J. F. Campbell Collection > Works of the Caledonian bards

$4 T H E C H r E F F
O Cffirin, king of fongs ! thou who drew
the tear from the eye : Thou who brought
the
the Roman autliorf), figr.ifies literally Whites^ and was
probably once t!ie univerfal appellation of all the Euro-,
peanj, in oppofition to the Blacki- of the warmer climate?.
All the remnants of that once great people, call themfclves
Gael, in whatever country they are fcattered. The word
White, and their own name Gael, are both writ^cn and
prononrtced the fame at this day.
The Rev» Mr Whitaker has placed his opinion on this
fv-.bje(ft, in dirt£t oppofition to all the Celtse themfclves j
and adcrts, that it is ' a dtfiguation too effeminate for
the bold and ferocious Ccltae.' Whatever effeminate no-
tion; that gentleman may iiave formed of the v-'hite part
of mankind, it is moft certain, that all the Ccltse had the
misfortune to be of that colour; and, therefore, truth compel-
led them to adopt the name of Whites, whatever unfavour-
able opinions antiquaries may form of their valour from
it. Jf the reader has any dcfire to fee etymology in the
moft abjiA ftate of dejc£lIon to which pride and rafhnefs
crer reduced her, he may confult Mr Whitakcr's defini-
tion of the word Gael, page 122. The paflagc is too
long for infertion, and, may I be permitted to add, too
feeble for oppofitim. After producing the names of fe-
veral tribes among the antient Britons, he tell us, that
they all fignificd Wo^Jlanders : That Coil is the fame with
Gathel, which, he fays, fignifies a wood among the High-
landers and Irifli at prcfe.it. — The affertion, however, is
fiot