THORFINN KARLSEFNI 27 



Steensby, that Wonderstrands were the southern coast 

 of Labrador, it is not necessary to discuss the theories 

 of those who think that Thorfinn sailed east of New- 

 foundland. Steensby^^ maintained that the estuary of 

 the St. Lawrence was Streamfjord and Hare Island 

 was Stream Island. He also believed that the place 

 named Hop by Thorfinn and his men was Mont- 

 magny (St. Thomas) by the Riviere du Sud, not so 

 very far below the city of Quebec on the other side 

 of the St. Lawrence. Gathorne-Hardy, in his book on 

 the Norse discoveries of America, disagrees with 

 Steensby's theories,^^ but Gustav Holm has endeavored 

 to refute his objections and has defended Steensby's 

 views as at least possible.^^ 



The fact that the Saga mentions numerous inden- 

 tations is worthy of consideration, for if the explorers 

 sailed with land to the starboard after leaving Won- 

 derstrands, past Hare Island, they would not have 

 noticed many indentations. It is said that Stream 

 Island lay outside, as they sailed into the bay, which 

 does not correspond with the location of Hare Island, 

 which lies in the St. Lawrence, about 235 kilometers 



2® Steensby, Norsemen's Route, pp. 53ff. 



^® G. M. Gathorne-Hardy, The Norse Discoverers of America^ Ox- 

 ford, 1921, pp. 241-243. 



^^ Gustav Holm, Small Additions to the Vinland Problem, Med- 

 delelser out Gr0nlandy Vol. 59, 1925, pp. 11-375 reference on pp. 

 31-34- 



