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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1895.
good Daimon.70 In Mangaia, in the South Pacific, before the priest becomes possessed, he drinks an intoxicating liquor, and, in the frenzy that follows, his wild words are taken to be the voice of God.71
On the bright third of May, on the August full moon, and on the day sailing vessels pot to sea, Gujarat sea-farers throw into the sea milk, flowers, cocoanuts and liquor.72 At a Mongol review, Babar (1502) saw the Khan and those about him sprinkle spirit made from mare's milk towards the standards.73 Among the Red Karens, of the highlands of East Burma, in a yearly festival, when the spirit's house is renewed, fermented liquor is drunk in excess by all, gongs and cymbals are sounded, drums boom, drinkers shriek, dogs howl, and matchlocks are fired.74 In New Guinea, women who wish to be exorcised of the spirit of barrenness meet in the god-hut and are sprinkled with rum by the priest, while young men fire guns and brandish swords to scare the demon. In the Peru initiation to manhood the relations scourged the lads and the lads presented the scourgers with liquor, apparently with the sense that the whipping drove out the boyish spirit of fear, and the spirit of fear, entering into the liquor, passed into and was prisoned in the whippers.76 In the feast of the Lord Inca, young Peru girls carried vases of liquor and took them to the temple of the Sun.77 The Spartans bathed new-born infants in wine.79 A Greck in love sprinkled with wine the door of his mistress' house.79 The merits of a pight-cap or final glass of liquor were known to the Greeks and Romans, who, before breaking up a party, poured wine to Mercury, the sender of sleep and pleasing dreams.80 The Greeks offered wine at the beginning and end of a voyage or journey, before going to sleep, when they entertained a stranger, and at almost every sacrifice.81 The Greeks washed the dead with warm water and wine.82
The Hebrews poured wine over an upright stone or el, gathered the wine, and gave it to barren women to secure offspring, that is, to scare the haunting spirit of barrenness.83 In seventeenth centary England, a drink of herbs worked up off clear ale over which Masses were sang, and in which garlic and holy water were mixed, was used to cure the fiend-sick.84 In eighteenth century England, the Sacramental Wine, and in Ireland and other Catholic countries, the rinsing of the chalice scared fits, whooping-cough and other childish spiritBeiz ires.sha On festival eves parishoners met in church-houses or church-yards and had drinking bouts. According to the German legend, Dame Gauden's doggie was scared by making the fermenting beer pass through an egg-shell.86 In eighteenth century England (1750), the bride and bridegroom, on going to bed, were given sack-posset, and again when they awoke.87 In England, the wassail bowl used to be drunk at Christmas. This was probably a foreChristian rite. The early Northmon liked nothing so much as carousing ale. The master used to fill a great bowl and pass it round, first drinking out of it himself.99 Tbewassailing bowl was also nu old Saxon institution. It resembled the Grace-cup of the Greeks and Romans.80 The Norse god Odin is said to have taken no nourishment but wine.co The northern nations, in addressing their rural deities, on every invocation, emptied a cup in their honour. Compare abont the middle of the twelfth century, on the island of Rugen, in the South-West Baltic, the Gerinan and Slav god Suanto Wib or Holy Light, held in his right hand a horn.
50 Daniel. Chap. V.; Brown's Great Dionysiak Myth, Vol. II. p. 109. 11 The Golden Bough, Vol. I. p. 33. T2 Vaikuntrain's Guarit Hindu Religion, Element Worship. * Baber's Memoirs, p. 103.
** Government of India Records, Vol. XXIV. p. 39. 56 lecquard in The Golden Bough, Vol. II. p. 162. 76 Emerson's Mask, Hearis and Faces, p. 107. 11 Op.cit. p. 105.
78 Potter's Antiquities, Vol. II. p. 319. Op. cit. Vol. II. p. 214. 50 Op. cit. Vol. II, p. 403 ; Sınith's Greek and Roman Antiguities, Vol. II. p. 481. 31 Potter's Asitiquities, Vol. I. pp. 219, 270 ; Smith's Grock and Roman Antiquities, Vol. I. p. 302: Vol. II. p. 581 *2 Taylor's Danger of Premature Interment, p. 3. $3 lunar's Ancient Fatihs, Vol. I. p. 305. Black'a Folk-Lore Medicine, p. 89.
' Choice Notes on Foll-Lore, pp. 227, 228. #Aubrey's Remains of Geniidism, p. 46.
$6 Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, Vol. III. p. 927. Hono's Table Book, Vol. I. p. 293.
Gentleman's Magazine Library, "Popular Superstitions,' p. 77. * Godtleniani's May:ine Library, Manners and Customny," p. 24,
Hielop's Two Belyione, p. 451. 91 Gentlemari's Mcgazine Library," Manners and Customs," p. 22
