366 



the distinction between consonants, vowels, and diphthongs, 

 proves the alphabet not to be a primitive one, but the contri- 

 vance of a grammarian. 



The assertion that the Runic Ogham, just described, was 

 cut upon the sheath of a sword, is in accordance with what we 

 know of the customs of the Northern people. The hilt of 

 the sword with which Beowulf slew the Grendel's mother is 

 described as having been marked with Rune staves (Beowulf, 

 1. 3388); and in the Edda we find Brynhildr teaching Si- 

 gurdr to cut the Sigrunar (victorious Runes) on the hilt and 

 other parts of his sword (Brynhildr, Quid. I. 6). The Ar- 

 chseological Album (1845), p. 204, furnishes us with a repre- 

 sentation of a silver sword-hilt thus inscribed with Runes, 

 which was found some time ago in Kent. 



It is worthy of notice that the most ancient authorities 

 number Ogma, the inventor of the Ogham character, amongst 

 the Tuatha De Danann. Those who believe that race to 

 have been a northern one will regard this circumstance as a 

 confirmation of the theory which connects the Ogham with 

 the Runes. As for the name of Ogma, it seems likely to 

 denote only a mythological personage. He is described as 

 being the grandson of Slaoain {^Scientid). 



Dr. O'Connor, who took most pains to examine the struc- 

 ture of the Ogham alphabet, seems to have felt considerable 

 misgivings as to its antiquity. He distinctly avows his belief 

 that it originally had but sixteen letters; and, in consequence 

 of this supposition, he is forced to admit that the tree-shaped 

 letters {/onnas rectilineares) may be of modern invention. 

 He even expresses a doubt as to the date of the Uraicept, 

 which is the oldest authority on all points relative to Irish 

 grammar. Still he maintains that the Irish possessed a pri- 

 mitive alphabet of sixteen Ogham letters, all named after trees. 



All that can be said in reply to this assertion is, that 

 if we deny the antiquity of the Ogham alphabet as it has 



