O'Eeilly — On the Kerry Straw Cloak Exhibit. 5 



and the same people, descended from a Celtic stock, and distinguished 

 by many Celtic characteristics. Thus, in Colmenar's work, already 

 cited, in describing the Celtiberians of the north and north-western 

 parts, he says (vol. i., p. 40) that their ordinary drink was a species 

 of beer, made from wheat, to which was added honey, and which 

 they called Courmi. This drink possessed the property of keeping 

 a long time." In O'Curry's ''Lectures," introduction, p. ccclxxxi, 

 it is stated that the chief intoxicating drink of the ancient Irish was 

 beer, which was called in old Irish Cuirm (gen. Chorma) ; and a 

 citation supporting this statement is given. The ancient Greek name 

 is given, and it is mentioned that Dioscorides has the form Kovp/xL ; 

 that is the very term mentioned by Colmenar. 



Colmenar (vol. i., p. 53) cites the fame of the Spanish horses 

 among the ancients, and the small breed of the ITorth so adapted for 

 travelling, and characterised by its "ambling" gait. They were 

 called " Asturcons," because they came principally from the Asturies. 

 This same statement is reproduced by Smith as regards the Keriy 

 ponies. Colmenar, in speaking of the Biscayans (vol. i., p. 104), says 

 that they were celebrated as most skilled in navigation, more so than 

 any other people of Spain, and had long enjoyed that reputation. 

 "History tells us," he says, "that 200 years before Christ they 

 traversed the ocean in barks, made from the trunks of trees, hollowed 

 out, and covered with hides, and that with a fleet thus formed they 

 went to Hibernia (at present Ireland), and occupied it (s'en saisirent)." 

 In the work by Joaquin Costa, " Introduccion a un tratado de politica," 

 Madi'id, 1881, chap, xxiv., p. 405, " Poesia-epico-heroica," he refers 

 to the long and fierce wars for independence carried on from the third 

 to the first century e.g., their influence on the national poetry of that 

 time, and points out the subjects which must have inspired them, such 

 as the deeds of the Turdetani, celebrated by Asclepiades as the most 

 learned of the Spanish people, having their laws in verse, and dating 

 back 6000 years (ap. Strabon III. iii. 6). " Even before these had they 

 recounted the ancient expeditions of the Tartessian Iberians for the 

 conquest of Corsica and Sardinia, and of the Galicians for the conquest 

 of Ireland, the victories of Argontorio over the Phoenicians of Cadiz, 

 and other such adventures." Describing Galicia, he (Colmenar) cites 

 its many cities and splendid ports, more particularly Terrol and La 

 Corugna. Speaking of this, he refers to the famous tower or lighthouse 

 " made in order to discover the vessels passing on the distant horizon." 



p. 126, he says : — " The good people of the country believe that 

 it was built by Hercules, who placed in it a mirror made by art of 



