Aldinach

time when all matter of science and philosophy were held in suspicion. Some of his theories were of a magical nature, it is true, as when he essayed to explain the phenomena of dreams by saying that they were the work of the elementals, who acted their strange fantasies before the mind of the sleeper as actors play in a theatre. But on the whole there

is little to connect him with the practice of magic. Aldinach: An Egyptian demon, whom the demonologists picture as presiding over the tempests, earthquakes, rainstorms, hail-storms, etc. It is he, also, who sinks ships. When he appears in visible form he takes the shape of a

woman.

Alectorius: This stone is about the size of a bean, clear as crystal, sometimes with veins the colour of flesh. It is said to be taken from the cock's stomach. It renders its owner courageous and invincible, brings him wealth, assuages thirst, and makes the husband love his wife, or, as another author has it, "makes the woman agreeable to her husband." But its most wonderful property is, that it helps to regain a lost kingdom and acquire a foreign one. Alectryomancy, or Alectormancy: An ancient method of divination with a cock. In practising it, a circle must be made in a good close place, and this must be divided equally into as many parts as there are letters in the alphabet. Then a wheat-corn must be placed on every letter, beginning with A, during which the depositor must repeat a certain verse. This must be done when the sun or moon is in Aries or Leo. A young cock, all white, should then be taken, his claws should be cut off, and these he should be forced to swallow with a little scroll of parchment made of lambskin upon which has been previously written certain words. Then the diviner holding the cock should repeat a form of incantation. Next, on placing the cock within the circle, he must repeat two verses of the Psalms, which are exactly the midmost of the seventy-two verses mentioned under the head of " Onimancy," and it is to be noted on the authority of an ancient Rabbi, that there is nothing in these seventy-two which is not of some use in the kabalistical secret. The cock being within the circle, it must be observed from which letters he pecks the grains, and upon these others must be placed, because some names and words contain the same letters twice or thrice. These letters should be written down and put together, and they will infallibly reveal the name of the person concerning whom inquiry has been made; it is said, though the story is doubted, that the magician Iamblicus used this art to discover the person who should succeed Valens Caesar in the empire, but the bird picking up but four of the grains, those which lay on the letters Theo, left it uncertain whether Theodosius, Theodotus, Theodorus, or Theodectes, was the person designed. Valens, however, learning what had been done, put to death several individuals whose names unhappily began with those letters, and the magician, to avoid the effects of his resentment, took a draught of poison. A kind of Alectromancy was also sometimes practised upon the crowing of the cock, and the periods at which it was heard.

Ammianus Marcellinus describes the ritual which accompanied this act rather differently. The sorcerers commenced by placing a basin made of different metals on the ground and drawing around it at equal distances the letters of the alphabet. Then he who possessed the deepest occult knowledge, advanced, enveloped in a long veil, holding in his hand branches of vervain, and emitting dreadful cries, accompanied by hideous convulsions. He stopped all at once before the magic basin, and became rigid and motionless. He struck on a letter several times with the branch in his hand, and then upon another, until he had selected sufficient letters fo form a heroic verse, which was then given out to

Alexander

the assembly. The Emperor Valens, informed of this circumstance, was ill-pleased that the infernal powers should have been consulted regarding his destiny. Indeed, he went further, for with unexampled severity, he proscribed not only all the sorcerers, but all the philosophers in Rome, and punished them so severely that many perished.

