810 THE BRITISH ISLES. 



along the coast, people of different origin live in close contact with each other, and 

 yet remain separate. Their blood has not mingled ; habits, customs, and modes of 

 thought and action have remained distinct. Along the whole of the coast, on that 

 of the Gorman Ocean no less than on that of the Irish Sea, we meet with colonies 

 of fishermen, some of whom claim descent from the Northmen, whilst others 

 look upon the Danes as their ancestors. There are even colonies which tradition 

 derives from Flanders. Several of the maritime villages consist of two portions, 

 like the towns on the coasts of Catalonia, Liguria, and Sicily, the upper part 

 being inhabited by Saxon artisans and agriculturists, whilst the lower part forms 

 the "Marina" of Scandinavian fishermen. These various elements of the 

 population have, however, become fused in the greater part of the country. 

 Physically the Scotchman resembles the Norwegian, and this is not solely due to a 

 simiharity of climate, but also to the numerous unions between Scandinavian 

 invaders and the daughters of the country. The languages of the two countries 

 also possess more features in common than was formerly believed. The Scotch 

 speak English with a peculiar accent, which at once betrays their origin. Their 

 intonation differs from that of the Engli^, and they suppress certain consonants 

 in the middle and at the end of w^ords. They still employ certain old English 

 terms, no longer made use of to the south of the Tweed, and, on the strength of 

 this, patriotic Scotchmen claim to speak English with greater purity than 

 their southern neighbours. Amongst the many w^ords of foreign derivation in 

 common use, there arc several French ones, not only such as were introduced by 

 the Normans, but also others belonging to the time when the two peoples were 

 faithful allies, and supplied each other with soldiers. 



The Scotch Lowlander is, as a rule, of fair height, long-legged, strongly built, 

 and without any tendency to the obesity so common amongst his kinsmen of England. 

 His eye is ordinarily brighter than that of the Englishman, and his features more 

 ref^ular ; but his cheeks are more prominent, and the leanness of the face helps 

 much to accentuate these features. Comparative inquiries instituted by Forbes prove 

 that physical development is somewhat slower amongst Scotchmen than amongst 

 Englishmen ; the former comes up to the latter in height and strength only at the 

 age of nineteen, but in his ripe age he surpasses him to the extent of about 5 

 per cent, in muscular strength.* Of all the men of Great Britain those of South- 

 western Scotland are distinguished for their tall stature. The men of Galloway 

 average 5 feet 7 inches in height, which is superior to the stature attained in any 

 other district of the British Islands. The Lowlander is intelligent, of remarkable 

 sagacity in business, and persevering when once he has determined upon accom- 

 plishing a task ; but his prudence degenerates into distrust, his thrift into avarice. 

 There is not a village without one or more banks. When abroad he seeks out 

 his fellow-countrymen, derives a pleasure from being useful to them, and helps 

 their success in life to the best of his ability. 



The achievements of Scotch agriculturists, Avho are so little favoured by climate, 

 must appear marvellous to the peasants of Italy and of many parts of France. 

 • Forbes; Hugh Miller, "First Impressions of England and the English." 



