy is no child's play, nor are its abstruse problems +to be mastered by superficial meddlers. "Its intricacy," as Narrien +reminds us, "in the higher departments, is such as to render the +processes unintelligible to all but the few distinguished persons +who, by nature and profound application to the subject, are qualified +for such researches." [465] But if professionals must be summoned +as witnesses, ordinary men may sit as jurors. This function we have +wished to fufil; and we avow ourselves considerably perplexed, +though not in despair. We hoped that after a somewhat exhaustive +examination, we might be able to state the result with an emphasis +of conviction. This we find impossible; but we can affirm on which +side the evidence appears to preponderate, and whither, we rest +assured, further light will lead our willing feet. The conclusion, +therefore, of the whole matter is: we cannot see any living creatures +on the moon, however long we strain our eyes. No instrument has +yet been constructed that will reveal the slightest vestige of +inhabitation. Consequently, the actual evidence of sense is all +against us, and we resign it without demur. This point, being settled, +is dismissed. + +Next, we reconsider the results of scientific study, and are strongly +inclined to think the weight of testimony favours the existence of a +thin atmosphere, at least some water, and a measure of light and +shade in succession. These conditions must enable vegetables and +animals to exist upon its surface, though their constitution is in all +probability not analogous with that of those which are found upon +our earth. But to deny the being of inhabitants of some kind, +even in the absence of these conditions, we submit would be +unphilosophical, seeing that the Power which adapted terrestrial life +to terrestrial environments could also adapt lunar life to the +environments in the moon. We are seeking no shelter in the +miraculous, nor do we run from a dilemma to the refuges of +religion. Apart from our theological belief in the potency of the +Creator and Controller of all worlds, we simply regard it as illogical +and inconclusive to argue that because organization, life, and +intelligence obtain within one sphere under one order of +circumstances, _therefore_ the same order obtains in every other +sphere throughout the system to which that one belongs. The unity +of nature is as clear to us as the unity of God; but unity is not +uniformity. We view the whole creation as we view this world; the +entire empire as we view this single province, + + "Where order in variety we see, + And where, though all things differ, all agree." + +And, finally, as analogy is unreservedly on the side of the +occupation of every domain in creation, by some creatures who +have the dominion, we cannot admit the probability that the earth is +the only tenement with tenants: we must be confirmed in our +judgment that the sun and the planets, with their moons, ours of +course included, are neither blank nor barren, but abodes of +variously organized beings, fitted to fulfil the chief end of all noble +existence: the enjoyment of life, the effluence of love, the good of +all around and the glory of God above. + +This article, that the moon is inhabited, may therefore form a clause +of our scientific creed; not to be held at any hazard, as a matter of +life or death, or a test of communion, but to be maintained subject to +corrections such as future elucidation may require. We believe that +we are justified by science, reason, and analogy; and confidently +look to be further justified by verification. We accept many things +as matters of faith, which we have not fully ascertained to be +matters of fact; but "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the +proving of things not seen." By double entry the books of science +are kept, by reasoning and demonstration: when future auditors shall +examine the accounts of the moon's inhabitation, we are persuaded +that the result of our reckoning will be found to be correct. + +If any would charge us with a wish to be wise above what is written, +we merely reply: There are unwritten revelations which are +nevertheless true. Besides, we are not sure that at least an intimation +of other races than those of the earth is not already on record. Not to +prove any position, but to check obstructive criticism, we refer to +the divine who is said to have witnessed in magnificent apocalypse +some closing scenes of the human drama. If he also heard in +sublime oratorio a prelude of this widely extended glory, our vision +may not be a "baseless fabric." After the quartettes of earth, and the +interludes of angels, came the grand finale, when every creature +which is in heaven, as well as on the earth, was heard ascribing +"Blessing and honour and glory and power to Him who sitteth upon +the throne." Assuredly, our conception of a choir worthy to render +that chorus is not of an elect handful of "saints," or contracted souls, +embraced within any Calvinistic covenant, but of an innumerable +multitude of ennobled, purified, and expanded beings, convoked +from every satellite and planet, every sun and star, and overflowing +with gratitude and love to that universal Father of lights, with whom +is no parallax, nor descension, and who kindled every spark of life +and beauty that in their individual and combined lustre He might +reflect and repeat His own ineffable blessedness. + + + +APPENDIX. + +_Literature of the Lunar Man_. + +_Vide_ p. 8. + +1. _The Man in the Moone_. Telling Strange Fortunes. London, +1609. + +2. "_The Man in the Moone_, discovering a world of Knavery under +the Sunne; both in the _Parliament_, the _Councel_ of _State_, the +_Army_, the _City_, and the _Country_." Dated, "Die Lunae, +From Nov. 14 to Wednesday Novemb. 21 1649." _Periodical +Publications, London_. British Museum. Another Edition, "Printed +for Charles Tyns, at the Three Cups on London Bridge, 1657." + +3. "SELENARCHIA, _or the Government of the World in the +Moon_." A comical history written by Cyrano Bergerac, and done +into English by Tho. St. Serf. London 1659." + +The same, Englished by A. Lovell, A.M., London, 1687. + +4. "_The Man in the Moon, or Travels into the Lunar Regions_," by +W. Thomson, London, 1783. + +In this lucubration the Man in the Moon shows the Man of the +People (Charles Fox), many eminent contemporaries, by means of a +magical glass. + +5. "_The Man in the Moon_, consisting of Essays and Critiques." +London, 1804. Of no value. After shining feebly like a rushlight for +about two months, it went out in smoke. + +6. _The Man in the Moon_. London, 1820. A Political Squib. + +7. _The Loyal Man in the Moon_, 1820, is a Political Satire, with +thirteen cuts. + +8. _The Man in the Moon_, London, 1827(?). A Poem. _N.B._ The +word _poem_ has many meanings. + +9. _The Man in the Moon_. Edinburgh, 1832. A small sheet, sold +for political purposes, at the high price of a penny. The Lunar Man +pledges himself to "do as I like, and not to care one straw for the +opinion of any person on earth." + +10. _The Man in the Moon_. London, 1847. This is a comical serial, +edited by Albert Smith and Angus B. Reach; and is rich, racy, and +now rare. + +11. _The Moon's Histories_. By a Lady. London, 1848. + +_The Mirror of Pythagoras_ + +_Vide_ p. 147. + + "In laying thus the blame upon the moone, + Thou imitat'st subtill _Pythagoras_, + Who, what he would the people should beleeve, + The same be wrote with blood upon a glasse, + And turn'd it opposite 'gainst the new moone + Whose beames reflecting on it with full force, + Shew'd all those lynes, to them that stood behinde, + Most playnly writ in circle of the moone; + And then he said, Not I, but the new moone + Fair _Cynthia_, perswades you this and that." + +_Summer to Sol_, in _A Pleasant Comedie, called Summer's Last +Will and Testament_. Written by Thomas Nash. London, 1600. + +_The