There was a man named Thord, who dwelt at Höfda, in Höfda-Strand. He
married Fridgerda, daughter of Thorer the Idle, and of Fridgerda the
daughter of Kiarval, King of the Irish. Thord was the son of Biarne
Byrdusmjör,[144] son of Thorvald, son of Aslak, son of Biarne Ironsides,
son of Ragnar Lodbrok. They had a son named Snorre, who married Thorhild
the Partridge, daughter of Thord Geller. They had a son named Thord
Horsehead. Thorfinn Karlsefne was his son, whose mother's name was
Thoruna. Thorfinn occupied his time in merchant voyages, and was thought
a good trader. One summer he fitted out his ship for a voyage to
Greenland, attended by Snorre Thorbrandson of Alptafiord, and a crew of
forty men. There was a man named Biarne Grimolfson of Breidafiord, and
another named Thorhall Gamlason of Austfiord. The men fitted out a ship
at the same time, to voyage to Greenland. They also had a crew of forty
men. This ship, and that of Thorfinn, as soon as they were ready, put to
sea. It is not said how long they were on the voyage; it is only told
that both ships arrived at Ericsfiord in the autumn of that year.
Leif[145] and other people rode down to the ships, and friendly
exchanges were made. The captains requested Leif to take whatever he
desired of their goods. Leif in return, entertained them well, and
invited the principal men of both ships to spend the winter with him at
Brattahlid. The merchants accepted his invitation with thanks.
Afterwards their goods were moved to Brattahlid, where they had every
entertainment that they could desire; therefore their winter quarters
pleased them much. When the Yule feast began, Leif was silent and more
depressed than usual. Then Karlsefne said to Leif: "Are you sick friend
Leif? you do not seem to be in your usual spirits. You have entertained
us most liberally, for which we desire to render you all the service in
our power. Tell me what it is that ails you." "You have received what I
have been able to offer you," said Leif, "in the kindest manner and
there is no idea in my mind that you have been wanting in courtesy; but
I am afraid lest when you go away, it may be said that you never saw a
Yule[146] feast so meanly celebrated as that which draws near, at which
you will be entertained by Leif of Brattahlid." "What shall never be the
case, friend," said Karlsefne, "we have ample stores in the ship; take
of these what you wish, and make a feast as splendid as you please."
Leif accepted this offer, and the Yule began; and so well were Leif's
plans made, that all were surprised that such a rich feast could be
prepared in so poor a country. After the Yule feast, Karlsefne began to
treat with Leif, as to the marriage of Gudrid,[147] Leif being the
person to whom the right of betrothal belonged. Lief gave a favorable
reply, and said she must fulfill that destiny which fate had assigned,
and that he had heard of none except a good report of him; and in the
end it turned out that Karlsefne married Gudrid, and their wedding was
held at Brattahlid, this same winter.
[A. D. 1007.] The conversation often turned at Brattahlid, on the
discovery of Vinland the Good, and they said that a voyage there had
great hope of gain. And after this Karlsefne and Snorre made ready for
going on a voyage there, the following spring. Biarne and Thorhall
Gamlason, before mentioned, joined him with a ship. There was a man
named Thorvard, who married Freydis, natural daughter of Eric Red, and
he decided to go with them, as did also Thorvald, son[148] of Eric. And
Thorhall, commonly called the Hunter, who had been the huntsman of Eric
in the summer, and his steward in the winter, also went. This Thorhall
was a man of immense size and of great strength, and dark complexion and
taciturn, and when he spoke, it was always jestingly. He was always
inclined to give Leif evil advice, and was an enemy of Christianity. He
knew much about desert lands; and was in the same ship with Thorvord
and Thorvald. These used the ship which brought Thorbiorn from Iceland.
