On the Name Dumfries. 235 



The Rev. Dr J. King Hewison, of Rothesay, writes : — As a 

 Dumfriesian I was glad to read Mr J. W. Whitelaw's recent essay 

 upon the meaning of the place-name "Dumfries," also Mr 

 Shirley's supplementary notes on the subject. I have had the 

 honour to be invited to write for the Cambridge University Pres; 

 a Geography of Dumfriesshire, which will be issued \'ery shortly. 

 This is mv opinion of the place-name under review, as stated in 

 that work : — The countv (comitatus) for seven centuries has been 

 associated with the town of Dumfrie.s — a place where Dunegal 

 and Radnulf his .son held and di.sponed heritage about the middle 

 of the twelfth century. Radnulf 's charter was given at " Dron- 

 fres," which in the Gaelic tongue signifies "the ridge of the 

 liushes " (phreas). This corresponds with the persistent local 

 pronunciation " Drumfreesh." The next form of the word is 

 Dunfres and Dunfrez (1183-8), a significant change after the dun 

 or fort of Dunegal, on the bushy ridge, became of paramount 

 importance. This form of the word " Dunfrys " appears in 1296, 

 and " Drumfres "' holds on in charters after 1329. ... Of 

 a Frisian settlement in Dumfries, which by some is supposed to 

 mean " the fort of the Frisians," there is no trace, and no record. 



Dr George Xeilson adds: — Clouds and darkness are thick 

 around the remote origins of the place-name Dumfries, and they 

 do not lighten even under Mr Shirley's lucid grouping of the 

 various views and rea.sons. Of only one thing about it I am 

 deliberately sure and that is that nobody knows : it is guesswork 

 all. 



Carlingwark Loch and its Crannogs. Bv James Affleck. 



Carlingwark Loch has long been famous, not only for its 

 historical and legendary lore, but also as one of the many beauty 

 spots of "Bonnie Galloway." Surrounded by little hills, verdant 

 dunes, waving woods, green fields, and flower}- meads, it seems 

 like a liquid gem set in the midst of many coloured brilliants. 

 Its tiny bays, jutting promontories, and the placid surface of the 

 water. 



With all its fairy crowds 

 Of islands, that together lie 

 As quietly as spots of sky 

 Among the evening clouds. 



