BABYLON AND PERSIA

ARYAN MYTHS IN TIIE AVESTA. 83different shapesfor ten nights in that of a beautifulyouth, for ten in that of a golden-horned bull, andfor the last ten as a beautiful white horse withgolden ears and golden caparison.It is in this shapethat he gives the final battle to his demon antago¬nist, who rushes down to meet him by the Cloud-Sea Vouru-Kasha, in the shape of an ugly blackhorse, with black ears and tail."They meet together, hoof .against hoof. . . . They fighttogether for three days and three nights.And then the DaevaApaosha proves stronger than llie bright and glorious Tishtrya ;heovercomes him. And Tishtrya flees from the sea Vouru-Kasha. . .He cries out in woe and distress. . . ." (Yesht VIII, )He cries out for sacrifices to be offered him, to"bring strength " to him, and, having received them,rushes back to the sea Vouru-Kasha. But it isonly at the third encounter that he finally routs theBlack Horse." He makes the sea boil up and down ; he makes the i;ea streamthis and that way. . . . All the shores are boiling over ; all themiddle of it is boiling over. . . . And vapors rise up above themiddle of the sea Vouru-Kasha. . . . Then the wind blows theclouds forward, bearing the w-aters of fertility, so that the friendlyshowers spread wide over ;they spread helpingly and friendly overthe seven Karshvars. . . ." (Yesht VIII.)But there is not water enough for all the Aryancountries, and the distribution of it becomes the. oc¬casion of another conflict between the warriors ofheaven,the FRAVASHIS of the faithful (DepartedSpirits, corresponding to the Pitris of the Hindus,.see p. 53-54)."The good, strong, beneficent Fravashis of the faithful; withhelms of brass, with weapons of brass, with armor of brass ; who