6 
A VOYAGE TO 8PITZBERGEN, 
chiefly maintained themselves by hunting for whales, 
seals, &c., and by fishing ; and in their pursuit of 
these occupations they frequented some hunting sta¬ 
tions far to the north, one of which was called Northern 
Saeta. Their Bjarney, or Bear Island, is identified by 
Rofu with Disco Island. The region beyond Northern 
Saeta they called Furthern Stranda, of which Baffin's 
Bay was a part. Flow far north they advanced it is 
difficult to say, but a Runic inscription found on the 
island of Kingitorsoak, and bearing date 1135, shows 
that they had then reached at least as high as 12° 55' N. 
These colonies flourished for a while, but owing to 
diseases, wars, and other misfortunes, they gradually 
declined and became extinct by about the beginning 
of the fifteenth century. In 1474 Columbus visited 
Iceland, and even sailed one hundred leagues beyond 
it; and it is not improbable he may have heard from 
the Icelanders traditions of their former occupation of 
Greenland and portions of the American continent. 
John Cabot, a native of Venice, but established as a 
merchant at Bristol, may also have heard of the western 
lands from the same source, since it is well known the 
Bristol merchant traded both with Norway and with 
Iceland. In 1497 John Cabot and his son Sebastian 
discovered Newfoundland. In 1498 Sebastian com¬ 
manded a small fleet destined for Newfoundland, and 
