This narrative is fromthe Landnama-bok, No. 107. Folio; collated with Hauksbok, Melabok, and other manuscripts, in the Arnæ-Magnæn Collection.

It has frequently been observed that the Landnama-bok is of the highest historical authority. It proves the fact, that Rafn, the Limerick merchant, conveyed the narrative relating to Marson, to Iceland from Ireland, where the circumstances of his voyage were well known. The Landnama-bok, while it gives a tacit approval of the statements of the narrative, does not enter upon the question of the locality of the place to which Are Marson went. Therefore, while we accept the narrative as genuine history, we should exercise due caution in determining the locality of Hvitramanna-land. Nothing is to be gained by making any forced deductions from the narrative; especially as the pre-Columbian discovery of America is abundantly proved, without the aid of this, or any other of the Minor Narratives.

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Ulf the Squinter, son of Hogni the White, took the wole of Reikianess between Thorkafiord and Hafrafell; (1) he married Biörg, daughter of Eyvind the Eastman, (2) sister to Helge the Lean. They had a son named Alti the Red, who married Thorbiorg, sister of Steinolf the Humble. Their son was Mar of Holum, who married Thorkatla, daughter of Hergil Neprass. She had a son named Are, who [A.D. 928] was driven by a storm to White-man's land, (3) which some call Ireland the Great, which lies in the Western ocean opposite Vinland, six (4) days' sail west of Ireland. Are was not allowed to go away, and was baptized (5) there. This was first told by Rafn, the Limerick trader, who lived for a long time in Ireland. So also Thorkel, son of Geller, tells that certain Icelanders said, who heard Thorfinn, Earl of the Orkneys, say, that Are had been seen and known in White-man's land, and that, though not allowed to leave, he was held in much honor. Are had a wife named Thorgeir, daughter of Alf of Dolum. Their sons were Thorgils, Gudleif and Illuge, which is the family of Reikianess. Jorund was the son of Ulf the Squinter. He married Thorbiorg Knarrabringa. They had a daughter, Thorhild, whom Eric the Red married. They had a son, Leif the Fortunate of Greenland. Jorund was the name of the son of Atli the Red; he married Thordis, daughter of Thorgeir Suda; their daughter was Thorkatla, who married Thorgils Kollson. Jorund was also the father of Snorre. (6)

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II. BIÖRN ASBRANDSON

This narrative is taken from Eyrbyggia Saga, which contains the early history of that part of Iceland lying around Snæfells, on the west coast. The Saga is not of a later date than the thirteenth century. It is given here, not because it applies largely to the main question under consideration, the pre-Columbian discovery of America, but rather, because it will make the reader fully acquainted with the hero, who afterward appears.

Bork the Fat, and Thordis, daughter of Sur, had a daughter named Thurid, who married Thorbiörn the Fat, living on the estate of Froda. He was a son of Orne the Lean, who held and tilled the farm of Froda. Thorbiörn had before been married to Thurid, daughter of Asbrand, of Kamb, in Breidavik, and sister of Biörne Breidaviking the Athlete, soon to be mentioned in this Saga, and of Arnbiörn the Handy. The sons of Thorbiörn and Thurid were Ketil the Champion, Gunnlaug and Hallstein.

Now this must be related of Snorre the Priest, (7) that he undertook the suit for the slaying of Thorbiörn, his kinsman. He also caused his sister to remove to his own home, at Helgefell, because it was reported that Biörn Asbrand, of Kamb, had come to pay her improper attention.

There was a man named Thorodd, of Medalfells Strand, an upright man and a good merchant. He owned a trading vessel in which he sailed to distant lands. Thorodd had sailed to the west, (8) to Dublin, on a trading voyage. At that time, Sigurd (9) Hlodverson, Earl of the Orkneys, had made an expedition toward the west, to the Hebrides and the Man, and had laid a tribute upon the habitable part of Man. (10) Having settled the peace, he left men to collect the tribute; the earl himself returned to the Orkneys. Those who were left to collect the tribute, got all ready and set sail with a south-west wind. But after they had sailed some time, to the south-east and east, a great storm arose, which drove them to the northward as far as Ireland, and their vessel was cast away on a barren, uninhabited island. Just as they reached the island, Thorodd the Icelander came sailing by from Dublin. The shipwrecked men begged for aid. Thorodd put out a boat and went to them himself. When he reached them, the agents of Sigurd promised him money if he would carry them to their home in the Orkneys. When he told them that he could by no means do so, as he had made all ready to go back to Iceland, they begged the harder, believing that neither their money nor their liberty would be safe in Ireland, or the Hebrides, whither they had just before been with a hostile army. At length Thorodd came to this, that he would sell them his ship's long-boat for a large sum of the tribute money; in this they reached the Orkneys, and Thorodd sailed to Iceland without a boat. Having reached the southern shores of the Island, he laid his course along the coast to the westward, and entered Breidafiord, and came to the harbor at Dögurdarness. The same autumn he went to Helgefell to spend the winter with Snorre the Priest, and from that time he was called Thorodd the Tribute Taker. This took place just after the murder of Thorbiörn the Fat. During the same winter Thurid, the sister of Snorre the Priest, who had been the wife of Thorbiörn the Fat, was at Helgefell. Thorodd made proposals of marriage to Snorre the Priest, with respect to Thurid. Being rich and known by Snorre to be of good repute and that he would be useful in supporting his administration of affairs, he consented. Therefore their marriage was celebrated during this winter at Snorre's house, at Helgefell. In the following spring Thorodd set himself up at Froda and was thought an upright man. But when Thurid went to Froda, Biörn Asbrandson often paid her visits, and it was commonly reported that he had corrupted her chasity. Thorodd vainly tried to put an end to these visits. At that time Thorodd Wooden Clog lived at Arnahval. His sons, Ord and Val, were men grown and youths of the greatest promise. The men blamed Thorodd for allowing himself to be insulted so greatly by Biörn, and offered him their aid if desired, to end his coming. It chanced one time when Biörn came to Froda, that he sat with Thurid talking. It was Thorodd's custom when Biörn was there to sit in the house. But he was now nowhere to be seen. Then Thurid said, "Take care, Biörn, for I fear Thorodd means to put a stop to your visits here; I think he has secured the road and means to attack you and overpower you with unequal numbers." Biörn replied, "That is possible," and then sang these verses:

