The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-08-22

MR. EDITOR: 1t seems to me that there are
some very interesting and suggestive points in
Caesars description of the Druids and as hap
pen never to have seen his note upon them in
English, although doubtless in many libaries, and
Judging that many Others hayc been no more
fortunate than myself, propose to translate for
publication Sections IL and a. Liber VI, Cap
Kill, Cpsar's Commentaries
When arspeaks of the customs and laws of
the Gauls he can be implicitly trusted, Us he made
MS nome among them and studied their manners
asslduously. He is notsupposed to be SO reliable
when he treats of the Germans.
18th. "ln all Gaul, of those men who are of
any note or held in any estimation, there are two
classes; for the common people are regarded as
scarcely above the rank of scrfs, who dare
undertake nothing by themselves and are never
admitted to any council. Thcgreater number of
them, overwhelmed by debt, or by taxes, or sue
cumbing to the tyranny Of the higher ranks, de-
clare themselves their servants, and over these,
the same laws prevail as masters exercise over
their slaves. The two higher ranks are Druids
and Knights. The Druids interest themselves
wholly i'll divine things, have charge of public
and private sacrifices, and eXpound the principles
OF religion. Great numbers of youths flock to
them forinstruction, and hold them in high honor
and considerations for they almost alone decide all
quarrcls, whether public or private, and if any
crime has been committed; any murder perpc-
trated; If there arise any dispute concerning the
descent OF property, or in regard to the bounda-
rles OF land, they alone decide and decree awards
and punishment; and ifany private man or public
officer does not abide by their decree, he is for
hidden to participate in religious ceremonies
This punishment is ofthc gravest nature. Those
VINO nave suffered this communication OuibuS
tta est tnteitiicttnD are counted among the num-
Der OF the impiOus and the yillainous; all desert
lhem all avoid their presence and conversation,
lest they suffer some evil from their approach
nor is any Justice dispensed to them seeking il,
nor are they permitted to share in any public
honor.
'Over all the Druids, one piesidcs who has
among them the chief authority. lie dying, if
any one cXccls the other in dignity, that one sue
cecds but if many stand equally high, chief
Druid is chosen by the votes of the Druids, and
occasionally the craftsmanship is decided by arms.
"At a certain season ofthe year, in the province
OF the Carnuti, which section of country is cs-
teemcd to lie in about the centre of Gaul, in Il
consecrated place, they holda council. Ththcr
all who have controversies assemble and abide by
their DEGREES aud Judgment. Ii is supposed that
this system originated in Britain, and was thence
brought over into Gaul; and at present those
who are DESTROYS to learn it thoroughly, for the
most part travel to that country in the prosecu-
ton of their desire.
"Thc Druids are not accustomed to take part
in the wars, neither do they pay taxes with the
Others. They are counted exempt from military
duty and public burdens of all kinds Incited
by these great privileges, many by their own
election, and others sent by their parents and
guardians, join this order. 1t is said that under
their instruction, great number of maXims
are learned by heart; and that some continue as
pupils 20 years. They esteem ii wrong to COM
init these preccpts to writing, but in almost all
other affairs whether public or private the Greek
letters are used. This provision seems to me to
have been dccrced for two reasons; first they do
not wish the secrets of their system to become
generally known, and secondly, they wish those
who learn it to cultivate the memory, trusting
less to the written word; for it happens, for the