THORFINN KARLSEFNI 43 



south out of Streamfjord seeking Vinland, they still 

 followed the shore line. After passing the south- 

 western extremity of Nova Scotia they did not see any 

 land ahead in the direction in which they were going, 

 and they could not have known that it was to the star- 

 board afar off. Then in all probability they followed 

 the west shore of Nova Scotia into the Bay of Fundy 

 until they saw the island of Grand Manan or the land 

 north of the bay. Then they probably proceeded 

 southwest along the coast of Maine, but not very far 

 in all likelihood, until they went ashore in what they 

 called Hop. There they found what they were seek- 

 ing, Vinland J the proofs were there, the self-sown 

 wheat and the grapevines. 



The route that Thorfinn may have taken to Hop 

 has now been discussed at length. Therefore, it is not 

 out of the way to consider some of the details regard- 

 ing the sojourn there, the characteristics of the place, 

 and the experiences encountered by Thorfinn and his 

 men. Much has been written on that subject, and I 

 shall mention some of it here. 



Reference has been made above to the description 

 that Jacques Cartier gave of Chaleur Bay. He affirms 

 that wild wheat grew there in every open space in the 

 forests 5 he states that the head is like rye and the 

 kernel like oats. No doubt, he refers to the same plant 

 as that found by Leif and Thorfinn and called wheat. 



