Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-04-29
THE EVENING NEWS.
SUPPLEMENT-
Pagan Superstition.

Memphis, situated on the banks Of the
Nile, near the Pyramids, was the capital OF
Egypt before Alexandra was built, and con-
tanned the Temple of Apis, the Ox-god, the
type of Osiris, whose soul the Egyptians be-
lieved passed into the body Of an OK. The
great festival Of this god was performed with
the most magnificent ceremonies at Mem
phis, at the commencement Of the annual In
undation of the Nile, and lasted seven days.
The OK, selected to represent the god, was
distinguished by particular marks, which
were, most probably, the ingenious produc-
tons OF the priests the whole animal was
black, except white crescent, or marx re-
sembling the figure Of man, on the right
side; and on the back, the figure of an eagle;
on the forehead was white, square spot;
under the tongue knot resembling beetle;
and the hairs Of the tail were double. This
OK was led in solemn procession, and having
made the round of the city in order that those
who smellcd his breath might gain 4 know
ledge Of futurity, and after a variety Of other
absurd ceremonies, he was led to the river,
and if he had attained to twenty five years of
age, he was drowned, and a new Apis elected.
On this occasion, although the god was pur-
posely drowned. the priests shaved their
heads as an indication Of mourning; cries
and lamentation rcsounded through the city;
and these continued until 4 new Apis, with
all the characteristic marks, was found. This
new representative of Osiris had to perform
probation of forty days, before being initiated
in all his dignities; during which time women
only administered to him.
Bull and kline worship passed into Egypt
from Hindostan, and it is still retained in the
East for silva rides upon white bull, called
Handi; and Brahmany, or sacred bulls, are
seen wandering unmOlestcd III all the cities
of Hindostan. But the most curious circum-
stance relating to bovine worship is the fact
that it was practiced in England in the tif
teen century; another proof, among many,
of the difficulty Of shaking off old habits, and
a veriiication Of the remark, that the early
Christians had ingrafted some Of the abomina-
tions of Paganism on their ritual. Major
Moor, in his Oriental FragDl entS, p. jlG, has
given the following translation Of a register
OF the monastery Of St. Edmundsbury, con-
tanned in a volume entitled CaroNa rGrjG, by
the Rev. VIM. Hawkins, of Hadleigh, Suffolk,
printed at Cambridge, 1854.
"This indenture certities, that Master
John Swarsham, sacrist, with the consent OF
the prior and convent, demise and let to -
the manor called Habyrden i'll Bury, and the
said - his executors, &c, shall find, or
cause to be found, one White Ball, every
year Of his term, SO often as it shall happen
that any gcntlewoman (ntuliercm gc''eros"a)
or any other woman, from devotion, or VOWS
BY them made, shall visit the tomb OF the
glorious martyr St. Edmund, to make the
oblatinn Of the said white bull, etc. Dated,
the 4th Of June, in the second year OF Henry
VII. "a. D. 1850" Two other indentures,
nearly similar, are of the eleventh and twen-
ty-ffth OF Henry VIII. Now, the worthy
Mr.. Hawkins informs us, that when 4 mar
ried woman wished to make this oblation,
" the white bull, who was never yoked 10 the
plough, nor baited, was led in procession
through the principal gate Of the monastery,
attended by all the monks singing, and
shouting crowd the woman walking by him,
and stroking his milk-white sides, and pen
dant dewlaps. The bull being then dismiss
ed, the woman entered the church. and paid
her vows at the altar OF st. Edmond, kissing
the stone, and entreating with tears the
blessing OF 4 child" 1t is not easy 10 say
how many other equally ridiculous pagan
superstitions deformed the purity OF Chris
tianity before this period.