Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

curiosity. It is impossible to open a drawer or a box, or even to look at a paper, but he will examine it also. If he gets into any place where I am afraid of permitting him to stay, I take a paper or a book, and look attentively at it, on which he immediately runs upon my hand, and surveys with an inquisitive air whatever I happen to hold.

QUESTIONS:-1. About what size is a weasel? 2. To what class of animals is it a great enemy? 3. What is a rodent? 4. Name any rodents. 5. Why is it such an enemy to these? 6. Why do many farmers seek to kill the weasel? 7. What farm-yard animals does it sometimes kill? 8. Give an account of the tame weasel.

9. What is meant by "vermin"? 10. What are "perfumes"? 11. The weasel is remarkable for its vivacity-What does this mean?

[blocks in formation]

WHATEVER obscurity may surround the origin of the Britons, certain it is that they were ever remarkable for bravery and love of liberty. A great difference prevailed between the inhabitants of the sea coast and those dwelling more inland; the

former had made a sort of progress in civilisation, lived together in small towns, consisting of rudelybuilt huts, scattered about, with but little attention to order or convenience, but still a great improvement on the mere caves and hollows that formed the sole shelter of the inland tribes. They carried on no inconsiderable trade with their continental neighbours; and it cannot be doubted that the "Tin Islands" of the Roman writers are those now called the British Islands. To the existence of this trade is to be attributed the superior prosperity of the maritime colonies, whose chieftains clothed themselves with the skins of wild beasts, and decorated themselves with feathers and glittering ornaments; while the inland tribes, either ignorant of the use, or despising the effeminacy of clothing, adorned themselves only with rude figures of animals, which they traced on their naked bodies with the juice of woad.

Of the manners of the natives prior to the Roman invasion we have no satisfactory accounts; but the Roman authorities all concur in the fact, that Britain was extremely populous, covered with human habitations, though of the simplest character; the fields teemed with grain, and there were flocks and herds in abundance. There is thus evident proof they were an industrious people; we must suppose that they had been subject to attack from hostile tribes, doubtless sea warriors from the north; or why should these islanders be able, on

Cæsar's arrival, to bring into the field four thousand war chariots, which would, of course, require a double number of men and horses? Devotedly attached to the chase, and very expert in its craft and difficulties, it was from this that some of our early predecessors derived a great portion of their subsistence; their amusements were convivial en

[graphic]

tertainments, that too frequently terminated in strife, and the sole redeeming feature of these was, that the bards were there held in high respect, and listened to with deep reverence, when they sung, as was their office, the achievements of their ancestors, or the history of their gods. The bards formed a privileged order; their persons were

held sacred, they were frequently employed in embassies, or other offices of high moment, and their names and memory were long revered. But an order of men, still more influential and important than the bards, were the druids, or priests, of whose general character different writers have given a widely different description; some represent them as cruel, exercising great tyranny over their votar

[graphic]

ies, and sacrificing prisoners of war to Andate, their goddess of victory; others declare them to have been philosophers, austere in their habits, correct in their morals, and indebted for the influence they possessed, to the holiness of their profession and the sobriety of their lives. They are said to have acknowledged one deity as supreme, but to have worshipped, besides, the

heavenly bodies, the ocean, rocks, mountains, and other sublime and beautiful objects in nature: they acknowledged a superintending providence, the immortality of the soul, and a future state of rewards and punishments.

The temples in which they worshipped were composed of large rough stones, disposed in circles; for they had not sufficient skill to execute any finished edifices. The most noted of these circles at the present time is Stonehenge, near Salisbury.

Stonehenge possesses a stern and savage magnificence; the huge masses of rock are grey with age, and they are so long and large that the structure seems to have been raised by more than human power.

Woad.-A plant, whose juice imparts a bluish colour. It

was anciently called glastum from the Celtic word glas, blue, whence Glastonbury derived its name.

Stonehenge, as well as the great temple of Avebury, are both in Wiltshire, in the south of England.

QUESTIONS:-1. For what were the original inhabitants of Britain celebrated? 2. What difference was observable between those living on the sea-coast, and those living inland? 3. Mention some of the differences. 4. How did the chiefs of the maritime tribes clothe themselves? 5. How did those living inland adorn themselves? 6. What was the condition of Britain when the Romans first came to it? 7. What number of war chariots did they bring into the field against Cæsar? 8. On what did they chiefly live? 9. What were their principal amusements? 10. Who were the bards? 11. Who were the druids? 12. What different accounts have we of them? 13. What were their opinions? 14. Where did the people worship? 15. Where have we remains of these temples?

« AnteriorContinuar »