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

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more frequent among the Highlanders than in
former times : J hey have no proper name for
rheumatism ; and the frequency of that complaint
in these, compared with former times, may be
ascribed to the use of hnen instead of woollen
shirts.
Both Diodorus and Strabo use the word «v4u^(5
to denote a particular vestment, which the first
says the Gauls called braca. Strabo describes
the clothing of the Gauls as consisting of the
sagum, or an upper garment which seems to corre-
spond with the plaid of the Gael ; a sort of tunic
which covered the body, but no part of the
thighs or legs, and is descriptive of the siiort
coat of the Gael ; and a sort of breeches, which
covered the inferior members of the body, similar
to the triumhas or trouse of the Gael. That the
term braca was peculiarly applied by the Gauls
to their trouse, there are reasons for not admit-
ting. The word braca is significant of any tesse-
lated or variegated apparel: the plaid of the Gael
is called breacan, as the principal variegated and
most conspicuous garment, fit to cover the whole
body and all its members. That portion of Italy
which was called Cisalpine Gaul, was also called
Gallia Togata ; and the province of Narbonne,
which was known by the appellation Transalpine
Gaul, was also distinguished by the name of
Gallia Bracata, intimating, that the Gauls on the
Italian side of the Alps had assumed the Roman
^own, while those on the Gallic side of those