InthemythologyofChinaweconstantlycomeuponlegendsofsuchtransformations——fromthatofthefirstCounselloroftheHandynastytothoseofshepherdsandsheep。IntheBrahmanicmythologyofIndia，Salagrama，thefossilammonite，isrecognisedascontainingthebodyofVishnu’swife，andtheBinlangstonehasmuchthesamerelationtoSiva；so，too，thenymphRambawaschanged，foroffendingKetu，intoamassofsand；bythebreathofSivaelephantswereturnedintostone；andinaverytouchingmythLuxmanischangedintostonebutafterwardreleased。IntheBuddhistmythologyaNatdemonisrepresentedaschanginghimselfintoagrainofsand。

　　AmongtheGreekssuchtransformationmythscomeconstantlybeforeus——boththechangingofstonestomenandthechangingofmentostones。DeucalionandPyrrha，escapingfromtheflood，repeopledtheearthbycastingbehindthemstoneswhichbecamemenandwomen；HerauloswaschangedintostoneforoffendingMercury；PyrrhusforoffendingRhea；Phineus，andPolydecteswithhisguests，foroffendingPerseus：underthepetrifyingglanceofMedusa’sheadsuchtransformationsbecameathingofcourse。

　　Tomyth-makinginobediencetothedesireofexplainingunusualnaturalappearances，coupledwiththeideathatsinmustbefollowedbyretribution，wealsoowethewell-knownNiobemyth。

　　Havingincurredthedivinewrath，Niobesawthosedearesttoherdestroyedbymissilesfromheaven，andwasfinallytransformedintoarockonMountSipyloswhichboresomevagueresemblancetothehumanform，andhertearsbecametherivuletswhichtrickledfromtheneighbouringstrata。

　　Thus，inobediencetoamoralandintellectualimpulse，astrikinggeographicalappearancewasexplained，andforagespiousGreekslookedwithbatedbreathupontherockatSipyloswhichwasonceNiobe，justasforagespiousJews，Christians，andMohammedanslookedwithaweuponthesaltpillarattheDeadSeawhichwasonceLot’swife。

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