O Goddess (11) whom bracelet adorns,

This day (I linger

In my beloved's arms)

Stay longest in the heavens,

As we both must wish;

For I this night am drawn

To drink myself the parentals (12)

Of my oft-departing joys.

Having done this, Biörn took his weapons and went to return home. As he went up the hill Digramula five men jumped out upon him from their hiding place. These were Thorodd and two of his men, and the sons of Thoror Wooden Clog. They attacked Biörn, but he defended himself bravely and well. The sons of Thoror pressed him sharply, but he slew them both. Thorodd then fled with his men, though he himself had only a slight wound, and the others not any. Biörn went on until he reached home and entered his house. The lady of the house (13) ordered a maid to place food before him. When the maid came into the room with the light and saw Biörn wounded, she went and told Asbrand his father that Biörn had returned covered with blood. Asbrand came into the room and inquired what was the cause of his wounds. He said, "Have you and Thorodd had a fight?" Biörn replied that it was so. Asbrand asked how the affair ended. Biörn replied with these verses:

Not so easy against a brave man

It is to fight;

(Wooden Clog's two sons

Now I have slain).

As for the ship's commander,

A woman to embrace,

Or for the cowardly,

A golden tribute to buy. (14)

Asbrand bound up his son's wounds, and his strength was soon restored. Thorodd went to Snorre the Priest, to talk with him about setting a suit on foot against Biörn, on account of the killing of Thoror's sons. This suit was held in the court of Thorsnesthing. It was settled that Asbrand, who became surety for his son, should pay the usual fines. Biörn was exiled for three years, (15) and went abroad the same summer. During that summer, a son was born to Thurid who was called Kiarten. He grew up at home in Froda, and early gave great hope and promise.

When Biörn crossed the sea he came into Denmark, and went thence to Jomsberg. At that time Palnatoki was captain of the Jomsberg (16) Vikings. Biörn was admitted into the crew, and won the name of the Athlete. He was at Jomsberg when Styrbiörn the Hardy assaulted it. He went into Sweden, when the Jomsberg Vikings aided Styrbiörn; (17) he was in the battle of Tynsvall, in which Styrbiörn was killed, and escaped with the other Jomsvikings into the woods. While Palnatoki lived, Biörn remained with him, distinguished among all, as a man of remarkable courage.

The same summer [A.D. 996], the brothers, Biörn and Arnbiörn returned to Iceland to Rönhavnsos. Biörn was always afterward called the Athlete of Breidavik. Arnbiörn, who had gotten much wealth abroad, bought the Bakka estate in Raunhavn, the same summer. He lived there with little show or ostentation, and, in most affairs, was silent, but was, nevertheless, a man active in all things. Biörn, his brother, after his return from abroad, lived in splendor and elegance, for during his absence, he had truly adopted the manners of courtiers. He much excelled Arnbiörn in personal appearance, and was none the less active in execution. He was far more expert than his brother in martial exercises, having improved much abroad. The same summer, after his return there was a general meeting near Headbrink, (18) within the bay of Froda. All the merchants rode thither, clothed in colored garments, and there was a great assembly. Housewife Thurid of Froda, was there, with whom Biörn began to talk; no one censuring, because they expected their conversation would be long, as they had not seen each other for a great while. On the same day there was a fight, and one of the Nordenfield men was mortally wounded, and was carried down under a bush on the beach. So much blood flowed out of the wound that there was a large pool of blood in the bush. The boy Kiarten, Thurid of Froda's son, was there. He had a little axe in his hand, and ran to the bush and dipped the axe in the blood. When the Sondensfield's men rode from the beach south, Thord Blib asked Biörn how the conversation between him and Thurid of Froda ended. Biörn said that he was well satisfied. Then Thord asked if he had seen the boy Kiarten, their and Thorodd's son. "I saw him," said Biörn. "What is your opinion of him?" asked Thord. Biörn answered with the following song:

"I saw a boy run

with fearful eyes,

The woman's image, to

The wolf's well (19) in the wood;

People will say,

That his true father [was]

He that ploughed the sea,

This the boy does not know."

Thord said: "What will Thorodd say when he hears that the boy belongs to you?" Then Biörn sung:

"Then will the noble born woman [make]

Thorodd's suspicion

Come true, when she gives me

The same kind of sons;

Always the slender,

Snow-white woman loved me,

I still to her

Am a lover."

Thord said, it will be best for you not to have any thing to do with each other, and that you turn your thoughts. "It is certainly a good idea," said Biörn, "but it is far from my intention; though there is some difference when I have to do with such men as her brother Snorre." "You must take care of your own business," said Thord, and that ended their talk. Biörn afterward went home to Kamb, and took the affairs of the family into his own hands, for his father was now dead. The following winter he determined to make a journey over the hills, to Thurid. Although Thorodd disliked this, he nevertheless saw that it was not easy to prevent its occurrence, since before he was defeated by him, and Biörn was much stronger, and more skilled in arms than before. Therefore he bribed Thorgrim Galdrakin to raise a snow storm against Biörn when he crossed the hills. When a day came, Biörn made a journey to Froda. When he proposed to return home, the sky was dark and the snow-storm began. When he ascended the hills, the cold became intense, and the snow fell so thickly that he could not see his way. Soon the strength of the storm increased so much that he could hardly walk. His clothes, already wet through, froze around his body, and he wandered, he did not know where. In the course of the night he reached a cave, and in this cold house he passed the night. Then Biörn sung:

"Woman that bringest

Vestments, (20) would

Not like my

Dwelling in such a storm

If she knew that

He who had before steered ships,

Now in the rock cave

Lay stiff and cold."

