Small additions to the Vinland Problem. 17 
Before I proceed to speak of Steensby’s work and the critisism 
brought forward by Gathorne-Hardy, Alph. Gagnont), Babcock?) and 
several others, I will mention the primary sources and give a short 
sketch of the Sagas. 
The primary sources. 
ADAM OF BREMEN ABOUT VINLAND. — The oldest account, 
we have, about Vinland dates from Adam of Bremen, who, during his 
stay at the Danish court about 1070, gathered information especially 
from the king, Svend Estridsson, about the geography of the northern 
countries. The tradition of Vinland’s discovery and the voyages under- 
taken there, was at that time still of interest. Adam of Bremen’s short 
account is older than the accounts from Iceland and is perfectly con- 
sistent with them, as one will see below. He writes about Vinland?): 
“Moreover he spoke of an island in that ocean discovered by many, 
which is called Vinland, for the reason that vines grow wild there, 
which yield the best of wine. Moreover that grain unsown grows there 
abundantly, is not a fabulous fancy, but, from the accounts of the 
Danes, we know to be a fact”. 
FRAGMENT OF AN ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY; AM. No. 194. — 
The oldest Icelandic information concerning Vinland, dates from the 
beginning of the 12th century and is to be found in Ari Frode’s Islen- 
dingabok*). Ari obtained it from his father’s brother, Thorkell Gellison, 
at Helgaïell, who lived in the latter half of the 11th century. The most 
explicit account is to be found in a short description of the world in 
the Arne-Magnæan collection of manuscripts in the University of Copen- 
hagen: No. 194, 8vo 5) which is written at the end of the 14th century, 
and a fragment of it will be given here: 
“South of Greenland is Helluland, then is Markland; thence it is 
not far to Vinland the Good, which some men suppose extends from 
Africa, and, if this be so, then there is an open sea flowing in between 
Vinland and Markland. It is said, that Thorfinn Karlsefni hewed a 
“house-neat-timber”’ (husa-snotro tré) and then went to seek Vinland 
1) La question du Vinland (Bulletin de la Société de Géographie de Quebec. 
1918). 
*) Recent history and present Status of the Vinland Problem. (The Geo- 
graphical Review. Vol. XI. New York. 1921). 
3) Reeves: “The Finding of Wineland the Good’’. London, 1890. p. 92. 
4) I am indebted to Professor Finnur Jonsson for several valuable suggestions. 
5) Reeves, op. cit. pp. 15, 16. : 
Kr. Kålund: Alfrædi islendzk. København. 1908. p. 12. 
TDS, 9 