East Coast of Greenland_. + +_Vide_ p. 171. + +"When an eclipse of the moon takes place, they attribute it to the +moon's going into their houses, and peeping into every nook and +corner, in search of skins and eatables, and on such occasions +accordingly, they conceal all they can, and make as much noise as +possible, in order to frighten away their unbidden guest." +--_Narrative of an Expedition to the East Coast of Greenland_: Capt. +W. A. Graah, of the Danish Roy. Navy. London, 1837, p. 124. + +_Lord Iddesleigh on the Moon_. + +_Vide_ p. 189. + +Speaking at a political meeting in Aberdeen, on the 22nd of +September, 1885, the Earl of Iddesleigh approved the superannuated +notion of lunar influence, and likened the leading opponents of his +party to the old and new moon. "What signs of bad weather are +there which sometimes you notice when storms are coming on? It +always seems to me that the worst sign of bad weather is when you +see what is called the new moon with the old moon in its arms. I +have no doubt that many of you Aberdeen men have read the fine +old ballad of Sir Patrick Spens, who was drowned some twenty or +thirty miles off the coast of Aberdeen. In that ballad he was +cautioned not to go to sea, because his faithful and weatherwise +attendant had noticed the new moon with the old moon in its lap. I +think myself that that is a very dangerous sign, and when I see Mr. +Chamberlain, the new moon, with Mr. Gladstone, the old one, in his +arms, I think it is time to look out for squally weather."--_The +Standard_, London, Sept. 23rd, 1885. + +The Scottish ballad of Sir Patrick Spens, which is given in the +collections of Thomas Percy, Sir Walter Scott, William Motherwell, +and others, is supposed by Scott to refer to a voyage that may really +have taken place for the purpose of bringing back the Maid of +Norway, Margaret, daughter of Alexander III., to her own kingdom +of Scotland. Finlay regards it as of more modern date. Chambers +suspects Lady Wardlaw of the authorship. While William Allingham +counsels his readers to cease troubling themselves with the +historical connection of this and all other ballads, and to enjoy +rather than investigate. Coleridge calls Sir Patrick Spens a "grand +old ballad." + +_Greeting the New Moon in Fiji_. + +_Vide_ p. 212. + +"There is, I find, in Colo ('the devil's country' as it is called), in the +mountainous interior of Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji, a very +curious method of greeting the new moon, that may not, as few +Europeans have visited this wild part, have been noticed. The +native, on seeing the thin crescent rise above the hills, salutes it with +a prolonged 'Ah!' at the same time quickly tapping his open mouth +with his hand, thus producing a rapid vibratory sound. I inquired of +a chief in the town the meaning and origin of this custom, and my +interpreter told me that he said, 'We always look and hunt for the +moon in the sky, and when it comes we do so to show our pleasure +at finding it again. I don't know the meaning of it; our fathers +always did so.'"--Alfred St. Johnston, in _Notes and Queries_ for +July 23rd, 1881, p. 67. See also Mr. St. Johnston's _Camping +Among Cannibals_, London, 1883, p. 283. + +_Lunar Influence on Dreams_. + +_Vide_ p. 214. + +Arnason says that in Iceland "there are great differences between a +dream dreamt in a crescent moon, and one dreamt when the moon is +waning. Dreams that are dreamt before full moon are but a short +while in coming true; those dreamt later take a longer time for their +fulfilment."--_Icelandic Legends_, Introductory Essay, p. lxxxvii. + + + +NOTES. + +1 _The Martyrs of Science_, by Sir David Brewster, K.H., D.C.L. +London, 1867, p. 21. + +2 _The Marvels of the Heavens_, by Camile Flammarion. London, +1870, p. 238. + +3 _The Jest Book_. Arranged by Mark Lemon. London, 1864, p. +310. + +4 _Timon_, a Play. Edited by the Rev. A. Dyce. London +(Shakespeare Society), 1842, Act iv. Scene iii. + +5 _The Man in the Moon drinks Claret_, as it was lately sung at the +Court in Holy-well. _Bagford Ballads_, Folio Collection in the +British Museum, vol. ii. No. 119. + +6 _Conceits, Clinches, Flashes, and Whimzies_. Edited by J. O. +Halliwell, F.R.S. London, 1860, p. 41. + +7 _The Man in the Moon_, by C. Sloman. London, 1848, Music by +E. J. Loder. + +8 _Ancient Songs and Ballads_, by Joseph Ritson. London, 1877, +p. 58. + +9 _On the Religions of India_. Hibbert Lectures for 1878. London, +p. 132. + +10 _An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language_, by +John Jamieson, D.D. Paisley, 1880, iii. 299. + +11 _Sir Thomas Browne's Works_. Edited by Simon Wilkin, +F.L.S., London, 1835, iii. 157. + +12 _Popular Antiquities of Great Britain_. Hazlitt's Edition. +London, 1870, ii. 275. + +13 _Asgard and the Gods_. Adapted from the work of Dr. Waegner, +by M.W. Macdowall; and edited by W. S. Anson. London, 1884, p. +30. + +14 _An Introduction to the Science of Comparative Mythology and +Folk Lore_, by the Rev. Sir George W. Cox, Bart., M.A. London, +1881, p. 12. + +15 _Plutarch's Morals_. Translated by p. Holland. London, 1603, p. +1160. + +16 _Myths and Marvels of Astronomy_, by R. A. Proctor. London, +1878, p. 245. See also, _As Pretty as Seven and other German +Tales_, by Ludwig Bechstein. London, p. 111. + +17 _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_, by S. Baring-Gould, M.A. +London, 1877, p. 193. + +18 _Northern Mythology_, by Benjamin Thorpe. London, 1851, iii. +57. + +19 _Notes and Queries_. First Series, 1852, vol. vi. p. 232. The +entire text of this poem is given in Bunsen's _God in History_. +London, 1868, ii. 495. + +20 Thorpe's _Mythology_, i. 6. + +21 _Ibid.,_ 143. + +22 _Curious Myths_, pp. 201-203. + +23 _Teutonic Mythology_, by Jacob Grimm. Translated by J. S. +Stallybrass. London, 1883, ii. 717. + +24 _De Natura Rerum_. MS. Harl. No. 3737. + +25 MS. Harl. No. 2253, 81. + +26 _The Archaeological Journal_ for March, 1848, pp. 66, 67. + +27 See Tyrwhitt's _Chaucer_. London, 1843, p. 448. + +28 Dekker's _Dramatic Works_. Reprinted, London, 1873, ii. 121. + +29 _Popular Rhymes of Scotland_. Robert Chambers. London and +Edinburgh, 1870, p. 185. + +30 _Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales_, by J. O. Halliwell. +London, 1849, p. 228. + +31 _Curious Myths_, p. 197. + +32 Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 719-20. + +33 _The Vision of Dante Alighieri_. Translated by the Rev. H. F. +Cary, A.M. London. + +34 _The Folk-Lore of China_, by N. B. Dennys, Ph.D. London and +Hong Kong, 1876, p. 117. + +35 _Himalayan Journals_, by Joseph D. Hooker, M.D., R.N., F.R.S. +London, 1855, ii. 278. + +36 _Primitive Culture_, by Edward B. Tyler. London, 1871, i 320. + +37 _A Brief Account of Bushman Folk-Lore_, by W. H. J. Bleek, +Ph.D. Cape Town, 1875, p. 9. + +38 _The History of Greenland_, from the German of David Cranz. +London, 1820, i. 212. + +39 _An Arctic Boat Journey in the Autumn of 1854_, by Isaac J. +Hayes, M.D. Boston, U.S., 1883, p. 254. + +40 _The Natural Genesis_, by Gerald Massey. London, 1883, i. +115. + +41 _The Church Missionary Intelligencer_ for November, 1858, p. +249. + +42 _Ibid._, for April, 1865, p. 116. + +43 See _Notes and Queries_. First Series. Vol. xi. p. 493. + +44 _Researches into the Early History of Mankind_, by Edward B. +Tylor, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. London, 1878, p. 378. + +45 _Ibid.,_ p. 336. + +46 _Notes and Queries: on China and Japan_. Hong Kong, August, +1869, p, 123. + +47 _Selected Essays on Language, Mythology, and Religion_. +London, 1881, i. 613. + +48 _Vico_, by Robert Flint. Edinburgh, 1884, p. 210. + +49 _The Dictionary Historical and Critical_ of Mr. Peter Bayle. +London, 1734, v. 576. + +50 See _Lunar World_, by the Rev. J. Crampton, M.A. Edinburgh, +1863, p. 83. + +51 _Dictionary of Phrase and Fable_, by the Rev. E. Cobham +Brewer, LL.D. London, p. 592. + +52 _The