434 THE DECLINE OF SERPENT-WORSHIP .

a more determined opposition : and if we mayjudge from some of the present superstitions ofthe peasantry, were never thoroughly converted.The old Zabean policy of gradual conversion w r asadopted by the first missionaries of the Christianchurch. Instead of striking a decisive blow atonce they deemed it more prudent to winkat a few errors, than by precipitation incur thedanger of a total failure. Hence in the vicinityof Carnac , which may be called the “ Tracho-nitis” of Europe , the oracle of Belus is to befound in the parish of Bels ; the serpent, theuniversal emblem of consecration, decorates theexterior of some of the oldest churches. Thesacred mount of Fire near the avenues of the Dra-contium is a consecrated spot: the ancient danceof Baal , descriptive of the Ophite hierogram isannually exhibited at the carnival of Erdeven :while the peasant still turns his face in prayer tothe Kebla of the Ophites—the Serpent’s head atKerzerho—which bears accordingly the expres-sive name of “ the place of the stones of prayer

15. There remains, then, only one portion of

1 These two latter facts were communicated to me by myfriend General de Penhouet.