Who Has Ever Heard Of A Zichmuni Who
Vanquished Kako, Or Hakon, King Of Norway, In 1369, Or 1380?
All this is
very plausible; but we think a good deal may be done for clearing away the
difficulties.
Marcolini extracted this relation from the original letters of the two
Zenos, who were of one of the most considerable families in Venice; a
family which could not be supposed to have boldly forged a story of this
kind. The truth could easily have been detected, whether these brothers
existed or not, and whether they ever made voyages to the north. Besides
this, the map, actually constructed by Antonio, and hung up in his house at
Venice, existed in the time of Marcolini, as a sure and incontestable proof
of the fidelity of the narrative. How then is it possible to harbour any
doubts? In this case, there must be an end of all faith in history.
I once held, that the countries described by the Zenos had been swallowed
up by an earthquake; but, reflecting that so great a revolution in nature
must have left some historical vestiges, or traditions, I examined the
matter over again, and found that the countries described, bore a strong
resemblance to the Orkneys, Shetland, Faro, and Western Islands, &c. The
Zenos having represented Porland as composed of a cluster of small
islands, I suspected the other names might likewise refer to collective
groups. Thus Estland appeared to resemble in name the Shetland, Zetland,
or Hitland Islands; and on comparing the names of Tolas, Broas, Iscant,
Trans, Mimant, Dambre, and Bres, with those of Yell, Zeal or Teal,
Burray or Bura, of which name there are two places, West Bura, and East
Bura, and when taken collectively the Buras, Unst, Tronda, Main-land,
Hamer, which is the name of a place in the mainland of Orkney, and Brassa,
or Bressa, the resemblance seemed so obvious, that I no longer harboured
any doubt.
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