Man in the Moon_. By an Undergraduate of Worcester +College. Oxford, 1839, Part i. p. 3. + +53 MS. in the British Museum Library. Additional MSS. No. +11,812. + +54 Lucian's _Works_. Translated from the Greek by Ferrand +Spence. London, 1684, ii. 182. + +55 _The Table Book_. By William Hone. London, 1838, ii. 252. + +56 _Adventures of Baron Munchausen_. London, 1809, p. 44. + +57 Flammarion's _Marvels of the Heavens_, p. 241. + +58 _Records of the Past_. Edited by S. Birch, LL.D., D.C.L. +London, iv. 121. + +59 _The Philosophie_, 1603, Holland's Transl. p. 1184. + +60 _Primitive Culture_, ii. 64. + +61 _A Journey to the Moon_, by the Author of _Worlds +Displayed_. London, p. 6. + +62 Dennys' _Folk-Lore of China_, p. 101. + +63 Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 720. + +64 Flammarion's _Marvels of the Heavens_, p. 253. + +65 _The Philosophie_, p. 338. + +66 _The Woman in the Moone_, by John Lyllie. London, 1597. + +67 Dr. Rae, _On the Esquimaux_. Transactions of the Ethnological +Society, vol. iv., p. 147. + +68 _Vide_ also _A Description of Greenland_, by Hans Egede. +Second Edition. London, 1818, p. 206. + +69 _Amazonian Tortoise Myths_, by Ch. Fred. Hartt, A.M. Rio de +Janeiro, 1875, p. 40. + +70 _Algic Researches_, by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. New York, +1839, ii. 54. + +71 _Information respecting the History, &c., of the Indian Tribes_, +by H. R. Schoolcraft. Philadelphia, v. 417. + +72 _Nineteen Years in Polynesia_, by the Rev. George Turner. +London, 1861, p. 247. + +73 _An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands in the South +Pacific Ocean_, by William Mariner. Arranged by John Martin, +M.D. London, 1818, ii. 127. + +74 _Myths and Songs from the South Pacific_, by the Rev. W. W. +Gill, B.A. London, 1876, p. 45. + +75 Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 716. + +76 _Selected Essays_, vol. i. note to p. 611. + +77 _The Sacred and Historical Books of Ceylon_, edited by +Edward Upham. London, 1833, iii. 309. + +78 _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 716. + +79 _Illustrations of Shakespeare_. London, 1807, i. 17. + +80 _Dictionnaire Infernal_, par J. Collin de Plancy. Paris, 1863, p. +592. + +81 _The Chinese Reader's Manual_, by W. F. Mayers. Shanghai, +1874, p. 219. + +82 _The Chinese Readers Manual_, p. 95. + +83 _Reynard the Fox in South Africa; or, Hottentot Fables and +Tales_ by W. H. J. Bleek. London, 1864, p. 72. + +84 _A Brief Account of Bushman Folk-Lore_, by Dr. Bleek. Cape +Town, 1875, p. 10. + +85 _Outlines of Physiology, Human and Comparative_, by John +Marshall, F.R.S. London, 1867, ii. 625. + +86 _Lectures on the Native Regions of Mexico and Peru_, by +Albert Reville, D.D. London, 1884, p. 8. + +87 _History of the Conquest of Mexico_, by William H. Prescott. +London, 1854, p. 50. + +88 _The Native Races of the Pacific States of North America_, by +Hubert Howe Bancroft. New York, 1875, iii. 62. + +89 _Zoological Mythology; or, the Legends of Animals_, by +Angelo de Gubernatis. London, 1872, ii. 80. + +90 _Ibid._, ii. 76. + +91 _Report on the Indian Tribes Inhabiting the Country in the +Vicinity of the 49th Parallel of North Latitude_, by Capt. Wilson. +Trans. of Ethnolog. Society of London, 1866. New Series, iv. 304. + +92 _The Races of Mankind_, by Robert Brown, M.A., Ph.D. +London, 1873-76, i. 148. + +93 Dennys' _Folk-Lore of China_, p. 117. + +94 _The Middle Kingdom_, by S. Wells Williams, LL.D. New +York, 1883, ii. 74. + +95 _The Disowned_, by the Right Hon. Lord Lytton, chap. lxii. + +96 _Fiji and the Fijians_, by Thomas Williams. London, 1858, i. +205. + +97 _Primitive Culture_, i. 321. + +98 _On the Aborigines of Southern Australia_, by W. E. +Stanbridge, of Wombat, Victoria. Transactions of Ethnolog. Society +of London, 1861, p. 301. + +99 _A Discovery of a New World_, by John Wilkins, Bishop of +Chester. London, 1684, p. 77. + +100 _A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean_, by Capt. James Cook, +F.R.S., and Capt. James King, LL.D., F.R.S. London, 1784, ii. 167. + +101 _Polynesian Researches during a Residence of nearly Eight +Years in the Society and Sandwich Islands_, by William Ellis. +London, 1833, iii. 171. + +102 _Prehistoric Times_, by Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., D.C.L. +London, 1878, p. 440. + +103 _Primitive Culture_, i. 318. + +104 _See_ Kalisch on _Genesis_. London, 1858, p. 70. + +105 _Sermons_, by the Rev. W. Morley Punshon, LL.D. Second +Series. London, 1884, p. 376. + +106 _Outlines of the History of Religion_, by C. P. Tiele. Trans. by +J. E. Carpenter. London, 1877, p. 8. + +107 _The Myths of the New World_, by Daniel G. Brinton, A.M., +M.D. New York, 1868, p. 131. + +108 _The Primitive Inhabitants of Scandinavia_. By Sven Nilsson +(Lubbock's edit.). London, 1868, p. 206. + +109 _Lectures on the Science of Language_. London, 1880, i. 6. + +110 _Teutonic Mythology_, iii. 704. + +111 _The Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians_. +London, 1878, iii. 39. + +112 _Ibid._, iii. 165. + +113 _The Mythology of the Aryan Nations_. London, 1882, note to +p. 372. + +114 _Russian Folk-Lore_, by W. R. S. Ralston, M.A. London, +1873, p. 176. + +115 Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, i. 260. + +116 _A System of Biblical Psychology_, by Franz Delitzsch, D.D., +translated by the Rev. R. E. Wallis, Ph.D. Edinburgh, 1875, p. 124. + +117 _The Book of Isaiah_ liv. 4-6, and lxii. 4. + +118 _English Grammar, Historical and Analytical_, by Joseph +Gostwick. London, 1878, pp. 67-72. + +119 _Hibbert Lectures_ for 1878, p. 190. + +120 Bayle's _Dictionary_, i. 113. + +121 Vide Tylor's _Anthropology_. London, 1881, p. 149. + +122 _Language and Languages_, by the Rev. Frederic W. Farrar, +D.D., F.R.S. London, 1878, p. 181. + +123 _Ibid._, p. 182. Coleridge also was in error on this question. +See his _Table Talk_, under date May 7th, 1830. + +124 _Hebrew and Christian Records_, by the Rev. Dr. Giles. +London, 1877, i. 366. + +125 _Biblical Psychology_, p. 79. + +126 _Antitheism_, by R. H. Sandys, M.A. London, 1883, p. 32. + +127 _The Origin and Development of Religious Belief_. London, +1878, i. 187. + +128 _The Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson_. London, 1882, i. 274. + +129 _Jesus Christ: His Times, Life, and Work_, by E. de Pressense. +London, 1866, p. 38. + +130 _Sketches of the History of Man_, by the Hon. Henry Home of +Kames. Edinburgh, 1813, iii. 364. + +131 _Ancient Faiths Embodied in Ancient names_, by Thomas +Inman. London, 1872, ii. 325. + +132 _Mythology among the Hebrews_, by Ignaz Goldziher, Ph.D. +London, 877, p. 76. + +133 _Primitive Culture_, ii. 271. + +134 _Nineveh and its Remains_, by Austen Henry Layard, M.P. +London, ii. 446. + +135 Inman's _Ancient Faiths_, i. 93. + +136 _The Unicorn: a Mythological Investigation_, by Robert +Brown, F.S.A. London, 1881, p. 34. + +137 _The Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World_, +by George Rawlinson, M.A. London, 1871, i. 56. + +138 _Ibid._, vol. i. p. 123. + +139 _Ibid._, vol. i. note to p. 124. + +140 Brown's _Unicorn_, p. 34. + +141 _Mythology among the Hebrews_, p. 158, + +142 _Ibid._, 159. + +143 _Ibid._, 160. + +144 _Jewish History and Politics_, by Sir Edward Strachey, Bart. +London, 1874, p. 256. + +145 _Phoenicia_, by John Kenrick, M.A. London, 1855, p. 301. + +146 _Dictionary of the Bible_, edited by William Smith, LL.D. Art. +ASHTORETH. + +147 _Dictionary of the Scottish Language_, iii. 299. + +148 On _Isaiah_. London, 1824, ii. 374. + +149 _The Antiquities of Israel_, by Heinrich Ewald (trans. by +Solly).London, 1876, p. 341. + +150 _The Bampton Lectures for 1876_, by William Alexander, +D.D., D.C.L. London, 1878, p. 378. + +151 _Rivers of Life, showing the Evolution of Faiths_, by +Major-General J. G. R. Forlong. London, 1883, ii. 62. + +152 _Outlines of the History of Religion_, by C. p. Tiele, p. 63. + +153 _Dictionary of Phrase