Chapter VIII

Celtic Mythology--Druidism--Derivation of the Word Druid--
Origin of Druidical Worship--Account given by Cæsar--
Characteristics--Divinities worshipped by the Druids--Esus--
His Attributes--Bel--Teutates--Camul--Tarann--Priests--Their
Duties--Bards--Their Influences--Druids, properly so called--
Sacred Plants--Mystic Writing of the Druids--Their Political
Authority--Druidesses--Of the Loire--Of the Island of Sena--
Human Sacrifices offered by Druidesses--Virgins of Tara--
Sacrifices offered by the Druids--Victims chosen--Belief of
the Druids in a Future State--Festivals of the Druids--
Festival--Solstices--Beltane or Beal-Tinne--Ceremonies
observed in Ireland--St. Patrick at Tara--First of November--
Breton Legend--Superstitious Practices belonging to the Day--
Suppression of Druidism in Gaul--In England--Mona--Iona--
Druidical Monuments--Menhirs--Dolmens--Cromlechs--Stonehenge
--Carnac--Popular Superstitions 257

CHAPTER IX.

Mexico--Mythology of the Aztecs--Its Peculiar Characteristics--
Belief of the Aztecs with regard to the Supreme Being--
Subordinate Deities--Huitzilopotchli--Legend of Quetzalcoatl--
Household Divinities--Belief of the Aztecs with regard to a
Future State--Singular Ceremony--Rites of Burial--Aztec
Priests--Priestesses--Mexican Temples--Pyramid of Cholula--
Sacrifices--Their Number--Victims offered annually to
Tezcatlipoca--Cannibal Repasts--Montezuma 274

CHAPTER X.

Mythology of the Ancient Peruvians--Belief in One God--Worship
of the Sun, Moon, and Stars--Legend of Manco-Capac--Pretended
Origin of the Inca Race--Legend of the Deluge--Tradition of
White Men from the East--Temple of the Sun in the Island of
Titicaca--Temple of Cuzco--Peruvian Priesthood--Sacrifices
offered to the Sun--Festivals of the Sun--Feast of Raymi--
Resemblance of certain Peruvian Rites to those observed by
the Ancient Romans--Virgins of the Sun--Burial Rites of the
Peruvians--Cupay 284

SUPPLEMENT.

Notice of Authors, etc., mentioned in this Volume--Æschylus--
Cæsar--Cicero--Demosthenes--Diodorus--Euripides--Herodotus--
Justin--Juvenal--Mæcenas--Pelasgi--Plinius--Procopius--
Simonides--Sophocles--Strabo--Titicaca--Varro 292

MYTHOLOGY.