518 DISCO VEE Y OF GREENLAND. 



might put it under the cornerstave. (This shows they had 

 stave churches in those days). The Bishop Patrick: 'Thou 

 must land at a place where thou seest two mountains run 

 out into the sea, and a valley in each mountain. Thou shalt 

 settle at the foot of the most southerly mountain ; there thou 

 shalt build a church, and dwell there ' " (Landnama, c. xii. 

 part 1). 



DISCOVERY OF GREENLAND. 



About one hundred years later the descendants of these 

 roving Vikings, animated by the same restless spirit and love 

 of freedom so characteristic of their race, set out in search 

 of new lands, and discovered and settled Greenland in 

 A.D. 985. The heroes of this new settlement were a Nor- 

 wegian chief Thorvald and his son Eirek the Red. 



"Thorvald and his son Eirek the Eed went from Jadar 

 (Joaderen, in Norway) to Iceland, outlawed on account of 

 manslaughter. Iceland was then to a great extent settled. 

 They first lived at Drangar, in Hornstraudir. Thorvald died 

 there. Eirek then married Thorhild, daughter of Jorund and 

 Thorbjorg Knarrarbringa, who was then married to Thorbjorn of 

 Haukadal. Eirek thereupon moved south and lived at Eireks- 

 stadir, near Vatnshorn. The son of Eirek and Thorhild was 

 called Leif. After Eirek had slain Eyjulf Saur and Holm- 

 gongu-Hrafn he was outlawed from Haukadal. He moved 

 westward to Breidi-fjord, and lived at Eireksstadir in Oxney 

 (Ox-island). He lent Thorgest his seat-pillars, and did not 

 get them back when he asked for them. Hence arose quarrels 

 and battles between him and Thorgest, as is told in the Saga 

 of Eirek. 1 Styr Thorgrimsson, Eyjulf of Sviney, the sons of 

 Thorbrand of Alftafjord and Thorbjorn Vifilsson, supported 

 Eirek. But the family of Thorgest was supported by the sons 

 of Thord Gellir and Thorgeir of Hitardal. Eirek was outlawed 

 at the Thornes-thing. Thereupon he made his ship ready for 

 sea in Eirek's bay. When he was ready Styr and the others 

 followed him out past the island to bid him farewell. Eirek 

 told them that he intended to search for the land which 

 Gunnbjorn, 2 son of Ulf Kraka (crow), saw when he was driven 

 westward across the sea and found Gunnbjarnarsker (Guun- 



1 A lost Saga. 



2 There is no account of Gunnbjorn's 



journey. 



