If the Pythagorean metempsychosis should be thoroughly explained and compared with the modern theory of evolution, it would be found to supply every “missing link” in the chain of the latter. But who of our scientists would consent to lose his precious time over the vagaries of the ancients. Notwithstanding proofs to the contrary, they not only deny that the nations of the archaic periods, but even the ancient philosophers had any positive knowledge of the Heliocentric system. The “Venerable Bedes,” the Augustines and Lactantii appear to have smothered, with their dogmatic ignorance, all faith in the more ancient theologists of the pre-Christian centuries. But now philology and a closer acquaintance with Sanskrit literature have partially enabled us to vindicate them from these unmerited imputations. In the _Vedas_, for instance, we find positive proof that so long ago as 2000 B.C., the Hindu sages and scholars must have been acquainted with the rotundity of our globe and the Heliocentric system. Hence, Pythagoras and Plato knew well this astronomical truth; for Pythagoras obtained {10} his knowledge in India, or from men who had been there, and Plato faithfully echoed his teachings. We will quote two passages from the _Aitareya Brahmana_: In the “_Serpent-Mantra_,”[57] the _Brahmana_ declares as follows: that this _Mantra_ is that one which was seen by the Queen of the Serpents, _Sarpa-râjni_; because the earth (_iyam_) is the Queen of the Serpents, as she is the mother and queen of all that moves (_sarpat_). In the beginning she (the earth) was but one head (round), without hair (_bald_), _i.e._, without vegetation. She then perceived this _Mantra_ which confers upon him who knows it, the power of assuming any form which he might desire. She “pronounced the _Mantra_,” _i.e._, sacrificed to the gods; and, in consequence, immediately obtained a motley appearance; she became variegated, and able to produce any form she might like, _changing one form into another_. This _Mantra_ begins with the words: “_Ayam gaûh pris’nir akramît_” (x., 189). The description of the earth in the shape of a _round_ and _bald_ head, which was _soft_ at first, and became _hard_ only from being breathed upon by the god Vâyu, the lord of the air, forcibly suggests the idea that the authors of the sacred Vedic books knew the earth to be _round_ or spherical; moreover, that it had been a _gelatinous_ mass at first, which gradually cooled off under the influence of the air and time. So much for their knowledge about our globe’s sphericity; and now we will present the testimony upon which we base our assertion, that the Hindus were perfectly acquainted with the Heliocentric system, at least 2000 years B.C.