A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 24,7 



It lias been faicl, that the Druids ' 

 taught the Pythagorean do6lrine of 

 tranfmigration of fouls into other bo- 

 dies; but Lucan and Marcellinus* both 

 reprefent them as teaching, that the 

 foul, after death, afcended into fome 

 higher orb, where it enjoyed more per- 

 fect happinefs. 



Their a6ls of worfhip were all per- 



,y formed in the open air; for they thought 

 it derogated from the greatnefs of their 

 Gods to confine them within walls. The 

 places appropriated for this purpofe ap- 

 pear to have been groves of oak. Pliny-f* 

 fays, " they drefs and cultivate groves 

 " of oak ; for, without that tree, or thofe 



X " groves, they never celebrate any part 

 " of their facred functions." Thefe groves 

 were great inclofures of tall and fp read- 

 ing oaks, furrounding their moft facred 



* Lucan, I. 455. Marcell. XV. 9. 

 i Hitt. Nat. -Lib. XVI. c. 44. 



places. 



