r continual benefits,
surrendered part of their increase for the service of the altar.
Egyptian offerings consisted of fruits and herbs, while shepherds
offered firstlings of their flocks. For this cause the Egyptians
disliked shepherds almost with the cruel hatred Cain bore his brother
Abel.

As the oak and misletoe were sacred to the Druids, so were they to the
Israelites in their days of declension. And in Greece we find the
famous oracle of Jupiter at the oaks of Dodona. To the ancient
inhabitants of Italy the misletoe was a sacred emblem; and the golden
branches of Virgil were none other than those of the misletoe.

As the Druids studied the heavenly bodies as a book (so says Origen),
the heathen learned through the discovery of a new star the birth of a
great person. From Virgil, it appears, it was commonly imagined the
gods sent stars to point the way to their favourites in perplexity.
The Jews entertained similar opinions.

According to Suckford, the ancients believed that heroes and other
great men were transferred at death to some bright planet. In
consequence of such belief, eminent persons were deified. Julius Caesar
was canonised, because it was thought he was translated to a new star,
discovered at the hour of his death.

DEMONOLOGY.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

First Ideas of Demonology--Rabbinical
Tradition--Adam's Marriage--The Wicked
Lilith--Demons--Egyptian Tradition--Arabian Worship of
Genii--Christians' Opinions of Demons--Forms assumed
by Evil Spirits--Demoniacal King--Duty of Inferior
Demons--Task of Benign Spirits--Schools of Magic--What
was taught in them--Circassian Opinions--Belief of
Indians--Situation of Hell--Men's Actions
recorded--Rewards and Punishments--How to frighten
Demons--Treatment of the Sick--Condemning Spirits to
Everlasting Punishment--Attendant Angels--Worship of
Gods--Foretelling Future Events--Small-pox propagated
by an Evil Genius--Souls of Deceased Persons--Dread of
Evil Spirits--Effect of Charms.

To the Chaldeans we are indebted for the first ideas of demonology.
From Chaldea the notions of demonology spread to Persia, Egypt, and
Greece; but, as stated in another part of these pages, a belief in
spirits or genii and of witchcraft prevailed at an early period of
man's existence. There is an ancient Rabbinical tradition, no doubt
very absurd, but illustrative of early notions of