Bavaria is bounded by Saxony; Saxony is bounded by Holstein, and next is
Denmark. The sea runs between the eastern countries. Sweden is east of
Denmark. Norway is to the north; Finmark is east of Norway; from thence
the land extends to the northeast and east, until you come to
Biarmeland; this land is under tribute to Gardaridge. From Biarmeland
lie desert places 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.][254] But there are
bays, and the land stretches out towards the southwest; 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 southwest. 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[255] 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.[256]
Between Vinland and Greenland, is Ginnungagah, which runs from the sea
called _Mare Oceanum_, and surrounds the whole earth.