A Short History of Scotland

nise little but the familiar hills and mountains. The rivers, in the plains, overflowed their present banks; dense forests of oak and pine, haunted by g

the tribal prince. In the lochs, natural islands, or artificial islets made of piles (crannogs), afforded standing-ground and protecti

ed vehicles; and were in what is called the Late Celtic condition of art and culture, familiar to us from beautiful

at Cuchullain learned his chariotry in Alba-that is, in our Scotland. {2} The warriors had "mighty limbs and flaming hair," says Tacitus. Their weapons were heavy iron swords, in bronze sheaths beautifully decorated, and iron-headed spears; they had large round bronze-studded shields, and battle-axes. The d

querns of stone, of which the use so long survived. The women

hat sacrifices were made, and that Druids existed; they were soot

able knowledge of the art of war. In his battle at Mons Graupius (perhaps at the junction of Isla and Tay), his cavalry had the better of the native chariotry in the plain; and the native infantry, descending from their position

of Borrowstounnis on the Firth of Forth, to Old Kilpatrick on Clyde. The region is now full of coal-mines, foundries, and villages; but excavations at Bar Hill, Castlecary, and Roughcastle disclose traces of Agricola's works, with th

gricola. His line, "the Antonine Vallum," had its works on commanding ridges; and fire-signals, in case of attack by the natives, flashed the news "from one sea to the other sea," while the troops of occup

on very poor authority, to have been little better than savages. Against them Severus (208) made an expedition indefinitely far to the north, bu

nowledge. They must have spoken Gaelic by Severus's time (208), whatever their original

cks of the Scoti (Scots) from Ireland, and it is to a settlement in Argyll of "Dalr

antiquities under the Eildons at Newstead; another, Ardoch, near Sheriffmuir; a third near Solway Moss (Birrenswark); and others