Ragnarok : the age of fire and gravel

428 CONCLUSIONS.

The Gothic mythology tells us that Surt, with his flaming sword, “shall come at the end of the world; he shall soa ele all the gods ; he shall give ay the universe

a prey to the flames.”

This belief in the ultimate destruction of the world and all its inhabitants by fire was found among the American races as well as those of the Old World:

“The same terror inspired the Peruvians at every eclipse ; for some day—taught the Amantas—the shadow will veil the sun for ever, and land, moon, and stars will be wrapped in a devouring conflagration, to know no regeneration.” *

The Algonquin races believed that some day Michabo “will stamp his foot on the ground, flames will burst forth to consume the habitable land ; only a pair, or only, at most, those who have maintained inviolate the imstitutions he ordained, will he protect and preserve to inhabit the new world he will then fabricate.” +

Nearly all the American tribes had similar presentiments. The Chickasaws, the Mandans of the Missouri, the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, the Muyscas of Bogota, the Botocudos of Brazil, the Araucanians of Chili, the Winnebagoes, all have possessed such a belief from time immemorial. The Mayas of Yucatan had a prediction which Father Lizana, cwé of Itzamal, preserved in the Spanish language :

“ At the close of the ages, it hath been decreed,

Shall perish and vanish each weak god of men, And the world shall be purged with ravening fire.”

We know that among our own people, the European races, this looking forward to a conflagration which is to end all things is found everywhere ; and that everywhere a comet is regarded with terror. It is a messenger of

* Brinton’s “ Myths,” p. 235, + Ibid.