ior in size to Sicily, the _soil of which is so fruitful_ that they
mow there twice in the year."[146] In this most remarkable passage, he
mentions the skill of their harpers, their sacred groves and _singular
temple of round form_, their attachment to the Greeks by a singular
affection from _old times_, and their tradition of having been visited
by the Greeks, who left offerings which were noted in _Greek letters_.

Toland and Carte assume that this passage refers to the Hebrides,
Rowlands applies it to the island of Anglesea; but these conjectures are
not worth regarding. We can scarcely imagine an unprejudiced person
deciding against Ireland; but where prejudice exists, no amount of proof
will satisfy. It has been suggested that the Irish pagan priests were
not druids properly so called, but magi;[147] and that the Irish word
which is taken to mean druid, is only used to denote persons specially
gifted with wisdom. Druidism probably sprung from magism, which was a
purer kind of worship, though it would be difficult now to define the
_precise_ limits which separated these forms of paganism. If the
original pagan religion of ancient Erinn was magism, introduced by its
Phoenician colonizers, it is probable that it had gradually degenerated
to the comparatively grosser rites of the druid before the advent of St.
Patrick. His destruction of the idols at Magh Slecht is unquestionable
evidence that idol worship[148] was then practised, though probably in a
very limited degree.

The folklore of a people is perhaps, next to their language, the best
guide to their origin. The editor of Bohn's edition of the Chronicle of
Richard of Cirencester remarks, that "many points of coincidence have
been remarked in comparing the religion of the Hindoos with that of the
ancient Britons; and in the language of these two people some striking
similarities occur in those proverbs and modes of expression which are
derived from national and religious ceremonies."[149] We are not aware
of any British customs or proverbs which bear upon this subject, nor
does the writer mention any in proof of his assertion: if, however, for
Britons we read Irish, his observations may be amply verified.

The kindly "God save you!" and "God bless all here!" of the Irish
peasant, finds its counterpart in the eastern "God be gracious to thee,
my son!" The partiality, if not reverence, for the number seven, is
indicated in our churches. The warm-hearted hospitality