cleareft point of light. It is unneceffa ry to obferve, that the Senones, who fent colonies into Italy and Germany, were originally a people of Gaul, and fettled near the Seine. During the reign of Tarquinius Prifcus, that is, five hundred years before Cæfar was born, Ambigatus, king of the Celtic Gaul, finding that his territories were greatly overstocked with inhabitants, fent his two nephews, Bellovefus and Sigovefus, at the head of two powerful armies, in queft of fettlements in foreign countries. The province allotted by the Augurs to Bellove fus was Italy, and that to Sigovefus, was the Hercynian foreft.-Livy has preferved this piece of hiftory; and according to Cæfar himfelf, the great univerfity and metropolitical feat of Druidifm lay in the country of the Carnates; the fame Carnates whom Livy places among the subjects of Ambiga tus. We have no reafon to believe, notwithstanding Cæfar's authority to the contrary, that there was any effential difference between the religion of Ganl and that of Germany. The victorious Boii, the Helvettii, the Tectofages and Senones, the Celtic nations of Sigovefus, and more especially his Carnates, could not have either forgot or defpifed their own religion, upon fettling themselves in a foreign country. They certainly would not have difmiffed the gods under whofe aufpices they had been fo fuccefsful. The conquerors muft rather be naturally fuppofed to have established their own fpiritual inftitutions upon the ruins of thofe which had done fo little fervice to the conquered. 4 lefey, or elsewhere, it is impoffible to determine. From the excifion of the groves of Mona, by Suetonius Paullimus, nothing can be concluded in favour of that little ifland. To make the Wefters Ebuda the feat of thefe colleges, is as perfect a chimera as that Druidifm was not at all known in Caledonia. The ecclefiaftical polity of North Britain was certainly the fame with that which took place among all the Celtic nations. We have the cleareft veftiges of the Druidical fuperftition in many parts of Scotland to this day. The appellation of its priefts, Dru and Druthinich, is ftill preferved. Their holy places are pointed out, and are called the houses of the Druids by the vulgar. In the Ifles, and throughout the Continent of Scotland, are many of thofe circular fabrics of large rude ftones, within which they performed the myfterious rites of their religion. Thofe circular piles of ftone are by fome called the houfes of the Picts. This miftake arofe very probably from the fimilarity of found between the two Galic words which exprefs the Pics and Druids. The Picts are fometimes called Cruithnich, in the language of the Highlands and Druids always Druithnich or Drui.The injudicious vulgar think that Fingal and his heroes, who are thought to have been giants placed enormous kettles upon thofe circles of stone, in order to boil their venifon. Both thefe circumftances ftand as proofs of the uncertainty of crabtradition in every country. The Romans, though feldom governed by the fpirit of perfecution, were very zealous in deftroying the It is univerfally agreed that Drui- Diuidifm of South Britain. Claudidifm was established in South Britain. us Cæfar endeavoured to abolish it. The fuperintendant of the whole order, The groves confecrated to that cruel it has been faid, refided there: and we fuperftition in Mona, were cut down learn from Cæfar, that those who ftu- by Suetonius Paullinus in the reign of died to understand the deepest myfte- Nero. It is reafonable to believe that ries of that fuperftition, travelled into other governors and emperors, directed Britain. Whether the most learned by the fame principle of humanity, deprofeffors of Druidism taught in Ang-clared war against the abominable rites VOL. III. B of of a fect who offered human victims to their idols. After Chriftianity became the established religion of South Britain, in the reign of Conftantine, the empire of Taranis and Teutates must have been totally ruined, or confined within very narrow limits.-But the Pagan Saxons, who, in appearance, had good reafon to boast of the ftrength of their gods, undoubtedly reseftablished the worship of thofe divinities I have already obferved, that thofe victorious infidels brought the word Dry from Germany. Together with the name they certainly introduced the office, being fuperftitiously devoted to Tuifto, Wooden, and Thor. The hif tory of king Edwin's converfion, in Bede, and the great revolution brought about in the kingdom of Northumberland at that time, in fpiritual matters, is a fufficient demonstration of this pofition. One circumftance is fufficient for my purpose to mention concerning the converfion of Edwin. After Paullinus had exhorted Edwin to embrace the Christian faith, agreeably to the inFructions he had formerly received from a perlon fent from the invisible world, the king fummoned his friends and great council to have their advice and approbation. One of the counfellors or printes was the Pagan high-prieft, or Primus Pontificum. The name, or rather title of this high-prieft or Pontifex Mhximus was Coifi, or Ceefi.