[8] This is certainly a place in the isle of Sky called Pondontown.—­Forst.

[9] Britannia in this place is assuredly put for Britany in France.—­E.

[10] Estland is probably meant for Shetland, formerly called Yaltaland or
    Hitland, and afterwards changed into Zet-land and Shetland.  This will
    appear more distinctly in the sequel, when the names given by Zeno to
    the particular islands of the group, come to be compared with, the
    modern names.—­Forst.

[11] Grisland seems to be the island which lies to the eastward of Iceland,
    called Enkhuyzen; perhaps the island of Grims-ey to the north, of
    Iceland.—­Forst.

[12] Probably Hamer, a place on the north of Mainland.—­Forst.

[13] Engrgroneland, Groenland, or Greenland.—­Forst.

[14] The poultry here mentioned in the text; must have been ptarmagans and
    the flesh that of the reindeer.—­Forst.

[15] The lime or mortar here described, appears to be the terra puzzuolana
    or terras, a compound of lime and oxid of iron, which forms an
    indestructible cement, even under water; and the remarkably light
    stones ejected from the volcano, and used in the construction of their
    vault, were probably of pumice.—­E.

[16] The greater part of this concluding paragraph must necessarily be in
    the language of the editor; perhaps of Ramusio.  It contains, however,
    some palpable contradictions, since Nicolo Zeno could hardly be
    supposed to mention the rest of the Zenos, descendants of his
    grand-nephew, while still living himself; neither does it appear how
    the sons of Nicolo got back to Venice; and there is no account of
    Antonio ever being allowed to return at all.—­E

SECTION II.

Sequel of the Narrative by Antonio Zeno.

Twenty-six years ago, four fishing boats, which had been overtaken by a violent storm, were driven out to sea for a great many days; and on the cessation of the tempest, they discovered an island called Estoitland, which lay above a thousand miles to the westward of Frisland.  One of the boats, containing six men, was cast away upon this island; and the men, being made prisoners by the inhabitants, were conducted to a fine and populous city where the king resided, who sent for various interpreters, but none could be found except one who spoke Latin.  This man, who, in like manner, had been cast by accident on the same island, asked them, by order of the king, from what country they had come; and being made acquainted with their case, the king ordered that the should stay in the country.  These orders they obeyed, as indeed they could not do otherwise, and they remained five years on the island, during which time they learned the language of the people.  One of them was in various parts of the island, and affirms that it is a very rich country, abounding in every commodity and convenience in life, being little less than Iceland, but much more fertile, having a very high mountain in the centre, from whence four great rivers take their source, and traverse the whole country.