Indeed, the evidence of Cæsar is clear upon the point that the economic condition of the south-east of Britain was quite distinct from that of the interior and west of Britain even in pre-Roman times. «Evidence of Cæsar.» Cæsar describes the south and east of Britain, which he calls the maritime portion, as inhabited by those who had passed over from the country of the Belgæ for the purpose of plunder and war, almost all of whom, he says, retain the name of the states (_civitates_) from which they came to Britain, where after the war they remained, and began to cultivate the fields. Their buildings he describes as exceedingly numerous, and very like those of the Gauls.[326] The most civilised of all these nations, he says, are those who inhabit Kent, which is entirely a maritime district; nor do they differ much from Gallic customs.[327] He speaks, on the other hand, of the inland inhabitants as aborigines who mostly did not sow corn, but fed upon flesh and milk.[328] Now, we have seen that the main distinctive mark of the tribal system was the absence of towns and villages, and the preponderance of cattle over corn. When corn becomes the ruling item in economic arrangements, there grows up the settled homestead and the _village_, with its open fields around it. [p247] Cæsar, therefore, in describing the agriculture and buildings of the Belgic portion of England, and the non-agricultural but pastoral habits of the interior, exactly hit upon the distinctive differences between the already settled and agricultural character of the south-east and the pastoral and tribal polity of the interior and west of Britain. «A corn-growing country before and during Roman rule.» Nor was this statement one resting merely upon hearsay evidence. Cæsar himself found corn crops ripening on the fields, and relied upon them for the maintenance of his army. Nay, the reason which led him to invade the island was in part the fact that the Britons had given aid to the Gauls. Further, he obtained his information about Britain from the _merchants_, and the news of his approach was carried by the _merchants_ into Britain, thus making it evident that there was a commerce going on between the two coasts, even in pre-Roman times.[329] We know that throughout the period of Roman occupation Britain was a corn-growing country. «Evidence of Zosimus.» _Zosimus_ represents Julian as sending 800 vessels, larger than mere boats, backwards and forwards to Britain for corn to supply the granaries of the cities on the Rhine.[330] «Eumenius.» _Eumenius_, in his 'Panegyric of Constantine' (A.D. 310), also describes Britain as remarkable for the richness of its corn crops and the multitude of its cattle.[331] «Pliny.» _Pliny_ further describes the inhabitants of Britain as being so far advanced in agriculture as to plough [p248] in _marl_ in order to increase the fertility of the fields.[332] «Tacitus.»