[55] "Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archæology," vol. iv. pp. 1-19.
[56] Personification of the primordial abyss.
[57] Nevertheless, the Deluge holds an important place among the cosmogonic traditions—decidedly original in character—which Reguly has found among the Voguls. We also hear of a diluvian story among the Eulets or Kalmuks, where it seems to have come in with Buddhism.
[58] We must, however, observe that Buddhist missionaries appear to have introduced the diluvian tradition of Judea into China. Gutzlaff, "On Buddhism in China," in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (1st series, vol. xii. p. 78), affirms that he saw its principal episode represented in a very fine painting of a temple to the goddess Kivan-yin.
[59] Recently published, not recently collected. The date of Pedro de los Rios shows this.
[60] "The Native Races of the Pacific States," vol. iii. p. 68.
[61] By a singular alteration of the text it is said that the jaguars "were devoured," instead of "they devoured."
[62] From the day of the year when the final cataclysm was supposed to have occurred.
[63] This designation of the year accords with the system of Mexican cycles, containing four groups of years, each named after some object or animal.
[64] "Essai de commentaire des fragments de Berose," p. 283.