In the fourth song of the Caquet Bonbec, of Jonquieres, a poet of the fourteenth century, the details of an operation in Alectryomancy are exactly and curiously set forth. Aleuromancy: A species of divination practised with flour. Sentences were written on slips of paper, each of which was rolled up in a little ball of flour. These were thoroughly mixed up nine times, and divided amongst the curious, who were waiting to learn their fate. Apollo, who was supposed to preside over this form of divination, was surnamed Aleuromantis. So late as the nineteenth century the custom lingered in remoter districts. Alexander ab Alexandro : (Alessandro Alessandri.) A Neapolitan lawyer, who died in 1523. He published a dissertation on the marvellous, entitled De Rebus Admirabilibus, in which he recounts prodigies which happened in Italy, dreams which were verified, the circumstances connected with many apparitions and phantoms, which he says that he beheld himself. He followed this dissertation with his celebrated work Genialium Dierum, in which he recounts with much credulity many prodigious happenings. He tells how one evening he set out to join a party of several friends at a house in Rome which had been haunted for a long time by spectres and demons. In the middle of the night, when all of them were assembled in one chamber with many lights, there appeared to them a dreadful spectre, who called to them in a loud voice, and threw about the ornaments in the room. One of the most intrepid of the company advanced in front of the spectre bearing a light, on which it disappeared. Several times afterwards the same apparition re-entered through the door. Alexander, who had been lying on a couch, found that the demon had slid underneath it, and on rising from it, he beheld a great black arm appear on a table in front of him. By this time several of the company had retired to rest, and the lights were out, but torches were brought in answer to their cries of alarm, on which the spectre opened the door, slid past the advancing domestics, and disappeared. Alexander visited many other haunted houses, but he appears to have been easily duped, and by no means the sort of person to undertake psychical research. (See Avicenna.) Alexander of Tralles: A physician born at Tralles in Asia Minor, in the sixth century, very learned, and with a leaning towards medico-magical practice. He prescribed for his patients amulets and charmed words, as, for instance, when he says in his Practice of Medicine that the figure of Hercules strangling the Nemean lion, graven on a stone and set in a ring, was an excellent cure for colic. He also claimed that charms and philacteries were efficacious remedies for gout, fevers, etc.

Alexander the Paphlagonian: The oracle of Abonotica, an obscure Paphlagonian town, who for nearly twenty years held absolute supremacy in the empirical art. Born about the end of the second century, a native of Abonotica, he possessed but little in the way of worldly wealth. His sole capital consisted in his good looks, fine presence, exquisite voice, and a certain talent for fraud, which he was soon to turn to account in an extraordinary manner. His idea was to institute a new oracle, and he fixed upon Chalcedon as a suitable place to commence operations. Finding no great encouragement there he made a fresh start by setting afoot a rumour to the effect that Apollo and his son Æsculapius intended shortly to take up residence at Abonotica. Naturally, the rumour at length reached the ears of his

Alexander

fellow-townsmen, who promptly set to work on a temple meet for the reception of the gods. The way was thus prepared for Alexander, who proceeded to Abonotica, diligently advertising his skill as a prophet, so that on his arrival people from many neighbouring towns applied to him, and ere long his fame had spread as far as Rome. We are told that the Emperor Aurelius himself consulted Alexander before undertaking an important military enterprise.

Lucian gives a suppositious explanation of the Paphlagonian prophet's remarkable popularity. Alexander, he says, came in the course of his early travels to Pella, in Macedon, where he found a unique breed of serpents, large, beautiful, and so tame and harmless that they were allowed by the inhabitants to enter their houses and play with children. A plan took shape in his brain which was to help him to attain the fame he craved. Selecting the largest and finest specimen of the Macedonian snakes that he could find, he carried it secretly to his destination. The temple which the credulous natives of Abonotica had raised to Apollo was surrounded by a moat, and Alexander, ever ready to scize an opportunity wherever it presented itself, emptied a goose-egg of its contents, placed within the shell a newly-hatched serpent, and sunk it in the moat. He then impressively informed the people that Apollo had arrived. Making for the moat with all speed, followed by a curious multitude, he scooped up the egg, and in full view of the people, broke the shell and exposed to their admiring eyes a little, wriggling serpent. When a few days had elapsed he judged the time ripe for a second demonstration. Gathering together a huge crowd from every part of Paphlagonia, he emerged from the temple with the large Macedonian snake coiled about his neck. By an ingenious arrangement the head of the serpent was concealed under the prophet's arm, and an artificial head, somewhat resembling that of a human being, allowed to protrude. The assembly was much astonished to find that the tiny serpent of a few days ago had already attained such remarkable proportions and possessed the face of a human being, and they appeared to have little doubt that it was indeed Apollo come to Abonotica.

