1 8 THE VINLAND VOYAGES 



It is generally conceded that Helluland (Flatst one- 

 land) was the northeast coast of Labrador. No one, 

 however, has to my knowledge pointed out a definite 

 place particularly characterized by flat stones, but 

 Arctic foxes are common there.^*' 



There is a difference of opinion concerning the 

 identification of Markland. Gustav Storm was in- 

 clined to think that Thorfinn had gone to Newfound- 

 land, basing his opinion on the sentence stating that 

 he took a more southeasterly direction from Hellu- 

 land, which corresponds with the position of the two 

 places under consideration. Because of the coast line, 

 Thorfinn was obliged to take a more easterly course 

 after leaving Labrador. Storm believed that New- 

 foundland was Markland, which is quite possible 

 although the description of the voyage fits the eastern 

 extremity of Labrador better, as is pointed out by 

 H. P. Steensby in his work on the route followed by 

 Thorfinn.^^ The description of Markland is some- 

 what sketchy in the Saga, but as far as it goes it might 

 easily fit the southeastern coast of Labrador, for there 

 are great forests there, especially a short distance from 

 the shore. In the Tale of the Greenlanders the de- 

 scription is somewhat more detailed: "The land was 

 heavily wooded, and white sands sloped down towards 



2® Aarh0ger for Nord. Oldk. og Hist., 1887, p. 335. 

 21 H. P. Steensby, op. cii., pp. 38f. 



