Tribal dispute

I WAS more than slightly intrigued by the letter from Margaret Salmond (30 December) in which she states that “God distributed land to the various tribes, with precision”.

There was no Scotland until about the year 1000; it gradually began to join with others about 600 years later. Prior to this, where I live was (I believe) part of Northumbria. To which particular tribe is she referring?

Bearing in mind how the Scottish border has moved over the centuries, exactly which land does she refer to?

All nationalisms are essentially artificial constructs; the only things that matter are humanity at large, and the sanctity of human life. Which tribe we belong to is of little significance.

William Ballantine

Dean Road

Bo’ness, West Lothian