Company.

Like all good historians, Daniel Blagg has an insatiable curiosity. It was a chance question from a visitor that set him off on a long, sometimes frustrating, but more often exciting journey through Bermuda's past.

Now, more than six years later, his search -- and research -- have surfaced in the form of what must surely rank as one of the most fascinating books yet written about the islands of Bermuda.

`Bermuda Atlas & Gazetteer' records, in a massive and beautifully illustrated volume of over 400 pages and 16 art-quality colour maps, the origins of Bermuda's place names.

Informative and highly enjoyable to read -- or perhaps, dip into, for years to come -- this book will add immeasurably to knowledge of Bermuda.

When the author came here as fundraising chief for the Bermuda National Trust he was, in a sense, returning home, to his "first love'', where he had lived (at Spanish Point) as a child when his father served here in the US Air Force.

Like many others who have adopted Bermuda as their home, his interest and fascination with Bermuda's unique history surpasses many of those who were born on `the rock'; that interest was piqued when he was quizzed by a visitor to the Trust about the origin of the name, `Foot of the Lane'. Not knowing the answer, he was surprised to find there was no book on the subject. He decided to undertake some investigating for himself.

Armed with maps, books, telephone directories -- and a direct line to American Michael Jarvis who allowed him access to previously unpublished material for his projected history of the Island -- the academic and `hands on' historian was off on a trail that traced the evolution of "every hill, beach cove, valley -- not just currently, but historically''.

Fortunately, that history has been well documented, beginning with the earliest days of settlement when Sir George Somers and his party were shipwrecked on the uninhabited archipelago. It was, as Mr. Blagg points out, the great mariner and enthusiastic map-maker himself who, for instance, named Commissioner's Point at Ireland Island.

Great use was made, too, of Richard Norwood's famous survey of 1616 and, by using each successive map issued to the present day, every nook, cranny and alley was eventually located and named. Besides place names, Mr. Blagg has also come up with some intriguing research on peoples' names.

He discovered, for instance, that one of the earliest references to a certain `Simon the Negro', was seen just a little later, as one of the first surnames.

This book should be of special interest to anyone trying to trace family-trees or genealogical background.

Organised parish by parish, each chapter begins with an historical overview, and a map, which, stresses the author, is an "artistic'', rather than an inch-by-inch accurate rendering. Each parish is highlighted by a full-page picture illustrating the parish or `gombey' rhymes.

These have been provided by West Indian artist Luca Gasperi, who is also the very talented designer of the book. A frequent visitor to the Island and a member of the Bermuda Society of Arts, this former pupil of Mr. Blagg when he was teaching in St. Lucia is already making a name for himself in the Caribbean's artistic circles. This volume should certainly enhance that reputation.

Along with his undoubted merit as a meticulous historian, Mr. Blagg writes with often humorous ease -- which should considerably widen this book's appeal to general readers. One of the best entries has to be that for Duke of Kent Street in St. George's, where his research revealed The Royal Gazette (circa 1826) describing a hanging being "considerably lessened by the attendance of the executioner in female attire'' -- a ruse which he believes might have been to prevent any thoughts of revenge on the part of the criminal's family.

Other names have happier connotations, as with St. George's Shinbone Alley, named he believed when inebriated soldiers crawled home on their hands and knees after a night out on the town. Amen Corner, close by the little Methodist church in Warwick, was built by slaves `in the moonlight', an act of faith undertaken after their days' duties were finally done.

Almost certainly destined to become a classic, the Bermuda Atlas & Gazetteer should prove to be a popular Christmas gift. It's not cheap ($125) but more than worth its price for the sheer wealth of highly entertaining information presented in an outstandingly handsome volume.

The Bermuda Atlas and Gazetteer is now on sale at bookshops throughout the Island and Mr. Blagg will be at Trustworthy (the Trust's temporary shop on Queen Street) for book signing each Saturday at 2.45 p.m. between now and Christmas.

PATRICIA CALNAN CALL OF THE GOMBEYS -- A watercolour by Luca Gasperi published in the book Bermuda Atlas and Gazetteer.