1896-97.] THE PICTS. 299 



apparent correctness, derives Cruithino- and Prydd from Cruth and Pryd 

 respectively, which mean form, and as Duald MacFirbis believes, " a 

 people who painted the forms (Crotha) of beasts, birds and fishes on 

 their faces, and not on their faces only, but on the whole of the body." 



Scoti was supposed to be identical with Scuit or sguit, a wanderer, 

 and therefore to indicate the erratic life or nomadic life which the Scots 

 pursued. An ingenious etymology has recently been advanced which 

 finds the true explanation of Scoti in the Welsh word ysgwthr, a cutting 

 or carving, and ysgythru, to cut or prune. Examples occur, it is main- 

 tained, where the Welsh word means to dye or to paint. If that 

 derivation be adopted, the term Scoti or Scotti would mean painted 

 men, or at least, those who were cut or scarred. The Scoti were largely 

 confined to Antrim and Down in the north of Ireland. The Scoti crossed 

 over from that portion of Ireland, and founded in Argyllshire the 

 Kingdom of Dalriada, Dal Riada, or Righ Fhada. Fergus, the son of 

 Ere, with two of his brothers, led the colony of the Dalriads into Argyl- 

 shire and founded the Scottish monarchy there in 503 A. D. His 

 successor was his son, Domangart, who was followed by his son Comgal, 

 the father of Conal that gave the Island of lona to St. Columba. The 

 Scoti in Dalriada were separated from the northern Picts by Drumalban, 

 the Dorsum Britannia^. The southern Picts occupied the eastern portion 

 of Scotland from the Firth of Forth towards Aberdeen and the Gram- 

 pians. The inference can be drawn from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 

 that the Picts were warlike and powerful. " In 443 A.D., the Britons sent 

 over the sea to Rome and begged for help against the Picts. In 449 

 A.D., Vortigern, king of the Britons, gave land to Hengist and Horsa on 

 condition that they should fight against the Picts. In 565 A. D., Columba, 

 a mass priest, came to the Picts and converted them to the faith of 

 Christ. They are dwellers by the northern mountains. And their king 

 gave him the island which is called li. In 681 Tumbert was consecrated 

 Bishop of Hexham and Trumwine of the Picts ; for at that time they 

 were subject to this country." Columba, himself a descendant of Niall 

 of the nine hostages, was nearly related to the royal family of the 

 Scoti of Dalriada, and was instrumental in placing /Edan, the great- 

 grandson of Fergus Mac Ere, on the throne. These statements are 

 made by Bede in his Ecclesiastical History regarding St. Columba : " In 

 565, Columba came into Britain to preach the word of God to the 

 provinces of the northern Picts, who are separated from the southern 

 parts by steep and rugged mountains. The southern Picts, who dwell 

 on this side of those mountains, had long before embraced the truth by 

 the preaching of Ninias. Columba came into Britain in the ninth year 



