History

American antiquities, Remains of the Giants, Geology, Volcanoes, Indian and Egyptian Magic, Somnabulism, Trances, Resuscitation, Persons with Two Souls, Learning Color by Touch

A totem is a class of material objects which a savage regards with superstitious respect, believing that there exists between him and every member of the class an intimate and altogether special relation. The name is derived from an Ojibway Chippeway word totem, the correct spelling of which is somewhat uncertain.

In the year 1695, a number of savans associated in Paris for the purpose of procuring information respecting the American Indians. The undertaking met with almost prompt and cordial support; the proudest names and the brightest lights of the age were enlisted in it.

The resident official, travelling from place to place, spends a great deal of time seated in railway stations or on the banks of the Nile, waiting for his train or his boat to arrive; and he has, therefore, a great deal of time for thinking. I often try to fill in these dreary periods by jotting down a few notes on some matter which has recently been discussed, or registering and elaborating arguments which have chanced lately to come into the thoughts. These notes are shaped and "written up" when next there is a spare hour, and a few books to refer to; and ultimately they take the form of articles or papers, some of which find their way into print.

A look at a mysterious secret society located in China...

This book had its origin on this wise. In my Irish Witchcraft and Demonology, published in October 1913, I inserted a couple of famous 17th century ghost stories which described how lawsuits were set on foot at the instigation of most importunate spirits. It then occurred to me that as far as I knew there was no such thing in existence as a book of Irish ghost stories. Books on Irish fairy and folk-lore there were in abundance-some of which could easily be spared-but there was no book of ghosts. And so I determined to supply this sad omission.

A facsimile of a number of reports of a tsunami in 1755 affecting the Scottish waters and coasts.