tains, that the Palici were the children of Adranus". This Adranus I apprehend to be Adar-Nus, the illuftrious Noah: whence I think it probable, that the Palici were the fame as the Diofcori; that the oath by their confecrated lakes, like that by the waters of Styx, alludes to the postdiluvian oath of God; and that their connection with Juno, and their emerging from night into day, relates to the dove on the one hand, and to the paffing of the Noëtical family from the obscurity of the Ark, on the other. The confecrated lake was a very ufual appendage of Cabiric devotion, as fufficiently appears from thofe of Buto and Cotylè, and as will hereafter be made yet more evident from a variety of other instances *. The very early introduction of the Cabiric Mysteries into Italy further appears from the Η και Παλικων ευλόγως μενει φατις ; Παλιν γαρ ίκεσ' εκ σκοτους τοδ' ες φαος. Æfchyl. apud Macrob. Ibid. * Παλικοι. Αδρανῳ δυο γεννωνται υἱοι Παλικοί, οἱ νυν της Συρακεσίας εισι κρατήρες οἱ καλουμενοι Παλικοί, οἱ και κατῴκήσαντες αυτῇ. × Vide infra chap. x. It is poffible, that Palas, Pallas, and the Palici, may have derived their refpective titles from the Indian tribe of the Palli; who seem to have given to the holy land its name of Palestine, and to have been the original inventors of the hiftory of the Theban Edipus. See a very curious Differtation on Egypt, &c. by Captain Wilford. Afiat. Ref. vol. iii. fiction of the Argonautic voyagers having touched there. The miraculous veffel, in which they failed, is faid to have declared with a human voice, that they would find no termination of their troubles till they reached Aufonia. Accordingly, after coafting along the shore of Etruria, they at length arrived at Eëa, where they were purified by Circè. Hence we find an Italian port named Eëtes, where the Argo was feigned to have anchored; and near it a place called Circèum, and a river denominated Titon. Αμφι Κιρκαίο να πας, Αργός τε κλεινον όρμον Αιητην μέγαν, Upon the banks of Crathis, another Italian river, which was reported to have the peculiar property of changing the hair of those, who bathed in it, into a fiery colour *, the * Η ναυς φέγγεται, μη λήξειν την οργήν του Διος, ει μη πορευθέντες εις την Αυσονίαν.-οἱ δε παραμειψάμενοι Τυρρηνίαν, ηλθον εις Αιαίαν, ενθα Κίρκη ίκεται γενόμενοι καθαίρονται. Apollod. Bibl. lib. i. cap. 9. Z Lycoph. Caffan. ver. 1273. Upon which Tzetzes re marks : Αιητης λιμην εν Ιταλία-Τιτων ποταμος Ιταλίας, εγγυς Κιρ καις, ὁ Κιρκαίον απο της Κίρκης καλείλαι. a Κράθις, ποταμος Ιταλίας, των λεομένων το ύδωρ αύτε πυρσαίνων τας χαλας. Tzet. in Lycoph. ver. 1o21. This Italian river Crathis received its name from the Arcadian Crathis, into Colchians, fent in pursuit of Media, were feigned to have built cities. Κραθις δε γείτων, ηδε Μυλακων όροις We have hitherto traced the introduction of the Cabiric rites into Italy by the Pelafgi, the Tyrrheni, the Cretans, the Trojans, and the fabulous Argonauts: let us now extend our researches into the ancient empire of Hindoftan. It has been obferved, upon the authority of Mnafeas, that one of the Samothracian. Cabiri was Pluto, or Aidoneus, who is faid by Fulgentius, Cicero, and Julius Firmicus, to be the fame as Plutus, the god of riches . In which the fountain Styx emptied itfelf. Vide fupra p. 264. note h. b Lycoph. Caff. ver. 1021. Πολαι, πολεις εισιν ηπείρου, ὑπο Κόλχων κλισθείσαι. το δ' εξής έτως ο Κράθις δε χώρος δεξεται αυτές Συρικες, ὁ γελων ταις πολαις των Κολχων, και ταις των Μυλακων όροις. Tzet. in loc. In confequence, I apprehend, of the introduction of the Cabiric worship into Italy, a tradition prevailed, that Jafon buried Medèa at Buthrotum, and that their fon reigned over the Marfi. Medeam ab Jafone Buthroti fepultam, filiumque ejus Marfis imperâffe. Solin. Polyhift. cap. 2. The Marsi seem to have been fo called from their worship of M'Ars, the great Sun. • Quartum etiam Plutonem dicunt terrarum præfulem : πλου a fimilar manner, the Hindoo Plutus is denominated Cuverad, or Cubera, which is evidently a mere variation of the word Cabir; and he is fuppofed moreover, like Cronus, Sydyk, and Mercury, to be joined with feven other genii, though he is, at the fame time, efteemed inferior to the three great gods, Brahma, Vishnou, and Seeva f. The most singular proof however, that the Cabiri were not unknown to the Hindoos, is adduced by Captain Wilford. "In the Adbuta-Cofa," fays he, "we find the following legends, which have an obvious relation to the deities worshipped in the mysteries "of Samothrace. “In Patala, or the infernal regions, refides "the fovereign queen of the Nagas, (large "fnakes or dragons :) she is beautiful, and her Thouros enim Græce divitiæ dicuntur, folis terris credentes divitias deputari. Fulg. Mythol. lib. i. cap. 4. Thus likewise Cicero: Terrena autem vis omnis atque natura Diti patri dedicata eft: qui Dives, ut apud Græcos Пlv, quia et recidant omnia in terras, et oriantur e terris. Cic. de Nat. Deor. lib. ii. cap. 26. And Julius Firmicus: Dives rufticus, cui propter divitias П fuit nomen. Jul. Firm. de Err. Prof. Rel. P. 17. d Cuvera is the fame as Cubera, V and B being letters of the fame organ. e Vide fupra p. 389. f Afiat, Ref. vol. i. p. 247. "" name "name is Afyoruca. There, in a caye, she performed Tapafya with fuch rigorous au 66 fterity, that fire fprang from her body, and "formed numerous agni-tiraths, (places of "facred fire) in Patala. Thefe fires, forcing their way through the earth, waters, " and mountains, formed various openings, "or mouths, called from thence the flaming "mouths, or juala-much'i. By Samudr, or "Oceanus, a daughter was born unto her "called Rama-Devi. She is most beautiful; fhe is Lachmi; and her name is Afyotcer 66 fha or Afyotcrifhta. Like a jewel the re"mains concealed in the ocean. "The Dharma-Rajah, or king of justice, "has two countenances; one is mild and full "of benevolence: thofe alone, who abound "with virtue, fee it. He holds a court of 66 juftice, where are many affiftants, among "whom are many just and pious kings: Chitragupta acts as chief fecretary. These holy "men determine what is juft or unjuft. His (Dharma-Rajab's) fervant is called Carma"la: he brings the righteous on celestial cars, "which go of themfelves, whenever holy 66 men are to be brought in, according to the "directions of the Dharma-Rajah, who is the fovereign of the Pitris. This is called his divine countenance, and the righteous alone 66 "do |