the Tirrén Sea. They were in Erinn before the sons of Milesius. They
said, however, to the sons of Milesius [who, it would appear, pressed
marriage on them], that they preferred their own country, and that they
would not abandon it without receiving dowry for alliance with them. It
is from this circumstance that it is the men that purchase wives in
Erinn for ever, whilst it is the husbands that are purchased by the
wives throughout the world besides."[10] The SALTAIR OF CASHEL was
compiled by Cormac Mac Cullinan King of Munster, and Archbishop of
Cashel. He was killed in the year 903. This loss of the work is most
painful to the student of the early history of Erinn. It is believed
that the ancient compilation known as Cormac's Glossary, was compiled
from the interlined gloss to the Saltair; and the references therein to
our ancient history, laws, mythology, and social customs, are such as to
indicate the richness of the mine of ancient lore. A copy was in
existence in 1454, as there is in the Bodleian Library in Oxford (Laud,
610) a copy of such portions as could be deciphered at the time. This
copy was made by Shane O'Clery for Mac Richard Butler.

The subjoined list of the lost books is taken from O'Curry's _MS.
Materials_, page 20. It may be useful to the philologist and interesting
to our own people, as a proof of the devotion to learning so early
manifested in Erinn:--

"In the first place must be enumerated again the _Cuilmenn_; the
Saltair of Tara; the _Cin Droma Snechta;_ the Book of St. Mochta;
the Book of _Cuana_; the Book of _Dubhdaleithe_; and the Saltair of
Cashel. Besides these we find mention of the _Leabhar buidhe
Sláine_ or Yellow Book of Slane; the original _Leabhar na
h-Uidhre;_ the Books of _Eochaidh O'Flannagain_; a certain book
known as the Book eaten by the poor people in the desert; the Book