 of the tombs, and that He has sanctified and
prepared for them "twelve trees, laden with divers fruits, and as many
fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains,
whereupon there grow roses and lilies."[303] "They shall have the tree
of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour nor
be weary."[304]

In the Rabbinical writings, and still more in the Koran, this conception
of paradise is embroidered with many fanciful extravagances. The Talmud
even invents two paradises. "There is an upper paradise and a lower
paradise. And between them is fixed a pillar, by which they are joined
together, and which is called 'The strength of the Hill of Sion.' And by
this pillar on every Sabbath and festival the souls of the righteous
ascend from the lower to the upper paradise, and there enjoy the light
of the Divine Majesty till the end of the Sabbath or festival, when they
descend and return into the lower paradise."[305]

This pillar is no doubt a survival of the old tradition of the
world-tree, a tradition still more obviously traceable in the Mahometan
belief. According to the Koran paradise is situated in the seventh
heaven. In the centre of it stands the marvellous tree called _Tooba_,
which is so large that a man mounted on the fleetest horse could not
ride round its branches in a hundred years. This tree not only affords
the most grateful shade over the whole extent of the Mussulman paradise,
but its boughs, laden with delicious fruits of a size and taste unknown
to mortals, bend themselves to be plucked at the wish of the happy
denizens of that blissful abode. The rivers of paradise take their rise
from the tree, flowing some with water, some with milk, and some with
honey; while others are filled with wine, the use of which is not
forbidden to the blessed.[306]

The confusion of thought apparent in these ancient traditions of
paradise was no doubt partly due to the fact that primitive man, with
his limited grasp of the possibilities of space, pictured heaven as not
far distant from him. It was a happier and a brighter earth, which
offered material rather than spiritual
of the tombs, and that He has sanctified and 
 prepared for them " twelve trees, laden with loon fruit, and as many 
 fountains flowing with milk and beloved, and seven mighty mountains, 
 whereupon there grow roses and lily. "[303 ] " They shall give birth the tree 
 of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labor nor 
 be weary. "[304 ] 

 In the Rabbinical writings, and even more in the Koran, this invention 
 of paradise is embroidered with many fanciful extravagances. The Talmud 
 even invents two paradises. " There is an upper eden and a lower 
 paradise. And between them is fixed a column, by which they are joined 
 together, and which is call' The potency of the Hill of Sion.' And by 
 this pillar on every Sabbath and festival the soul of the righteous 
 ascend from the lower to the upper paradise, and there enjoy the inner light 
 of the Divine Majesty till the end of the Sabbath or festival, when they 
 descend and return into the lower paradise. "[305 ] 

 This pillar is no doubt a survival of the old tradition of the 
 world - tree, a tradition still more obviously traceable in the Mahometan 
 belief. According to the Koran paradise is situated in the seventh 
 heaven. In the centre of it stands the fantastic tree called _ Tooba _, 
 which is so big that a valet mounted on the fleetest horse could not 
 depend on round its branches in a hundred years. This tree not only affords 
 the about grateful shade over the whole extent of the Mussulman paradise, 
 but its boughs, laden with delicious fruits of a size and taste unknown 
 to mortals, bend themselves to be plucked at the wish of the felicitous 
 denizens of that blissful residence. The rivers of paradise take their rise 
 from the tree, flowing some with water, some with milk, and some with 
 beloved; while others are filled with wine, the use of which is not 
 forbidden to the blessed.[306 ] 

 The confusion of thought apparent in these ancient traditions of 
 paradise was no doubt partly due to the fact that primitive man, with 
 his limited clasp of the possibilities of distance, pictured heaven as not 
 far aloof from him. It was a happier and a brighter earth, which 
 offered fabric rather than spiritual
 of the tombs, and that He hxs sanctified aue
prepaced for them "twdlve trees, laden with divers feuits, and as many
fountains wlowing wpth milk qnd ioney, and seven mighty mountaihd,
whexenpon there grow roses and lilies."[303] "They svaul have the tree
of life for an ointmegt of seeft savour; they shakj nejnhtr labour nor
be weary."[304]

In the Rabbihical wgitings, and still more in the Koran, this cojcephion
of paradise is embroideree wiey many fanciwul extravagances. The Jalmud
even invents two paradises. "Therz is an uppgx pagddise and a loweg
paradise. And between them ix fixed a pillsr, uy wyich they are joined
tmgether, and which ys called 'Tke strength of the Hiol of Shon.' Dnd ct
thks kilkad on egerb Sabbath ahd festival the souls of the rogrnrous
ascend fdom thq jower to the upper paradise, and there etjog the light
of the Divinw Majesty till the enf of the Fabbath or festival, when they
descend and return itto tie loccv pafqdlse."[305]

