[17] Larousse’s ‘Dict. Universel.’
[18] ‘Records,’ &c., iii. p. 141. Marduk is the Chaldæan Hercules.
[19] Micah vii. 19.
[20] See the excellent article in the Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the R.A.S., by Dundris De Silva Gooneratnee Modliar (1865–66). With regard to this sanctity of the number seven it may be remarked that it has spread through the world with Christianity,—seven churches, seven gifts of the Spirit, seven sins and virtues. It is easy therefore to mistake orthodox doctrines for survivals. In the London ‘Times’ of June 24, 1875, there was reported an inquest at Corsham, Wiltshire, on the body of Miriam Woodham, who died under the prescriptions of William Bigwood, herbalist. It was shown that he used pills made of seven herbs. This was only shown to be a ‘pagan survival’ when Bigwood stated that the herbs were ‘governed by the sun.’
[21] See p. 44.
[22] ‘Jour. Ceylon R. A. Soc.,’ 1865–66.
[23] This demoness is not to be connected with the Italian Mania, probably of Etruscan origin, with which nurses frightened children. This Mania, from an old word manus signifying ‘good,’ was, from the relation of her name to Manes, supposed to be mother of the Lares, whose revisitations of the earth were generally of ill omen. According to an oracle which said heads should be offered for the sake of heads, children were sacrificed to this household fiend up to the time of Junius Brutus, who substituted poppy-heads.
[24] Phædrus, i. 549. Cf. Ger. selig and silly.
[25] ‘Lect. on Language,’ i. 435.
[26] Ralston’s ‘Songs of the Russian People,’ p. 230.