Page:Cornwall (Salmon).djvu/44

CORNWALL At the time of the Roman invasion Cornwall was thus peopled by mingled Ivernians and^ Celts ; but it was ruled by the Brythonic tribe of Dumnonii. But the country had received classic visitors earlier than this. About two centuries b.c, a Greek traveller named Posi- donius came to the Land's End district, which he called Bolerion. There is a tradition that a Carthaginian named Himilco visited the Scillies earlier than this. A favourite idea in connection with the South British coast is that it was constantly being visited by mer- chants from the E. Probably that idea is exaggerated ; it would be truest as regards the S.E. Kent and the N. of Gaul were most likely the chief market-places of the British. The S.VV. coast certainly does not favour small boat navigation, and the chief traces of early population are not in spots of easy harbourage. Something may have been done at Marazion and in the Truro River, but wc really have no great reason for supposing that the Cornish coast was a scene of much naval activity. The arrival of the Romans did not apparently affect Cornwall to any great extent. If the Cornish did any fighting they travelled E. to do it ; there is no proof that the legions ever trod Cornish soil. The duchy never became Roman, as in later days it never became Saxon. Roman coins and pottery have been discovered, but these, of course, became general throughout Britain during the period of Roman occupation. 26