Sacred Texts  Legends and Sagas  Iceland  Index  Previous  Next 


The Norse Discovery of America, by A.M Reeves, N.L. Beamish and R.B. Anderson, [1906], at sacred-texts.com


p. v

CONTENTS.

(NORSE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.)

 

Page

Preface by J. W. Buel

ix

Introduction by Arthur M. Reeves

xiii

CHAPTER I.

 

Early Fragmentary References to Wineland

1

Wineland the Good Found

10

CHAPTER II.

 

The Saga of Eric the Red

16

Eric the Red finds Greenland

29

Saga of Karselfni

30

Concerning Thorbion

32

Christianity is Introduced into Greenland

40

Thorstein Weds Gudrid, Apparitions Appear

44

Funeral Rites Among the Greenlanders

47

Beginning of the Wineland Voyages

50

Karlsefni Explores the Coast South of Vinland

53

The First Settlement in America

55

How a Woman Vanquished the Natives

57

Thorvald Killed by the Skrellings

59

Ireland the Great, or White Man's Land

61

Birth of the First White Child in America

62

CHAPTER III.

 

Wineland History of the Flatey Book

63

History of the Flatey Book

64

CHAPTER IV.

 

Translations from the Flatey Book

 

Story of Eric the Red and other Voyagers

75

Eric Founds a Settlement in America

81

A Country Abounding with Grapes

83

Thorvald goes to Wineland

85

An Engagement with the Natives

87

Thorstein Dies in the Western Settlement

88

A Plague Visits Greenland

89

Voyages of Thorfinn and His Companions

92

Karlsefni Visits Leif's Booths in America

93

p. vi

 

Freydis Murders two Men and five Women

96

Death of Gudrid, Father of Snorre (Snorri)

101

CHAPTER V.

 

Wineland in the Icelandic Annals

102

Bishop of Greenland goes to Wineland

103

The Church Fathers in the New World

105

Last Historic Reference to Wineland

107

CHAPTER VI.

 

Notices of Doubtful Value

108

The Wonderful Story of Biorn

109

Evidences of Irish Occupation of America

113

Difficulty in Locating "Newland"

115

Sagas that Puzzle Historians

117

CHAPTER VII.

 

Publication of the Wineland Discovery

119

Adam of Bremen Writes of Wineland

121

First Printed Theory Concerning Wineland

123

Arni Magnusson's Collection of Manuscripts

124

Sagas of which their Accuracy is Confirmed

125

Prof. Storm's Treatise upon the Wineland Discovery

126

Notes Explanatory of Prof. Reeves' Text

128

________
BOOK II.

 

Arguments and Evidences Respecting the Wineland Discovery

148

Introduction to a Study of Icelandic Records

149

Scalds and Sagamen in Icelandic Literature

150

Establishment of Law in Iceland

153

Origin of the Saga

155

Records of Great Deeds Preserved by Skalds

157

Important Position Held by the Skalds

159

Preservation of Ancient Traditions

161

Second Period of Icelandic Literature

162

Purpose served by Skaldic Verse

163

Subjects Treated by the Sagamen

165

Passion for Travel among Icelanders

169

Arne Magnussen (Arni Magnusson) the Learned

171

Third Period in Icelandic Literature

174

Effect of Christianity's Introduction

175

Importance of the Islendingabok

177

Link that Connects the Written and Oral Annals

179

First of Icelandic Historians

191

Chronology of the Historical Sagas

193

Last Period of Icelandic Literature

184

p. vii

 

Decline of Literary Ambition

185

Rise of Romance and Chivalry

187

The Genealogist Succeeds the Skald

189

Saga of Eric the Red.

 

Discovery and Colonization of Greenland

191

Bjarne Seeks out Greenland

194

Bjarne is Driven upon Strange Shores

195

Results of Bjarne's Voyage

197

Columbus and the Norse Navigators

198

Voyage of Leif Erikson.

 

Leif Discovers America

201

Leif's Description of the New World

202

He builds (booths) houses in the New Country

203

Lief Rescues a Shipwrecked Crew

205

Thorvald Repairs to Vinland

206

His Fatal Encounter with the Natives

207

Voyage of Thorstein Erikson

209

Death of Grimhild

211

The Heimskringla Record of the Vineland Discovery

213

The Saga of Thorfin Karlsefni.

 

His Voyage to Greenland

216

Leif Erikson Entertains Karlsefni

217

Settlement in Vinland by Karlsefni

218

Description of the New Country

220

Karlsefni Explores the Country South

222

The First Year Spent in America

224

A Battle with the Skrellings

225

Another Settlement Founded in America

227

In the Land of the Mysterious Unipeds

228

The Posterity of Karlsefni

230

Voyage of Freydis, Erik's Daughter (translation).

 

Frequency of Voyages between Iceland and Vinland

231

Discord among the Vinland Colonists

232

Murderous Frenzy of Freydis

234

The Mansur Wood of Vinland

236

Geographical Notices and Comments on the Saga Records

237

Inscriptive Evidences of the Discovery

239

The Dighton Writing Rock

240

Analogy between Dighton and other Inscriptions

243

Runic Stone at Kingikvrsaak

244

Voyages in the Thirteenth Century

245

Norse Discoveries in the Arctic Regions

247

Navigation as a Science among Norsemen

249

Extensive Commerce with many Nations

251

Cause of the Hegira from Norway

252

p. viii

 

Minor Narratives of the Vinland Discovery

254

Translations from the Saga of Tryggvason

255

Colonization of Great Ireland

257

Translation of the Bjorn (Bjarne) Legend

258

Remarkable Story of Thorvald

259

A Plot laid to kill Bjorn

267

Critical Examination of the Testimony

271

Voyage of Gudleif to New Ireland

272

The White Chief sends a Message

275

Great Ireland a part of America

277

Indian Traditions of White Men

278

Evidence Presented by Ancient Charts

279

Traces of Irish Origin among Indians

280

Language Affinities between Indian and Celtic

282

Cortez writes of a Strange White People

285

Kind of Vessels used by the Irish

287

Druids and Gauls of Caesar's Time

289

How the Celtic Settlers Reached America

291

Similarity between Mexican and Egyptian Monuments

293

________________
NORUMBEGA IN AMERICA
.

 

By HON. R. B. ANDERSON.

 

CHAPTER I.

 

Recapitulation of early Voyages and Discoveries

295

Locating the Norse Settlement in America

297

A Boston Monument to Leif Erikson

299

Remarkable Find made by Prof. Horsford

301

Remains of Canals Dug by Norse Settlers

303

Inscription on Horsford's Commemorative Tower

305

Finding the Foundations of a Norse House

307

Prof. Anderson's Opinion of Norumbega

311

CHAPTER II.

 

Norse Voyages in the Tenth and following Centuries

312

Inducements to Settle Vinland

321

The Catholic Church in Vinland

323

CHAPTER III.

 

Columbus and the Norsemen

326

Credibility of Authorities Quoted

328

Columbus heard the Story of the Discovery

331

A Leif Erikson Commemorative National Festival

335

CHAPTER IV.

 

Discovery of America by the Irish

317

Authorities Respecting the Irish Discovery

339

A Mystery that may not be Revealed

341

Geography of Pre-Columbian America

343

 


Next: Preface