Before this Supplement is finally printed, there comes a second communication from Professor Hommel of Munich, as already promised by him.[722] In this new communication are suggestions and words of appreciation that will be welcomed by many readers, as coming from such a source. Professor Hommel says: “Only a few days ago I finished reading your highly interesting little book, ‘The Threshold Covenant,’ and I hasten to write to you, that I have read it with ever-increasing interest, and have learned infinitely much from it. Our views regarding the high antiquity and the unity of human culture receive entirely new light through this work; in addition, a large number of old oriental and biblical ways and customs now become intelligible and clear. “Manifestly correct, and indeed most happy, is your derivation of the threshold cult, and of sacrifice in general, from the first human blood shed on crossing the threshold of woman; also the important explanation of the signs for life, which I have compared: Egyptian, Babylonian, (Compare _vulva_.) Moreover, your explanation of the passover is much more satisfactory than taking _pesakh_ in the sense of ‘to pass by.’ “Permit me now to offer a few remarks, of which you may still be able to avail yourself. “With the symbol of the red hand may also be compared the hands upon the Sabaean bronze tablets (_Z.D.M.G._, Vol. 19, plate XI., and especially plate VII.), where fourteen hands of seven gods are pictured above the inscription. Furthermore, see Pinches’ Inscribed Babylonian Tablets, belonging to the collection of Sir Henry Peek, Part III., p. 66; a seal cylinder, on which appears a raised hand between the god and the priest. “On page 100 [of your book].–More accurately, I is _house_ as well as temple; I-GAL is palace (_í-gal íkallu_); but Hebrew and Arabic _hekal_ is ‘temple,’ ‘Holy of Holies’ (Hebrew, also ‘palace’). “On page 105.–That the design in question, on the old Babylonian seal cylinder, represents the sun gates, is a discovery made by your own countryman, Dr. W. Hayes Ward (American Journal of Archeology, III., nos. 1–2, p. 52). “On page 108.–The Arabic _mihrâb_ is a loan word from the South Arabic and Ethiopic, _mikrâb_, temple; literally, ‘praying-place.’ “On page 171.–In South Arabic inscriptions _wathan_ signifies ‘boundary-pillar,’ and at the same time ‘statue of god,’ ‘idol.’ “On page 180.–_El gisr_ is literally ‘bridge.’ The bridge was also looked upon as a gate, as leading from one shore to the other. “On page 229.–Sacred prostitution. Compare Babylonia _kadishtu_ (literally, holy person), Hebrew _kādusha_, ‘harlot.’ “On page 233 (note).–The Babylonian _patânu_, ‘to hold the sacrificial meal,’ ‘to eat,’ _naptanu_, ‘meal,’ is connected with Hebrew _miphtan_. I am inclined to believe also that the Babylonian _ʿgish-da=pitnu_, really means ‘threshold;’ also that _gish-sa_, _ush-sa_, a bridal gift, is originally ‘threshold.’