32 WHO FIRST SAW THK LABRADOR COAST? 



From Mr. J. Elliot Cabot's translation of the Saga re- 

 lating to Biarne's voyage (Mass. Quart. Rev, 1849, 

 quoted by Horsford), we take the following reference to> 

 Helluland. As before, on returning from the souths 

 after turning the bow of his vessel from the land and 

 saiHng out to sea for three days with a W.S.W. wind,. 

 Biarne saw a third land ; "but that land was high, moun- 

 tainous, and covered with glaciers :" then the wind rose, 

 and they sailed four days to Heriulfsness. 



A.D. 999, Leif set sail. "First they found the landi 

 which Biarne had found last. Then sailed they to the 

 land and cast anchor, and put off a boat and went ashore,, 

 and saw there no grass. Mickle glaciers were over all 

 the higher parts ; but it was like a plain of rock from the 

 glaciers to the sea, and it seemed to them that the land 

 Was good for nothing. Then said Leif : ' We have not 

 done about this land like Biarne, not to go upon it ; 

 novv I will give a name to the land and call it " Hellu- 

 land " [flat-stone land].' " 



The northeastern coast of Newfoundland is rather 

 low, not mountainous, is somewhat wooded, with cer- 

 taiiily more or less herbage on the outer islands and 

 points. The rock formations are of later age than the 

 Laurentian. We are familiar with the appearance of the 

 Newfoundland side of the Strait of Belle Isle, which 

 decidedly contrasts with that of Labrador opposite. 



