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stretclied from shore to shore from the German Ocean to the 
Atlantic by east and west ; the Kmit of their northern boundary 
we do not attempt to define, but their southern boundary 
would be most probably near by where now we meet. The 
"Maxima Caesariensis " of after days, and the great jN'orth 
Humber kingdom, would probably be bounded by the same 
natural marks as the tribal borders of the older race. The 
Humber and the Don, the river line of boundary, would be 
carefully guarded, and a frontier fortress or encampment 
must needs be situate near, to watch the passes which the 
enemy must force ere he could cross the border and carry off 
the cattle or harry the natives of the frontier tribe. The 
great wath or ford by which the north could be reached from 
the south when the whole district from hence towards 
Humber-mouth was marsh and water-logged, would be the 
ford below Conisbro, where the Roman road, following most 
probably the British track- way, passes the shallows still 
called Strafford sands, "Strata-ford," the ford "par emi- 
nence" of the great Roman strata or street, which has 
never relinquished or lost its high-sounding name. Here 
then we should expect, if anywhere, successive races to keep 
watch and ward ; here, if anywhere, traces should remain of 
the earlier inhabitants. They would most probably swarm 
along the rising ground which towers sharp and abrupt above 
the lowlands between Mexbro, Melton, and Conisbro. They 
would cluster round the limestone cliffs which overlooked 
and commanded the approaches to this ford. On either side 
the river, the hostile tribes must have an encampment and loca- 
tion. Strange, that the river boundary which separates 
tribes, and peoples, and nations, should ever and always be 
a source of contention and not of peace ; that a mountain or 
valley line of frontier should lead less frequently to strife 
than the river which seems to us to flow a messenger of 
peace, and quietness, and amity. May it not be that even 
