Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.) CULTUS ARBORUM OR PHALLIC TREE WORSHIP. CULTUS ARBORUM A DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF Phallic Tree Worship WITH ILLUSTRATIVE Legends, Superstitions, Usages, &c., EXHIBITING ITS Origin and Development AMONGST THE Eastern & Western Nations of the World FROM THE EARLIEST TO MODERN TIMES; WITH A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS UPON AND REFERRING TO THE PHALLIC CULTUS. PRIVATELY PRINTED. 1890. PREFACE. _The present volume forms a companion to three already issued on "Ancient and Modern Symbol Worship," denominated severally, "Phallism," "Ophiolatreia," "Phallic Objects and Remains," and "Tree Worship," they all form parts of one whole, and constitute a Series on the various forms and phases of what is known as "Phallic Worship."_ _The subject is an extensive one, and there still remain sections of it which have not yet been dealt with, but which may be exhibited in future volumes. Although in the compass of the present work it has been impossible to treat the subject in anything like an exhaustive manner, a great deal of matter has been incorporated in its closely-printed pages which, attentively perused, will enable the reader to form a just opinion of what is included in the title._ _At the end of this volume we have endeavoured to give the student of Ancient Faiths a Bibliography of works on or connected with Phallism._ _Being the first attempt of the kind, omissions will doubtless be found, although there are nearly five hundred references given, yet even as it is, it will prove of great use and advantage to those making researches. It is divided into two classes--Phallic works, and books bearing more or less upon the subject._ CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER I. 1 Characteristics of Trees--Naturalness of Tree Worship--Origin of the worship--The Tree of Life--Ancient Types--A Tree as a Symbol of Life--Poetical Associations--Sacred Fig-tree--India specially a land of Tree Worship--Trees identified with Gods-- Meritoriousness of planting Trees--Auspicious and inauspicious Trees--Ceremonies connected with Tree Worship--Invocation of Tree Gods--Banian Tree--Ritual directions--Santal Worship. CHAPTER II. 16 The Bael-tree--Worship of the Left Hand--Trees of the Sun and Moon--The Arbre Sec, or Dry Tree--The Holy Tree of Bostam--The Bygas of the Eastern Sathpuras--Tree Worship in Mysore--The Palm Tree--Worship of the Palm at Najran--The Tree of Ten Thousand Images--Tree Worship in Persia--Sacred Old Testament Trees--The Classics--Forests and Groves favourite places of Worship--Origin of Groves--Votive Offerings to Trees.