6 THE VINLAND VOYAGES 



"Leif put to sea and was tossed about on the ocean 

 for a long time and came upon lands that he had no 

 knowledge of before. There were fields of self-sown 

 wheat and grapevines. There were those trees which 

 are called ^mausur,'^ and of all these they took 

 specimens. Some of the timbers were so large that 

 they were used in building. Leif came across some 

 men in a shipwreck and brought them home with him. 

 He showed manliness and generosity in this, as well 

 as many other matters, such as in introducing Chris- 

 tianity into Greenland, and ever since he was called 

 Leif the Lucky. Leif landed in Ericsfjord and went 

 to his home in Brattahlid, where he was well received 

 by all." 



It appears from the story that Leif intended to 

 take the shortest route between Norway and the East- 

 ern Settlement in Greenland, both going and coming. 

 Gustav Storm believes^ that Leif was the first to 

 attempt this direct route and for that reason was 

 diverted from his course on his way to Norway and 

 landed in the Hebrides, which lie somewhat farther 

 south than the direct line between the southern point 

 of Greenland and Nidaros. Subsequently a route was 

 established between the Shetlands and the Faeroes."^^ 



® The term "mausur" is g-enerally considered to have referred to a 

 species of maple. 



^ Aarb0ger for Nord. Oldk. og Hisi., 1887, p. 313. 

 ^^ See Landndmabok, Chapter 2. 



