PERAMBULATION. A perambulation is a walking through or over ground for the purpose of settling boundaries. A perambulation of a parish for this purpose is made by the minister, churehwardens, and parishioners in Ascension-week, at periods varying from one to three years. Usage will justify the parishioners in following the boundary over any man's land. Manors and lordships also are or may be perambulated : and there is a writ De Perambulations facienda, which ought to be sued with the assent of both parties when they are in doubt about the bounds of their lordships or manors. The writ is addressed to the sheriff, who is to execute it and make his return to the justices at Westminster on a certain day ; or to the justices of assize, under his seal, and the seals of those who make the perambu lation with him. The king may direct the writ to other persons to make the perambulation, as well as to the sheriff: This perambulation made by assent binds the parties and their heirs. But unless both parties who assent to the perambulation are tenants in fee-simple, it seems that the perambulation shall not bind him who is in reversion. • Questions of boundaries are now generally determined, however, by actions of trespass or ejectment.
It was an old Roman practice at the time of the Terminalia, in the month of February, to perambulate the boundaries of a district or community. The original boundaries of the territory of Rome, which extended six miles from the city, were perambulated at the Terminalia ; the boundaries between private properties were also perambulated at the Terminalia, and the usual religious offerings were made. This ancient and simple mode of preserving boundaries probably fell into disuse as the land-surveyors became more skilful, and the records of boundaries were better kept. It is stated that the practice fell into disuse with the establishment of Christianity. But this is not pro bable. The religious ceremonies might be changed or dropped : but the fact of perambulations being still kept up in this country in the case of parishes, leads to the conjecture that the practice extended from Rome to other countries which the Romans occupied, and was retained in some form among the Christianised people in the province&