On Rottenrow and Rattanraw, by John Hilson. 443 



3. Second sacral vertebra. 



4. External surface and part of linea aspera of femur, a little 



above the middle of the shaft. Its small size would seem to 

 indicate that it had belonged to a woman or young person. 



5. Part of the posterior surface of the shaft of the femur. 

 Through the kindness of Dr Cunningham, these fragments 



were verified at the Anatomical Eooms of the University of 

 Edinburgh, and the list as above presented to me by Dr Som- 

 merville, Galashiels. 



On Rottenrow and Rattanraw. By Mr John Hilson. 



The "London Notes and Queries," some years ago, opened 

 its columns to a learned discussion on the origin of this name. 

 There seemed to be no limit to the grotesque ingenuity which 

 the varied host of contributors brought to bear on the solution 

 of the problem. Like all attempts to apply etymology by 

 imagination instead of by some determinate hints of probability 

 or research, the conclusions were many of th^m absurd. The 

 writer of this note was only able to obtain a line or two of space 

 to state his opinions within the precincts of the somewhat close 

 guild, which the "Notes and Queries" school forms; and he 

 now presents the case a little more amply. Eirst of all it may 

 be noted how completely the most of the contributors have got 

 possessed with the idea that Rottenrow or Rattan raw has some- 

 thing to do with abbeys, as being a roadway for monks and re- 

 ligious men in olden times. Why, there were Rattan raws all 

 over the island before ever a monk set foot upon it — even when 

 Julius Csesar landed on it. To find what the name implies we 

 must enquire of those who speak the language of which it forms 

 a part. The Gaelic-speaking people are familiar with it — for it 

 means neither more nor less than the Road of the King, Rathad an 

 Righ, which would be pronounced as near as possible Rattanraw, 

 so that this form, and not Rottenrow, comes nearest to the proper 

 sound. The Saxon or English synonyme is "the King's Hie 

 Gate," which gives the name to the leading thoroughfares of so 

 many of the towns and burghs of Scotland. Mr Peter 



