about 200,000 years ago. With the exception of the rents in the
continents both of Atlantis and America, and the submergence of Egypt,
it will be seen how relatively unimportant were the subsidences and
upheavals at this epoch, indeed the fact that this catastrophe has
not always been considered as one of the great ones, is apparent from
the quotation already given from the sacred book of the
Guatemalans--three great ones only being there mentioned. The
Scandinavian island however, appears now as joined to the mainland.
The two islands into which Atlantis was now split were known by the
names of Ruta and Daitya.
The stupendous character of the natural convulsion that took place
about 80,000 years ago, will be apparent from the fourth map. Daitya,
the smaller and more southerly of the islands, has almost entirely
disappeared, while of Ruta there only remains the relatively small
island of Poseidonis. This map was compiled about 75,000 years ago,
and it no doubt fairly represents the land surface of the earth from
that period onwards till the final submergence of Poseidonis in 9564
B.C., though during that period minor changes must have taken place.
It will be noted that the land outlines had then begun to assume
roughly the same appearance they do to-day, though the British Islands
were still joined to the European continent, while the Baltic Sea was
non-existent, and the Sahara desert then formed part of the ocean
floor.
* * * * *
Some reference to the very mystical subject of the Manus is a
necessary preliminary to the consideration of the origin of a Root
Race. In Transaction No. 26, of the London Lodge, reference was made
to the work done by these very exalted Beings, which embraces not only
the planning of the types of the whole Manvantara, but the
superintending the formation and education of each Root Race in turn.
The following quotation refers to these arrangements: "There are also
Manus whose duty it is to act in a similar way for each Root Race on
each Planet of the Round, the Seed Manu planning the improvement in
type which each successive Root Race inaugurates and the Root Manu
actually incarnating amongst the new Race as a leader and teacher to
direct the development and ensure the improvement."
The way in which the necessary segregation of the picked specimens is
effected by the Manu in charge, and his subsequent care of the growing
community, may be dealt with in a future Transaction. The merest
reference to the mode of procedure is all that is necessary here.
It was of course from one of the sub-races of the Third Root Race on
the continent which is spoken of as Lemuria, that the segregation was
effected which was destined to produce the Fourth Root Race.
Following where necessary the history of the Race through the four
periods represented by the four maps, it is proposed to divide the
subject under the following headings:
1. Origin and territorial location of the different sub-races.
2. The political institutions they respectively evolved.
3. Their emigrations to other parts of the world.
4. The arts and sciences they developed.
5. The manners and customs they adopted.
6. The rise and decline amongst them of religious ideas.
The names of the different sub-races must first be given--
1. Rmoahal.
2. Tlavatli.
3. Toltec.
4. First Turanian.
5. Original Semite.
6. Akkadian.
7. Mongolian.
Some explanation is necessary as to the principle on which these names
are chosen. Wherever modern ethnologists have discovered traces of one
of these sub-races, or even identified a small part of one, the name
they have given to it is used for the sake of simplicity, but in the
case of the first two sub-races there are hardly any traces left for
science to seize upon, so the names by which they called themselves
have been adopted.
Now the period represented by Map No. 1 shows the land surface of the
earth as it existed about one million years ago, but the Rmoahal race
came into existence between four and five million years ago, at which
period large portions of the great southern continent of Lemuria still
existed, while the continent of Atlantis had not assumed the
proportions it ultimately attained. It was upon a spur of this
Lemurian land that the Rmoahal race was born. Roughly it may be
located at latitude 7° north and longitude 5° west, which a reference
to any modern atlas will show to lie on the Ashanti coast of to-day.
It was a hot, moist country, where huge antediluvian animals lived in
reedy swamps and dank forests. The fossil remains of such plants are
to-day found in the coal measures. The Rmoahals were a dark
race--their complexion being a sort of mahogany black. Their height in
these early days was about ten or twelve feet--truly a race of
giants--but through the centuries their stature gradually dwindled, as
did that of all the races in turn, and later on we shall find they had
shrunk to the stature of the "Furfooz man." They ultimately migrated
to the southern shores of Atlantis, where they were engaged in
constant warfare with the sixth and seventh sub-races of the Lemurians
then inhabiting that country. A large part of the tribe eventually
moved north, while the remainder settled down and intermarried with
these black Lemurian aborigines. The result was that at the period we
are dealing with--the first map period--there was no pure blood left
in the south, and as we shall see it was from these dark races who
inhabited the equatorial provinces, and the extreme south of the
continent, that the Toltec conquerors subsequently drew their supplies
of slaves. The remainder of the race, however, reached the extreme
north-eastern promontories contiguous with Iceland, and dwelling there
for untold generations, they gradually became lighter in colour, until
at the date of the first map period we find them a tolerably fair
people. Their descendants eventually became subject, at least
nominally, to the Semite kings.
