PREFACE. THE material that has engaged my attention in the following pages is principally taken from the Mosaic, the Koran, Talmud, and Celtic references to the first peoples and places. As far as possible I have avoided loading the subject with technical terms and problems to be met with in Anthropology—a science necessarily contributing considerable matter to the text-but have preferred to use in it history, tradition, folk-lore, and other interests that go towards a proof that the first human families must have migrated from the west of Europe to Asia, and not from Asia to the west of Europe. This may appear strange to some people; but it will occur to the reflecting and intel ligent mind that it is quite possible to do over again, some of the work of Scripture commentators and interpreters, and be at the same time, in perfect harmony with the Bible. For instance, the sites of the principal countries, cities, and places mentioned in that book, are by their own confession, up to the present, unascertained. Therefore the necessity existed for re-considering the teachings of men, as distinguished from the lessons of the Bible, which, for my part, are accepted as correct and veracious. In the following pages there is no allusion to the doctrine of "Independent development," but they admit that human beings multiplied from a first pair. As far as I know, I have not offended the prejudices of any people or creed. In making much reference to the first inhabitants of the British Islands, there has been an endeavour to show that a great deal of the past-the pre historic as well as the historic past-is marked. From this it is advised, by their actions. that their descendants, as well as those esteeming themselves of Saxon, Danish, or Norman blood, should remove the race asperities that so frequently operate against one another, and join with the Celt in mutual respect and prosperity. Because thousands of years have passed away with man, and the correct register of his first existence and efforts here-so, like others, but not in a general way,-I have felt obliged to labour, and to particularise, and bring together, out of the confused yet evident relationship of primeval man, the similarities of his thoughts as they are written, of his speech as it is known, and of the signs that endure from his chisel and pen. How I have succeeded in this is now to be |