ÓLAFSSON, Jón (Jan), called Bøsseskytte and Indíafari. “Svarthamri í Álftafirði við Ísafjarðardjúp” in Vestfirðir (Westfjords) 1593 (or 29.8.1596) — 2.5.1679. Icelandic Traveller in India, in the service of the Danish East India Company in Trankebar. Son of Ólafur Jónsson and Ólöf Þorsteinsdóttir, father died when he was 7. In 1615 came via England to Denmark, in 1616 joined army in Copenhagen. In 1622 left for India as gunner, return 1624. Before Trankebar also visited Sri Lanka. Back in Iceland, he became farmer in Vestfirðir and wrote his rather fanciful and somewhat confused memories years later in 1661.
Publications: The Life of the Icelander J. O., traveller to India. Transl. and edited by Sir R. Temple, B. S. Phillpotts (1) & L. M. Anstey (2). 1-2. Hakluyt Soc. L. 1923-32 (India in the 2nd vol.); original text ed. with Danish version by S. Bløndal. Copenhagen 1905.
Sources: O. Sejerøe, “J. O. Indiensfarer”, in https://www.danskmoent.dk/artikler/osolafss.htm; *http://icelandictimes.com/jon-olafsson-indiafari-fra-svarthamri/?lang=is (in Icelandic); Wikipedia briefly (more in German and especially Icelandic version).
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