By means of ingenious mechanical contrivances the serpent was apparently made to reply to questions put to it. In other cases sealed rolls containing the questions were handed to the oracle and returned with the seals intact and an appropriate answer written inside.

His audacity and ready invention enabled Alexander to impose at will upon the credulous people of his time, and these, combined with a strong and attractive personality, won, and preserved for him his remarkable popularity, as they have done for other "prophets" before and since. Alfarabi: (d. 954.) An adept of remarkable gifts and an extensive knowledge of all the sciences; born at Othrar (or, as it was then called, Faral), in Asia Minor. His name was Abou-Nasr-Mohammed-Ibn-Tarkaw, but he received, from the town of his birth, his better-known appellation of Farabi, or Alfarabi. Though he was of Turkish extraction, a desire to perfect himself in Arabic, led him to Bagdad, where he assiduously studied the Greek philosophers under Abou Bachar Maltey. He next stayed for a time in Hanan, where he learned logic from a Christian physician. Having far surpassed his fellow-scholars, he left Hanan and drifted at last to Egypt. During his wanderings he came in contact with all the most learned philosophers of his time, and himself wrote books on philosophy, mathematics, astromony, and other sciences, besides acquiring proficiency in seventy languages. His treatise on music, proving the connection of sound with atmospheric vibrations, and mocking the Pythagorean theory of the music of the spheres, attained some celebrity.

"

Alis de Telieux

He gained the good-will and patronage of the Sultan of Syria in a somewhat curious fashion. While passing through Syria he visited the court of the Sultan, who was at that moment surrounded by grave doctors and astrologers, who were discussing abstruse scientific points with the potentate. Alfarabi entered the presence of the Sultan in his stained and dusty travelling attire (he had been on a pilgrimage to Mecca), and when the prince bade him be seated, he, either unaware of, or indifferent to the etiquette of court life, sat down boldly on a corner of the royal sofa. The monarch, unused to such an informal proceeding, spoke in a little-known tongue to a courtier, and bade him remove the presumptuous philosopher. The latter, however, astonished him by replying in the same language: Sire, he who acts hastily, in haste repents." The Sultan, becoming interested in his unconventional guest, questioned him curiously, and learned of the seventy languages and other accomplishments of Alfarabi. The sages who were present were also astounded at his wide learning. When the prince called at length for some music, Alfarabi accompanied the musicians on a lute with such marvellous skill and grace that the entire company was charmed. When he struck up a lively measure, the gravest sages could not but dance to it. When he changed the melody to a softer lilt, tears sparkled in every eye, and at last, with a gentle lullaby, he put the court to sleep. The Sultan wished to keep such a valuable philosopher about his court, and some say that Alfarabi accepted his patronage and died peacefully in Syria. Others, again, maintain that he informed the Sultan that he would never rest till he had discovered the secret of the Philosophers' stone, which he believed himself on the point of finding. These say that he set out, but was attacked and killed by robbers in the woods of Syria.

Alfragenus: (See Astrology.) Alfragius: (See Astrology.) Alfridarya: A science resembling astrology, which lays down that all the planets, in turn influence the life of man, each one governing a certain number of years.

