NO. 12 THE WINELAND VOYAGES — S WANTON 7 1 



carried back by Leif is the only mention in it of any "cargo" of this 

 fruit. It is possible that there is just enough truth in Nansen's myth 

 theory to enable us to suppose that the "self-sown wheat" and grapes 

 were noted because they fell in line with existing conceptions of the 

 Islands of the Blest and what ought to be found there, and that may 

 also have been why the name Wineland was applied to the country. 

 The spirit of the reporter long antedated the newspaper. 



In brief, it is possible that grapes were found only in the interior 

 of the new country and did not occur in such quantities as we have 

 been led to suppose. 



That this south shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence may have 

 seemed to travelers from Greenland an earthly paradise is illustrated 

 by the fact that a name of similar significance was given by Denys 

 to one river flowing into the Gulf. He called it "the River of 

 Cocagne," which, says his editor, "means .... a land of the greatest 

 abundance, and has something of the significance of the English 

 Utopia." But listen to Denys himself (pp. 192-193) : 



I have named this river the River of Cocagne, because I found there so much 

 with which to make good cheer during the eight days in which bad weather 

 obliged me to remain there. All my people were so surfeited with game and fish 

 that they wished no more, whether Wild Geese, Ducks, Teal, Plover, Snipe 

 large and small, Pigeons, Hares, Partridges, young Partridges, Salmon, Trout, 

 Mackerel, Smelt, Oysters, and other kinds of good fish. All that I can tell you 

 of it is this, that our dogs lay beside the meat and the fish, so much were they 

 satiated with it. The country there is as pleasing as is the good cheer. 



The editor comments in a footnote (p. 192) that except for an 

 error in distance (which does not appear in the part above quoted) 

 Denys' description "is accurate and appreciative." 



Another favored spot was Miramichi River. On the lower part 

 of it were great quantities of strawberries and raspberries, great 

 numbers of pigeons came there to feed, and salmon passing over 

 the flats made such a noise that the explorers could not sleep. It is not 

 surprising to be told, therefore, that it was a favorite resort of the 

 Indians (p. 199). 



What is said of Wineland weather is less favorable to the St. 

 Lawrence region. The best authorities are agreed that the length of 

 the day as given in the Flat Island Book would allow for an identifica- 

 tion with any region up to 49° N. latitude. Therefore that item 

 helps little. The same document goes to the absurd extreme of 

 saying that there "was no frost in the winters, and the grass withered 

 but little." Probably this is part of an attempt to so dress up Wine- 

 land as to make it appear a kind of earthly paradise. Both narratives 