and Fable_, p. 194. + +154 _The Philosophy of History_, by Frederick von Schlegel, +translated by J. B. Robertson. London, 1846, p. 325. + +155 _El-Koran; or, The Koran_, translated from the Arabic by J. M. +Rodwell, M.A. London, 1876, p. 199. + +156 Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, ii. 274. + +157 _Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire_. London, 1862, p. 76. + +158 _The Zend-Avesta_, translated by James Darmesteter. Oxford, +1883, Part ii., p. 90. + +159 _The Philosophy of History_, by G. W. F. Hegel, translated by +J. Sibree, M.A. London, 1861, p. 186. + +160a _The Highlands of Central India_, by Captain J. Forsyth. +London, 1871, p. 146. + +160b _Travels from St. Petersburg in Russia to Diverse Parts of +Asia_, by John Bell of Antermony. Glasgow, 1763, i. 230. + +161 _The Early Races of Scotland_, by Forbes Leslie. Edinburgh, +1866, i. 138. + +162 Kames' _History of Man_, iii. 299. + +163 _The Origin of Civilization and the Primitive Condition of +Man_, by Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., F.R.S., D.C.L., LL.D. +London, 1882, p. 315. + +164 _History Of Man_, iii. 366. + +165 _The Religions of China_, by James Legge. London, 1880, p. +12. + +166 _Ibid._, pp. 44-46. + +167 _Religion in China_, by Joseph Edkins, D.D. London, 1878, p. +60. + +168 _A Translation of the Confucian Yih King_, by the Rev. Canon +McClatchie, M.A. Shanghai, 1876, p. 386. + +169 _Ibid._, p. 388. + +170 _Ibid._, p. 449. + +171 _The Religions of China_, p. 170. + +172 _Religion in China_, p. 105. + +173 _Handbook for the Student of Chinese Buddhism_, by Rev. E. +J. Eitel, London. 1870, p. 107. + +174 _Hulsean Lectures for 1870_, p. 203. + +175 _Hibbert Lectures on Indian Buddhism_, by T. W. Rhys +Davids. London, 1881, p. 231. + +176 _A View of China for Philological Purposes_, by the Rev. R. +Morrison. Macao, 1817, p. 107. + +177 Dennys' _Folk-Lore of China_, p. 28. + +178 _Travels in Tartary, Thibet, and China during the years +1844-46_, by M. Huc. Translated by W. Hazlitt. London, i. 61. + +179 _Social Life of the Chinese_, by Rev. Justus Doolittle. New +York, 1867, ii. 65. + +180 _China: Its State and Prospects_, by W. H. Medhurst. London, +1838, p. 217. + +181 _Ibid._, p. 188. + +182 _Researches into the Physical History of Mankind_, by James +Cowles Prichard, M.D., F.R.S. London, 1844, iv. 496-7. + +183 Tylor's _Anthropology_, p. 21. + +184 _The Historical Library of Diodorus the Sicilian_, Made +English by G. Booth. London, 1700, p. 21. + +185 _History of Ancient Egypt_, by George Rawlinson, M.A. +London, 1881, i. 369. + +186 _Records of the Past_, Edited by S. Birch, LL.D., D.C.L., etc. +London, vi. iii. + +187 _Hibbert Lectures for 1879_, p. 116. + +188 _Ibid._, p. 155. + +189 _Ancient Egypt_, i. 373. + +190 _Records of the Past_, iv. 53. + +191 _Egypt's Place in Universal History_, by Christian C. J. +Bunsen, D.Ph., and D.C.L. Translated by C. H. Cottrell, M.A. +London, 1848, i. 395. + +192 _Hibbert Lectures_, p. 237. + +193 _On the Relations between Pasht, the Moon, and the Cat, in +Egypt_. Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, 1878, +vol. vi. 3 16. + +194 _Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the years_ +1768-73, by James Bruce, F.R.S. Edinburgh, 1813, vi. 343. + +195 _Ibid._, iv. 36. + +196 _A Voyage to Congo_, by Father Jerom Merolla da Sorrento. +Pinkerton's _Voyages and Travels_. London, 1814, vol. xvi. 273. + +197 _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, May, 1884. + +198 _Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa_, by Mungo Park, +Surgeon. London, 1779, vol. i. 271. + +199 _Ibid._, i. 322. + +200 _Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa_, by +David Livingstone, LL.D., D.C.L., etc. London, 1857, p. 235. + +201 _The Present State of the Cape of Good Hope_, by Peter +Kolben, A.M. London, 1731, i. 96. + +202 _The Poetical Works of Lord Byron_. London, 1876 (_Don +Juan_, Canto iii.), p. 636. + +203 _The Iliad of Homer_. Translated by J. G. Cordery. London, +1871, ii. 183. + +204 _A History of Greece_, by George Grote, F.R.S. London, +1872, i. 317. + +205 _Vide Pausan_., L. x. c. 32, p. 880. Edit. Kuhnii, fol. Lips, +1696. + +206 _History of Greece_, i. 317. + +207 _The Iliad of Homer_, by Edward Earl of Derby. London, +1867, i. 190. + +208 See _Roman Antiquities_, by Alexander Adam, LL.D. +London, 1825, pp. 251-60. + +209 _Carmen Saeculare_, 35. + +210 _Metam_., lib. xi. 657. + +211 _The Divine Legation of Moses Demonstrated_, by William +Warburton, D. D. London, 1837, i. 316. + +212 Jamieson's _Scottish Dictionary_, iii. 299. + +213 _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 704. + +214 _Chaldaean Magic: Its Origin and Development_, by Francois +Lenormant. London, p. 249. + +215 _Flammarion's Astronomical Myths_, p. 35. + +216 Leslie's _Early Races of Scotland_, i. 113. + +217 _Ibid._, i. 134. + +218 _Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme_, by John Aubrey, +1686-7. Edited by James Britten, F.L.S. London, 1881, p. 83. + +219 _Britannia_, by William Camden, translated by Edmund +Gibson, D.D. London, 1772, ii. 380. + +220 _A General History of Ireland from the Earliest Accounts_, by +Mr. O'Halloran. London, 1778, i. 47. + +221 _Ibid._, i. 113. + +222 _Ibid._, i. 221. + +223 _The Towers and Temples of Ancient Ireland_, by Marcus +Keane, M.R.I.A. Dublin, 1867, p. 59. + +224 _The Keys of the Creeds_. London, 1875, p. 148. + +225 A. S., in _Notes and Queries_ for Nov. 19, 1881, p. 407. + +226 _History of the Missions of the United Brethren among the +Indians in North America_, by George Henry Loskiel. London, +1794, Part i. p. 40. + +227 _Illustrations of the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the +North American Indians_, by George Catlin. London, 1876, ii. 242. + +228 _Scenes and Studies of Savage Life_, by Gilbert Malcolm +Sproat. London, 1868, p. 206. + +229 Brown's _Races of Mankind_, p. 142. + +230 Lubbock's _Origin of Civilization_, p. 315. + +231 See _Mexico To-day_, by Thomas Unett Brocklehurst. +London, 1883, p. 175. + +232 Bancroft's _Races of the Pacific_, i. 587. + +233 _Ibid._, iii. 112. + +234 _Ibid._, iii. 187. + +235 _Hibbert Lectures for 1884_, p. 45. + +236 _American Antiquities and Researches into the Origin anti +History of the Red Race_, by Alexander W. Bradford. New York, +1843, p. 353. + +237 _Travels in Brazil in the Years_ 1817-20, by Dr. Joh. Bapt. von +Spix and Dr. C. F. Phil. von Martius. London, 1824, ii. 243. + +238 _An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of +Paraguay_, from the Latin of Martin Dobrizhoffer. London, 1822, ii. +65. + +239 _The Royal Commentaries of Peru_, by the Inca Garcilasso de +la Vega. Translated by Sir Paul Rycaut, Knt. London, 1688, folio, p. +455. + +240 _Narratives of the Rites and Laws of the Yncas_. Translated +from the Spanish MS. of Christoval de Molina, by Clements R. +Markham, C.B., F.R.S. London, 1873, p. 37. + +241 _History of the Conquest of Peru_, by William H. Prescott. +London, 1878, p. 47. + +242 _Jottings during the Cruise of H.M.S. Curacoa among the +South Sea Islands_ in 1865, by Julius L. Brenchley, M.A., F.R.G.S. +London, 1873, p. 320. + +243 _Polynesian Mythology_, by Sir George Grey, late Governor +in Chief of New Zealand. London, 1855, _Pref_. xiii. + +244 Kenrick's _Phoenicia_, p. 303. + +245 _Workes_ of John Baptista Van Helmont. London, 1644, p. +142. + +246 Goldziher's _Hebrew Mythology_, Note to p. 206. + +247 _Ibid._, p. 206. + +248 Dr. Smith's _Bible Dictionary_, Article _Meni_, by William +A. Wright, M.A., ii. 323. + +249 Goldziher's _Hebrew Mythology_, p. 160. + +250 Gubernatis' _Zoological Mythology_, i. 18. + +251 _Ibid._, ii. 375. + +252 Mayers' _Chinese Reader's Manual_, p. 288. + +253 _Japanese Fairy World_. Stories from the Wonder Lore of +Japan, by William Elliot Griffis. Schenectady, N. Y., 1880, p. 299. + +254 Brown's _Unicorn_, p. 69. + +255 Wilkinson's _Ancient