INTRODUCTION.

PERHAPS few Christians constantly retain the recollection that the Bible is an Eastern book, and that several of its supposed obscurities do not arise from any intention in the sacred writers to be dark or mysterious, but from the customs, manners, rites, ceremonies, and superstitions to which they allude, and of which we who inhabit a different region, and are placed in different circumstances, have very imperfect conceptions. Should the present collection of Oriental phraseology produce an effect on other minds similar to that which it has on my own, then will many be led to glorify "God in the highest" for his revealed system of purity and truth. I am not so weak as to suppose, that I have succeeded in casting light on all those passages of scripture which seem to be obscure; but, that I have in several instances attained that object, few candid minds will deny. For many years I lived in habits of comparative intimacy with the Hindoos, and mixed with them in their scenes of joy and sorrow; and whatever I heard or saw that promoted the object which I had at heart, was immediately noted down, and on my return home was written out at length: so that, on arriving in my native country, the manuscript had only to be copied in the order which the sacred books of the Old and New Testaments occupy in our English version. After even a cursory perusal of this work, every one, I think, will be convinced, that its contents could have only been the production of a man who had resided many years amongst the people, who had a tolerable knowledge of their language and various usages, and who entered with much interest into their varied feelings : and therefore I hope I shall obtain from my readers that degree of confidence which is necessary for enjoying the descriptions which I have given. Some of my friends, either to excite my caution or my fears, have advised me not to expect much mercy from the reviewers; but my reply has

been, that as there is nothing political or sectarian in these papers, and as they relate to a Book which is the common property of all Christians, we ought all to feel pleasure when its various and delightful truths receive additional illustration and confirmation.

The allusions to the abominations of Heathenism in holy writ are exceedingly numerous; and this should excite no wonder, for most of the writers had extensive intercourse with the idolaters. Look at Moses nurtured in the palace of heathen royalty: he "was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians;" (Acts vii. 22;) and the people whom he was appointed to lead and govern, were constantly inclined to the superstitions and impurities of Heathenism. Who then can be surprised at the broad, the awful denunciations against that system which are found in the first five books of the holy Scriptures?

Joshua, the pious and heroic successor of Moses, had to guide the same people through the land of the Heathen; and in his book there are many affecting details of the contests and transactions which they had with the idolaters.

The book of Judges contains some fearful accounts of the impiety of the Israelites, and of their subjugation to the Heathen at six different periods.

The book of Ruth has received its name from a heathen woman, who was married to a son of Naomi.

The first and second books of Samuel relate to the heathen chieftain Goliath, to the fall of the god Dagon, to Saul and the witch of Endor, and to various battles with the neighbouring idolaters.

The books of Kings contain many appalling instances of the intercourse which existed betwixt backsliding Israel and the worshippers of idols. Here we have Solomon and the heathen daughter of Pharaoh; and here we have an account of his attachment to pagan women, and of his fall into idolatry. Here also we have the glaring wickedness of Jeroboam in making the golden calves, and the wretched Baasha, who continued that system; and here the abominable Ahab and the audacious Jezebel, who were succeeded by their heathenish son Ahaziah, who sent to inquire of the idol Baal-zebub whether he should recover from his sickness.

The book of Ezra describes the return of the Jews from

their seventy years' inglorious captivity amongst the Hea

then.

Nehemiah is believed to have been born in Babylon. Esther was the queen of the heathen Ahasuerus of Persia. Job lived amongst the Heathen; and the Psalms contain many allusions to that system. Isaiah was most particular in his descriptions, and uncompromising in his denunciations against idols. Jeremiah, who was a prisoner to a heathen king, makes frequent reference to Paganism; and Ezekiel, who was a captive in Babylon, is most daring in his disclosures and threatenings. See the faithful, the noble Daniel, and his office in the capital of Assyria; and look at Jonah, in the idolatrous city of Nineveh, and his subsequent voyage with heathen mariners as his companions. Consider also the Minor Prophets, and their vivid accounts of Israel and her idols. In this comprehensive view of the subject, who can be surprised at the numerous illustrations to be found in the following pages, concerning the same system of idolatry which exists in the East at this day?

