12 VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 



several good harbours, or voes, as they are called 

 by the inhabitants. 



Foula lies to the west of Mainland. It is 

 about three miles long, and one and a half broad, 

 and has only one harbour. This is called Ham, 

 and is much resorted to by fishermen. Foula is 

 thought by some to be that island which the 

 ancients reckoned the ultimate limit of the hr.bit- 

 able globe, and to which, therefore, they gave 

 the appellation of " Ultima Thule." This sup- 

 position is not founded solely on the mere analogy 

 of the name, but also on the authority of Tacitus, 

 who, speaking of the victories obtained by Agri- 

 cola, and how far he penetrated northward, uses 

 this expression : " Insulas quas Orcadas vocant 

 invenit domuitque ; d'ispecta est et Thule quadam- 

 tenus." Tacit. Vit. Agric. § 10. But though the 

 high land of Foula may be easily seen, in a clear 

 day, from the northern part of the Orkneys, 

 still it is doubtful whether this be really the island 

 so called ; because had the Roman fleet passed 

 to the north of the Orkneys, they must have seen 

 Mainland, Yell, and Unst, lying to the north of 

 Foula. It may be further observed, that the 

 description of Thule, as given by Pomp. Mela, 

 lib. 3, § 6, and Pliny, lib. 2, § 75, and lib. 4, 

 §10, is not reconcileable with the supposition of 



