To ancient explorers, “ultima Thule,” or the most distant region, was what lay past the northernmost edges of maps, beyond the borders of the known world.

Pytheas called the place he encountered Thule, as in ultima Thule—the land beyond all known lands.

And through all the story there ran the deeper current of his mental struggles till at last he fancied he found the ultima Thule in pure materialism.

At last Barmouth, the “ultima Thule” of their wanderings, was reached, lodgings were taken, and the party set steadily to work.

Food, warmth, sleep, and a book; these are all I at present ask—the ultima Thule of my wandering desires.