That they dwelt there for untold generations is not meant to imply
that their occupation was unbroken, for stress of circumstances at
intervals of time drove them south. The cold of the glacial epochs of
course operated alike with the other races, but the few words to be
said on this subject may as well come in here.
Without going into the question of the different rotations which this
earth performs, or the varying degrees of eccentricity of its orbit, a
combination of which is sometimes held to be the cause of the glacial
epochs, it is a fact--and one already recognized by some
astronomers--that a minor glacial epoch occurs about every 30,000
years. But in addition to these there were two occasions in the
history of Atlantis when the ice-belt desolated not merely the
northern regions, but, invading the bulk of the continent, forced all
life to migrate to equatorial lands. The first of these was in process
during the Rmoahal days, about 3,000,000 years ago, while the second
took place in the Toltec ascendency about 850,000 years ago.
With reference to all glacial epochs it should be stated that though
the inhabitants of northern lands were forced to settle during the
winter far south of the ice-belt, there yet were great districts to
which in summer they could return, and where for the sake of the
hunting they encamped until driven south again by the winter cold.
The place of origin of the Tlavatli or 2nd sub-race was an island off
the west coast of Atlantis. The spot is marked on the 1st map with
the figure 2. Thence they spread into Atlantis proper, chiefly across
the middle of the continent, gradually however tending northwards
towards the stretch of coast facing the promontory of Greenland.
Physically they were a powerful and hardy race of a red-brown colour,
but they were not quite so tall as the Rmoahals whom they drove still
further north. They were always a mountain-loving people, and their
chief settlements were in the mountainous districts of the interior,
which a comparison of Maps, 1 and 4 will show to be approximately
conterminous with what ultimately became the island of Poseidonis. At
this first map period they also--as just stated--peopled the northern
coasts, whilst a mixture of Tlavatli and Toltec race inhabited the
western islands, which subsequently formed part of the American
continent.
We now come to the Toltec or 3rd sub-race. This was a magnificent
development. It ruled the whole continent of Atlantis for thousands of
years in great material power and glory. Indeed so dominant and so
endowed with vitality was this race that intermarriages with the
following sub-races failed to modify the type, which still remained
essentially Toltec; and hundreds of thousands of years later we find
one of their remote family races ruling magnificently in Mexico and
Peru, long ages before their degenerate descendants were conquered by
the fiercer Aztec tribes from the north. The complexion of this race
was also a red-brown, but they were redder or more copper-coloured
than the Tlavatli. They also were a tall race, averaging about eight
feet during the period of their ascendency, but of course dwindling,
as all races did, to the dimensions that are common to-day. The type
was an improvement on the two previous sub-races, the features being
straight and well marked, not unlike the ancient Greek. The
approximate birthplace of this race may be seen, marked with the
figure 3, on the first map. It lay near the west coast of Atlantis
about latitude 30° North, and the whole of the surrounding country,
embracing the bulk of the west coast of the continent, was peopled
with a pure Toltec race. But as we shall see when dealing with the
political organization, their territory eventually extended right
across the continent, and it was from their great capital on the
eastern coast that the Toltec emperors held their almost world-wide
sway.
These first three sub-races are spoken of as the "red races," between
whom and the four following there was not at first much mixture of
blood. These four, though differing considerably from each other, have
been called "yellow," and this colour may appropriately define the
complexion of the Turanian and Mongolian, but the Semite and Akkadian
were comparatively white.
The Turanian or 4th sub-race had their origin on the eastern side of
the continent, south of the mountainous district inhabited by the
Tlavatli people. This spot is marked 4 on Map No. 1. The Turanians
were colonists from the earliest days, and great numbers migrated to
the lands lying to the east of Atlantis. They were never a thoroughly
dominant race on the mother-continent, though some of their tribes and
family races became fairly powerful. The great central regions of the
continent lying west and south of the Tlavatli mountainous district
was their special though not their exclusive home, for they shared
these lands with the Toltecs. The curious political and social
experiments made by this sub-race will be dealt with later on.
As regards the original Semite or 5th sub-race ethnologists have been
somewhat confused, as indeed it is extremely natural they should be
considering the very insufficient data they have to go upon. This
sub-race had its origin in the mountainous country which formed the
more southerly of the two north-eastern peninsulas which, as we have
seen, is now represented by Scotland, Ireland, and some of the
surrounding seas. The site is marked 5 in Map No. 1. In this least
desirable portion of the great continent the race grew and flourished,
for centuries maintaining its independence against aggressive southern
kings, till the time came for it in turn to spread abroad and
colonize. It must be remembered that by the time the Semites rose to
power hundreds of thousands of years had passed and the 2nd map period
had been reached. They were a turbulent, discontented race, always at
war with their neighbours, especially with the then growing power of
the Akkadians.
