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

The Genius^ Manners^ &c. 117
DISSERTATION. XI.
Of the Genius, Manners and Cuftoms of
the Caledonians, Pi6ls and Scots.
TH E Caledonians made war their great fludy,
and the principal bufinefs of life. Agricul-
ture was entirely negleded, or but faintly profe-
cuted, and the commercial arts were hardly known
among them. The chace, an exercife manifeflly
fubfervient to a military life, was their favorite
amufement. A peculiar attachment to the plea-
fures and advantages arifing from fuch a courfe of
life, gave them an uncommon degree of agility,
vigour and patience to bear fatigue. Dio fays,
that they ran with extraordinary fwiftnefs, and
fuftained co'd, hunger, and toil, with an amazing
conftancy. Herodian calls the barbarians of North
Britain, incomparably brave, and infatiably fond
of flaughter. Let hiflory determine, whether they
were ever conquered, or whether the Lords of
mankind, the Romans, were fo bravely repulfed
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