30 WHO FIRST SAW THE LABRADOR COAST I* 



Prof. E. N. Horsford's address at the unveiling of the 

 statue of Leif Eriksen has appeared. He also adopts 

 the general opinion that Helluland was Newfoundland, 

 but the langfuagre of these extracts convinces us still 

 more that Helluland was Labrador. 



In the first translation printed by Prof. Horsford of the 

 Saga of Erik the Red, it is stated in the account of the 

 expedition of Biarne, that after leaving Iceland bound 

 for Greenland, he missed that country and was "borne 

 before the wind for many days, they knew not whither," 

 finally approaching land which "was not mountainous, 

 but covered with wood," with rising ground in many 

 parts. Then sailing two days, and putting the ship 

 about, leaving the land on the left side, he saw land 

 again, " low and level, and overgrown with wood." 

 This land was probably Newfoundland, perhaps the 

 southern or eastern part. We would, however, contend 

 that the next or third land which Biarne saw was Lab- 

 rador, for the Saga reads: "At length they hoisted 

 sail, and turning their prow from land, they stood out 

 again to sea ; and having sailed three days with a south- 

 west wind, they saw land the third time." This land 

 was high and mountainous, and covered with ice. They 

 asked Biarne whether he wished to land here. He said, 

 "No; for this land appears to me little inviting." 

 Without relaxing sail, therefore, they coasted along the 

 shore till they perceived that this was an island. They 

 then put the ship about, with the stern towards land, 

 and stood out again to sea with the same wind, which 

 blowing up very strong, Biarne desired his men to shorten 

 sail, forbidding them to carry more sail than with such a 

 heavy wind would be safe. "When' they had thus 



