The Cradle of Civilisation . 
[Odtober, 
446 
tattooed with a B on the forehead, the banished with a red 
dye, and the other criminals with a blue. Moreover, our 
sailors and merchants had many factories among the 
Krekalanders and in Lybia. As our country was so great 
and extensive we had many different names. 
“ Those who were settled in the higher marches bounded 
by Twisklanden (Germany) were called Saxmannen, because 
they were always armed against the wild beasts and the 
savage Britons.” 
How the bad time came : — 
“ During the whole summer the sun had been hid behind 
the clouds, as if unwilling to look upon the earth. There 
was perpetual calm, and the damp mist hung like a wet 
sail over the houses and marshes. The air was heavy and 
oppressive, and in men’s hearts was neither joy nor cheer- 
fulness. In the midst of this stillness the earth began to 
tremble as if she was dying. The mountains opened to 
vomit forth fire and flames. Some sank into the bosom of 
the earth, and in other places mountains rose out of the 
plains. Aldland, called by the seafaring men Atland, disap- 
peared, and the wild waves rose so high over hill and dale 
that everything was buried in the sea. Many people were 
swallowed by the earth, and others who had escaped the fire 
perished in the water. 
It was not only in Finda’s land that the earth vomited 
fire, but also in Twiskland. Whole forests were burned one 
after the other, and when the wind blew from that quarter 
our land was covered with ashes. Rivers changed their 
course, and at their mouth new islands were formed of sand 
and drift. 
“ During three years this continued, but at length it 
ceased, and forests became visible. Many countries were 
submerged, and in other places land rose above the sea, and 
the wood was destroyed through the half of Twiskland. 
Troops of Finda’s people came and settled in the vacant 
places. Our dispersed people were exterminated or made 
slaves.” 
The question now arises whether this catastrophe, which 
must more or less have been felt throughout Europe, can he 
traced and identified ? The phenomena described are of a 
twofold nature : there is, on the one hand, a permanent de- 
terioration of climate, the sun no longer attaining its former 
altitude, frosts — formerly rare — becoming common, and 
wheat ceasing to ripen. The first-mentioned change, if it 
took place at all, would in all probability have more or less 
affedted the whole world, and would doubtless have been 
