upon British Ethnology.
227
prehistoric times. Discoveries have shown that the early
bronze-smiths were nomadic, that they went about from
village to village, making and selling new objects and buying
up old and broken ware to melt and remould. The bronze-
worker's craft was closely connected with that of the jeweller,
in most cases both were exercised by the same person. His
wares were immensely valuable in those days, out of all pro-
portion to the present worth of such objects. Therefore the
bronze-smiths must have travelled in large bands for mutual
protection. Nothing is more likely than that they formed, in
time, a community with distinct laws and language. Nor is
it improbable that this was transmitted to the tinkers. It
takes a long time for men to form a distinct class with a
separate tongue. The Celtic tinkers of England are unani-
mous in claiming for their class or clan a very great antiquity.
Now when we find in the same country two nomadic classes
of men, pursuing the same calling of working in metal,
though separated by a long historical interregnum, we may
rationally surmise that they had a common origin and a
common language.
'I have introduced these observations on 'Shelta' in the
hope that they will induce some sound Celtic scholar to take
up the subject and investigate it thoroughly. Many curious
discoveries await the man who will do this. There are still
living in Scotland many old families of.' Tinklers,' as they
are called, who retain many traditions of their ancestors. If
these were thoroughly examined much might be learned.''
The interesting note from the 'Academy' of November
27th, 1866, printed below, tends to show that the early metal
workers in Palestine, among races quite distinct from those
of the British Isles, were also nomadic. Doubtless, in the
early metal period, this was a general habit of blacksmiths
and tinkers in countries inhabited by a sparse pastoral and
agricultural population:—
"Travelling Tinkers in Ancient Palestine,
"Mr. Leland's interesting paper, quoted in the last number
of the 'Academy,' reminds me that we may find indications
in the Old Testament of the existence of a tribe of travelling
tinkers or blacksmiths in ancient Palestine. The Kenites, or
Karaites, led a nomad life extending from the Amalekites in
the South (1 Sam. xv. 6) to Kadesh-naphtali in the North