5

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262 NOTES.
though there are many obstacles in the way of philosophers, still
these have their bounds, and may be overcome by exertion and
perseverance. I cannot here help remarking that this Druidical
notion of serpents, or evil spirits, not being able to pass a stream
of running water, can be still recognized among the lower ranks
of Scotland, for a full account of which, I beg leave to refer the
leader to Burns' Tarn O'Shanter. 4. That this egg is proved by
its floating against the stream, implies that the philosopher is able
to stem the torrent of public prejudice, and chalk out a contrary
path to himself. 5. That this egg can only be obtained at a
certain season is expressive of that attention and assiduity which
ought to characterize the philosopher, in watching the motions
and revolutions of the heavenly bodies. 6. The persuasion that
it procured success in law.suits, and access to kings, is founded
in fact. The egg in question was the distinguishing badge of the
Druids, who were the supreme judges in civil as well as religious
cases, and certainly had more wisdom than to decide against
themselves ; and so exorbitant was their power, that even the
king himself was subject to them. 7. The Vocontii were a people
of Gallia Narbonensis, and the Roman knight slain by the Em.
peror Claudius, was in all probability a Druid. Druidism was
abolished by the Emperor Tiberius, as Pliny informs us, namque
Tiberii Caesarsis Principatus SastuUt Druidas eorum, Sfc,
i. e. For the emperorship of Tiberius Caesar abolished their
Druids, Nat. Hist. lib. 30. ea-p. 1. .
Note XIII.—Page 70.
^Many places in Great Britain and he/and still retain the names
of the Druids, Sfc.—In addition to tke list of names here given
by Toland, it may be proper to add (he following, vii. Drysdale,
i. e. Drui-dal, i. e. the Dale of the Druids near Lockarby.
Jnis Druineach, the antient name of Jona, and -vihich
signifies
the island of the Druids. Dritdal, i. e. Drui.dal, i. e. the Dale
of the Druids, in the parish of Tynron.
The grave of the Druids
in the island of Jona,— Pit.an-dnivh, i. e. the grave of the
Druids, near Brechin, &c. yet, strange to tell, Pinkarton asserts,