in stone, or wood, or metal, are frequently suspended before the image of the Madonna, in gratitude for recovery from some disease of the feet.  We may suppose that as the ancient Romans, when they returned safely from some long and dangerous or difficult journey undertaken for business or health, dedicated in gratitude a representation of their feet to their favourite god—­so the early Christians, who in their original condition were pagans, and still cherished many of their old customs, ordered these peculiar footmarks to be made upon their graves, in token of thankfulness that for them the pilgrimage of life was over, and the endless rest begun.  There can be little doubt that the slab with the so-called footprints of St. Christina on it at Bolsena, already alluded to, was a pagan ex-votive offering; for the altar on which it is engrafted occupies the site of one anciently dedicated to Apollo, and the legend of St. Christina gradually crystallised around it.  And the footprint in the church of Radegonde at Poitiers was more likely pagan than Christian, for Poitiers had a Roman origin, and numerous Roman remains have been found in the town and neighbourhood.

A long and curious list might be made of the miraculous impressions said to have been left by our Saviour’s feet on the places where He stood.  In the centre of the platform at Jerusalem on which the Temple of Solomon stood, covered by the dome of the Sakrah Mosque, a portion of the rough natural limestone rock rises several feet above the marble pavement, and is the principal object of veneration in the place.  It has an excavated chamber in one corner, with an aperture through the rocky roof, which has given to the rock the name of “lapis pertusus,” or perforated stone.  On this rock there are natural or artificial marks, which the successors of the Caliph Omar believed to be the prints of the angel Gabriel’s fingers, and the mark of Mohammed’s foot, and that of his camel, which performed the whole journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in four bounds.  The stone, it is said, originally fell from heaven, and was used as a seat by the venerable prophets of Jerusalem.  So long as they enjoyed the gift of prophecy, the stone remained steady under them; but when the gift was withdrawn, and the persecuted seers were compelled to flee for safety to other lands, the stone rose to accompany them:  whereupon the angel Gabriel interposed, and prevented the departure of the prophetical chair, leaving on it indelibly the marks of his fingers.  It was then supernaturally nailed to its rocky bed by seven brass nails.  When any great crisis in the world’s fortunes happens, the head of one of these nails disappears; and when they are all gone, the day of judgment will come.  There are now only three left, and therefore the Mohammedans believe that the end of all things is not far off.  When the Crusaders took possession of the sacred city, they altered the Mohammedan legend, and attributed the mysterious footprint to our Lord when He went