IN NORTHERN MISTS 



Of all known maps, the Cantino map undoubtedly gives 

 the most complete and trustworthy representation of the 

 Portuguese discoveries of 1500 and 1501 in the north-west; 

 we know, too, that it was executed with an eye to these, at 

 Lisbon, and immediately after the return thither of those 

 who had taken part in the later voyage. We may con- 

 sequently suppose that the cartographer availed himself of 

 the sources then at his disposal. He may either himself 

 have had access to log-books, with courses and distances, 

 and to the original sketch-charts of the voyages, or he may 

 have used charts that were drawn from these sources. But 

 he used in addition maps and authorities of a more learned 

 kind, as appears, for instance, in the legend attached to Green- 

 land, where he speaks of the opinion of cosmographers, and 

 says that this country is a point of Asia. It is clear, as pointed 

 out by Bjorrbo [1910, p. 167] that Greenland was connected 

 on the map with Scandinavia, which is called " Parte de 

 assia," but the upper edge of the map has been cut off, so that 

 this land connection is lost,^ as is the last part (" asia ") of the 

 inscription on Greenland. The basis of this idea of a land con- 

 nection must have been a map of Clavus's later type; while 

 the delineation of Greenland itself is evidently new. In fact, 

 it is here placed for the first time very nearly at a correct 

 distance from Europe, and with Iceland in a relatively correct 

 position; and in addition to this it has been given a remarkably 

 good form. If we assume that the variation of the compass 

 was unknown, and that the coasts were laid down according 

 to the courses sailed by compass as though they were true, 

 then the southern point of Greenland comes just where it 

 should, if the variation during the voyage from Lisbon averaged 

 11° west. The Portuguese flags on the coast indicate that the 

 Portuguese sailed along the east coast of Greenland from 



iThis land connection is found on the Canerio map of 1502-1507, which is 

 of the same type as the Cantino map and is an Italian copy, either of the Can- 

 tino map itself or of a similar Portuguese map of 1501 or 1502 [cf. Bjornbo, 

 1910, p. 167]. 

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