Note 33 — PART SECOND. NOTES ON THE ILLUMINATION OF LIGHTHOUSES, WITH SHORT NOTICES OF THEIR EARLY HISTORY.

“The traditionary history,” says Mr Moore, “of the latter country (Ireland) gives an account of an ancient Pharos or lighthouse erected in the neighbourhood of the port now called Coruña, for the use of navigators on their passage between that coast and Ireland. There is a remarkable coincidence between this tradition and an account given by Æthicus, the cosmographer, of a lofty Pharos or lighthouse standing formerly on the sea-coast of Gallicia, and serving as a beacon in the direction of Britain. Secundus Angulus intendit ubi Brigantia civitas sita est Galliciae, et altissimum Pharum et inter pauca memorandi operis ad speculum Britanniae. Whether the translation I have given of the last three words of this passage convey their real meaning, I know not; but they have been hitherto pronounced unintelligible. The passage is thus noticed by Casaubon, in a note on Strabo, lib. iii. ‘Æthicus in Hispaniae descriptione altissimi cujusdam Fari meminit.’” The passage in Strabo above referred to is on page 179 of the first volume of the Oxford folio edition of 1807, where the geographer speaks of Cape Νεριον, which Casaubon distinctly identifies with the Cabo de Finisterra of modern seamen.