Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

226 A JOURNEY TO THE
was in Gaul, he found the Helvetians pre-
paring to go they knew not whither, and put
a flop to their motions. They fettled again
in their own country, where they were fo
far from wanting room, that they had ac-
cumulated three years provifion for their
march.
The religion of the North was military ;
if they could not find enemies, it was their
duty to make them : they travelled in queft
of danger, and willingly took the chance
of Empire or Death, Ifj their troops were
numerous, the countries from which they
were colleded are of vaft extent, and with-
out much exuberance of people great ar-
mies may be raifed where every man is
a foldier. But their true numbers were
never knovv n. Thofe who were conquered
by them are their hiflorians, and fhame
may have excited them to fay, that they
were overwhelmed with multitudes. To
count is a modern juai'ticc, the ancient
method