. t o f R e s e ar c h I P r e s e n S t a n d p o i n t .
All p revio u s inquiries concerning the geographical loca
a n tion o f Vineland , start from the pass ge in the Gra lendingapattr of the Flateyj arbok that treats o f the length a at of the day in Vinel nd the winter solstice , running as
w nThere a ff n in n follo s (in Vinel nd) , the di ere ce the le gth of the day was less than in Greenland or Iceland ; the sun had there neykt a - position and adagmah - position at the win l s ls i e a Th e u ter o t c ) . diffic lty of explaining these words c am e from aylct in Iceland and in Norway denoting a point n n . In of time in the afternoo , varyi g with the latitude Ice
the n a hi a land , poi t of time called g was held , r ther early,
‘ min r to correspond with (3 p . so that eykthezlag and
’ ndnhezlag r dagr were synonymous terms Arngrimr Jons s o n a a a in Flate arbék could , therefore , t ke the p ss ge the yj to signify nthe s un at the winter solstice keeps about
6 u a z n« r a ho rs bove the hori o , accordingly f om 9 . m . to
i r d n n i e 3 p . m . This v ew To fseus en orses i his V nlandia
1 Flate arb ok is tiania 339 ) yj (Chr I . . 2 ’ a as Fins e ns itio n III 602 ) Gr g , Ed , , . 8 s Gro nlandia a i o r 2 6 v . in th Ol o ) c t e d fr m N . 87 q e d R yal o tio n C llec . TUDI ON THE NE AN A E 2 S ES VI L D VOY G S .
v a a he does not fail howe er to rem rk , th t , if so ,
s a n nn as the ob erv tio must be incorrect, determi i g , it does , ° a 58 a To rfwus has latitude of Me nwhile , himself, in n » Vinlandia « a va a. s i nific a the Appe dix to , d nced new g h ad in Law o f tion . He lighted the old Ecclesiastical
a a i n e kt viz the Gr g s on an authentic expl catio of y , up a er cykt er ut - sad rs - aztt er deilld i p ridiunga o g hefir
’ ’ ‘ so limt geingna tvo lutz enn einn o gezng zm which he thus
: o E kt vo c atur et renders y , cum plaga coeli inter meridiem o cc identem in trientes dis tribuitur s o lque duas partes con
e s drsw t a a . a ut u t fecit , terti vero rest t Hence he ssumes to be the interval from the time the sun is in the south
nd a n a . t . a (12 . m ) till he is in the wes (6 p t ki g ’ - t a c kt in a two hirds of this interv l, y will be 4 o clock the fter
’ da mdl inthe n and t noon , g therefore 8 o clock mor ing, the leng h
at s s a of the day the winter olstice 8 hour , which gives ° do N . a w n a latitude of 49 , th t would for Ne fou dl nd or
n o f new n the correspo ding coast This expositio , thanks to the high ' repute enjoyed among scholars by
n To rfaeus was o ne a the writi gs of , the most gener lly
a v received in the l st century . ! et it in olved a twofold
am n n w n . as o t error To begin with , the n e of Vi ela d much
a n n in a a a more pposite here , since the vi e , eve C nad , re ches up to only and in Newfoundland do es no t grow at all; and h an a uts udrsaett » a n t en , to tr sl te with pl ga coeli i ter
et o c ciden em « eu meridiem t is absolutely wrong . For sud rs wtt does no t m ean the interval that elapses during
’ n a o ne - the su s m rch south to west, but eighth of the twenty
n n - i s u e . four hours , whe the is in the south west, . , the inter
f - i a . m . t val rom to p , two hirds of wh ch will m ke t eykt p . m . Bu this does not by any means get over
1 ’ A o in to M r . Ge e lmu de ns o m u tatio n in w o ) cc rd g y c p , k dly rked ° o u t at m u s t 59 y req e , 2 n ad Vinl — A a andiam 1 8 . ) See dde d , pp . U E ON THE NE AN A E ST DI S VI L D VOY G S . 3
n a the difficulty , Vi el nd being merely again moved up to a ° a a a l titude of 53 N . (L br dor) . By however ingenious ly a n a a the u a - a i dopti g a p ss ge in S orr Edd , the V c elawman a a and a him P ll Vid lin , fter Bishop Finnr Jonsson could
a new e a n c make out m ni g , better a c o mo dated to the cli a n m tic co ditions . He based his argument o n the words of
S no rro that relate to the seasons : » Autumn lasts from the (autumnal) equino x till the s u n goes down in cyktar s tadr na n t h , winter till the (ver l) equi ox , spring ill t e May
» n da s tc a na movi g y , summer till the ( utum l) The beginning of winter was assumed to correspond with the beginning of th at season after the Icelandic calender — (the week 11th 17th October) ; and the s u n o n the 17th
o n n at Oct ber bei g fou d to set p . m . in the locality
’ S no rro s a e lctarst dr was n of f rm Reykholt , y a i ferred to be
n lc m . a e t n a p . , thus m ki g y itself the i terv l and a in a a 7 the pass ge the Gr g s (p . 2 ) might be rendered aylct is said t o b e g i n when the sun has passed tw o - thirds o - n - ain a lc f the south west and o e third rem s . Putting ey tar sladr at and in a a da mdlastadr at , ccord nce herewith , g
m da in n an p . . , the shortest y Vi el d would be 9 hours , for which Profe s sor Tho mas Bugge of C o penhagen computed ° a d 4 a n a a the l titu e 1 At l st , the , l titude had
n a o a n t na o f n and been fou d ccomm d ti g wi h the me V i n e la d,
’ Vidalins theory met with ready and wide - spread ac c ep
an i a in a n and nn a n t ce , more part cul rly the form R f Fi M g us son gave it in » Antiquitat es Am eric anaaa in » Annaler for no rdis k Oldkyndighed « (1840 and in » Gro nlands his to ris ke M indes maerker u Since that
it has a a - c o nfirm e d a period p ssed for well historic l fact, that the spot where Leiv Eriksson landed and took his
1 - i i s i l d I 153 . ) Finn Jo hannmi H s to ria. eccles ia t ca Is an m 56 2 - Sn. a 5 10 ) Edd , I , . 8 ’ i i s is to i III 41 S e e Gerh . Sc h o nn s o r s 9 ) g N ge R ge H r e , , . 1 4 HE NE AN A E 4 s runms o n T VI L D VOY G S .
n i th e e remarkable observatio of t me , was coast of Rhod ° ‘ ” n in a 41 24 10 . I a Isla d, l titude N sh ll not dwell here
e lmu n on a circumstance to which Mr . G e yde has directed ’ Bu e s a n m viz . . y attention , , that Prof gg stro omical compu tatio n has no regard to change in the obliquity of the ec lip
c n th r to f n ti si ce the 11 centu y , or re raction ; this omissio
s r t e supplied , a ho test day of 9 hours will give the lati ud ° ' a u to n . ff n h s 42 21 ( bo t that of Bos ) True, the di ere ce t u entailed in locality is but slight ; and yet the geographical
v f conditions there will pro e di ficult , nay impossible rather, to reconcile with the topographical account in the Sagas . But a heavier blow to the theory comes from the refusal of lexicographers to accept the explanation of eyktarstadr as n n a d kl t . . p . m . of ey as the i erval p m
i s n a a k n . V fu s o n a d e t Dr g Dr . Finsen gree th t y sig ifies a
no t an ft no n p o i n t of time ( i n t e r v a l of time) in the a er o ,
o h e w e ktarsladr and corresp nding t erefor ith y , they both
t a to its n m m ci e numerous p ssages show ide tity with , or
at o a at . m . least s me point of time h rdly l er than p , n ° thus making the latitude of Vi eland 53 N . It stands to
he a reason that , if such the case , the pass ge in question
as a and ann is worthless guide , some other me i g must be sought for .
a t a All of the Icelandic uthorities set out wi h ssuming, that the time of day can be determined ; Arngrimr Jonsson
has a a a n alone expressly rem rked, th t, maybe , the comput tio
r n Leiv n had no is not quite cor ect, si ce Eriksso of course n . a and chro ometer to go by In this he is m nifestly right ,
. Ge elm u den has n a a th Mr y good reason to mai t in , th t e said
a a a a 7 c n p ss ge [in the Gr g s (p . 2 ) a be understood only o n a a a it cle rly pprehending , th t here is not a question of the time of day but of certain horiz ontal directions in
s u n was r ran a a which the obse ved . He t sl tes s follows : ne kt n o u - uts u brs aatt g/ is the poi t of time when, the s th west ( )
s un has av - being divided into thirds , the tr ersed two thirds U ON THE NELAN A E ST DIES VI D VOY G S . 5 and o ne - third remains a and adds » Uts uors aett being
a h - a the oct nt of t e horiz on that has the south west midw rd, ° n n ° z k rs taar e and . e ta accordi gly b twee 22 5 67 5 a imuth , y 2 ° will be in the direction ls 45 from sou th in . n a i t to west Now, computi g the l t tude where the sun se s
da o f a 11th this direction on the shortest y the ye r ( century), ° a we get 49 Here , therefore , o r f r t h e r s o u th , th e observation must needs have been This tallies exactly with my o wn experience from
e kt O kt in Norway , for there too y ( y ) is a point of time
a t i . a the f ernoon, varying however w th latitude My l te col
1 Arkiv f. no rdisk i o o i 128 . ) F l l g , III , o n N E 6 STUDIES THE VINELA D VOYAG S .
a l was a le gue Prof. Sexe , to d me that, when he boy, people in his n ative district (Hardanger) always determined time ’ n by the sun s positio , c l o c k s were then but little
O k t O k t a r d a n o n t e known , y or y g bei g the p i t of im in the afternoon » when the s un was said to be in O y k t a r s t a d « (he made use of this expression without being aware
di val and of its occurrence in the me aa Norse writings) ,
» Oyktarstad u could always be found from the direction. This explication has no w been accepted in the latest edition
’ Fritz ner a o u of Dr . s Diction ry of the Old N rse Tong e (I,
h n a m a From w at has bee s id , we y take for granted, ° that Vineland d i d no t l i e f a r t h e r n o r t h th a n 49
n a n v n as the southern limit of the observatio c n ot be gi e ,
’ the next determination of th e sun s position on the horiz o n is » mibmundas t abr ut s u drs o k vestrs (WSW . and so far west the sun reaches nowhere at the winter
far solstice . How t o th e s o u t h Vineland was located c an no t n a in s o be show from the p ssage que ti n .
t a t no m The attempt, herefore , from s ro mical co putations to a a o a an loc te Vinel nd in Rh de Isl nd , is without y sup port whatever ; and hence the geographical position of
n in a the cou try must be sought some other w y . The first step will obviously consist in examining the original sources
a n w the n a of inform tio , to hich followi g ch pters are devote d .
. a e II A d m o f B r m e n .
Fo r the earliest data bearing on the discovery of Vine land n to a n we are i debted M gister Adam of Breme , who ,
n at an o u a a when reside t the D ish c rt bout the ye r 1070,
a n inter alia o n a collected v rious informatio , the geogr phy o f n and l in » the Northern regio s , pub ished it his Descriptio ins ularum aquilo nis The intrinsic value of thi s account will be spoken of in the sequel ; here let it suffice to
a a n u a v st te , th t the salie t pec liarities of the work h ve ser ed U ON THE NE AN A E 7 ST DIES VI L D VOY G S .
t o a n as an a -e defe t their object, since , so lo g the Icel dic tr di
o n t as ti s were unknown , hey could not but c t doubt on its
en n n a g eral trustworthi ess . After describi g the isl nds in the u n a n and an sea ro d Norw y , the Ork eys Icel d ,
a t a a r a a p r ly from cl ssic l, pa tly from Northern ccounts , Ad m go es on to mentio n the islands kno wn of late years and lying » deeper in the Ocean« and first of all G r e e n l a nd o far a Ri hsean a n « up tow rds the Swedish , or p , mount i s ,
’ d an a a a t H a la la nd ist t 5 to 7 d ys s il from Norw y , hen g , s a a s un a z n omewh t ne rer , where the is bove the hori o
a m and a t n a » s o a 14 d ys in su mer , l s ly V i e l n d ( c lled because wine grow s there of itself and corn without being
» after this island nothing inhabitable is to be
n in a an all n o e and a fou d th t oce , bei g c v red with ice d rk
a a n n had ness , of which H r ld , ki g of the Norseme , proof
n was n a n o f n whe he I vestig ti g the extent the Northern Ocea ,
’ and w , got to the very orld s end , could with the utmost difficulty keep from falling headlo ng into the depths of
a « is a fa h the byss . Accordingly , it the tr cts rt est t o
no a a h n a t h e r t h that Ad m enumer tes ere , e comp ssed by ice and darkness ; and hence the statement could no t but
a a h was sound str nge , th t , wit such surroundings , there a
t a no f « win and » uns o wna country h t itself produced e corn . Indeed Adam himself thought the story marvello us ; he
a k a n a o n K n b c ed it up therefore by ddi g, th t not ly ing Swey ,
an as h ad a i t but other D es well , decl red it str c ly true . Meanwhile this assurance did not prevent later authors who referred to Adam from feeling sus picious ; and as long
’ as a n al n n a . Ad m s accou t stood o e , it ge er lly met with n n . Na a a discredit y , eve the Norwegi uthor who wrote
» a No rwe ise o and s am no had Histori g , who, be ides Ad , doubt heard the traditionary reports current in his native country a o an hav the a b ut Vinel d , must e held ccount as fabulous , and hence rejected it ; he knew Gree nland too well as a no n - a a ro x i rther , ice encumbered region to h ve f ith in the p S TUDIE ON THE NELAN vo s 8 S VI D u Es .
o V i ne land a and mity of a . A similar feeling o f s hyness
’ uncertainly is evinced by Adam s compiler from the era o f
a K z o f o b the Reform tion , A l b e r t r a n t Hamburgh ( . His description of the countries round about Norway takes in the preceding chapters on » Greenland « and » Halagland ’ and the ensuing tale of king Harald s attempt to reach
’ the world s end ; but the passage relating to Vineland is
and et s the o f omitted , y we know it tood in manuscript ’ Adam s that Krantz co mpiled from and which afterwards was printed by Lindenbro g A cas e exactly parallel is afforded by the Norwegian translators of the Sag as in the 16th century pass ing by unnoticed the s ole place where there is mention of ’ Manuscript copies o f Adam s h i s t o ri c a l works were indeed during the M iddle Ages comparat ively numerous in North Germany and the Scandinavian countries ; his g e o g r a p h i c a l production however is not known to have been s » i rw a n pecially referred to save for Histor a No egi and , in th r a ne w the 15 centu y , by Herm n Cor r , who ( ith much less
n h a z m critical acume t an Alb . Kr nt ) gives verbati the whole
the th en a Of the Vineland chapter . In 16 c tury as m ny at
’ least as 6 manuscript copies of Adam s writings were e a two extant ; two in D nmark , other two in H mburgh , and
had s till o ne p e rh ap s found their way farther south , the
Lu dunensis and t r to the Netherlands (Cod . g ) , the o he to
n Vindo bo nens is a tz South Germa y (Cod . , previously in S l ’ burg) ; but Adam s writings had at all events neither at that nor any former time been known beyond Germany and
and in the n nr . the North , therefore not R o m a c e Cou t ies
n ta was as He ce it is quite cer in , that Columbus not , sup
’ e a d w n posed by som , acqu inte ith Adam of Breme s account
l S a m l e d e S k r i ft e r a f C l a u s s o n P u s ) See P e d e r r ,
ite G . to m fo r t he o w ian is to i a o c i t ed d by S r . N r eg H r c l S e y ,
o and 437 c o m are refa . L! . p . 205 (N te g) p . ; p P ce , p U ON HE NELAN A E ST DIES T VI D VOY G S . 9
i a f a if of V neland ; nay , we can s fely a firm , th t even it h a d
o f i n reached him , he w uld not rom such nformatio have
n s wa i o bee able to eek out a y to the West (Ind a) , th ugh
’ possibly towards the North Pole .
