CUNNINGHAM v. BROWNING.—1 BLAND. 309

In judicial proceedings involving the titles to land, the term
location occurs very frequently; and its meaning varies with the
subject spoken of. The word is used in speaking of a point or
place of beginning, of a line, and of a whole tract. But in these
cases, the meaning and the ideas conveyed are different. When
the location of a point is the subject spoken of, an indivisible part
of space, a spot, comprehending no superficial extent, is alluded
to. * When speaking of the location of a tine, an idea of
the place of a certain longitudinal extension, limit, or bouu- 330
dary, is presented to the mind; but in contemplating that subject,
we form no idea of space, or any superficial extent. We can, how-
ever, have no other idea of the location of a tract of land, than
that it is a space, a superficial extension, an area, a surface compre-
hended within certain confines. The word location, in reference
to a tract of land, must, therefore, always be attended with these
ideas. It is a place of greater or less extent. It may be a small
lot, or it may be spread out to an extent of many hundreds of
acres. It is still an individual, entire location, or place small or
large.

The term location is also often used in our judicial proceedings
as synonymous with the word description. Thus it is said, that
the location is uncertain, that it is ambiguous, or that it has a
double aspect. The word in these instances evidently means, that
the description of the place, the area, or the space of land is uncer-
tain, ambiguous, or that it has a double aspect. Because the
description of the land may have one or two aspects; it may be
gratified in all its parts by being located in one position or another.
But, it would seem to be absurd to say, that a place had a double
aspect, or that it was a place which admitted of being put in one
place, or in another place. Hence, in most, if not all instances, by
ambiguity of location, uncertainty in the description of the location
is really meant. For it is difficult to conceive how the location of
any one piece of land can be deemed certain, or become known, in
eontra-distinction to any other parcel, but by the accuracy of its
description. The location or place of any one space or tract of
land, it is most manifest, can only be distinguished from other
spaces or tracts by the preciseness of its description. And that
description does nothing towards the designation of a tract of land
if it stops short of defining one whole and separate space or area.

By the rules for the direction of surveyors, the surveyor is re-
quired, upon the receipt of any common warrant, to note down
in a book to be kept for that purpose, the time of receiving it, the
quantity of acres included therein, the date thereof, and at what
place the person who obtains it locates the same. Land Ho. Ass.
435. So that the entry of a special location in the surveyor's book,
is substantially the same as the entry of a special warrant with the
register of the land office. In regard to which it has been laid