Again he sang:

"The cold field of the swans,

From the east with loaded ship I ploughed,

Because the woman inspired me with love;

I know that I have great trouble suffered,

And now, for a time, the hero is

Not in a woman's bed, but in a cave."

Biörn stayed three days in the cave, before the storm subsided; and on the fourth day he came home from the mountain to Kamb. He was very weary. The servant asked him where he was during the storm. Biörn sung:

"My deeds under

Syrbiörn's proud banner are known.

It came about that steel-clad Eric

Slew men in battle;

Now I on the wide heath,

Lost my way [and],

Could not in the witch-strong

Storm, find the road." (21)

Biörn passed the rest of the winter at home; the following spring his brother Arnbiörn fixed his abode in Bakka, in Raunhafn, but Biörn lived at Kamb, and had a grand house..............

This same summer, Thorodd the Tribute Taker invited Snorre the Priest, his kinsman, to a feast at his house in Froda. Snorre went there with twenty men. In the course of the feast, Thorodd told Snorre how much he was hurt and disgraced by the visits of Biörn Asbrandson, to Thurid, his wife, Snorre's sister, saying that it was right for Snorre to do away with this scandel. Snorre after passing some days feasting with Thorodd went home with many presents. Then Snorre the Priest rode over the hills and spread the report that he was going down to his ship in the bay of Raunhafn. This happened in summer, in the time of haymaking. When he had gone as far south as the Kambian hills, Snorre said: "Now let us ride back from the hills to Kamb; let it be known to you," he added, "what I wish to do. I have resolved to attack and destroy Biörn. But I am not willing to attack and destroy him in his house, for it is a strong one, and Biörn is stout and active, while our number is small. Even those who with greater numbers, have attacked brave men in their houses, have fared badly, an example of which you know in the case of Gissur the White; who, when with eighty men, they attacked Gunnar (22) of Lithend, alone in his house, many were wounded and many were killed, and they would have been compelled to give up the attack, if Geir the Priest had not learned that Gunnar was short of arrows. Therefore," said he, "as we may expect to find Biörn out of doors, it being the time of haymaking, I appoint you my kinsman, Mar, to give him the first wound; but I would have you know this, that there is no room for a child's play, and you must expect a contest with a hungry wolf, unless your first wound shall be his death blow." As they rode from the hills toward his homestead they saw Biörn in the fields; he was making a sledge, (23)and no one was near him. He had no weapon but a small axe, and a large knife in his hand of a span's length, which he used to round the holes in the sledge. Biörn saw Snorre riding down from the hills, and recognized him. Snorre the Priest had on a blue cloak, and rode first. The idea suddenly occured to Biörn, that he ought to take his knife and go as fast as he could to meet them, and as soon as he reached them, lay hold of the sleeve of Snorre with one hand, and hold the knife in the other, so that he might be able to pierce Snorre to the heart, if he saw that his own safety required it. Going to meet them, Biörn gave them hail, and Snorre returned the salute. The hands of Mar fell, for he saw that if he attacked Biörn, the latter would at once kill Snorre. Then Biörn walked along with Snorre and his comrades, asked what was the news, keeping his hands as at first. Then he said: "I will not try to conceal, neighbor Snorre, that my present attitude and look seem threatening to you, which might appear wrong, but for that I have understood that your coming is hostile. Now I desire that if you have any business to transact with me, you will take another course than the one you intended, and that you will transact it openly. If none, I will that you make peace, which when done, I will return to my work, as I do not wish to be led about like a fool." Snorre replied: "Our meeting has so turned out that we shall at this time part in the same peace as before; but I desire to get a pledge from you, that from this time you will leave off visiting Thurid, because if you go on in this, there can never be any real friendship between us." Biörn replied: "This I will promise, and will keep it; but I do not know how I shall be able to keep it, so long as Thurid and I live in the same land." "There is nothing so great binding you here," said Snorre, "as to keep you from going to some other land." "What you now say is true," replied Biörn, "and so let it be, and let our meeting end with this pledge, that neither you nor Thorodd shall have any trouble from my visits to Thurid, in the next year." With this they parted. Snorre the Priest rode down to his ship, and then went home to Helgefell. The day after, Biörn rode south to Raunhafn, and engaged his passage in a ship for the same summer [A.D. 999]. When all was ready the set sail with a north-east wind and during the greater part of that summer. Nothing was heard of the fate of the ship for a very long time. (24)

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III. GUDLEIF GUDLAUGSON

This narrative, which shows what became of Biörn Asbrandson, whose adventures are partially related in the previous sketch, is from the Eyrbyggja Saga. Notwithstanding the somewhat romantic character of these two narratives, there can be no doubt but that, in the main, they are true histories. Yet that they relate to events in America, is not, perhaps, altogether so certain.

