This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II HISTORICAL At the end of the fifth century Scotland was peopled by one Celtic race, divided however, into two branches, whose territories corresponded to the Highlands and the more northern Lowlands of to-day, while a portion of the southern Lowlands was held by the Britons of Strathclyde. At the beginning of the sixth century occurred the great invasion of the Dalriads or Scots from Ireland, and thereby a new Celtic race was added to the previous inhabitants of the country. That the coming of the Dalriads must have especially affected Islay and the neighbouring islands, a glance at the map will show; the rich and fertile country which lay so near their former home must have been eagerly and largely occupied by the invaders. A no less important invasion, though very different in character, took place in the year 563, when Columba landed in Iona to begin a campaign against the paganism of the north; the first of a long series of missionaries who, in advancing the spiritual weal of their adopted country, could not fail to influence its civilization and its arts. For centuries after the inroad from Ireland the history of Scotland is one of constant warfare between the various tribes, until the year 843, when a kind of general sovereignty was established under the Dalriad king, Kenneth MacAlpin. But there was to be little peace for the inhabitants of the west. The keen eye of the Viking had discovered a new land of fjords like to his own, up which his long ships could sail in smooth water, and where much spoil was to be gained. A series of raids which began in the ninth century developed at last into a Norwegian kingdom in the western isles; a kingdom which only came to an end when Hacon IV. of Norway was defeated at Largs in the...