’ c n it Adam s ac ount alo e, brief though is , has likewise
t as a great impor ance a source of historic l lore . It is , to
a a n a begin with, the e r l i e s t ; d ti g from bout the year 1070, it shows the tradition to have been then still fresh and u a d in r r n e and t a nimp ire the No the n cou tri s , poin s b ck to
ame an r t r at the s period of which the Icel dic t adi ion el es .
a n t a Then , it is independent of m nuscript Icela dic li er ture ,
us a fea the tr tworthiness of which it serves to ssure . Two
s tures of the work must have p ecial notice here . First, it
’ has handed down to us knowledge o f Vineland s cultivable
a di a pl nts , partly obscured in the Icelan c tr dition . Vi n e
’ l a n d was remarkable for its Wild Grape - Vine (vim sp o uts ascunmr and o f h ) , also for its Corn Spontaneous Growth
m es no n seminatw . u in mi (f g ) Secondly , we m st bear nd,
a a v n that Ad m merely spe ks of the d i s c o e ry of Vi eland,
t in a a z i n and no , as the c se of Greenl nd , of its coloni at o the introduction of Christianity ; this quite agrees with
a o d n the Icelandic tradition , cc r ing to which Vineland , soo
er n n aft its discovery, was aba do ed by the Norsemen wi th
c z o u t b e i n g o l o n i e d .
HI l a . T h e E a r l i e s t I c e n d i c A c c o u n t s of Vineland are derived directly or indirectly from A r e fr o d e (abo ut He had them himself from his
n T h o r k e ll e ll e s s o n p aternal u cle G o f H e l g a fe l l , who
v n o f th u and li e d in the seco d half the l 1 cent ry, was there
a n a Tho rkell a fore co tempor ry of Adam of Bremen . is s id
a in na t in to h ve spoken , when Gree l nd , wi h a man who ,
had m an o his the year 985 , acco p ied Erik the Red n 10 STUDIES ON THE VINELAND VOYAGES . expedition from Hence he is an excellent
’ a r a fro de s l uthority ; but unfo tun tely Are notes , in his sti l extant » Libellus Is lando rum a of what he learnt from his
are . Tho rkell m a him uncle , very brief see s to h ve told
a z a na most bout the coloni tion of Gree l nd , which gives him
a a t a . . 85 occ sion to rem rk , h t the colonists (A D 9 ) found
G na » a s a t a in ree l nd tr ce of human h bita ions , fr gments of
a and bo ts , stone implements , so from this one might con c lude a n a n a th t people of the ki d formerly inh biting Vi el nd, and n a an Skraalin s know mong the Gre enl ders as g , must
a c a an a and a h ve passed ther , import nt reliable st tement concerning the extent of civiliz ation attained by the Vine
a kraalin s h a . In l nd S g , to whic we sh ll revert further on
nIS Dd RDOk U has his more comprehensive IO n , Are frode , too ,
e Tho rkell es s o n — a - a likewis from Gell , told the h lf legend ry story of Are M ars s o n in Great Ireland ; here it will suffi ce ’ a a an a a to state , th t Gre t Irel d is there s id to be 6 d ys
a a d a i s il west of Irel n , in compar tive proximity to V ne
w a was f r land , hich ccordingly thought to lie a ther west, in about the same latitude as Ireland Also a third notice of Vineland would seem to have originated with
Kris tnis a a Are frode ; it is now preserved in the g , and to be found almost verbatim in the Heim s kringla of Sno rro ; it relates how Leiv Eriksson on his home - voyage from Norway
na » i v a « to Gree l nd d sco ered Vinel nd the Good , an event
in n n a Off which , co junctio with his s ving the co ast of
a a Greenl nd shipwrecked crew , got him the surname of s » Lu ck a the y ). In Icelandic manuscripts from the 14th and 15th cen
t a s a m tu ies , there is hort chorography , derived p rtly fro
a a n L tin sources , p rtly however from the oted traveller
1 Is e n i s O l d n ur 9 . ) g a g , I , 2 Is le ndin as b u r 130. ) g g , I , 8 - Bis k u a o u t 20 Heim sk rin la . n 204. ) p S g , I , . g (ed U ger) , p . U ON THE NE AN A E ST DIES VI L D VOY G S . 11
a a Thin e re 06 Nichol s , bbot of g y ( . The manuscript
. 192 8vo nn ia (A M , ) contai i g spec l information as to
’ Nich o las s a has uthorship , , where mention is made o f
o - the countries west and s uth west of Iceland , a passage an h on the discovery of Vinel d , w ich accordingly c an be
a n r a a and at t ke as of ve y ncient d te , any rate m a y come
c a . from Ni hol s It should therefore be given here . South
na H e llu la nd a of Gree l nd lies , next M a r k l n d , and from
is a nd thence it not far to V i n e l th e G o o d , which some a think joins Afric . If so be , then must the S ea Ocean
a in t d and a a p ss be ween Vinelan M rkl nd . It is said that
Tho rfinnKarls evne hewed a log of wood for a » husa- s no tra « aft er a which he set out in se rch of Vineland the Good,
a a n was and c me to where th t cou try thought to be , but did not manage to explore it or to make a settlement
iv a . Le w s n a there the Lucky the first that found Vi el nd , and then e on that voyage) he fell in with traders near
at s ea d perishing , and save them , by the grace o f God ; he
n o an a i tr duced Christianity into Greenl d , and so r pidly did
’ a t a s ee was a a 3 it spre d, h t a bishop s erected, namely at G rd r . ) h a in T is ccount, confirming every respect, as it does, and supplementing what is learnt from Are frode and the Kris tni
a a a i t a s g , shows the earlier Icel nd c tradi ion to h ve firmly
a a a o a ret ined , on the one h nd, th t, s uth of Greenl nd , three
had v and countries been disco ered , but o n l y three ,
o on the other , that of these the s uthernmost was found
Leiv a r a by Eriksson on his voy ge from No w y , when
nn o a na retur i g h me to introduce Christi nity into Gree l nd, and that subsequently Th o rfinn Karls evne undertoo k an
a v actual voy ge of disco ery thither , which did not however ’ a o fi ns lead to any perm nent coloniz ation . Th r n expedition
1 ’ ' ) So me kind o f s h i p s implement then in u s e ; s ee Eg ils s o ns
x i o n s v . s no t r a Le c . . 2 A i uit i n 29 1 Gro nl is . in III nt ate s Am r a a . . . t . 220. ) q e c , p h M d , , STUDIES ON THE VINELAND VOYAGES . would seem to be here distinctly characteriz ed as the first
a a v n a and l st e x p l o r t o ry o y a g e to Vinela d , on th t
v n to a n b country ha i g , so spe k , been fo r tu i t o u s l y fou d y
eiv L Eriksson .
Also from the later classical era of Icelandic literature , we here and there light on information respecting the last
n the E rb as a a wr e mentio ed voyage of discovery . In y yggj g , itt n
the a te nthe s about ye r 1250 , it is rela d , that , ummer after the reconciliatio n of the Eyrbygger and the Alp t
firdin er and Th o rleiv K g (about the year Snorre imbe ,
Tho rbrand a e Th o rleiv sons of , set out for Greenl nd ; aft r
Kimbevaa has it s n e Kimbe , g between the glaciers am ; but s a h Karls evne e a Snorre iled , along wit , to Vin l nd t t n the Good , and when hey were fighting here with the Vi e ’ Skrwlin s Sno rre s Tho rbrand in land g , son fell the con flict c In the Grettis saga (about 1290) another member of this expedition is spoken of Tho rhallr Gamlas o n; we
t a b e to learn here h t subsequently went back Iceland,
he a m Hrutal o rd where bought himself far , in the j , and i a in V t b hav ng t ken part the ineland expedi ion , went y the name of Vinlendingr (the Vinelander) Such are the earliest Ice landic accounts of the Vine
h are and e land vo yages . T ey brief, give but the chi f features ; yet they bear witness in favour of one unanimous t a u radition , th t reaches back to Are frode and , thro gh him to th s r , the 11 century , relating the di cove y of
Leiv e Vineland by the Lucky , about the y ar 1000 , and ’ arls evne s n nz K subseque t attempt at colo i ation .
1 - E rb a s a a . Vi fu ss o n 91 92 Anti . Ame . 195 . ) y yg g j g , ed g , p p . , . q r
Gro nl is t in . I 716 . h . M d , . 3 rettis s a a Co e nh . 22 70. In the fi s t as ) G g ( p pp. r p e he n is co rru ted Vindle ndin r in h c o d sag t ame p to g . t e se n to Vidle ndin r Vi fu s s o n has ca att ntio n in his nIc e g . g lled e ,
c o s a s . to the ri t fo rm . landi Pr e Re der (p . gh U IE ON THE NE AN ! ST D S VI L D VO AGES . 13
n o This must be kept in mi d , t elucidate the sequel, that will treat of the principal s ources whence we have
s n account of the Vinela d voyages .
IV. T h e S a g a o f E r i k th e R ed a n d th e G r a n
l e nd i n a t r o f F la t e a g ap t t h e yj r b é k .
The chief Icelandic accounts relating to the discovery and a t z met ttemp ed coloni ation of Vineland , are with in
an two deviating d of each other quite independent relations , a good deal jumbled together even in some o f the original
a e m nuscripts , but much more so in the later print d editions , a f t nd which , there ore , must be clearly set apar .
a Tr vas o n, In the great Saga of Ol v yg from the , first
m s r a half of the 14th century , so e of the tran c ibers h ve inserted a short story about Erik the Red and his s o n
Leiv i , the introduct on of Christianity into Greenland being ’ c onnected wit h Leiv s presence in Norway at the court o f
’ a a f t King Ol v . Hence they give brie descrip ion of Erik s ’ exploratory voyages to Greenland and Leiv s voyage to Nor ’ and af Leiv s a a terwards of voy ge home to Greenl nd, on which (as in Sno rro ) he saves the crew of a stranded ship and discovers Vineland the This story refers
» E i r i k s « directly to the s a g a , that dwells more at large on the disputes of Erik the Red in Iceland , and is thus an E x t r a c t fr o m th a t S a g a. The Saga of Erik the Red has come down to us who lly unabridged ; it is that
’ » Tho rfinn Karls evne s a « a v known as S ga , a n me gi en it
a and by the l ter transcribers editors , whereas the o ne
n v . a ma uscript of the Saga (A M 657 q . ) re lly calls it
» Eireks a « and a o f sag rauda , the he ding the other manu
1 Po rnmanna s O u r I 1 —16 ) g I , 3 . Fo rnmanna s O ur II 245— g , 46 . N H STUDIES O T E VINELAND VOYAGES . script is no w No one c an deny that the passages
’ referring to Erik and Leiv in King Olav s Saga are really what they profess to be e x t r a c t s fr o m t h i s S a g a o f t E r i k . Moreover , it is quite clear hat the Saga in ques tion dates farther back than the compilation of the Olav
a a the o n Sag . For the Sag of Erik Red we have two
ff a : o ne Hau ks k . di erent p rchments the , (A M 544 was written between 1305 and 1334 ; the other is indeed a 1 n n not earlier th n the 5th ce tury ; but wa ting, as it does ,
Hauks k the additions met with in . it must necessarily be derive d from some earlier original dating farther back
nn o f a a than A . D . 1300 . The begi ing the Sag , in p rticular the passage about AuOr djup au dg a and the discovery o f
’ m m Th o rds s o ns an Greenland, is copied verbati fro Sturla L d
an nama . This at once proves the Saga to be later th
and about A . D . 1270 , accordingly derived from the most
era a a a flourishing of S g liter ture , the second half of the
! ‘ 13th ; r t ha _ century hence one would natu ally expect it o ve c n ! et Dedome the main source of all a cou ts of Vineland . such has not been the case ; and how this came about may n be explained in the followi g manner .
a a as Flate arbdk a The editor of the Ol v S g in the yj , priest by name JOn POrOars o n (about the year has seen fit in h i s » Olafs - saga Trygvas o nar c to d o as his pre cursors and extract from the Saga of Erik the Red the
a n and Leiv at passages rel ti g to Erik ; but, the same time , he knew and made use o f a totally different relation o f
an o a a a t the Vinel d v y ges , th t could not , s ve by mos
a a n a th e o n arbitr ry tre tment , be i corpor ted with foreg i g
’ a a Leiv s account . To m ke it gree , he omits in the story of
1 r 4— 1 en in Anti uitate s Am i ana . 8 87 and ) Printed q e c , pp , Gr — h e n s is t . in . 352 443 . at a t o f t la d h M d , I , The gre er p r ma no w fo u n un it s i t nam in Vi fu s Saga y be d , der r gh e , g ’ s o ns Icelandic Pro s e Reader.
