81⁄2 miles. It has a seaboard of 12 miles, low and flat, fringed on the south by the Cuthil and Dornoch sands and links, and on the east by the Embo and Coul links. From these low flat lands the inland gradually rises north-westwards to 260 feet above sea level at Asdale, 700 feet at Creag Asdale, 290 feet at the Poles, 700 feet at Creag Amail, 930 feet at Creag Liath, 1000 feet at Meall-naneun, 898 feet at Cnoc-na-feadaige, 1048 feet at Meall-a-chaoruinn, and 1144 feet at Beinn Donuil. The river Fleet runs on the northern limit of the parish proper, and divides from it the part detached from Rogart. The Carnaig, on the north-west, issues from Loch Buie and runs north-eastward into the Fleet estuary at Torboll, a course of about six and a half miles. The Evelix, rising amongst the hills on the eastern confines of the adjoining parish, Creich, flowing through Loch-anLagain by Achlormlarie, winds eastward to Evelix, then southwestwards into the Dornoch Firth near the Meikle Ferry, a length of 13 miles. The valley of the Caruaig is now devoid of population, and forms part of the sheep farm attached to Torboll; but the valley of the Evelix, anciently "Strath Ormalaye," is studded with hamlets of small tenantry to the village of Evelix, and thence to its junction with the sea, runs through several well-cultivated large farms. The soil is sandy and gravelly towards the seaboard, clayey more inland, with an irregular belt of black loam intervening. The rocks are of the secondary formation, chiefly sandstone, which has been largely quarried for house and fence wall building. Coal was found near Clashmore; it was submitted to analysis and pronounced to be similar to that raised at Brora. The only remains of Pictish towers are those at Brae, in Strathcarnaig, on the banks of the River Tollie, near its confluence with the Carnaig. In this Strath are also cairns and tumuli, probably burial places of the days of old, and memorials of the conflicts of the natives with the pagan Norsemen. The ruins of another are to be seen near the Lecaich, above East-Kinauld. The ruins of the ancient fortalices of Skelbo and Proncy are still to be seen. There is another at Torboll. These will be noticed in Place Names. MOUNTAIN NAMES. Beinn-an-tairbh-G. tairbh, gen. of tarbh, bull, Mountain of the bull, from its shape and aspect; more correctly Bull Mountain. The word tarbh is a very primitive one; it occurs in one shape or other in many languages with almost the same pronunciation. Ir. tarbh, Manx tarroo, W. tarw, Corn. tarow, Arm. taru, taro, Span. toro, taro, It. toro, Lat. taur-us. Gr. taur-os, Fr. taureau, Chal. tor, Syr. taur, Phen. thor, Arab. taur, tauro. Carn-a-phrionsa-G. the cairn of the prince; alleged to have been reared to commemorate the fall and burial of a Norse noble, a son of one of the kings of Norway, on the top of Creag Amail, above Torboll. Carn is found in many languages. Ir. carn, Manx carn, W. carn, Corn. carn, Arm. carn, It. and Span. carro, Chal. karun, Arab. kern. Carn-liath G. grey rock or grey heap of stones. On and around the Carn-liath are many tumuli. Ir. liath, grey; Manx lheeah, grey; W. llwyd; Corn. liu, grey, or dye; Arm. luz, grey; Gr. lei-os. Cnoc-odhar-G. the Dun Hill. 600 feet. Creag-amail-G. amail, hindrance. This rock rises almost perpendicular from the south shore of the Fleet estuary between Torboll and the Mound. Previous to the construction of the Mound, the tides rose up several feet against the face of the rock, and prevented pedestrians from passing along it while the tide was at the full. At the ebb they could pass. It was a wellfrequented foot-road. Hence the name, Rock of the Hindrance. Creag-dal-na-mein-G. rock of the field of the ore or mineral. Ir. mein, W. mwyn, Corn. moina. 870 feet. Creag-ainneidh-G. ainneidh or ainneamh, rare; the rare rock. 700 ft. Meall-ainneidh, the rare shaped lumpy hill. Meall-a-chaoruinn-G. the hill of the mountain ash. Meall-clais-nan-each-G. the hill of the hollow of the horses. Ir. each, Lat. equ-us, Gr. Eo. ik-kos; W., Corn., Arm. march; G. marcach, a rider; Manx markiagh; riding. Meall-nan-eun-G. the hill of the birds, probably eagle, ptarmigan, or the auk. 1000 feet. LAKES. Loch-an-tairbh-G. Lake of the bull. Loch-nan-laogh-G. Lake of the calves; pl. laoigh. Ir. laogh, calf; Manx lheiy, W. llo, Corn. loch, leauh, Arm. leue, lue. Loch-lansaichte-G. lan-sathaichte, abundantly filled, in reference to its being well supplied by a larger lake and various streams. It lies low among the hills, with a narrow outlet. G. lan, full; Ir. lan, Manx lane, W. llawn, Corn. lann, Arm. lan, leun, Lat. p-len-us. Loch-ruagaidh-G. Lake of the flight. Near it are many tumuli, indicating that a conflict took place in its vicinity, in Norse or clan feud times. RIVERS. A-charnaig G. charnaich, gen. of carnaich, rocky; the rocky river, in reference to its rocky bed and banks. Allt-tigh-Neill-G. Stream near