The Names of Nations.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2003, 9 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Names of Nations.

Tin >n are derived principally from some peculiar cause or object. For instance, Ireland—which Julius Ca)3ar first called Ilibernia — is a kind of modification of Erin, or the countiy of the west. Scotland, from Scotia, a tribe which originally came from Ireland. It was anciently oalled Caledonia, which means a mountainous country — forests aud lands. Portugal, the ancient Lusitania, waa co named from a town on the river Douro, called Cale, opposite to which the inhabitants built a oity called Porto or Oporto. And when the country was recovered from the Moors tho inhabitants combined tho words and called it the Kingdom of Portucale— hence Portugal. Spain, the ancient Ibeiia, from the river Iborius or Hispania, from the Phoenician Spamga, whioh signifies abounding with rabbits, which animals are very numerous in that country — hence Spain. France, from the Franks, a people of Germany, who conquered that country. Its ancient name was Celta, Gaul, or Gallia, Barcohatta, the latter pignifying striped breecheß, which were worn by the natives , Switzerland, the ancient Helvetia, was so named by the Austrian^, who called the inhabitants of these moutainous countiies Schweitzers. Holland, the ancient Batavi, a warlike people, was bo named from the German word kohl, the English of which ia hollow, implying a very low country. Tho inhabitants are called Dutch, from the German deutsch or teutsch. Sweden and Norway -were anciently called Saandinavia, which the modern antiquarians think moans a country and wooda of which have been burned or destroyed^ The appellation Sweden iB derived from Sictuna or Suitheod. The native term Norway, or the northern way, explains itself. Prussia, from Peuzzi, a Sclavonic race ; but some writers suppose it took its name from Kuaaio, and the Sclavonic syllable po, which means adjacent or near. Denmark means the marches, territories, or boundaries of the Danes. Russia is the ancient Sarmatia, which has boen subcequently named Muscovy. It derived its present name from liussi, a Sclavonic tribe who founded tho Russian monarchy. The original savage inhabitants used to paint their bodies in order to appear more terrible in battle. They generally lived in the mountains, and their chariots were their only habitations. Turkey took its name from the Turk 3 or Turcomans, which Bignifies wanderers, and originally belonged to the Scythians or Tartars. It is sometimes called tho Ottoman empire, from Othomau, one of their principal leaders.