Egyptians_, iii. 375. + +256 _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. Note to p. 719. + +257 Brinton's _Myths of the New World_, p. 130. + +258 Schoolcraft's _Indian Tribes_, iii. 485. + +259 _Myths of the New World_, p. 133. + +260 _Ibid._, p. 134. + +261 _Origin of Civilization_, p. 315. + +262 _Myths of the New World_, pp. 135-7. + +263 _Ibid._, p. 131. + +264 Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, i. 318. + +265 Chambers's _Etymological Dictionary_ (Findlater). + +266 _Dictionary of Phrase and Fable_, p. 865. + +267 _Ecclesiastical Polity_. London, 1617, p. 191. + +268 _The Natural History of Infidelity and Superstition_, by J. E. +Riddle, M.A. Oxford, 1852, p. 155. + +269 _The Anatomy of Melancholy_. London, 1836, p. 669. + +270 _The Descent of Man_, by Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S., etc. +London, 1877, p. 121. + +271 _Essays. Of Superstition_. + +272 _Lectures on the Philosophy of the Human Mind_. Edinburgh, +1828, p. 673 + +273 _Voltaire_, by John Morley. London, 1878, p. 156. See also +Parton's _Life of Voltaire_. + +274 Gubernatis' _Zoological Mythology_, i. 56. + +275 _Vide_ Inman's _Ancient Faiths_, ii. 260, 326. + +276 Mosheim's _Ecclesiastical History_. London, 1847, i. 116. + +277 _History of Brazil_, by Robert Southey. London, 1810, p. 635. + +278 _The Dictionary, Historical and Critical_. London, 1734, iv. +672. + +279 _Primitive Culture_, i. 262. + +280 Leslie's _Early Races of Scotland_, ii. 496. + +281 _History of Brazil_, i. 193. + +282 _Icelandic Legends_. Collected by Jon Arnason (Powell and +Magnusson). London, 1866, p. 663. + +283 _On the Truths contained in Popular Superstitions_, by Herbert +Mayo, M.D. Edinburgh and London, 1851, p. 135. + +284 _A Literal Translation of Aristophanes: The Clouds_, by a +First-Class Man of Balliol College. Oxford, 1883, p. 31. + +285 See _Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-Lore_, +by Walter H. Kelly. London, 1863, p. 226. + +286 _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 706. + +287 _Astronomical Myths_, p. 331 + +288 _Medea: a Tragedie_. Written in Latin by Lucius Anneus +Seneca. London, 1648, p. 105. + +289 _The Childhood of the World_, by Edward Clodd, F.R.A.S. +London, 1875, p. 65. + +290 _The Chinese Empire_, by M. Hue. London, 1855, ii. 376. + +291 _The Connection of the Physical Sciences_. London, 1877, p. +104. + +292 Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 707. + +293 _Appendix on the Astronomy of the Ancient Chinese_, by the +Rev. John Chalmers, A.M. Legge's Chinese Classics. Vol. iii. Part i. +Hong-Kong, 1861, p. 101. + +294 _The Middle Kingdom_, i. 818. + +295 _Ibid._, ii. 73. + +296 _Social Life of the Chinese_, by the Rev. Justus Doolittle, of +Fuhchau. New York, 1867, i. 308. + +297 _Chinese Sketches_, by Herbert A. Giles. London, 1876, p. 99. + +298 _Gems of Chinese Literature_, by Herbert A. Giles. Shanghai, +1884 p. 102. + +299 _An Account of Cochin China_. Written in Italian by the R. E. +Christopher Borri, a Milanese, of the Society of Jesus. Pinkerton's +Travels, ix. 816. + +300 _A Voyage to and from the Island of Borneo in the East +Indies_, by Captain Daniel Beeckman. London, 1878, p. 107. + +301 _History of the Indian Archipelago_, by John Crawfurd, F.R.S. +Edinburgh, 1820, i. 305. + +302 _Sketches of the History of Man_, iii. 300. + +303 _Thucydides_. Translated by B. Jowett, M.A. Oxford, 1881, i. +521. + +304 _The Stratagems of Jerusalem_, by Lodowick Lloyd, Esq., One +of her Majestie's Serjeants at arms. London, 1602, p. 286. + +305 Quoted in _Notes and Queries_, 16th of April, 1881, by +William E. A. Axon. + +306 _Northern Antiquities_, by Paul Henri Mallett. London, 1790, +i. 39. + +307 _Teutonic Mythology_, i. 245. + +308 _Ibid._, ii. 705. + +309 _Advice to a Son_. Oxford, 1658, p. 105 + +310 Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 714. + +311 Schoolcraft's _Indian Tribes_, v. 2 16. + +312 Brinton's _Myths_, p. 137. + +313 Bradford's _American Antiquities_, p. 332. + +314 _Ibid._, p. 333. + +315 _The Antiquities of Mexico_, by Augustine Aglio. London, +1830, folio vi. 144. + +316 Bancroft's _Native Races_, iii. 111. + +317 Brinton's _Myths_, p. 131. + +318 _Polynesian Researches_, i. 331. + +319 Mariner's _Natives of the Tonga Islands_, ii. 127. + +320 _Discoveries in the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon_. London, +1853, p. 552. + +321 Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, ii. 272. + +322 _Ibid._, ii. 272. + +323 _Description of the Western Islands of Scotland_, by Martin +Martin. London, 1716, p. 41. + +324 _The Philosophie_, p. 696. + +325 _A Voyage to St. Kilda, the remotest of all the Hybrides_, by +M. Martin, Gent. Printed in the year 1698. Miscellanea Scottica. +Glasgow, 1818, p. 34. + +326 _The Zend-Avesta_. Oxford, 1883, ii. 90. + +327 _Five Hundred pointes of good Husbandrie_, by Thomas +Tusser. London, 1580, p. 37. + +328 Flammarion's _Marvels of the Heavens_, p. 244. + +329 _The Philosophie_, 1603, p. 697. + +330 _English Folk-Lore_, by the Rev. T. F. Thiselton Dyer, M.A., +Oxon. London, 1880, p. 42. + +331 _Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England +and the Borders_, by William Henderson. London, 1866, p. 86. + +332 _Knowledge for the Time_, by John Timbs, F.S.A. London, p. +227. + +333 _Popular Errors, Explained and Illustrated_, by John Timbs, +F.S.A. London, 1857, p. 131. + +334 _A Manual of Astrology_, by Raphael. London, 1828, p. 90. + +335 Brinton's _Myths_, p. 132. + +336 _Endimion: The Man in the Moone_. London, 159 1, Act i. Sc. +I. + +337 _A defensative against the poyson of supposed Prophecies_, by +Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton. London, 1583. + +338 _Folk-Lore of China_, p. 118. + +339 Tusser's _Good Husbandrie_, p. 13. + +340 _Ibid._, p. 13. + +341 _Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England_, p. 41 + +342 _David Copperfield_. The "Charles Dickens" edition, p. 270. + +343 See _An Historical Survey of the Astronomy of the Ancients_, +by the Rt. Hon. Sir George C. Lewis, Bart. London, 1862, p. 312. + +344 _Popular Astronomy_, by Simon Newcomb, LL.D. New York, +1882, p. 325. + +345 _Primitive Culture_, i. 118. + +346 Dennys's _Folk-Lore of China_, p. 32. + +347 _Folk-Lore; or, Manners and Customs of the North of +England_, by M.A.D. Novo-Castro-sup. Tynan, 1850-51, p. 11. + +348 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 42. + +349 _Ibid._, p. 41. + +350 _Time's Telescope_ for 1814. London, p. 368. + +351 Dennys's _Folk-Lore of China_, p. 118. + +352 _The Book of Days: a Miscellany of Popular Antiquities_. +Edited by R. Chambers. London and Edinburgh, ii. 203. + +353 _The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey_. Edited by +his son. London, 1850, v. 341. + +354 _Adam Bede_, chap. xviii. + +355 _Scottish Ballads and Songs_. Edited by James Maidment. +Edinburgh, 1868, i. 41. + +356 _Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language_. Paisley, +1880, iii. 299. + +357 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 38. + +358 _Notes and Queries_ for May 16th, 1874, p. 384. + +359 _Ibid._ for August 1st, 1874, p. 84. + +360 _Amazulu_, by Thomas B. Jenkinson, B.A., late Canon of +Maritzburg. London, 1882, p. 61. + +361 _Legends of Iceland_. Collected by Jon Arnason. Second +series. London, 1866, p. 635. + +362 _Astrology, as it is, not as it has been represented_, by a +Cavalry Officer. London, 1856, p. 37. + +363 _A Manual of Astrology_, by Raphael. London, 1828, p. 89. + +364 _The Dignity and Advancement of Learning_. London (Bohn), +1853, p. 129. + +365 _Works_. London, 1740, iii. 187. + +366 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 41. + +367 _Scottish Dictionary_, iii. 300. + +368 Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, i. 117. + +369 Vide Potter's _Antiquities of Greece_, ii. 262. + +370 _Recreations in Astronomy_, by the Rev. Lewis