[49-1] “Certainly a marvellous coincidence, but it is quite in character with the no less surprising accuracy with which the explorers of this history [i.e., the Flat Island Book narrative] succeeded in finding ‘Leif’s-booths’ in a country which was as strange to them as Greenland to Biarni.” (Reeves.)
[50-1] Earl Eric ruled in Norway from 1000 to 1015.
[52-1] These two words designate positions of the sun at two points of time. Early commentators got much more definite results from this observation than later ones, with scientific assistance, have succeeded in getting. Largely on the basis of it, Rafn (in Antiquitates Americanæ), concluded that Vinland was in Rhode Island. Both Storm and Reeves, after detailed investigation, declare that it cannot be shown from this passage how far to the south Vinland was located. Captain Phythian, U.S.N., who has given the question careful consideration, says: “The data furnished are not sufficiently definite to warrant a more positive assertion than that the explorers could not have been, when the record was made, farther north than Lat. [say] 49°.” See Reeves, p. 181, (66).
[56-1] Evidently an incorrect statement. Landnama-bok, the authority on genealogical matters, says: “His son was Thorbiorn, father of Gudrid who married Thorstein, son of Eric the Red, and afterwards Thorfinn Karlsefni.” Thori Eastman (the Norwegian) is not mentioned in the Landnama-bok.
[62-1] This cruel virago plays a much less conspicuous part in the version of Hauk’s Book and AM. 557.
[65-1] “A weather-vane, or other ornament at the point of the gable of a house or upon a ship.” (Fritzner.)
FROM ADAM OF BREMEN’S[67-1] DESCRIPTIO INSULARUM AQUILONIS
Moreover he[67-2] spoke of an island in that ocean[67-3] 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[67-4] grows there abundantly, is not a fabulous fancy, but, from the accounts of the Danes, we know to be a fact. Beyond this island, it is said, that there is no habitable land in that ocean, but all those regions which are beyond are filled with insupportable ice and boundless gloom, to which Martian thus refers: “One day’s sail beyond Thile the sea is frozen.” This was essayed not long since by that very enterprising Northmen’s prince, Harold,[68-1] who explored the extent of the northern ocean with his ship, but was scarcely able by retreating to escape in safety from the gulf’s enormous abyss, where before his eyes the vanishing bounds of earth were hidden in gloom.