Lynchburg Virginian

MISCELLANEOUS.

AMERICA FIRST DISCOVERED BY THE SCANDINAVIANS.

The Hon. Edward Everett, Governor of Massachusetts, has written an admirable article in the last number of the North American Review, on the "Discovery of America by the Northmen," while reviewing the two works printed last year in Copenhagen.

The works reviewed have been printed and published by the Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians, and have been collected from various ancient manuscripts, some of which directly, and the others indirectly, treat of the subject. Of the antiquity of the manuscripts there is no doubt; and their general authenticity, as regards the prominent facts recorded, although ornamented by fancy and folly in some minor instances, seems admitted by the learned of Europe. That they were not previously printed and published, is no tenable argument against either their antiquity or authenticity; for they have often been referred to and quoted by Danish and other Northern writers; but in a language which few of the continental literati understood, and could therefore notice—the contents being as a sealed book beyond Denmark, Sweden and Norway: and besides, various manuscripts relative to the ancient history of almost all the countries discovered, invaded or conquered by the Northmen, Norwegians or Normans, in the ninth to the tenth centuries, have also been similarly found in the libraries of Denmark, by the researches of modern antiquarians; and their contents collated and published. Nor can the main facts recorded by the bards of that period and nation be falsified by the exaggerations usual to the Runic poetry. The chaff can be winnowed from the wheat, and the grain will remain.

Neither can it be considered improbable that the Northmen should have discovered America. "Out of a little speck of a barbarous horde (writes Governor Everett) not important enough to be named by Tacitus in his account of the Germans, there had sprung up, in the course of a few centuries, a bold, enterprising, warlike race—who under a strange political organization, in which feudalism, traffic, knight-errantry and piracy bore equal part, covered the ocean with their commercial and naval marine, discovered or colonized (or both) the Archipelago of the north, Iceland, Greenland, the Orkneys and Shetland Isles, Ireland, and the main of England; all literal Germany, the low countries and northern coast of France; ravaged the coast of Spain and France on the Mediterranean; sacked the cities of Tuscany—wrested Apulia from the Greek emperors—established one dynasty in Muscovy—drove the Saracens from Sicily—in Epirus, defeated the last powerful armies raised by the degenerate eastern Empire—overran Greece—and carried terror to the walls of Constantinople. Naval skill, experience and power were the foundation of this ubiquitous domination. The vessels of the Northmen were substantially built of the most durable timber—were constructed with covered decks—and their mariners were the first who learned the art of sailing on a wind. The sea was their home. When the head of a family died, it is said his sons cast lots for the inheritance. He that gained the lot occupied the paternal estate:—for the rest of their sons,

"Their march was on the mountain wave;
Their home was on the deep."

Omitting all notice of the Skalds (the birds of the Northmen) and the rise and progress of literature among them, we may proceed at once to the history in question. In the spring of 982, Eric the Red, emigrated from Iceland to Greenland—and there formed a settlement called Eriksfjord. He had been accompanied by Heriulf Bardson, who formed a settlement still called Heriulfsnes. Biarne Heriulfson, son of Heriulf, who was absent on a trading voyage to Norway from Iceland, when his father had gone to Greenland—but who resolved on his return home to go in quest of his father. From the thick fogs which prevailed, he lost his course, and having sailed for many days with a southeast wind he saw land to the left, level and wooded. Knowing it not to be Greenland, described to him, he stood out to sea without landing—and three days after, descried other lands high and covered with glaciers, but still southward of Greenland, and an island. Four days sailing afterwards, brought him to his father's settlement. Such is the tradition, and the lands described are supposed to be the northwest coast of our continent, with Newfoundland and Labrador.

About eight or ten years after, Biarne informed Eric, the Eald of Norway, of this discovery—and an exploration was ordered. For this purpose, Leif, the son of Eric the Red, bought Biarne's ship, manned with 26 men, and sailed from Greenland in 1000. They sailed first for the land described by Biarne, and landed there—which they called Helluland, from the abundance of slate (in Icelandic hellu) found there. This is supposed to be Labrador. Sailing thence without settling, they discovered other land, described to be level, woody, and having white sand bluffs. They named it Markland or Woodland. This is believed to be Nova Scotia. Again standing out to sea, and sailing for two days with a northeast wind, they reached an island east of the main land, and entered the channel separating both. Thence they sailed westward, and went on shore at a place where a river issuing from a lake, fell into the sea. They then anchored in the lake and landed. There they erected booths or huts for the winter, and called their settlements Leif's booths. During their stay, a German of the company named Tyker, being on an exploring party, became separated and detained; and on returning pleaded his having discovered abundance of grapes, like those of his native country. From this circumstance, Leif called the place Vinland, or Wineland. The island is supposed to be Nantucket; and either Rhode Island or Massachusetts is believed to be Vinland.

On Leif's returning to Greenland the next Spring, his discovery was the topic of much inquiry; and his brother Thorwald, borrowing the same vessel, undertook another voyage in the same direction, in 1002. He reached Vinland before winter, which he passed at Leif's booths. In the spring of 1003, Thorwald sent a party in the long boat to explore the country southward, in which they were occupied during the summer. The land explored is minutely described, and it is stated that no traces of inhabitants were found, except a shed on an island lying westward. In the spring of 1004, Thorwald sailing westward and then northerly, descried a remarkable promontory, which with a headland opposite enclosed a bay. Doubling this cape, he skirted the shores and crossed the inlets, till he reached another promontory covered with wood, where he landed. But on preparing to re-embark, they observed three canoes, with three skrellings or dwarfs (the name given by them to the Esquimaux) under each. A contest ensued in which 7 or 8 skrellings were killed. The survivor fled into the interior of the bay, and returned with a large number of his countrymen. In this second contest Thorwald himself was killed, and his party returned to winter at Leif's booths, and to Greenland the following spring.

Thorstein, the third son of Eric the Red, sailed the next year along with his wife Gudrida, in search of Thorwald's body, which they wished to convey to Greenland. But the voyage was unsuccessful, and Thorstein died that winter.

In the year following or, 1006, two ships from Iceland arrived at Eriksfjord in Greenland. One was commanded by Thorfinn the Hopeful: and the other by Biarne Grimolson and Thorhall Gamlason. In the family of Eric, the new discoveries formed the prominent topic of interest and inquiry; and Thorfinn having married Gudrida, he and his associates were induced to continue the discoveries. This they resolved on in 1007, in company with Thorwald, son-in-law of Eric. This expedition consisted of 140 persons, who brought with them various articles, intending to colonize. The explorations and settlements are minutely recorded; and it is stated that Gudrida in 1008 gave birth to a son called Snorre—the first child of European descent born in America. Some eminent persons of the present day, trace their genealogy to that Snorre—among whom are Professor Finn Magnusson, now of Copenhagen, and Thorwaldson, the sculptor. Thorlak, his grandson, became an Icelandic bishop; and was remarkable for his learning and writings; and it is not improbable that he composed the Sagas, containing the traditional accounts of these voyages and adventures.

A voyage undertaken in 1011, by two brothers from Iceland, in company with Thorwald, is next recorded; and during the remainder of the eleventh century; it is stated that a communication was kept from Greenland in America. In 1121, Bishop Eric of Greenland made a voyage to Vinland, the result of which is not known. Other voyages of Missionaries in the 13th and 14th centuries, as late as 1347, are also asserted; but after this period all communication and discoveries seem to have been discontinued till the time of Columbus.