to discover these tendencies, and to evaluate their several contributions to the final result. One of the most important, and certainly the most fundamental, inquiry that can be entered upon in this connection is that concerned with the distribution of different forms and degrees of civilisation. How comes it that in certain countries peoples have remained at a low stage of culture, while in others they have progressed far on the road toward the full complement of civilisation? How comes it that in some places we observe a succession of civilisations, often markedly different from one another, while on others the land, although apparently well suited for occupation, has been left to tribes in the pure hunting stage? These are some of the questions that must occupy those who wish to understand how civilisation arose and grew.
The relationship of inquiry into geographical features of culture to that into the Isles of the Blest does not seem to be close. How can there be, it might be said, any association between the belief in certain wonderful islands in the far ocean and the distribution of culture in the world? My aim is to show that there is reason to believe in an intimate connection between the two.
The Isles of the Blest bulk large in the study of Celtic literature, especially that of Ireland. Apparently the most important text relating to them is that of the Voyage of Bran, which has been translated by Professor Kuno Meyer—with Mr. Alfred Nutt in the rôle of commentator—in two volumes published by this Society. There is no need to go into details about these isles. A mysterious woman comes one day to Bran, son of Febal, "when the royal house was full of kings," and describes to him the Isles of the Blest. She bare a branch of apple-blossom.
"A branch of the apple-tree from Emain
I bring, like those one knows;
Twigs of white silver are on it,
Crystal brows with blossoms.