I submit, that we are not to look to the supposed site of Paradise, or to the Holy Land, for the primitive locality of the present human family, but to Ararat. Is it not reasonable to suppose, that Noah and his family would remain for some time at no great distance from the spot where they first settled? And when they did remove, would it not be towards those countries which were most fruitful? Who built the splendid cities of Babylon and Nineveh? Did not Asshur, and probably the other sons and descendants of Noah? (Gen. x. 11.) Who were the first students of astrology, as a guide to find out the good or evil supposed to be produced by the heavenly bodies? Who were the first to propitiate their favour in reference to their salutary or malignant influences on the destinies of men? Does not the mind instantly advert to the builders and occupiers of Babylon, to their dispersion over the earth, and the consequent carrying away of their superstitions, though then veiled in different languages? It has been well observed, "Whoever were the first planters of India, it could not have been planted till long after Persia and Elam had been sufficiently cultivated, and a

• For observations on Ararat, Taurus, Caucasus, and Himalaya, see pp. 457 of this work.

considerable number of ages after Assyria and the countries adjoining Ararat had been planted. This is so apparent from scripture and the nature of things, that it will not admit of a dispute." * "As, then, Abraham, &c., the fathers of the Hebrew nation, came originally from near to India," + can we suppose the customs and manners, the sciences and figures of speech, would not be preserved?

But what were the idols worshipped by the Jews? The leading deities were exactly the same as those of India at this day. Calmet suggests that the Chiun of Amos is the same as the Chiven or Siva of the Hindoos. He is joined with the sanguinary Moloch, who corresponds with the blood-thirsty Kāli or Patrakaly, an incarnation of the consort of Siva. In the fragments to Calmet † it is said, "It will, no doubt, be observed, that the Chiun of Amos is a term used many ages after the events to which the prophet refers, which are thus connected with the history of Balaam, (Num. xxii.,) and that the term in Numbers is not Chiun, but Baal-Peor." Those who know the meaning of the word Peor, will immediately see it is the same as the paλλos of the Greeks, the Priapus of the Romans, the Osiris of the Egyptians, and the Lingam of the Hindoos.

But I will now give an extract from an Essay on the Identity of the Gods served by the Jews, with those of Assyria, India, and other nations: §

"The Jews worshipped the Assyrian deity, Succothbenoth, under the name of Ashtoreth or Astarte; and it is said, that this 'god or goddess was both masculine and feminine.' The Siva of India is both male and female; his right side being of the former, and his left of the latter sex; ¶ and his wife assumed both appearances, as circumstances might require.

"The Babylonians called Succoth-benoth, Mylitta, signify

See "Universal History," vol. xx. p. 71. + See Calmet, vol. iv. p. 670. + No. 537.

§ See "Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society," p. 87, article vi., by the Rev. Joseph Roberts, C. M. R. A. S.

"Universal History."

Maurice makes the following quotation from Proclus :-Zeus apony Yeveto, Ζευς αμβροτος έπλετο νύμφη. " Jupiter is a man : Jupiter is also an immortal maid." (Vol. iv. p. 707.)

ing mother.'* The wife of Siva, and she only, (as far as I know,) is called Máthá, or 'mother.'

"Amongst the Assyrians, 'the daughters or women once in their lives had to make a sacrifice of virtue to that goddess, Succoth-benoth.'+ And Lempriere says of her: A surname of Venus among the Assyrians, in whose temples all the women were obliged to prostitute themselves to strangers.' The wife of Siva, amongst many other names, is called Váli or Báli, under which appellation she assumed the form of a girl of twelve years of age. And in Madura, Balane, and other places, beautiful virgins used to go to the temple once in their lives, to offer themselves in honour of the goddess. The story was, that a god had converse with them. In all the temples of Síva and his consort, (where it can be afforded,) women are kept to dance and sing before the idols.

"Amongst the Assyrians and others, 'the votaries of the above-named goddess worship sometimes in the dress of men, and at other times in that of women.' ‡ The dancing-girls of many of the temples on the continent of India, at the feast called Mánampu, do the same thing. When the god and goddess go out to hunt, they are equipped and mounted as men; and at the conclusion of the great feast of Siva they assume the dress of Pandárams, and thus go from house to house to ask alms.

"The Babylonian or Assyrian goddess was drawn or supported by lions. The wife of Siva, under the name of Bhadra-kali, has the same animal appropriated to her use.

"Succoth-benoth, the same with the Syrian goddess, the same as Astarte of the Phoenicians and the Decerto of Ascalon.' The worship paid to this goddess came originally from Assyria and Babylonia. Astarte is always joined with Baal; and is called a god in scripture, which has no particular word for expressing a goddess. || Lucian thinks Astarte to be the Moon.

"The wife of Siva, under the name of Sacti, placed a repre

• "Universal History."

+ Ibid.

Ibid. Tyerman and Bennet relate concerning the Festival of Cama : "There were boys, dressed as girls, dancing in the streets to the sound of jingling, jarring, and ear-piercing instruments." §"Universal History." || Ibid.

See Calmet in loco; also, his Plates XVI. figures 12, 13, 14; and x1x. figures 1 and 2; where the horns, or rather the crescent moon, may be seen on the head.