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There was a man named Gudleif, the son of Gudlaug the Rich, of Straumfiord and brother of Thorfinn, from whom the Sturlingers are descended. Gudleif was a great merchant. He had a trading vessel, and Thorolf Eyrar Loptson had another, when they fought with Gyrid, son of Sigvald Earl. Gyrid lost an eye in that fight. It happened near the end of the reign of King Olaf the Saint, that Gudleif went on a trading voyage to the west of Dublin. On his return to Iceland, sailing from the west of Ireland, he met with north-east winds, and was driven far into the ocean west, and south-west, so that no land was seen, the summer being now nearly gone. Many prayers were offered that they might escape from the sea. At length they saw land. It was of great extent, but they did not know what land it was. They took counsel and resolved to make for the land, thinking it unwise to contend with the violence of the sea. They found a good harbor, and soon after went ashore. A number of men came down to them. They did not recognize the people, but thought that their language resembled the Irish. (25) In a short time such a number of men had gathered around them as numbered many hundred. These attacked them and bound them all and drove them inland. Afterward they were brought before an assembly, and it was considered what should be done with them. They thought that some wanted to kill them, and that others were for dividing them among the villages as slaves. While this was going on, they saw a great number of men riding (26) toward them with a banner lifted up, whence they inferred that some great man was among them. When the company drew near, they saw a man riding under the banner. He was tall and had a marital air, and was aged and grayhaired. All present treated this man with the utmost honor and deference. They soon saw that their case was referred to his decision. He commanded Gudleif and his comrades to be brought before him. Coming into his presence, he addressed them in the Northern tongue, and asked what land they came from. They replied that the chief part were Icelanders. The man asked which of them were Icelanders. Gudleif declared himself to be an Icelander, and saluted the old man, which he received kindly, and asked what part of Iceland he came from. He replied that he came from the district some called Bogafiord. He asked who lived in Bogafiord, to which Gudleif replied at some length. Afterward this man inquired particularly about all the principal men of Bogafiord and Breidafiord. He inquired with special interest into every thing relating to Snorre the Priest, and to his sister Thurid, of Froda, and for the great Kiarten, her son. In the meanwhile the natives grew impatient about the disposition of the sailors. Then the great man left him, and took twelve of the natives apart, and conferred with them. Afterward he returned. Then the old man spoke to Gudleif and his comrades and said: "We have had some debate concerning you, and the people have left the matter to my decision; I now permit you to go where you will, and although summer is nearly gone, I advise you to leave at once. These people are of bad faith, and hard to deal with, and now think they have been deprived of their right." Then Gudleif asked, "Who shall we say, if we reach our own country again, to have givenus our liberty?" He replied: "That I will not tell you, for I am not willing that any of my friends or kindred should come here, and meet with such a fate as you would have met, but for me. Age now comes on so fast, that I may almost expect any hour to be my last. Though I may live some time longer, there are other men of greater influence than myself, now at some distance from this place, and these would not grant safety or peace to any strange men." Then he looked to the fitting out of their ship, and stayed at this place until a fair wind sprang up, so that they might leave the port. Before they went away, this man took a gold ring from his hand and gave it to Gudleif, and also a good sword. Then he said to Gudleif: "If fortune permits you to reach Iceland, give this sword to Kiarten, hero of Froda, and this ring to Thurid, his mother." Gudleif asked, "Who shall I say was the sender of this valuable gift?" He replied: "Say that he sent it who loved the lady of Froda, better than her brother, the Priest of Helgafell. Then if any man desires to know who sent this valuable gift, repeat my words, that I forbid any one to seek me, for it is a dangerous voyage, unless others should meet with the same fortune as you. This region is large, but has few good ports, and danger threatens strangers on all sides from the people, unless it shall fall to others as yourselves." After this they separated. Gudleif, with his comrades, went to sea, and reached Ireland the same autumn, and passed the winter in Dublin. The next spring they sailed to Iceland, and Gudleif delivered the jewel into the hand of Thurid. It was commonly believed that there was no doubt but that the man seen, was Biörn Breidaviking Kappa, but there is no other reliable report to prove this.

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IV. ALLUSIONS TO VOYAGES FOUND IN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS.

Professor Rafn, in Antiquitates Americanæ, gives brief notices of numerous Icelandic voyages to America, and other lands to the west, the particulars of which are not recorded. The works in which these notices appear are of the highest respectability. It is only necessary here to give the facts, which have been collected with much care. They show that the pre-Columbian discovery of America left its recollection scattered throughout nearly the entire body of Icelandic history. The existence of a great land southwest of Greenland is referred to, not as a matter of speculation, but as something perfectly well known. All these references combine to furnish indisputable proof of the positions maintained in this work, showing as they do, beyond all reasonable question, that the impression which so generally prevailed in regard to the discovery of this land, could not have been the result of a literary fraud. Some of the facts are given below:

1121. Eric, Bishop of Greenland, (27) went to search out Vinland. Bishop Eric Upse sought Vinland.

1285. A new land is discovered west from Iceland. New land is found.........(28) Adalbrand and Thorvald, the sons of Helge, found the new land. Adalbrand and Thorvald found new land west of Iceland. The Feather (29) Islands are discovered.

