1899-19°°-] 539 



This was the grandest view enioyed during the trip, and 

 very appropriately terminated the Naturalists' meeting at 

 Dungiven, a locality well worthy the attention of tourists in 

 general. 



12 August. 

 T O O M E . 



Lough Neagh is an expansion of the River Bann, and 

 occupies a remarkable depression in the great northern basaltic 

 area of Ireland at the level of about eighty feet above the level 

 of the sea. The lake and the Lower Bann, that drain it, thus 

 cut the basaltic area into two distinct regions, now known as 

 the County Antrim and the County Derry portions, which in 

 ancient times were known as the Dalriadic principality, on the 

 right hand of the river ; and the Great Fir-Li, of the Hy-Nialls, 

 on the left. The portions of the districts fringing the river 

 were in early times thickly wooded, and, the river being the 

 dividing line, was the scene of the main battles between the 

 neighbouring chiefs, and many a renowned Irish warrior fell by 

 the banks of the Bann, particularly at the fords, of which there 

 were several between Lough Neagh and the sea, or " Inver 

 Glais," where the wave of Tuagh was heard. 



Of the many fords on the Bann none were more renowned 

 than " Fearsat Tuama," the ford of the tumulus, so called no 

 doubt because in early times there existed in the locality a 

 mound or tumulus, marking the spot where some chief was 

 buried, and it is from this circumstance that the place is still 

 called Toome. 



It is very frequently mentioned in the ancient annals of 

 Ireland. For example, the Four Masters state at a.d. 1181 — 

 " The men of Moy, Ithe, together with Eachmareach, O'Cathain, 

 and the Cinel-Binnigh of the Valley, mustered an army and 

 crossed Toome. They plundered all the territories of Hy 

 Tuirtre and Fir-Li, and carried off many thousands of cows." 



