Kk^^—The Black Pig's Dyke. 321 



the course of the Valley of the Black Pig was well known, and that it ran 

 from Lough Melvin eastwards. Having communicated with the Ordnance 

 Survey Office, Captain Kose soon after, when visiting that district, which was 

 fortunately then under examination, sent me the gratifying intelligence that 

 its track had been identified where I had suggested it might be, namely, from 

 the eastern extremity of L. JMelvin S.E. to L. Macnean. 



The following indications will be set out in the new Ordnance Maps. 

 Leitrim 0. S., 6 in., sheet Nos. 5, 7, and 8. South-east of Eoss Point, 

 L. Melvin, there is a short length extant in the townland of Cornagawna, 

 running parallel with the Kilcoo K., about a mile from the lake shore. 



About a mile distant another portion is found in the townland of Gub- 

 manus, and after a short interval its traces recommence and run for about a 

 mile through the adjoining townland of Lattone in a S.-S. -westerly direction. 

 In sheet 8 portions again crop up in the townland of Gortnaderrary, south- 

 west of the small Lake Tiernan ; and again, south-west of the village of 

 Kilty clogher in Corraleskin. Again, about 1^ mile further, a fragment is 

 preserved in TuUintloy, and again (sheet 7), in Cloon, it is found again 

 extending into L. Macnean, at the entrance of the Black Eiver. These 

 traces of the Dyke are very shallow, and little more than a hollow depression 

 and a ridge ; but the farmers have no doubt in times past, here as elsewhere, 

 levelled the earthworks as much as possible. Two local names also are here 

 applied to it, namely, " Bohereen-wan " (the little white lane), and " The Great 

 Man's Track" — so I am informed by Captain Kose, who can scarcely conceive 

 from its shallow traces that the work was more than a boundary mearing — at 

 any rate in this part of its course, so greatly have its works been defaced by 

 the numerous small farmers through whose holdings it passes. 



By a rough estimate the total length of the actual earthworks, exclusive 

 of river and lake-stretches, would seem to have been 130 miles. There seems 

 to be no historical evidence as to the date of its erection. But since the new 

 frontier of Ulster was fixed during the reign of Tuathal Teachtmar, i.e. a.d. 130- 

 1 60, the trench cannot have been made earlier ; and, on the other hand, this 

 defensive boundary must have been put up before 332, when the destruction 

 of Emania, and the overthrow of the Ultonian dynasty after 600 years' 

 duration, were accomplished by the three Collas. If we consult the Pour 

 Masters, we find that Tuathal invaded Ulster, and was killed in a battle near 

 Larne, Co. Antrim, in A.D, 160, by Mai, son of Kochraidhe, King of Ulster, 

 who succeeded him for four years as King of Ireland, and then was slain by 

 Phelimy Eeachtmar, who reigned nine years aiul died in 173. Under these 

 circumstances it seems probable that the Ditch was thereafter raised against 

 similar invasions ; and it is significant that the next wars that are mentioned 



