by many of the Scottijh authors. They argue from the inconfiftJ
ency of the Roman writers, fome of whom affert that the Brim
went naked, others that they were cloathed in ikins, others wit
garments called Brachte. That any were fo wretched as to be del)
tute of cloathing in this fevere climate is very improbable : j
northern nations yet difcovered were ever found in fuch a Rate of
nature. But, fay the former, as the Britons were cloathed, M
fhould they give themfelves the trouble of adorning their bodia
with paintings, lince they could neither fhew them through vanitJ
to their friends, or as objedls of terror to their enemies ? It id
difficult to trace the caufe of cuftoms in fuch diftant periods: bud
we know at prefent, from recent authority, that there are two naJ
tions, who to this day retain the cuftom of painting their bodies]
and ibme of them the moil concealed parts, which they are as]
averfe to expofing as any European. Both of thefe people ate
cloathed : thofe o f Otaheite have one kind of drefs •, the ¡few Zit-i
landers another. In diftant ages they may leave off the cuftomoij
tattowing their ikins 5 and the authority of our modern voyages]
become as difputable as thofe of Cafar, Dion Cafftus, or Hmiml
are with fome later writers. But that the painted bodies of ourj
anceftors might be capable of ftriking terror into their enemies is]
very certain ; for in adlion they freed * themielves from the incuiM
brances of the loofer garments, and part at leaft of their bodies]
painted with wild fancy, were left expofed to the view of the afton-
iffied foe.
. I could not hear that there were the leaft remaihs of antiquity
* M r . yames Macpherfon, 215.
I jihtrnetBy that could be attributed to its antient poffeffors. The
haye left memorials of their feat at Inch-Jlutbel, and marks of
|eir retreats in time of danger on the fummit of many a hill.
Above the houfe of Moncrief, on Mordun hill, is a faftnefs, formed
by a bulwark of rude ftones, furrounding about two acres of
¿round, which might have been the citadel of Abemethy, the re-
| fnge of its inhabitants in time of war, at leaft of its women, its
tgiildren*, and its cattle; while the warriors kept the field to
«pel the enemy.
■Here is indeed a round tower like that of Brechin; but I am
Slore willing to give thefe edifices to the Irijh than the PiSis. . The
Ifcr have fufficient remains of antiquity to forgive this conceffion :
the tower at Abemethy is uncovered; the height within is feventy-
K twofeet; the inner diameter eight feet two; the thicknefs of the
Hpll at top two feet feven ; at bottom three feet four; the circum-
faence near the ground forty-feven. Within is, at prefent, a bell,
jjpatforms, and ladders, like that in tire capital of Angus.
■St. B r i c i d , a virgin of Cathnefs, here firft dedicated herfelf to ,
the fervices of Heaven, not with vows frail as human nature, but
Wth a refolute perfeverance in the duties o f the monaftic life:
>nd with her nine others adopted the fame courfe-f. At this place
fee died in 513, and left fuch a reputation for piety, ‘ that the
■»oft extravagant honors were paid to her memory. The He-
paid her divine honors : to her the greateft number of
Itheir churches were dedicated : from her they had oracular re-
■ ^°”i0ges ac liberos in loca tuta transferrent. Tacitus V it. A grlcola, e. 2 7 .
I t Spotfwaod's Hill. Ch. Scotland, 1 1 , 12. Botthius, fib. X . p . 181 .
‘ fponfes ;
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