Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

xviH PREFACE.
,rity gave the name of luinter ho?/feSy the
fame exactly with the Hibernas domus of
Gildas, to thofe more comfortable habita-
tions to which they retreated when the
warmer feafcn of the year v/as over. In
the fummer they lived in the mountains and
forells with their cattle, and to enjoy the
pleafure and advantage of hunting. The
Arabian Bedowins, the ancient Nomades and
Scythians, and the prefent Tartars, give in-
to the fame pradtice. The Bedowins, in
particular, gave the appellation of 'winter
houfes to the habitations to which they re-
treated from the autumnal rains. Bede, a
Saxon, was perhaps a ftranger to this cha-
racSteriftical pradice of the Scots, and not
knowing what fenfe to make of Gildas's
Hibernas domiiSy he altered the old reading.
This opinion feems decifivc, as he had re-
tained the word domusy inftcad of the more
proper word do??2U7n.
The times in which Bede lived, were
the golden age of Ireland. That kind of
learning which then fubfifted in the world,
flourifhed much in that country. No ene-
mies invaded it from abroad, and there was
an unufual tranquillity at home. National
profperity is the fource of national pride.
Averfe to have themfelves thought defcend-
ed