The landfall of Leif Erikson, A.D. 1000, and the site of his houses in Vineland

Front matter

OUTLOOK FROM SITE OF LE ON LEFT BANK OF CHARLES RIVER, THREE VIEWS UNITED IN ONE. COMPRISING 1S0 DEGREES O VIEW FROM SITE OF LEIF'S HOUSE. -TH1 Point of view, back froi identical with landij ward which the rivi "from southeast to r Site of Thorfinn's Cliff, merly rising 35 set mark ; whole foregrc thirds of the picture ■ fifty years. Boston in the extreme centre of the pictui Cambridge City, containing numerous churches. Site of rocks in river bank where Northmen escaped from their boats when pursued by the Skraelings, near the first church from the right. Thorfmn's landing-place on return from seeking Thorhall, on southwest bank of stream coming from Mt. Auburn, near the extreme right. Wooded promontory, near tall chimney, from behind which the Skraeling boats appeared, and beyond which they afterward retired up the Charles.

One of several fish-pits. Behind it the channel receiving the little stream from Mt. Auburn. Site of Leifs long house, extending obliquely downward to right from fish-pit. m Gerry's Landing, ig-place of Leif, to er flows at ebbtide rorthwest.'' Symond's Hill, for t above high-water und of the left two vas a bluff till within horizon, against the FS' HOUSES IN VINELAND, VT GERRY'S LANDING, CAMBRIDGE. F SOUTHERLY HORIZON ALONG THE CHARLES IN CAMBRIDGE. ANCIENT GEPvRY'S LANDING, CAMBRIDGE. .IT; N THE LANDFALL OF LEIF ERIKSON A. D. 1000 and the SITE OF HIS HOUSES IN VINELAND BY EBEN NORTON HORSFORD Legend of Kjalarnes. On a stone tablet, found with a brass shield and skeleton, in a g~rave opposite Cape Cad. BOSTON DAMRELL AND UPHAM ©to (Corner ISoofestorc anfbersftg tytess: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. &o tfje ilHcmorg OF CARL CHRISTIAN RAFN, AUTHOR OF ANTIQUITATES AMERICANÆ, BY EBEN NORTON HORSFORD. Cambridge, Massachusetts, America, 1892. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page

Preface

3 DESCRIPTIVE NORSE WORDS EMPLOYED IN THE SAGAS OF ERIK THE RED AND OF THORFINN ii THE L4.NDFALL 17 Where Leif first made Land 17 Vegetation 19 Climate 20 Length of the Day 21 Eyktarstad and Dagmalastad 24 Longitude 27 The Ships' Logs 27 The Logs agree 30 The Sagas 33 The Southern Limit of the Vineland of Leif 36 EXPEDITION OF BJARNI 39 Drifting in long Northeast Winds and Storms and the Southerly-setting Arctic Current 39 Leif's Expedition and Landfall 44 The Island on which the Landfall occurred 46 North End of Cape Cod an Island 46 The Summit of Cape Cod an Island 48 How was all this possible? 49 The Landfall 51 Characteristics of the Region in the Latitude of the Forty-second and Forty-third Degrees TABLE OF CONTENTS. VI Page Early Outlines of Southeastern New England 5 7 Summary of Bjarni's Return Voyage 59 SUMIVIARY OF THE STORY OF LEIF 60 Leif's Route from his Landfall to the Site of his Houses 61 Summary of the Voyage from the Landfall to the Site of the Houses . . 66 THORWALD'S EXPEDITION TO VINELAND 67 Exploration of Charles River Westward from Leif's Houses by Thorwald's Men 67 Exploration of Coast Northward and Eastward from Mouth of Charles River, by Thorwald 69 The Gurnet, or Krossa-nes, or Promontory of the Crosses 72 Sailing past the Gurnet 73 The Significance of Carenas cannot be over-estimated 73 SKETCH OF THE THORFINN EXPEDITION TO VINELAND 75 Expedition to Straumfjord 77 The Story of Thorfinn, — how composed 81 Thorfinn's Expedition 84 RESUME 89 Leif's Houses on the Charles 89 All who followed Leif from Brattahlid in Greenland came to Leif's Houses 9S Latitude of Vineland 100 The Length of the Shortest Day of the Year at Leif's Houses in Vineland 103 Summary 107 What next of the Northmen? 108