tions who worshipped Kronos and Baal Moloch. (See p. 52.) From the following interesting narrative, related by Pausanias and other authors, we learn that Zeus Dionysos sometimes also required a human victim to satisfy his vengeance against those sinners who had offended him. "When Caledon was still inhabited, Dionysos had among other priests a certain Coresos, who suffered much trouble through love. He loved, namely, a virgin whose name was Callirrhoë; as much love, however, as he bore to her, as much hatred did she feel towards him, and her mind being immovable either by prayers or presents, he at length sought assistance from Dionysos. Then the Deity listened to his priest, and struck the Caledonians with a severe sickness, and death swept them off. But when they sought aid from the oracle of Dodona, to learn the truth through the doves and the oak, they received the answer that the anger of Dionysos would not abate till Coresos should have sacrificed Callirrhoë to the god, or some one else who would die for her. Nothing remained for the virgin but death; when, however, everything was prepared for the sacrifice, and she was led to the altar ornamented like a consecrated animal, Coresos, following love and not anger, gave his life for his beloved. Now that Callirrhoë saw Coresos dead before her, her mind changed, pity and sorrow seized upon her, and she killed herself close to the fountain at the harbour of Calydon. From her this fountain was called the fountain of Callirrhoë."

Pausanius also tells us, that the sacred oak at Dodona was still green about the year A.D. 180; and his contemporary, Ælius Aristides, speaks of the Dodonian priestesses in a manner which clearly shows that at that time they still prophesied. It appears that it was only in the third century that an Illyrian robber cut down the sacred tree, and the oracle became for ever silent.

From the books of the Old and New Testament we learn that Jehovah required human sacrifices, for in one of them we are told that Jehovah said to Abraham, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou

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lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Abraham immediately prepared to do what the Deity ordered him, which act so pleased Jehovah, that he told Abraham not to kill his son, as he now knew that Abraham feared Him. Out of gratitude, Abraham took a ram that was caught in a thicket by his horns and offered him up to Jehovah as a burnt offering instead of his son. The ram supplied the favourite sacrifice to Zeus Dionysos. (See p. 42.) From the New Testament we learn that Jehovah was so incensed against the wickedness of mankind, that to appease Him, His son, Jesus Christ, offered Himself as a sacrifice on the Cross, and Jehovah accepted this sacrifice of His son as an atonement or satisfaction for the sins of mankind; and the Nicene Creed confirms this by stating that Jesus Christ, "for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate". St. Athanasius also states in his Creed, that Jesus Christ suffered for our salvation, but still that, unless a man believe faithfully the doctrines set forth in this Creed, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly, and cannot be saved.

THE TAIGHEIRM.

It has been stated at page 42, that it is the custom in many parts of France to have bonfires on Midsummer Eve, and to put a number of live cats into a large wicker-basket, and then to throw them into one of the bonfires.

Horst, in his Deuteroscopy, tells us that the Highlanders of Scotland were in the habit of sacrificing black cats at the incantation ceremony of the Taigheirm, and these were dedicated to the subterranean gods; or, later to the demons of Christianity. The midnight hour, between Friday and Saturday, was the authentic time for these horrible practices and invocations; and the sacrifice was continued four whole days and nights,

without the operator taking any nourishment. "After the cats were dedicated to all the devils, and put into a magico-sympathetic condition, by the shameful things done to them, and the agony occasioned to them, one of them was at once put alive upon the spit, and amid terrific howlings, roasted before a slow fire. The moment that the howls of one tortured cat ceased in death, another was put upon the spit, for a minute of interval must not take place if they would control hell; and this continued for the four entire days and nights. If the exorcist could hold it out still longer, and even till his physical powers were absolutely exhausted, he must do so. 'After a certain continuance of the sacrifice, infernal spirits appeared in the shape of black cats. There came continually more and more of these cats; and their howlings, mingled with those roasting on the spit, were terrific. Finally appeared a cat of a monstrous size, with dreadful menaces. When the Taigheirm was complete, the sacrificer demanded of the spirits the reward of his offering, which consisted of various things; as riches, children, food, and clothing. The gift of second sight, which they had not had before, was, however, the usual recompense; and they retained it to the day of their death.

