the Veneti and their allies had two hundred and twenty ships. To account for the possession of so numerous a fleetso remarkable also in the size and equipment of the ships-it seems necessary to admit the influence of Phoenician art and science on the people of Armorica, or to come to the conclusion that they possessed an innate civilisation superior to what has ever been yet conceded to the Celts in Western Europe prior to the conquest of Gaul and South Britain by the Roman armies. 2 The Veneti had a senate, the whole of the members of which were put to death by Cæsar's orders.1 The Pictish king had also a senate. The Edui of Gaul had a senate. From these three senates of Celtic tribes being mentioned, we may conclude that a senate was part of the organisation of Celtic nations. It will also be remarked that these great ships of the Veneti were built with interstices between their planks, and were caulked. The caulkers of the Tyrian ships are mentioned in Ezekiel xxvii. 9. If we compare these ships of the Veneti with the coracles of the Celts, in which, as late as the sixth century of our era, the voyage of St. Columba and his twelve followers was made from Ireland to Scotland, we can hardly doubt that Phoenician intelligence directed the formation of the Venetian vessels, and that the spirit of Phoenician monopoly may have influenced the combination of the maritime nations of Gaul against Cæsar. 1 Cæsar, b. iii. chap. xvi. 2 Reeves' Adamnan's Vita St. Columbæ, 4to, 1857, b. ii. chap. 35, pp. 151-2. PHOENICIAN TEMPLE AT CADIZ. 59 The temple of Saturn at Gadir (Cadiz) was believed to be coeval with the establishment of the Tyrian colony at that place, or about 1200 B.C. It is said by a Roman author who wrote about the middle of the first century of our era, that in this temple was retained to the latest times the primitive mode of Phoenician worship. There was no image of the god, but an ever-burning fire was maintained, and the priests who attended were barefooted and clad in linen. The sacred fires and the dress of the priests were characteristics also of the Druids of Britain, and both the Phoenician and Druid priesthood appear to have practised tonsure. 2 3 In another chapter will be found notices of Cyclopean monuments similar to the Celtic, extending at intervals from Phoenicia, on the northern shores of Africa, to the Straits of Gibraltar, and from these through Spain and Gaul to the British Islands. Under the head of " Inscriptions," also, some in Phoenician characters are traced in the same route with certainty to Gaul. Various ceremonies still practised in Sardinia, and which are believed to have descended to the present race in that island from their Phoenician ancestors, have an extraordinary resemblance to superstitious practices that were retained until a very recent period in Scotland, and are noticed under the heads of Baal and Beltane. In Sardinia, after certain ceremonies performed in connection with great fires lighted on St. John's Eve, the people go 1 Silius Italicus. 2 Kenrick's Phoenicia, p. 157, and authorities there quoted. in procession to a church, near which they seat themselves in a circle, and feast on eggs fried with herbs. This is said to be connected with the Phallic worship and rites of Hermes, derived from the Phoenicians. In the first days of spring the Sardinians have a practice of lighting fires in their squares and at cross-roads; then, as the flames begin to ascend, children leap through so rapidly as to escape burning. This, says Father Bresciani, is initiation through fire into the rites. of Moloch. But the people are not aware of the heathen origin of these rites, which are believed to have descended to the present inhabitants from their Phoenician ancestors." In the chapter which treats of the sculptured stones of Scotland will be found arguments in favour of some of the exports from Britain being of a nature likely to tempt the Phoenician trader to visit the harbours that lay nearest to the Caledonian forest. Of the imports, brass, bronze (mentioned by Cæsar), and the articles characterised by Strabo as mean merchandise (viz., bracelets, necklaces, amber, glass, etc.), certainly found their way to the inhabitants of the northeastern districts of Scotland. This is proved by continual discoveries of these articles in sepulchral tumuli of a very early period. 3 The Nuraghes of Sardinia have considerable resemblance in details, as well as in general appearance, to the uncemented dome-shaped buildings variously called in Scotland Duns, Burghs, and Picts' houses, and in Ireland clochans, which, 2 Ibid. p. 342. 1 Forester's Sardinia, p. 334. NURAGHES AND PICTS' HOUSES. 61 with some similar beehive-shaped houses in the Hebrides, are evidently modelled from the same original as the Picts' houses. One property the Nuraghés and Picts' houses possess in common, that their origin or erection is in no way elucidated by authentic history or rational tradition. This is the more remarkable as regards the Nuraghes when the position and history of Sardinia is considered, and that the remains of three thousand of these structures are reckoned in that island in various stages of decay, and some in good preservation.1 Under the head of "Customs and Superstitions common to the inhabitants of Asia and Britain," are detailed particulars of the belief in the miraculous formation by snakes of "the Serpent Gem." That superstition still lingers amongst the Celts of Cornwall and Scotland, and was lately heard by a modern traveller from an old native crone amidst the ruins of Tadmor. In conclusion, the opinion I have formed on this subject is, that the Phoenicians had a more extended and permanent influence on the population of Britain, even of Caledonia, than has lately been asserted, or has at any time been conceded. 1 In La Marmora's great work and its illustrative plates, the Nuraghés are shown of various kinds, and so fully, that it is easier to know their peculiarities than those of the Picts' houses of Scotland. In Tyndale's Sardinia, and Forester's Corsica and Sardinia, the Nuraghes are carefully described. See also the chapter on "Strongholds and Dwellings of the Celts" in this work. CHAPTER IV. RELIGION OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF BRITAIN AND CALEDONIA. The Druidical Religion general over Britain- Druids-Their Power and Organisation-Divitiacus the Druid -Tenets of the Druids-Mystery and Cruelty-Druid Sacrifices-Dress of the Druids-Tonsure of Druids and Phœnician Priests-Deisiol-The Misletoe, Salago, and Vervain— Serpent's Gem or Druid Beads-Superstitions concerning them of great Antiquity-Witchcraft a continuation of Heathenism-Sacrifice of one Man to Redeem the Life of another-Famous Trial in 1590 consequent on this Belief-Transferring Pain or Disease from a Human Being to a Dog or Cat-Trials consequent on this and other Superstitious Practices-Cruel Sacrifices, continued in the Present Century, of one Animal to Redeem the remainder of the Herd-The Hare, the Cock, and the Goose forbidden as Food to ancient Inhabitants of Britain-Existing Superstitions concerning these Animals-Cocks now or lately sacrificed in BritainDruidesses were believed to have the Power of transforming themselves into the form of various Animals, had Power over the Winds, could foretell Events, and cure Diseases-The same Powers attributed to the Witches, the Gaelic Ban Druidh-Obscene heathen Practices in Brittany —Imprecations in certain Christian Churches and Wells against EnemiesGods of the Celts-Christianity introduced, but Paganism not discarded— Annait a heathen Object of Worship-Temples of Annait-Worship of Annait in Persia, India, and Carthage. THE religion of the early inhabitants of Britain is of course a subject of paramount importance in any inquiry regarding the primitive monuments and hieroglyphics of Caledonia. Unless, however, the extract from Hecatæus, elsewhere |