1288. Rolf is sent by King Eric to search out the new land, (30) and called on people of Iceland to go with him.

1289. King Eric sends Rolf to Iceland to seek out the new land.

1290. Rolf traveled through Iceland, and called out men for a voyage to the new land.

1295. Landa-Rolf died.

1357. There came thirteen large ships to Iceland. Eindridesuden was wrecked in East Borgafiord, near Langeness. The crew and the greater part of the cargo were saved. Bessalangen was wrecked outside of Sida. Of its crew, Haldor Magre and Gunthorm Stale, and nineteen men altogether, were drowned. The cargo suffered also. There were also six ships, driven back. There came likewise a ship from Greenland, (31) smaller than the smallest of Iceland ships, that came in the outer bay. It had lost its anchor. There were seventeen men on board, who had gone to Markland, (32) and on their return were drifted here. But here altogether that winter were eighteen large ships, besides the two that were wrecked in the summer. (33)

1357. There came a ship from Greenland that had sailed to Markland, and there were eight men on board.

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V. GEOGRAPHICAL FRAGMENTS

The first of these documents is from a work which professes to give a description of the earth in the middle age. From this it appears that the Icelanders had a correct idea of the location of Vinland in New England, though they did not comprehend the fact that they had discovered a new Continent. The account is found in Antiquitates Americanæ, p. 283. In the appendix of that work may be seen a fac simile of the original manuscript. The second account is from Antiquitates Americanæ, p. 292. It was found originally in the miscellaneous collection called the Gripla. The failure to recognize modern discoveries shows that the description is Pre-Columbian.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE WHOLE EARTH

The earth is said to be divided into three parts. (34) One of these is called Asia, and extends from north-east to south-west, and occupies the middle of the earth. In the eastern part are three separate regions, called Indialand. In the farthest India, the Apostle Bartholomew preached the faith; and where he likewise gave up his life (for the name of Christ). In the nearest India, the Apostle Thomas preached, and there also he suffered death for the cause of God. In that part of the earth called Asia, is the city of Nineveh, greatest of all cities. It is three days' journey in length and one day's journey in breadth. There is also the city of Babylon, ancient and very large. There King Nebuchadnezzar formerly reigned, but now that city is so thoroughly destroyed that it is not inhabited by men, on account of serpents and all manner of noxious creatures. In Asia is Jerusalem, and also Antioch; in this city Peter the Apostle founded an Episcopal seat, and where he, the first of all men, sang Mass. Asia Minor is a region of Great Asia. There the Apostle John preached, and there also, in the city of Ephesus, is his tomb. They say that four rivers flow out of Paradise. (35) One is called Pison or Ganges; this empties into the sea surrounding the world. Pison rises under a mountain called Orcobares. The second river flowing from Paradise, is called Tigris, and the third, Euphrates. Both empty into the Mediterranean (sea), near Antioch. The Nile, also called Geon, is the fourth river that runs from Paradise. It seperates Asia from Africa, and flows through the whole of Egypt. (36) In Egypt is New Babylon (Cairo), and the city called Alexandria.

The second part of the earth is called Africa, which extends from the south-west to the north-west. (37) There are Serkland, and three regions called Blaland (land of blackmen or negroes). The Mediterranean sea divides Europe from Africa.

Europe is the third part of the earth, extending from west and north-west to the north-east. In the east of Europe is the kingdom of Russia. There are Holmgard, Palteskia and Smalenskia. South of Russia lies the kingdom of Greece. Of this kingdom, the chief city is Constantinople, which our people call Miklagard. In Miklagard is a church, which the people call St. Sophia, but the Northmen call it Ægisif. (38) This church exceeds all the other churches in the world, both as respects its structure and size. Bulgaria and a great many islands, called the Greek islands, belong to the kingdom of Greece. Crete and Cyprus are the most noted of the Greek islands. Sicily is a great kingdom in that part of the earth called Europe. Italy is a country south of the great ridge of mountains, called by us Mundia [Alps.]. In the remotest part of Italy is Apulia, called by the Northmen, Pulsland. In the middle of Italy is Rome. In the north of Italy is Lombardy, which we call Lombardland. North of the mountains on the east, is Germany, and on the south-west is France. Hispania, which we call Spainland, is a great kingdom that extends south to the Mediterranean, between Lombardy and France. The Rhine is a great river that runs north from Mundia, between Germany and France. Near the outlets of the Rhine is Friesland, northward from the sea. North of Germany is Denmark. The ocean runs into the Baltic sea, near Denmark. Sweden lies east of Denmark, and Norway at the north. North of Norway is Finnmark. The coast bends thence to the north-east, and then toward the east, until it reaches Permia, which is tributary to Russia. From Permia, desert tracts extend to the north, reachin as far as Greenland. (39) Beyond Greenland, southward, is Helluland; beyond that is Markland; from thence it is not far to Vinland, which some men are of the opinion extends to Africa. (40) England and Scotland are one island; but each is a seperate kingdom. Ireland is a great island. Iceland is also a great island north of Ireland. All these countries are situated in that part of the world called Europe. Next to Denmark is Lesser Sweden; then is Oeland, then Gottland, then Helsingeland, then Vermeland, and the two Kvendlands, which lie north of Biarmeland. From Biarmeland stretches desert land toward the north, until Greenland begins. South of Greenland is Helluland; next is Markland, from thence it is not far to Vinland the Good, which some think goes to Africa; and if this is so, the sea must extend between Vinland and Markland. (41) It is told that Thorfinn Karlsefne cut wood here [in Markland] to ornament his house, (42) and went afterwards to seek out Vinland the Good. He came there where they thought the land was, but did not reach it, (43) and got none of the wealth of the land. Leif the Lucky first discovered Vinland, and then he met some merchants in distress at sea, and by God's grace, saved their lives. He introduced Christianity into Greenland, and it flourished so much that an Episcopal seat was set up in the place called Gardar. England and Scotland are an island, and yet each is a seperate kingdom. Ireland is a great island. These countries are all in that part of the world called Europe.

FROM GRIPLA.

