CASTLE NEROCHE. 3i 
when compared with other hill forts which I have carefully 
examined. 
The evidently fabulous aceounts of the origin of the 
British nation, given by Geoffrey of Monmouth and some 
other medi®val chroniclers, are altogether unworthy of 
notice ; and it would not be to our purpose to discuss the 
very doubtful questions, whether the Gael, of whom ves- 
tiges are said to remain in some parts of Wales, preceded 
the Cymri in the occupation of the country, or no; nor 
whether they were of cognate origin with that people or 
not. It is sufhicient for our present purpose to mention 
the indisputable fact, that at a very early period, perhaps 
as early as 1000 years B.c., this island was inhabited by a 
people of Celtie origin, three tribes of which, the Cymri, 
the Loegri, who came from the banks of the Loire, and 
the Britons, who came from Lydaw, or the water-side, no 
doubt the coast of Gaul, are mentioned in the Welsh triads 
collected by Caradoc of Langarvan in the twelfth century, 
as being the original and peaceable inhabitants of the 
country. Of these the Loegri occupied the south, the 
Britons the north and east, and the Cymri the west of the 
island ; but having, it seems, more room than they required, 
they afterwards admitted three other tribes, the Caledoni- 
ans, the Gwyddellians or Gael (who, according to some 
Archeologists, preceded the Cymri and other Celtic 
tribes), and the men of Galeden, who are supposed by 
Dr. Guest to be the same as the Belg®. This last tribe 
is said to have come in naked ships, or open boats, to the 
Isle of Wight, when their own country was overwhelmed 
by the sea, and to have had lands assigned them by the 
Cymri. In process of time these Belg® overran Hants, 
Wilts, and great part of Somerset, but do not appear to 
have penetrated into Devon until they were driven west- 
