The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-08

ORIGIN OF TIE TERN ''FEN1AS"-ANT1eIUTY or THE
oRaAx1sATIoS.-The following account of the ancient
Fenians of Ireland is from Morleys writers before
Chaneer:"
"Irish tradition says the Fenians ancient
militia or standing army employed only on home SER
vice for protecting the coast from invasion. Each of
the four provinces says the tradition had its band that
of Leinser to which From and his family belonged,
being called the Canna Baoisgne. This militia is said
to have been puld by the king, biHetted the people
IN winter but to have lived in by the chase
And these are imagined TO have been the qualifications
e Fenlan Every soldier required to swear that,
without regard to her fortune he choose wife for her
virtue, her courtesy and her good manners; that he
Woua never offer violence to woman; that as tar as he
could he would relieve the poor and that he would not
refuse to fight nine of any other nation No per-
son could be received into the service unless his father
ana other ana all his relatives gave security that none
OF theh sA0ua revenge his death upon the person who
might STAY him. but that they would leave the matter to
his felow-soldiers, The youth himself must be well
acquainted with the twelve books of poetry and be able
TO compose He must be perfect master of
defense; to prove this he placed III field of sedge
reaching up to his knees, having in his hands target
and hazel stick as long mans arm Nine expe-
rienced soldiers from distance of nine ridges of land
to hurl their spears at him once: if he was nm
hurt he was admitted, but if wounded he was sent off
with Teproach. lie must also run we'll and defend
himself when in fight; to try his activity he was made
to through wood having start of trees breadth
the whole of the Fenians pursuing him. if he was over
taken or wounded in the woods he was refused as too
sluggish and unsllful to fight with honor among such
valiant troops. Also, he must have strong arm and
through wood in chase, has hair should come un-
tied Tit did he rejected. He be so swift and
light of foot break rotten stick by stand D
on it, able aso to leap tree high as his fore
head and to stoop under tree that than his
knees. Without stopping or lessening his speed he
must be able to draw thorn out of his foot. Finally
he must take oath Of fidelity.
1.-The Rev. Godfrey Heating, who wrote History Of
Erin in the year 1852 gravely says so long these
of admission exact insisted upon, the mil
itary of Ireland were invincbIe defense to their
country and terror to rebels at home and enemies
abroad. Coll NJ Norma had slain Fonns father, Cum
hail, in battle and Fionns mortal enemy in early
life Afterwards he made peace with him. and fought
uudershim ehiettain Of the Connaught FeuianS-
But the supremacy of the Canua Baolsgne led To tends
and at last Fonn and his clan defyipg the throne itself
were attacked by all the forces of Erin except those Of
the king of Munster who took part with him and slE
fered carnage in that battle of Cabbra wherein Oisn's
son Oscar and the Ding Cairbre fell by each others
close his grandson eyes, and after this defeat peace
had sweets for him and warno trumphs. FIonn died
at last it is said, by the lance of an assassin"
at noticeable however that the Fenans were not
confined to Erin. In the ancient poem the battle of
GabbFa read OF the bands OF the FIonnS of AlbGn
(Alban being the old of Scotland north of the Firth
of Forth and Cyde and the supreme king OF Breatan
(Breatan being southern Scotland of which Kunbrea-
tan, Dunbaron, the Chief seat) belonging to
the order of the Fenne of Albun; and also that The
ancient name OF Germany north of the Rhine bnt when
the German and Norwegian pirates appeared in the 9Th
century they were called Lochlanaes and the name OF
Loch&n was transferred to Norway and Denmark 1t
has been argued from this, that the Fenans not
militia Of Gls, but that they were distinct Celtic race
connected with the only who ere spoken of as
having come IN Oldest time from Lochan-namely the
Tuatha de Denann and the CruthEe These thought
to have been some OF the Ces who preceded the Ger
manic people now occupying the north German shore
and Scandinavia.