264 BRITISH ETHNOLOGY y 



the existence or the absence of such contact. 

 The contrary assumption, that language is a test 

 of race, has introduced the utmost confusion into 

 ethnological speculation, and has nowhere worked 

 greater scientific and practical mischief than in 

 the ethnology of the British Islands. 



What is known, for certain, about the languages 

 spoken in these islands and their affinities may, I 

 believe, be summed up as follows : 



I. At the time of the Roman conquest, one language , 

 the Celtic, under two principal dialectical divisions, 

 the Cymric and the Gaelic, was spoken throughout 

 the British Islands. Cymric was spoken in Britain, 

 Gaelic 1 in Ireland. 



If a language allied to Basque had in earlier 

 times been spoken in the British Islands, there is 

 no evidence that any Euskarian-speaking people 

 remained at the time of the Roman conquest. 

 The dark and the fair population of Britain alike 

 spoke Celtic tongues, and therefore the name 

 " Celt " is as applicable to the one as to the 

 other. 



What was spoken in Ireland can only be sur- 

 mised by reasoning from the knowledge of later 

 times ; but there seems to be no doubt that it was 

 Gaelic. 



1 p I have been told that the terms "Cymric" and "Gaelic" 

 are antiquated and improper. The reader will please substitute 

 Celtic dialect A and Celtic dialect B for them, and consult, on 

 this subject, especially with regard to proposition III., Professoi 

 Rhys' Early Britain. I 



