The Icelandic Colonization of Greenland. quil 
Storm) supposed that “wild rice” was meant, or the American “Indian 
rice.” Others (the American botanist M. L. Fernald) are of the opinion, 
that the wheat is identical with the sand-oats or the Icelandic “melr;” 
but Finnur Jonsson thinks this quite incorrect. Melr (elymus arenarius) 
has been so called and known by Icelanders since the 10th century; 
finallysome have thought that it was a question of maize, but this cannot 
be right. 
There is no doubt as to what Masur (mösurr) is, it was a sort of 
birch-tree which Icelanders knew well or could have known from Norway. 
One thing as yet shall be mentioned, that the so called Lacrosse- 
ball-game, has been pointed out as a connection between the Indians and 
the Norsemen. It is said from the Icelandic side (Björn Bjarnarson 
and Finnur Jonsson) that this ball-game has no great resemblance to the 
old Icelandic “Knattletkr.”’ 
We will now give the conclusion of the Vineland journey in Eric 
the Red’s saga: 
“Bjarni Grimolfsson was driven to the “worm sea”, (so called 
because the sea worms had taken hold of the ship and caused its destruc- 
tion), or the Irish sea, and the ship began to sink under them. They 
had a boat which was smeared with seal tar, such as the sea worms do 
not attack. They got into the boat but saw that it could not carry them 
all. So Bjarm said: 
“As the boat cannot hold half of our men, I advise that we cast 
lots as to who shall go into the boat, without respect of persons. Ali 
thought it such a high-minded offer that none were against it. They 
cast lots, and it fell to the lot of Bjarni and half of the crew to go into 
the boat, as it could not hold more.” 
When they were in it an Icelander said, who was amongst them 
who remained behind on the ship, and who had accompanied Bjarni 
from Iceland: 
“Intendest thou, Bjarni, to leave me here”? 
“It must be so,” answered Bjarni. 
“Thou didst promise my father otherwise, when I left Iceland with 
thee, than that thou wouldst forsake me — thou saidst that we should 
meet with the same fate.” 
To which Bjarni answered: 
“Then it shall not be so. Come thou into the boat and I will go 
on-board the ship, as I see thou art so covetous of living.” 
Bjarni went on board and the man into the boat, and they continued 
the journey until they reached Dublin in Ireland, where they related 
what had taken place. Most people think that Bjarni and his companions 
died in the worm sea, as one has never since heard of them. 
Karlsefni and his wife Gudrid’s offspring. 
The second summer after (1008) Karlsefni went to Iceland, 
Gudrid went with him, and he went home to Reynisness. When 
