uke's
crown, and mounted on a crocodile; or assuming a lion's face, and,
with fiery eyes, spurring on a gigantic charger, or, with the same
frightful aspect, appearing in all the pomp of family distinction, on
a pale horse; or clad from head to foot in crimson raiment, wearing on
his bold front a crown, and sallying forth on a red steed."

To inferior demons was assigned the duty of carrying away condemned
souls, and superior benign spirits had the pleasing task of conveying
from earth the souls of the blessed.

Toledo, Seville, and Salamanca were great schools of magic. The
teachers taught that all knowledge might be obtained by the assistance
of fallen angels. These teachers were skilled in the abstract
sciences, in alchemy, in the various languages of mankind, and of the
lower animals, divinity, magic, and prophecy. They professed to
possess the power of controlling the winds and waters, and of
influencing the stars. They also pretended to be able to cause
earthquakes, spread diseases or cure them, release souls out of
purgatory, to influence the passions of the mind, procure the
reconciliation of friends or foes, engender discord, and induce mania
and melancholy.

The Circassians sprinkled holy water over their friends' graves, and
the priests tolled bells near them to keep evil spirits from the
bodies. Affectionate relations visited the burying grounds from time
to time, to repeat prayers for the repose of the dead, who, they
thought, continued to be acquainted with the affairs of the world.

When an Indian became ill, the Brahmin prayed over him; for it was
believed that two spirits, one good and the other bad, attended the
dying at the hour of death. If the expiring person lived a commendable
life, he was conveyed in a flying chariot to a place of happiness; but
if he was wicked, the evil spirit carried him before a dread tribunal,
to be judged according to his works. Deceased was then sent back to
wander on the earth ten days, in the shape of a magpie. For this
reason the people always fed a magpie for ten days after the death of
a relation, imagining that the bird might possess their friend's soul.

Indians believed in former times, whatever they may do now, that hell
was situated at a great distance below the world, and that there was a
president in it called Yhamadar. Under him, a secretary named
Xitragupten wrote down a man's good and bad actions, and presented his
record to the president the instant t