Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

TEMPLE OF THE HYPERBOREAN APOLLO. 233
pie described by Eratosthenes. Toland's views of ancient,
or former, geography, will perhaps startle a modern geo-
logist, when he determines that the Hyperborean island
•roni which the "Druid Abaris" came, consisted of Sky,
Lewis, and Uist, united into one. It would be as well if
he would show how and when they were separated, with-
out being heard, as well as heard of, by the successors of
Abaris and Pythagoras, The history of Abaris deserves
to be hunted down a little further than either Toland or
Smith have pursued it. That he was a Druid Priest in a
Highland dress, is proved by the Orator Himerius, though
Suidas says he was a Scythian, Yet Scot and Scythian
being the same thing, he is still a native of Lewis; though
he was the forerunner of his countryman Anacharsis, who
is of a very different country, and the son of King Scuta,
who never existed. Toland has forgotten this; or, more
probably, he had not read lamblicus and Diodorus; else
he would not have left his tale half told. It is not diffi-
cult to beat him at his own trade. The latter personage
quotes Hecateeus as his authority ; and the proof that
Lewis must be the island, is, that the "Hyperborean is-
land" is highly fruitful and pleasant, producing two
crops in a year ; as Lord Scaforth and his successors
have, doubtless, experienced. From him also we learn
that Lewis, since it is Lewis, was dedicated to Apollo, and
that the God paid his priests a visit every fourteen years,
when they amused him by showing him the rocks and
mountains of the moon ;—through a telescope. Dutens has
overlooked this important passage. Unluckily, antiquaries
differ upon the geography of the island ; and Row-
lands has clearly proved that Anglesea, and not Lewis,
was the Hyperborean isle, and that Abaris is conupted
by Hecatseus or Diodorus from Apreece. So that he was
a Welshman, and not a Highlander. I know not how our
Highland friends will submit to be thus robbed of their
great Druid.