Afewyearssince，MaximeDuCamp，aneminentmemberoftheFrenchAcademy，travellingfromtheRedSeatotheNilethroughtheDesertofKosseir，cametoabarrenslopecoveredwithboulders，roundedandglossy。
　　HisMohammedancamel-driveraccountedforthemonthiswise：
　　“ManyyearsagoHadjiAbdul-Aziz，asheikofthedervishes，wastravellingonfootthroughthisdesert：itwassummer：thesunwashotandtheduststifling；thirstparchedhislips，fatigueweigheddownhisback，sweatdroppedfromhisforehead，whenlookinguphesaw——onthisveryspot——agardenbeautifullygreen，fulloffruit，and，inthemidstofit，thegardener。
　　“`Ofellow-man，’criedHadjiAbdul-Aziz，`inthenameofAllah，clementandmerciful，givemeamelonandIwillgiveyoumyprayers。’“
　　Thegardeneranswered：`Icarenotforyourprayers；givememoney，andIwillgiveyoufruit。’
　　“`But，’saidthedervish，`Iamabeggar；Ihaveneverhadmoney；Iamthirstyandweary，andoneofyourmelonsisallthatIneed。’
　　“`No，’saidthegardener；`gototheNileandquenchyourthirst。’
　　“Thereuponthedervish，liftinghiseyestowardheaven，madethisprayer：`OAllah，thouwhointhemidstofthedesertdidstmakethefountainofZem-ZemspringforthtosatisfythethirstofIsmail，fatherofthefaithful：wiltthousufferoneofthycreaturestoperishthusofthirstandfatigue？’
　　“Anditcametopassthat，hardlyhadthedervishspoken，whenanabundantdewdescendeduponhim，quenchinghisthirstandrefreshinghimeventothemarrowofhisbones。
　　“Nowatthesightofthismiraclethegardenerknewthatthedervishwasaholyman，belovedofAllah，andstraightwayofferedhimamelon。
　　“`Notso，’answeredHadjiAbdul-Aziz；`keepwhatthouhast，thouwickedman。Maythymelonsbecomeashardasthyheart，andthyfieldasbarrenasthysoul！’
　　“Andstraightwayitcametopassthatthemelonswerechangedintotheseblocksofstone，andthegrassintothissand，andneversincehasanythinggrownthereon。”
　　Inthisstory，andinmyriadslikeit，wehaveasurvivalofthatearlyconceptionoftheuniverseinwhichsomanyoftheleadingmoralandreligioustruthsofthegreatsacredbooksoftheworldareimbedded。
　　Allancientsacredloreaboundsinsuchmythicalexplanationsofremarkableappearancesinnature，andthesearemostfrequentlypromptedbymountains，rocks，andbouldersseeminglymisplaced。
　　InIndiawehavesuchtypicalexamplesamongtheBrahmansasthemountain-peakwhichDurguthrewatParvati；andamongtheBuddhiststhestonewhichDevadattihurledatBuddha。
　　InGreecetheAthenian，rejoicinginhisbeliefthatAthenaguardedherchosenpeople，foundithardtounderstandwhythegreatrockLycabettusshouldbejusttoofarfromtheAcropolistobeofuseasanoutwork；butamythwasdevelopedwhichexplainedall。Accordingtothis，AthenahadintendedtomakeLycabettusadefencefortheAthenians，andshewasbringingitthroughtheairfromPalleneforthatverypurpose；but，unfortunately，aravenmetherandinformedherofthewonderfulbirthofErichthonius，whichsosurprisedthegoddessthatshedroppedtherockwhereitnowstands。
　　So，too，apeculiarrockatAeginawasaccountedforbyalongandcircumstantiallegendtotheeffectthatPeleusthrewitatPhocas。
　　AsimilarmodeofexplainingsuchobjectsisseeninthemythologiesofnorthernEurope。InScandinaviaweconstantlyfindrockswhichtraditionaccountsforbydeclaringthattheywerehurledbytheoldgodsateachother，orattheearlyChristianchurches。