Tomlinson, +M.A. London, 1858, p. 251. + +371 Flammarion's _Marvels of the Heavens_, p. 243. + +372 _Genesis, with a Talmudic Commentary_, by Paul Isaac +Hershon. London, 1883, p. 50. + +373 _Notes on the Miracles_, p. 363. + +374 _The Gospel of S. Matthew illustrated from Ancient and +Modern Authors_, by the Rev. James Ford, M.A. London, 1859, p. +310. + +375 See _Light: Its Influence on Life and Health_, by Forbes +Winslow, M.D., D.C.L. London, 1867, p. 94. Also, _The History of +Astronomy_, by George Costard, M.A. London, 1767, p. 275. + +376 _The Science and Practice of Medicine_, by William Aitken, +M.D. London, 1864, ii. 353. + +377 _Myths of the New World_, p. 132. + +378 _Ibid._, p. 134. + +379 _Ibid._, p. 135. + +380 _The Darker Superstitions of Scotland illustrated from history +and practice_, by John Graham Dalyell. Edinburgh, 1834, p. 286. + +381 _The Early Races of Scotland_, i. 136. + +382 _The Statistical Account of Scotland_, by Sir John Sinclair, +Bart. Edinburgh, 1791, i. 47. + +383 _Works_. London, 1740, iii. 187. + +384 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 47. + +385 _Some West Sussex Superstitions Lingering in_ 1868. +Collected by Charlotte Latham, at Fittleworth. _The Folk-Lore +Record_ for 1878, p. 45. + +386 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 48. + +387 Inman's _Ancient Faiths_, ii. 327. + +388 _Fairy Tales: their origin and meaning_, by John Thackray +Bunce. London, 1878, p. 131. + +389 Martin's _Western Islands of Scotland_, 1716, p. 42. + +390 _Letters from the East_, by John Carne, Esq. London, 1826, p. +77. + +391 Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 715. + +392 Timbs's _Knowledge for the Time_, p. 227. + +393 _Dissertation upon Superstitions in Natural Things_, by +Samuel Werenfels, Basil, Switzerland. London, 1748, p. 6. + +394 Vide Grimm's _Teutonic Mythology_, ii. 714-716. + +395 _Defensative_, 1583. + +396a _A Talmudic Miscellany_. Compiled and translated by Paul +Isaac Hershon. London, 1880, p. 342. + +396b _Caesar's Commentaries_. London (Bohn), 1863, Book i. +Chap. 50. + +397 _Popular Rhymes_, p. 217. + +398 _The Year Book of Daily Recreation and Information_, by +William Hone. London, 1838, p. 254. + +399 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 43. + +400 _Gentilisme_, p. 37. + +401 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 44. + +402 _Extraordinary Popular Delusions_. London, i. 260. + +403 Dyer's _Folk-Lore_, p. 38. + +404 Henderson's _Folk-Lore_, p. 86. + +405 _Popular Romances of the West of England_. Collected by +Robert Hunt, F.R.S. London, 1881, p. 429. + +406 _West Sussex Superstitions_, p. 10. + +407 C. W. J. in Chambers's _Book of Days_, ii. 202. + +408 _Early Races of Scotland_, i. 136. + +409 _Scottish Dictionary_, iii. 300. + +410 Forlong's _Rivers of Life_, ii. 63. + +411 _Secret Memoirs of the late Mr. Duncan Campbel_. Written by +Himself. London, 1732, p. 62. + +412 _Folk-Lore_, 1851, p. 8. + +413 _Popular Rhymes_. + +414 Jamieson's _Scottish Dictionary_, iii. 300. + +415 _Familiar Illustrations of Scottish Character_, by the Rev. +Charles Rogers, LL. D. London, 1865, p. 172. + +416 _Statistical Account of Scotland_, xii. 457. + +417 _Early Races of Scotland_, ii. Note to p. 406. + +418 Dalyell's _Darker Superstitions of Scotland_, p. 285. + +419 _Romeo and Juliet_, Act ii. Sc. 2. + +420 _Light: Its Influence on Life and Health_, p. 101. + +421 _Religion as Affected by Modern Materialism_, by James +Martineau, LL.D. London, 1874, pp. 7, 11. + +422 _The Relations between Religion and Science_. Bampton +Lectures for 1884, p. 245. + +423 _Address delivered before the British Association assembled at +Belfast_, by John Tyndall, F.R.S. London, 1874, p. 61. + +424 _Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes_, by the Rev. T. +W. Webb, M.A., F.R.A.S. London, 1873, p. 58. + +425 _The Heavens_, by Amedee Guillemin. London, 1876, p. 144. + +426 _McFingal_, by John Trumbull. Hartford, U.S.A., 1782 Canto +i. line 69. + +427 _Stargazing_, by J. Norman Lockyer, F.R.S. London, 1878, p. +476. + +428 _The System of the World_, by M. le Marquis de La Place. +Dublin, 1830, i. 42. + +429 _The Solar System_, by J. Russell Hind. London, 1852, p. 48. + +430 _History of Physical Astronomy_, by Robert Grant, F.R.A.S. +London, 1852, p. 230. + +431 _Cosmos_, by Alexander von Humboldt (Sabine's Edition). +London, 1852, iii. 357. + +432 _Handbook of Astronomy_, by Dionysinus Lardner, D.C.L. +London, 1853, pp. 194, 197. + +433 _The Planetary Worlds_, by James Breen. London, 1854, p. +123. + +434 _Of the Plurality of Worlds. An Essay_. Fourth Edition. +London, 1855, p. 289. + +435 _Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation_. Eleventh +Edition. London, 1860, pp. 21, 22. + +436 _The Treasury of Science_, by Friedrich Schoedler, Ph.D. +London, 1865, p. 167. + +437 _Spectrum Analysis_, by Dr. H. Schellen. London, 1872, p. +481. + +438 _The Moon_, by James Nasmyth, C.E., and James Carpenter, +F.R.A.S. London, 1874, p. 157. + +439 _Astronomy_, by J. Rambosson. Translated by C. B. Pitman. +London, 1875, p. 191. + +440 _The Three Heavens_, by the Rev. Josiah Crampton, M.A. +London, 1879, p. 328. + +441 _Scientific and Literary Treasury_, by Samuel Maunder. +London, 1880, p. 470. + +442 _The Mathematical and Philosophical Works of John +Wilkins_. London, 1708. + +443 _A Plurality of Worlds_, by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle. +London, 1695, p. 35. + +444 _More Worlds than One_, by Sir David Brewster, M.A., +D.C.L. London, 1874, pp. 120, 121. + +445 _An Introduction to Astronomy_, by John Bonnycastle. +London, 1822, p. 367. + +446 _Elements of Astronomy_, by John Brinkley, D. D., F.R.S. +Dublin, 1819, p. 113. + +447 _Celestial Scenery_, by Thomas Dick, LL.D. London, 1838, p. +350. + +448 _The Moon_, by Edmund Neison, F.R.A.S. London, 1876, pp. +17, 129. + +449 _The Art of Scientific Discovery_, by G. Gore, LL. D., F.R.S. +London, 1878, p. 587. + +450 _The Moon, her Motions, Aspect, Scenery, and Physical, +Condition_, by Richard A. Proctor. London, 1878, p. 300. + +451 _Other Worlds than Ours_. London, 1878, p. 167. + +452 _An Historical Account of Astronomy_, by John Narrien, +F.R.A.S. London, 1833, p. 448. See also Schroeter's, Observations +on the Atmosphere of the Moon. Philosophical Trans. for 1792, p. +337. + +453 _Plutarch's Morals_. Translated by P. Holland. London, 1603, +pp. 825, 1178. + +454 _Cosmotheoros_, by Christian Huyghens van Zuylichem. +Glasgow, 1757, pp. 177, 178. + +455 _The Wisdom of God in the Creation_, by John Ray, F.R.S. +London, 1727, p. 66. + +456 _On the Earths in our Solar System_, by Emanuel Swedenborg. +London, 1840, p. 59. + +457 _Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society for_ 1795, p. +66. + +458 _Theology_, by Timothy Dwight, LL.D. London, 1836, p. 91. + +459 _Astronomy and General Physics_, by William Whewell, M.A. +London, 1836, p. 269. + +460 _Astronomical Discourses_, by Thomas Chalmers, D. D., +LL.D. Edinburgh, 1871, p. 23. + +461 _A Defence of Poetry_, in ESSAYS, etc., by Percy Bysshe +Shelley. London, 1852, i. 48. + +462 _Physical Theory of Another Life_. London, 1836, p. 200. + +463 _The Plurality of Worlds, the Positive Argument from +Scripture_, etc. London (Bagster), 1855, p. 146. + +464 _Elements of Physics_, by Neil Arnott, M.D., F.R.S. London, +1865, part ii. p. 684. + +465 _Historical Account of Astronomy_, p. 520. + + + +INDEX. + +Aah, 111. +Abipones, 129. +Adam, Alexander, 119. +Africa, 114, 177. +Agesinax, 20. +Aglio, 172. +Ahts, 84, 127. +Aitken, Dr., 198. +Ajax, 99. +Albertus, 72. +Alchymists, 196. +Aleutians, 148. +Alexander, Bishop of Derry, 96. +Algonquins, 133. +Al Zamakhshari, 133. +Anahuac, 128. +Anaxagoras, 153, 168. +Anaximines, 153. +Andraste, 121. +Anglo-Saxon, 86. +Angus, 195. +Anninga and Malina, 34. +Anthropomorphism, 19, 87, 118. +Aphrodite, 85. +Apollo, 18. +Apuleius, 119. +Arabians, 83, 97. +Arago, 