Sale'S Koran contains evidence of the practice of infanticide, but assimilating more than in any other case with the custom of the Jahreja race of Cutch and Kattyawar. This barbarity seems to have been eonfined to the female infants, as is the case with the Jahreja • and it is remarkable that the difficulty of providing for them in marriage, or the apprehension of their conduct disgracing their parenta is assigned in both casea as the cause of this inhuman custom. One benefit which resiilted to mankind from the success of Mahomed has been the relinquishment of that inhuman practice amongst his munerous followers.
Abbe Domenech says that genie branches of the Scythic stock undoubtedly crossed to America in the early centuries of our era, and they seem to have carried with them the sacrificial customs which have been it peculiarity of all their off shoots. The Comanche and the Nachez, Indian tribes of North America, formerly buried the wives of a deeeased chief along with him. The Ottawa offered a horse in sacrifice on the tomb of the dead. With the Nachez, the victims placed themselves on mats and danced the death-dance with their executioners, who formed a circle around them. The Pawnee tribes, supposed to be descendants from the ancient Mexicans, also offered human sacrifices, though the rite latterly fell into abeyance. These sacrifices took place more particularly in the month of April, that is, at sowing time, with a view to obtaining abundant harvests from the Great Spirit. The preparation lasted four days ; on the fifth the victim was bound to three stakes, placed above the funeral pile. He was painted red or black, and hig breast burned and pierced with arrows, and after his heart was reached it WaS torn from his breast and devoured all bleeding. This barbarous ceremony was terminated either by setting the pile ert fire or by eating the victim, whose blood served tO water the seeds about to be committed to the earth. Many Indian nhtions of the northern and western parts of North America celebrated an nually solemn festivals when the leaves of the willow had attained their full size. These solemn itieg were in commemoration of a great event,.—in propitiation of the superior "powers ; or were offered in expiation. Among the Mandan, these were prolonged four days, and the greatest cruel ties were practised on the tortured victims.
The pouring out of water as a libation ia a very ancient rite. In Genesis xxxv. 14, Jacob is mentioned as setting up a pillar, and he poured a I drink-offering thereon, and he poured sail thereon ; ' and to the present day, throughout British India, the lingam, the priapus Dr phallus, in its daily worship by the Saiva Hindus is wathed with oil and milk. Wine wag occasionally used, as in Numbers xxviii. 7, causing the strong wine tO be poured unto the Lord for a think-offering ; also i 1 Samuel vii, 6, Israel gathered together to Mizneh.
and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. David, avhen pressed by the people of Palestine, Craved for a drink from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and afterwards would not drink it when brought by three men, but poured it out unto the Lord.' And to the present day, all Hit-Idris offer water libations to the earth deity.
The sacrifices of the Zoroastrians were never of human beings. The ordinary victims of the Aryans were the horse and mare, oxen, sheep, and goats.
A little aftet the time of Isaiah, Buddha ap peared, objecting to all animal sacrifices. But from the times of the Vedas until now, the Homa, an offering of ghi to the fire, from the dhenkna or sacrificial ladle ; also the Pasaya, sacred food of rice and milk, cooked in sacrificial kettles, have been oblations of Hindus. In the Hindu sacrifices, the sweet-smelling kusa grass seema to have been employed, from the most ancient dates, and also an alcoholic fluid which they called the soma juice, and the ancient Persians called hom. What this fluid was is doubtful, but it had stimu lating and intoxicating qualities, for the Rig Veda (ix.) says, the purifying soma, like the sea rolling its waves, has poured forth songs and hymns and thoughts.' It has been said to be the fermented acid juice of the Sarcostemma acidum, the shom-luta of Bengal; and the fierce exultations which are noticed in the Rig Veda could only have been produced by it strong alcoholic drink.
The ordinary Vedic offerings were of cooked food, delicious food and drink ; the Janemajaya, however wita a sacrifice of snakes (qu. the Snake race), and the Rajasaya was a royal sacrifice to the gods in acknowledgment of sovereignty and supremacy. Originally it was a great national feast.