19^ DESCRIPTION OF GREENLAND. 



land. And this was to be seen on entering Ericsfiord. The 

 country from Ericsfiord north-west to Midfiord, belongs to 

 Diurnes. Near here is Brudefiord on the north, and on this 

 northern coast there are a great number of islands and ports. 

 The country is uninhabited and barren between Ostrebug 

 and Vestrebug. Near this desert there is a church called 

 Strosnes, which was formerly the metropolitan and the resi- 

 dence of the bishop of Greenland. The Skreglinguer or 

 Skreglingres hold possession of all Vestrebug. Horses, 

 goats, cattle, and all kinds of wild beasts are found there, 

 but no inhabitants either Christian or Pagan. Iver Bert 

 states this fact: he was for a long time maitre d'hotel to the 

 bishop of Greenland, and saw all this, being one of those 

 whom the judge of Greenland appointed to drive away the 

 Skreglingres. On arriving there they found no j^eople, 

 but a great number of beasts, and they took away as many 

 as their vessels could hold. Beyond Vestrebug is a large 

 rock, called Himmelradsfield ; and farther than this no one 

 dares to navigate, on account of the whirlpools which exist 

 in this sea. 



These are the contents of the whole chapter, which I have 

 copied as correctly as I could. Not having a special map of 

 Greenland, or any other history by which to confirm or con- 

 tradict these statements, I am unable to give any opinion 

 upon it, and therefore give it you as I have received it. 

 What surprises me in it is, that the church of Strosnes, built 

 in the wilds of Ostrebug and Vestrebug, should, since the 

 very beginning of the colonization of Greenland, have been 

 the metropolitan church and the residence of the bishop ; 

 for it has never been called in question that it was the 

 town of Garde which had from the first possessed this privi- 

 lege. The Danish Chronicle, regretting the loss of this 

 country, which cannot now be found, asserts that if the town 

 of Garde, the residence of the bishop, were still standing, 

 and one could visit it, there would be found a great number 



