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- Herausgeber: e-artnow
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018
Saga of the Greenlanders and Erik the Red's Saga are the main literary sources of information for the Norse exploration of North America. These sagas relate the colonization of Greenland by Erik the Red and his followers and they describe several expeditions further west led by Erik's children and Þorfinnr "Karlsefni" Þórðarson.
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Saga of the Greenlanders & Erik the Red
Translator: Arthur Middleton Reeves, John Sephton
Table of Contents
Saga of the Greenlanders
A Brief HISTORY OF ERIC THE RED
There was a man named Thorvald, a son of Osvald,Ulf's son, Eyxna-Thori's son. Thorvald and Eric the Red, his son, left Jaederen [in Norway], on account of manslaughter, and went to Iceland. At that time Iceland was extensively colonized. They first lived at Drangaron Horn-strands, and there Thorvald died. Eric then married Thorhild, the daughter of Jorund and Thorbiorgthe Ship-chested, who was then married to Thorbiorn of the Haukadal family. Eric then removed from the north,and made his home at Ericsstadir by Vatnshom. Ericand Thorhild's son was called Leif.
After the killing of Eyiulf the Eoul, and Duelling-Hrafn, Eric was banished from Haukadal, and he took himself westward to Breidafirth, settling in Eyxney at Ericsstadir. He loaned his outer dais-boards to Thorgest, and could not get these again when he demanded them. This gave rise to broils and battles between him-self and Thorgest, as Eric's Saga relates. Eric wasbacked in the dispute by Styr Thorgrimsson, Eyiulf ofSviney, the sons of Brand of Alptafirth and Thorbiorn Vifilsson, while the Thorgesters were upheld by the sons of Thord the Yeller, and Thorgeir of Hitardal. Eric was declared an outlaw at Thorsnessthing. He there-upon equipped his ship for a voyage, in Ericsvag, andwhen he was ready to sail Styr and the others accompanied him out beyond the islands. Eric told them that it was his purpose to go in search of that country which Gunnbiorn, son of Ulf the Crow, had seen, when he wasdriven westward across the main, at the time when he dis-covered Gunnbioms-skerries; he added, that he wouldreturn to his friends, if he should succeed in finding this country. Eric sailed out from Snaefellsiokul, and found the land. He gave the name of Midiokul to his landfall;this is now called Blacksark. Erom thence he proceeded southward along the coast, in search of habitable land.He passed the first winter at Ericsey, near the middle of the Eastern-settlement, and the following spring he went to Ericsfirth, where he selected a dwelling-place. In the summer he visited the western uninhabited country, and assigned names to many of the localities. The second winter he remained at Holmar by Hrafnsgnipa, and the third summer he sailed northward to Snaefell, and all the Avay into Hrafnsfirth; then he said he had reached the head of Ericsfirth. He then returned and passed the third winter in Ericsey at the mouth of Ericsfirth. The next summer he sailed to Iceland, landing in Breidafirth. Hecalled the country, which he had discovered, Greenland,because, he said, people would be attracted thither if the country had a good name. Eric spent the winter in Ice-land, and the following summer set out to colonize the country. He settled at Brattahlid in Ericsfirth, and learned men say that in this same summer, in which Eric set out to settle Greenland, thirty-five ships sailed out of Breidafirth and Gorgarfirth; fourteen of these arrived safely, some were driven back and some were lost. This was fifteen years before Christianity was legally adopted in Iceland. During the same summer Bishop Frederick and Thorvald Kodransson went abroad [from Iceland], Of those men, who accompanied Eric to Greenland, the following took possession of land there: Heriulf, Heriulfsfirth, he dwelt at Heriulfsness;Ketil, Ketilsfirth,' Hrafn, Hrafnsfirth, Solvi, Solvadal;Helgi Thorbrandsson, Alptafirth; Thorbiom Gleamer,Siglufirth; Einar, Einarsfirth; Hafgrim, Hafgimsfirthand Vatnahverfi; Arnlaugsfirth; while some went to the Western settlement.
LEIF THE LUCKY BAPTIZED.
After that sixteen winters had lapsed, from the time when Eric the Red went to colonize Greenland, Leif,Eric's son, sailed out from Greenland to Norway. Hearrived in Drontheim in the autumn, when King Olaf Tryggvasson was come down from the north, out of Halagoland. Leif put in to Nidaros with his ship, and set out at once to visit the king. King Olaf expounded the faith to him, as he did to other heathen men who came to visit him. It proved easy for the king to persuade Leif, and he was accordingly baptized, together with all of his shipmates. Leif remained throughout the winter with the king, by whom he was well entertained.
