ON CAPE BEETON. 293 



In the Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society (Halifax, 1S91 ) for 1889-91, tliere is a judicious paper on 

 Vinlaud, wilh two maps, by Hon. L. G. Power, wliich also shows how difficult it is for any person who studies this 

 vexed subject, to come to very definite conclusions. Mr. Power appears to believe, with Torfseus, that tho Vinland 

 of the old Norsemen was either in Labrador or Newfoundland—'- the probabilities being in favour of the mainland." 

 Tliis writer, however, throws no new light on the question, which perplexes the most learned scholars. 



Mr. Fiske, "Discovery of America," (Boston, 1892), vol. i, has judicious remarks on the Pre-Columbian 

 Voyages. 



Dr. Justin Winsor, and other eminent scholars whose names are mentioned below, only see " a too confident 

 enthusiasm " and " incautious linguistic inferences " (See " Nar. and Grit. Hist." i. 98) in Mr. Eben Horsford's sup- 

 posed discovery at \Vatertown,Mass.,of a Norse Norumbega " with its walled docks and wharves, dam, fishery, etc." 

 But nevertheless Mr. Horsford continues to support his theory with the same "confident enthusiasm, "and not content 

 with publishing elaborate .sketches of old maps, and illustrations of the alleged discoveries on the Charles, he has 

 actually builc at his own expense an antique ttone tower at the mouth of Stony Brook (a tributary of the Charles) 

 in honour of the Norsemen and in defiance of his opponents. His principal work on the subject, in large folio, has 

 for title : " The Defences of Norumbega and a Review of the Reconnaissances of Col. W. Higginson, Prof H. W. 

 Haynes, Dr. Justin Winsor, Dr. F. Parkman, and Rev. PI F. Slafter," (Boston and New York, 1891.) See akso 

 " Review of the Problem of the Northmen and the Site of Norumbega, by Professor Olson, Madison University, 

 [another doubter], and a Reply by E. N. Horsford," (Cambridge, 1891.) See Fiske, 220, )). 



T)ic Voyages of ilic Norxemev, Biarnc and Ldf. 



Dr. De Costa gives the following translation (" Pre-Columbian Discovery of America," etc., p. 86) of Biarne's 

 voyage from Codex Flatoiensis, given in " Antiquitates Americante," p. 17 : 



Heriulf was the son of Bard, Heriulf's son. who was a relation of Ingolf the Landnamsman. Ingolf gave 

 Heriulf land between Vos and Reikianess. Heriulf dwelt first at Dropstock. His wife was Thorgird, and their 

 son was called Biarne. He was a promising young man. In liis earliest youth he had a desire to go abroad, and 

 he soon gathered property and reputation, and was by turns a year abroad and a year with his father. Biarne 

 was soon in possession of a mercliant ship of his own. The last winter (A. D. 9.S5) while he was in Norway, 

 Heriulf prejiared to go to Greenland with Eric, and gave up his dw-elling. There was a Christian man belonging 

 to the Hebrides along witli Heriulf, who composed the lay called the " Hafgerdingar Song," in which is this stave : 



" May he whose band protects so well 

 The simple monk in lonely cell. 

 And o'er the world upholds the sky, 

 His own blue hall, still stand me by." 



Heriulf settled at Heriulfness (A. D. 98.5), and became a very distinguished man. Eric Red took up his abode 

 at Brattaldid, and was in great consideration and honoured by all. These were Eric's children : heif, Thorvald 

 and Thorstein, and his daughter was called Freydis. She wa? married to a man named Thorvald, and they dwelt 

 at Gardar, which is now a bishop's seat. She was a haughty, proud woman, and he was but a mean man. She 

 was much given to gathering wealth. The people of Greenland were heathen at this time. Biarne came over the 

 same summer (A. D. 985) witli his ship to the strand which his father bad sailed abroad from in the spring. He 

 was much struck with the news, and would not unload his vessel. When his crew asked him what he intended to 

 do, he replied that he was resolved to follow his old custom by taking up his winter abode with his father. " So I 

 will steer for Greenland if ye will go with me." They one and all agreed to go with him. Biarne said, " Our voy- 

 age will be thought foolish, as none of us have been on the Greenland sea before." Nevertheless they set out to 

 sea as soon as they were ready, and sailed for three days, until they lost sight of the land they left. But when the 

 wind failed, a north wind with fog set in, and they knew not where they were sailing to; and this lasted many 

 days. At last they saw the sun, and could distinguish the quarter of the sky ; so they hoisted sail a'.'ain, and 

 sailed a w bole day and night, when they made land. They spoke among themselves what this land could be, and 

 Biarne said that, m his opinion, it could not be Greenland. On tho question, if he should sail nearer to it, he said, 

 " It is my advice that we sail up close to the land." They did so, and they soon saw tliat the land was without 

 mountains, was covered w'itli woods, and that there were small hills inlancl. They left the land on the larboard 

 side, and had their sheet on the land side. Then they sailed two days and nigljls before they got sight of land 

 again. They asked Biarne if he thought this would be Greenland ; but he gave his opinion that the land was no 

 more Greenland than the land they had seen before. "For on Greenland, it is said, there are great snow moun- 

 tains." They soon came near to the land, and saw that it was tlat and covered with trees. Now, as the wind 

 fell, the ship's people talked of its being advisable to make for the land, but Biarne would not agree to it. They 

 tliought that they would need wood and water, but Biarne said, " Ye are not in want of either." 'I'he men blamed 

 him for this. He ordered them to hoist the sail, which was done. They now turneil the ship's bow from the 

 land, and kept the sea for three days and nights, with a fine breeze from southwest. Then they saw a third 

 land, which was high and mountainous, and with snowy mountains. Tlien they asked Biarne if he would land 

 here, but he refused; " for in my opinion this land is not what we want." Now they let the sails stand and kejit 

 along the land, and saw it was an island. Then they turned from the land stood out to sea with the same breeze ; 

 but tlie gale increased, and Biarne ordered a reef to be taken in, and not to sail harder than the ship and lier 

 tackle could easily bear. After sailing three days and three niglits, they made, the fourth time, land ; and when 

 they asked Bairne if he thought this was Greenland or not, Biarne replied : "This is most like what has been told 



