on the
reeking skins of oxen or goats offered in sacrifice. Pliny and others
attached great importance to dreams. Xenophon remarks that in sleep
the souls of men appear to be more unfettered and divine than when the
eyes are not closed in slumber, and are enabled to look into futurity.
Another writer observes that in sleep the soul holds converse with the
Deity, and perceives future events. Socrates, Cicero, and Arian
express belief in the prophetic powers occasionally manifested by the
dying. Posidonius relates the story of a dying Rhodian predicting
which out of six persons would die first, second, etc.; and the
prophecy was verified. Hippocrates and Galen put faith in the
prophetic character of dreams. Origen tells us that AEsculapius
discovered means of cure through dreams, probably brought about by
artificial means.

In the code of Menu there are passages showing various modes of
producing the ecstatic states, such as through the influence of the
sun and moon, by sacrifice, music, liquids, and solid ingredients. The
Soma-drink was taken as a sacrament. In connection with human
sacrifices, this beverage was sometimes prepared with magical
ceremonies and incantations. It was supposed to be capable of
producing visions in sleep, when revelations were made of what was
passing in the inferior and superior worlds.

Josephus, like many other eminent men, possessed the faculty of
predicting future events. Josephus, having fought with great courage
against the Romans, refused to surrender to them until after the
capture of Jatapat, when he began to reflect on the dreams he had had.
In these, both the misfortunes of the Jews and the triumph of the
Romans were revealed. When the determination of Josephus to yield
became known, his companions in misfortune declared they would rather
die than surrender. So exasperated were they, that they proposed to
immolate him, and then destroy themselves. Their swords were drawn to
kill their leader, when he suggested that they should terminate their
lives by a reciprocal death--that the lot should determine
successively who should give and who should receive death, until all
were slain, and thus avoid the reproach of having laid violent hands
on themselves. This suggestion was agreed to. The lots were drawn, and
all perished except Josephus and one of his companions. Josephus
predicted the good fortune of Vespasian and Titus, and the short life
of their predecessors.

In an Eastern t