Alis de Telieux: In 1528, there was published in Paris a curious book, entitled, La merveilleuse histoire de l'esprit qui, depuis naguère, s'est apparu au monastère des religieuses de Saint Pierre de Lyon, laquelle est pleine de grande admiralion, comme on pourra vois par la lecture de ce présent livre, par Adrien de Montalembert, aumonier du roi François Ier. This work dealt with the appearance in the monastery of the spirit of Alis de Telieux, a nun who had lived there before the reformation of the monastery in 1513. Alis, it seems, had led rather a worldly life, following pleasure and enjoyment in a manner unbecoming to a nun, finally stealing the ornaments from the altar and selling them. After this last enormity, she, of course, left the monastery, and for a time continued her disgraceful career outside, but before she died she repented of her sins, and through the intercession of the Virgin, received pardon. This, however, did not gain for her Christian burial, and she was interred without the usual prayers and funeral rites. A number of years afterwards, when the monastery was occupied by other and better nuns, one of their number, a girl of about eighteen years, was aroused from her sleep by the apparition of Sister Alis. For some time afterwards the spirit haunted her wherever she went, continually rapping on the ground near where she stood, and even communicating with the interested nuns. From all indications, it was a good and devout spirit who thus entered the monastery, but the good sisters, well versed in the wiles of the devil, had their doubts on the subject. The services of the Bishop of Lyons and of the narrator, Adrien de Montalembert, were called in to adjure the evil spirit. After many prayers and formalities, the spirit of Alis was

All Hallow's Eve

found to be an innocent one, attended by a guardian angel. She answered a number of questions regarding her present state and her desire for Christian burial, and confirmed the doctrines of the Catholic Church, notably that of purgatory, which latter spirit-revelation the author advances triumphantly for the confusion of the Lutherans. The remains of Sister Alis were conveyed to consecrated ground, and prayers made for the release of her soul from purgatory, but for some reason or other she continued to follow the young nun for a time, teaching her, on her last visit, five secret prayers composed by St. John the Evangelist. All Hallow's Eve: One of the former four great Fire festivals in Britain, is supposed to have taken place on the 1st of November, when all fires, save those of the Druids, were extinguished, from whose altars only the holy fire must be purchased by the householders for a certain price. The festival is still known in Ireland as Samhein, or La Samon, i.e., the Feast of the Sun; while in Scotland, it has assumed the name of Hallowe'en. All Hallow's Eve, as observed in the Church of Rome, corresponds with the Feralia of the ancient Romans, when they sacrificed in honour of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. In ancient times, this festival was celebrated on the twenty-first of February, but the Roman Church transferred it in her calendar to the first of November. It was originally designed to give rest and peace to the souls of the departed. In some parts of Scotland, it is still customary for young people to kindle fires on the tops of hills and rising grounds, and fire of this description goes by the name of a Hallowe'en bleeze." Formerly it was customary to surround these bonfires with a circular trench symbolical of the sun. Sheriff Barclay tells us that about seventy years ago, while travelling from Dunkeld to Aberfeldy on Hallowe'en, he counted thirty fires blazing on the hill tops, with the phantom figures of persons dancing round the flames.

"

In Perthshire, the Hallowe'en bleeze" is made in the following picturesque fashion. Heath, broom, and dressings of flax are tied upon a pole. The faggot is then kindled; a youth takes it upon his shoulders and carries it about. When the faggot is burned out a second is tied to the pole and kindled in the same manner as the former one. Several of these blazing faggots are often carried through the villages at the same time.

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15

Hallowe'en is believed by the superstitious in Scotland to be a night on which the invisible world has peculiar power. His Satanic Majesty is supposed to have great latitude allowed him on this anniversary, in common with that malignant class of beings known as witches, some of whom, it is said, may be seen cleaving the air on broomsticks, in a manner wondrous to behold. Others again, less aerially disposed, jog comfortably along over by-road and heath, seated on the back of such sleek tabby cats as have kindly allowed themselves to be transformed into coal-black steeds for their accommodation. The greenrobed fays are also said to hold special festive meetings at their favourite haunts. The ignorant believe that there is no such night in all the year for obtaining an insight into futurity. The following are the customs pertaining to this eve of mystic ceremonies: The youths and maidens, who engage in the ceremony of Pulling the Green Kail, go handin-hand, with shut eyes, into a bachelor's or spinster's garden, and pull up the first "kail stalks" which come in their way. Should the stalks thus secured prove to be of stately growth, straight in stem, and with a goodly supply of earth at their roots, the future husbands (or wives) will be young, goodlooking and rich in proportion. But if the stalks be stunted, crooked, and have little or no earth at their roots, the future spouses will be found lacking in good looks and fortune. According as the heart or stem proves sweet or sour to the taste, so will be the temper of the

