f the golden cup, which, of course, represents the earth and
its fulness, and, at this season, the now expected increase, the High
Priest placed a golden crucifix on the virgin water and blessed its
return from wintry death, invoking the precious fluid to vernal life and
productiveness, when lo! a holy child suddenly appears upon the scene,
reminding us that this is everywhere the outcome of the 'wafers of life'
in all animal as well as vegetable production. Boodha in the garden of
Loobim through which flowed a holy stream, and Christ by the brook at
Bethlehem, nay, the first pair in the garden of the four rivers, are
all the same idea--fertility and creation. The high Russian Pontiff
now slowly and solemnly stooped, and taking up some of the holy water,
proceeded to sprinkle the vernal child--Jesus, whispered these crowds,
but the ancients said Horus. The sacred fluid was then sprinkled on
the clergy, the Czar, and all dignitaries, and finally on the sacred
emblems, banners, guns, etc. Men and women, aye, wise as well as
foolish, of every rank, now crowded forward, and on bended knee besought
their Patriarch to sprinkle and to bless them. Finally, the great Czar
put the cup to his lips, humbly and reverently, and then filled it to
overflowing with a wealth of golden pieces, for it is the still living
representative in the nineteenth century A.C. of 'the golden boat' of
Hea of the nineteenth century B.C."(77)

77) Forlong, Rivers of Life, vol. ii., p. 95.

The symbol of Neith or Muth, Athene or Minerva, the great universal
female principle of the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, was the shield
and serpent. In Celtic Druids I find that Nath, the Egyptian Neith, the
"goddess of wisdom and science whose symbol was the shield and serpent,
was worshipped among the ancient Irish." The male God associated with
her was Naith, and according to Higgins represented "the opposite of
Neith."

In Rivers of Life is observed a reference to the Assyrian Goddess Hea by
Lucian. In a note Forlong says that no doubt Hea is the same as Haiya
or Haya. In other words she represents the universal hermaphrodite--the
creative principle throughout Nature, which was originally worshipped as
female. The actual signification of the word Haya is "life." In ancient
Arabia it was applied to a group of kinsmen.

The Rev. Mr. Davis is of the opinion that Noe or Noah was the same as
Deon and that both were Hu or Hea the mighty, whose chariot was