IN NORTHERN MISTS 



ersed its breadth for a month, until the light of Heaven failed them and they 

 were obliged to renounce this vain undertaking. The king further caused the 

 interpreter to assure the adventurers of his benevolent intentions. They then 

 returned to prison and remained there until a west wind came. Then they 

 were blindfolded and taken across the sea in a boat for about three days and 

 three nights to a land where they were left on the shore with their hands tied 

 behind their backs. They stayed there till sunrise in a pititable state, for the 

 cords were very tight and caused them great discomfort. Then they heard 

 voices, and upon their cries of distress the natives, who were Berbers, came 

 and released them. They had arrived on the west coast of Africa, and were 

 told that it was two months' journey to their native land. 



As points of similarity to Gudleif's voyage it may be 

 pointed out that the Portuguese sail for thirty-five days 

 altogether, to the west and afterwards to the south, and 

 arrive at a country which thus lies south-south-west. 

 Gudleif is carried before a north-east wind towards the 

 south-west and reaches land after a long time. Both the 

 Portuguese and the Icelanders are taken prisoners shortly 

 after arrival, the former are surrounded by boats, the latter 

 by hundreds of men. The Portuguese saw red-complexioned 

 men of tall stature with long hair, the Icelanders saw a tall, 

 stately man with white hair coming on horseback. They 

 had to wait a while before they were addressed in a language 

 they could understand; the Portuguese being first spoken to 

 by an interpreter in Arabic ^ who gave them good hopes, and 

 afterwards brought them before the king, who assured them of 

 his benevolent intentions; while the Icelanders were sent 

 for by the great chief, who, when they came before him, 

 spoke to them in Norse and was friendly towards them, and 

 after long deliberations spoke to them again, and gave them 

 leave to depart. The Portuguese had to wait in prison for 

 a west wind before they could get away; the Icelanders had 

 to wait for a favorable wind, which was again a west wind. 

 The Portuguese were led away blindfold, obviously in order 

 that they should not find their way back; when the 

 Icelanders left it was enjoined upon them never to return. 



1 As Portugal was at that time under the Moors, Arabic must be regarded as 

 these men's mother-tongue. 



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