There were in all, forty men and a hundred.[149] They sailed to the West
district [of Greenland], and thence to Biarney;[150] hence they sailed
south a night and a day. Then land was seen, and they launched a boat
and explored the land; they found great flat stones, many of which were
twelve ells broad. There were a great number of foxes there. They called
the land Helluland.[151] Then they sailed a day and a night in a
southerly course, and came to a land covered with woods, in which there
were many wild animals. Beyond this land to the southeast, lay an island
on which they slew a bear. They called the island Bear island,[152] and
the land, Markland. Thence they sailed south two days and came to a
cape. The land lay on the right [starboard] side of the ship, and there
were long shores of sand. They came to land, and found on the cape, the
keel of a ship, from which they called the place Kiarlarness,[153] and
the shores they also called Wonder-strand, because it seemed so long
sailing by. Then the land became indented with coves, and they ran the
ship into a bay,[154] whither they directed their course. King Olaf
Tryggvesson had given Leif two Scots,[155] a man named Haki and a woman
named Hekia; they were swifter of foot than wild animals. These were in
Karlfsefne's ship. And when they had passed beyond Wonder-strand, they
put these Scots ashore, and told them to run over the land to the
southwest, three days, and discover the nature of the land, and then
return. They had a kind of garment that they called kiafal, that was so
made that a hat was on top, and it was open at the sides, and no arms;
fastened between the legs with a button and strap, otherwise they were
naked. When they returned, one had in his hand a bunch of grapes, and
the other an ear of corn. They went on board, and afterwards the course
was obstructed by another bay.[156] Beyond this bay was an island,[157]
on each side of which was a rapid current, that they called the Isle of
Currents.[158] There was so great a number of eider ducks[159] there,
that they could hardly step without treading on their eggs. They called
this place Stream Bay.[160] Here they brought their ships to land, and
prepared to stay. They had with them all kinds of cattle. The situation
of the place[161] was pleasant, but they did not care for anything,
except to explore the land. Here they wintered without sufficient food.
The next summer [A. D. 1008.] failing to catch fish, they began to want
food. Then Thorhall the Hunter disappeared.
They found Thorhall, whom they sought three days, on the top of a rock,
where he lay breathing, blowing through his nose and mouth, and
muttering. They asked why he had gone there. He replied that this was
nothing that concerned them.[162] They said that he should go home with
them, which he did. Afterwards a whale was cast ashore[163] in that
place; and they assembled and cut it up, not knowing what kind of a
whale it was. They boiled it with water, and devoured it, and were taken
sick. Then Thorhall said: "Now you see that Thor[164] is more prompt to
give aid than your Christ. This was cast ashore as a reward for the hymn
which I composed to my patron Thor, who rarely forsakes me." When they
knew this, they cast all the remains of the whale into the sea, and
commended their affairs to God. After which the air became milder, and
opportunities were given for fishing; and from that time there was an
abundance of food; and there were beasts on the land, eggs in the
island, and fish in the sea.
They say that Thorhall desired to go northward around Wonder-strand to
explore Vinland, but Karlsefne wished to go along the shore south. Then
Thorhall prepared himself at the island, but did not have more than nine
men in his whole company, and all the others went in the company of
Karlsefne. When Thorhall was carrying water to his ship, he sang this
verse:
"People said when hither I
Came, that I the best
Drink would have, but the land
It justly becomes me to blame;
I, a warrior, am now obliged
To bear the pail;
Wine touches not my lips,
But I bow down to the spring."
And when they had made ready and were about to sail, Thorhall sang:
"Let us return
Thither where [our] country-men rejoice,
Let the ship try
The smooth ways of the sea;
While the strong heroes
Live on Wonder-strand
And there boil whales
Which is an honor to the land."
Afterwards he sailed north to go around Wonder-strand and Kiarlarness,
but when he wished to sail westward, they were met by a storm from the
west and driven to Ireland, where they were beaten and made slaves. And,
as merchants[165] reported, there Thorhall died.
It is said that Karlsefne, with Snorre and Biarne and his comrades,
sailed along the coast south. They sailed long until they came to a
river flowing out from the land through a lake into the sea, where there
were sandy shoals, where it was impossible to pass up, except with the
highest tide. Karlsefne sailed up to the mouth of the river with his
folk, and called the place Hop.[166] Having come to the land, they saw
that where the ground was low corn[167] grew, and where it was higher,
vines were found. Every river was full of fish.
