17 
northward, uses this expression : “ In$u~ 
las quas Orcadas vocant invenit domuitque ; 
dispecta est et Thule quadamlenus .” Ta~ 
cit . FiY. Jgric. § 10. But though the 
high land of Fouia 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 Fouia. It may be further ob¬ 
served, that the description of Thule, as 
given by Pomp. Mela, lib. 3. § 6; and 
Pliny, lib. 2. § 75, and lib. 4. § 16; is 
not reconcileable with the supposition 
of its being identical with Fouia. At 
Thule, says Pomponius, 66 Per Solstitium 
vero nidlae (nodes sunt) quod turn jam ma - 
nifestior non fulgorem modo sed sui quoque 
partem maximum ostentatP This pheno¬ 
menon, as Vossius has observed, can 
only belong to the 66th and 67th degree 