THE V NE AN A ES 16 STUDIES ON I L D VOY G .
r a n Her ulfs s o n va iance with e rly Icelandic tradition . Bjar e j an and is indeed , but for this , q u i t e obscure personage , the story of his discoveries is in s t r o n g e s t contras t to a a th th all th t reliable ccounts from the 12th , 13 , and 14 ’ centuries u n a n i m o u s l y state concerning Leiv s dis covery in the year 1000 ! The Graenlendingapattr records 5 Vine
viz . Leiv a K s land voyages , , those of Bjarne , , Thorv ld, arl
evne Fr dis e a i , and ey , whereas the eld r tr dit on (the choro graphy and the Saga of Erik the Red) knows of but tw o s the L iv the l uch one that of e , other that of Kar s evne
m va Fr dis in co pany with Thor ld and ey . Hence we may f f e sa ely a firm , on the one hand , that all Ic landic authors
th 1 1 th u s from the 12 and 3th, nay even the 4 cent ry, tand
Graenlendin a attr n up in a body against the g p , testifyi g to th its want of trustworthiness , and on the other , that e author of Graenlendingapattr would seem to have had no knowledge at all of the earlier tradition relating to the Vineland How far superior in true coherence and ins trinsic pro
h . Leiv as ability is the Saga of Erik the Red That ,
e related in E . r . S . , on a voyage from Norway to Gr en
h n ae and r land , aving to steer betwee the F roes the O kneys
- and keep due west or a trifle south west , the course then
ke n mi r ft as as ta n to reach Greenla d , ght d i far south
n a u has n e a Vinela d , is natur l eno gh , and si ce happened s ver l
fo r times in the history of navigation , instance in 1609,
n n ae with He ry Hudso , who , setting out from the F roes , was ° ‘ s r A in a . carried to the coa t of No th merica, l titude 35 41 N
s a But that Bj arne Herjulfs s o n (Grp . ) on his pa s ge from the south -west coast of Iceland should have got out of his course nearly 20 degrees southward when he was running
1 In the s u th e Grmnle ndin a attr o f the Flate arb dk ) eq el , g p yj is a r viat t o » r m the a o f i th e Red o r bb e ed G b , S ga Er k ( ’ Th o rfinn ar s s a a to 0 13. r S m K l evne S g ) . U E NE AN A E ST DIES ON TII VI L D VOY G S . 17
i across to southern Greenland , is most unl kely . That
’ rls evn a d f a Leiv s Ka e n his ellows , fter short stay in Vine
a u f u a l nd sho ld find it di fic lt to m ke out the place again, and thus give rise to disputes (E . r . we can well understand ; such cases are of frequent occurrence with
av t v a n igators , witness the firs oy ge of Columbus , the Danish
d o a no t Expe ition to Greenland 1605 , and thers . But th t,
’ a B arne s a Leiv till fter j short coast l excursion , , in the
w er u unkno n tract of ocean, discov s the very same co n tries , and the adventurers who followed in his wake all without exception reach just the same spot and dwell in
m » bo o th S u Leifs budir m e incred just the sa e ( ) , to appears
and a r . Al ible , is , I think , without parallel in histo y
Gr . together, the numerous improbabilities in the b have , it
o d far . w uld seem , been passe over too lightly Thus ,
a Her ulfs s o n according to that chronicle , Bj rne j is made to
v a r in disco er the three gre t West Count ies 985 , and thereupon repair to his father in Greenland (at Herj ulfs nes ) ;
» h v a n but e ga e up m ki g voyages , stayed with his father as n Her ulf a a « lo g as j lived, and dwelt there fter his f ther , yet apparently without letting fall a word about his notable
! man a r discoveries Not till y ye rs later , du ing the rule of Earl Erik in Norway (accordingly a ft e r th e y e a r does Bjarne set out for that country ; and there it is he gives
v a the first account of his disco eries, gets repro ched for his
an a and w t of explor tory spirit, returns home to Greenland, n without so much as attempti g anything further . Th e n we first hear of » much talk about land - ex p lo ring a in
’ n a and Leiv B arne s and him Gree l nd , buys j ship sets out
n a a o f a self. The long i terv l between the voy ges Bj rne and of Leiv is left quite unexplained ; surely a man in Greenland was in no need of sailing o ver to Norway and
a o r hi had learning wh t Earl Erik s courtiers to tell , to wake a desire o f investigating regions possessing so many advant ages compared to Greenland ! Nor is it reasonable 2 STUD E ON THE NELAN ! A ES I S VI D VO G .
to s e t s r m ro m suppo , tha , the di cove y ade , f 15 to 20 years let f h o u as re r . r sh ld be p s be o exp lo ing t em As G p . is here fo un at r o d va iance with the earlier tradition , so to does it
run c a fo r ounter to the e rlier chronology , which assigns ’
Leiv s c u . a ex rsion the year 1000 Indeed , taken gener lly,
n r e m the chro ology of G p . canno t b ade to agree with what
’ to B arne s has c ome us from other sources . Assigning for j vo yage to No rway the year 1001 (farther back it cannot ’ and 1002 his Leiv s be put) for voyage home , Vineland ’ a e a e e Karls evne s voy g will h v be n in 1003 or 1004, Vine n — i . n i n 1 c o to . S . la d expedition 009 11 A c rdi g E . r , V ne
d was s Leiv the ar Tho rfinn lan di covered by in ye 1000, and ’ a — Karls evne s Vinel nd expedition undertaken in 1003 6 . ’ w t Le iv s o ns e i n But as , i h v yage , ancient , u w rv ng traditio ’ fi s o a ls evne s n has xed the year 1000 , too for K r expeditio no later period than from 1003 to 1006 can be made to
c o E rb as a a agree with the hron logy of the y ygg g , according i s o s Th o rbrand to wh ch the n of set out from Iceland, either
n th a r h n mme i e ye r 1000 o one of t e next s ucce edi g su rs , ’ arls evne s e to join K xpedition . n at W rus n Gr . can es fe e hen pe i g p , I not r ist the li g th
in r te ro rio d e en the record G p . must da f m a pe when ss tial parts o f the tradition had already to a great e xtent
e co me s t sc re and he e fill b obfu ca ed and ob u , nc that , to up gaps its author did no t s cruple to draw from his o wn
a i n. s it s im imagin t o At the out et , convey a discordant pression on the reader to hear tell respecting Helluland
a u hi h r di i s lac the a m th t g up were p o g ou g iers , but sp ce fro
' a s ike a u the sea to the gl cier was l a co ntinuous sl b , since , as k e in N well nown, ther is orth America no co untry south o f n h ie rs ! a o . s Greenla d wit glac (Nor d es E . r. S y a word a a in elluland a has bout gl ciers H . ) And then Vinel nd so
a e » t f and tropical climat that in winter here was no rost ,
s ed t ! in r the gra s dri up but lit le Aga , the desc iption of
s and » w me - treeS a i u grape in Vineland is no less s ng lar, STUDIE THE NE AN vo u ca S ON VI L D s . 19 and evinces a remarkable want of knowledge co nce rning
and a es . he a s c ere n wine gr p T se gr pe are dis ov d in wi t er, nay even in The man who finds them gets
o are drunk fr m eating the fruit the grapes gathered, ’ and a too , in the the ship s bo t filled with them
a vinviOr And ag in, the vines ( ) are spoken of as big trees , f e ra a e r a a ell d for timber St nge to say , G m n is m de
a e e h to discover the gr p s, and this Ge rman b ars t e asto nish ing name of T y r k er (Turk) ! To preserve the historical a a u h me has e as char cter of the cco nt , t is na be n given
a o f Didrik I in the Dirk , the l ter form ( ) , which however old Norse to ngue is rendered PjOOrekr or Pibrikr ! How much
c s . . t bi more a curately doe E r S . dis inguish between the g t e » r u r - ! t o o r es ( masu and the like) and g ape vines There, ,
o u lf- a o ne are f s e n m Gr . we told the sow co , whereas p in place only mentions anabandoned » ko m hjalmr a (helm - shaped r o n e o f o « s c o f to house cor und r) wo d , and thu ontrary o ver to unanimo u s tradition assumes t i l l e d corn . More
o s the geography of Vineland in Grp . is v e r y b cure ; the im e o f a n pression one chi fly gets , is coast faci g the north,
t te a and t s a f r of grea ex nt e st and west , wi h ever l jo ds penetrating so uth.
n all a s w t ainl Weighi g th t has been aid , it ill , I cer y
n be af t h e cefo rth re c in Gr . thi k , s es , m to t at the a count p
a v its o n with great circum spection . Wh te er has nly origi
f r . s be t as ul and ha is rom G p mu t rejec ed doubtf , w tever
e at v ria a a o as tin ther found a nce with e rly tr diti n , wan g ’ o a Her ulfs so ns a s his to ric al fo undati n. Bj rne j voy ge hould
d no do u t b e o tt d e o Le iv accor ingly b mi e , to mak r om for ’ Eriks so ns a e and the o ho a voy g , v yages of T rv ld Eriksson and o f Freydis be compris ed in the gre at exploratory ex
editi n Tho rfin rlse vne e a and p o under n Ka . G ographic l data
n Gr . us descriptions relying for support solely o p , m t be
ft i e e and ve s av si ed w th gr at car , ne r admitted e when borne 2“ 20 STUDIES ON THE VINELAND VOYAGES .
i n out by the Saga of Erik the Red . Not till th s has bee
a n done , can we venture on critical i vestigation of the geography of Vineland .
a V . T h e V i n e l n d V o y a g e s .
n Leiv f I the year 999 , Eriksson set out rom Green
a K Tr vas o n l nd to Norway, entered the service of ing Olav yg ,
z was bapti ed , and passed the winter with the king in
In th e a Nidaros . spring of the ye r 1000 , he got a priest
nn an with him , as he intended retur i g home to Greenl d .
Leiv all t be in probabili y took the course which , later on , m a m rw n ca e the usu l one fro No ay to Gree land, keeping ° between the Faeroes (61 and Shetland (60° 50 to make the southern extremity of Greenland ; but he was
» d a driven out of his course , tosse about long while in the
t was sea , and came to countries whose exis ence before ’ ’ - unknown to him . There were self sown fields of wheat and
’ ’ - o a » - and wine trees gr wing ; there were lso masura trees ,
s bi they took with them samples of all this , some tree g
i . e . Leiv enough to serve for houses ( , for beams) .
a d a a a no rro re che home the s me utumn ; this is ttested by S ,
a and E . r . S . does not g insay it .
n 1 —1 a The wi ter , therefore , of 000 001 , Christi nity was a e an t first pre ched in Gr enl d ; and hen , too , interest was n the n Of r stro gly directed to newly fou d tracts count y,
o f o had which c urse to be further explored, as soon as ’ e o p o ssible after discovery . L iv s brother Th o r s t e i n t ok
a and v n n the le d , e e his old father Erik the Red we t with
i v a m et him . But th s oyage proved unfortun te ; it with
a d a a far dverse win s , which c rried the dventurers so to the
- a as n m in a a n o rth e st to bri g the sight of Icel nd ( bout lat . ° 63 and then so far t o the south - east that they » had
i « 5 e . s aw a . a t b rds ( . , birds) from Irel nd After th t hey and na d t o a an a steered back home , ma ge re ch Greenl d l te U THE NE AN A E ST DIES ON VI L D VOY G S . 21 n a h a a o a the f ll . T at s me utumn Th rstein wedded n
I an udrid a Tho rb Orn had cel d maid , G , whose f ther j come w his an in a n Leiv and ith ship to Greenl d the bse ce of , took her to his farm in L y s e fj o r d in the b ut in the c o urse of the winter a pe stilential sickness broke o ut W a d o ff in and a there , hich c rrie Thorste m ny others , a d u drid n a n n G we t b ck to Erik the Red . The followi g summer (1002) two Icelandic vessels arrived in Greenland ;
o ne Tho rfinn Karls evne Ska af o rd the belonging to , from g j , and n Tho rbrands s o n Alft af o rd o S orre , from j , the ther to
a n rimo lfs s o n Breidef o rd and Tho rhallr Gamlas o n Bj r e G , from j , ,
» a n o s a E iks f o rd o f rd . a r fr m the e ster j Both ships c me to j , a d Bra tali n n their crews were invited to t d for the wi ter .
t h Karls evne a an ff a a to Af er C ristmas , m kes o er of m rri ge
udrid a G , who weds him ; then , in the spring of the ye r
Karls evne at a a 1003 , put himself the he d of the gre t ex p editio n that sailed from the Ves t erbygd in Greenland to
o nz an n a n c lo i e Vinel d . In this u dert ki g both the Icelandic
o a o f t and a ships t ok p rt , with the whole heir crews , lso
’ u drid s had the vessel G father brought to Greenland , now m a n a o n s o n his n ed by Thorv ld , y u ger of Erik the Red , ’ s o n- in- law Th o rvard his Fre dis and i , with wife y , Er k s
a and a Th o rhallr . No w s huntsm n fisherm n , it is on thi ex p editio n we learn discovery was made of the three countries
l l d a a o f he h H l u an a . t e , Markl nd , and Vinel nd The l st t ree
an a are n being described circumst ti lly , the Norsemen see
a the n t - a o f o to h ve made or h e stern extremity the regi n ,
’ o a and a a o n a where they f und ship s keel , on th t cc u t g ve to the headland the name o f Kj ala r ne s (the Naz e of the
K ? s o a eel) From thence they shape their course uthw rd , sailing along the far - stretching sandy expanse of the eas t
F r d u a nd i r l » u s t r . e . coast ( , , the Wonder till
1 ) » Ve s te rbyg d c s ignifying here the w e s tern co lo ny in Green
an » Os te rb d a th e as te rn o o n . l d , yg e c l y 22 U IE THE NELAN A E ST D S ON VI D VOY G S .
a a a r s they re ch more indented coast l t act, where they teer i t and w te 1 n o the S t r a u m s fj o r d , in r there ( 003 Karls evne had s hortly before sent o ff his Scotch » ru nners in a southerly direction ; and afte r the lapse of three
u r in a h a s o f days they ret rned , b ing g b ck bot e r corn
n u Vi a d grapes , so now they knew they were in ne
u . th e land The question was simply this , whether to seek
r du e c s o uth t r s count y along the eas e n coast, or rather to ail north of the Wonder Strands and so strike o f west
K alarnes . Tho rhallr ts o ne round j the hun man , with of
a t n o n t n the ships , chose the l t er alter ative ; but , his ryi g
K alarnes a a the t th e to double j , g le from wes drove vessel
s a » a a i ea tw rd, and according to wh t traders have s id carr ed
e them all the way over to I r e l a n d, wher they were made
« Karls evne s a serfs . But and the re t of his comr des
a o at r steered s o u t h w r d , and f und the mouth of a iver a
’ ’ spot (Hep ) where they actually s aw » fields of self- sown a the - n a and whe t in low lyi g p rts (by the river) , higher up
a - ro win a But i wild gr pe vines g g . here they got the r firs t visit from the S kraalings ; and in the winter there was
a r un o ff b rte ing, which however fortunately was broken in a ’ n Karls evne s fi mome t , the sight of having suf ced to ‘ox k lin li scare the S rae gs . The next time the Skrw ngs made
a a a was to d n r their ppe r nce , rive the stra ge s out of their
o tr and a u ac c un y , str ggle took pl e ; true , the Norsemen ,
it a a a e w h we pons of iron , m n ged to stand th ir ground against num bers ; but one of those who fell was no less a ’ n no rre n r a person tha S s so Th o brand . It was pl in to them
an e an now, that at y time they might xpect attack from the and i natives , hence they made up their m nd to return to
r . v Karls evne s et t Straumsfjo d Arri ed there , out wi h one
in Tho rhall of the two ships search of the hunts man . They
a o f K alarnes and a t a s iled north j , f r her west with the l nd to the left (in the south) ; and then made a long run south
a am a a to w rd , till they c e to a sm ll river flowing from e st
24 U THE NE AN A E ST DIES ON VI L D VOY G S . is a v a remines c enc e fo r a a erit ble , , though the S ga s ys no n at all ma n thi g about it , we y reaso ably suppose Thor
va to a r w to o Gr . ld h ve been bu ied here he fell ; perhaps , , p has n o a a a viz . hit the right expl n tion of his de th, , that he
a a ae a » uni ed a perished by the rrow of Skr ling , and th t the p was subsequently interpolated fro m the legendary stories o f th e learned To this statement should doubtless be added the episode of Fro ydis and the two Icelanders Helge and
Finnb o e a u m a a g , ss ming it , as we y , to have taken pl ce
Karls evne as a f the last winter w in Str ums jord , when the women - folk gave o cc as ro n to contentious disputes ; the
r i author of Grp . was e vidently not aware that F eyd s took
’ ar Karls evne s a p t in expedition , and rec sts therefore the traditions relating to her and the tro ubles she was the c ause
s o as ll it a . a of, to m ke out a separate expedition At events,
m o a a o n n co es m st rem rk bly Opportune , that this expeditio
’ of Freydis nothing is said of any collision with the Skraal
who no a a a a in a f . ings , do t m ke their ppe r nce Str ums jord
a a r Karls evne But I h ve no faith in wh t G p . states of sailing o ver t o Norway ; this vo yage wo uld seem to be n n altogether fictitious , i ve ted with the sole object of telling
’ a Karls evne s » hu s as no tra o f » ma a us bout sura , which German from Bremen bought o f him for the sake of the
a a . No w o n o ne an v lu ble wood , the h d , it is not very likely that Karls evne should need a German to tell him
a » a - o n a a an a the v lue of masur wo d, nor i deed th t Germ tr der should ' be met with at all in No rway about the year
0 a a a 1014 ; on the other , the whole of this p ss ge bout the
» hus as no tra « is doubtless a mere sub s equent variatio n of the ' n the o ld o r n s am e s ub otice in ch rography (p . 11) refer i g to the
ect a Karls evne no j , which plainly lleges that knew well e ugh f o o o and o n . the w rth the w od , th e r e f r e set out for Vi eland
1 ’ ) nu nip e de s maritimi u in Clau diu s Clavu s s map o f th e No rth a no 1427 is o at u in r nan ( n ) l c ed p G ee l d . TU E ON THE NE AN A S DI S VI L D VOY GES .
