*Chapter iv., v. 4. 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts which dwelleth between the cherubims.' The Douay translates the same thus:--'The ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts sitting upon the cherubims.' As to cherubim see page 21. The word translated ark is [------] (_aroun_). In Parkhurst, under the root [----], I find the following remarks which are worthy of consideration:-- 'Thus _Tacitus_ informs us that the inhabitants of the north of _Germany_, our _Saxon_ ancestors, worshipped _Herthum_ or _Hertham_, that is, the _Mother Earth_ (Terrain Matrem), and believed her to interpose in the affairs of men, and to visit nations; that to her, within a sacred grove in a certain island of the ocean, a vehicle, covered with a vestment, was consecrated, and allowed _to be touched by the priest alone_, {126} who perceived when the goddess entered into this her _secret place_ (penetrali), and with profound veneration attended her vehicle, which was drawn by cows. While the goddess was on her progress, days of rejoicing were kept in every place which she vouchsafed to visit. They engaged in no war, they meddled not with arms, they locked up their weapons; peace and quietness only were then known, these only relished, till the same priest reconducted the goddess, satiated with the conversation of mortals, to her temple. Then the vehicle and vestment, and, if you will believe it, the goddess herself was washed in a secret lake. 'Among the _Mexicans, Vitziputzli_, their supreme god was represented in a human shape sitting on a throne, supported by an _azure globe_, which they called _heaven_. Four _poles or sticks came out from two sides of this globe_, at the ends of which serpents' heads were carved, the whole making a _litter_, which the priests carried on their shoulders whenever the idol was shewed in public'--_Picart's Ceremonies and Religious Customs_, vol. 3, p. 146.