fades in the pale ashen grey of approaching dawn, a
sheep, penned over night near the river, is led into the tabernacle by one
of the four _shkandos_ for sacrifice to Avather and his companion deity,
Ptahiel. It is a wether, for the Star-worshippers never kill ewes, or eat
their flesh when killed. The animal is laid upon some reeds, its head west
and its tail east, the _Ganzivro_ behind it facing the Star. He first
pours water over his hands, then over his feet, the water being brought to
him by a deacon. One of the _tarmidos_ takes up a position at his elbow
and places his hand on the _Ganzivro's_ shoulder, saying, _Ana shaddakh_,
"I bear witness." The high priest bends towards the North Star, draws a
sharp knife from his left side, and reciting the formula, "In the name of
Alaha, Ptahiel created thee, Hibel Sivo permitted thee, and it is I who
slay thee," cuts the sheep's throat from ear to ear, and allows the blood
to escape on to the matted reeds upon which the animal is stretched out.
The four deacons go outside, wash their hands and feet, then flay the
sheep, and cut it into as many portions as there are communicants outside.
The pieces are now distributed among the worshippers, the priests leave
the tabernacle in the same order as they came, and with a parting
benediction from the _Ganzivro, Assootad d'hai havilakh_, "The benison of
the living one attend thee," the prayer-meeting terminates, and the
Star-worshippers quietly return to their homes before the crimson sun has
time to peep above the horizon.(163)

APPENDIX III. COMPARATIVE LISTS OF WORDS.

I.

OLD WORLD.

YAU or YU=the source or origin, the Chinese character for which figures a
square or circle divided into four by crossed horizontal and perpendicular
lines, the latter projecting above the square or circle.(164)

YAOU and YU=mythical emperors who instituted the celestial kingdom, see p.
298.

YAOU SING="Revolving Star" in Ursa Major. China.

UI or HWEI=verb to turn around. Chinese.

YUL, YEUL, YEOL=wheel (Icelandic hjol, O. Swedish hiugl, Swedish hjul).

HVEL=disk, orb. Iceland.

WUOTAN=ODIN=supreme divinity. Scandinavia.

JOVLA=sacred hearth fire of Northern Finns, under guardianship of mother
of family.

JOVIS=Roman supreme divinity, associated with wheel.

YAHWE=Hebrew name for God, translated as "heaven," was pronounced Yahu.
According to the Masoretes must be read Yeho (Yahu). The early Gnostics
wrote Iao, that is Yaho