X 
INTRODUCTION. 
Its earliest discoverer upon record was a fa¬ 
mous pirate, of the name of Naddoc*, who in 
the year 861 was driven thither by a tempest, 
while on a voyage from Norway to the Ferroe 
Islands, and, on account of the vast quantity of 
snow, with which he observed the mountains to 
be covered, named it Snoeland. Not alarmed, 
however, by this chilling prospect, such was 
the account of the country which he gave on 
his return home, that others were induced to go 
in search of it; the first of whom, Gardar Sua- 
versen, a Swede by birth, set sail in the year 
864, apd after approaching the eastern coast, 
proceeded round the island to a harbor in the 
north, where he came to an anchor and passed 
the winter at a place that has since been called 
Skialfiord. To immortalize himself for this ex¬ 
ploit, he altered the name of the island to Gar- 
darsholme. The next adventurer was Floco, 
who, as the compass was not yet discovered, to 
remedy this deficiency, took in his vessel some 
ravens, one of which, when he supposed he was 
drawing towards the termination of his voyage, 
he let loose; hoping by its course to be directed 
to the country of which he was in search. The 
bird, however, after soaring to a considerable 
height in the air, turned his flight towards Hait- 
* Arngrim Jonae Isl. Tract. 