　　InTeutoniclands，asarule，whereverastrangerockorstoneisfound，therewillbefoundamythoralegend，heathenorChristian，toaccountforit。
　　So，too，inCelticcountries：typicalofthismodeofthoughtinBrittanyandinIrelandisthepopularbeliefthatsuchfeaturesinthelandscapeweredroppedbythedevilorbyfairies。
　　Evenatamuchlaterperiodsuchmythshavegrownandbloomed。
　　MarcoPologivesalongandcircumstantiallegendofamountaininAsiaMinorwhich，notlongbeforehisvisit，wasremovedbyaChristianwho，having“faithasagrainofmustardseed。”andrememberingtheSaviour’spromise，transferredthemountaintoitspresentplacebyprayer，“atwhichmarvelmanySaracensbecameChristians。”[422]
　　[422]ForMaximeDuCamp，seeLeNil：EgypteetNubie，Paris，1877，chapterv。ForIndia，seeDuncker，GeschichtedesAlterthums，vol。iii，p。366；alsoColeman，MythologyoftheHindus，p。90。ForGreece，astotheLycabettusmyth，seeLeake，TopographyofAthens，vol。i，sec。3；alsoBurnouf，LaLegendeAthenienne，p。152。FortherockatAegina，seeCharton，vol。i，p。310。ForScandanavia，seeThorpe，NorthernAntiquities，passim。ForTeutoniccountries，seeGrimm，DeutscheMythologie；
　　Panzer，BeitragzurdeutschenMythologie，vol。ii；Zingerle，SagenausTyrol，pp。111etseq。，488，504，543；andespeciallyJ。B。Friedrich，SymbolikundMythologiederNatur，pp。116etseq。ForCelticexamplesIamindebtedtothatlearnedandgenialscholar，Prof。J。P。Mahaffy，ofTrinityCollege，Dublin。
　　SeealsostoryofthedevildroppingarockwhenforcedbythearchangelMichaeltoaidhiminbuildingMontSaint-MichelonthewestcoastofFrance，inSebillot’sTraditionsdelaHauteBretagne，vol。i，p。22；alsomultitudesofotherexamplesinthesamework。ForMarcoPolo，seeinGrynaeus，p。337；alsoCharton，Voyageursanciensetmodernes，tomeii，pp。274etseq。，wherethelegendisgiveninfull。
　　Similarmythicalexplanationsarealsofound，inalltheolderreligionsoftheworld，forcuriouslymarkedmeteoricstones，fossils，andthelike。
　　TypicalexamplesarefoundintheimprintofBuddha’sfeetonstonesinSiamandCeylon；intheimprintofthebodyofMoses，whichdowntothemiddleofthelastcenturywasshownnearMountSinai；intheimprintofPoseidon’stridentontheAcropolisatAthens；intheimprintofthehandsorfeetofChristonstonesinFrance，Italy，andPalestine；intheimprintoftheVirgin’stearsonstonesatJerusalem；intheimprintofthefeetofAbrahamatJerusalemandofMohammedonastoneintheMosqueofKhaitBeyatCairo；intheimprintofthefingersofgiantsonstonesintheScandinavianPeninsula，innorthGermany，andinwesternFrance；intheimprintofthedevil’sthighsonarockinBrittany，andofhisclawsonstoneswhichhethrewatchurchesinCologneandSaint-Pol-de-Leon；intheimprintoftheshoulderofthedevil’sgrandmotheronthe“elbow-stone“attheMohrinersee；intheimprintofSt。Otho’sfeetonastoneformerlypreservedinthecastlechurchatStettin；intheimprintofthelittlefingerofChristandtheheadofSatanatEhrenberg；andintheimprintofthefeetofSt。AgathaatCatania，inSicily。Toaccountfortheseappearancesandmyriadsofothers，longandinterestinglegendsweredeveloped，andoutofthismasswemaytakeoneortwoastypical。
　　OneofthemostbeautifulwasevolvedatRome。Ontheborderofthemedievalcitystandsthechurchof“Dominequovadis“；itwaserectedinhonourofastone，whichisstillpreserved，bearingamarkresemblingahumanfootprint——perhapsthebedofafossil。