—I know not whether any one has attempted to explain the meaning of this word. It was, in my opinion, the common title of every Druidical fuperintendant of fpiritual affairs. The Highland talemakers talk frequently concerning -Caiffie, ar Coiffie Dry-and by thefe two words they mean a perfon of extraordinary fenfe, fkill and cunning. Dry undoubtedly fignifies a Druid, a wife man, a prophet, a philosopher, and fometimes a magician, in the Galic :→→→ Coiffie Dry, Bede's Coifi or Primus Pontificum, ftands for the principal Druid, or what fuch a perfon ought to be, a man fupremely wife and learned. It is, needicfs to enlarge any farther on the Druidifm of Caledonia. That point has been handled at great length in another effay *. Germany and Gaul, South Britain and Ireland, were full of that idolatrous fuperftition: and how could the inhabitants of Caledonia be ignorant of the religion of their anceftors and brethren defcended from the fame great Celtic fource? It is, in fhort, very unreafonable to think that a nation, in any of its ftages, fhould be totally deftitute of religion: it is both unnatural and contrary to experience to fuppofe it. Religion, whether it arifes from the original preffure of the divinity on the human mind, or fprings from a timidity inherent in man, is certainly more prevalent than atheism: and indeed it is doubtful with me whether atheifm ever exifted in a mind that is not perfectly infane. It is a boaft of the fceptic, which cannot be believed: and it is equally incredible that the favage, however much his mind is ob fcured, could entertain fuch an irrational idea. That the Caledonians had fome ideas of religion and a Providence, is certain: that they were more pure in their spiritual inftitutions than other Celtic nations, their barbarism in other respects fufficiently contradicts.- With the Teutates and Taranis of their Gaulish ancestors, they probably worshipped fome local divinities of their own creation. That univerfal God of the heathen world, the fun, was certainly worfhipped with great devotion in Caledonia. The inftance I have given, towards the beginning of the preceeding differtation, is demonftrable of the ho nour * The author alludes to the Differtation on the Druids, loft among Sir James MacDonald's paperi. nour paid to that great luminary, under the name of Grangius *. The fires lighted on eminences by the common Highlanders, on the first day of May, till of late years, is one of the remains of that fuperftition. An ACCOUNT of the Kamtfchadales, UNDER the name of Oftrog we understand every habitation confifting of one or more huts, which are all furrounded by an earthen wall or pallifadoe. The huts are built in the following manner: they dig a hole in the earth about five feet deep, the breadth and length of which is proportioned to the number of people defigned to live in it. In the middle of this hole they plant four thick wooden pillars; over these they lay balks, upon which they form their roof or ceiling, leaving in the middle a fquare opening which ferves them for a window and chimney; this they cover with grafs and earth, so that the outward appearance is like a round hillock; but within they are of an oblong fquare, and the fireplace is in one of the long fides of the fquare: between the pillars round the walls of their huts they make benches, upon which each family lyes feparately; but on that fide oppofite to the fire, there are no benches, it being defigned for their kitchen furniture, in which they drefs their victuals for themselves and dogs. In these huts, where there are no benches, there are balks laid upon the floor, and covered with mats. They adorn the walls of their huts with mats made of grafs. They enter their huts by ladders commonly placed near the fire-hearth; fo that when they are heating their huts the fteps of the ladder become fo hot, and the fmoke fo thick, as almoft *This Differtation in our next Number. to fuffocate any one who is not inured to bear it: but the natives find no difficulty in going out or in; and though they can only fix their tos on the steps of the ladder, they mount like squirrels; nor do the women hesitate to go through this fmoak with their