"We find Phœnicians, Kelts and Syrians specially mentioned as holding the fish in the greatest reverence, and at different periods of their history not eating it. The hill-tribes towards the sources of the Indus have the same ideas. The Phœnicians picture Dagon and Dorketa the gods of _Gaza_ and _As-Kal-on_, as Fish Gods, or perhaps we should say a fish god and goddess, for we know they were also Astartian Deities. _Kuthera_ and _Kupros_ (Cypress) as shrines of Aphrodite, vied in the worship of this fruitful Kubele, and Syria held the great northern shrine of Hieropolis most holy to Venus as the _Fish Goddess_. _Cadiz_, Kodes, or _Gadir-Gades_, had Herkales on one side of her coins, and a fish or Lunette on the other; whilst Syracuse, or rather Soora-Koos, and Soosa alike held their finny multitudes sacred to Fertility. In these days we can imagine what a curse these faiths here were to the poor, and, indeed, to humanity."[14] "The high round hill of Tabor, known to Christians as the 'Mount of Transfiguration,' is called by the Fălâhin the _umbilicus_ of their great earth mother Terra--that womb of nature in which we are transfigured. To her also they had sacred temples at Askalon and Akcho with suitable holy waters; and still at Tripolis, her very ancient city, do we find her pond of holy fish, which are said to 'fight against infidels,' and to which multitudes still make long pilgrimages, and worship with offerings and sacrifices. We have often come across similar holy ponds and lakes in India, and been warned off with our unholy rod and line. The Venus of Tripolis was Kadishah or Atergatis; indeed the city is called Kadishah, a name expressive of coarse phallic vices."[14] "Dion Cassius says the Caledonians never taste fish, although their lakes and rivers furnish an inexhaustible supply. Two 'holie fishes' in the seventeenth century occupied a well near the church of Kilmore in Argyleshire. They were black--never changed colour--neither increased in number nor in size in the memory of the most aged. The people believed that no others existed anywhere. Mr. Martin, in his 'Western Isles,' describes the ceremonies practised by invalids who came to be cured by the waters of a well at Loch Saint, in the Isle of Skye. They drank the water and then moved round the well deasil (sunwise), and before departing left an offering on the stone. Martin adds that no one would venture to kill any of the fish in Loch Saint, or to cut as much as a twig from an adjacent copse. These customs practised in the end of the seventeenth century, have apparently reference to the worship of the sun, the fountain, the fish, and the oak.