　　Outofthisapiouslegendgrewasnaturallyasawildroseinaprairie。Accordingtothisstory，inoneofthefirstgreatpersecutionstheheartofSt。Peterfailedhim，andheattemptedtofleefromthecity：arrivingoutsidethewallshewassuddenlyconfrontedbytheMaster，whereuponPeterinamazementasked，“Lord，whithergoestthou？”Dominequovadis？；towhichtheMasteranswered，“ToRome，tobecrucifiedagain。”Theapostle，thusrebuked，returnedtomartyrdom；theMastervanished，butleft，asaperpetualmemorial，hisfootprintinthesolidrock。
　　AnotherlegendaccountsforacuriousmarkinastoneatJerusalem。Accordingtothis，St。Thomas，aftertheascensionoftheLord，wasagaintroubledwithdoubts，whereupontheVirginMotherthrewdownhergirdle，whichleftitsimprintupontherock，andthusconvertedthedoubterfullyandfinally。
　　AndstillanotherexampleisseenattheveryoppositeextremeofEurope，inthelegendofthepriestessofHerthaintheislandofRugen。Shehadbeenunfaithfultohervows，andthegodsfurnishedaproofofherguiltbycausingherandherchildtosinkintotherockonwhichshestood。[423]
　　[423]Formythsandlegendcrystallizingaboutbouldersandotherstonescuriouslyshapedormarked，see，onthegeneralsubject，inadditiontoworksalreadycited，DesBrosses，LesDieuxFetiches，1760，passim，butespeciallypages166，167；andforacondensedstatementastoworshippaidthem，seeGerarddeRialle，Mythologiecomparee，vol。vi，chapterii。ForimprintsofBuddha’sfeet，seeTylor，ResearchesintotheEarlyHistoryofMankind，London，1878，pp。115etseq。；alsoColeman，p。203，andCharton，Voyageursanciensetmodernes，tomei，pp。365，366，whereengravingsofoneoftheimprints，andofthetempleaboveanother，areseen。TherearefivewhichareconsideredauthenticbytheSiamese，andamultitudeofothersmoreorlessstronglyinsistedupon。FortheimprintosMoses’body，seetravellersfromSirJohnMandevilledown。ForthemarkofNeptune’strident，seelasteditionofMurray’sHandbookofGreece，vol。i，p。322；andBurnouf，LaLegendeAthenienne，p。153。ForimprintofthefeetofChrist，andoftheVirgin’sgirdleandtears，seemanyoftheoldertravellersinPalestine，asArculf，Bouchard，Roger，andespeciallyBertrandondelaBrocquiereinWright’scollection，pp。339，340；alsoMaundrell’sTravels，andMandeville。ForthecuriouslegendregardingtheimprintofAbraham’sfoot，seeWeil，BiblischeLegendenderMuselmanner，pp。
　　91etseq。FormanyadditionalexamplesinPalestine，particularlytheimprintsofthebodiesofthreeapostlesonstonesintheGardenofGethsemaneandofSt。Jerome’sbodyinthedesert，seeBeauvau，RelationduVoyageduLavant，Nancy，1615，passim。ForthevariousimprintsmadebySatanandgiantsinScandanaviaandGermany，seeThorpe，vol。ii，p。85；
　　Friedrichs，pp。126andpassim。ForaveryrichcollectionofsuchexplanatorylegendsregardingstonesandmarksinGermany，seeKarlBartsch，Sagen，MarchenundGebraucheausMeklenburg，Wien，1880，vol。ii，pp。420etseq。ForawoodcutrepresentingtheimprintofChrist’sfeetonthestonefromwhichheascendedtoheaven，seewoodcutinMandeville，editionof1484，intheWhiteLibrary，CornellUniversity。ForthelegendofDominequovadis，seemanybooksoftravelandnearlyallguidebooksforRome，fromthemediaevalMirabiliaRomaetothelatesteditionofMurray。ThefootprintsofMohammedatCairowereshowntothepresentwriterin1889。Onthegeneralsubject，withmanystrikingexamples，seeFalsan，LaPeriodeglaciaire，Paris，1889，pp。17，294，295。
