PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. II5 



were not the earliest settlers in the neighbourhood of those places, they were at 

 least powerful and important enough to leave behind them a memorial which time 

 cannot obliterate. Aristotle is the first writer who mentions the British Isles by 

 name. His words are : " Beyond the pillars of Hercules the ocean flows round the 

 earth, and in it are two very large islands called British BperaviKa Xc-^o/xifa 

 Albion and lerne lying beyond the Keltoi." While the term British is employed by 

 Aristotle, he applies the name Albion to what is now known as England and Scot- 

 land. It is evident, therefore, that so far as the knowledge of the famous Greek 

 extended, the portions of British Isles which are now embraced by the kingdoms of 

 England and Scotland were regarded, it may be, as one kingdom, and bore one 

 designation. Pliny's language is very similar to that of Aristotle : " Albion ipsi 

 nomen fuit, cum Britanniae vocarentur omnes insulae." Stephanus of Byzantium 

 thus writes : " Albion insula est hodie Britannia dicta ab albis rupibus quas mare 

 abluit." Julius Caesar came much in contact with the ancient inhabitants of Britain. 

 His description of their habits and their country is, therefore, full of interest. In 

 his " De Bello Gallico " he informs us that " the interior of Britain is inhabited 

 by a race said to be aboriginal — the coast by invaders from Belgium, who, having 

 come over for the sake of spoil, have settled in the country. For money they use 

 either copper or pieces of iron of a certain weight. Tin is found in the interior of 

 the country, iron on the coasts, but the quantity is small. Copper is imported; the 

 timber is of the same kind as in Gaul, except the beech and the fir. The climate 

 is more temperate than in Gaul, the cold being less severe. By far the most civilized 

 are the inhabitants of Cantium (or Kent). They do not differ much in their customs 

 from the Gauls. The inhabitants of the interior do not, for the most part, sow corn, 

 but live on milk and flesh, and clothe themselves with skins. All the Britons stain 

 themselves with woad, which produces a blue colour, and gives them a more 

 formidable appearance in battle. They wear their hair long, and shave every part 

 of the body except the head and the upper lips. The Druids are engaged in matters 

 of religion, and have the care of public and private sacrifices. They are the arbiters 

 in almost all disputes, public and private, and assign rewards and punishments. 

 Whoever refuses to abide by their decision is excluded from the sacrifices, and thereby 

 put outside the pale of the law. The Druids are exempt from military service and 

 from the payment of taxes. Their chief doctrine is that souls do not perish with 

 their bodies, but are transferred after death to other bodies." 



In his life of Agricola, Tacitus details the fortunes of the Romans in Britain. 

 He particularly describes the exploits of his father-in-law in Caledonia and against 

 the Gaels whom Galgacus led. The speech which, following the example of classic 

 historians, he puts into the mouth of Galgacus, is remarkable for the patriotic spirit 

 that pervades it, as well as for the ingenious argument which the brave Gael adduces 

 to stir up the hearts and stimulate the heroism of his soldiers. It was at the 

 Grampians that the battle was fought between Agricola and Galgacus. The army 

 of the Gaelic warrior was defeated, and found instant refuge in the rocky portions 

 of Caledonia. May we not discern something akin to the division into clans which 

 subsequently prevailed in the Highlands of Scotland in these expressive words of 

 the Roman historian : " Nee aliud adversus validissimas gentes pro nobis utilius 

 quam quod in Commune non consulunt." The name Galgacus is evidently Gaelic. 

 It is virtually Gaidheal gagach, a stammering Gael — a Gael with an impediment in 

 his speech. Enthusiastic descendants of the heroes who fought under Galgacus are 

 wont to reflect with pride that, while the Roman arms were powerful in every corner 

 of the world, and while the bravest races were compelled at last to succumb to the 

 forces of the city on the seven hills, the Caledonians were never fully vanquished. 

 It defied the forces of Rome and her ablest generals to bring under her yoke the 

 intrepid inhabitants of Caledonia. I am disposed to think that into the term Gram- 

 pians there enters the adjective gorvi or garbli. and beinn, gorm bheinn, or garbh 

 bheinn, green mountains or rugged mountains. 



