A certain Author relates a Discourse between _Midas_ the _Phrygian_, and _Silenus_ who was the Son of a _Nymph_, inferior by Nature to the Gods, superior to Men and Death, thus: _SILENUS_ told _Midas_, that _Europe_, _Asia_, and _Africa_ were Islands, surrounded by Water: that there was but one Continent only, which was beyond this World, in which, among other Rarities, were two great _Rivers_, whose Banks were cover’d with _Trees_, one of them was called the _River of Pleasure_, and the other the _River of Grief_.... He who eat the Fruit of the Trees along the River of Pleasure, was eased from all his former Desires, and in a short time became younger, and lived over again his former Years, cast off Old-Age, and became first a Young Man, then a Child, and lastly an Infant, and so died. On the other hand, he who eat the Fruit from the Trees by the River of Grief, spent all his Days in Tears and Troubles, and after many Years of Vexation, dies. How romantick soever this Relation may be, it seems to allude to the _Trees_ and _Rivers_ of Paradise, and to give some Hints about the Introduction of Death. The _Indians_ account for the Fall of Man after this manner:—_Brama_, one of their subaltern Deities, form’d Man out of the Slime of the Earth that was then just created, and placed him in a certain Situation, which they call _Chorcham_, which was a Garden of Delights, abounding with all manner of pleasant Fruit, in which was a certain Tree, whose Fruit would confer Immortality upon any Persons that were allow’d to eat it. The _Gods_, say the _Indians_, tried all sorts of Means to obtain the Privilege of this Immortality; and after great Difficulties, did at last succeed according to their Wish, and found out the Way to the Tree of Life, which was in the _Chorcham_, and by feeding on its Fruit for some time, they commenced immortal. A famous Serpent called _Cheieu_, (probably Guardian of that Tree) perceiving the Secret was discover’d by the Gods of the second Rank, was so enraged, that it scatter’d a Flood of Poison over the Plain. All the Earth felt the fatal Effects, and no Man escaped the Infection: But the God _Chiven_, took pity on the human Nature, appear’d in the Shape of Man, and swallow’d all the mortal Poison, wherewith the malicious Serpent had infected the Universe.... This Fable, as ridiculous as it is, must have some regard to the terrestrial Paradise, and can have no other Original but the Doctrine of _Moses_[347]. Footnote 347: _Æliani Sophistæ varia Historia, cum Notis, Curante Gronovio._ A. D. 1731. _Theopompus_ is quoted for it, whom my Author calls μυθολογος. _Et hæc si cui fide dignus videtur, ea narrans Chius, ille credatur, mihi vero egregius esse fabulator._ vol. I. cap. xviii. p. 252.