Bavaria is bounded by Saxony; Saxony is bounded by Holstein, and next is Denmark. The sea runs between the eastern countries. Finmark is east of Norway, and from thence the land extends to the north-east and east until you come to Biarmeland. This land is under tribute to Gardaridge. From Biarmeland desert places lie all northward to the land which is called Greenland [which, however, the Greenlanders do not affirm, but believe to have seen it otherwise, both from drift timber that is known and cut down by men, and also from reindeer which have marks upon their ears, or bands upon their horns, likewise from sheep which stray here, of which there are some remaining in Norway, for one head hangs in Throndheim, and another in Bergen, and many others are to be found.](44) But there are bays, and the land stretches out toward the south-west; there are ice mountains, and bays, and islands lie out in front of the ice mountains; one of the ice mountains cannot be explored, and the other is half a month's sail; to the third, a week's sail. This is nearest to the settlement called Hvidserk. Thence the land trends north; but he who desires to go by the settlement steers to the south-west. Gardar, the bishop's seat, is at the bottom of Ericsfiord; there is a church consecrated to holy Nicholas. There are twelve churches in the eastern settlement and four in the western.

Now it should be told what is opposite Greenland, out from the bay, which was before named. Furdustrandur (45) is the name of the land; the cold is so severe that it is not habitable, so far as is known. South from thence is Helluland, which is called Skrællings land. Thence it is not far to Vinland the Good, which some think goes out to Africa. (46) Between Vinland and Greenland is Ginnungagah, which runs from the sea called Mare Oceanum, and surrounds the whole earth. (47)

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1. In Iceland the care bestowed upon genealogies is well illustrated by the pains here taken to give the line of Marson. It must be remembered again that Landnama-bok corresponds with the English Doomsday Book, being devoted to a matter-of-fact account of the people and their lands in Iceland.  (back)

2. That is, the Norwegian.  (back)

3. Hvitramanna-land. It will be remembered that in the Saga of Thorfinn Karlsefne (p. 135), this land was referred to by the Skrælling boys whom he took prisoners and brought up. They described it as a land inhabited by a people who wore white clothes, carried poles before them, and shouted. Yet the Saga writer there says no more than that the people think that this was the place known as Ireland the Great. What the Skrællings say does not identify it with the land of Are Marson; yet, in order to allow Professor Rafn, who held that this country was America, the full benefit of his theory, we give the following extract from Wafter's Voyage, which shows that, in the year 1681, when he visited the Isthmus of Darien, there were people among the natives who answered tolerably well to the description given in Karlsefne's narrative. Wafter says: "They are white, and there are them of both sexes; yet there were few of them in comparison of the copper colored, possibly but one, to two or three hundred. They differ from the other Indians, chiefly in respect of color, though not in that only. Thier skins are not of such a white, as those of fair people among Europeans, with some tincture of a blush or sanguine complexion; neither is their complexion like that of our paler people, but 'tis rather a milk-white, lighter than the color of any Europeans, and much like that of a white horse......Their bodies are beset all over, more or less, with a fine, short, milk-white down........The men would probably have white bristles for beards, did they not prevent them by thier custom of plucking the young beard up by the roots........Their eyebrows are milky-white also, and so is the hair of their heads," p. 107. He also adds, that "The men have a value for Cloaths, and if any of them had an old shirt given him by any of us, he would be sure to wear it, and strut about at no ordinary rate. Besides this, they have a sort of long cotton garments of their own, some white, and others of a rusty black, shaped like our carter's frocks, hanging down to their heels, with a fringe of the same cotton, about a span long, and short, wide, open sleeves, reaching but to the middle of their arms....They are worn on some great occasions......When they are assembled, they will sometimes walk about the place or plantation where they are, with these, their robes on. And once I saw Tacenta thus walking with two or three hundred of these attending him, as if he was mustering them. And I took notice that those in the black gowns walked before him, and the white after him, each having their lances of the same color with thier robes." These resemblances are at least curious, but historians will ask for more solid proof of the identity of the two people. (back)

4. Professor Rafn in, what seems to the author, his needless anxiety to fix the locality of the White-man's land in America, says that, as this part of the manuscript is difficult to decipher, the original letters may have gotten changed, and vi inserted instead of xx or xi, which numerals would afford time for the voyager to reach the coast of America, in the vicinity of Florida. Smith, in his Dialogues, has suppressed the term six altogether, and substituted "by a number of days' sail unknown." This at least is trifling with the subject. In Grönland's Historiske Mindesmærker, chiefly the work of Finn Magnussen, no question is raised on this point. The various versions all give the number six, which limits the voyage to the vicinity of the Azores. Schöning, to whom we are so largely indebted for the best edition of Heimskringla, lays the scene of Marson's adventures at those islands, and suggests that they may at that time have covered a larger extent of the territory than the present, and that they may have suffered from earthquakes and floods, adding "It is likely, and all circumstances show, that the said land has been a piece of North America." This is a bold, though not very unreasonable hypothesis, especially as the volacanic character of the island is well known. In 1808, a volcanic mountain rose to the height of 3,500 feet. Yet Schöning's suggestion is not needed. The fact that the islands were not inhabited when discovered by the Portuguese does not, however, settle anything against Schöning, because, in the course of five hundred years, the people might either have migrated, or been swept away by pestilence. Grönland's Historiske Mindesmærker (vol. I, p. 150) says simply that "It is thought that he (Are Marson) ended his days in America, or at all events in one of the Azore islands." Upon the whole, we ourselves believe to the contrary. The proper method seems to be that of Rafn, who would correct the text.  (back)