children upon their fhoulders; though there is another opening thro' which the women are allowed to pafs; but if any man should pretend to, do the fame he would be laughed at. The Kamtfchadales live in thefe huts all the winter, after which they go out into others which they call balagans: thefe ferve them not only to live in during the fummer, but alfo for magazines. They are made in the following manner: nine pillars, about two fathoms long or more, are fixed in the ground, and bound together, with balks laid over them, which they cover with rods, and over all lay grafs, fäftening fpats and a round fharp bramble, and thatch with grafs. They roof at top, which they cover with faften the lower ends of the fpars to the balks with ropes and thongs, and have a door on each fide, one directly oppofite to the other. They have fuch balagans, not only round their winter habitations, but also in thofe places where they lay up their food in fummer; and they are certainly very convenient in this country, on account of the frequent rains, which would furely fpoil all their fish, if it fides, when they return from fishing and was not preferved in fuch places; behunting in the harveft, they leave their dry fifh here, till they can fetch it in the winter; and this without any guard, only taking away the ladders. If thefe buildings were not fo high, the wiid beafts would undoubtedly plunder them; for, notwithstanding all their precaution, the bears fometimes climb up and force their way into their magazines,efpecially in the harveft, when the fif and berries begin to grow scarce. In the fummer, when they go a huuting, they have, befides their balagans, huts made of grafs, in which they drefs their B 2 victuals, 4 victuals, and clean their fish in bad weather; and the Coffacks boil their falt from fea-water in them. The villages, which are well inhabited, having their common huts furrounded with thefe balagans, make a very agreeable appearance at a distance. The fouthern Kamtfchadels commonly build their villages in thick woods, and other places which are naturally ftrong, not lefs than twenty verfts from the fea; and their fummer habitations are near the mouths of their rivers; but thofe who live upon the Penfchinfka fea and the eastern ocean build their villages very near the shore. They look upon that river near which their village is fituated, as the inheritanee of their tribe; and if one or two families at any time defire to liye feparate from their native village, they build themselves huts upon the fame river, or fome branch that falls into it; from which it is natural to imagine, that the inhabitants of every village have originally fprung from the fame father; and the Kamtfchadales them felves fay, that Kut, whom they fometimes call God, and fometimes their firft father, lived two years upon each river, and left the children that river, on which they were born, for their proper inheritance; and though for merly the Kamtíchadales used only to hunt and fish upon their own rivers, they now wander above 200 verfts to kill the fea animals upon the Awatfcha, or the Kuril kaya Lopatka. Of their Friendship and Hofpitality. When any one of this country feeks the friendship of another, he invites him to his hut, and for his entertainment dreffes as much of his beft victuals às might ferve ten people. As foon as the ftranger comes into the hut, which is made very hot for his reception, both he and the landlord ftrip themselves naked: then the latter fets before his gueft great plenty of victuals; and while he seating it, the hoft throws water up on red-hot ftones, till he makes the hut infupportably hot. The ftranger endeavours all he can to bear this exceffive heat, and to eat up all the victuals that were dreffed; and the landlord endeavours to oblige his friend to complain of the heat, and to beg to be excufed from eating all up. It is reckoned a dishonour to the landlord, and a mark of niggardlinefs, if he fhould be able to accomplish this. He himfelf eats nothing during the whole time, and is allowed to go out of the hut; but the ftranger is not fuffered to stir till he acknowledges himself overcome. At thefe feafts they overeat themfelves fo much, that for three days they cannot bear the fight of victuals, and are scarce able to move, from repletion. When the ftranger is gorged, and can no longer endure the heat, he purchafes his difmiffion with prefents of dogs, cloaths, or whatever is agreeable to his landlord; in return for which he receives old rags, and useless lamë curs. This, however, is reckoned no injury, but a proof of friendship; and he expects, in turn, to ufe his friend in the fame