Icelandic sources say nothing about later c o l o n i z a ti o n
n a and ma projects in Vi el nd , we y, from the relative c o m
letene s s a a p of those sources , at least assume , th t Icel ndic tradition can not have had anything to tell of subsequent n i coloniz ing in Vineland . I format o n has however been pre
rv n a n n an and f se ed concer ing m i s s i o to Vi el d, so ar there
an a the di fore of ttempt to find countries scovered . In n th the begi ning of the 12 century , we hear of a
o in a nu s s o n n bish p Greenl nd , E ri k G p by ame . Ao
d n t o Landnamabo o k was t v a cor i g the , he a na i e of Icel nd, and the old lists o f the bishops in the province of Nidaros name this ecclesiastic as th e fi r s t bishop of The see must have been established o n application to the archbishop of Lund ; for soon aft er the erection of that archbis ho p rick there was a strong movement for establishing
’ » a new bishop s sees in the isl nds of the Ocean a ; thus , in
’ a a 1106 bishop s see was erected in N o r t h e r n I c e l n d, and a ae one bout the same time in the F r o e s , so that naturally the G r e e n l a nd bisho prick must have had the n ma same origi . This occurrence y be referred to the year
. o r o f o t 1110, one the years immediately bef re or af er ; for u v a Eirik a in n a the oy ge of bishop , the a n ls of Einar Hav
n . n lidas o (A D . must be take to signify his departure f and rom Iceland to his diocese ; , if so, some time may have elapsed between his consecration and his arrival in
a f Greenl nd .
all annal Of bishop Erik , Icelandic s state in concur
a » Vineland c rence , th t in 1121 he set out to seek , or
» V a sought ineland . Later critics have without exception regarded the voyage as a missionary undertaking ; and this
o is no doubt the right construction . N w we must bear in
a in a mind, th t, the Ann ls , the bishop does not go to Vine
1 l 5 A unc Sam] . Afhand . I 92 594 . Isle ndin ) P . . M h , I , . g a s e 46 gu r I , . ON A ES STUDIES THE VINELAND VOY G .
he m e s fr ee n ar land, er ly set out ( om Gr nla d) in se ch of the u na s is co ntry . The most natural expla tion of thes e word , that he d i d n o t fi n d it ; either he turned back home
his o r s i was st. without having attained object , the h p lo
e a te u s fo r as Th l t r supposition is do btle s the right one ; , early as 1122 or 1123 the Greenlanders take ste ps to get
is s r . . . a new b hop , and Erik s succe sor is consec ated A D 1124
c r v To any onnexion the efore with Vineland , the oyage of bishop Erik did not lead ; and hence it is reas onable to
u a t s te t rs e ass me, that, in f ce of his disas rou at mp , othe wer
f r as it ma th e deterred rom t ying . Be this however y ,
Vi neland voyages come to an end in the year 1121 .
a . VI . Th e I c e l n d i c M a p o f th e N o r th A t l a n ti c
’ Of the maps accompanying To rfwus s G r o nland i a the earliest is that subs cribed nS igurdi S tep hanii
rum h erb r deli t o To rfze us terra yp o earum nea i Anno 1570 In , we have appended to the map remarks by (Bishop) Tho rdr ’ Th o rlaks s o n n v a ut r s , thus s howi g it to be deri ed from th t a ho ’ Tho rd s u . o al copy, abo t 1670 The rigin is lost ; but Bishop copy is preserved in the Royal Library of Copenhagen
t 1 4 and we v a s mi (Old Collec ion , 288 , to) gi e it here in f c i le ’ a T » ro nlandia ro s (fig . Coll tion with o rfwus s G p ve that arbitrary remodelling o f the map mus t be attributed
To rf us n fo r to either se or the perso that drew him , which ’ indeed o ne might infer from Bishop Th o rd s remark as to
e a u s n is no t s o th l tit de of Iceland being too high , i ce it
’ us in To rfaa s copy .
Si ur s Ste hanius Si urdr fans Respecting g du p , or g Ste son ,
r s Th o rdr he had e the cartog apher , Bi kop states , that be n
a was t o f r t e a schoolmaster a t Sk lholt, and au hor a desc ip iv
wo rk on Iceland and a book about ghosts and spectres . We
a a n e may add , th t he was gra dson of Bishop Gisle J ns
a o a i n n a b. son of Sk lholt ( th t he studied Cope h gen , IE A STUD S ON THE VINELAND VO! GES . 27
’ where he wr ote in Arngrim JOns s o ns o Brevis Co mmentarius
de s Co enh . a an a I landica ( p 1593) p egyric on the uthor, and published » Argumenta s ingulo rum cap itum libro rum
S amuelis « o m a returned home , and t ok the an ge me o a o but e the nt Of the sch ol at Sk lh lt 1593 , was drown d
a following year in the river Bniara. His p ternal grandfather having been bo rn in 1513 and not having
arr ed f Si urdr a a e m i be ore 1551, g could at his de th h v been hardly 25 years old ; and hence the year on the map is wrong : the latter can not date farther back than about a n 1590. Arne M gnusso was the first to notice this UD THE NE AN A E 28 ST IES ON VI L D VOY G S . chronological discrepancy ; but he could not decide whether
la a it y in the ye r or in the name of the person , since ,
Ste hanius had a S i urdr before the time of p , there been g
n o n a at a e r (Jo ss ) schoolm ster Sk lholt . But th e ror is unquestionably in the year ; for at A (referring to the
Skraelin s o a » are g ) the auth r tells us , th t these the people a and av with whom the E n g l i s h came in cont ct , they h e
a d n s un their name from ri ity , bei g dried either by the or
o « nlandia a Tab II and To rfaei ro . by c ld (see G ntiqua , ) ; ’ sho ws accordingly that he knew of Fro bis her s first voyage when the English met with Esquimaux in » Frobish
’ u er s S trait .
n a n For the cou tries of Europe , the l titude give , as remarked even at that time by Bishop Tho rdr in the c ase
n a of Iceland, is too high . But the determi ations of l titude
’ show singular accordance with Merc ator s Atlas
t o a in n v a There , give ex mples poi t, we ha e Icel nd between
the parallels 68V: and and the Faeroes o n parallel
’ Of n Si urdr S tefans s o ns ma 64 ; the form, too , Icela d in g p ,
a n the Fax et o rd and more p rticularly the directio of j , ex
as o a o - tending , it does , t w rds the n rth east , suggests a
a a a o a lo n from Merc tor . And the co st of N rw y would appear to be a freehand drawing after Merc ato r ; the name
B armaland n n a of j alo e , in the orth , indic tes the only ori
inal o a g additi n . Most assuredly from th t source , is the long tract of coast stretching eastward from Greenland (taken by Mercator from the ! eni Map) and bearing the
» Ris eland a » o tunheimar a and name of and J , the island
a e n the n m of Frisla d, with reference to German geographers ,
a and the true configuration of Scotl nd, which, as in Mercator, no lo nger exhibits any trace of the traditional projection
a a a . No w (h nded down from Ptolemy) tow rds the e st , I ’ an n a do not me to i sist , that Merc tor s map itself was copied ; it may just as well have been a subsequent repro f — a a duction rom 1580 90 ; nay, the reduced rea of Frisl nd U E ON THE NELAN A E ST DI S VI D VOY G S .
(in Mercator stretching from 60 ° to would seem sug ges tive of this . But the intimate connexio n is at all nia n events unde ble . The indepe dent character o f the map
a fo r i must be sought in its western h lf , which S gurdr
a no o all Stef nsson had maps to g by ; Greenland, in maps from the l 6th century stretching as a long tongue of land
- S i urdr a towards the south or south west, has by g Stef ns
- son been turned south east , thus showing him to be his
dra - n ~ own guide here , wing , so to speak , well igh at hap n haz ard . He ce , the parallels of latitude merely serve to indicate what relative geographical position the constructor of the map conceived to exist between the countries . In
o - Her ulfs nes Greenland he has the most s uth easterly point, j ; the two fjords west of that promontory are meant therefore
s terb d Eriks f o rd and fo r the O yg ( j and , parted
a ernins ula are from that tr ct by a broadish p , the th r e e
rb fjords of the V es te ygd . Immediately south of these fjords comes H e llu l and ; h enc e St ep haniu s must have ’ known the story telling of Karls evne s voyage fr o m t h e
2 Hellu land V e s t e r b y g d (p . 1) and discovery of farther
o i a south acc rd ngly the S g a o f E r i k t h e R e d . More o o f n as a ver , he had read Vinela d stretching peninsula
K alarnes towards the north , or of the doubling of j , and of ll n a Tho rha the hu tsman , on his ttempt to get round that
o ff w n and headland, being driven by the western i d carried
a fo r » n inlandiaea east to Irel nd ; Promo torium W is in lat . a little to the north of the so uthern extremity of Ire ° a 51 25 In o l nd (true latitude ther words , the map is constructed a ft e r th e S a g a o f E r i k th e R e d on a a a and am n rbitrary p r llels , though well worth ex i ing as illustrative of the idea an Icelander about the year 1590
as had formed to the early discoveries of his countrymen , will not help us to determine them geographically . T D ON THE NELAN v u o n 30 S U IES VI D o s .
VII. T h e a H e llu la nd G e o g r p h y o f , M a r k l a n d,
a n d V i n e l a n d .
When seeking to determine geographically th e coun
d v we a the tries isco ered , must not forget th t Northmen,
a a e t at s in on their exp lor tory voy ges , r ached sou hern l itude which the altitude of the sun above th e horiz on and the length of the day were wholly unknown to them ; and hence they can not have been able with any great accuracy to
' e s tate the direction . The sun rising and setting at a difl
d ff di a ns rent hour or in a i erent rection , determin tio of
u a be direction wo ld n turally more or less uncertain . A
t ma s u as 4 devia ion , therefore , y be safely a s med of much as 5
r a the can as deg ees , but h rdly more ; so main direction pass
: s fo r h correct accordingly, in no ca e north can be taken sout ,
s - n - t and but very pos ibly north west or orth eas t for nor h , a a so on . Ex mples in point, in preference from great dist nces , are a : th e a n d a a e sily given thus , in s ili g irections , C pe St dt ° to (62 is computed lie due west of Cape Horn, on the coast of Iceland (64 ° sailing from Bergen (60 ° 25
to a Hvarf i . e . a you steer due west m ke , , Cape F rewell ° (59 45 and yet pass between the southmost of th e ° Fa roes (61 and the most no rtherly point of Shet ° land (60 50 Still greater discrepancy may be found o f fr t in statements direction om north to sou h , as where
a a um r Icel nd is ss ed to lie just north of I eland, or, to give
u a Re k ane s t » l a more partic l r instance , y j jus north of Jo l duhlau in an o Re k anes p Irel d , th ugh y j lies 13 degrees
a a farther west th n Irel nd .
a to o a a e Ag in , much weight must not be att ched to st t
’ ments of distances meas ured by the sta ndard of a nday s
1 ro n is n 2 0—12 G l t i . 1 ) . h . M d , III , .
TU E ON THE V NELAN A ES 32 S DI S I D VOY G .
t ce 1 . P o i n t o f D e p a r t u r e . Well worth our no i are the different points of departure chos en fo r the two ex ploratory voyages that had fo r their obj ect the finding o f
n ft its d L iv w h Vi eland a er iscovery by e . Erik the Red, it his r i k f o r d son Thorstein , set out straight from E s j , but
a o . Kar t king a wrong c urse got into the open Atlantic . ls evne e d the ad at the h a of other expedition, m e choice of
- t in Vester d o a starting point farther wes , the byg , or, m re
Fi g . 3 .
’ d L s e f o r d f closely etermined, from y j , his wife s arm . The cause of this lay no doubt in the adoption of a plan formed in the winter following the unsuccessful maritime expedition; the adventurers had found out that the point of
a was departure t ken for the former expedition too far east, and that accordingly they had to take a more western
i Hellulan s erb d in . e . d t course , , that lay west of the O yg
a a t Greenland . The unquestion ble import nce at aching to
a i a the above f cts, has n l ter times been entirely overlooked, U E THE NE AN A E ST DI S ON VI L D VOY G S . 33
o Skard critical research , misled by Bj rn of z a, having
s L s ef o rd f n in Ves terb d ought y j arthest orth the old yg , on o f Is arto kf o rd n the shore the j in the Sukkertoppe district, ‘ ° . na therefore in lat . 65 /s N The origi l list o f Greenland
in Flate arbOk churches the yj , where they are enumerated
Her ulfs nes a Ves terb d from j northw rd, gives the yg churches
: an in L s e f o r d HO in the following order S dnes y j , p in
A ne f o r d and Anavik in R a n e f o r d L s ef o rd g j , g j ; y j is
a o n n f o in Vesterb d cc rdi gly the most souther j rd yg , which agrees indeed best with the alleged settlement of the tract
as a as . e rly the time of Erik the Red Now, a comparison ’ between BjOrn of Skardz as » Vetus Ch o ro grap hia a and the
» ro nlandia n G of Arngrim Jonsso , who drew from the
a s u as B Orn s me o rce j , but compiled more carefully, shows Arngrimr Jonsson to have preserved a list of the Vester
n o f k d f o B Or S ar z a. a bygd j rds , left out by j The s id list of f a num a jords , which , throughout the chorogr phy, e er tes from
n n V e sterb d south to orth , ru s for the yg as follows
L s u fi ti r d u r Ho rnafiii rdu r AndafiOrdur S uartifiOrdur y , , , ,
A na fi o r d u r R a n a i r d u r Le rufiOrdur Lo dins fiiirdur g , g , y , ,
S trau s fifirdur and Einars fitirdur f a n m , (the jords lso give in the Flat eyj arbOk printed here with s p a c e d letters will
in o L s ef o r t o a . d be found follow the s me rder) Hence, y j is
f Ves terb d and the most southerly jord in the yg , may there
o a n Fis kerf o rd fore with g od re so be identified as j , in the ° la Fis kern s in s nae t . 3 . w Fi ker s district , 6 N But lies ‘ ° f n . o a lo gitude 50 /s W ( Greenwich) , ccordingly 5 degrees farther west than Brattalid in Eriks fj o rd (Kaks iars uk o n th e Tu nugdliarfik thus Lys efj o rd lay at leas t 30
1 ] is i i i rs o rd r n . E na ) Tho u gh the Edito rs o f G an . h t . M d bel eve fi to I alikk o -f o and E rik s f o rd t o Tu nu dliarfik t is be g j rd , j be g , h o m n i in I alikk t Brattalid d o es no t keep them fr ide t fy g g o w i h . ’ Ig alikk o is unqu e s tio nably th e bis ho p s s e e G a r d a r ; fo r in th e Flateyj arbdk Gardar is s een to lie wo n the is thm u s f r n in r r (that betw een E rik s j o d a d E a s fj o d) . U E ON THE NE AN vo vAGEs 34 ST DI S VI L D .
eo r . f Eriks f o rd g g miles arther west than j , and was a much better spot from whence to make a voyage in s o uth
o f o western tracts cean .
