We find that the Northmen were well acquainted with other parts of the
world, and that they possessed all the means of reaching the continent
in the west. We come, therefore, to the question: Did the Northmen
actually discover and explore the coast of the country now known as
America?
No one can say that the idea wears any appearance of _improbability_;
for there is certainly nothing wonderful in the exploit. And after
conceding the fact that the colonies of the Northmen existed in
Greenland for at least three hundred years we must prepare ourselves for
something of this kind. Indeed it is well nigh, if not altogether
unreasonable, to suppose that a sea-faring people like the Northmen
could live for three centuries within a short voyage of this vast
continent, and never become aware of its existence. A supposition like
this implies a rare credulity, and whoever is capable of believing it
must be capable of believing almost anything.
But on this point we are not left to conjecture. The whole decision, in
the absence of monuments like those of Greenland, turns upon a question
of _fact_. The point is this: _Do the manuscripts which describe these
voyages belong to the pre-Columbian age?_ If so, then the Northmen are
entitled to the credit of the prior discovery of America. That these
manuscripts belong to the pre-Columbian age, is as capable of
demonstration as the fact that the writings of Homer existed prior to
the age of Christ. Before intelligent persons deny either of these
points they must first succeed in blotting out numberless pages of well
known history. The manuscript in which we have versions of all the Sagas
relating to America is found in the celebrated _Codex Flatöiensis_, a
work that was finished in the year 1387, or 1395 at the latest. This
collection, made with great care and executed in the highest style of
art, is now preserved in its integrity[56] in the archives of
Copenhagen. These manuscripts were for a time supposed to be lost, but
were ultimately found safely lodged in their repository in the monastery
library of the island of Flatö, from whence they were transferred to
Copenhagen with a large quantity of other literary material collected
from various localities. If these Sagas which refer to America were
interpolations, it would have early become apparent, as abundant means
exist for detecting frauds; yet those who have examined the whole
question do not find any evidence that invalidates their historical
statements. In the absence, therefore, of respectable testimony to the
contrary, we accept it as a fact that the Sagas relating to America are
the productions of the men who gave them in their present form nearly,
if not quite, an entire century before the age of Columbus.
It might also be argued, if it were at all necessary, that, if these
Sagas were post-Columbian compositions drawn up by Icelanders who were
jealous of the fame of the Geneose navigator, we should certainly be
able to point out something either in their structure, bearing, or style
by which it would be indicated. Yet such is not the case. These writings
reveal no anxiety to show the connection of the Northmen with the great
land lying at the west. The authors do not see anything at all
remarkable or meritorious in the explorations, which were conducted
simply for the purpose of gain. Those marks which would certainly have
been impressed by a more modern writer forging a historical composition
designed to show an occupation of the country before the time of
Columbus, are wholly wanting. There is no special pleading or rivalry,
and no desire to show prior and superior knowledge of the country to
which the navigators had from time to time sailed. We only discover a
straightforward, honest endeavor to tell the story of certain men's
lives. This is done in a simple, artless way, and with every indication
of a desire to mete out even handed justice to all. And candid readers
who come to the subject with minds free from prejudice, will be
powerfully impressed with the belief that they are reading authentic
histories written by honest men.[57]