manner. And if that man, who has thus plundered his friend, returns not his vifit in proper time, he does not thereby fave his prefents, for the guest pays him a fecond vifit, at which time he is obliged to make him what prefents he is able; but if either out of poverty or avarice, he makes him none, it is looked upon as the greatest affront, and he muft expect this man always to be his enemy: befides, it is fo difhonourable, that no body else will ever live in friendship with him afterwards. In their banquets they treat their friends in the fame manner, only they do not torment them with beat nor expect any prefents. When they entertain with the fat of feals or whales, they cut it into flices; and the landlord kneeling before his company, with one of thefe flices in one hand, and a knife in the other, thrufts the fat into their mouths, crying, in a furly tone, Ta na, and and with his knife he cuts off all that hangs out of their mouths, after they are crammed as full as they can hold. Whoever wants any thing from another man, generally obtains it upon thele occafions; for it is reckoned difhonourable for the gueft to refufe his generous landlord any thing. An inftance of this happened between a Kamtfchadale and a newly chriftened Coffack, juft before I arrived, and was then the common fubject of converfation. The Coffack according to the cuftom of that country, had a Kamtfchadale to his friend, who, he heard, was poffeffed of a very fine fox fkin, which he greatly defired, but which the Kamtfchadale would by no means part with. The Coffack invited him to his hut, where he entertained him with vaft plenty of victuals, and by throwing water upon burning hot ftones, made the beat of the hut intolerable to his friend the Kamtfchadale, till at last he was obliged to beg for mercy. This the Coffack would not grant till he had obtained a promife of the fine fox-fkin. It fhould feem, that this entertainment could not be agreeable to the Kamtfchadale; however, he appeared to be pleafed with it, and fwore that he never thought it poffible to make fuch a heat, or that the Coffacks could entertain their friends with fo much refpect; declaring, that though he looked upon his fox's-fkin as an ineftimable rarity, yet he parted from it with pleasure on that occafion, and fhould always remember the noble entertainment of his friend. Of their Courtship, Marriages, &c When a Kamtfchadale refolves to marry, he looks about for a bride in fome of the neighbouring villages, feldom in his own; and when he finds one to his mind, he discovers his inclination to her parents, defiring that he may have the liberty of ferving them for Tome time: this permiffion he eafily obtains, and, during his fervice he fhews an uncommon zeal in order to fatisfy them of what he can do. After having thus ferved, he defires liberty to feize his bride; and if he has happened to please the parents, his bride, and her relations,this is prefently granted; but, if they difapprove of it, they give him fome fmall reward for his fervices, and he departs. It sometimes happens that thefe bridegrooms, without difcovering any thing of their intention, engage themselves in fervice in fome ftrange village; and though every one fufpects their defign, yet no notice is taken of it, till either he or his friend declares it. When a bridegroom obtains the liberty of feizing his bride, he feeks every opportunity of finding her alone, or in the company of a few people; for during this time all the women in the village are obliged to protect her; befides, fhe has two or three different coats, and is fwaddled round with fifh nets and ftraps, fo that fhe has little more motion than a ftatue. If the bridegroom happens to find her alone, orin company but with a few, he throws himfelf upon her, and begins to tear off her cloaths, nets, and ftraps; for to ftrip the bride naked conftitutes the ceremony of marriage. This is not always an eafy task; for though the herself makes fmall refiftance, (and indeed the can make but little,) yet, if there happen to be many women near, they all fall upon the bridegroom without any mercy, beating him, dragging him by the hair, fcratching his face, and using every other method they can think of to prevent him from accomplishing his design. If the bridegroom is fo happy as to obtain his with, he immediately runs from her, and the bride, as a proof of her being conquered, calls him back with a foft and tender voice: thus the marriage is concluded. This victory is feldom obtained at once; but fometimes the conteft lafts a whole and after year; every tempt, the bridegroom is obliged to take fome time to recover ftrength, at and |