The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
I I

TWAS long presumed that the Phnncians came
TO Britain from the coast OF Syria, or from their
colonies at Carthage and in the south OF Spain,
for the tin which they needed in the manufacture
oil bronze. The peninsula OF Devon and Corn
wall Is the only part OF the island which produces
tin, and IL has therefore, been inferred that tho
Cassitoridcs, or Tin Islands, which the Phnni-
clans visited, were TO be found in that region
Mr.. Gardiner, however, accepts the conclusions
OF those investigators who have recently main
tanned that the Cassitcrdcs wcrc probably OIL tho
coast OF Galicia In Spain. and. he, consequently
discards the belief that tho Phrnicians visited
Britain for tin very questionable In his opin-
ion the first educated visitor who reached Britain
was Pytheas, the Greek. who was sent by the mcr-
chants OF the Greek colony OF Massilia MARS
eiles) about $40 b. C.. 10 make discoveries which
might lead To the opening across Gaul of trade
route between Britain and their city IL was
probably. Mr.. Gardiner thinks, in consequence Of
information which Pytheas carried 10 Massiiia
on his return that trade sprang up In British
tin. Another Greek, Posidonius, who came to
Britain two centuries after Pytheas, found the
trade in full working order. The tin was brought
by land from the present Devon or Cornwall TO
an island called Ictis which was only accessible
on foot after the tide had ebbcd. This island
was probably Thanct afterwards memorable as
the first permanent settlement OF the Teutons
Thanet in those days cut of from the main
land by an arm OF the which could be crossed
on foot at low water From Thanet tho tin was
carried into Gau across the Straits and was then
conveyed in wagons to the Rhonc, TO be noated
down TO the Mediterranean.
There seem to have been no fewer than three
Celtic immigrations into Britain before CAESARS
invasion During the time when the trade in
tin Just mentioned was being carried on, tribes
lpia InI -, I,,t, al,
Gauls were certainly, and the Belgian werc proba-
bly,. OF the same Celtic as that which already
occupied the island. The Gauls settled on the
east coast as far the Fcns and the Wash,
whilst the Begians occupied the south coast
and pushed northwards toward the Somerset
Avon Nothing is known of the relations be-
tween the newcomers and the older Celtic inhabi-
tants. Mr.. Gardiner offers the surmise that those
who arrived last contented themselves with mas
tcring those whom they defeated without attempt
ing To exterminate them. At all events, states
to some extent were formed by the conquerOrs.
Thus the Cantii occupied tho open ground to the
north Of the great forest which then filed the
valley between the chalk ranges of the North and
South Downs, the Trinobantes dwelt between
tho Lea and the Essex Stour; the lccni occupied
the peninsula between the Fcns and the sea,
which was nfterward known East Anglia,
Norfolk and Suffolk; and the Catuvcllaun dwelt
to the west OF the Trinobantes spreading over
the modern Hcrtordshire and the neighboring
districts. There were other states in Britain but
the tribes which have been named had the advant-
age Of being situated in the southeastern part of
the island, and, therefore, Of being in commercial
communication with the continental Gauls OF
their own race and language. The increase OF
trade with the continent brought with IL the intro
duction Of some things which the Britons descend.
cd from the two first mmigrations would not
have invented for themselves For instance the
inhabitants OF the southeast Of Britain began To use
gold coins and decorations in imitation of those
which were then common in Gaul. In spite of
these improvements, however, even the most civil
lied Gaus and Belgians in the south
eastern parts OF the island were still in
rude and barbarous condition They had
no towns but dwelt in scattered huts When
they were hard pressed by an enemy. the
took refuge in an open space cleared in the woods
and surrounded by high earthwork, crowned
by palisade and guarded by fcllcd trees When
they went out TO battle they dyed their faces in
order TO terrify their enemies Their warriors
made use OF chariotS, dashng in them along the
front OF the enemys line till they espied an open
ing in his ranks, They then leaped down
and charged foot into tho gap. Their
characters in the moan while drove of the horses
to safe distance. as to be ready to take UP
tholr comrades II the battle went az ainst them
As regards the religion of the Brtons, It is cer-
tain that the Celtic races worshippcd many gods
In Gaul. the Druids who were the ministers of
religion, taught the doctrine of the uansmiEra.
ton OF souls, and gave moral instruction to the
young. In Ireland and perhaps in Britain, they
were coniurers and wizards Both in Gau and
Britain they kept up the traditional belief which
had once been prevalent in all parts Of the world
that the gods could only be appeased by sacr-
foes. 1t was supposed that they needed to drink
human blood or to be supplied with human slaves
and that the only way To give them what they
wanted was to despatch as many human beings
az possible into the other world. The favorite
way OF doing this was to construct large wicker
basketin tho shape Of a man, 10 cram II with men
and women and to set it on fire.
Ill
The two invasions OF Britain by Julius Cnsar
took place in b. c. 55 and 81 No consecutive at
tempt however, was made by tho Romans TO con-
quer Britain until nearly century later namely
in A. d. IA The conquest OF the island south of
tho Firth Of Forth may be regarded as having
been COmDleted nv Apricola in 4