The birthplace of the Akkadian or 6th sub-race will be found on Map
No. 2 (marked there with the figure 6), for it was after the great
catastrophe of 800,000 years ago that this race first came into
existence. It took its rise in the land east of Atlantis, about the
middle of the great peninsula whose south-eastern extremity stretched
out towards the old continent. The spot may be located approximately
at latitude 42° North and longitude 10° East. They did not for long,
however, confine themselves to the land of their birth, but overran
the now diminished continent of Atlantis. They fought with the Semites
in many battles both on land and sea, and very considerable fleets
were used on both sides. Finally about 100,000 years ago they
completely vanquished the Semites, and from that time onwards an
Akkadian dynasty was set up in the old Semite capital, and ruled the
country wisely for several hundred years. They were a great trading,
sea-going, and colonizing people, and they established many centres of
communication with distant lands.
The Mongolian or 7th sub-race seems to be the only one that had
absolutely no touch with the mother-continent. Having its origin on
the plains of Tartary (marked No. 7 on the second map) at about
latitude 63° North and longitude 140° East, it was directly developed
from descendants of the Turanian race, which it gradually supplanted
over the greater part of Asia. This sub-race multiplied exceedingly,
and even at the present day a majority of the earth's inhabitants
technically belong to it, though many of its divisions are so deeply
coloured with the blood of earlier races as to be scarcely
distinguishable from them.
_Political Institutions._--In such a summary as this it would be
impossible to describe how each sub-race was further sub-divided into
nations, each having its distinct type and characteristics. All that
can be here attempted is to sketch in broad outline the varying
political institutions throughout the great epochs of the race.
While recognizing that each sub-race as well as each Root Race is
destined to stand in some respects at a higher level than the one
before it, the cyclic nature of the development must be recognized as
leading the race like the man through the various phases of infancy,
youth, and manhood back to the infancy of old age again. Evolution
necessarily means ultimate progress, even though the turning back of
its ascending spiral may seem to make the history of politics or of
religion a record not merely of development and progress but also of
degradation and decay.
In making the statement therefore that the 1st sub-race started under
the most perfect government conceivable, it must be understood that
this was owing to the necessities of their childhood, not to the
merits of their matured manhood. For the Rmoahals were incapable of
developing any plan of settled government, nor did they ever reach
even as high a point of civilization as the 6th and 7th Lemurian
sub-races. But the Manu who effected the segregation actually
incarnated in the race and ruled it as king. Even when he no longer
took visible part in the government of the race, Adept or Divine
rulers were, when the times required it, still provided for the infant
community. As students of Theosophy know, our humanity had not then
reached the stage of development necessary to produce fully initiated
Adepts. The rulers above referred to, including the Manu himself, were
therefore necessarily the product of evolution on other systems of
worlds.
The Tlavatli people showed some signs of advance in the art of
government. Their various tribes or nations were ruled by chiefs or
kings who generally received their authority by acclamation of the
people. Naturally the most powerful individuals and greatest warriors
were so chosen. A considerable empire was eventually established among
them, in which one king became the nominal head, but his suzerainty
consisted rather in titular honour than in actual authority.
It was the Toltec race who developed the highest civilization and
organized the most powerful empire of any of the Atlantean peoples,
and it was then that the principle of hereditary succession was for
the first time established. The race was at first divided into a
number of petty independent kingdoms, constantly at war with each
other, and all at war with the Lemurio-Rmoahals of the south. These
were gradually conquered and made subject peoples--many of their
tribes being reduced to slavery. About one million years ago, however,
these separate kingdoms united in a great federation with a recognized
emperor at its head. This was of course inaugurated by great wars, but
the outcome was peace and prosperity for the race.
It must be remembered that humanity was still for the most part
possessed of psychic attributes, and by this time the most advanced
had undergone the necessary training in the occult schools, and had
attained various stages of initiation--some even reaching to
Adeptship. Now the second of these emperors was an Adept, and for
thousands of years the Divine dynasty ruled not only all the kingdoms
into which Atlantis was divided but the islands on the west and the
southern portion of the adjacent land lying to the east. When
necessary, this dynasty was recruited from the Lodge of Initiates, but
as a rule the power was handed down from father to son, all being more
or less qualified, and the son in some cases receiving a further
degree at the hands of his father. During all this period these
Initiate rulers retained connection with the Occult Hierarchy which
governs the world, submitting to its laws, and acting in harmony with
its plans. This was the golden age of the Toltec race. The government
was just and beneficent; the arts and sciences were cultivated--indeed
the workers in these fields, guided as they were by occult knowledge,
achieved tremendous results; religious belief and ritual was still
comparatively pure--in fact the civilization of Atlantis had by this
time reached its height.
