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{{Page|xxix|introductory.}} | {{Page|xxix|introductory.}} | ||
{{Style P-No indent|covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions, and with the strange pictures of gods and goddesses . . . . On rolls of papyrus, which seem to defy the ravages of time, we have even fragments of what may be called the sacred books of the Egyptians; yet, though much has been deciphered in the ancient records of that mysterious race, the mainspring of the religion of Egypt and the original intention of its ceremonial worship ''are far from being fully'' disclosed to us.”* Here again the mysterious hieroglyphic documents remain, but the keys by which alone they become intelligible have disappeared.}} | {{Style P-No indent|covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions, and with the strange pictures of gods and goddesses. . . . . On rolls of papyrus, which seem to defy the ravages of time, we have even fragments of what may be called the sacred books of the Egyptians; yet, though much has been deciphered in the ancient records of that mysterious race, the mainspring of the religion of Egypt and the original intention of its ceremonial worship ''are far from being fully'' disclosed to us.”* Here again the mysterious hieroglyphic documents remain, but the keys by which alone they become intelligible have disappeared.}} | ||
Nevertheless, having found that “ there is a natural connection between language and religion ” ; and, secondly, that there was a ''common'' Aryan religion before the separation of the Aryan race ; a ''common'' Semitic religion before the separation of the Semitic race; and a ''common'' Turanian religion before the separation of the Chinese and the other tribes belonging to the Turanian class ; having, in fact, only discovered “ three ancient centres of religion ” and “ three centres of language,” and though as entirely ignorant of those primitive religions and languages, as of their origin, the professor does not hesitate to declare “ that a truly ''historical basis'' for a scientific treatment of those principal religions of the world has been gained ! ” | Nevertheless, having found that “ there is a natural connection between language and religion ” ; and, secondly, that there was a ''common'' Aryan religion before the separation of the Aryan race ; a ''common'' Semitic religion before the separation of the Semitic race; and a ''common'' Turanian religion before the separation of the Chinese and the other tribes belonging to the Turanian class ; having, in fact, only discovered “ three ancient centres of religion ” and “ three centres of language,” and though as entirely ignorant of those primitive religions and languages, as of their origin, the professor does not hesitate to declare “ that a truly ''historical basis'' for a scientific treatment of those principal religions of the world has been gained ! ” | ||
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{{Page|xxxii|introductory.}} | {{Page|xxxii|introductory.}} | ||
{{Style P-No indent|the gods of many nations. Thus, though the Mother of Mercury (Budha, Thot-Hermes, etc.), was Maïa | {{Style P-No indent|the gods of many nations. Thus, though the Mother of Mercury (Budha, Thot-Hermes, etc.), was Maïa, the mother of Buddha (Gautama), also Mâyâ, and the mother of Jesus, likewise Maya (illusion, for Mary is ''Mare'', the Sea, the great illusion symbolically) — yet these three characters have no connection, nor can they have any, since Bopp has “ laid down his code of phonetic laws.”}} | ||
In their efforts to collect together the many skeins of unwritten history, it is a bold step for our Orientalists to take, to deny, ''a priori, ''everything that does not dovetail with their special conclusions. Thus, while new discoveries are daily made of great arts and sciences having existed far back in the night of time, even the knowledge of writing is refused to some of the most ancient nations, and they are credited with barbarism instead of culture. Yet the traces of an immense civilization, even in Central Asia, are still to be found. This civilization is undeniably ''prehistoric.'' And how can there be civilization without a literature, in some form, without annals or chronicles ? Common sense alone ought to supplement the broken links in the history of departed nations. The gigantic, unbroken wall of the mountains that hem in the whole table-land of Tibet, from the upper course of the river Khuan-Khé down to the Kara-Korum hills, witnessed a civilization during millenniums of years, and would have strange secrets to tell mankind. The Eastern and Central portions of those regions — the Nan-Schayn and the Altyne-taga — were once upon a time covered with cities that could well vie with Babylon. A whole geological period has swept over the land, since those cities breathed their last, as the mounds of shifting sand, and the sterile and now dead soil of the immense central plains of the basin of Tarim testify. The borderlands alone are superficially known to the traveller. Within those table-lands of sand there is water, and fresh oases are found blooming there, wherein no European foot has ever yet ventured, or trodden the now treacherous soil. Among these verdant oases there are some which are entirely inaccessible even to the native profane traveller. Hurricanes may “ tear up the sands and sweep whole plains away,” they are powerless to destroy that which is beyond their reach. Built deep in the bowels of the earth, the subterranean stores are secure; and as their entrances are concealed in such oases, there is little fear that anyone should discover them, even should several armies invade the sandy wastes where — | In their efforts to collect together the many skeins of unwritten history, it is a bold step for our Orientalists to take, to deny, ''a priori, ''everything that does not dovetail with their special conclusions. Thus, while new discoveries are daily made of great arts and sciences having existed far back in the night of time, even the knowledge of writing is refused to some of the most ancient nations, and they are credited with barbarism instead of culture. Yet the traces of an immense civilization, even in Central Asia, are still to be found. This civilization is undeniably ''prehistoric.'' And how can there be civilization without a literature, in some form, without annals or chronicles ? Common sense alone ought to supplement the broken links in the history of departed nations. The gigantic, unbroken wall of the mountains that hem in the whole table-land of Tibet, from the upper course of the river Khuan-Khé down to the Kara-Korum hills, witnessed a civilization during millenniums of years, and would have strange secrets to tell mankind. The Eastern and Central portions of those regions — the Nan-Schayn and the Altyne-taga — were once upon a time covered with cities that could well vie with Babylon. A whole geological period has swept over the land, since those cities breathed their last, as the mounds of shifting sand, and the sterile and now dead soil of the immense central plains of the basin of Tarim testify. The borderlands alone are superficially known to the traveller. Within those table-lands of sand there is water, and fresh oases are found blooming there, wherein no European foot has ever yet ventured, or trodden the now treacherous soil. Among these verdant oases there are some which are entirely inaccessible even to the native profane traveller. Hurricanes may “ tear up the sands and sweep whole plains away,” they are powerless to destroy that which is beyond their reach. Built deep in the bowels of the earth, the subterranean stores are secure; and as their entrances are concealed in such oases, there is little fear that anyone should discover them, even should several armies invade the sandy wastes where — | ||