CHAP, xiv.] THE EXPLORATION OF THE BRITISH COASTS. 481 



CHAPTEK XIV. 



BRITAIN IN THE HISTORIC PERIOD. CONCLUSION. 



The Exploration of the British Coasts. Physical Geography and Climate. 

 Population at the time of the Roman Conquest. Roman Britain. 

 The English Conquest. The English Breed of Cattle. The 

 Extinction of the Larger Wild Animals. Conclusion. 



The Exploration of the British Coasts. 



WE are now in a position to realise the condition of 

 Britain at the time when its history began, which may 

 conveniently be taken to be the invasion of Julius 

 Caesar (B.C. 55). The British Isles, first known to the 

 civilised nations of the Mediterranean through the 

 memorable voyage of Himilco, were visited by the 

 Phoenician traders from that time forward, and the tin 

 of Cornwall became famous in the marts of the south. 

 The Phoenicians, however, only explored the south- 

 western parts of Britain and Ireland. The east and 

 north-eastern coasts were opened out by Pytheas, and 

 a commerce was developed overland between Massilia 

 and Cornwall along the routes already described in the 

 preceding chapter (Fig. 168). The Greeks of Massilia 

 were also acquainted with Ireland. The poet Avienus, 

 writing while Himilco's narrative was preserved, terms 

 Ireland "Insula sacra,'' which is evidently a translation of 



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