Neill's house. Evelix-Takes its name from the principal hamlet near which it passes. (See Place Names). Fleet-N. fljot, A.S. fleet; compare fleet, Fleet Street, North Fleet, South Fleet, on the river Thames, equivalent to the Lat. ostium, river mouth The Norsemen had several settlements on this river, particularly at Skelbo and Torboll, where in the twelfth century lived a redoubtable Norse warrior named Liot, whose ghost haunts Creag Amail, near Torboll; so says tradition once believed in by the natives. Tollie-G. toll-aich, full of holes and pools. G. toll, a hole ; Ir. toll, Manx towl, W. twl, Corn. toll, Arm. toull, Arm. toull dòn, G. toll-domhain, deep hole; Corn. toll-down, deep hole. PLACE NAMES. Ach-an-chanter-G. and E. achadh-an-chanter, the field of the chanter or chief singer in the Cathedral of Dornoch. Ach-an-treasawrer- -G. and E. field of the treasurer. Achley-G. achadh liath, the grey field; for liath, grey, and its affinities, see Creag-liath. Achlormarie-G. 1557, Auchegormalaye, modern G. achadhgorm-laraich, verdant site of the ruined building. This adjective of colour signifies in modern G. and Ir. blue; Manx, gorrym, blue; gwrm, dusky, dun. W. Ach-an-duach-G. achadh-na-dubhach, field of the gloom. Achinel-G. Achadh Neill, Neill's field. Allt-tigh-Neill is quite near. Achvaich--G. 1557, Aucheveyich, achadh-a-bheathaich, the field of the animal. Beathaich accords with veyich in pronunciation. Beach is wasp, and accords to the pronunciation of veyich; it may mean the field of the wasps. Ach-chosnie-G. 1275, Hachencossie, achadhchoisneadh, the field of service (free of rent for service). Achvandra-G. 1525, Auchandro, 1529 Hauchandrow, Achadhandra, Andrew's field. This is likely to be the correct definition, as in 1510 King James the Fourth grants to Andrew Kynnard the dues of Skelbo, and Achvandra is in the vicinity of Skelbo. (Reg. Sec. Sig. Vol. 4-79.) Ardallie G. 1557, Ardellis, ard-aillidh, the beautiful eminence, from which an extensive view can be obtained up and down the Dornoch Firth into Ross southward, and northward as far as the hills will permit. Ard is derived from the G. root-word ar, high, lofty, rock, mountain, or eminence. In either of these significations it is met with in many languages. G. ard, high, height, or eminence; Ir. the same, Manx do., Cor. do. W. hardh (Pryce), Lat. ardu-us, Gr. Arden, Zend. ard and art, high; Ardennes, a department in the north of France is Ard-innis, high table land; Heb. ar, rock; Armenian, ar, elevated, ardyan, summit; Mogul, artaga, I put higher; Gaelic, Ard-thog, raise aloft. Ard-shave- G. Ard-seimh, quiet height, in reference to its seclusion, and being well sheltered by surrounding higher heights. Bad-ninnish-G. Bad-an-innis, bad, a thicket; innis does not invariably signify island; it is frequently applied to pasture or plain; here it has this signification. Bad, thicket, or grove of trees is frequently applied to a habitation which has a clump of trees near it. In the past the better class of houses generally had a clump of trees to its windward, hence the origin of applying bad to a habitation. In Donegal and the West of Ireland it was a common custom to have a clump of trees to windward of the dwellings, however humble, for shelter. Bal-druin-G. baile-an-druim, township on the ridge. Bal-loan-G. baile-an-lon, township at the meadow. Balvraid G. baile-a-bhraghad, braghad, upper parts, the township on the upper parts or higher land. This township is on the ridge of land west of aud much above Skelbo Castle, of which it forms a pendicle. It is interesting to note its various spelling in the Sutherland Charters-1525, Balnobraid; 1536, Balbrade; 1551, Balnabrayt; 1560, Ballewrat; 1562, Ballwraat. Birichen-G. bioraichean, colts or calves, or in O.G. wells or springs of water, of which there are many in the district; but adopting a definition which signifies its natural aspect, it would be bior-a-chinn, the point, or end of the head, the head being a ridge sloping down to the Evelix river, where it makes a sudden turn round this head. Black-hill-Anglicised form of the Gaelic, Cnocan-du. Boggan-G. from bog, bogach, damp, swampy; Ir. bog, damp; Manx bog, moist. Brae-Anglicised form of the Gaelic, braigh, upper part; W. Camore-G. cadha, big narrow pass. Cambus-more-G. camus-mor, big bay, camus, cambus, bay, Cambus-savie G. camus-sabhaidh, the bay of the sorrel, a Clash-more-G. the large or extensive hollow. G. clais, Ir. Clash-mugach-G. mugach, gloomy, the gloomy hollow. land. Crasg-G. a pass or pathway across hills, frequent in Suther- Cuil--G. back, back land; Ir. coole. See Joyce I., 531. Cuthil-G. may be the same as the preceding. Old form— Crockan-G. corruption of cnocau, a small hill or eminence. Dal-chail G. dal, meadow, field; chail, gen. of cal, cabbages; Dalnameinn-G. meinn, ore, mineral; the dale of the ore. Dornoch-1131-53, durnach; 1282-45, durnach; 1275, durn- |