All Hallow's Eve

future partner. The stalks thus tasted are afterwards placed above the doors of the respective houses, and the christian names of those persons who first pass underneath will correspond with those of the future husbands or wives.

There is also the custom of Eating the Apple at the Glass. Provide yourself with an apple, and, as the clock strikes twelve, go alone into a room where there is a looking glass. Cut the apple into small pieces, throw one of them over your left shoulder, and advancing to the mirror without looking back, proceed to eat the remainder, combing your hair carefully the while before the glass. While thus engaged, it is said that the face of the person you are to marry will be seen peeping over your left shoulder. This "Hallowe'en game is supposed to be a relic of that form of divination with mirrors which was condemned as sorcery by the former Popes.

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The Burning Nuts. Take two nuts and place them in the fire, bestowing on one of them your own name; on the other that of the object of your affections. Should they burn quietly away, side by side, then the issue of your love affair will be prosperous; but if one starts away from the other, the result will be unfavourable.

And for the Sowing Hemp Seed, steal forth alone towards midnight and sow a handful of hemp seed, repeating the following rhyme :

"

Hemp sced, I sow thee, hemp seed, I sow thee;

And he that is my true love, come behind and harrow me." Then look over your left shoulder and you will see the person thus adjured in the act of harrowing.

The ceremony of Winnowing Corn must also be gone through in solitude. Go to the barn and open both doors, taking them off the hinges if possible, lest the being you expect to appear, may close them and do you some injury. Then take the instrument used in winnowing corn, and go through all the attitudes of letting it down against the wind. Repeat the operation three times, and the figure of your future partner will appear passing in at one door and out at the other. Should those engaging in this ceremony be fated to die young, it is believed that a coffin, followed by mourners, will enter and pursue the too adventurous youth or maiden, who thus wishes to pry into the hidden things of the future, round the barn.

Another is Measuring the Bean Stack. Go three times round a bean stack with outstretched arms, as if measuring it, and the third time you will clasp in your arms the shade of your future partner.

Eating the Herring. Just before retiring to rest eat a raw or roasted salt herring, and in your dreams your husband (or wife) that is to be, will come and offer you a drink of water to quench your thirst.

Dipping the Shirt Sleeve. Go alone, or in company with others, to a stream where I three lairds' lands meet," and dip in the left sleeve of a shirt; after this is done not one word must be spoken, otherwise the spell is broken. Then put your sleeve to dry before your bedroom fire. Go to bed, but be careful to remain awake, and you will see the form of your future helpmate enter and turn the sleeve in order that the other side may get dried.

The Three Plates. Place three plates in a row on a table. In one of these put clean water, in another foul, and leave the third empty. Blindfold the person wishing to try his or her fortune, and lead them up to the table. The left hand must be put forward. Should it come in contact with the clean water, then the future spouse will be young, handsome, and a bachelor or maid. The foul signifies a widower or a widow; and the empty dish, single blessedness. This ceremony is repeated three times, and the plates must be differently arranged after each attempt.

Throwing the Clue. Steal forth alone and at night, to

Allantara: (See Spain.)

Allat: Wife of Allah, and joint ruler with him over the Chaldean Hell. M. Maspero describes her as "the lady of the great country where all go after death who have breathed here below," and as their terrible judge. Allen Kardec : (See Spiritualism.)