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One of the last Taigheirm, according to Horst, was held in the island of Mull. The inhabitants still show the place where Allan Maclean, at that time the incantator and sacrificial priest, stood with his assistant, Lachlain Maclean, both men of a determined and unbending character, of a powerful build of body, and both unmarried. We may here mention that the offering of cats is remarkable, for it was also practised by the ancient Egyptians. Not only in Scotland, but throughout all Europe, cats were sacrificed to the subterranean gods, as a peculiarly effective means of coming into communication with the powers of darkness.

Allan Maclean continued his sacrifice to the fourth day, when he was exhausted both in body and mind, and sunk in a swoon; but, from this day he received the

second-sight to the time of his death, as also did his assistant. In the people, the belief was unshaken, that the second-sight was the natural consequence of celebrating the Taigheirm.

"The infernal spirits appeared, some in the early progress of the sacrifices, in the shape of black cats. The first who appeared during the sacrifice, after they had cast a furious glance at the sacrificer, said-Lachlain Oer, that is Injurer of Cats'. Allan, the chief operator, warned Lachlain, whatever he might see or hear, not to waver, but to keep the spit incessantly turning. At length, the cat of monstrous size appeared; and, after it had set up a horrible howl, said to Lachlain Oer, that if he did not cease before their largest brother came, he would never see the face of God. Lachlain answered, that he would not cease till he had finished his work, if all the devils in hell came. At the end of the fourth day, there sat on the end of the beam, in the roof of the barn, a black cat with fire-flaming eyes, and there was heard a terrific howl, quite across the straits of Mull, into Morven." Allan was wholly exhausted on the fourth day, from the horrible apparitions, and could only utter the word "Prosperity". But Lachlain, though the younger, was stronger of spirit, and perfectly self-possessed. He demanded posterity and wealth, and each of them received that which he had asked for. When Allan lay on his death-bed, and his Christian friends pressed round him, and bade him beware of the stratagems of the devil, he replied with great courage, that if Lachlain Oer, who was already dead, and he, had been able a little longer to have carried their weapons, they would have driven Satan himself from his throne, and, at all events, would have caught the best birds in his kingdom.

When the funeral of Allan reached the churchyard, the persons endowed with second-sight saw at some distance Lachlain Oer, standing fully armed at the head of a host of black cats, and every one could perceive the smell of brimstone which streamed from those cats. Allan's effigy, in complete armour, is carved on his tomb, and

ons are, or where they nave

they are released by prayer and penance from

prevents their rising

his name is yet linked with the memory of the Taigheirm.

Shortly before that time also, Cameron of Lochiel performed a Taigheirm, and received from the infernal spirits a small silver shoe, which was to be put on the left foot of each new-born son of his family, and from which he would receive courage and fortitude in the presence of his enemies; a custom which continued till 1746, when his house was consumed with fire. This shoe fitted all the boys of his family but one, who fled before the enemy at Sheriff Muir, he having inherited a larger foot from his mother, who was of another clan. The word Taigheirm means an armoury, as well as the cry of cats, according as it is pronounced.

About fifteen years ago, one dark November day, as an old woman, who had the gift of second-sight, was sitting in her cottage by the fire-side, she suddenly exclaimed, "I see a hearse going over the bridge of Spey; I see a second hearse going over the bridge of Spey; I see a third hearse going over the bridge of Spey". On that very morning, three gentlemen, one of whom was young Mac Kenzie of S-, went out grouse-shooting on the mountains, when, soon after they had started, a dense sea-fog came on. This caused them to lose their way, and they wandered about, not knowing where they were till about two o'clock, P.M., when they found themselves close up to the walls of a small house. This turned out to be the manse of the Catholic priest of the district, and the good priest gave them a hearty welcome, insisted upon their staying the night, as he had plenty of heather for beds, and a good number of blankets to cover them. He also told them that he could give them a good dinner, for that luckily he had got a good piece of beef in the house; this his housekeeper would roast, and in a couple of hours or so it would be ready, and that he had also got some capital whiskey. It is needless to say that they gratefully accepted his generous hospitality. It got quite dark before the meat was ready, and when the