THE CHILTERN COUNTRY. 39 
Celts under Cassivellanus had driven rows of sharp stakes along 
the bank of the river to impede his passage. The Romans, 
however, forded the stream, and the Britons fled in terror and 
confusion. The historian Polyeznus, gravely avers that the 
Britons were strangely affrighted by the additional terror of the 
castled Elephants of the Orient, which the Romans brought with 
them. The Elephants, according to the only construction of 
which his account seems capable, dashed into the bed of the river, 
and aided materially in the rout and chase of the natives to their 
forest stronghold. The truth of this is a matter of opinion. With 
or without Elephants, Cesar and his legions did cross the Thames. 
Antiquaries differ as to the place where this took place. The 
old opinion was in favour of Shepperton (the principal authority 
being the possession on the part of Lord Onslow of some dessert 
knives and forks, the handles of which were made from the stakes 
found in an old wear at that place). But it appears that these 
stakes were placed across the bed of the river, instead of longi- 
tudinally, to prevent the passage; and Mr. Daines Barrington, 
who examined the place to ascertain the truth, was convinced 
that they had been placed there by fishermen. The Venerable 
Bede asserts that they were to be seen in his time, and that they 
were at least as thick as a man’s thigh, and immoveably bed- 
ded in lead! Sir R. C. Hoare argues in favour of Richmond. 
Ceesar expressly says that he crossed the river into the terri- 
tories of Cassi-vellanus, or of the Cassii (Cassi-vellanus meaning 
King of the Cassii.) The tribes described by the Roman Geo- 
graphers as Cassii or Cattieuchlani, are understood to have oc- 
cupied the part now forming Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, 
and perhaps part of Middlesex. This fixes the place of crossing 
at any rate to some spot at no great distance from the camp of 
Fulmer. This camp was evidently an important Celtic stronghold 
—the largest in the district, and in all respects the likeliest to 
become the immediate refuge of the retreating Britons. 
E. J. Payne. 
(Zo be continued.) 