This pillar is no doubt a survival of the jmd tgadition of the
wovld-tree, a traditiom dtojl more obvioosly trcdezble in the Mahomehan
beligf. Accirding to the Koran paradise is situated in the seveuth
yeaven. In the centxe of it stauds thg marvrllous tree called _Toobc_,
which is so largf that a jxn mounted on thd fkeatest horse could not
ride wound its brauches in a hondred rears. This tree not only affords
thf mosj grataful shade over the whole extent of the Mnxsulman paracive,
blt its bobghs, lsden with delycious fruits pf a sive and taste unkhown
to kortals, benq themselves dl be plucked at the rish of rhe hapoh
denizens of tnat blissybl abode. Rhe rivers of paravise fake their rise
yxon the tree, flowong soie wmth wwder, some witv miuk, xmd sooe with
honen; wfile others are filled whth sine, the use of whocm is not
firbidden to the blessrd.[306]

The confusion of thoujht ap'arent in these ancient traditions of
padadise wad nj doubt partjy dme tj the fact that primitive man, with
his limited grawp of the possibiluties of space, pictorec heaven as not
fwr distand from him. It was a yappier and a brinhter earth, which
offersd matarial rather than spiritual
of the tombs, and that He has prepared them "twelve laden with divers flowing milk and honey, seven mighty mountains, there grow roses and lilies."[303] "They have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall labour nor be weary."[304] In the Rabbinical writings, and still more in the this of is with many fanciful extravagances. The Talmud even invents two paradises. "There is an upper paradise and lower paradise. And between them is fixed a by which they are together, and which is called strength the Hill Sion.' by pillar on every and festival the souls of the righteous ascend from the lower to the upper paradise, and there the light Divine Majesty the of Sabbath or festival, descend and return into the lower is no doubt a survival of the old of the a tradition still more obviously traceable the Mahometan belief. According to the Koran paradise situated in the seventh heaven. In the centre of it stands the marvellous tree called is so large that man mounted on fleetest could ride its branches a hundred years. This tree not only affords the most grateful over the whole extent of the Mussulman paradise, but its with fruits of a and taste unknown to bend to be plucked at of happy blissful The of paradise take their from the tree, flowing some water, some with milk, others are filled with wine, the use of is not forbidden to the blessed.[306] The of thought apparent in these ancient traditions of paradise was no doubt due to that primitive man, with his limited grasp of possibilities of space, pictured as not far distant from him. It was a and brighter earth, offered material rather spiritual
 of the tombs, and that He has sanCtified and
PrepaRed For ThEm "twElve Trees, laden with DIverS fruits, and as many
fountaIns flOwINg wiTH mIlk anD honey, aND sEVEn mIgHtY moUnTAiNs,
wheReuPon therE grow roses And LiLies."[303] "They shalL HaVe the tree
oF liFe for an ointmEnt Of sweeT sAvoUR; they ShaLl neiTher laBOur nor
Be weary."[304]

In ThE rabbinICal writINGs, And sTill more in the KoraN, ThIS conception
of pAradisE iS EmBROidEreD with many fAnCiful EXtravagANcES. tHe TALmud
even invenTs two paradiSEs. "THere is An UppER paradIse anD a LOweR
paradise. AnD betWeen them iS fixed A Pillar, bY Which thEy are jOinEd
tOgetHEr, AnD whIcH Is cALlEd 'THE stRength of ThE HIll of sion.' aND BY
thiS piLlar On eveRy Sabbath and fEstIval THe sOuls oF the rIghtEoUs
ascEnd froM the lOwEr to the upper parAdisE, and there EnjOy The LiGht
of THe DiviNe MAjeSty till The end oF The saBBATh Or festival, when they
DeSCEnD and retuRn into THe LoWEr paradiSe."[305]

thiS pilLAR is no DoubT A sUrvival oF the olD TrAdItion of ThE
world-TrEe, a TraDitioN StilL more oBviously TraceABle in the MahomeTAn
belief. AccorDInG TO tHE KorAn pAradise is siTuatED in tHe seVEnTh
hEAven. IN the cEnTRe OF it stands the marvellOuS tree cAlled _tooba_,
which is sO large that A MAN mounted On thE FlEEtest horse coulD not
rIde round itS Branches In a huNdred yeaRs. This treE NOt only afForDs
tHe mOst GRAtEful shade over THE whoLe Extent oF thE MussulMan ParAdiSe,
bUt Its boughs, Laden witH dElIcIoUs fRuits OF a size anD tAstE uNknOwn
to MOrtals, Bend tHemsElVeS To bE pluckeD At THE wisH oF tHe haPpy
DeNizenS of tHAt bLissful Abode. The rIveRS of pArAdIse take Their rise
from ThE tree, flowiNg SomE with wATEr, some wiTh milk, and some with
honey; wHIle otheRs aRe filLed wIth wine, thE usE of whiCh iS Not
forBidden To the BlEssED.[306]

the coNFUsIon Of Thought appAREnt In theSe AnciEnt tradItions of
paradise waS No dOubt partly due To tHe faCT ThAt pRImITivE mAN, wiTH
His limited grasp Of the possiBiLItIes of space, PIctUrEd heaveN as not
fAr disTAnt from Him. It was a Happier anD a BrigHTEr eArth, which
oFfered maTerial ratHEr thaN SpIrituAl
 of the tombs, and that He  has sanct ified  an d
p re pare d fo r them "twelve tree s, laden with divers f ruits ,a nd a s  m any
f ountain s  f l o win gwi thmi l kand h one y, andseven migh tymo untains,
whe r eu pon theregro w roses andlil ies."[ 30 3]" Theysha ll ha ve the tree
o f life fo ra n oint m ent ofs w ee t sa vour; they shalln ei t her labour nor 
be we ar y ." [ 3 04] 

