Blair Collection > Celtic researches, on the origin, traditions & language, of the ancient Britons

181
Tlie moot consideruble of these has been described by
Hticateus, and by other celebrated authors upon ancient
tradition, cited by D'lodorus Siculus.
According to this ancient writer, the country of the 7/y-
pcrboreans, in his day, was a large and fruitful island, in
tJie ocean, lying to the 'North, off the coast of Gallia
Celt lea. This description, which I shall presently adduce
at large, can agree with no other spot but Britain. Heca^
feus places the Island αιτι-ατίξ^^, opposite to, the coast of
Celtica, without one intervening region : and should we
seek it further North, a competent fertility of the land, and
the essential zcheat strazc, will not be found.
Neither in this Island, itself, nor in contiguous parts of
Europe, can we find a religious order of ancient celebrity,
except our Druids, whose Theologi/ conformed, in general,
to that ot' Greeks and Romans, {Cces. B. G. vi. 17.)
The religion of the Germans was perfectly dissimilar, (Ibid
21.) besides, that, in that part of Europe, their establish-
ments, were comparatively recent, and posterior to tlie
age of Hecatcus.
Hence it should seem, the Hyperboreans, who brought
their gifts to J polio, in the Vale of Tempe, down to the
last ages of Paganism, {/EL Far. Hist. L. iii. C. 1.) were
©Rr Druids of Britain.
But let us examine, if their characters are incorporated.
The chief outline of the Hi/pcrborean ethics, was pietj/,
inoffensive as ic ell as peaceable conduct, ana fortitude. The
favorite tiiaxim of Druids, who abstained from contc^t,
and allayed every popular ferment, was, according to Diog.