Thorvold the son of Usvold, son of Ulf, son of Oexne-Thorer, and his
son, Eric Red, left Jardar in Norway on account of manslaughter, and
took possession of a piece of land on Hornastrand [Iceland], and lived
there at Drangey. There Thorvold died. Eric then married Thorhild,
daughter of Jorund Atleson and Thorbiarg Knarrabringa, who was then
married to Thorbiorn of Haukdale. Then Eric went from the north and
ploughed the fields in Haukdale. Then he lived in Ericstadt by Vatshorn.
There his thralls[87] let a piece of rock tumble down over Valthiof's
house in Valthiofstadt. But his relation, Eyulf Söirs, killed the
thralls at Kneide-Brinke above Vatshorn. For this cause, Eric killed
Eyulf Söirs. He also killed Holm-Gang Rafn at Leikskaale. Geirstein and
Odd at Jörund Eyulf Söirs relations brought a suit against the slayer.
Eric was then banished from Hauksdale, and took possession of the
islands, Brokö and Oexno, but lived in Todum at Sydero, the first
winter. Then he loaned Thorgest his seat-posts. Then Eric moved to Oexno
and lived in Ericstadt. Then he demanded his seat-posts, but did not get
them. Eric took them thereafter from Bredobolstad, but Thorgest followed
him. They fought near the house at Drangey. Two sons of Thorgest fell,
and some other men. Thereafter they both kept their followers with them.
Styr, Eyulf of Svino, Thorbrand's sons of Alptefiord, and Thorbiorn
Vifilsson, were of Eric's party. But Thord Gelleirson, Thorgeir from
Hitardale, Aslak of Langedale, and Illuge's son helped Thorgest. Eric
and his party were sentenced to be banished at Thorsness Thing. He
fitted out a ship in Ericsfiord, but Eyulf concealed him in Dimonsvaag,
while Thorgest and his men sought after him on the highlands. Thorbiorn,
Eyulf and Styr followed with Eric out to sea beyond the islands. He said
that he meant to seek the land Gunnbiorn, Ulf Krage's son, saw [A. D.
876.] when he was driven by a storm west from Iceland, and found
Gunnbiorn's Rocks; though he said at the same time if he discovered the
land he would return to his friends. [A. D. 982.] Eric laid his course
to the west from Snæfieldness, and approached [Greenland] from the sea
to land at Midjokul, in that place that is called Blæsark. From thence
he went along the coast to the south, to see if the land was fit to live
in. The first year he stayed all winter in Ericksö, nearly in the middle
of the west bygd. In the next spring [A. D. 983.] he went to Ericsfiord,
and there found a dwelling. Next summer he went to the western bygd, and
gave certain names to many places. The second winter he lived in
Ericsholm, at Hvarfo Fiedspidæ, and at the third summer [A. D. 984.] he
went north to Snæfield, inside of Rafnsfiord. He thought then that the
place where Ericsfiord bent was opposite the place where he came. He
then returned and spent the third winter in Ericksö opposite the mouth
of Ericsfiord. The next summer [A. D. 985.] he went to Iceland, and
landed at Breidafiord. The next winter he stayed at Holmstater, with
Ingolf. Next spring he fought with Thorgest and lost the battle. That
summer, Eric began to settle the land which he had discovered [A. D.
986.] and which he called Greenland, because he said that the people
would not like to move there, if the land did not have a good name.
Learned men say that twenty-five ships went that summer to Greenland
from Breidafiord and Borgafjord, but only fourteen arrived. Of the rest,
some were driven back and others were wrecked. This happened fifteen
winters before Christianity was introduced into Iceland.