[105] G. Storm [Mon. hist. Norw., 1880, p. 78] thought that “Vegistafr” might be “Sviatoi Nos” at the entrance to Gandvik (the White Sea).
[106] This was the market-place on the bank of the Dvina, presumably the same that the Russians afterwards called Kholmogori, and that lay a little higher up the river than Archangel (founded in 1572).
[107] This is Karelian for heaven or the sky-god; the Kvæns (Finlanders) called their god “Jumala,” and the Finns (Lapps) theirs “Ibmel,” which is the same word. [Cf. G. Storm’s translation of Heimskringla, 1899, p. 322.]
[108] From the account it would look as though Thore Hund was already well acquainted with the country. Even if the tale as a whole is not historical, a feature like this may point to the Norwegians having been in the habit of visiting Bjarmeland, and therefore looking upon it as natural that a man like Thore knew the country.
[109] Håkon Håkonsson’s Saga in Fornmanna-sögur, ix. p. 319.
[110] The Russian chronicles in translation, “Suomi” for 1848.
[111] Professor Alexander Seippel has given me valuable help in the translation of the Arabic authors.
[112] The Volga was often called Itil after the town of that name, but was later named after Bulgar (Bolgar == Volga).
[113] Cf. Frähn, 1823, p. 218.
[114] Chronica Nestoris, ed. Fr. Miklosisch, Vindobonæ, 1860, pp. 9, f.; Nestors russiske Krönike, overs, og forkl. af C. W. Smith, Copenhagen, 1869, p. 29.