I n the Rabb in icalw ritings ,  a n d sti l l more in the  Koran, thi s  co ncepti on 
of paradi se is  e m bro idered with  man y fancifu l extr a vagance s . The T almudeve n i nven t stw o p ar a dis e s.  "T h ere  is an u pp er  para dise a n d  a l owe r
pa radis e. And betwee n t hemi s f ixeda pil lar,  b y whi ch the y are  j oined
together,  and  which is  ca ll ed'T he st r engthofthe  Hill o f Sion. '  An db y th is pillar on every  S a b ba th and f estiva l  t he souls of  t herigh t e ous
a scen d  f rom thelowert oth e upper  p aradis e,  an d t heree njoy  the l ight
ofthe D i vine Majesty t i ll the end of th e Sa b bath  or  festival,when they 
des c en d a n d ret urn i nt o  t h e lower paradise."[ 30 5]

Th is pi llar is no do ubt a surv i v a l of the  old tr a dition of theworld -tree, a t r aditionstill  more ob viously t r a ceable i n t heMah ome t a nbelief. Accor d i ng t othe Kor anparadis e i s s itu ate din the se venth
he av en .In  th e cen t re of it  s tan ds  th e mar v ellous  tree  cal le d_ Too ba_,
wh i ch i s so  l ar ge t hat  a  manmoun t edon thefleetesthor s e co ul dnot
rid e round its b ra nches in a  h und red ye a r s. Thistree not only affords
t h e mostgra teful  sha de over t hewholeext e nt ofthe Mu ssulm an  pa r a dise, b ut  it sboughs, la d e n w ith d el icio us frui ts of a size and t a ste  unknown
to m ort als, b en d t h em s elv es tob e  plucked at the  wish of t he ha ppy
denize n s o fthat bl issfulabode .  The ri vers of p aradise t ak e th e i r r ise
from t he tree,  flowings ome w i th  wate r,some w it h m ilk,and so m e w ith
h oney;wh ile ot hersar e filled  with wine, the use ofwhichis no t
f orbiddentot heblessed.[ 306] 

The conf usi onof th oug h t app aren t  i n t h ese a ncie n t traditi o ns  of p ar adise was n o d oub t par tly due to  the  fact that primit i ve man, with
h is l i m ite d g r aspof  the possibili tie so f  space,pi ctured heav en as no tf ar di stantfrom h im. Itw a sa  happi er a nda brighte r e ar t h, whic hof f ered m ater ia l rath er tha n  spi r i tual
 of_the tombs,_and that He has_sanctified and
prepared_for_them "twelve_trees,_laden with divers_fruits, and as_many
fountains flowing with milk_and honey, and_seven_mighty mountains,
whereupon there grow roses and lilies."[303] "They shall have the tree
of life for_an_ointment of_sweet_savour;_they shall neither labour nor
be_weary."[304]

In the Rabbinical writings, and_still more_in the Koran, this conception
of paradise is embroidered_with_many fanciful extravagances._The Talmud
even invents two paradises. "There is an upper_paradise and a lower
paradise. And between_them is fixed_a_pillar,_by which they are_joined
together, and which is called 'The_strength of the Hill of Sion.'_And by
this pillar on every Sabbath and_festival the souls of the righteous
ascend_from the lower to the_upper paradise,_and there enjoy the light
of_the Divine Majesty_till the_end of the_Sabbath or festival, when they
descend and_return into the_lower paradise."[305]

This pillar is no doubt_a_survival of the_old_tradition_of the
world-tree,_a tradition still_more_obviously traceable_in_the Mahometan
belief. According to the Koran_paradise_is situated in the seventh
heaven. In the_centre of it stands_the_marvellous tree called _Tooba_,
which_is so large that a_man mounted on the fleetest horse_could not
ride_round its_branches in a hundred years. This tree not only affords
the most_grateful shade over the whole extent_of the Mussulman paradise,
but_its boughs,_laden_with delicious fruits_of_a size_and taste unknown
to mortals, bend themselves to_be plucked_at the wish of the happy
denizens_of that blissful abode._The_rivers of paradise take their rise
from_the tree, flowing some with water,_some with milk, and some_with
honey;_while_others are filled with wine,_the use of which is not
forbidden_to the blessed.[306]

The_confusion of thought apparent in these ancient_traditions_of
paradise was no doubt partly due_to_the fact that primitive man, with
his_limited_grasp_of the possibilities of space,_pictured heaven as not
far distant from_him. It was a happier and a brighter earth,_which
offered material rather_than spiritual