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168 HISTORY OF THE
Tor, the president of the air ; ^on-ach, pregnant,
promising fruit; tarbhsich, profìtable, yielding
increase ; tairh\\e, profìt, gain, &c. It is difficult
to separate this term from the Cabala. The
priests of Tor were naturally termed Tordan,
i.e. the men of Tor ; M'hence taria.\\, because these
wore by way of distinction that chequered stufF.
The Druidsa//o?t'e6?theking, we are told, to wear
seven colours in his hreacan or dress, whilst they
themselves were satisfìed with six. Persons of the
highest quahty, other than the king, were not
allowed to wear more thanyo?^r colours. To us it
appears not improbable, that not only the most
sacred portion of our language, but also a great
part of our progress in the arts, may be traced to
Nature. Nothing was more natural for a people
who worshipped the Solar-gods to the tattooing of
their symbols into their flesh, than when they
began to clothe themselves and to cover these
figures, to desire to have stiU a substitute on their
habiUment : — thus the heavens would furnish a
pattern for a carpet, or a mosaic pavement of stars ;
and the beautiful variety of the Serpent-god a more
regular web. But, what are we arguing about !
The thing is beyond a doubt. Witness the Cari-
bean song, preserved by Montaigne : —
" Oh snahe, stay ; stay, oh snake, that my sister may draw
from the pattern of ihy painted skin, the fashion and work
of a rich ribbon, which I mean to present to my mistress :
Tor, the president of the air ; ^on-ach, pregnant,
promising fruit; tarbhsich, profìtable, yielding
increase ; tairh\\e, profìt, gain, &c. It is difficult
to separate this term from the Cabala. The
priests of Tor were naturally termed Tordan,
i.e. the men of Tor ; M'hence taria.\\, because these
wore by way of distinction that chequered stufF.
The Druidsa//o?t'e6?theking, we are told, to wear
seven colours in his hreacan or dress, whilst they
themselves were satisfìed with six. Persons of the
highest quahty, other than the king, were not
allowed to wear more thanyo?^r colours. To us it
appears not improbable, that not only the most
sacred portion of our language, but also a great
part of our progress in the arts, may be traced to
Nature. Nothing was more natural for a people
who worshipped the Solar-gods to the tattooing of
their symbols into their flesh, than when they
began to clothe themselves and to cover these
figures, to desire to have stiU a substitute on their
habiUment : — thus the heavens would furnish a
pattern for a carpet, or a mosaic pavement of stars ;
and the beautiful variety of the Serpent-god a more
regular web. But, what are we arguing about !
The thing is beyond a doubt. Witness the Cari-
bean song, preserved by Montaigne : —
" Oh snahe, stay ; stay, oh snake, that my sister may draw
from the pattern of ihy painted skin, the fashion and work
of a rich ribbon, which I mean to present to my mistress :
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| Early Gaelic Book Collections > Hew Morrison Collection > Adhamh agus Eubh, no Craobh Sheanachais nan Gàël > (298) |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/76900320 |
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| Description | Gaelic language -- History. Bound together with the author's 'History of the Celtic language', London:1840. |
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| Shelfmark | H.M.94(1) |
| Additional NLS resources: | |
| Attribution and copyright: |
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More information
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| Description | A selection of items from a collection of 320 volumes and 30 pamphlets of literary and religious works in Scottish Gaelic. From the personal library of Hew Morrison, the first City Librarian of Edinburgh. |
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| Description | Selected items from five 'Special and Named Printed Collections'. Includes books in Gaelic and other Celtic languages, works about the Gaels, their languages, literature, culture and history. |
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