5. The fact that Are Marson is said to have been baptized in Ireland the Great does not prove that the place, wherever located, was inhabited by a colony of Irish Christians. Yet this view was urged by Professor Rafn and others, who held that Great Ireland was situated in Florida. A Shawanese tradition is given to prove that Floridia was early settled by white men from over the sea. We read that in 1818, "the Shawanese were established in Ohio, whither they came from Florida. Black Hoof, then eighty five years old, was born there, and remembered bathing in the sea. He told the Indian Agent, that the people of his tribe had a tradition, that their ancestors came over the sea, and that for a long time they kept a yearly sacrifice for their safe arrival."----Archæologia Americana, vol. I, p. 273. Yet these Indians, the supposed descendants of eminently pious Christians from Ireland, were bitterly opposed to Christianity, and had no Christian traditions. It is more reasonable, to allow that six, should mean eleven or twenty days' sail, notwithstanding there is difficulty in finding the white men for the land in question. It will be found by the study of the subject of complexion in historical narratives that the terms "white," "black" and "red" are used comparatively. See Verrazano the Explorer, p. 27. (back)

6. It will appear from this genealogical account, that Are Marson was no obscure or mythological character. In 981 he was one of the principal men of Iceland, and is highly spoken of. Yet his connection with Ireland the Great, though undoubtedly real, hardly proves, what may nevertheless be true----a pre-Scandinavian discovery of America by the Irish. This, not improbable view, demands clearer proof, and will repay investigation. The other characters mentioned are equally well known. See Antiquitates Americanæ, pp. 211-12.  (back)

7. Priest or Gode. This was the heathen priest of Iceland, whose duty was to provide the temple offerings, for which purpose a contribution was made by every farm in the vicinity. This office was also united with that of chief judge and advocate, and for the cases conducted by him at the Thing, he received the customary fees; yet he was obliged to depend for his support, mainly, upon the products of his farm. The office was hereditary, but could be sold, assigned, or forfeited, though men of character and ability, could, independently of such means, establish themselves in the priesthood.  (back)

8. Ireland was regarded as the "west," the people being accustomed to use this expression.  (back)

9. Killed in Ireland in a battle, 1013.  (back)

10. Probably the present "Isle of Man," which still retains "Manx" law.  (back)

11. Literally, woman, with reference to Jörd, the Earth, one of the wives of Odin, and also mother of Thor.  (back)

12. Funeral cups.  (back)

13. Biörn's mother.  (back)

14. This is a fling at Thorodd the Tribute Taker.  (back)

15. This shows, that while Biörn killed the men in self-defense, it was the opinion of the court that he did not get what he deserved.  (back)

16. Jomsberg was the headquarters of an order of vikings or pirates, where a castle was also built by King Harold Blaatand of Denmark. It was situated on one of the outlets of the Oder, on the coast of Pomerania, and was probably identical with Julian, founded by the Wends, being recognized as the island of Wallin, which Adam of Bremen, in the eleventh century described as the largest and most flourishing commercial city in Europe. Burislaus, king of the Wends, surrendered the neighboring territory into the hands of Palnatoki, a great chief of Fionia, who was pledged to his support. Accordingly he built a stronghold here, and organized a band of pirates, that while every viking was a pirate, every pirate was not a viking. Only those pirates of princely blood were properly called vikings, or sea-kings, who haunted the vicks, or bays, and thus derived their name. The Jomsvikings were distinguished for their rare courage, and for their ferarlessness with which they faced death. They were governed by strict laws, hedged about by exact requirements, and were also, it is said, pledged to celibacy. Jomsberg was destroyed about the year 1175, by Waldemar the Great, of Denmark, aided by the Princes of Germany and the King of Barbarossa. Those of the pirates who survived, escaped to a place near the mouth of the Elbe, where a few years after, they were annihilated by the Danes, who in the reign of Canute VI completely destroyed their stronghold. Accounts of thier acchievements may be found in the Saga of King Olaf Tryggvesson (vol. I of Laing's Heimskringla). The Icelanders sometimes joined the Norway pirates, as was the case with Biörn, but they did not send out pirate ships from Icelandic ports. Palnatoke died in the year 993.  (back)

17. Styrbiörn, son of King Olaf, ruled Sweden in connection with Eric, called the Victorious. Styrbiörn's ambition, to which was added the crime of murder, led to his disgrace. He joined the vikings, adding sixty ships to their force. He was killed, as stated, in 984, in a battle with his uncle near Upsula.  (back)

18. Dasent says in describing the coast: "Now we near the stupendous crags, of Hofdabrekka, Headbrink, where the mountains almost stride into the main."  (back)

19. Referring to the dead man's blood.  (back)

20. In Iceland the women are accustomed to bring travelers dry clothes.  (back)

21. All of these verses are extremely obscure and elliptical, though far more intelligible to the modern mind than the compositions which belonged to a still older period. All the chief men of Iceland practiced the composition of verse. Chaucer makes his parson apologize for his inability to imitate the practice. It was believed that certain women had power over storms.  (back)

22. See the Saga of "Burnt Nial," translated by Dasent.  (back)

23. These sledges were used in drawing hay, as the roads were then, as now, too poor for carts. (back)

24. This is the only paragraph which applies directly to the subject in hand. The following narrative will bring Biörn to notice again. Note, however, that the north-east wind, long continued, would drive a ship toward the south-west, which, as we shall see, was the case with the ship in which Biörn sailed. This forms a curious and unexpected agreement with what follows.  (back)

25. Few will infer much from this, since nothing is easier than to find resemblances between languages.  (back)

26. The language may indicate that they were horseback, though it is not conclusive. At the period referred to, there may have been no horses in America. They were introduced by the Spaniards, after the discovery by Columbus. At least, such is the common opinion. This statement is made without reference to the proofs offered of the existence of the horse at an earlier period, the remains of which are said to be found. (back)

27. This is found in Annales Islandorum Regii, which gives the history of Iceland from the beginning down to 1307. Also in Annales Flateyensis, and in Annales Reseniini. Eric was appointed Bishop of Greenland, but performed no duties after his consecration, and eventually resigned that See, in order to undertake the mission to Vinland. He is also spoken of in two works as going to Vinland with the title of Bishop of Greenland, a title which he had several years before his actual consecration.  (back)

