Tradition : Principally with Reference to Mythology and the

AFRICA AND AMERICA. 249
In the first place they are cyclical; they are all of a
mournful character; all are interrupted at intervals by
processions, dances, and songs of a traditional character;
they all close in scenes of rejoicing or rather in Bacchanalian
(yet still traditionally [vide page 247, note
Boulanger] Bacchanalian) scenes of riot and debauchery.
The duration of the festivals varies from three and four
to five days ; the days have fantastic names, which,
although different, still in their very peculiarity, and also
in the drift and meaning of the names so far as it can be
gathered, are suggestive of a common origin, e.g. the first
boat-bearers; then followed the women attended by the sojourner's wives,
who were named u5pia$opoc, from bearing water pots."-Compare Burton,
Catlin. Then followed select virgins, covered with millet, " called
basket-bearers" the baskets containing necessaries for the celebration.
" These virgins were attended by the sojourner's daughters, who carried
umbrellas (vide Pongol Festival, appendix), little seats, whence they were
called seat-earners."-Compare Burton (vide Potter's "Antiquities,"!. 419.)
Compare also the following in the " Dionysia " or festivals in honour of
Bacchus (ante, p. 215) with Catlin. " They carried thyrsi, drums, pipes -* r
flutes, and rattles, and crowned themselves with garlands of trees sacred to
Bacchus, ivy, vine, £c. Some imitated Silenus, Pan, and the Satyrs, exposing
themselves in comical dresses and antic motions;" and in this
manner ran about the hills ** invoking Bacchus/1 " At Athens this frantic
rout was followed by persons carrying certain sacred vessels, the first of
which w*& filled with water."
Bryant ("Mythology," ii. 219) speaking of Egypt ("the priests cf
Ammon who at particular seasons used to carry in procession a boat,"
concerning which refer to page 254), says-" Part of the ceremony in
most of the ancient mysteries consisted in carrying about a kind of ship
or boat, which custom upon due examination will be found to relate to
nothing else but Noah and the Deluge/' He adds that the name of "the
navicular shrines was /Jam, which is very remarkable ; for it is the very
name of the mountain, according to Nicolaus Damascenus, on which the
ark of Noah rested, the same as Ararat in Armenia." Herodotus speaks
of "Saris* as the Egyptian name of a ship, 1. 2, 96 ; Eurip. "Iphig. in
Aulis.," v. 297 ; JSschylus, Ferae, 151 ; Lycophron, v. 747, refer to names
of ships iu connection with Noah. Sup., p. 196. Query-is our word barge
a corruption of baris? or perhaps of baris in connection with "argus"
also a term for the ark. (With reference to this etymology vide my remark,
p. 116, and d'Anselme, p. 196, and Bryant, ii. 251.)