Ossian Collection > Original collection of the poems of Ossian, Orrann, Ulin, and other bards, who flourished in the same age

PREFACE. xlvii
Sliip-biiildinp:, though as old, and probably
more so, than the building of Noah's ark, has been
many ages in arriving at its present perfection.
That at the period we are speaking of, there were
small craft made of wickers, covered with skins,
we do not deny, since such have till lately been
in use. But Mr. Laing might as well endeavour
to persuade a person, ignorant of the maritime
skill of this country, that because cock-boats ply
in our rivers and along our coasts, there are no
larger vessels to transport us to the East and West
Indies. Tacitus does not mention that any inter-
course subsisted between the north of Scotland
and Scandinavia, or that the vessels of the High-
landers were provided with sails. Mr. Laing
concludes, that they never passed into Scandina-
via in a single ship, nor had any vessels capable
to carry them over, although it is allowed, on all
liands, that the Highlanders, were in the constant
habit of passing from the main land to the islands,
and to the north of Ireland ; and any one ac-
quainted with the tempestuous seas which lash
tlie northern coasts of Scotland and Ireland, will
be convinced that a vessel capable of living in
them, would have little to fear in crossing over to
the mouth of the Baltic Such are the conclusive
detections from the Roman history and middle
ages.
Mr. Laing divides his detections (so he terras
his objections) into eight general heads, under