After about 100,000 years of this golden age the degeneracy and decay
of the race set in. Many of the tributary kings, and large numbers of
the priests and people ceased to use their faculties and powers in
accordance with the laws made by their Divine rulers, whose precepts
and advice were now disregarded. Their connection with the Occult
Hierarchy was broken. Personal aggrandisement, the attainment of
wealth and authority, the humiliation and ruin of their enemies became
more and more the objects towards which their occult powers were
directed: and thus turned from their lawful use, and practised for all
sorts of selfish and malevolent purposes, they inevitably led to what
we must call by the name of sorcery.
Surrounded as this word is with the odium which credulity on the one
hand and imposture on the other have during many centuries of
superstition and ignorance gradually caused it to be associated, let
us consider for a moment its real meaning, and the terrible effects
which its practice is ever destined to bring on the world.
Partly through their psychic faculties, which were not yet quenched in
the depths of materiality to which the race afterwards descended, and
partly through their scientific attainments during this culmination of
Atlantean civilization, the most intellectual and energetic members of
the race gradually obtained more and more insight into the working of
Nature's laws, and more and more control over some of her hidden
forces. Now the desecration of this knowledge and its use for selfish
ends is what constitutes sorcery. The awful effects, too, of such
desecration are well enough exemplified in the terrible catastrophes
that overtook the race. For when once the black practice was
inaugurated it was destined to spread in ever widening circles. The
higher spiritual guidance being thus withdrawn, the Kamic principle,
which being the fourth, naturally reached its zenith during the Fourth
Root Race, asserted itself more and more in humanity. Lust, brutality
and ferocity were all on the increase, and the animal nature in man
was approaching its most degraded expression. It was a moral question
which from the very earliest times divided the Atlantean Race into two
hostile camps, and what was begun in the Rmoahal times was terribly
accentuated in the Toltec era. The battle of Armageddon is fought over
and over again in every age of the world's history.
No longer submitting to the wise rule of the Initiate emperors, the
followers of the "black arts" rose in rebellion and set up a rival
emperor, who after much struggle and fighting drove the white emperor
from his capital, the "City of the Golden Gates," and established
himself on his throne.
The white emperor driven northward re-established himself in a city
originally founded by the Tlavatli on the southern edge of the
mountainous district, but which was now the seat of one of the
tributary Toltec kings. He gladly welcomed the white emperor and
placed the city at his disposal. A few more of the tributary kings
also remained loyal to him, but most transferred their allegiance to
the new emperor reigning at the old capital. These, however, did not
long remain faithful. Constant assertions of independence were made by
the tributary kings, and continual battles were fought in different
parts of the empire, the practice of sorcery being largely resorted
to, to supplement the powers of destruction possessed by the armies.
These events took place about 50,000 years before the first great
catastrophe.
From this time onwards things went from bad to worse. The sorcerers
used their powers more and more recklessly, and greater and greater
numbers of people acquired and practised these terrible "black arts."
Then came the awful retribution when millions upon millions perished.
The great "City of the Golden Gates" had by this time become a perfect
den of iniquity. The waves swept over it and destroyed its
inhabitants, and the "black" emperor and his dynasty fell to rise no
more. The emperor of the north as well as the initiated priests
throughout the whole continent had long been fully aware of the evil
days at hand, and subsequent pages will tell of the many priest-led
emigrations which preceded this catastrophe, as well as those of later
date.
The continent was now terribly rent. But the actual amount of
territory submerged by no means represented the damage done, for tidal
waves swept over great tracts of land and left them desolate swamps.
Whole provinces were rendered barren, and remained for generations in
an uncultivated and desert condition.
The remaining population too had received a terrible warning. It was
taken to heart, and sorcery was for a time less prevalent among them.
A long period elapsed before any new powerful rule was established. We
shall eventually find a Semite dynasty of sorcerers enthroned in the
"City of the Golden Gates," but no Toltec power rose to eminence
during the second map period. There were considerable Toltec
populations still, but little of the pure blood remained on the mother
continent.
On the island of Ruta however, in the third map period, a Toltec
dynasty again rose to power and ruled through its tributary kings a
large portion of the island. This dynasty was addicted to the black
craft, which it must be understood became more and more prevalent
during all the four periods, until it culminated in the inevitable
catastrophe, which to a great extent purified the earth of the
monstrous evil. It must also be borne in mind that down to the very
end when Poseidonis disappeared, an Intitiate emperor or king--or at
least one acknowledging the "good law"--held sway in some part of the
island continent, acting under the guidance of the Occult Hierarchy in
controlling where possible the evil sorcerers, and in guiding and
instructing the small minority who were still willing to lead pure and
wholesome lives. In later days this "white" king was as a rule elected
by the priests--the handful, that is, who still followed the "good
law."