(Vol. viii., pp. 290. 344.).
The first mention I remember of the place from whence tin came, is in
Herodotus (lib. iii. c. 115.). He there says:
"But concerning the extreme parts of Europe towards the west, I am not
able to speak certainly. For I neither believe that a certain river is
called Eridanus by the barbarians, which flows into a northern sea, and
from which there is a report that the amber is wont to come, nor have I
known (any) islands, being Cassiterides ([Greek: kassiteridas eousas]),
from which the tin is wont to come to us. For, on the one hand, the
very name Eridanus proves that it is Hellenic and not Barbaric, but
formed by some poet; and on the other, I am not able, though paying
much attention to this matter, to hear of any one that has been an
eye-witness that a sea exists upon that side of Europe. But doubtless
both the tin and the amber are wont to come from the extreme part of
Europe."
[Greek: Kassiteros], according to Damm, is so called because it is more
ready to melt than other metals, i. e. [Greek: kausiteros], from [Greek:
kaio], to burn; this derivation agrees with that given by MR. CROSSLEY of
tin, "from the Celtic tin, to melt readily;" and it receives some support
from Hesiod (_D. G._ 861.), where he speaks of the earth burning and
melting as tin or as iron, which is the hardest of metals.
But I own I doubt this derivation. First, {594} because it is quite clear
to my mind that Herodotus had no idea that it had a Greek derivation. He
assigns the Greek origin of the word Eridanus as a reason for disbelieving
the statement as to it; and had he known that Cassiteros had a like origin,
it cannot be doubted that he would have assigned the same reason as to it
likewise. Instead of which he resorts to the fact that he could not obtain
any authentic account of any sea on that side of Europe, as a proof that
the Cassiterides did not exist. In truth, his assertion as to the Greek
origin of the one, coupled with the reason that is added, seems almost, if
not quite, equivalent to a denial that the other had a Greek origin.
Secondly, it is in the highest degree improbable that these islands should
have received their name from the Greeks, as it is contrary to all
experience that a country should be named by persons ignorant of its
existence. The names of places are either given to them by those who
discover them, or the names by which they are called by their inhabitants
are adopted by others.
At the time Caesar invaded this island, there was a people whom he calls
Cassi (_Caes. de B. G._, lib. v. 21.), of whose prince Camden says, "from
the Cassii their prince, Cassivellaunus or Cassibelinus, first took his
name;" and he adds that "it seems very probable that Cassivellaunus denotes
as much as the Prince of the Cassii." (_Camd. Brit._, p. 278., edit. 1695.)
According to which the word would be compounded of _Cassi_ and _vellaunus_
or _belinus_; and this derivation is fortified by the word Cunobelinus,
which plainly is formed in a similar manner. Now there is a Celtic word,
_tir_ or _ter_ (from which _terra_ is derived), and the Welsh word _tir_
(which I have heard pronounced _teer_), all denoting land. If then this
word be added to Cassi, we have Cassiter, that is, the land of the Cassi,
Cassiland. And as we have England, Scotland, and Ireland, possibly the
ancient inhabitants may have called their country Cassiter; and as
_chalybs_, steel, was so called both by the Greeks and Romans from the
people that made it, so might tin be from the country where it was found.
My derivation is conjectural, no doubt, and as such I submit it with great
deference to the candid consideration of your readers.
Isaiah, who lived B.C. 758, mentions tin in i. 25.
Ezekiel, who lived B.C. 598, mentions tin xxii. 18. 20.; and xxvii. 12.,
speaking of Tyre, he says:
"Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of
riches; with silver, iron, _tin_, and lead, they traded in thy fairs."
This passage clearly shows that, at the time spoken of by Ezekiel, the
trade in tin was carried on by the inhabitants of Tarshish, whether that
place designates Carthage, or Tartessus in Spain, or not; and there can be
little doubt that they brought the tin from England; and the addition of
silver, iron, and lead, tends to strengthen this opinion.
Herodotus recited his History at the Olympic Games, B.C. 445; and probably
the same people traded in tin in his time as in the time of Ezekiel.
The Hebrew word for tin is derived from a verb meaning "to separate," and
seems to throw no light on the subject.