Much was done, it appears, in the way of exploring the extreme northern
portions of the country known as _Nordrsetur_. In the year 1266, a
voyage was made under the auspices of some of the priests, and the
adventurers penetrated north of Lancaster sound, reaching about the same
latitude that was attained by Parry in 1827. This expedition was of
sufficient importance to justify some notice of it here. The account is
found in _Antiquitates Americanæ_ (p. 269), and it sets out with the
statement that the narrative of the expedition was sent by Haldor, a
priest, to Arnald, the chaplain of King Magnus in Norway. They sailed
out of Kroksfiardarheidi in an open boat, and met with southerly winds
and thick weather, which forced them to let the boat drive before the
wind. When the weather cleared, they saw a number of islands, together
with whales and seals and bears. They made their way into the most
distant portion of the sea, and saw glaciers south of them as far as the
eye could reach. They also saw indications of the natives, who were
called Skrællings, but did not land, on account of the number of the
bears. They therefore put about, and laid their course southward for
nearly three days, finding more islands, with traces of the natives.
They saw a mountain which they call Snæfell, and on St. James day, July
25, they had a severe weather, being obliged to row much and very hard.
It froze during the night in that region, but the sun was above the
horizon both day and night. When the sun was on the southern meridian,
and a man lay down crosswise in a six-oared boat, the shadow of the
gunwale towards the sun would reach as far as his feet, which, of
course, indicates that the sun was very low. Afterwards they all
returned in safety to Gardar.[39] Rafn fixes the position of the point
attained by the expedition in the parallel of 75° 46´. Such an
achievement at that day indicates a degree of boldness quite surprising.