28. The manuscript is deficient here, but we must remember that Greenland had at this time, 1285, been known and explored for three hundred years, and, therefore, that the land west of Iceland was beyond Greenland. Otherwise the entry would have possessed no significance.  (back)

29. The Feather Islands are mentioned in the Lögmanns Annall, or, Annals of the Governors of Iceland, and Annales Skalholtini, or Annals of the Bishopric of Skalholt, written in the middle of the fourteenth century, long before Columbus went to Iceland. Beamish suggests that these are the Penguin and Bacaloa Islands.  (back)

30. "The notices of Nyja land and Duneyjar, would seem to refer to a re-discovery of some parts of the eastern coast of America, visited by earlier voyages. The original appellation of Nyjaland, or Nyjafundu-land, would have led naturally to the modern English name of Newfoundland, given by Cabot, to whose knowledge the discovery would [might] have come through the medium of the commercial intercourse between England and Iceland in the fifteenth century." Beamish.  (back)

31. See the Decline of Greenland, in Introduction.  (back)

32. Markland (Woodland) was Nova Scotia, as we know from the description of Leif and others. These vessels doubtless went to get timber. All these accounts show that the Western ocean was generally navigated in the middle of the fourteenth century.  (back)

33. March 12, 1888, the "W.L. White" was abandoned near Cape May and drifted in a zig-zag course across the Atlantic, some 5,050 miles, and brought up in the harbor of Stornoway, November 29, following.  (back)

34. This is in accordance with the maps of that early period, some of which, undoubtedly, were before the writer's eye.  (back)

35. This is a confused geography, based on Genesis II, 10-15.   (back)

36. The modern discoveries in connection with the source of the Nile are all shown in the maps of Ptolemy, proving that the great lakes which serve as feeders were well known at a very early period. Still the old northern geographer's ideas were confused.  (back)

37. This is the way Africa was represented at that early period. That continent had been circumnavigated by Hanno, though the maps did not show it, but indicated usually the northern part of Africa, which was made to appear longest from east to west. This fact, taken with the fact that the writer has only a few words to say about Africa, proves that he wrote at a very early period, even before the date of pre-Columbian sketches like those of Fra Mauro and Behaim. See the Atlases of Lelewell and Santarem. Ante, p. 12.  (back)

38. The Northmen were familiar with Constantinople.  (back)

39. Greenland appears in Ptolemy as an extension of Norway but was not placed sufficiently far west, showing that the map makers did not fully understand the accounts they had received. The Northmen understood that a great isthmus extended from Norway to Greenland, through the high ice region, making the two lands one; while Greenland extended to Vinland, which in turn went southward and turned eastward until it nearly reached Africa. In fact South America pushes eastward with 20 degrees of Cape Verde, Africa. On the Lenox globe, 1508-9, these two points are placed in the same longitude, Africa and South America overlapping. So much for the old northern geography.  (back)

40. In the face of this and a multitude of similar statements, Mr. Bancroft endeavored to make his readers believe that the locality of Vinland was uncertain. He might, with equal propriety, tell us that the location of Massachusetts itself was uncertain, because, according to the original grant, it extended to the Pacific ocean, or that Virginia and Florida were uncertain localities, because both at one time included Massachusetts.  (back)

41. This writer did not appear to be familiar with the narratives of Karlsefne. The writer's argument is not plain, where he says, "if this is so," etc.; but as Markland was Nova Scotia and Vinland was Massachusetts, we may perhaps accept this as a recognition of the Gulf of Maine and Massachusetts Bay. When, in 1542, Allefonsce reached this region he did not know whither the sea extended: "I have been at a bay as far as forty two degrees between Norumbega [Markland] and Floridia [Massachusetts] but I have not seen the end and I do not know whether it extends any farther." "The Northmen in Maine," p. 94.  (back)

42. See ante, p. 155. n. 1.  (back)

43. This is erroneous. See Saga of Thorfinn, ante, p. 135.  (back)

44. The part inclosed in brackets is an interpolation of a recent date.  (back)

45. Not to be confounded with the place of the same name at Cape Cod.  (back)

46. This is another passage upon which Bancroft absurdly depended to prove that the locality of Vinland was unknown, when in the Sagas the position is minutely described, the situation being as well known as that of Greenland. See sketches designed to illustrate this statement in the Narrative and Critical History, vol I, pp. 117-132.  (back)

47. This may perhaps be viewed as an indication of the "northwest passage," which in post-Columbian times was supposed to be a navigable body of water leading to the Pacific, though in this account the name Vinland is loosely applied, whereas Vinland lay south of Markland, the present Nova Scotia. The studen should compare these geographical fragments with the geography of Orosius (A.D. 416), translated and improved by King Alfred the Great (Cir. 890), and found in the "Jubilee Edition" of his works, marking the one thousandth year from his birth. London, 1858, vol II, 17-61. Page 46, contains the only reference to Iceland, but Alfred speaks as though the country were well known at the time he made his translation. This translation is of special interest, as Alfred adds much knowledge belonging to his own time, and narrates the facts about Ohthere, the Northman, who was the most northern inhabitant of his race on the west coast of Norway, north of him being the Finns. Ohthere made a voyage, the first on record, around the north cape into the sea at the eastward. Gardar, the Dane, had seen Iceland in 860. On Ohthere, see Hakluyt's "Navigations," vol. II, pp. 4-5. Neither Orosius or Alfred could say more about the southern part of Africa, than that a land of "barren whirling sand" extended southward to the ocean. It is clear that they knew that Africa had been circumnavigated.  (back)