Topography.-The parish of Dunipace is bounded on the west and north by the parish of St Ninians ; on the east, by the parish of Larbert; and on the south, by the parishes of Falkirk and Denny, the far-famed river Carron separating it from the latter for nearly five miles. Its form approaches to that of a triangle, and it contains about 4600 Scots acres; valued rent in the cess-books, L.3138, 1 is. 8d.; real rental, including lands, mills, quarries, and annual produce of woods, upwards of L.6000 Sterling. The teinds are all valued, some at a more early, and some at a more recent date. They amount to L.483, 9s.3¼d.

Name.-This parish takes its name from two beautiful earthen-mounts called " the Hills of Dunipace," situated in a small but beautiful plain, traversed by the river Carron. They are about -sixty feet in height, and both together cover about two Scots acres. Buchanan says their name is derived from- Dun or Dunum, the Celtic word, signifying a hill or tower on a bill, and the Latin word pax, -peace. Other etymologists, say with much more probability, that the name is derived from two Celtic words, Duin-na-Bais, or Duna bas, (pronounced pas,) hills or tumuli of death. In writs issued by Edward I. of England, at Dunipace, 14th October 1301, it is written Donypas. Buchanan, and most historians after him, say that these hills are artificial. He adds, that they were raised to commemorate a peace concluded between Donald I. and the Roman Emperor Severus, in the early part of the third century. These opinions appear to be wholly untenable. Any lengthened discussion on this subject being inconsistent with this work, we merely mention, that, in the immediate neighbourhood, there are several similar though less remarkable earthen mounts. About two miles to the westward of these hills, there was a very beautiful one about forty feet in height, and covering nearly three roods of ground, said also to he artificial. this hill was mutilated, from time to time, for the purpose of repairing roads and other purposes. It was entirely removed about six years ago, to form an embankment on the turnpike road near Denny bridge. The strata of which this hill was composed, were carefully observed during its removal. These were so regular, and as if rising out of, and gradually returning again to similar strata in the circumjacent level ground, as to afford conclusive evidence that the hill was not the work of man. On the top of this hill, and about three feet below the surface, was found a coffin or tomb, composed of five large unwrought stones, in which were the bones of a human body, scull and teeth not much decayed. Along with these, was a vase of coarse unglazed earthenware, containing a small quantity of material resembling the lining of a wasp's nest, probably decayed paper or parchment, which in the lapse of ages had assumed that appearance. No conjecture could he formed about the individual here interred, tradition being entirely silent on the subject ; but this circumstance corroborates the opinion of some writers, that the hills of Dunipace might have been used as burying-places for ancient chiefs. For, previous to the erection of bridges in this district, the ford in the vicinity of these hills was the principal passage over the Carron, and would be the scene of many a bloody conflict between hostile armies. Hence the appropriateness of their name, "hills of death."*

* Perhaps after all, the learned Criticism that has been bestowed on the name ', Dunipace." the meaning simply may be" the round hill, at the pass, i.e. over the Carron, or, the pass at the round hills." It is in favour of our theory of these hills that the French form of the Celtic word Dun is " La Dune," plural " Lea Dunes," meaning small conical hillocks, such as those sand hills on the coast of Kent, near Deal, the most of which are now covered with the sea. Hence that well known road for ships in the neighbourhood of these hills is called the " Downs." Tradition says that the site of the Dunipace hills was formerly covered by the German Ocean.