Alli Allahis: A continuation of the old sect of the Persian
Magi, (q.v.).
Allmuseri: Án African secret society with secret rites akin
to those of the Cabiric and Orphic Mysteries. Their
reception takes place once a year in a wood, and the candi-
date is supposed to die. The Initiates surround the
Neophyte and chant funereal songs. He is then brought
to the temple erected for the purpose, and anointed with
palm oil. After forty days of probation, he is said to have
obtained a new soul, is greeted with hymns of joy, and
conducted home. (See Heckethorn, Secret Societies.)
Alludels (See Arabs.)

Almadel (See Key of Solomon.)
Almagest: (See Astrology.)

Almanach du Diable: An almanac containing some very
curious predictions for the years 1737 and 1738, which
purported to be published in the infernal regions.
It is a
satire against the Jansenists, which was suppressed on
account of some over-bold predictions, and which has
become very rare. The authorship was ascribed to Quesnel,
an ironmonger at Dijon. The Jansenists replied with a
pamphlet directed against the Jesuits, which was also
suppressed. It was entitled Almanac de Dieu, dedicated to
M. Carré de Montgeron, for the year 1738, and, in contra-
distinction to the other, claimed satirically to be printed in
heaven.

Almoganenses: The name given by the Spaniards to certain people who, by the flight and song of birds, meetings with wild animals, and various other means, foretold coming events, whether good or evil. They carefully preserve among themselves," says Laurent Valla, books which treat of this science, where they find rules of all sorts of prognostications and predictions. The soothsayers are divided into two classes, one, the masters or principals, the other the disciples and aspirants."

Another kind of knowledge is also attributed to them, that of being able to indicate not only the way taken by horses and other beasts of burden which are lost, but even the road followed by one or more persons. They can specify the kind and shape of the ground, whether the earth is hard or soft, covered with sand or grass, whether it is a broad road, paved or sanded, or narrow, twisting paths, and tell also how many passengers are on the road. They can thus follow the track of anyone, and cause thieves to be pursued and apprehended. Those writers who mention the Almoganenses, however, do not specify either the period when they flourished, or the country or province they occupied, but it seems possible from their name and other considerations that they were Moorish.

Alocer: A powerful demon, according to Wierius, Grand Duke of Hades. He appears in the shape of a knight mounted on an enormous horse. His face has leonine characteristics; he has a ruddy complexion and burning eyes; and he speaks with much gravity. He is said to give family happiness to those whom he takes under his protection, and to teach astronomy and liberal arts. Thirtysix legions are controlled by him.

Alomancy Divination by means of salt, of which process little is known. It is this science which justifies people in

Alruy

saying that misfortune is about to fall on the household when the salt cellar is overturned.

Alopecy: A species of charm by the aid of which one can fascinate an enemy against whom he has a grudge, and whom he wishes to harm. Alphabet, Magical: (See Kabala.) Alphabet of the Magi (See Tarot.) Alphitomancy: A method of divination carried out with the help of a loaf of barley, which has been practised since the earliest days. It was used to prove the guilt or innocence of a suspected person. When many persons were accused of a crime, and it was desired to find the true culprit, a loaf of barley was made and a portion given to each of the suspected ones. The innocent people suffered no ill-effects, while the criminal betrayed himself by an attack of indigestion. This practice gave rise to a popular imprecation: "If I am deceiving you, may this piece of bread choke me." By means of it a lover might know if his mistress was faithful to him, or a wife, her husband. The procedure was as follows: A quantity of pure barley flour was kneaded with milk and a little salt, and without any leaven. It was then rolled up in greased paper, and cooked among the cinders. It was afterwards taken out and rubbed with verbena leaves, and given to the person suspected of deceit, who, if the suspicion was justified, would be unable to digest it.

There was said to be near Lavinium a sacred wood, where Alphitomancy was practised in order to test the purity of the women. The priests kept a serpent, or, as some say, a dragon, in a cavern in the wood. On certain days of the year the young women were sent thither, blind-folded, and carrying a cake made of barley flour and honey. The devil, we are told, led them by the right road. Those who were innocent had their cakes eaten by the serpent, while the cakes of the others were refused. Alpiel: An angel or demon, who, according to the Talmud, presides over fruit-trees.