. H e llu la nd n s 2 . This cou try, whose name signifie uflagsto ne land . may be reached from the Ves t erbygd ’ » a a n all a r in two days s il ; whe describing it , the utho
in e o f has to tell is of big stone slabs , 24 feet l ngth , and
n n polar foxes ; hence , it must eeds be a barre , uninhabited ,
- n an s north lyi g region . Other Icel dic account also state
Helluland a to be sterile , inhospitable land , lying to the
- n o ld south or south west of Greenland . Accordi g to the Helluland lies south of Greenland ; but the autho r of the Orvaro dds s aga makes his hero go in search
1 Gro nl . is t . M in III 216 22 ) h d . , , 0. U ES THE NE AN v rac e 35 ST DI ON VI L D o s .
lu land in nan - Of of Hel the Gree l d Sea , south west Green
o f i . e . land , , its southern Due south of the Vesterbygd (Lys efj o rd) there is no land at all ; for even o n a the most easterly point of Newf u dl nd (Cape Spear , in ° s lat . 52 lies a little to the west of H s kernse . On o the whole , however , the p sition of both Labrador and
a a a Newfoundl nd is such as , with northerly wind , to dmit of reaching those countries from Fiskernaes . With that
r a point of depa ture , the nearest land would be L bra
x fr a c s a n ! S
Kj a l a r n e s
d ” T a m i/f o r
Fi . g . 5
Web k ° a u c . 55 n dor , C pe (lat but even the the — a 105 110 eo r . na distance re ches g g miles ; y , to the n o f n in norther extremity Newfoundla d (Cape Bould , lat .
° i a eo r nd 51 the d stance is bout 135 g g . miles ; a as s uming the course more directly south and the p o int
a a n a n a reached to h ve been the e ster p rt of Newfou dl nd , not
Helluland a a eo r . less th n about 150 g g . miles h ving been an n clearly the l d nearest Greenla d , we shall doubtless be
Fo rnaldar-s b ur r rlanda II 248 g No d , . STUDIES ON THE VINELAND VOYAGES .
no t o u t a as o far in t king Labrador, though yet the n rthern peninsula of Newfou ndland is not wholly excluded .
O fo r a as a a Orvaro dd at S b ck even the S g of , d ing
v in all probability from the 14th century , one erse of the
“ » O r a z Hellu ands hrauns b di . e . Saga refers to l yg , , Hellu lands volc anic hence the author must have re
l land a a r garded Hel u s dese t region , with the Icelandic
: vo at s . adjunct of deserts lcanoes , or least fi e l d o f l a v a
l in r e a Hel uland G . Similar characteristics ar scribed to p ,
a are a g l a c i e r s . Both st tements like fictitious , neither Labrado r no r Newfou ndland having volcanoes or
But in an - o f lat er ~ dat e glaciers . Icel dic folk lore a this
a and in a b fiction becomes matter of f ct , has , B r ar ' naafells as s Pattr o f Gunnari Keldu nII s fi fl saga S , in g p , in
Halfdanars a a Bro nufOs tra and a Of Halfdani g , in the Sag
E s teins s ni Helluland and y y , led to being more more moved
n n v n o up towards the orth , till it now lies orth or e e n rth
a Of n and t o - B armaland e st Gree land, stretches well nigh j ,
r was a B Orn Skardz a in o Thus it , th t j of ,
s o t o Of Hellulands : later time (c . g his the ry tw o a no n Hellu land u in o n rther Great , N rth Greenland ( orth
a nan and u » Helluland a e st Gree l d) , a so thern Little , south
a o was n ur a west o f Such the ry quite at l ,
nd v n n s a a n a a a and a e e eces ry , ssumi g the f bulous S g s the
a a a t o in a de ree w o rth o f historic l S g s be equ l g . y credit ; at the present time however it shou ld have mo re antiqu arian ’ n an a has a n u B Orns i terest . Me while R fn t ke p j theory, to Sho w there mu st have been two Hellulands s o u th Of Green land ( » Helluland th e Great « and » Hellu land the wh n as a a o and u n a an ich he ide tifies L br d r Newfo dl nd , ’ as sumption at variance alike with BjOrnJOns s o ns words and
-s r r d 1 Fo rnaldar O u No drlan a 3 8 . g , II , 3 — i r ] is t . i 1 24 x t a ts n G an . M n . 2 6 ) See E r c h d , III, . 3 212 Gro nl. is t . M in 111 . ) h d . , , STUDIES ON THE VINELAND vo vs c ns . 37
n an a wa the Vi el d S gas . In this y, however, Rafn makes out the Helluland discovered on the voyage to Vineland to have
» Helluland (1 o r o an been the Little , Newf undland , as sumption nece ssary to allow o f moving Vineland south
a a n n w rd to Rhode Island . But this milit tes eve agai st
’ ’ Rafns own source o f research the FlateyjarbOk for if
a o are Labr d r has no glaciers , there as a matter of course n in no e Newfoundland .
v n n h 3 . M a r k l a n d . E e assumi g it doubtful, w ether Helluland were Labrador or the m ost northerly peninsula
w u n a o n an of Ne fo dland , we sh ll so see that Markl d , ac
o o f i n no c rding to the Saga Er k the Red , can have bee
n an . a a a other cou try than Newfoundl d For the S g st tes,
’ that after a day s sail to the south or s o u t h e a s t they
o n wi reached another country , overgr w th wood , and which
‘
a a a z . a . for th t re son they called Markl nd ( , wooded land)
o f Now , it is Newfoundland that lies due s o u th e a s t
a a a n e stern L br dor, and is besides the most easterly cou try
n M a s . a wa in North America That the me too a rk l n d,
an w well chosen for Newfoundl d, will be sho n farther on .
i o a a n n . k 4 . V n l a n d (Vi ela d) Fr m the S g of Eri the
a a a was o to o a Red, it appe rs th t Vinel nd f und end t w rds the n K alarnes a orth as a peninsula , j being its north e stern extremity ; the explorers first made sail along the sandy expanse of the eastern shore till the country became intersected with fjords and here they ran
tr f o n Karls evne into the S aums jord . Fr m the ce set o ff
o o n o a and s uth , al g the east c st , reached the bay where the collision took place with the Skrmlings (Hep ) ; and subsequently the expedition s ailed round the northern
a far an peninsul to a small river , supposed to be as dist t f f f n rom Straums jord as was Hop from Straums jord . He ce the country will have the rough coastal form from po int to point, given in fig . 5 (see p . D N THE NELAN A E 38 STU IES O VI D VOY G S .
n h But , comparing the outli e t ere with the contours of
a Nova Scotia (fig . the ccount in the Saga would seem admirably adjusted for Nova Scotia with Cape Breton
n two o o u Island , supposi g the to be one c ntinu s tract ; and the error that arose in determining the direction will be readily
dm a . a itted (see bove p If now, in disproof of this , we
m “0 “F m a s m m as as an m w m
are told there is a sound between No va Scotia and Cape
n an a s Breton Isla d (Gut of C so) , old m p of these regions will show at a glance h o w very late the mariners of h Europe go t any knowledge of this narro w c annel . The
‘ fisheries o fl Cape Breton and the B anks of No wfo undland took their commencement in 1504 ; and yet there is no
T A E 40 STUDIES ON HE VINELAND VOY G S .
e . . a several points might be fixed upon, g , S lmon River or
n n v n Hu ti g River , or one of the ri ers flowing i to Pictou
a th e n a va a H rbour , in norther p rt of No Scoti ; more
a a n o especi lly the l tter poi t will , if selected , prove the obs r v io a n a n at n to be true , th t the mou t i s there were the same that h ad been seen in the opposite direction at Hep ; o ne ridge traversing Nova Scotia from end to end .
a Th o rhall n a o n n Th t the hu tsm n , his tryi g to double
K alarne s was o ff n w n and j , driven by the wester i d blown
an a a an o o across to Irel d , or th t M rkl d sh uld lie pposite
an a has n a to Irel d, is not strictly opposed to wh t bee st ted i ° ‘ ° ’ . a n lat . N . above True , Irel nd is 51 25 55 35 , ° ‘ ° ‘ o a . le t . N . and a Newf undl nd in 46 40 51 35 , C pe
o n th a a o n Breton lies the 46 p r llel ; hence , ly the most north erly part o f Newfoundland c an be said to lie due west of
an a a a Irel d ; but the dist nce being so gre t , the devi tion
v . a a o dwindles down to the eriest trifle Moreover, the n vig t r
ab in i na o John C ot, who 1497 unquest o bly set fo t somewhere in o a a o n a in lat the m st south e sterly p rt of Newf u dl nd , . — 47 48 states that country to be 400 (geographical)
‘
z e . . miles west of . , of Bristol , in lat and old maps from the l 6th century also Show Newfo und land (o r Terra Co rtereal) to stretch up no rthward to about nay often to
f o a a a a Thus , judging exclusively rom top gr phic l d t , H e llu l a nd m ay hav e been Labrador (or the northern
nn a n a a a a and pe i sul of Newfou dl nd) , M r k l n d Newfoundl nd ,
V n a o va o a a o a o i e l nd N Sc ti l ng with C pe Bret n Island .
a a a i m o But , the fin l ccept tion of th s theory ust depend n whether the acco unt given in the Saga of the natural
’ aimo n o di nc io o s t o he u o f i Har R d So le ter t t D ke M lan. ris s J an e s i n a o t 24 s e in s t a t a . 3 . s o i to r e , e Seb C b , p q W r, H y o f Am i a III 4 . er c , , 5 2 h t e M a s in Ko ins o and o t s . ) See p hl , W r her U E ON THE INE AN A E ST DI S V L D VOY G S . conditio ns and pro ducts of those countries c an be proved correct . And this will form the subject o f the fo llowing n sectio .
a a VIII . F u n a nd F l o r a.
The Icelanders speak o f H e llu la nd as a region » full
a n o n a no of big stone sl bs , ofte 24 feet br d . But mention whatever is made of plants o r human beings : hence it was a a n and nn a nv n to a b rre u i habited l nd, nowise i iti g stay of
n a n a a a as any le gth , the ex ct cou terp rt of L br dor de
b o av . Na o a o scribed y m dern tr ellers y, the nly tr ces of r
anic a a a n g life recorded be r out this e rly st teme t , the
n av » a n o a « Norseme h ing met with gre t umbers of p l r foxes . For Labrado r is the true home of the p o l a r fo x ; very seldom according to Audub o n and Bachmann does
o in o n an a it ccur the extreme n rth of Newfou dl d , where s
a a a o o a n the f rther north in L br d r , the m re bu dant is it found t o Th e country reached by the No rthern explo rers s o uth
a o f Helluland av n n i a a . a. e st , they g e the me of M rk l a d , , wooded landf Lo o king even at the fo rest growth o f
a da c an a n a Newfoundl nd at this y , we re dily co ceive , th t
an as o s Icel ders , coming they did from the w odles regions
n an and a a o m a an a of Gree l d L br d r, ight reg rd Newfoundl d s
a o fo r at n a an va a l nd of f rests ; the prese t time , fter inter l
- n a n ax e o f of well igh 300 ye rs , duri g which the the settler has a s ad av o f a n m de h oc with the growth timber, the e ster
na o a n a n are a v shores , y the m unt i s lo g the coast, s id e en
dens il and and far a yet to be y wooded with fir birch, inl nd o n the mo untains even bus hes are fo und growing that in
c a a n h o w ff n some ses reach the height of ma . But di ere t
a o na the cc unts from the 16th , y from the 17th century .
1 ) Repo rt s o f ex plo ratio ns and s urveys fro m the M is sis ip p i i th e a ifi O an o 7 v t o V l. V 13 R er P c c ce , III , p . . U E THE NE AN A E 42 ST DI S ON VI L D VOY G S .
a Co rtereal a s a a Gasp r , who in the ye r 1501 iled long the
a t a a a and a whole e s ern co st , spe ks of the v st intermin ble a n n forests , th t furnished the I dia s with timber for their
n a a Parmeniu s in The Hu g ri n Stephen , who 1583
was at . n n a u St Joh s , Newfou dl nd, with Sir H mphrey Gilbert, states the country to have been full o f mountains and
a o ld o n forests , particul rly fir, both trees and y u g
a Withb o urn wh o had a a v a Rich rd , m de number of oy ges
a a and and to Newfoundl nd between the ye rs 1579 1614 ,
in r who published 1620 a descriptive work on the count y, mentions a great abundance o f trees fit to be employed in
a : irre and other service ble uses there are F Spruce trees ,
and a withall and as sound , good fit to m st ships , commo dio u s fo r bo ards and buildings as the Spruce and Firre
a o c n trees of Norw y . No c untry an shew Pine a d Birch 3 an e « trees of such height d greatness as those ar there ).
