Even “within modern memory in Europe,” there have been traces of the primitive rite of covenanting with God by the proffer of one’s blood. In the Russian province of Esthonia, he who would observe this rite, “had to draw drops of blood from his fore finger,” and at the same time to pledge himself in solemn covenant with God. “I name thee [I invoke thee] with my blood, and [I] betroth thee [I entrust myself to thee] with my blood,”--was the form of his covenanting. Then he who had given of his blood in self-surrendering devotedness, made his confident supplications to God with whom he had thus covenanted; and his prayer in behalf of all his possessions was: “Let them be blessed through my blood and thy might.”[189] Thus, in ancient Egypt, in ancient Canaan, in ancient Mexico, in modern Turkey, in modern Russia, in modern India, and in modern Otaheite; in Africa, in Asia, in America, in Europe, and in Oceanica: Blood-giving was life-giving. Life-giving was love-showing. Love-showing was a heart-yearning after union in love and in life and in blood and in very being. That was the primitive thought in the primitive religions of all the world. FOOTNOTES: [1] Of the possibility of a covenant between those of different religions, Lane says (_Arab.-Eng. Lexicon_, s. v. _’Ahd_): “Hence عهد ذو (_dho ’ahd_) an appellation given to a Christian and a Jew (and a Sabean, who is a subject of a Muslim government) meaning one between whom and the Muslims a compact, or covenant exists, whereby the latter are responsible for his security and freedom and toleration as long as he lives agreeably to the compact.” And the Blood Covenant is more sacred and more binding than any other compact. [2] Prov. 18 : 24. [3] John 15 : 13. [4] See Lane’s _Lex._ s. v. “Hejâb.” [5] Eccl. 4 : 9, 10. [6] See Freytag, and Catafago, s. v. [7] See “Brothers of the Covenant,” p. 6, _supra_. [8] _Sprachliches aus den Zeltlagern der syrischen Wüste_, p. 37. [9] See Redhouse’s Turkish and English Dictionary, s. vv. _sood_ and _soot_. [10] See Lane, and Freytag, s. vv. _rada’a_, and _thady_. [11] See reference to Ibn Hishâm, 125, in Prof. W. Robertson Smith’s _Old Test. in Jewish Church_, Notes to Lect. XII. See, also, p. 59, _infra_. [12] See Lane, and Freytag, s. v. _sahama_; also Smith’s _Old Test. in Jewish Church_, Notes to Lect. XII. [13] See Livingstone’s _Travels and Res. in So. Africa_, pp. 290-296. [14] _Ibid._, p. 525. [15] See Livingstone’s _Travels and Res. in So. Africa_, p. 324 f. [16] See Livingstone’s _Travels and Res. in So. Africa_, p. 526. [17] _Ibid._, p. 213. [18] Cameron’s _Across Africa_, I., 333. [19] _Ibid._, I., 333 f. [20] _Across Africa_, I., 369. [21] See page 9, _supra_. [22] _Through the Dark Continent_, I., 107, 130 f. [23] _Ibid._, I., 492. [24] _Ibid._, I., 52, 492. [25] _How I found Livingstone_, pp. 267-304. [26] _Thro. Dark Cont._, I., 489 f. [27] _Ibid._, I., 130. [28] _Ibid._, I., 487-492.