Note 48 — Chapter V · DEITIES OF THE EARTH AND GROWTH PROPER

I believe the god to have been called “Night-drinker” from the circumstance that, in the belief of certain barbarous peoples, vegetation is more greatly assisted in its growth by night than by day, that it “drinks,” or is saturated by, the mists and vapours of the night season, which are believed to emanate from the moon.48 Indeed, dew is believed to be caused by the moon,49 which is regarded as the great source of all moisture, as the sun is the great source of all heat.50