a n to o in » Newfo undland a John M so , , his Brief Discourse on
1620 and a and az as ( ) tells us of fir pine , spen h el yielding good
a a a a a a a Respecting the f un of M rkl nd, the S g s ys there
na a a o i a a were gre t m ny d er a , . e . , nim ls of the deer
» « has n genus . The red deer , we k ow , its home in New fo u ndland a a a s , though of l te ye rs the spre d of settler along the coasts has made it less abundant ; yet in spite
n Hall Ba and h Ba are of this , the forests rou d y W ite y
to n - still reported be excellent hu ting grounds ; indeed , not
Ramu sio 417 : » Le o h bit tio ni s o no f t di III , l ro a a at e leg nam ua anno abb o ndantia e s ru andis simi e , del q le h per se i gr
infiniti b o s c hi a . Cited fro m do Laet Nie uu e We relt Ofte Be s c hriiving he van s tin i n s e We d e (Leyden p . 38 q . A Dis co urs e and dis co very o f Ne w -fo und-land (Lo ndo n 1 p . 0. Cited fro m Pickering Chro no lo gical Histo ry o f Plant s
n 9 . (Bo s to p . 35 U E T HE NE AN ! A E ST DI S ON VI L D VO G S . 43 many years Since an English sporting club killed there close upon 2000 of those no ble
On an o ff - a n island the south e stern coast of the cou try,
n and a a the Northmen encou tered desp tched a b e r , which,
as s a in the mouth of an Icelander , is as much to y
. an a i a a P o l a r b e a r Very true , the Polar bear is n m l more specifically arctic than ev en the Polar fox ; but we
fo r a in no w know cert in , that, former times at least, it might and again be met with on the eastern shores of Newfoundland :
n A. . and r both Joh Cabot ( D 1497) Gaspar Co tereal (A . D . 1501) brought back with them from Newfoundland white
a « a rt tells o be rs lso Jean Ca ier us , that, on his first v yage
in o ff a n (A . D . he fell , the e st coast, in the vici ity ° ’ n a » o is a lx a of Fu k Isl nd ( isle des e u in lat . 49 45
a in a with Polar bear, spoken of precisely as the Sag , but
at a » is let h n more l rge to this , thoug dista t 14 miles
o ff f a na from the shore , the bears swim rom the m i l nd , to
a s ea- o o ne o f c tch f wl , and some of our crew came up with
s wan a them, big as a cow and white as a , th t jumped
th e a a a into w ter to make its esc pe . Next day, Whitsund y,
n a a s aw a a - whe m king for l nd , we the same be r h lf way
a a o n ani to shore , swimming r ce with us ; descrying the
a s lo w it mal, we gave chase from the bo ts and after a fierce struggle ; the flesh was as good eating as that of a two - year o ld heifer «
Th e o f an n name the third l d, V i n e l a n d, was give by
eiv a L Eriksson , who took with him home to Greenl nd
a and a s mples of wild grapes whe t of spontaneous growth,
als o a » a a n as of big trees , c lled m sur a (German M s e r , vei ed
a . n a at or stre ky wood) But , from the subseque t ttempt
l iz n » a co on ation, it is show beyond dispute , that neither gr pe
1 Os o o th e a itim o vin s 211 ) g d , M r e Pr ce , p . . 2 ) Relatio n o riginale du vo yage do Jacqu es Cartier au Canada
en 1534 u . ar . M ic he lan et A amé a is 5 , p bl p H t . R e (P r p . . 44 STUDIES ON THE VINELAND VOYAGES . vines « no r » wheat » were to be found in the north or north
o n a and east part of the c o untry along the W der Str nds ,
a o a th t , before these pr ducts were discovered , the n vi gators had to make a run of several days to the south
a n o n a n w rd . The striki g c tr st exhibited between the Wo der
r and » HO a in is fu rth er Strands in the no th p the south , ,
h l an in set forward by Tho r a l the huntsm , who the follow wing v erse gives vent to his great disappointment at not finding grape - vines on the Wonder Strands :
Promise the chief made when hither
a h a C me I, then t t the best of
av a Drink should I h e , yet f ult I
n a a Fi d with the l nd, yea gr vest, And to all do I tell it :
a Here you, thirst, with the bucket Needs must wend yo ur way strandward ;
- m I to the well spring cla ber, n Wi e my lips never wetted .
n an la in - Hence , n o r th e r Vinel d y without the w e region ,
n ar a n n t n the s o u th e r p t ccordi gly touched its or her limit, o r a a a - v r ther th t of the gr pe ine . The question , therefore , is to determine the no rthern limit o f the grape - vine in
North America.
a a n - a Now d ys , it will sou d semi fabulous to spe k of eastern North America as a » Vineland a but we need no extensive search through the early geographic literature of
a n n to o e a a a . th t c tin t, find numerous p r llel st tements Well nigh all travellers in the l 6th century are unanimous in
a o f a n pr ise the wild gr pes of North America. On the followi g
a at as dat I must dwell more large , showing , they do , the n th e a - i orthern limit of gr pe vine there n the 16th century .
a a o n n a an a Je n C rtier, his seco d voy ge from Newfoundl d, s iled
a n n a through the Gulf of St . L wre ce a d up the river of th t
’ a a no w n n as d rléans a n me to the isl nd k ow Isle O , little TU E ON THE NE AN S DI S VI L D VO! AGES .
° . 47 and n » a below ! uebec (lat fou d there m ny vines ,
we had i . e . and w which not seen before ( , farther north) , e called the island therefore I s l e d e B a c c h u s « ; nay in th e
south , on his passage up the river , he came , along both
an » s o a a b ks , to many vines lo ded with grapes th t it well nigh seemed they had been planted by man; but not being cultivated or clipped the grapes are neither so
a Os -u f l rge nor so sweet ours Here , there ore , some
a in n t - i as dist nce land , the norther limi of the grape v ne w about latitude 47 but o n the east coast it did not
a far n . 16 a Les c arbo t re ch so orth In 06 , ccording to , the
Cho uako et a French found at (S co) , in the present state o f n » a a - f Mai e gre t abund nce of grape vines , rom
’ n t a a 3 to 4 feet high , and ear the root as hick as m n s
wi b a as « fist , th fine lack gr pes , some big as plums and in a 1607 , f rther north, when making their way up the river
a in a t a a St . Je n , the tract f erw rds c lled New Brunswick , the French observed » many vines along the banks ; the grapes however are not so large as in the land o f the
a Ba i o n On the e st shore of Fundy y , in the env r s of Port
a a a c Roy l (now Annapolis , Nov Scoti ) , the Fren h did not,
a - v n on the other hand , meet with the gr pe ine growi g wild ;
Les c arbo t f n for a firms disti ctly , that, though on the west
n a n a a in side they found vi es in bu d nce and ripe gr pes , the
v r a had n h en i ons of Port Roy l he seen no e such , t ough the country with its hills was well adapted for their growt h
o - n Spite of this, it would, from testim ny well nigh simulta eous ,
a n a seem to be a matter of cert inty , that in souther Nov
a n Scoti the vi e also at that time grew wild . We have
1 ) Bref Re cit c t s u ccincte narratio n de la Navigatio n faite e n
535 e t 1536 ar Io a itain Ja u s a ti e tc . 1 p c p e cq e C r er , ed . ’ D Ave z ac a is fo l 15 a 19 (P r . , b . 9 Le r o s o i I no n is s c a b t i t a u v a a . 490 550. ) , H re elle Fr ce (P r p , 3 ’ Je ne n ai o int ve u e u o t o mais la le ) p P r R yal , terre e t s
o t aux s o nt o t o s . Le s c arb t . 928 . c e y f r pr pre o , p U E ON THE V NE AN ST DI S I L D VOYAGES .
a n a an » Enc o thus an ccou t by Sir Willi m Alex der, in his u ragem ent t o Colonies « respecting those he had sent
’ wh o an 1623 Ba n in out, l ded, July , in Luke s y (Port Mouto , ° - a a nd lat . a a a 43 55 on the south e stern co st of Nov Scoti ,
far as a o a explored the country as C pe Negr . The uthor
n a f o f o and in a a e umer tes here the ruits the regi n , p rticul r
» o o s eb eries s trawb eries hindberies ras beries and a g , , , , kind
- o o as a a n of r e d w i n e b r i s a , lso sever l descriptio s of wild
» e a r e s w h e at e a a nd corn ( s o m e o f , b r l e y , r i e g r o w i n g th e r e Wi l d a ) and extensive The
n a o a as Fre chm n Nic l s Denys, who from 1632, both colonist
as o uverno r n a a n a and g of the cou try, p ssed umber of ye rs
ff n ar a o a and in in di ere t p ts of Nov Sc ti , published , 1672
a s a o n » n é a et (P ri ) , w rk e titled Descriptio g ogr phique ’ historique des costes de l Amériqu e s ep tentrio nale a states
n a n a expressly , co cerning the inner tr cts of the la d e st of
a a a o ak Port Roy l, th t there were gre t forests of , ash , fir,
and aS » and a pine , birch, p ; the wild vine the w lnut tree
are a . v n in n lso there There is ery little s ow the cou try,
n a And o n to m a a and very little wi ter . he goes re rk of Nov
a n a a » firs t a n a n Scoti ge er lly, th t it is cert i th t the cou try
v a a a a a a a produces the ine n tur lly, th t it be rs gr pe th t
as as a ripens perfectly, the berry large the musc t . As to
a n and its juice , it is not so agree ble , bei g wild , its skin is
it a an a and v as a l tle h rder, but if it were tr spl nted culti ated,
in a a o a n as is done Fr nce , I h ve no d ubt th t the wi e would be good « In a paper read befo re the » No va Sco tia Institute of Natural Science » Professor George L a w s o n of Hali fax in an n had m a , reply to i quiry I de free to prefer through my l n a . B tt o a a a f a a colle gue Prof y , brought f rw rd v riety o f cts be ri g
1 it o m i in o no o i a is to o f ants ) C ed fr P cker g , Chr l g c l H ry Pl ,
940 w t s s w in - i s » are s nt s » ac p . , here he e e berr e repre e ed a V c inium vitis Ide a a o r th e w o rt r ! , red h leber y 2 ’ n s 52 and 19 as x t a t in u o s is o ) De y I , II , ; e r c ed M rd ch H t ry o f o va o tia o r A a i 536 s e N Sc , c d e , I , q.
U IE ON THE NELAN 48 ST D S VI D VOYAGES .
a i still grows , we see , in several loc l ties of Nova Scotia,
a a n a and p rticul rly round A n polis (Port Royal) ; , if some of
a Les c arb o t o s s i il the inform nts , referring to , suggest the p b ity of the wild grape - vine being a degenerate vine planted
a a by the French , this , as ppears bove , must depend on a
n n Les carb o t a t a i misco ceptio , for does not ffirm h t he or h s
n d i d an v a a countryme pl t ines , but merely th t the l nd was
n - an had b a good one for vi e husb dry , vines een plante d ;
“ and the distribution of the wild grape -vine in other parts
at a a a of the country time so shortly fter , pl inly shows it
l v r n cou d n o t ha e come from any F ench settlement . He ce ,
ma as a well- a a t e v we y infer, proven f ct, th t on h a r r i a l o f a th e E u r o p e a n s i n N o v S c o t i a i n th e 1 7 th c e n tu r y , t h e g r a p e - v i n e w a s fo u n d g r o w i n g w i l d i n t h e s o u t h e r n t r a c t s .
n » w m e Moreover, rightly apprehe ded , the unso n co , too ,
v a an m a a. s points to No Scoti Formerly , to cite exa ple , far as o n and ft M a nus en back Sch ing , a er him Finn g and
' a » a « was a a - s tufl R fn , this wild whe t t ken to be the bre d then
n a h o a viz . a z in ge er l use t r ughout North Americ , , m i e , or
n a an a m I di n corn . Such ssu ption must , if true , settle the
a at as an m tter once , moving, it would , Vinel d south of
a a a z no t na n o n Nov Scoti ; for m i e did grow there , y , eve
a o f a a ea the e stern shores New Engl nd , bout the y r 1600, ° no was lat its limit rth . 44 (mouth of the
a in ana a in as where s C d , 1535 , we find it under culture
o n nu As a s re s ult o f th e o nly o ne I have pers ally s ee . ure all the info rmatio n o btained Pro fes s o r Law s o n attes t s that at pres ent the m o s t no rtherly lo calities w here the w ild
' - vin o r a o lia o r ri aria is met w it are grape e ( Vztis c d f V. p ) h , as fo llo w s : Annapo lis Ro yal and Wes t River (Picto u -C o unty) ’ i o i s i in Ne uns w i and n va o t a St . Jo n v w N Sc , h R er Br ck ,
Is e aux o u s in St aw n iv in ana a. l C dre ( . L re ce R er) C d 1 a t Nie u u e We relt . 65 . ) De L e , , p U E THE V NELAN A E ST DI S ON I D VOY G S . 49 far as n a B ut a n north Mo tre l , in spe ki g of
a z s a o a all a m i e , we must t te m st emph tic y, th t it is n o t corn of spontaneous growth wild corn ; wheresoever met with in i a o t o a o f a North Amer c , fr m Mexico the St te M ine , ° lat N . a z n a n . as 44 , m i e occurs o ly c u l ti v t e d cor ; of this there is ample proof in all accounts from the 16th and 17 t o o th centuries , which , , describe the primitive
a n n ans a agricultur l impleme t of the I di ( kind of hoe). From the two - fold fact of the colonists both having
and a » n c o m e a observed m de use of the u sown , we may re son ably infer they had got t o a c o untry where c o r n w a s n o t
v a . v A a z c u l ti t e d For, where er throughout North merica m i e
i n o are a ia is met w th u der culture , ther esculents inv r bly
n a a . an a t a a t a fou d cultiv ted too Je C r ier rel tes , th t Montre l ,
i o f a z w wn o n a exclus ve m i e , ere gro mel s , cucumbers , pe s ,
ans and a o a abo the a be , tob cc in the south of M ine , ut ye r
1 v lan d a and az a an a 600, the nati es p te m iz e Br ili n be s , r ised
o a and a v te a 1 24 t b cco , h r es d nuts f rther south , in 5 ,
Verez z ano n a le umens and fou d the tr ct producing corn , oil , g , a v a i - a and n far riety of fru t trees ( pple , plume , i deed the
o u o t a ant o u ther y go south , the m re cul iv ble pl s do y meet w n a n ith . Had the Northme reached poi t south of the n n a z - o a a as the orther m i e limit, they w uld n tur lly, did explorers
th n an s va n of the l 6 ce tury, notice the other pl t in culti tio , and no t attach su ch exclusiv e importance t o the wild
o n i aff in c r . A striking c o unterpart to th s is orded the v oyagers of th e 16th century that came no r th o f the region in i n was n u a n nn wh ch cor u der cult re , lso expressly me tio i g
c o r n an a w n in o n the w i l d . Je C rtier , he , 1534 , his first
- v l n o f . aw oyage through Belle Is e Strait i to the Gulf St L rence , ° ° in — o s an and a s in s a n a lat . . t c me 47 48 N i l ds tr ct , pe ki g
1 ie e A f l 2 2 J an art d . v z a o . 3 4 ) e C r , e c , , 2 3 J an arti . Av z a fo l. 24 1 . ) e C er, ed e c , , 3 53 . 5 s e e a s o L e s c arb o t . 5 a t . 6 ) De L e p , l p U E ON THE V NE AN A E 50 ST DI S I L D VOY G S .
n o t n. eo of which he does omit the wild cor Some 20 g gr.
