The identity of Karl or Kali Hundason is one of the historical puzzles
which exercise the ingenuity of modern historians. Supposing the Saga
name of this individual to be a Norse corruption of the name of a
Scottish king, it resembles none more nearly than that of Culen
Induffson, the Culen Mac Induff of the _Chronica Pictorum_. But if
Kali Hundason be intended for Culen Induffson, the dates do not agree
by more than sixty years. On the other hand, supposing the events here
narrated to be of the period assigned to them by the Saga, Kali
Hundason ought to be Duncan, son of Crinan, Abbot of Dunkeld, who was
the grandson and successor of King Malcolm Mac Kenneth. But Fordun
states that Duncan’s succession was a peaceful one. It is not to be
overlooked, however, that Earl Thorfinn was also a grandson of Malcolm
Mac Kenneth; and if we could account for the discrepancy as to the
name given by the Saga, the war between the two grandsons of the
deceased monarch might readily be accounted for. For full details of
the speculations regarding the identity of Kali Hundason, see Skene’s
Highlanders of Scotland, chap. v.; the Irish version of “Nennius”
(Irish Archæological Society), Appendix, p. 78; Robertson’s Scotland
under her Early Kings, vol. ii. p. 477; and Munch’s Norske Folks
Historie, vol. i. pt. 2, p. 854.
Footnote 253:
The words “at Beruvik” in Jonæus’s edition are not in the
Flateyjarbók. Two places of this name are mentioned in the Saga. One
of these is plainly Berwick-on-Tweed (chap. xcii.) The locality of the
other (which must be the “Beruvik” of this passage) is fixed by the
statement in chap. xciv., where it is said that Earl Rögnvald was then
in Sutherland celebrating the marriage of his daughter with Eirik
Slagbrellir; and when word was brought to him that Harald had come to
Thurso, he rode with a number of his followers “from Beruvik to
Thurso.” It has been conjectured that the place here indicated was
_Caistal a Bharruick_, an old square tower situated on an eminence
near Kirkiboll, on the east side of the shore of the Kyle of Tongue
(_Orig. Parochiales_, vol. ii. p. 717). Judging from the context,
however, it seems more likely that it may have been the _vik_ or inlet
at the mouth of the water of Berriedale (Berudal), on the southern
border of Caithness, where there are also the ruins of an old square
tower—the Castle of Berriedale. This agrees with the statement that
King Kali, sailing _northward_ from Beruvik, saw the sails of
Thorfinn’s ships going towards Deerness, as he sailed into the mouth
of the Firth from the east. Had Kali come from the Kyle of Tongue, he
would have sailed _east_, and Thorfinn would have seen and intercepted
him from Duncansbay.
Footnote 254:
Now Sandwick, in Deerness, Orkney.
Footnote 255:
Broad Firth—the Moray Firth.
Footnote 256:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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