GAL'LOWAY. An ancient province in the southwest of Scotland, now merged in the county of and the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. The designation, though still in use, has no po litical significance. The district, about 70 miles long by 40 miles broad, is famed for its moun tain, lake, stream, and moorland scenery, and forms the peninsula terminating in Scotland's •southernmost point, the Rhynns of Galloway, projecting into the Irish Sea. It is purely a pastoral country, remarkable for its mild climate. The simple inhabitants, honest and hospitable, but of lax morality, engage in agriculture and fishing. Its breeds of small horses and large, hornless black cattle have been known for cen turies.
The name Galloway is derived from —foreign Gaels, so called because, topographically separated from their northern brethren, they pre served their identity as a distinct race down to the twelfth century, and their language beyond the fifteenth. Ptolemy styled the inhabitants Novantai and Selgova, and described their towns Lucophibia, Rerigonium, Uxellum, Carbantori gum, etc., the sites of which have been identified.
After the Roman evacuation Galloway came under the power of the Anglians, and later of the Norsemen. Under the Anglians they acquired the name of the Picts of Galloway. In the twelfth century they were conquered by Malcolm Canmore, who made his son David Earl of Galloway. When David ascended the throne of Scotland Galloway was united to the kingdom. The Lords of Galloway, however, frequently re volted against Scotch rule, and the periodical troubles did not cease until the Lordship of Gal loway was attached to the Crown in 1455. Con sult: Skene, Celtic Scotland (Edinburgh, 1876) ; M'Kerlie, History of the Lands and Their Owners in Galloway (5 vols., Edinburgh, ; and Galloway in Ancient and Modern Times (Edin burgh, 1891).