Alraun: Images made of the roots of the ash tree, which are sometimes mistakenly called mandrakes, (q.v.) Alrunes : Female demons or sorceresses, the mothers of the Huns. They took all sorts of shapes, but without changing their sex. The name was given by the Germans to little statues of old sorceresses, about a foot high. To these they attributed great virtues, honouring them as the negroes honour their fetishes; clothing them richly, housing them comfortably, and serving them with food and drink at every meal. They believed that if these little images were neglected they would cry out, a catastrophe which was to be avoided at all costs, as it brought dire misfortunes upon the household. They may have been mandrakes, and it was claimed for them that they could foretell the future, answering by means of motions of the head, or unintelligible words. They are still consulted in Norway. Alruy, David: A Jewish magician, mentioned in his Voyages by Benjamin the Jew. Alruy boasted himself a descendant of King David. He was educated in Bagdad, receiving instruction in the magic arts to such good purpose that he came to be more proficient than his masters. His false miracles gained so much popularity for him that some of the Jews believed him to be that prophet who was to restore their nation to Jerusalem. The King of Persia caused him to be cast into prison, but no bolts and bars could hold for long so redoubtable a magician. He escaped from his prison and appeared before the eyes of the astonished king, though the courtiers standing round saw nothing, and only heard his voice. In vain the king called angrily for someone to arrest the imposter. No one could see him, and while they groped in search of him, like men blindfolded, he slipped from the palace, with the king in pursuit, all the amazed assembly running after their prince. At

Althotas

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length they reached the sea shore, and Alruy turned and showed himself to all the people. Then, spreading a scarf on the surface of the water, he walked over it lightly, before the boats which were to pursue him were ready. This adventure confirmed his reputation as the greatest magician who had lived within the memory of man. But at last a Turkish prince, a subject of the Persian king, bribed the father-in-law of the sorcerer to kill him, and one night, when Alruy was sleeping peacefully in his bed, a dagger thrust put an end to his existence. Althotas: The presumed "master and companion of Cagliostro. Considerable doubt has been expressed regarding his existence. Figuier states that he was no imaginary character; that the Roman Inquisition collected many proofs of his existence, but none as regards his origin or end, as he vanished like a meteor. "But," states the French author, "he was a magician and doctor as well, possessed divinatory abilities of a high order, was in possession of several Arabic manuscripts, and had great skill in chemistry.' His connection with Cagliostro will be found detailed in the article on that adept. Eliphas Levi states that the name Althotas is composed of the word "thot" with the syllables" al 66 and as," which if read cabalistically are sala, meaning messenger or envoy; the name as a whole therefore signifies "Thot, the Messenger of the Egyptians," and such, says Levi, in effect he was. Althotas has been sometimes identified with Kolmer, the instructor of Weishaupt in magic, and at other times with the Comte de Sainte-Germain (both of whom see). It would indeed be difficult to say with any definiteness whether or not Althotas was merely a figment of Cagliostro's brain. The accounts concerning him are certainly conflicting, for whereas Cagliostro stated at his trial in Paris that Althotas had been his lifelong preceptor, another account says that he met him first on the quay at Messina, and the likelihood is that his character is purely fictitious, as there does not appear to be any exact evidence that he was ever encountered in the flesh by anyone.

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Alu-Demon: This Semitic demon owes his parentage to a human being; he hides himself in caverns and corners, and slinks through the streets at night. He also lies in wait for the unwary, and at night enters bed-chambers and terrorises folks, threatening to pounce upon them if they shut their eyes.

Amadeus: A visionary who experienced an apocalypse and revelations, in one of which he learned the two psalms composed by Adam, one a mark of joy at the creation of Eve, and the other the dialogue he held with her after they had sinned. Both psalms are printed in Fabricius' Codex Pseudepigraphus Veteris Testamenti.