46. +Arakho, 157. +Araucanians, 172. +_Archaeological Journal_, 28. +Aristophanes, 152. +Aristotle, 2, 41, 49, 153. +Arnason, 150, 192, 262. +Arnott, Dr., 253. +Ashango, 177. +Asia, Northern, 100, 154. +Assyrians, 90. +Astarte, 85, 92, 94, 132. +Asterodia, 19. +Astrology, 191. +Astruc, 163. +Ataensic, 136. +Athenians, 117, 168. +Athol, 121. +Atiu, 59. +Atmosphere of the moon, 234. +Aubrey, 121, 214. +Australians, 72. +Austro-Hungarians, 135. +Aztecs, 128, 136. + +Baal, 93. +Babylonians, 92. +Bacon, 78, 143, 190, 194, 202. +Bancroft, H. H., 66, 128, 172. +Barbosa, 57. +Baring-Gould, 23, 25, 31, 67, 88. +Barnardo, Dr., 124. +Bayles, 41, 86, 147. +Beaufort, Sir F., 42. +Bechstein, Ludwig, 22. +Bechten, Princess, 110. +Bechuana, 115. +Beeckman, Capt., 166. +Beer, Wilhelm, 240, 246, 251. +Bell, John, 99. +Berkshire, 214. +Berosus, 91, 153. +Berthold, 54. +Bil and Hiuki, 24. +Birch, Dr. S., 49, 109, 110. +Bleek, Dr.W. H. J., 33,65. +Blindness and the moon, 206. +Bochica, 138. +Bogota, 138. +Bonnycastle, 240. +_Book of Respirations_, 49. +Borneo, 100, 166. +Borri, Father, 165. +Bory de St. Vincent, 115. +Botocudos, 129, 176. +Bradford, A. W., 129, 172. +Brahmins, 6i, 146. +_Brand's Antiquities_, 18. +Brasseur de Bourbourg, 128. +Brazil, 57, 199. +Breen, James, 235. +Brenchley, J. L., 130. +Brewer, Dr. E. C, 43, 97, 140. +Brewster, Sir D., 1, 234, 240. +Brinkley, Dr. John, 241. +Brinton, D. G., 80, 136, 137, 171, 173, 180, 199. +British Apollo, 203. +British Columbians, 35. +British Museum Library, 28, 45. +Britons, Ancient, 66, 120. +Brocklehurst, T. U., 127. +Brougham, Lord, 4. +Brown, Robert, F.S.A., 91, 92, 134. +Brown, Robert, M.A., 69, 127. +Brown, Dr. T., 143. +Brown, Sir W., 142. +Browne, Sir T., 18. +Bruce, James, 113. +Buddha, 62. +Buddhists, 60, 64, 102. +Bunce, J. T., 205. +Buns, Cross, 107. +Bunsen, Baron, 111. +Buraets, 99. +Burton, Robert, 141. +Bushmen, 33, 115. +Bussierre, 128. +Butler, Samuel, 18, 208. +Byron, 117. +Byzantium, 97. + +Caesar, 66, 212. +Cain, 32. +Caledonia, 194. +Californian Indians, 171. +Camden, 121. +Campbel, Duncan, 220. +Candrasaras, 67. +Canton, 105, 158. +Caribs, 90. +Carne, 207. +Carpenter, James, 237. +Cassia tree, 64. +Cat, 72, 112. +Catholics, 124, 146. +Catlin, 125. +Celebes, 99. +Ceris, 128. +Ceylon, 62. +Chaldseans, 87, 90, 153, 174. +Chalmers, J., 157. +Chalmers, Dr. T., 249. +Chambers, R., 30, 140, 187, 218, 236. +Champollion, 111. +Chandras, 60, 219. +Chang-Heng, 70. +Chang-ngo, 74. +Chaucer, 29. +Cheap John, +Chinese, 33, 38, 54, 63, 64, 70, 75, 100-108, 134, 154, 156, 164, + 181, 184, 187. +Christmas, 185. +Cicero, 41. +Clarke, Hyde, 112. +Clemens Alexandrinus, 20. +Cleobulus, 55. +Clodd, E., 156. +Cobbett, 85. +Cochin China, 165. +Collin de Plancy, 63. +Collyridians, 146. +Columbus, 171, 232. +Comanches, 127. +Comparative mythology, 37. +_Confessional of Ecgbert_, 120. +Confucianism, 101. +Congo, 114. +_Constantinople Messenger_, 168. +Cook, Capt., 59, 73. +Cordery's Homer, 117. +Cornwall, 149, 179, 186, 194. +Coroados, 129. +Coutinho, 57. +Cowichans, 69. +Cox, Sir G. W., 19, 83. +Crampton, Josiah, 42, 238. +Cranz, 34. +Craters, 41. +Crawfurd, 167. +Creeks, 35, 171. +Crescent, 97. +Cruikshank, 9. +Cuzco, 130. +Cynocephali, 112. +Cynthia, 29. + +Dakotahs, 125, 136, 137. +Dalyell, 200, 223. +Dante, 32. +Darien, 35. +Darwin, 142. +Day's eye, 113. +Davids, T. W. Rhys, 103. +Defoe, 220. +Dekkan, 99. +Dekker, 30, 188. +Delawares, 125. +Delitzsch, Dr., 84, 88. +Democritus, 2. +Demons, 198. +Denham, 220. +Denmark, 205. +Dennys, N. B., 33, 54, 70, 104, 181, 184, 187. +Derby, Earl of, 119. +De Rougemont, 36. +Descartes, 49. +Devil, 141. +Devonshire, 149, 179, 203, 214, 220. +Diana, 18, 20, 73, 97, 118, 119, 219. +Dick, Dr. Thomas, 242. +Dickens, 182. +Diodorus, 109. +Diogenes Laertius, 87. +Disease and the moon, 195, 224. +Dobrizhoffer, 129. +Domingo Gonsales, 46. +Doolittle, Justus, 105, 158. +Douce, Francis, 62, 67. +Dragon, 155. +Dreams, 213, 215, 262. +Druids, 120, 222. +Duncan, William, 35. +Dundas, 22. +Dunskey, 201. +D'Urville, 36. +Dwight, Dr. T., 249. +Dyer, 179, 185, 189, 194, 202, 203, 214, 215, 216, 217. + +Easter, 124. +East Indian Archipelago, 167. +Eclipses, 152. +_Edda_, 25, 169. +Edkins, Dr. J., 101, 102. +Egede, Hans, 57. +Egyptians, 49, 82, 93, 107, 108, 112, 135, 207. +Eitel, E. J., 102. +Eliot, George, 188. +Ellis, W., 73, 173. +Elysium, 75. +Emerson, R. W., 89. +Endymion, 19, 20, 47, 59. +Eos, 59. +Eramangans, 130. +Esquimaux, 35, 56. +Essex, 179. +Ethiopians, 116. +Euripides, 68, 195. +Euthydemus, 177. +Ewald, Heinrich, 96. + +Farrar, F. W., 86, 103. +Fetu negroes, 177. +Fijians, 71, 261. +Finns, 120, 154. +Fischart, 23. +Flammarion, 2, 49, 55, 120, 154, 178, 196. +Fleachta, 121. +Flibbertigibbet, 66. +Flint, Professor, 39. +Fontenelle, 54, 239. +Forlong, Major-General, 96. +Forster, Dr., 185. +Forsyth, Capt. J., 99. +Fortune and the moon, 208. +Fox, Charles J., 112. +Fraunhofer, 231. +French, 20, 32, 180, 216. +Friendly Islands, 59, 173. +Frisians, North, 23. +Frog in the moon, 69, 134. +Fuhchau, 105. + +Galen, 198. +Galileo, 1. +Garcilasso de la Vega, 130. +Gender, 16, 84. +Germans, 22, 83, 86, 120, 170, 212. +Gibbon, 97, 98. +Giles, Dr. J. A., 87. +Giles, Herbert A., 70, 162, 164. +Gill, W. W., 59. +Gizeh Pyramid, 108. +Godwin, Francis, 46. +Goethe, title page. +Goldziher, 90, 92, 133. +Gore, George, 243. +Gostwick, J., 85. +Gotch, Dr. F. W., 94. +Goths, 120. +Graah, Capt., 260. +Grant, Robert, 234. +Greeks, 19, 75, 80, 117, 155, 168, 195, 201. +Greenlanders, 34, 170, 260. +Grey, Sir George, 65, 131. +Griffis, 134. +Grimm, 26, 54, 60, 62, 82, 120, 135, 154, 157, 170, 207, 210. +Grote, George, 117, 118. +Gruithuisen, 245. +Guaycurus, 49. +Gubernatis, 67, 133, 145. +Guillemin, 231. +Guinea, 177. +Gyffyn Church, 31. + +Hakkas, 184. +Halliwell, J. O., 31, 213, 220. +Hampshire, 85. +Hans Stade, 149. +Hare in the moon, 60. +Hare-lip, 65. +Hartt, C F., 57. +Hayes, Dr. J. J., 35. +Hebrews, 75, 80, 85, 92, 94, 106, 197, 210. +Heden of the Persians, 75. +Hegel, 98. +Helmont, 132. +Hemans, Mrs., 75. +Henderson, 179, 182. +Henotheism, 101. +Herefordshire, 215. +Herodotus, 98, 112. +Herschel, Sir John, 42. +Herschel, Sir William, 231, 248. +Hershon, 197. +Hervey Islands, 59, 174. +Hesperides, 75. +Hesychios, 108. +Hibernian, 5. +Himalayas, 33. +Hind, J. R., 234. +Hindoos, 154, 219. +Hippogypians, 47. +Hiuki and Bil, 24. +Homer, 117, 119. +Hone, 9,48, 214. +Hooke, 230. +Hooker, J. D., 33. +Hooker, R., 140. +Horace, 119. +Horrack, P. J. de, 49. +Hottentots, 65, 115. +Howard, Earl of Northampton, 181, 210. +How I, 70. +Hue, 104, 156. +Humboldt, 235. +Hunt, Robert, 217. +Huntingdonshire, 181. +Huyghens, 247. +Huythaca, 138. + +Iceland, 150, 192, 262. +Iddesleigh, Earl of, 261. +Ina, 59. +Incas, 130. +India, 60, 99, 133, 145, 155, 156, 167. +India, Central, 99. +Indians, American, 35, 57, 69, 125, 127, 136, 155, 156, 171. +Indras, 133. +Indus, 133. +Inhabitants of the moon, 47, 106. +Inman, Dr. T., 90, 146, 203. +Iosco, 57. +Iphigenia, 144. +Irish, 43, 45, 121. +Iroquois, 125. +Isaac, 32. +Isis, 49, 109, 118, 136, 199. +Italy, 156, 185, 216. + +Jack and Jill, 25, 136. +Jacob, 21. +Jamieson, 17,95,120, 189, 195, 218. +Jamunda, 57. +Japanese, 108, 134. +Jenkinson, T. B., 190. +Jerome, 198. +Jerusalem pipes, 31. +_Jest Book_ of 17th century, 11, 44. +Jews, 21, 87, 149. +Johnston, H. H., 114. +_Journey to the Moon_, 50. +Judas Iscariot, 32. +Jut-ho, 63. + +Kaffirs, 115. +Kalisch, M. M., 75. +Kalmucks of Tartary, 63. +Kames, Lord, 89, 99, 100, 153, 168. +Kaniagmioutes, 127. +Keane, 123. +Kelly, W. H., 152. +Kenrick, John, 94, 132. +_Keys of the Creeds_, 124. +Khasias, 33. +Khonds, 99. +Khonsu, or Chonsu, 109, 110, 135 +King, Capt. James, 59, 73. +Kirkmichael, 221. +Kolben, Peter, 115. +_Koran_, 98. +Korkus, 99. +Kun, 120. + +La Martiniere, 196. +Lancashire custom, 104. +Laplace, 16, 234. +Lardner, Dr. D., 235. +Latham, Mrs., 202, 217. +Layard, Sir A. H., 90, 174. +Lees, Edwin, 216. +Legge, Dr. James, 