They dug pits where the land began, and where the land was highest; and
when the tide went down, there were sacred fish[168] in the pits. There
were a great number of all kinds of wild beasts in the woods. They
stayed there half a month and enjoyed themselves, and did not notice
anything; they had their cattle with them. And early one morning, when
they looked around, they saw a great many skin boats, and poles were
swung upon them, and it sounded like reeds shaken by the wind, and they
pointed to the sun. Then said Karlsefne, "What may this mean?" Snorre
Thorbrandson replied, "It may be that this is a sign of peace, so let us
take a white shield and hold it towards them." They did so. Thereupon
they rowed towards them, wondering at them, and came to land. These
people were swarthy and fierce, and had bushy hair on their heads; they
had very large eyes and broad cheeks. They stayed there for a time, and
gazed upon those they met, and afterwards rowed away southward around
the ness.
Karlsefne and his people had made their houses above the lake, and some
of the houses were near the lake, and others more distant. They wintered
there, and there was no snow, and all their cattle fed themselves on the
grass.[169] But when spring came [A. D. 1009.] they saw one morning
early, that a number of canoes rowed from the south round the ness; so
many, as if the sea were sown with coal; poles were also swung on each
boat. Karlsefne and his people then raised up the shield, and when they
came together they began to trade; and these people would rather have
red cloth; for this they offered skins and real furs. They would also
buy swords and spears, but this, Karlsefne and Snorre forbade. For a
whole fur skin, the Skrællings took a piece of red cloth, a span long,
and bound it round their heads. Thus went on their traffic for a time;
then the cloth began to be scarce with Karlsefne and his people, and
they cut it up into small pieces, which were not wider than a finger's
breath, and yet the Skrællings gave just as much as before, and more.
It happened that a bull, which Karlsefne had, ran out of the wood and
roared aloud; this frightened the Skrællings, and they rushed to their
canoes and rowed away toward the south; and after that they were not
seen for three whole weeks. But at the end of that time, a great number
of Skrælling's ships were seen coming from the south like a rushing
torrent, all the poles turned from the sun, and they all yelled very
loud. Then Karlsefne's people took a red[170] shield and held it towards
them. The Skrællings leaped out of their vessels, and after this, they
went against each other and fought. There was a hot shower of weapons,
because the Skrællings had slings. Karlsefne's people saw that they
raised up on a pole, a very large ball, something like a sheep's paunch,
and of a blue color; this they swung from the pole over Karlsefne's men,
upon the ground, and it made a great noise as it fell down.[171] This
caused great fear with Karlsefne and his men, so that they only thought
of running away, and they retreated along the river, for it seemed to
them that the Skrællings pressed them on all sides; they did not stop
until they came to some rocks, where they made a bold stand. Freydis
came out and saw that Karlsefne's people fell back, and she cried out,
"Why do you run, strong men as you are, before these miserable
creatures, whom I thought you would knock down like cattle? And if I had
arms, methinks I could fight better than any of you." They gave no heed
to their words. Freydis would go with them, but she was slower, because
she was pregnant; still she followed after them into the woods. She
found a dead man in the woods; it was Thorbrand Snorreson, and there
stood a flat stone stuck in his head; the sword lay naked by his side.
This she took up, and made ready to defend herself. Then came the
Skrællings toward her; she drew out her breasts from under her clothes,
and dashed them against the naked sword;[172] by this the Skrællings
became frightened and ran off to their ships, and rowed away. Karlsefne
and his men then came up and praised her courage. Two men fell on
Karlsefne's side, but a number of the Skrællings. Karlsefne's band was
overmatched. And now they went home to their dwellings and bound up
their wounds; and considered what crowd that was that pressed upon them
from the land side, and it now seemed to them that it could have hardly
been real people from the ships, but that these must have been optical
illusions. The Skrællings also found a dead man, and an axe lay by him;
one of them took up the axe and cut wood with it; and then one after
another did the same, and thought it was a fine thing and cut well.
After that, one took it and cut at a stone, so that the axe broke, and
then they thought that it was of no use, because it would not cut stone,
and they cast it away.
Karlsefne and his people now thought that they saw, although the land
had many good qualities, that they still would always be exposed there
to the fear of attacks from the original dwellers.[173] They decided,
therefore, to go away, and to return to their own land. They coasted
northward along the shore,[174] and found five Skrællings clad in skins,
sleeping near the sea. They had with them vessels containing animal
marrow, mixed with blood.[175] Karlsefne's people thought that these men
had been banished from the land; they killed them. After that they came
to a ness, and many wild beasts were there, and the ness was covered all
over with dung, from the beasts which had lain there during the night.
