Their high Veneration for Water was such, that to spit, to urine, or wash in a River was made a high Crime; perhaps, the Water of Jealousy that determin’d the Case about the Jewish Women, suspected of Adultery, might heighten their Veneration for this Element.
In Sicily, Rivers were worshipped by the Agrigentes (in the shape of a beautiful Boy) to which they sacrificed.... The Cathaians worship Earth and Water.
The Indians count the River Ganges sacred, and to have a Power of expiating their Sins. When the Idolaters wash in it, they cry, Oh Ganges, purify me! And when any are sick, they dip them in it, in order to recover their Health. The Water of this River is convey’d to such as live at a distance, and are not in a Capacity to travel; so that they ascribe as much Virtue to this River, as the Papists do to their holy Water, and chief Relicks.
The People of Bengal don’t only worship the River Ganges, but give Divine Honours to its Image. Bernier says, that Kingdom is well water’d by Channels cut out of the Ganges, which is visited by many Pilgrims, who think themselves happy if they can wash in it. There is also a Well in that Country, which they adore, and think, by washing therein, they are purify’d from their Sins. Their Priests travel about with the Water of the Ganges, which they sell at vast Prices; because the poor ignorant People are made to believe, that by drinking this Water, they obtain Pardon of their Sins.
The Inhabitants of Peru in America, fling the Ashes of their Sacrifices into the River, follow the same six Leagues, and pray the River to bring that Present to Virachoca, a superior Deity. Acosta.
The Persians and Chaldeans express their God by Fire, to which they perform Adoration, and bring it Food, crying to it, Eat, Oh my Lord Fire! To throw dead and dirty Things into the Fire, yea to blow it with their Breath, was High Treason.
The Magicians say, that this Fire was convey’d to them from Heaven; and that it was for this Reason that they kept it so religiously. That they preserve a constant Fire on their Altars, is evident from History. They are said to have Fires still subsisting, which have burnt above a thousand Years. We read of such Fire kept up with superstitious Care in the Temple of Jupiter Ammon, and in that of Hercules at Gades. So it is in Egypt, and in most of all the eastern Countries, and Virgil tells that Iarbas the Getulian could boast of a hundred Temples he had erected with Altars, blazing with perpetual Fire, the eternal Guard of the Gods[[384]].
Centum aras posuit, vigilemque sacraverat ignem,
Excubias divûm æternas.