Similarity between the fire-customs of the Herero and the ancient
Latins; rites performed by the Vestals for the fertility of the earth
and the fecundity of cattle; the Vestals as embodiments of Vesta, a
mother-goddess of fertility; the domestic fire as a fecundating agent in
marriage ritual; newborn children and the domestic fire; reasons for
ascribing a procreative virtue to fire; fire kindled by friction by
human representatives of the Fire-father and Fire-mother; fire kindled
by friction by boy and girl or by man and woman; human fire-makers
sometimes married, sometimes unmarried; holy fire and virgins of St.
Brigit in Ireland; the oaks of Erin; virgin priestesses of fire in
ancient Peru and Mexico; the _Agnihotris_ or fire-priests of the
Brahmans; kinds of wood employed for fire-sticks in India and ancient
Greece.