r 



O'Eeilly — Milesian Colonization relative to Gold-mining. 51 



tibundant, there was plenty of water for its treatment, with abundance 

 of timber, and most fayourable climatic conditions. 



In Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia " History of Spain and Portugal," 

 vol. I., the following statements are made which bear on this subject : — ■ 



Page 7. — " There is reason to believe that the Celtiberian nations 

 were not unacquainted with commerce, even before the invasion of the 

 Phoenicians. But their trade was confined to the coast. Prom this 

 period (the arrival of the Phoenicians) the riches of Spain were almost 

 proverbial, coins and medals of ancient date, some representing the 

 religious rites, or ordinary pursuits of the people, others covered with 

 Phoenician characters, are frequently dug up. But iron was the 

 mineral for which the country was most renowned. AYhen turned 

 into steel, the excellence of the workmanship made foreigners anxious 

 to obtain them {i.e. the Celtiberian weapons)." 



Page 15. — "The Callaici, or Gallicians, possessed the sea coast 

 between the Asturias and Lusitania. Prom the most ancient times, as 

 at present, their maritime superiority over all other nations of Spain 

 is beyond dispute. The abundance of fish on their coasts, and the 

 fertility of their soil, attracted the Phoenician and Carthaginian 

 merchants to their ports. Besides they had numerous mines of the 

 p;ccious metals and tin. Gold, we are told, was so common, that the 

 Jiibourers in the field frequently dug up ingots several ouuces in 

 A\ eight. This is exaggerated, but there can be no doubt that the 

 mines were highly productive." 



Page 16. — " Ptespecting the Turdetani, Strabo has some precious 

 information. He says that they were the most learned tribe of all 

 Spain, that they had reduced their language to grammatical rules, that 

 for 6000 years they had possessed metrical poems, and even laws 

 (Strabo, lib. m.). The Turdetani seem to have inhabited a portion of 

 Lusitania as well as Boetica." 



Page 21. — " The precise period of their (the Phoenicians) entering 

 into relations with the inhabitants is unknown; doubtless it was 

 before the foundation of either Carthage or Eome." Note on this : — 

 "Masden (a Spanish historian, 1740-1817), gives the chronology, 

 very satisfactory for himself " thus : — 



In the XXth century b.c. The Phoenicians ventured as far as 



Egypt. 

 ,, XlXth ,, J J They visited Ai-gos. 



„ XVIIth ,, ,, They had good ports and arsenals. 



,, XYIth ,, „ They first appeared on the coast of 



Spain. 



E 2 



