NO. 12 THE WINELAND VOYAGES — SWANTON 15 



was made by two Gaels named Haki and Hsekia who were very fleet 

 of foot and had been presented to Leif by King Olaf and by him 

 loaned to Karlsefni. These two were set on land at a point near the 

 mouth of Streamfirth and told to run south to view the country and 

 return before the end of the third half-day. When they came back, 

 one had a bunch of grapes and the other an ear of new-sown wheat. 



According to the Flat Island Book grapes were discovered during 

 Leif's stay in Wineland when he reached that country from Green- 

 land, and by a German named Tyrker who had long been in Eric's 

 family and was regarded by Leif as a foster father. The narrative 

 states that on arriving in Wineland, the Norsemen put up a substantial 

 house, and after that Leif began a systematic exploration, half of his 

 people going out to examine the country each day and half remaining 

 at home, the parties alternating in exploration and housekeeping. The 

 explorers were directed not to go beyond points from which they 

 could return the same day. One evening Tyrker was missing but 

 when search was made he soon appeared in a highly excited state 

 of mind reporting the discovery of grapes. Forthwith Leif directed 

 his people to begin loading their vessel with vines, grapes, and wood 

 for the return journey "and when spring came they sailed away." 



The very name given to this country shows that to the adventurers 

 the most striking thing about it was the presence of grapes, and that 

 is why these two stories have been preserved — or concocted. Except 

 for the use subsequently made of this fruit, there is not much to choose 

 between the two narratives on the ground of credibility. It is pos- 

 sible that there is a connection between the names of Hsekia (of which 

 Haki seems to be a synonym) and Tyrker, but the two Gaelic runners 

 suggest to me more that they may be products of mythic lore than 

 does the appearance of a German. I am not informed as to the status 

 of grapes in Scotland or Ireland and the early use of wine there, 

 but the story of the German appears the more probable. Hermanns- 

 son (1936, p. 38) unjustifiably interprets this man's excitement as 

 due to intoxication. The narrative suggests only elation at his find and 

 the possibilities it involved. The point in this narrative about which 

 one may well feel skeptical is the preservation of a load of grapes 

 all winter and their transportation in usable shape to Greenland, 

 unless, that is, we suppose them to have been carefully dried. The 

 Saga merely says that Leif took specimens of the vines he found in 

 Wineland without indicating whether there were grapes attached and 

 if so in what shape they reached their destination. It notes the fact 

 that Karlsefni found vines in Wineland but says not a word of any 