Now they came back to Straumfiord, and there was a plenty of everything
that they wanted to have. [It is thus that some men say, that Biarne and
Gudrid stayed behind, and one hundred men with them, and did not go
farther; but that Karlsefne and Snorre went southward, and forty men
with them, and were not longer in Hop than barely two months, and the
same summer came back.][176] Karlsefne then went with one ship to seek
Thorhall the Hunter, but the rest remained behind, and they sailed
northward past Kiarlarness, and thence westward, and the land was upon
their larboard hand. There were wild woods over all, as far as they
could see, and scarcely any open places. And when they had sailed long a
river ran out of the land from east to west. They sailed into the mouth
of the river, and lay by its banks.[177]
* * * * *
It chanced one morning that Karlsefne and his people saw opposite in an
open place in the woods, a speck which glittered in their sight, and
they called out towards it, and it was a Uniped,[178] which thereupon
hurried down to the bank of the river, where they lay. Thorvald Ericson
stood at the helm, and the Uniped shot an arrow into his bowels.
Thorvald drew out the arrow and said: "It has killed me! To a rich land
we have come, but hardly shall we enjoy any benefit from it." Thorvald
soon after died[179] of his wound. Upon this the Uniped ran away to the
northward; Karlsefne and his people went after him, and saw him now and
then, and the last time they saw him, he ran out into a bay. Then they
turned back, and a man sang these verses:
The people chased
A uniped
Down to the beach.
Behold he ran
Straight over the sea--
Hear thou, Thorfinn!
They drew off to the northward, and saw the country of the Unipeds; they
would not then expose their men any longer. They looked upon the
mountain range that was at Hop, and that which they now found,[180] as
all one, and it also appeared to be of equal length from Straumfiord to
both places. The third winter they were in Straumfiord. They now became
much divided by party feeling, and the women were the cause of it, for
those who were unmarried would injure those who were married, and hence
arose great disturbance. There was born the first autumn, Snorre,
Karlsefne's son, and he was three years old when they went away. When
they sailed from Vinland they had a south wind, and then came to
Markland, and found there, five Skrællings, and one was bearded; two
were females, and two boys; they took the boys, but the others escaped,
and the Skrællings sank down in the ground.[181] These boys they took
with them; they taught them the language, and they were baptized. They
called their mother Vathelldi, and their father, Uvæge. They said that
two kings ruled over the Skrællings, and that one was named Avalldania,
but the other Valldidia. They said that no houses were there; people lay
in caves or in holes. They said there was a land on the other side, just
opposite their country, where people lived who wore white clothes, and
carried poles before them, and to these were fastened flags, and they
shouted loud; and the people think that this was White-man's land, or
Great Ireland.[182]
* * * * *
Biarne Grimolfson was driven with his ship into the Irish ocean, and
they came into a worm sea,[183] and soon the ship began to sink under
them. They had a boat which was smeared with sea oil, for the worms do
not attack that. They went into the boat, and then saw that it could not
hold them all. Then said Biarne: "As the boat will not hold more than
half of our men, it is my counsel that lots should be drawn for those to
go in the boat, for it shall not be according to rank." This, they all
thought so generous an offer, that no one would oppose it. They then did
so that lots were drawn, and it fell to Biarne to go in the boat, and
the half of the men with him, for the boat had not room for more. But
when they had gotten into the boat, an Icelandic man that was in the
ship, and had come with Biarne from Iceland, said: "Dost thou mean,
Biarne, to leave me here?" Biarne said: "So it seems." Then said the
other: "Very different was the promise to my father, when I went with
thee from Iceland, than thus to leave me, for thou said that we should
both share the same fate." Biarne said, "It shall not be thus; go down
into the boat, and I will go up into the ship, since I see that thou art
so anxious to live."[184] Then Biarne went up into the ship, and this
man down into the boat, and after that they went on their voyage, until
they came to Dublin, in Ireland, and there told these things; but it is
most people's belief that Biarne and his companions were lost in the
worm sea, for nothing was heard of them after that time.