If we do not admit the identity of Scilly with the Cassiterides, we have no proof that the Romans had dealings with the islands before their occupation of Britain. [Illustration: CRAB-POT-MAKING BY ST. AGNES CHURCH] The origin of the name “Scilly” is wrapped about with mystery. Not that there is any lack of suggestions; on the contrary, there is such a plethora of them that one feels no “forrader” after having heard them all. One learned writer says with confidence, “The islands take their name from the old Silurian inhabitants to whom they served as a last refuge.” Other ideas are that the name is derived from “Sulleh,” a British word meaning “rocks consecrated to the sun,” or from a Cornish word signifying “divided.” The inhabitants themselves seem to favour most the notion that the conger-eels, locally called “selli,” have given their name to the islands. There are other suggestions; but as to which of the many is the most probable we must leave antiquarians and topographers to fight it out between them, and when they are all agreed we may conclude we have arrived at a certainty of the truth; and that is, perhaps, only another way of saying that we shall never know! Most of the names of places in Scilly are Cornish, but the principal islands were named after the saints to whom their churches were dedicated. Tresco was at one time called St. Nicholas, from the Benedictine Abbey which used to be there. The harbours of Old and New Grimsby on Tresco may, like their namesake in England, owe their name to the visits of the Northmen who were here in the tenth century. The most common Cornish words found in the place-names of Scilly are:-- Bre, a hill, as in Bryher, formerly called Brefar. Carn, a pile of rocks, as in Carn Friars, Carn Near, etc. Creeb or Creb, a crest, as in Crebawethan, the Creeb Rocks, etc. Innis, an island, as in Peninnis, Innisidgen, Iniscaw. Men or Min, a rock, as in Menawethen, Menavawr, Mincarlo, etc. Pen, a head, as in Peninnis. Porth or Per, a bay, as in Porth Cressa, Permellin, Perconger, etc. Scaw, an alder, as in Tresco, Iniscaw. Tre, a homestead, as in Tresco, Trenemen. Vear, great, as in Rosevear, Holvear. Vean, little, as in Rosevean, Cove Vean. Unfortunately, the islands have no coat-of-arms; but if they had, it ought to be all “or” and “azure”; for those are the “tinctures” that seem to represent them best. An azure sea lying under an azure sky; golden gorse and golden daffodils; rocks turned to gold in the sunlight, bordered with golden sand, or covered with golden lichen. Even the fishermen and farmers put on azure! especially those on St. Agnes, whose blue linen blouses are quite distinctive of the island. VI THE ISLAND-FOLK: THEIR WAYS AND CUSTOMS Here in Scilly, where so many of the place names are Celtic and there is certainly some Celtic blood, one would expect to find abundant traces of folk-lore and superstition. But these are very few, and any that remain are fast dying out.