Page "Vinland" Paragraph 27

When spring comes, Thorhall Gamlason, the Icelander, wants to sail north round Kjalarnes to seek Vinland, while Thorfinn Karlsefni prefers to sail southward down the east coast.

Thorhall takes only nine men, and his vessel is swept out into the ocean by contrary winds ; he and his crew never return.

Thorfinn and Snorri, with Freydis ( plus possibly Bjarni ), sail down the east coast with 40 men or more and establish a camp on the shore of a seaside lake, protected by barrier islands and connected to the open ocean by a river which is navigable by ships only at high tide.

The settlement was known as Hop, and the land abounds with grapes and wheat.

The teller of this saga is uncertain whether the explorers remain here over the next winter ( said to be very mild ) or for only a few weeks of summer.

One morning they see nine hide boats ; the local people ( Skraelings ) examine the Norse ships and depart in peace.

Later a much larger flotilla of boats arrives, and trade commences ( Karlsefni forbids the sale of weapons ).

One day, the local traders are frightened by the sudden arrival of the Greenlanders ' bull, and they stay away for three weeks.

They then attack in force, but the explorers manage to survive with only minor casualties by retreating inland to a defensive position a short distance from their camp.

Pregnancy slows Freydis down, so she picks up the sword of a fallen companion and brandishes it against her bare breast, scaring the attackers into withdrawal.

One of the local people picks up an iron axe, tries it, and throws it away.

The explorers subsequently abandon the southern camp and sail back to Straumsfjord, killing five natives they encounter on the way, lying asleep in hide sacks.