an an miles west of Newfoundl d, he fell in with the desert isl d ° that he gave the name of » Isle de Bryon« (47 » having
a n and elds o w il co and o n beautiful trees , pl i s , fi f d m a ;
th e m a n at a reaching inla d, the mouth of the river Mir michi
n 47 s aw l an (New Bru swick he in fu l growth peas , curr ts ,
a a and n a str wberries , r spberries , w i l d c o r , l i k e r y e , t h t l o o k e d a s i f i t h a d b e e n s o w n a nd c u l ti v a t e d ; of
n a a Ba a a the la d pproxim ting the y de Ch leur he s ys , that in places neither covered with forest no r choked with
was a n n n n sand there b u d a c e o f w i l d c o r , h a v i g th e c a r s r e a nd r a I n c a t s l i k e y t h e g l i k e , Above ,
’ I have cited Sir William Alexander s account o f Port Mouto n in o a v n n n are Nova Sc ti , where e e 3 ki ds of wild cor said to
s S chubeler was as Profes or , so far I know, the first to maintain th e exact resemblance between the » self- s o wn
« n and an a wheat of the Northme the Americ I n d i n R i c e ,
! z ua or W i l d R i c e ( i ania aq tica L . or Hydro p yrum e s cu lentum) ; the plant in question grows wild o n the banks o f a i a nan and in rivers, the m rg n of st g t water, swampy spots, along the whole eastern c o ast of North America as far ° north as lat . 50 ’ The rest of the description given o f Vineland s flora and fauna is no t sufficiently precise to admit of clo ser inference ; we m ay however safely affirm that all details in
are o a In o th e the Saga pr per to Nov Scotia . Straumsfj rd c o lo nists lived by hunting and fishing : o n the island adj a
n o n Of s ea- a s ea ce t they f u d the eggs fowl, c ught fish in the ,
o n an n o t o f at killed game l d , and o ce g hold a whale , th
1 i e J an arti . M ch lant e t amé . 19 25 39 . ) e C er ed R e , p , , 2 a o 46 . ) b ve p . 3 is tiania Vidensk ab s s els k abs Fo rhandlin e r fo r 1858 s e e ) Chr g , — a s o c h ii be lers Vi i a iu m No rve ic um 251 254 . l S r d r g I ,
’ i i ' I t 4 c i I ‘f I fl ! , “ ’ f [ / f 1 Cl : f i , fl I k A g “ f ” 11 “ 0 . “ s A fi I “ ! ! g f w N u I ” - ! Jo t s f» f f E ON THE NE AN A E STUDI S VI L D VOY G S .
e n came drifting in shore . At H p their mode of livi g was
a a o ff n n very much the s me (here , m ng the di ere t ki ds of
a t a o f . ! et a at fish, speci l no e is m de holibut) they c ll tention to the comparative mildness o f the climate : sno w
no t a and a o a a in n a ta does f ll, the c ttle g bro d wi ter, s te ment that very well agrees with the climatic conditions o f
n a a Les c a o o o . rb t a s uther N v Scoti , too , spe ks of the short
: no a an mild winters the s w , he s ys , should there ch ce
a S a n a a a and to be light f ll , melti g r pidly w y , domestic
' animals being s uflered to roam at large during
a o f a u s As p rt wh t the country prod ce , we must count the
» peltry and v ery grey furs « which the Skraelings bring fo r barter ; als o this detail is found corro borated in Lescar
’ a a n ia a v n n bot s ccount from Port Roy l , the I d n n ti es bri gi g there for traffic the fells of the rodents they catch in the
‘ - o a a and a ns c urse of the winter , p rticul rly otter be ver ski
I ! . a n I n h b i t a t s .
a a o a a a a It ppe rs fr m the S g , th t people with fixed
a a o n o was no o un in h bit ti ns , tilli g the s il, where f d the newly
v n n H e llu l nd a was n o a s . I a a disc ered l d , not tr ce see o f human beings ; and it is pretty sure that Icelandic lit
r i In a eratu e do es no t know Of any exist ng there . M r k
a o u a a t a o n a a no in l n d , the p ss ge sou h l g the e st co st,
a n w n s a n a a a n h bita ts were met with ; but , he ili g b ck g i ,
av a o n o r a o as a n h ing l nded the south e st c t , the dve turers
a u n a » krselin s u was t in c me po few S g . Nor here the north o f Vineland seen any trace o f hum an beings ; only in the southern tracts did they again enco u nter » Skrae
n « and o n n lan w e h a th e li gs , the west shore of Vi e d ve
a o « ni d u o a is a a u e . f bul us p , who so n fter d ppe rs
1 4 . Le s c arb o t . 6 377 . a s o a o v ) p . Se l b e p 2 i i 89 ) b d . p . 8 . UD E ON THE V NE AN E 52 ST I S I L D VOYAG S .
a a do a a Now, to wh t r ce or tribe they ctu lly belong, these Skraalings ? It has indeed been set down as self
v n a Skraalin s e ide t , th t the g of the Northmen were the
n a n a people k own from Greenland, ccordi gly Esquim ux ; and a few critics only have seen fit to doubt the correctness of
a i are this ssumption , as Esqu maux not known to have reached so far Th e usual theory rests in fact solely on the Greenlanders having used the name of » Skraa lings -a alike fo r the Greenland Esquimaux and the natives
n n n an a a d . of Vi el d Markl d Meanwhile , it is a que stion,
in i a an t no a a whether, so do ng, they me nt to give e h gr phic l ‘ » ae « a kraal n er designation . The term Skr ling (plur l S i g ) is
r a n da and a to o in Den in No w y at the prese t y, prob bly
d t o o r a n a mark , applie feeble , physic lly decrepit i dividu ls , and that was no doubt the signification in former times hence it would rather seem to indicate low culture than an l a o had a a b . No w as y p rticu r r ce or tri e , the N rthmen no t o pportunity fo r visual comparison between the Green an i a and a a and n a l d Esqu m ux the people of M rkl nd Vi el nd ,
o a n a a they might, fr m the st ge of culture , infer eth ogr phic l
t n a n n a n unity , wi hout this e t ili g the eed of like i ference upon ourselves . k i As far back as Are frode we hear of S raal ngs . Are
a s a n a had at a rel te , ccordi g to wh t he from his p ern l uncle
Tho rkel G elles s o n a and o , th t Erik the Red the ther Green
a o in and in a l nd explorers , b th the west the e st settle
n u u an a a a a and me ts , fo nd h m h bit tions , fr gments of bo ts
n n » s o f o ne mi n a sto e impleme ts , rom this ght i fer th t people
o f n m n a i n a and k o a the ki d for erly i h b ting Vi el nd , n wn mong
nan as Skrselin s u s v a s c a . the Gree l ders g , m t ha e p s ed ther
a o o f a n in T r c e s , theref re , hum n bei gs were met with South
n an no t an and n Gree l d , but y of the people themselves ; o ly
o a in was fr m wh t they left beh d them , it possible to judge
1 i 0 6 . aitz Ant o o o . ) W , hr p l g e , III U E ON THE NE AN A E ST DI S VI L D VOY G S . 53
a na i of their r ce . The Gree l nders , possess ng, as they did,
o o n a n and a tools of ir n , ships Of c sider ble burthe , know
o f an a no t o ledge Europe rchitecture , could but lo k with co ntempt upon tho s e Of whom the relics w ere of s o low a
as and a S k r m li n . ! a a cl s , c lled them g s e rs fter , the
nan ar o in a a n in Gree l ders , f ther s uth Americ , f lli g with
nk o r an people who , like the u nown extinct str gers in
an a o n n and n Greenl d, used we p s Of sto e , were , upo the whole ,
a t n o n o as a a o u in primi ive co diti , they w uld, m tter of c rse ,
d n o a o to th e ju gi g with ut closer inquiry, t ke such pe ple be same in race as those of who m they had c o me upon traces in nan Gree l d . There cannot surely exist a doubt as to the peo ple of whom the No rthmen found remains in South Greenland
a n a a a h ving bee Esquim ux . It spe ks for itself, th t the Esqui maux did no t stay long in South Greenland ; for that people
a a in v a o n a and h ve alw ys , their primiti e f shi n , bee se lers
a and a and a o n in wh lers , the best se ling wh ling gr u ds Green ° land lie between the parallels 68 and or still farther
n o n ta . Na o n north y, the N rthmen , duri g their s y in Gree
a n a in l nd, exploring the cou try northw rd, they did deed at
had length meet with Esquimaux . But this certainly no t
’ o c cured as early in the 11th century as Tho rkel Gelle s s o ns v an a n n a isit to Greenl d ; since Are frode s ys othi g wh tever a a ma a n bout Esquim ux there . It y, however, h ve bee some time in the 12th century ; fo r we learn fro m » Histo ria No r v e ise a a in th e o o f o r n nan g , th t desert regi ns n ther Gree l d the Greenland hunters and fishers encountered people o f di minutive a u Skraelin s t a st t re , g hey c lled them , who used stone knives and arrowheads o f Acco rd in t o an a o th e Hauks k ae n a i a io n g extr ct fr m , Skr li g h b t t s
n in at KrOks f o rd in no th n nan were fou d, 1266 , j r er Gree l d ,
1 M o nu me nts is t i No i o rm o t 77 . es rve ao . ) h r g , ed . G S , p . U IE ON THE NELAN A E 54 ST D S VI D VOY G S .
and ar n was v a still f ther He ce , it the fishing a oc tio ns (chasing the seal and whale) o f the northern c o lo nists in » No rdrs eta « that bro ught them in c o ntact with the E s
uimaux and na as o r a q ; the Gree l nders , sh wn by the No wegi n
o n kraelin s as in chr icle , treated the S g there precisely Vine land killing them or driving them away wherever they n got the chance . Not till the 14th ce tury did the Esquim aux n make any attempt at retaliatio n . O e of the years imme diately succeeding 1341 the western settlement was laid waste by them ; in 1379 they made a hostile incursion into
a n m and at n o o n c en the e ster settle ent ; le gth, in the f ll wi g
a n was tury, what rem ined of the settleme t there utterly de
d o n n vas tate . a and Thus , from the sec d h lf of the 14th ce tury, no t a c an G n and a o i n e rlier, the ree l ers h ve bec me m o r e t i a t e l a n a n m y cquai ted with the Esquim ux . He ce we may a a a 1 n an s fely ffirm , th t, in the 3th ce tury , the Greenl ders (and the Icelanders) had no special knowledge of the E s
uimaux and a n o a an a n as q , cert i ly c uld not h ve y re so to
n Skraalin s an na sume their ide tity with the g of Vinel d ; y, o n an t o t av n the other h d , hey must f en h e bee led to con
n tw o and n n a fou d the tribes , thus u witti gly tr nsfer details
ne from the o tribe to the other . The data from whence we shall seek to determine
a Skraelin s as a b are t fur the Americ n g tri e , hus exclusively nished by the S aga itself; and ev enthere o ne has to bear
' in mind the p o ssible ethnolo gical difi ere nc e between Mark
n n a n a land (Newfou dla d) nd Vinela d (Nova Scoti ) . n v o a a f o n a an O the y ge b ck r m Vi el nd, the Icel ders,
an n a o f a a S krmlin s l di g on the co st M rkl nd , surprised 5 g ,
m an two n and a a a a , wome , two m le children ; the dults m de
1 r in 2 G o nl. is t . 40 ) h . M d III , . 2 i Gr n his t M in . 259 . tim m a a ro x o l . ) . d III , The e y be p p m ate ly determined fro m Ivar Baard s o n th e prie s t having firs t o m to nan in 1341 I c e Gree l d ( II ,
5 U IE ON T HE NE AN A E 6 ST D S VI L D VOY G S . mains preserved suffice to give a tolerably correct idea of
a . a n n b d its char cter It l cked the co so ant f, but had , , g , l m n n v w a e i o u and , , , , and the vo els , , , , ; could there fore produce sounds exactly correspo nding to those in the
4 S krsslin . U o na no a a g words nf rtu tely, voc bles for f t h e r ,
n a n o s o a ann in m o t h e r , k i g h ve bee rec rded , th t we c ot s titute a an m n a direct comp rison ; me while , the fe ini e epithet S h a nandithit and the vocable adadi m i t (sp o on) exhibit a most striking resemblance to the terminatio n - didida in
A v alldidida and b u is ham n m an and , the words gg a ( , boy) anyemcn (ho w) will likewise admit of being compared with
m t n - o u the ter ina io amo n, This , Of c rse, is advanced as a mere supposition; the Beothuk Indians
n no w o t n a in all ro b abi bei g , it w uld seem, ex i ct, we sh ll p li v l ty ne er be able t o elucidate the subject further . I wi l no t v to a a a lan howe er omit rem rk , that lso the Micm c guage (sp o ken by the Indians of No va Scotia and New Brunswick) has vocal characteristics which allow of the words in question having po ssibly a like derivatio n; but the collectio ns Of Micmac wo rds that I have had o pportunity of examining much mo re co mprehensive than any we have from the Be o thuk language Show no particular resem
n a a blance to the Skraeling words give abo ve . It ppe rs from
n o f an ar and w av a the accou t Je C tier hat others h e rel ted,
ian m a a n that Ind s of the Mic c tribe , inh biting the souther
n ex e o f . a n n o shores Of the Gulf St L wre ce , we t fishing p
ns w o n an a n as ditio to Ne f u dl d ; hence , the st teme t to the Markland S kraeling s being said to dwell in th e fissure s o f
o o r in av i. e. o a h n r cks c es ( , temp r ry abitatio s while the
s u fishery lasted) is po s ibly no t o t Of place .
1 ) Fo r the s e details I am indebted t o t w o papers o n » The o u Indians a r a b o the Am i an hi o s o i a S o Be th k , e d ef re er c P l ph c l i e M r c ie ty (Ju ne 19th 1885 and M ay 7th 1885 re s pect v ly) by . m A rt . Gatch e t w ho had the in n s s to s n m e t . lbe S , k d e e d he E ON TH NE AN A STUDI S E VI L D VOY GES .
No w n o a an , assumi g it pr b ble for the Icel ders to have
wi n ia far o r n a the an met th I d ns as n th as Newfou dl nd, ch ce
h o o a a was a Of t eir d ing so in N v Scoti surely much gre ter .
in n an a no t n an When Vi el d, the Icel nders did light upo y
Skrselin s h ad en locality where the g their dwellings , but
nt no w as and no w o n a n o n cou ered them , foes, frie dly fo ti g
a to ut o a when they c me trade . It is b indirectly fr m wh t we are told of the wild corn that any inference c an be m ade as to these S krselings not having cultivated the
o and n a l nkno wn in s il ; om dic life g g America , they d w ggp fi u - a b n o t uhtSrS a must h ve ee either fishers , if Esquim ux
o m n an a we should supp se the for er, if I di s the l tter . The
Skrmlin s o v o n a a g disc ered the col ists in the f ll of the ye r, and a a a t o pproached w rily in their bo ts watch them, b u wi no t to n n n t then thdrew, retur till the followi g spri g ; and t h e n t h e y h a d w i th t h e m t h e i r o bj e c t s o f b a r
nd a o f viz a . t e r . , , s k i n s fu r s This det il is itself , I
en to w a kraalin s n n think, suffici t Sho th t the S g were I dia s and no t s ian o a z re E quimaux . The Ind s , n rth Of the m i e
v o n o u a e and a gion , li ed the pr d ce Of the ch s , by b rter with furs ; but the hunting - s eason fo r fur - animals is pre cis el n and a i a a y wi ter, the b rter ng therefore t kes pl ce in
a o n a o The Esquim ux, the other h nd, g in pursuit
a n an a th e a and a of the great m ri e im ls , se l the wh le , in
and m and n a spring su mer, with them accordi gly the b rter
in a n ing is done utum .
