was the goddess of wisdom; Diana was the goddess of hunting, and of chastity; and Aphrodite, (or Venus), sprung from the foam of the sea, was the goddess of love and beauty.

Of the select deities, Saturn, already mentioned, was the god of time; and Janus, his brother, presided over the year. Pluto, we have already mentioned as the brother of Jupiter; and Bacchus, the god of wine, as Jupiter's son. Sol, is but another name, or form, of Apollo, or the sun; as Luna is of Diana, or the moon. Rhea or Cybele, has been mentioned as the wife of Saturn, who reigned with him in the golden age; and Latona, the mother of Apollo and Diana, is reckoned by some as one of the select deities, though others mention Genius in her stead.

Hebe was the goddess of youth, and originally Jupiter's cupbearer; and Proserpina, who was carried away by Pluto, became the queen of Hades. Of the Muses, Clio, Calliope, Erato, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, and Urania, who collectively presided over the liberal arts; of the Graces, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne; of the Infernal Judges, Minos, Rhadamanthos, and acus; of the Gorgons, Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale; the Furies, Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megæra; the Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos; of the Rural Deities, Pan, Silenus, the Fauns, and Satyrs, Flora, Pomona, the Naiads, Limnads, Oreads, and Dryads; of the Marine Deities, Nereus, Proteus, Triton, and the Nereids and Sirens; of the Winds, Eolus, Boreas, Eurus, Notus, and Zephyrus; and of various other deities, demigods, and heroes, we have no farther room here to speak. The Naiads, we can barely remark, were nymphs of the rivers, brooks, and fountains; the Limnads, of lakes, and pools; the Oreads were nymphs of the mountains; and the Dryads were nymphs inhabiting forests and trees.

§ 4. The Hindoo Mythology, is a kind of Pantheism, regarding the Universe as God, or rather as the animate body of which God is the soul. The doctrine of transmigration probably originated in India, and is the continual key to its complicated system of deities and incarnations. The sacred books of the Hindoos, are the four Vedas or Vedus, containing prayers and precepts; six Angas, which are commentaries on the Vedas; four Upavedas, relating to sciences and arts; and lastly the Upangas, consisting of the Puranas, the Derma-Shastras, and the Dersanas, partly mythical and partly philosophical. To the Derma-Shastras belong the ordinances of Menou, containing a code of laws and customs, with a poetical account of the gods and of the creation. All these sacred books collectively are called the Shastra or Shasters. The original God, called Brahm, or Brahmatma, according to Menou, first created the waters; from which sprang a golden egg, blazing like a thousand suns; and from this egg was born Brahma, self-existing, floating on a lotus leaf. Others say that Brahma sprang from Narayana, or the spirit moving on the waters. Brahma is generally regarded as the creator of the visible world, and another of the Vedas; but as now in a state of retirement or rest. His wife Seraswatee, Saraswati, or Brahmini, is regarded as the patroness of learning.

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The three principal gods of the Hindoos, are Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Siva the destroyer; though the two latter may be regarded as incarnations of the former. Of Brahma, we may add to what is said above, that he is the parent of the Rishis or Menus, seven or ten in number, including Adimi or Swayambhuva, and others; probably corresponding to Adam and the patriarchs and the Brahmins (or Bramins) claim to have proceeded from Brahma's mouth. Vishnu, (or Veeshnoo), the preserver, is represented with several heads, and regarded as omnipotent and omniscient. He is said to have passed through nine avatars, or incarnations, to save or benefit the world; and the tenth is yet to come. As the Matsyavatara, or fish avatar, half man and half fish, he preserved the ark, and rescued the Vedas from a demon; and as the Kurmavatara, or tortoise avatar, he sustained the world when shaken by demons, and churned the sea, to enrich mankind. In the boar, and lion avatars, he rescued the earth from dailyas or wicked demigods; and as the dwarf avatar he humbled the impious Mahabeli. His last four avatars were in human shape; as Rama Parasu; as Rama Chandra (or Ramatshandra); as Krishna, (Creeshna) or Juggernaut; and as Boodhu, (or Budha), the founder of a new religion. Laksmi, Lakshmi, Sita, or Sree, the goddess of fortune and plenty, was the wife of Vishnu.

