CORNWALL Sollnus speaks as though there were only a single isle : Silufijm quoquc insu/am ab ova gens Brltanna Dunmomi fenent. In a similar manner we still speak of Scilly as though it were one isle, so that this evidence does not count for much. Though the name of Cassiterides has obstin- ately clung to the islands, it needs a considerable stretch of imagination to regard these isles as the true " tin-islands ". Tin can only be found here in the minutest quantities, and there is no trace of there ever having been more. Unless the islands were much easier of access in the past than they arc now, it is quite impossible that the Britons should have shipped their tin from the mainland, to find a market on the islands. Even now, with all the advantages of improved navigation, such a process would be highly inconvenient. Of course tradition has a story ready to account for the existence of the isles. It is said that Modred, pursuing the remains of Arthur's army after the supposed great battle at Slaughter Bridge, was himself cut off and drowned by a sudden inundation of the sea. Those whom he pursued found themselves safe on the extreme confines of Lyonesses, with a raging ocean between them and the mainland. But history has little to do with these pleasant myths. All we know for certain is that when the Romans subdued Britain they also took possession of the Scillies ; but their whole occupation of the West Country was so slight as to be little other than nominal — probably owing to the ready submission of partly 272
