Greenland, apparently as a next neighbor, points very clearly (as Estotiland) to that outjutting elbow of North America, which culminates in Cape Race, south of Greenland and thrust out toward Europe. The clear definition of it in the tale as an island, largely explored by the narrator, approximating the size of Iceland but more fertile, with mountainous interior, great forests (such as gave the name Markland to Norse tradition), and rivers flowing several ways, clearly indicates Newfoundland. The Zeno map accords with this, and most of the later maps accept that identification—though often with a great extension of territory. Thus a French map in the United States National Museum,[1] having 1668 for an entry of discovery and perhaps dating from about 1700, presents the whole region southeast of Hudson Bay in an inscription as called Estotiland bythe Danes, Nouvelle Bretagne (New Britain) by the English, Canada Septentrionale by the French, and Labrador by the Spanish; but here again Labrador and Newfoundland may have been chiefly in mind.
Conjectures as to the Derivation of "Estotiland"
Evidently this map-maker attributed the name Estotiland to the Norsemen of Greenland on the faith of the fisherman's story, for no other Scandinavians can be supposed to have fastened a name on the region in question. But, barring the last syllable, which is a common affix, the name has an Italian sound rather than Scandinavian. "East-out-land" has been suggested as a derivation, but why in this instance should either Norse or Italian borrow an English name? Another suggestion requires the use of the first three syllables of the motto "esto fidelis usque ad mortem" making up "Estofi," with the appendant "land." But there seems no historic link of positive connection, and the letter "f" would not readily change into "t." Perhaps "Escotiland" or "Escociland" (Scotland) is a more likely conjecture (first made
- ↑ Recently on exhibition, but not accessible at present.
