loi THE MAIDEX WAY.

The tniilition of the district says that a king ^vas buried here, and also points out the locality from ^Yhich this stone Tvas procured. On White Lyne Common, about five miles from Bewcastle, is a Ions; rido;e of rocks, called the Lanirbar. About the centre of this ridge a stone is now lying, about fifteen feet in length, the very counterpart of the Bewcastle Obelisk. This stone has evidently been cut into two parts at some period, as the wedge marks distinctly appear, and the western is much fresher than the other sides. The obelisk is of a peculiar rock, a very hard white freestone, thickly marked with spots of grey, precisely such as is found at the Langbar and the adjacent rocks on the south side of the White Lyne River, but in no other part of the country. It is a sandstone of a sharp rough gritty nature, and as a material for sharpening scythes is much in use. Uncertainty as to the forms of the other letters, prevents me from attempting further explanation of the inscription at present, but I am not without hope that in time I may become better satisfied as to the proper reading. The inquiiy will naturally occur to the reader, what was the origin of the term " Maiden Way." and, before proceeding to another Section, it may be desirable to advert to various conjectures of those who have indulged in etymological specu- lations on this subject. Some have supposed that it has had its source in the Saxon mncan or ma'hcn, to make, and that by a commutation of letters it became //f imufden wai'xj, i.e., a made road, and since well-made roads would probably be very scarce at that period in l^ritain, this may have been the first road made by the llomans after their arrival in this district, and con- sequently named, by way of distinction, the vkkIc rodd, which name it afterwards retained. The adoption and poi-manent retention of the Saxon word waog certainly gives some countenance to this supposition. Others are of ((pinion tliat it has arisen from the Saxon words miwdrn, iiKirijtlrji^ maid or iiiaitlcn, and give it llii- Latin apj)el- latioii. '■ 'ia piirli.-iiimi."' a tcim wliicli lias been found in Home old Louiidai-y llolls. Tlin-c is a tradition in the district tliat it was made by women carrying tlic stones in their .-iprons, but tlic incic inrntion ol" such a legend is cnougli. Otliors assi;j;n it to a date nittrc aiKMcnt than the Saxons, and would derive it from s»)me word cognatcf with