Egypt steeped in Superstition--Power of Magicians--Obtaining Visions--Demons--Departed Heroes--Gods and Demi-gods--Altars or Living Stones--Sacred Animals--Isis searching for Osiris--Leeks and Onions--Priests, Physicians, and Interpreters of Oracles--Sacrificing Human Victims--Wax Figures--Magic--Teaching of the Egyptian Priests--Transmigration 14 CHAPTER IV. Babylon--The Chaldeans--Downfall of Babylon predicted--Worship of the Medes and Persians--Sacred Fire--The Gaures--Births and Deaths in Early Times--A Narrow Bridge--An Immense Tree--Creation of Prophets--A Stone to which Abraham tied his Camel--Adam and Eve's Trysting Place--Black Art--Ways of discovering whether a supposed Criminal was Guilty or Innocent--Looking into Futurity--Canaanites, Syrians, and Arabians--Strange Fables--Abraham breaking Heathen Idols--Altars--Religion of the Carthagenians and Tyrians--Supremacy of the Gods 20 CHAPTER V. Greek Religion and Superstition--Jupiter regarded as the President of the Law and Protector of Cities--Dreams and Charms--Sacred Stones--Omens of Evil--Sacrificing the Hair--Flight of Birds--Compassing the Altar to the Right--Love secured by Magic--Marriage Ceremonies--Way of protecting a Child from Evil Spirits--Divers Magical Ceremonies--Laws as to Dead Bodies--Fingers and Toes of Dead Men worn as Charms--Preparing a Body for Burial--Swine and Swine's Flesh--Drinking Toasts--Prophets consulted before Armies marched to Battle--Certain Words avoided--Sneezing--Evil Omens--Throwing a Person overboard to save a Ship 26 CHAPTER VI. Roman Delusions and Customs--Tokens of Futurity--Drawing of Lots--Events foretold by reading the first passage that turned up on opening a Book--Lucky and Unlucky Stars--Fortune-tellers--Dreams--Omens drawn from the Appearance of parts of Animals offered in Sacrifice--Sibylline Books, Charms, and Incantations--Spirits observers of Men's Actions--Unlucky Days--Dress of a Bride--Anointing Door-posts and crossing the Threshold--Fire and Water--Bridal Feast and Nuptial Songs--Funeral Rites--Souls of Unburied Persons--Customs at a Deathbed, and Funeral Observances--Hobgoblins--Purifying with Water and Fire--Appeasing the Manes--Dead Bodies used for Magical purposes 34 CHAPTER VII. Ethiopian Superstition--Heathen Indian Gods--Superstitious Observances at Marriages--Disposal of Dead Bodies--Different Degrees of Glory after Death--Reverence for the Cow--Detecting Criminals--Addressing Oracles--Astronomy--Eclipse of the Moon--Magic--John Gondalez 39 CHAPTER VIII.