COXfc’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK.

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terial events; others as fepulchres ; but the greater part were probably places, or * ob-jects, of facred worfhip. In the earlier ages of the world, we find that (tones wereereCted for all thefe purpofes, and by different nations ; but as it would be tedious toenumerate the feveral proofs of the affertion, I muft refer the reader to Borlafe’s Dif-fertations on fimilar monuments exifting in our own country, as the mofl able writer onthis fubjeCt. How can we poffibly confine to any particular nation, or religion, cuftomsufed indifcriminately by all in remote periods, or how can we affign their epoch, fincemofl of them were either raifed before the Chriftian sera, or preceded the introductionof the gofpel into thofe parts, when no certain tradition or literary records were extant,to afcertain their origin ?

* Many inftances of the worfhip of {tones occur among the ancient Pagans ; and it appears that fomewere held no Itfs facred in thefe northern regions. Among others, one was worfhipped at Gilia, in Ice-land , before the introdnaion of Chriftianity : “ In Gilia lapis , quim majeres eorum rs/igiofe coluerar.t, utpol? agaiio Juo tutelar! inhabitari iradenles.” Kriftni Saga, p. 13.

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Genealogical

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