CLXXVIII 
Peoprep sy Nor- 
WEGIANS. 
VOYAGE OF THE 
ZENI. 
OLD GROCER ONG tL SAC NG. 
now almoft entirely clofed with ice, and annually fills the fea with the greateft 
icebergs, which are forced out of it. A little to the north of the eaftern entrance 
are two mountains of a ftupendous height, called Blaaferk and Huitferk, cafed ia 
perpetual ice. The whole country, to the fouthern end, confifts of fimilar 
mountains: a few exhibit a ftoney furface; but the greater part are genuine 
glacieres, fhooting into lofty peaks, or rugged fummits: yet fuch a country as 
this became the fettlement of numbers of Norwegians during feveral centuries. 
The valiant Eric Raude, or the Red, having committed a murder in his own country 
(a common caufe for feeking adventures, with the heroes of Greece as well as Scan- 
dinavia) fled here in the tenth century. Numbers of his countrymen followed 
him. Leif, his fon, became a convert to Chriftianity. Religion flourifhed here : 
a bifhoprick was eftablifhed, and monafteries founded. The cathedral was at 
Gardar, a little to the fouth of the polar circle. 
In Hackluyt * is a relation of the voyage of the two Zeni (noble Venetians) 
who in 1380 vifited this country, and give evidence to the exiftence of the con- 
vent, and a church dedicated to St. Thomas, poflefled by friers preachers. It 
appears to have been built near a vulcano, and the materials were lava, ce- 
mented with a fort of pulvis puteolanus, which is known to be a vulcanic ate 
tendant. A fpring of boiling water was near the houfe, and was conveyed into it 
for all their culinary ufes. I am not averfe to giving credit to this account ; 
there being no reafon to deny the former exiftence of burning mountains, when 
fuch numbers are to be found in the neighboring Iceland; and at this very time 
there is a fountain of hot water in the ifle of Onortok, not remote from Cape Farewell+. 
A ftrange phrafeology runs through the voyage of thefe two brethren, and perhaps 
fome romance; but fo much truth is every where evident, that I hefitate not to 
credit the authenticity. j 
Torfzus enumerates feventeen bifhops who prefided over the diocefe. The laft 
prelate was appointed in 1408. The black death had almoft depopulated the coun- 
try not long before that period. Probably the furviving inhabitants fell victims to 
want, or were extirpated by the natives: for, after that year, we hear no more of 
them. It certainly had been well inhabited: the ruins of houfes and churches 
evince its former ftate. Inthe fifteenth century the kings of Denmark attempted to 
difcover whether any of the antient race remained; but all in vain: the adventurers 
were driven off the coaft by the ice with which it was blocked up, which remains 
an invincible obftacle to re-fettle the eaftern coaft, even were there the left tempta- 
tion. All is a dreadful tract from lat. 81 to Staten Hook or Cape Farewell, its 
* Vol, ili. 123 5 and Purchas, ill. 6106 + Crantz, i. 18+ 
fouthern 
