Ossian Collection > Thoughts on the origin and descent of the Gael

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Et dignos Baccho, diguos et Apollini crines."
Met am. lib. iii. 421.
It appears, then, that if the ancient Gauls
cheiishe(i and esteemed hair as a natural and
beautiful ornament, their British descendants re-
tained in great perfection the taste of their
Gallic ancestors. Although the favourite colour
of hair was with the Gael that of fair or yellow,
we find black hair esteemed as a personal orna-
ment. Fraoch was a hero of great valour and
beauty : He was drowned when swimming to-
wards an island in a lake called Lochluan,
whence he was to bring a garland of the fruit of
the roan tree, or mountain ash, as a present to
3iis beloved fair one. His hair is thus described:
" Maise a's caise do bhi na f halt
" 'S duibhe na filbacli bar f huilt Fhraoich."
*•' Elegance of curl was in his hair, its crop
" was blacker than the raven."
A young man of beautiful form attended one of
Fingal's hunting parties : He had a black dog of
uncommon strength and spirit ; he proclaimed a
general challenge and defiance to the people, to
produce a dog to fight his black dog. The chal-
lenge was accepted ; a great number of dogs en-
gaged, but the famous black dog overcame and
killed all that encountered him, Finaal observ-