32- THE BRITISH ISLES. 



souttem portion of Great Britain, and frequently used in a still more compre- 

 hensive sense. 



But although the Anglo-Celtic population of the British Islands is upon the 

 whole a mixed one, it is not difficult to point out certain districts where one or 

 other of its constituent elements preponderates. In Western Ireland, in the 

 nio-hlands of Scotland, in the Cumbrian mountains, in Wales, and in Cornwall the 

 old Celtic type still maintains its ground ; Angles, Saxons, Friesians, and Jutes are 

 most numerous along the east coast, upon which their ancestors first effected a 

 landing, and in the adjoining districts. The Danish element is strongly repre- 

 sented in the whole of the region, embracing fifteen counties, from Hertford to 

 Durham, which was formerly known as the district of the " Danelagh," or Danish 

 Law. The Xorthraen preponderate in the northern parts of Great Britain. 

 Firmly established on the Orkneys, they founded colonies on the coasts of 

 Scotland, Cumberland, and Northumberland. As to the ancient masters and 

 settlers of the country, their memory survives in the names of rivers and moun- 

 tains, towns and villages.* Nearly all the river names are Celtic, being derived, 

 from four words {afon, don, uisge, and dwr), all meaning "river" or " water." 



The British Celts occupy the most remote districts of the British Isles, f whilst 

 the immio-rants of Teutonic race have established themselves nearest to the con- 

 tinent. This geographical distribution of the two races has exercised a most potent 

 influence upon the history of Europe. Great Britain has been likened by Michelet + 

 to a huo-e ship which turns her prow towards France ; and this prow is occupied 

 by men of Teutonic origin, whilst the Celts are kept in the background, in remote 

 peninsulas and in Ireland. The contrast between the two nations dwelling on 

 either side of the Channel is abrupt, and without ethnical transition. France 

 formerly stood face to face with her enemy, whilst her natural allies of kindred 

 race were far away, and often beyond reach, and never were wars waged with 

 greater fury than those between the Saxon islander and the continental Gaul. 

 But, fortunately for mankind, this ancient hatred has died out, and a feeling of 

 mutual respect and friendship now animates the two neighbouring nations. 



Happily for England, her intercourse with the remainder of the world has 

 not always been of a warlike nature. The British Isles are rich in deep and 

 spacious harbours — far more so than France ; and in comparing the coasts of the 

 two countries we may even say that "Father Ocean has a bias for England." 

 England, besides, enjoys the advantage of higher tides, which enable vessels of 



* Kemble, " The Saxons in England ; " Wright, " The Celt, the Tioman. and the Saxon;" Skene, 

 " Celtic Scotland." 



t Number of Celtic-speaking persons throughout the British Isles: — 



Irish Gaels 867,600 



Manxmen 12,500 



Scotch Gaels 309,300 



Cymri (Welsh) 996,500 



Total . . . 2,185,900 



Of the above about 457,000 cannot speak English. (E. G. Eavenstein, Journal of the Statistical Society, 

 1879.) 



% " Histoire de France," ii. 



