willow. <2G9 



doms. These baskets were of very elegant 

 workmanship, and bore a high price in Italy. 

 Juvenal notices them among the extravagant 

 and expensive furniture of the Roman tables 

 in his time. 



Adde et bascaudas, et mille cscaria. Sat. xii. v. 46. 

 " Add baskets, and a thousand other dishes." 



In early days, the Britons, as well as the 

 inhabitants of other countries, for want of 

 proper tools for sawing large trees into planks, 

 formed their vessels or boats of osiers, and the 

 flexible branches of trees interwoven as close 

 as possible, and covered with skins. * 



It was in such slender vessels ?s these, 

 probably, that some bold adventurers first 

 launched out from the nearest coast of Gaul, 

 and passing the narrow sea that flows between, 

 landed in an auspicious moment on the shores 

 of this inviting island; and being followed 

 by others of both sexes in their successful 

 attempt, began to people the country which 

 they had discovered. This much at least is 

 certain, from the concurring testimony of 

 many authors, that the most ancient Britons 

 made use of boats of this construction for 

 several ages. 



* Cses. de Bel. Civ. J. i. c. 54. 