100, 102. +Leibnitz, 79. +Lemon, Mark, 4. +Lenormant, 120. +Leslie, Forbes, 99, 120, 149, 200, 218, 222. +Lewis, Sir G. C, 118. +Lindley, Professor, 180. +Lippershey, Hans, 1. +Lithuanians, 154, 195. +Littledale, 187. +Livingstone, 115. +Livy, 119. +Lloyd, Lodowick, 168. +Locke, R. Alton, 42. +Lockyer, J. N., 232. +Loskiel, G. H., 125. +Lowth, Bishop, 95. +Luan, St., 123. +Lubbock, Sir John, 73, 100, 127, 137. +Lucian, 47. +Lucius, 120. +Lucretius, 143. +Luna, 4, 119. +Lunar fancies, 145. +Lunar influences, 175. +Lunar inhabitation, 227. +Lunar stone, 177. +Lunatic, 6. +Lyllie, or Lilly, 7, 55, 181. +Lyndhurst, Lord, 4. +Lytton, Lord, 70. + +McClatchie, Canon, 101. +Mackay, Charles, 215. +Madler, 240, 246, 251. +Mahomet, 97. +Maidment, 188. +Maimonides, 90. +Makololo, 115. +Malayan, 113. +Malina and Anninga, 34. +Mallett, 169. +Mamarbasci, 168. +Managarmer, 169. +Mandarins, 159. +Mandingoes, 114. +Mangaians, 59. +_Man in the Moon drinks Claret_, 11. +Mani, 24. +Mariner, W., 59, 173. +Marini, 86. +Marken, 23. +Marshall, Dr. John, 65. +Martin, 177, 206. +Martineau, Dr. James, 228. +_Mary, Glories of_, 146. +Mary Magdalene, 54. +Massey, Gerald, 35. +Maunder, Samuel, 238. +Maurice, F. D., 93. +Mayers, W. F., 38, 64, 134. +Mayo, Herbert, 151. +Mbocobis, 84. +Medhurst, W. H., 107, 108. +Meen, 96. +Melloni, 187. +Meni, 95. +Merolla, 114. +Mem of the Hindoos, 75. +Mexicans, 66, 127, 138, 172, 199. +Meztli, 127, 200. +Microcosm, 191. +Milton, 13, 100. +Ming Ti, 164. +Mityan, 72. +Molina, 130. +Mongolians, 64, 157. +Moon-cakes, 104, 106. +Moon, cold, 186. +" full, 209. +" misty, 185. +" new, 189, 209. +" no, 194. +" old, 187. +Moon folk, 205. +_Moon Hoax_, 42. +Moon inhabitation, 227. +Moon lake, 67. +Moon worship, 77. +"Moone" Tavern, 11. +Mooney, 5. +Moors, 154. +Morduans, 100. +Morley, John, 144. +Morrison, R., 103. +Moses, 21. +Mosheim, 146. +Mountains of the Moon, 2. +Mueller, Max, 16, 39, 59, 60, 82, 85, 86. +Munchausen, Baron, 48. +Mundilfoeri, 24. +Muyscas, 138. + +Nanahuatl, 200. +Narrien, John, 244, 254. +Nash, Thomas, 260. +Nasmyth, James, 237. +Neal, Sir Paul, 43. +Neckham, Alexander, 27. +Negroes, 225. +Neison, Edmund, 242. +Nelson, 131. +Newcomb, Simon, 183. +New Hebrides, 130. +New Netherlands, 180. +_New York Sun_, 42. +New Zealanders, 36. +Nicaraguans, 138. +Nilsson, Sven, 81. +Nithi, 24. +Norfolk, 216. +Norse, 24. +Northumberland, 31. +Northumberland, Duke of, 231. +_Notes and Queries_, 124, 168, 217. +Nubians, 113. +Nyi, 24. + +O'Halloran, 121. +Olbers, 245. +"Origin of Death," 65. +Orinokos, 173. +Orkney, 221, 223. +Ormuzd, 98. +Osborn, Francis, 170. +Osiris, 49, 109, 135. +Otaheite, 73. +Othman, 97. +Ottawas, 57. +Otway, 53. +Oxford undergraduate, 44. + +Pachacamac, 130. +Paine, Thomas, 219. +Pan, 86. +Panama, 33. +_Pancatantram_, 67. +Pandora, 56. +Paradise, 75. +Park, Mungo, 114. +Pasht, 113. +Paul, 20, 79. +Pausanias, 118. +Peacock, Reginald, 30. +_Penitential _of Theodore, 120. +Periodicity, 225. +Perkunas, 83. +Persians, 80, 98, 131, 133, 149. +Personification, 19. +Peruvians, 130, 172, 219. +Philip of Macedon, 97. +Phlebotomy, 196. +Phocis, 118. +Phoenicia, 93, 121. +Photography, 8, 232. +Phrygia, 96. +Picart, 139. +Pindar, 195. +Plato, 49, 153. +Pleiades, 129. +Pliny, 178, 198. +_Plurality of Worlds, Essay on_, 236. +_Plurality of Worlds. Positive Argument_, 253. +Plutarch, 20, 49, 55, 113, 135, 177, 178, 193, 246. +Pocock, 97. +Poetry, 14. +Polybius, 68. +Polynesians, 50, 59. +Pontus, 96. +Pope, Alexander, 81, 119, 254. +Potter, Dr. John, 195. +Prescott, W. H., 66, 130. +Pressense, Dr. E. de, 89. +Prichard, J. C, 108. +Prideaux, 97. +Priestly, John, 65. +Proctor, R. A., 222, 244. +Praetorius, 23. +Protagoras, 168. +Protogenia, 19. +_Punch_, 4. +Punshon, W. M., 75. +Pythagoras, 147, 260. + +_Quarterly Review_, 128. +Queen of heaven, 92, 104. +Quiateot, 138. + +Rabbit in the moon, 56, 105. +Rae, Dr., 56, 113. +Raka, 145. +Ralston, W. R. S., 83. +Ramayanam, 145. +Rambosson, 237. +Rantum, 24. +"Raphael," 180, 192. +Rashi, 107. +Rat story, 71. +Ravvlinson, George, 91, 109. +Ray, John, 248. +Renfrewshire, 220. +Renouf, P. le Page, 109, 112. +Reville, Dr. A., 66, 128. +Riddle, J. E., 141. +Rimmon, 121. +Ritson, Joseph, 16, 28. +Rodvvell, J. M., 98. +Rogers, Charles, 221. +Romans, 80, 83, 119, 168, 201. +_Roman Missal_, 146. +Rona, 36. +Rosse, Earl of, 231. +Rudbeek, 120. + +Sabianism, 100. +St. Johnston, Alfred, 262. +St. Kilda, 178. +Sakkria, 60. +Sakyamuni, 63. +Sale, 97. +Saliva Indians, 49. +Samoa, 59. +Samoides, 100. +Sandys, R. H., 88. +Sanskrit, 16, 60, 64. +Santhals, 219. +Saracens, 97. +Sasanka, 60. +Savannah, 225. +Scaliger, 155. +Scandinavians, 24. +Schaumberg-Lippe, 23. +Schellen, Dr. H., 237. +Schlegel, F., 97. +Schoedler, Dr. F., 236. +Schoolcraft, H. R., 57, 136, 171. +Schroeter, 235, 241, 245. +Scotch Highlanders, 149, 214, 221. +Scotland, 177, 185,223. +Selene, 19, 59. +Selenograpkia, 45. +Selish Indians, 69. +Serapion, 20. +Servian, 83. +Sexuality, 84, 108. +Shakespeare, 9,30, 66, 152, 205, 223, 232. +Shangalla, 113. +Shang-te, 102. +Shelley, 3, 251. +Shepherd of Banbury, 186. +Sherburne, Sir E., 155. +Sheridan, 22. +Sibyl, 20. +Sidonians, 94. +Silver, 218, 220. +Sin and Sinim, 91, 93. +Sina, 59. +Sinaloas, 173. +Sinclair, Sir John, 201, 222. +Sin-too, 108. +Sirturi, 1. +Slavonians, 33, 83. +Sloman, Charles, 14. +Smith, Charlotte, ix. +Smith, Dr. W., 95. +Smoker-man in the moon, A, 13. +Socrates, 117. +Sol, 24. +Solaria, 201. +Somas, 133, 219. +Somerville, Mary, 157. +Southey, 147, 149, 187. +Spaniards, 224. +Spectrum, lunar, 237. +Spens, Sir Patrick, 188, 261. +Spenser, Edmund, 45. +Spix and Martius, 129. +Sprengel, 199. +Sproat, 127. +Staffordshire, 202, 217. +Stanbridge, W. E., 72. +_Standard_, 261. +Stent, G. S., 54. +Stilpo, 11. +Stoics, 153. +Strachey, Sir E., 93. +Suffolk, 218. +Superstition, 140. +Sussex, 203, 217. +Swabia, 23, 66. +Swedenborg, 248. +Swedes, 25, 193. +Sylt, 23. + +Tacitus, 119. +Tahitians, 73, 173. +_Talmud_, 21, 197. +Taoism, 64, 102. +Taru, 176. +Taylor, Hudson, 28. +Taylor, Isaac, 251. +Telescope, 1. +Temple, Bishop, 228. +Teotihuacan, 127. +Tezcucans, 66. +Theism, 126. +Thorpe, Benjamin, 25. +Thoth, 83, 109, 111. +Thucydides, 168. +Tides, 183. +Tiele, C. P., 76, 97. +Timbs, John, 180, 207. +_Time's Telescope_, 186. +_Timon_, a Play, II. +Tithonos, 59. +Tlascaltecs, 172. +Toad in the moon, 69. +Tobler, 22. +Tomlinson, 195. +Tongans, 59, 173. +Tongusy, 99. +Torquay, 190. +Trench, 198. +Trumbull, John, 232. +Tschuwasches, 100. +Tuathal, 122. +Tunguses, 99. +Tupper, M. F., 50. +Turks, 97, 155. +Turner, Dr. G., 59. +Tusser, 178, 181. +Tylor, E. B., 37, 49, 72, 74, 84, 86, 90, 98, 109, 138, 148, 176,184, + 195. +Tyndall, John, 229. +Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, 29. + +Ulceby, 189. +Unk-ta-he, 136. +Upham, Edward, 60. + +Verne, Jules, 48. +Vico, 39. +Virgin Mary, 85, 146. +Voltaire, 144. +_Voelu-Spa_, 24. + +Wagner, Dr. W., 19. +Wales, 31. +Walled plains in the moon, 234. +Warburton, W., 120. +Water in the moon, 234. +Weather, 183. +Webb, T. W., 231. +Werenfels, 209. +Whewell, W., 249. +Whitby, 189. +Wilkins, John, 72, 238. +Wilkinson, Sir G., 82, 135. +Williams, S. Wells, 70, 157. +Williams, Thomas, 71. +Wilson, Captain, 69. +Wilson, Rev. Mr., 48. +Winckelmann, 108. +Winslow, Dr. Forbes, 198, 224. +Witchcraft, 151. +Witch of Edmonton, 226. +Woman in the moon, 53. +Worcestershire, 216. +Wright, Thomas, 27. +Wright, W. A., 133. + +Xenophanes, 41, 88. + +Yorkshire, 131. +Yue Lao, 33. +Yue Ping, 103. + +Zabaists, 90. +Zend-avesta, 98, 178. +Zulus, 190. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Moon Lore, by Timothy Harley + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOON LORE *** + +***** This file should be named 27228.txt or 27228.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/2/2/27228/ + +Produced by Ruth Hart + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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