PREFACE.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

PAGE.

9

INTRODUCTION.-Man's primitive condition; how long he has existed.--Cavern
in Brixham, England.-Antiquity of the earth.-Distance of the heavenly
bodies.-Archæological quotations from Prof. J. W. Draper.-Aqueous
formations.-Change in site of Niagara Falls.-Time required for the
Mississippi river to move its aggregate deposits.-Changes on the sea-cost.
-Elevations and depressions on the earth's surface.-Quotations from the
"Scientific American" on the immense age of the earth.-America older
than Asia.-Quotation from Madame Michelet on American antiquity.—
India, the cradle of language, literature, religion, and civilization.-Early
superstitions; origin of priests and their rule.-Fetichism.-Sexual wor-
ship.-Sun and star-worship.-Chaldean antiquities.-Cuneiform inscrip-
tions-Primitive forms of writing; the alphabet.-Origin of Jewish
Cosmogony.-Grecian mythology.-Hindoo mythology.-Norse mythology.
-Quotations from Carlyle.-The meaning and origin of the Eddas.-Quo-
tations from Murray on Greek and Roman mythology

GODS OF THE HINDOOS.

11

PREFACE.

The following work is, perhaps, more a compilation than an original production. Much of the data necessarily had to be gathered from various sources, and where it was found in better language than I could clothe it in, I hesitated not to quote freely rather than re-dress it in language of my own. The authorities most used are Mrs. Lydia Maria Child's "Progress of Religious Ideas," Rev. James Freeman Clarke's "Ten Great Religions," Murray's "Manual of Mythology," Tooke's "Pantheon of Heathen Gods," Professor Anderson's "Norse Mythology," Clodd's "Childhood of Religion," Inman's "Ancient Faiths," Tuttle's "Career of Religions Ideas," Professor Draper's "Intellectual Development of Europe," Tylor's "Primitive Culture," besides others in lesser degree.

The work has been written under some disadvantages-in prison and in the hospital belonging thereto, surrounded by sick and dying men of varied nationalities, colors, and crimes; sometimes twenty of us in a single room, and a portion of the time when my own health was so much impaired as to unfit me for writing. I have not had by me many works I would gladly have consulted. In view of these facts the indulgent reader will make due allowance for such imperfections as may be observed.

My imprisonment is simply a piece of religious persecution, instituted by orthodox enemies in consequence of my heterodox opinions, and because I am editor and publisher of an outspoken and radical journal, as well as of books, pamphlets, etc., in the same line. I was charged with mailing "obscene literature." The charge is wholly unjust. The little argumentative and philosophical work upon which I was convicted contains not a word that is obscene, and is couched in as unobjectionable language as any philosophical work of the kind. The author is radical, but learned, honest, and sincere. I am a bookseller, and sold the work in question as openly and innocently as any other in my stock. My patrons had