　　Anotherandveryfruitfulsourceofexplanatorymythsisfoundinancientcentresofvolcanicaction，andespeciallyinoldcratersofvolcanoesandfissuresfilledwithwater。
　　InChinawehave，amongotherexamples，LakeMan，whichwasoncethesiteoftheflourishingcityChiangShui——overwhelmedandsunkonaccountoftheheedlessnessofitsinhabitantsregardingadivinewarning。
　　InPhrygia，thelakeandmorassnearTyanawereascribedtothewrathofZeusandHermes，who，havingvisitedthecitieswhichformerlystoodthere，andhavingbeenrefusedshelterbyalltheinhabitantssavePhilemonandBaucis，rewardedtheirbenefactors，butsunkthewickedcitiesbeneaththelakeandmorass。
　　StoriesofsimilarimportgrewuptoexplainthecraternearSipylosinAsiaMinorandthatofAvernusinItaly：thelattercametobeconsideredthemouthoftheinfernalregions，aseveryschoolboyknowswhenhehasreadhisVirgil。
　　InthelaterChristianmythologieswehavesuchtypicallegendsasthosewhichgrewupabouttheoldcraterinCeylon；thesaltwaterinitbeingaccountedforbysupposingitthetearsofAdamandEve，whoretreatedtothispointaftertheirexpulsionfromparadiseandbewailedtheirsinduringahundredyears。
　　So，too，inGermanywehavemultitudesoflakessupposedtoowetheirorigintothesinkingofvalleysasapunishmentforhumansin。Ofthesearethe“Devil’sLake。”nearGustrow，whichroseandcoveredachurchanditspriestsonaccountoftheircorruption；thelakeatProbst-Jesar，whichroseandcoveredanoakgroveandanumberofpeasantsrestinginitonaccountoftheirwantofcharitytobeggars；andtheLucinLake，whichroseandcoveredanumberofsoldiersonaccountoftheircrueltytoapoorpeasant。
　　SuchlegendsarefoundthroughoutAmericaandinJapan，andwilldoubtlessbefoundthroughoutAsiaandAfrica，andespeciallyamongthevolcaniclakesofSouthAmerica，thepitchlakesoftheCaribbeanIslands，andevenabouttheSaltLakeofUtah；forexplanatorymythsandlegendsundersuchcircumstancesareinevitable。[424]
　　[424]Astomythsexplainingvolcaniccratersandlakes，andembodyingideasofthewrathofHeavenagainstformerinhabitantsoftheneighboringcountry，seeForbiger，AlteGeographie，Hamburg，1877，vol。i，p。563。ForexaggerationsconcerningtheDeadSea，seeibid。，vol。i，p。575。ForthesinkingofChiangShuiandotherexamples，seeDenny’sFolkloreofChina，pp。126
　　etseq。ForthesinkingofthePhrygianregion，thedestructionofitsinhabitants，andthesavingofPhilemonandBaucis，seeOvid’sMetamorphoses，bookviii；alsoBotticher，BaumcultusderAlten，etc。ForthelakeinCeylonarisingfromthetearsofAdamandEve，seevariantsoftheoriginallegendinMandevilleandinJurgenAndersen，Reisebeschreibung，1669，vol。ii，p。132。
　　ForthevolcanicnatureoftheDeadSea，seeDaubeny，citedinSmith’sDictionaryoftheBible，s。v。Palestine。ForlakesinGermanyowingtheirorigintohumansinandvarioussupernaturalcauses，seeKarlBartsch，Sagen，MarcheundGebraucheausMeklenburg，vol。i，pp。397etseq。ForlakesinAmerica，seeanygoodcollectionofIndianlegends。ForlakesinJapansunksupernaturally，seeBraun’sJapanesischeMarcheundSagen，Leipsic，1885，pp。350，351。
　　Tothesamemannerofexplainingstrikingappearancesinphysicalgeography，andespeciallystrangerocksandboulders，wemainlyowetheinnumerablestoriesofthetransformationoflivingbeings，andespeciallyofmenandwomen，intothesenaturalfeatures。