52 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. IO7 



to the strands, and called them Wonder-strands, because they were long to 

 sail by. 



The first version gives us to understand that the Wonder-strands, 

 including Keelness, were on land continuous with Markland and 

 there was no break in the coast. That is what we should expect if 

 Karlsefni entered the Strait of Belle Isle and kept on along the 

 southern coast of Labrador. According to the second version, how- 

 ever, there was open sea or a broad inlet between Markland and the 

 Wonder-strands, and this favors the Nova Scotia theory. It would not, 

 of course, take 2 doegr to pass the Strait of Belle Isle, but in order 

 to reach Nova Scotia from Newfoundland it would have been neces- 

 sary to cross Cabot Strait and this might well have taken the time 

 indicated. Although confounded with the later stay at Hop, the events 

 which took place in the region we are studying are covered by the 

 Flat Island Book in a few sentences, and these may be interpreted 

 to favor both theories. After leaving Markland we are told : 



They returned to the ship forthwith, and sailed away upon the main with north- 

 east winds, and were out two "doegr" before they sighted land. They sailed 

 toward this land, and came to an island which lay to the northward off the land. 



The "2 'doegr' " may be quoted in confirmation of the second ver- 

 sion of the Saga. It happens, however, that in describing Markland 

 just before this, the Flat Island Book, besides stating that it was "a 

 level wooded land," adds "there were broad stretches of white sand, 

 where they went, and the land was level by the sea." This happens 

 to be the only mention of sandy beaches in connection with Markland, 

 but in the confused state of the Flat Island narrative and remember- 

 ing that the Wonder-strands are described in the first version of the 

 Saga as continuous with Markland, one can use this to confirm the 

 topography of that version. 



The Nova Scotia theory derives considerable strength from what is 

 said of the expedition of Thorhall from Streamfirth "in search of 

 Wineland" and Karlsefni's subsequent search for him. According 

 to the Saga, Thorhall "sailed away to the northward past Wonder- 

 strands and Keelness, intending to cruise to the westward around 

 the cape." It would appear from the ditty supposed to have been 

 composed by Thorhall on this occasion that his real object was to 

 return home, but an intention to hunt for Wineland might have been 

 his excuse, and if the explorers crossed Cabot Strait on their way to 

 Nova Scotia without having entered it, the possibility that Wineland 

 was to be found by sailing through it was plausible. In his search for 



