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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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a348 NOTES.abbreviated diminutive <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gaelic Cas^ a house, Mhfnce <strong>the</strong>Romans formed <strong>the</strong>ir Casa, a cottage. There is an Auchcn.casin <strong>the</strong> neighbourhood <strong>of</strong> M<strong>of</strong>fat. From (^asc is formed <strong>the</strong> adjectiveCascadh (pronounced Qaskie).Caskie Ben^ near Aberdeen,signifies <strong>the</strong> hill abounding with houses, and <strong>the</strong> vestiges<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m can be traced in a number <strong>of</strong> small cairns which still remain.Tynron Dun, Turin Hill, Calteilhun, and many a noblestructure <strong>of</strong> our Celtic ancestors, now present <strong>the</strong>mselves ioour view in <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> a cairn.From <strong>the</strong> size, structure, andname <strong>of</strong> this circle, <strong>the</strong>re cannot remain a doubt that it was ajudicial one. What was really <strong>the</strong> temple stood about a cpiarter<strong>of</strong> a mile distant.Mr. <strong>Toland's</strong> error in taking it for a temple,is extremely venial. Had he lived, he intended to havepassed six months in examining <strong>the</strong> Ifebridian antiquities—clear evidence that he considered his information respecting <strong>the</strong>mdefective and incomplete. But what are we to think <strong>of</strong> Dr.Smith, who pr<strong>of</strong>esses to give us a complete history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Druids,and yet passe s over this circle in so superficial and erroneousa manner. In a former note I have divided <strong>the</strong> Druidical circlesinto two kinds, viz. ? eligixms and judicial.CladuuBralfh^and Clach-Arneach, have <strong>the</strong> same signification ; and from <strong>the</strong>evidence formerly and now adduced, I hope this distinction restson a firm and stable basis. Mr. <strong>Toland's</strong> mistake is, however,greatly to be regretted, not only because he has misled Dr.Smith and o<strong>the</strong>rs, but because a great part <strong>of</strong> his reasoning respecting<strong>the</strong> Hyperborean Abaris rests on it, and must now fallto <strong>the</strong> ground.The judicial circle in question is perfectly iinique. We have{nil simile nee secundum) nothing like it, nor nearly like it.W^hat has been mistaken for <strong>the</strong> wings, isonly <strong>the</strong> four cardinalpoints <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> compass.These, and <strong>the</strong> centre stone in <strong>the</strong> shape<strong>of</strong> a ship's rudder, clearly allude to <strong>the</strong> insular or maritime government<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hebrides ; and could we indulge <strong>the</strong> thoughtthat this circle was exclusively devoted Io tlie decision <strong>of</strong> maritimecauscSj <strong>the</strong> allusion would be complete. Here, for once, Iam hnppy to agree with Ivlr. Pinkartou in pronouncing this judi-

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