ABSTRACT
ELANDIA, or Öland, is one of the islands in the Baltic Sea, separated by a very narrow strait from Southern Götaland. 1 It is the most beautiful of all the islands, for it is filled with a host of good things and the fertility of the soil makes up for its diminutive size, which a 121two-day journey will compass. The meadows and fields are astonishing in their scent of herbs, and pleasing beyond description. There are numerous herds of horses, small but very strong, inasmuch as they surpass many large-bodied horses in their vigour and speed. Native and foreign merchants buy these beasts for their pleasure and export them to distant lands to be sold as if they were marvels of Nature. They are so highly intelligent that they can be taught to leap and dance to the sound of the trumpet or drum by those whose practice it is to make a living from such shows. Over and above this, they are trained to jump, like dogs, through fairly small hoops made of iron or wood, and with a prancing gait, lively and agile, to turn in a circle. When they are addressed by their individual names they perform more or less complex movements, just as their master chooses. 2 When the need arises, horses of this kind are fed on fish baked by the sun, and on branches of fir; 3 and they are given ale and wine to drink even till they become drunk. Something similar is told below about elks. 4
Öland
Great fertility of the island
Horses small but excellent
Horses dancing in a circle Horses jump through hoops
Horses are fed on fish and branches, and are made drunk on ale and wine