Siva, (Shiva, or Shivu), the destroyer, called also Mahadeo, Mahadeva, Iswara, and Rudra, is a personification of time, or of fire; and Parvati, (or Parvadi), called also Durga, Doorga, Devi Kali, or Bhavani, the goddess of marriage, and punisher of evil doers, was his wife. Their sons, were Ganesa, (or Guneshu), the god of policy and cunning; and Kartikya, (or Kartikeya), the god of war. Indra was regarded as lord of the elements, and Aindri as his wife; Pavana or Vayu, as god of the winds; Agni, (or Aghni), as the god of fire; Prithivi, as goddess of the earth; l'aruna, as ruler of the ocean; Surya or Sooryu, of the sun; Chandra, of the moon; and Yama or Beli, as ruler of all the dead. Nareda was the god of music; Cuvera or Cubera, of riches; and Nirit, of purification. The Suras or Soors are good angels; the Asuras, or Asoors, evil ones; of whom Mahasoor is chief. The Apsaras are beautiful maids of heaven; the Dewtas or Devitas, are genii; some good, as the Ginarers, Ganduwers, or Gandharvas; some evil, as the Danava or devils.

The Swerga or Swega-Surgs, is the paradise of Indra, on the top of Mount Meru; and Padalon, or Patala, is the infernal region; of which Nirurdi is king, and Padurbati, judge. The Hindoos believe that three great periods called Calpas have elapsed; and the present one they call Kali-Yug; at the end of which, Vishnu, as the tenth or horse avatar, will destroy the world; and all spirits will be reabsorbed into Brahm, the Eternal. The principal Hindoo sects, are the Vaishnavas, or Voisnuvus, who worship Vishnu, chiefly on the eastern coast; the Saivas, or Soivus, who worship Siva, chiefly on the western coast; the Sactas, or Shaktus, who worship the Sacti or goddesses, particularly Doorga; the Sourus who worship Surya or the sun, and the Ganuputyus who worship Ganesa. Their wor

ship consists of visits to the Pagodas; and of ablutions, sacrifices, and tortures; with cruel and horrid ceremonies, such as immolation under the car of Juggernaut.

Boodhism, or Budhuism, comprehends the worship of Budhu, in Hindoostan, and the countries east and north of it. Budhu, we have already mentioned, as the ninth avatar, or incarnation of Vishnu; whose era was about 544 B. C. He came, it is stated in the Jatas, as an ascetic philosopher, to reform a corrupted religion. The Boodhists say that four deities have already appeared, and Budhu is the fifth; and that he is yet to reach a higher state of perfection. Some of the sect, as in Ceylon, worship other Hindoo gods, as subordinate to Budhu; but most of the Boodhists regard him as the only god now claiming their worship. A sect called Jainas, have a god Reshaba, who they say became incarnate nearly in the same manner as Budhu. The Lamaism of Thibet, is but another form of Budhism; the Delai Lama, or grand priest, being considered as an incarnation of Budhu, and worshipped also in Tartary. His idol is called Muha-Moonee, in Thibet; Godumu or Gotumu, in Ava; Shummunu, in Siam; and Fo, in China

The Chinese, as taught by Confucius, or Kung-foo-tse, about 551 B. C., worshipped the elements, as agents of the Supreme Deity. About the same time Lao-Kung, (or Laou-Kiung), founded the sect of the Tao-Tzee, (or Faose), who lived luxuriously; worshipped their own ancestors; and pretended by means of a certain drink to become immortal. Boodhism was introduced into China, about A. D. 65. The idol Fo, (Foe or Fuh), is the same deity as Budhu ; and his priests are called by the Chinese, Ho-Chang; by the Siamese, Talapoins; and by the Japanese, Bonzes. Some of the Chinese worship other gods; as Lui-Shin, the thunderer; and HaiVang, the god of the sea.

§ 5. Under the head of Scandinavian Mythology, we include that of the Normans and Saxons, forming an extensive and romantic system. It was introduced from Asia, not long before the Christian Era; systematized by the scalds or bards, in their sacred poems, which are included in the Edda; but supplanted by Christianity, before the end of the tenth century. It traces the origin of things to a world of mist and snow, in the north, called Niffleheim, and a world of light and fire in the south, called Mispelheim or Muspelheim; the heat of which, melting the frost, produced the giant Imir and the cow Audumbla or Edumla, on whose milk the giant fed. From Ymir sprang the evil race of ice-giants; but from the cow proceeded Bure, the father of Bore or Boer, who married Belsta, and had three sons, Oden or Woden, Vile or Wile, and Ve.

These brothers slew the giant Ymir, and out of his body created the world; after which, they formed the first man and woman, Asker, and Emla. Then appeared Nott or night, riding on her horse Hrimfaxi, or blackmane; and her son Dagur or day, on his horse Skinfaxi, or shiningmane. Odin, the chief deity, was supposed to dwell, with Frigga his wife, in the palace Valhalla, or war-hall, in the city Asgard, the metropolis of heaven, approached only by the bridge Bifrost, or the rainbow. There, heroes slain in battle, were