Amaimon: One of the four spirits who preside over the four

parts of the universe. Amaimon, according to the magicians, was the governor of the eastern part. Amandinus: A variously coloured stone, which enables the wearer of it to solve any question concerning dreams or enigmas.

Amaranth: A flower which is one of the symbols of immortality. It has been said by magicians that a crown made with this flower has supernatural properties, and will bring fame and favour to those who wear it. Ambassadors, Demon: (See Demonology.) Amduscias: Grand Duke of Hades. He has, according to Wierius (q.v.), the form of a unicorn, but when evoked, appears in human shape. He gives concerts, at the command of men, where one hears the sound of all the musical instruments but can see nothing. It is said that the trees themselves incline to his voice. He commands twentynine legions.

America, United States of: Occultism amongst the aboriginal tribes of America will be found dealt with under the

article "North-American Indians." The occult history of the European races which occupy the territory now known as the United States of America does not commence until some little time after their entrance into the North American continent. It is probable that the early English and Dutch settlers carried with them the germs of the practice of witchcraft, but it is certain that they brought with them an active belief in witchcraft and sorcery. It is significant, however, that no outbreak of fanaticism occurred in connection with this belief until nearly the end of the seventeenth century, in 1692, when an alarm of witchcraft was raised in the family of the Minister of Salem, and several black servants were charged with the supposed crime. It is quite likely that these negroes practised voodoo or obeah (q.v.), but, however this may be, the charges did not stop at them. The alarm spread rapidly, and in a brief space numerous persons fell under suspicion on the most frivolous pretexts. The new Governor of the Colony, Sir William Phipps, appears to have been carried away with the excitement, and authorised judicial prosecutions. The first person tried, a woman named Bridget Bishop, was hanged, and the Governor feeling himself embarassed among the extraordinary number of charges made after this, called in the assistance of the clergy of Boston. As events proved, this was a fatal thing to do. Boston, at this time, possessed a distinguished family of puritanical ministers of the name of Mather. The original Mather had settled in Dorchester in 1636, and three years later had a son born to him, whom he called Increase Mather. He became a clergyman, as did his son, Cotton Mather, born in 1663. Increase was President of Harvard College, and his son occupied a distinguished position therein, and also preached at Boston. The fanaticism and diabolical cruelty of these two men has probably never been equalled in the history of human persecution. Relying implicitly upon the scriptural injunction: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," and blinded by their fanatic zeal, they cost the colony many precious lives. Indeed, beside their régime, the rigours of Sprenger (q.v.) and Bodin (q.v.), pale into insignificance. That ministers professing to preach a gospel of charity and love could have so far descended as to torture and condemn thousands of human beings to the gallows and the stake, can only be regarded as astounding.. In 1688 an Irish washer woman, named Glover, was employed by a mason of Boston, one Goodwin, to look after his children, and these shortly afterwards displayed symptoms which Cotton Mather, on examination, stated were those of diabolical possession. The wretched washerwoman was brought to trial, found guilty, and hanged; and Cotton Mather launched into print upon the case under the title of Late Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possession which displayed an extraordinary amount of ingenuity and an equally great lack of anything like sound judgment. As was the case with the works of the European writers on witchcraft and sorcery, this book fanned the flame of credulity, and thousands of the ignorant throughout the colony began to cast about for similar examples of witchcraft. Five other persons were brought to trial and executed, and a similar number shortly met the same fate, among them a minister of the Gospel, by name George Borroughs, who disbelieved in witchcraft. This was sufficient, and he was executed forthwith. Popular sentiment was on his side, but the fiendish Cotton Mather appeared at the place of execution on horseback, denounced Borroughs as an impostor, and upheld the action of his judges. Another man, called Willard, who had been employed to arrest suspected witches, refused to continue in his office, and was himself arrested. He attempted to save himself by flight, but was pursued and overtaken, and duly executed. Even dogs accused of witchcraft were put

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