[3] Sorany or Sorani, of which Sinclair is said to have been duke or lord,
Mr Forster considers to have been the Sodor-oe, or southern islands of
the Norwegians, or those now called the Western Islands; and traces
the corruption from the Norwegian plural Suder-oer contracted
Soroer, varied Soroen and transmuted to Sorani. All this may be
possible; but it does not appear in Scots history that the Sinclairs
ever held the Western Islands, and certainly not at this period:
Sorani ought therefore to be looked for in Caithness; or it may
possibly refer to Roslin near Edinburgh, which belonged to the
family of Sinclair. - E.
[4] By this latter distinction, Zeno probably means a decked vessel. - E.
[5] It is hardly possible to mention all the little islands, and the places
situated on the largest of the Orcadian Islands, which by the ancients
was called Pomona, and on account of its size, is likewise called
Mainland, also Hross-ey, i.e. Gross-ey, or large island. The town
was called Kirkiu-og or the harbour near the church, now called by
the Scots, Kirkwall. - Forst.
In this note Mr Forster wanders from the subject in hand, and his
observations have no reference to the present expedition. Ledovo is
probably the Island of Lewis, and Ilofe may possibly be Hay, though
that conjecture would lead them too far to the south. - E.
[6] Sudero, or Suder-oe, might mean the Western Islands so called by
the Norwegians; but certainly here means some bay of Sutherland, as
they here met the troops of Sinclair, who had marched by land.