Note 52 — Chapter I · ADVANCE OF THE ROMANS TO THE FIRTHS OF FORTH AND CLYDE.

In a recent edition of the Life of Agricola, from two Vatican MSS., by Carolus Wex, published in 1852, he substitutes Tanaus, Mons Graupius, and Boresti, for the Taus, Mons Grampius, and Horesti of the ordinary editions as the correct reading of these MSS., and Mr. Burton has at once adopted the two former readings. The author, however, questions their accuracy. It is hardly possible to distinguish u from n in such MSS., and they are constantly interchanged. That Tauaus is the correct reading of the first, is plain from the form of the name in Ptolemy, Ταούα or Tava, and the real form of the second he cannot doubt was Granpius. The combination of a u or v with a labial is rarely met in Celtic words. That of the dental with the labial is very common, as in Banba, an old name for Ireland; Conpur, where the same combination occurs. As to the third there is fortunately an inscription on a Roman altar at Neuwied, brought from the Roman station of Nieder Biebr on the Rhine, where some British cohorts in the Roman army were stationed in the third century, in the following terms:—

Idus Octob. Giinio

Hor. N. Brittonum

A. Ib. kiomarius op. fi

Us. posit tum quinta

nensis pos. nt. v. h. m.

which Mr. Roach Smith thus renders:—Idus Octobris Genio Horestorum numeri Brittonum. A. Ibkiomarus Obfius posuit titulum quintanensis posuerunt votum hoc monumentum (Collectanea, ii. part v. p. 133), which seems to leave no doubt as to Horesti being the correct form, and does not inspire one with much confidence in Wex’s new readings, sanctioned as they are by Mr. Burton.