Transactions. 1 D 



Higlilands of Scotland as a tigh dubh, or black house, in 

 contradistinction from the house of stone and lime, or white 

 house, the tigh geal, or Candida casa. 



And for some time spires to the churches, as well as 

 choirs and chancels, were unknown. 



Ailred gives a detailed account of Ninian's personal 

 character. But this account is probably imaginary, or 

 largely traditional and legendary. 



He determined on going to Rome, the seat, as he believed, 

 of the successors of the Apostle Peter. 



And to Rome he went. 



This was a great undertaking in those days ; and may 

 fairly be held as indicating the possession of good pecuniary 

 resources, as well as a knowledge of the Christian religion, 

 which had indeed already penetrated among the Cumbrian 

 Britons. 



Ninian remained at Rome many days, and, like the busy 

 bee in a clover field, frequented all the meetings of the 

 learned during his stay. 



And then he went to see Martin of Tours, who is called 

 his uncle. 



This visit to St. Martin of Tours forms an era in the life 

 of Ninian. And by it we are enabled, in a measure, to de- 

 termine the time chronologically. For St. Martin of Tours 

 died in the year 397. 



Ninian would thus be at this time from 30 to 35 years of 

 age. 



• Martin himself had also visited Rome. He went out on 

 foot, and had not proceeded far when he met the Evil One, 

 who, in the course of a conversation together, upbraided 

 Martin, taunting him with making such a journey on foot. 



Martin's indignation was roused, and he seized him by 

 the neck, whereupon the Devil at once succumbed, and be- 

 came an animal of the asinine order. So, mounting on him, 

 he jogged on pleasantly the rest of his way, making on his 

 back the sign of the cross when he would have applied a 

 spur, if he had had ono, to increase his speed. 



