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

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'• Eivin, Ossian, is my name, I moved from the
" howls of clogs; many a fine haired youth of most
" beautiful complexion, of yellowest golden hair
" and bluest eye, I left on the hill of boars, who
" would this night give food to my dog."
We shall conclude these observations as to the
similarity of the stature and colour of the an-
cient Gauls and Gael of Britain, with the words
of Ammianus Marcellinus :* " Celsioris statura;
" et candidi pene Galli sunt omnes, et rutili."
*' The Gauls are almost all of a fair complexion,
" red haired, and of a larger stature," it may be
added as the author's meaning, " than the Ro
" mans."
IDENTITY OF PEOPLE INFERRED FROM THE
USE OF WARLIKE WEAPONS.
The armour of the ancient Gauls is described
by Strabo and Diodorus Siculus. The similarity
of weapons carried by the ancient Caledonians
to those of the Gauls is remarkable : The swords
used by both were large without sharp points,
and their shields were similar. There are enu-
merated a variety of warlike instruments which
* Lib. XV. c. 12.