136 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



mine, drawn froni the form of K in the Kilmalkedar inscription — the 

 identical character which stands for K in the common Runic alpha- 

 bet (Stephens, 122). Instances are frequent of the interjection of 

 Runes among the Roman characters of northern legends. Several 

 examples may be seen in the " ^onumenta Runica." 



Assuming that we are right in thus clothing Dubourdieu' s out- 

 lines with the force of K, we have to make our election between Rechat 

 and Echat, one or other of which is most probably the name before 

 us. The Christian character of the formula, and the seeming associ- 

 ation with an alphabet modified by Runic influences, incline the judg- 

 ment against Rechat ; for, assuming Rechat to have been a person 

 giving his name to the plain of Hagh-Rechat, his epoch wonld pro- 

 bably mount to a period prior to Christianity, and even to alphabetic 

 writing. Such at least is the inference to be drawn from the persistent 

 character of the local names of large expanses of open land designated 

 moys in Irish local nomenclature. 



Adopting this conclusion, the name which would emerge is Echat ; 

 and the legend Oroit ar Echat would point to some period probably 

 subsequent to the closer Scandinavian relations originating in the 9th 

 or 10th century, for the execution of this sculpture, and a period not 

 earlier for the construction of the cave in vhich it was found. The 

 legend adapted to meet this view will be seen to have undergone little 

 alteration from the outline furnished by Dubourdieu. 



O^QJtrcch- 



Here note that caves were recognized as places of retreat and 

 security in the period of the Danish occupation ("Wars of the Gael 

 and Gauls," pp. 25, 232). 



Having regard to the condition in which the stone was when 

 Dubourdieu made his copy, it seems a hopeless quest to enter on any 

 search for it now. But the inquiry has been undertaken by James C. 

 Young, Esq., M.D., of Strangford, a gentleman at present engaged in 

 collecting materials for a revised history of his county, and will, I am 

 sure, be prosecuted with such diligence as ought to merit success, if 

 success be now possible. 