BIARNI GOES IN QUEST OF GREENLAND.
Heriulf was a son of Bard Heriulfsson. He was a kinsman of Ingolf, the first colonist. Ingolf allottedland to Heriulf between Vag and Reykianess, and he dwelt at first at Drepstok. Heriulfs wife's name was Thorgerd, and their son, whose name was Biami, was a most promising man. He formed an inclination for voyaging while he was still young, and he prospered both in property and public esteem. It was his custom to pass his winters alternately abroad and with his father. Biarni soon became the owner of a trading-ship, and during the last winter that he spent in Norway, [his father] Heriulf determined to accompany Eric on his voyage to Greenland, and made his preparation to give up his farm. Upon the ship with Heriulf was a Christianman from the Hebrides, he it was who composed the Sea-Rollers' Song. Heriulf settled at Heriulfsness, and was a most distinguished man. Eric the Red dwelt at Bratahlid, where he was held in the highest esteem, and all men paid him homage. These were Eric's children: Leif, Thorvald, and Thorstein, and a daughter whose name was Freydis; she was wedded to a man named Thorvard, and they dwelt at Gardar, where the episcopal seat now is. She was a very haughty woman, while Thorvard was a man of little force of character, and Freydis had been wedded to him chiefly because of his wealth. At that time the people of Greenland were heathen.
Biami arrived with his ship at Eyrar [in Iceland] in the summer of the same year, in the spring of which his father had sailed away. Biami was much surprised when he heard this news, and would not discharge his cargo.His shipmates enquired of him what he intended to do,and he replied that it was his purpose to keep to his custom, and make his home for the winter with his father; "and I will take the ship to Greenland, if you will bear me company." They all replied that they would abide by his decision. Then said Biarni, "Our voyage must be regarded as foolhardy, seeing that no one of us has ever been in the Greenland Sea.*' Nevertheless they put out to sea when they were equipped for the voyage,and sailed for three days, until the land was hidden by the water, and then the fair wind died out, and north winds arose, and fogs, and they knew not whither they were drifting and thus it lasted for many "doegr." Then they saw the sun again, and were able to determine the quarters of the heavens; they hoisted sail, and sailed that "doegr" through before they saw land. They discussed among themselves what land it could be, and Biarni said that he did not believe that it could be Greenland. They asked whether he wished to sail to this land or not. "It is my counsel" [said he], "to sail close to the land."They did so, and soon saw that the land was level, and covered with woods, and that there were small hillocks upon it. They left the land on their larboard, and let the sheet turn toward the land. They sailed for two "doegr"before they saw another land. They asked whether Biarni thought this was Greenland yet. He replied that he did not think this any more like Greenland than the former, "because in Greenland there are said to be many great ice-mountains." They soon approached this land,and saw that it was a flat and wooded country. The fair wind failed them then, and the crew took counsel together, and concluded that it would be wise to land there, but Biami would not consent to this. They alleged that they were in need of both wood and water. "Ye have no lack of either of these says Biarni, of course, for-sooth, which won him blame among his shipmates. Hebade them hoist sail, which they did, and turning the prow from the land they sailed out upon the high seas,with southwesterly gales, for three "doegr," when they saw the third land; this land was high and mountainous,with ice-mountains upon it. They asked Biami then whether he would land there, and he replied that he was not disposed to do so, "because this land does not appear to me to offer any attractions." Nor did they lower their sail, but held their course off the land, and saw that it was an island. They left this land astern, and held out to sea with the same fair wind. The wind waxedamain, and Biami directed them to reef, and not to sail at a speed unbefitting their ship and rigging. They sailed now for four "doegr," when they saw the fourth land. Again they asked Biarni whether he thought this could be Greenland or not. Biami answers, "This is likest Greenland, according to that which has been reported tome conceding it, and here we will steer to the land. "They directed their course thither, and landed in the evening, below a cape upon which there was a boat, and there, upon this cape, dwelt Heriulf, Biami's father,whence the cape took its name, and was afterwards called Heriulfsness. Biami now went to his father, gave up his voyaging, and remained with his father while Heriulflived, and continued to live there after his father.
