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ral reluctance to recognise a title which was but of recent use, still 

 call the emigrants Scythians ; and represent their wanderings through 

 the Mediterranean in such progressive stages, as clearly point to the 

 state and progress of the Phoenicians after their emigration under the 

 conduct of Cadmus ; though the ingenuity of the bards may have oc- 

 casionally introduced that colouring of fable, which, perhaps, can alone 

 make remote objects distinguishable. The chart of their course is laid 

 before us, even to their landing in Spain, where they are at length 

 allowed to sojourn for several years. Nennius, who flourished in the 

 commencement of the 7th Century, and who gives his information as 

 from the oral testimony of some of the most intelligent of the Irish 

 people, while he assigns a somewhat different route to the little colony, 

 yet coincides as to their first name, their early residence, their expul- 

 sion from Egypt, and their ultimate debarkation and long stay in 

 Spain. " If any one," writes the monk of Bangor, " would be anx- 

 ious to learn how long Ireland was uninhabited and deserted, he shall 

 hear it as the most learned of the Scots* have recorded it to me. 

 When the sons of Israel came to the pass of the Red Sea, the Egyp- 

 tians pursued them, and as is mentioned in Scripture, were over- 

 whelmed in the deep. In this age of Moses, there was a man of rank 

 from Scylhia, who, being banished from his kingdom, dwelt with a 

 large family amongst the Egyptians, and he was there when the Egyp- 

 tians were drowned. He, however, did not join in the persecution of 

 the Lord's people ; but they, who survived the national calamity, laid 

 plans amongst themselves to banish him, lest he should force himself 

 into the occupation of the kingdom, because so many of their kin- 

 dred were drowned in the Red Sea: thus was the Scythian expelled. 

 But he, for the space of forty-two years, wandered through Africa, 



• So were the people of Ireland then called, as shall be shewn hereafter. 

 VOL. XVI. D 



