THE ScoTo-NoRSE PERIOD IN DUMFRIESSHIRE. 177 
arity with coinage that they had reached a comparatively ad- 
vanced state of civilisation. We were all watching the action of 
Paris just now, and we know that if Paris continues to hoard gold 
it means war, while if the Stock Exchange quotations show gold 
is being set free the probabilities are peace. As a fighting race, 
“soldiers and sailors, too,’’ the Vikings saw that they had the 
sinews of war fit and ready. They preferred carving their way 
to paying their way. The sword was fame-giver and land-giver. 
Large sea expeditions had, however, to be financed. Their naval 
bills had to be met. _Let us now glance at two departments of 
lowland life—shepherding and fishing—in which we find Nor- 
wegian terms presenting themselves. The shepherd in the low- 
lands of Scotland has a method of reckoning as to his sheep in 
which the term “gimmer’’ is employed, as well as “twinter’’ 
and “trinter.’”’ These are all Norse words, and the last two bear 
unmistakable traces of the Norse method of reckoning by winters, 
2? 
“twinter ’’ meaning simply two winters, and “trinter’’ three 
winters. |The more peaceful colonising aspect of the Norse 
association is brought out by such pastoral memories. Then, 
with regard to the fishing industry, you have on the Solway the 
uncommon haaf net. Now, that word “haaf’’ is really Norse, 
and with regard to the term for a salmon spear, a “ leister,’’ you 
have again a word that is almost pure Icelandic. Leaving these 
well-defined traces of the Norse occupation, we come on another 
piece of evidence—that relating to the tenure of land for pasture 
or other purposes. ‘The Norse tenure was what is known as udal 
tenure, as opposed to feudal tenure. | Land passed from father to 
son practically without document. It was at the opposite pole 
from the feudal system, and, in fact, the effort by Harold to 
induce the Norse to accept feudalism led to prolonged conflict. 
The udal system was in force among the conquerors. The con- 
quered possibly held land as Merkland. In the “kindly 
tenantry ’’ of Lochmaben you have something that has long in- 
terested the legal mind. Its origin is usually ascribed to the 
days of Bruce, but it is not at all improbable that the “ kindly 
tenantry ’’ tenure of land may be a far off relic of the Norse udal 
tenure. It suggests a remarkable parallel with the “statemen ’”’ 
of the Cumberland shore. Wanlockhead and Leadhills furnish 
something analagous. We now extend our survey to the litera- 
ture of the Borders. One clear, outstanding feature of Border 