Skrselin s u - o l te That the g in s mmer time , sh rt y af r
n fo r n a a comi g traffic , whe they were sc red aw y by the
o x n a U o n unwonted sight of the , should sudde ly f ll p the
n w as no a m Northme , indeed more th n ight be expected from
a ian a a no n nin - t ibe the w rlike Ind s , in p rticul r the rther hu t g r s , n v in a o f a a a t t n i e er w nt pretext to ss ul heir e ghbours , but is nowise in keeping with the pacific character Of the E s
L e s c arb o t 893 . , p . U E ON THE NELAN A E 58 ST DI S VI D VOY G S .
uimaux who a t - a q , not till f er centuries of ill tre tment took
o n r in . revenge their oppressors , the No thmen Greenland
a o With these , the m in p ints to be considered, the ethnographical account given o f the S kraeling s c an upon
as the whole be made to agree sufficiently well, resembling,
a a a a they did, lso in outw rd appe rance, rather Indians th n
li s a . Skrae n Esquim ux According to the Saga, the g were
» a a ? and a sm ll (bl ck ) men , Of malicious spect , with ill
a » i llt a o a cheeks a . looking h ir ( h r a) , big eyes , and br d All Europeans are unanimau s in describing the Esquimaux as
o - a o b l a n d , g o d n a t u r e d , m e r r y , a n d v i v c i u s p e o p l e ,
no a n while less un nimity prevails as to the fi e r c e , s t e r , fo r b i d d i n g aspect Of the Indians inhabiting the north
o n Of o eastern regi s Coming fr m Northmen , ill looking ( » illt u ) hair would in all probability signify b l a c k a a m a l a an d m tt e d h ir, and y thus be taken as equa ly ch r acte s tic o f nd o f n » « ri Esquimaux a I dians . Big eyes does no t a a and strictly seem pplic ble to either, both the Indians
t o a n the Esquimaux being said h ve small eyes mea while , frequent m entio n is made Of the large eye - sockets o f the
a Indi ns , and specially this distinguishing feature appears
an a in a t a on the cient monument l sculpturings Americ , so h t
o l th e h a big eyes w u d , upon w ole, seem better to ccord with
an an u o m the Indi th the Esquima x physi gno y ; moreover, Les c arbo t lays particular stress on the b i g e y e s of the
» o a ch eeks a to o ma a The br d , , y with gre ter reaso n be referred to the Indians (though also peculiar to x n an a the Esquimau ) , for the I di s h ve the forehead narrower above than below ; hence the middle and lo wer parts o f the fa o n and ce are m re promi ent, by this feature the natives Of
1 aitz Ant ro o o i III 309 ) W , h p l g e , ; . 2 aitz 304 . 348 . ) W , III , 3 h hic u E t no ra . 279 . ) Fr. M ller, g p , p
Le s c arb o t . 804 , p . N THE AN A E STUDIES O VINEL D VOY G S . 59
America c an be easily recognised from all other
Whether » black « o r » small « be the true reading is do ubt
o w a to n n fo r ful . The f rmer ould better pply I dia s ; in the 16th century the northern tribes were commonly char
e o d n an act riz ed as dark r usky ; thus , for i st ce, the French
» Gran Capitano « whose acc o unt we have in Ra
io a h a o n » at a Raz mus , s ys t ere th t he f und the cou try C pe
and a n a t a and i C pe Breto inh bi ed by fierce cruel race , m possible to de al with o n a friendly footing ; they are big
o in n a and ani people , g clad the ski s of the se l other wild
a av a a are m ls , h e coloured stripes cross the f ce , , as it were ,
fl cked a o f a e with paint, mixture bl ck and grey, and closely 2 resemble the natives of Barbary « ) ; Les carbo t describes
as - n a - o the Micmacs olive gree or d rk br wn , like the Span
i ds » Smallu an w e ar , on the other h d, ould mor appro
to a fo r priately apply Esquim ux ; , while the Esquimaux are
as a b e a e n rule stated to bout 5 f et high, the I dians very frequently attain the European stature ; yet Les carbo t re
n n o f S o uri u o is i . e. M a marks , that o e the q ( , icmacs) were s
a as t ll the French leader It is , therefore ,
no a th e a a o n l probable e ugh , th t t ll, stalw rt N rthme wou d re
a n an o a g rd the I di s as c mpar tively diminutive people . Mean
» a « n o o while , the reading sm ll co veys the impressi n f having been erroneously substituted fo r » black « : an Icelandic tran scriber knowing the average stature of the Esquimaux might
a n o a in » a « t o t ke it i t his he d, lieu of bl ck , write small ;
a n n o r u but the Esquim ux being ever spoke of as dark d sky,
it is hard to conceive the object Of a change from » small «
» a « to bl ck . The arms of th e Skrselings comprise the bo w and ar
1 h I . u Ant rO o o ie . 279 ) Fr M ller, p g , p . 2 Ramu s io Navi atio ni e t via i V n z ia 423 ) , g gg ( e e II , . 3 ) Ils s o nt to u s de co u leu r o livatre c u du mo ins bas anés co mme l He s s e s a no l Le s c rb o t . 798 . p g . a , p
Le s c arb o t . 797 , p . ON THE NE N STUDIES VI LA D VOYAGES .
n and o n a n t o f a row , the sli g , st e xes ; their dress co sis s
- n a i do a skin tu ic . Now, these det ils w ll as well for Micm cs a f n in s o r Esquimaux . The o ly difficulty lies the b o ats of th e S krzelings being called s kinb o ats (hu Okeip ar) ; fo r this
o v n a an e w uld e ide tly seem lo , suggest d by the u m i ak s and
a a au . a k j k s of the Esquim x Meanwhile, this p rt of the ac count in the Saga can no t be correct : the Skin - boats of the
kraelin s are a n as ns hi s a a n S g lso spoke of p , e ch havi g a crew and rowed with several o ars ; they go o n hostile ex cu rs io ns rv a an t a na v n as , se e as me s Of r nsport, y e e tem
o rar in w are p y other ords , put to the same use as the no rthern Indian tribes make o f their
- an a a boats of birch bark . Je C rtier rel tes concerning the
n i a i Ba a » en an a India s at M r mich y, th t wh dist t h lf a mile
o n m n a from the p i t before e tioned , we c ught sight of two
o at n 40 o r 50 a r ws Of bo s more tha filled with sav ges , o n their p assage from o ne tract o f country to the o ther ;
o ne o a a man an o n S from of the r ws gre t y spr g hore, and
o n fo r an o n with l ud cries made sig als us to l d, h ldi g up skins and furs as they did The same occurred again in
Bai a and OK nn a a e de Ch leur, the pe i sul Of G sp , where, ao
o n o a a r c rdi g to rep rt , Je n C rtie fell in with 200 of the na tives in a s a e o a a : » , 40 bo t bout 5 ther f re to e ch bo t they
av no a n a a h e other dwelling th n u derne th their bo ts , which they drag o n sh o re and turn over befo re going to rest «
Le s carb o t thus describes the boats of the Micm acs : » Their means Of conveyance are canoes and small boats made o f
a a to and a a . a b rk, e sy row without s il When they ch nge
a o f a a a all their pl ce bode , they t ke in their bo ts belonging
w n r a ar o to them ome , child en , paint, xes, bows , r ws ,
i n n o a re s o o v n a d . a qui ers , sk s, coveri gs The b ts c nstructed
1 rae nlendin a att r in the Flat e arbdk 541 ) See G g p yj , I , . 2 J an a ti . M ic he lant e t amé . 28. ) e C r er , Ed R e , p 3 i . 7 3 . ) Ib d . p N T H vo vA Es STUDIES O E VINELAND G . 61 as no t t o admit of moving abo ut o r standing erect in
a o o r at o them ; you must squ t d wn sit the bott m, otherwise
az n i a z o a are a the cr y thi g w ll c psi e . These b ts bout 4 feet b i na at and road in the m ddle , but rrower the stem stern, and av the o n e t o a h e pr w tur ed up , the bett r cle ve the n n a . a o f a o n n w ter They m ke them b rk, stre gthe ed the i ner
’ wi a a o o a side th ced r, m st flexible w od, Of which No h s ark was i and o ut th e a a n bu lt ; to keep w ter, the se ms betwee
a o are the strips Of b rk, held together by fibrous r ots ,
a n fin o do co ted with resi of the This descripti n will , we
no » n- a « o f S kraelin as see , well e ugh for the ski bo ts the g s ; the Icelanders h ad no opportunity Of capturing Skrae ling
o and no t an to a b ats , therefore could submit y closer ex am na n na u a o n o n h k i tio , they might t r lly c f u d suc with the s in
a Of im u and o a bo ts the Esqu a x , designate b th like .
All w o i a e a ell c nsidered , it will , I th nk, sc rc ly dmit of
a n a S krselin s n a doubt , th t the Vi el nd g are ide tic l with the
a a o f o - n io n a a Micm c Indi ns the s uth wester reg of Nov Scoti ,
o f a and a a a whose h bits customs , bout the ye r 1607, Lesc r
s o c bo t h as left us o trustw rthy a pi ture .
a t a . ! . G r e I r e l n d
In m o dern wo rks o n the disco veries Of the North m en in m a a o s n » a an « are A eric , tr diti ns re pecti g Gre t Irel d
a o n To rfseu s and S chOnin a given pr mine t place . g reg rded
na as o i nal t o a a and the me r gi ly given some p rt of Americ , specially Rafn and Finn M agnu s en s o ught the unknown re
in o i a ea vo i and Vi fu s s o n i v gion Fl r d , while B u s g bel e e it to
a n in ana a a t o o a n a n a a h ve bee C d ; sever l , , m i t i th t Gre t Ire
an w as n n l d a early Irish settleme t in America. On more
a inn a a i n c an closely ex m i g the f cts , I feel sure this tr d tio
o av o i n o be Sh wn to h e n h storical fou dati n .
1 L e s c arb o t . 862 s e ) , p , q . U E ON THE NE ST DI S VI LAND VOYAGES .
Great Ireland is twice spoken of in Icelandic litera
and a o o un a a a ture , llusi n to the c try lso occurs , in third pl ce .
1 A n a o i a ta in the L a bdk o . g e e l g c l ble andm na f the lo rd s o f Reykj ahdlar names th e chieft ain Are M ars s o n living ab o ut ’ the year w ho » w as driven by s to rms t o the W h i t e M e n s n w i s o m a l a t r a i h e L a d , h ch e c l Gr e I e l nd ; it l es w es tw ard in t ’ o an n a Vin an the o o and is s ai t o s s ai ce , e r el d G d , d be 6 day l w s t o f lan . Are did no t e t av t o u it the a bu t e Ire d g le e q pl ce , s a tiz t « fi st s w a b p ed here . The r to give this acco u nt appear t o av n a s a arin an o ne R n t he i a h e bee e f g Icel der, av L merick tr der , — a o ut 1000 1030 nw ho h ad o n n in im ri « had o t b , l g bee L e ck , i . e. , g
th e s to t r . o m Ravn it as s d to Th o rfinn ar o f th e ry he e Fr p e , E l s o o o Orkney ( b. w h t ld it t o certain Icelanders adding that u Are h ad been reco gnis ed in Great Ireland (by peo ple w h o am t and t at t o u no t a o w o av th e o unt c e here) h , h gh ll ed t le e c ry , he o o ns i a re u tatio na o m t s an s the ta enj yed c der ble p . Fr he e Icel der le r a Tho rk e ll Ge lles s o n and his n w Are o e ched ephe fr de .
a a an and This ccount would show th t west of Irel d, not ’ o ff n an n o o far Vi el d, but yet o ly 6 days sail fr m the f rmer
n a h was a an cou try, in the Atlantic Oce n , t ere l d, inhabited
n n o n by Christia s and carryi g trade with Ireland (Limerick) .
2 A o in t o the a a o f i the the tw o ae . cc rd g S g Er c Red , Skr
in i n s ee . 23 to K arls e vne t at o n th e o t s i l g ch ldre ( p ) ld , h her de o f the s e a o v a ains t t i o unt as a an w th e ( ) , er g he r c ry, w l d here o nt a o u t in w it a m nt s in o t m o n pe ple w e b h e g r e , carry g bef re he l g
o s w it fl a s atta and s o u tin : » t is is i v d p le , h g ched , h g lo udly h bel e e
’ ’ to av n t he it n s and o r at an « . h e bee Wh e Me L , Gre Irel d
s » o n th e o o a a The expre sion ther side , ver g inst their
« au o and Vi fu s s o n ta to an a o r country , Be v is g ke me Can da,
n i n m z n a the i ner reg o s occupied by ore civili ed I di ns . But the ’ course of the No rs emens ships having been alo ng the eastern
a a k a o n lan o b v o a th e co st of M r l nd (Newf u d d) , it is i us th t
o n m a a expressi ust signify e s t o f , and hence th t the sup
lan la Out o an o f a la The posed d y in the ce , east M rk nd . descriptio n is clearly suggestiv e Of processions o f Christian
in s a and . priests , white garment with fl gs church music
n the a » a « m o n a Respecti g n me Gre t Ireland , we ust c sider th t as » Magna Graecia« was the name of the Greek colonie s
ON T H V N AN STUDIES E I EL D VOYAGES .
T o n n t a . t this r dition begi wi h, the accou ts are s k i p p e r
c an o m n R f a . avn tales rom I el d , but c i g through Irel nd
ad a r the Limerick tr er brought b ck, it is stated , the sto y n - n an . c c o a o a from Irel d He ce , per ti may be ssumed between
d v n o Irishman an Icelanders in gi i g birth to the traditi n. There did indeed exist in Ireland histo rical acco unts of a
o far in o n o z n and c untry out the cea , col ni ed by Irishme i s . o ic l r a D u . Irish p iest The Irish ge gr pher (A . D ’ wh o cites the old traditio ns of Thule 6 days s ail north
o f a a a o was west Brit in adds , that 30 ye rs g he told
n a t n o n n by certai ecclesi s ics , who had bee that isla d
f o 1s t r a t o 1s t at r m the of Feb u ry the of August, that, the
o t n s un m as s lstice , the se ti g did screen hi self , it were ,
i s o as fo r a no t a behind a h ll , a brief sp ce to m ke
ll No w an was n i a at a . d s it d rk , etc , this l d I c e l a d ,
o and z o a c vered coloni ed ab ut the ye r 790 by Irish priests , whose presence there is attested also by Norse and Ice
Dicuil a a o f landic sources . In we have the m in fe tures the
a Icelandic tr dition of Great Ireland . The sole discrepancy
’ n in Dic uil s n m n t - co sists Thule bei g ade to lie or h west,
a an a m Great Irel nd west Of Irel d . But if we ssu e the Irish to have learnt from Icelandic skippers that their island
la n - v n o n a y in the orth west , it is e ide t , that ccount
a o u h they must move their Thule f rther s t . But , if so ,
’ a o a a o f a u e the l nd w uld lie 6 d ys s il w e s t Irel nd, j st wh re n n the Icelanders placed their Great Irela d . Supposi g Ice landic m ariners to have been drive n o ut in the Ocean by
no h- a a and no t d o f n rt e sterly g les hear of m re , their rie ds in Iceland wo uld naturally c o nclude they had reached
s o a n n n o m that my teri us land and h d bee u able to retur h e . Hence the fabulous sto ries o f Are M ars s o n and o f Bj o rn
As brands s o n ad n u a a , but these tr itio s m st be kept p rt
a o n in th e n a o f n n from the cc u ts , mai historic l , the Vi ela d
a voy ges .
“ — — A , t ! é r . z s .