Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-11-09
DISCOVERY OFsMERICA BY TIE MORTIMER.

1t may be of use for insertion in or in
preparing articles for educational works.
encyclopedias, the journals of historical
societies, and other similar works, through
which it may be wished TO give still fur
Their publicity to historical facts so impor-
tant. They have indeed been referred
to in some books of this kind, but often
with considerable errors.
The present paper is communicated by
Charles c. Rain, and is founded on his
work, Antiquities Americana sive
Scriptures Septentrionales rerum Ante
Columbianarum in America" published
by him in 1887 through the Royal Soci-
ETY. of Northern Antiquaries of Copen-
hagen
The Dane, Gardar, of Swedish or
igin, was the first Northman who dis
covered Iceland, in S63. Only a few
out-places in this country had been Wis
tied previously, about seventy years be-
fore. by Irish hermits. Eleven years
subsequently, or in 874, the Norwegian,
Ingolf, began the colonization Of the
country, which was completed during a
space of sixty years. The colonists,
many of whom belonged to the most illus
trious and most civilized families Of the
North, established in Iceland flourish
ing Republic. Here, on this distant
isle rock, the old Danish or old North
ern language was preserved unchanged
Cor centuries, and here, in the Eddas,
were treasured those Folk songs and
Folk myths, and in the Sqgas, those his
corical tales and legends which the first
settlers had brought with them from their
Scandinavian netherlands. Iceland was
therefore the cradle OF an historical lit
erature of immense value.
The situation of tie island and the
relationship of the colony to foreign
countries in its earlier period, compelled
its inhabitants to exercise and develop
their hereditary maritime skill and thirst
for new discoveries across the great
ocean. As early as the year 81 Gum
biorn saw for the first time the mountain
Gus coast of Greenland. But this coast
was first visited by Erik the Red, in 963.
by means of IceIandic emigrants, estab
Iished the first colony on its southwest
arn shore, where afterwards, in 1924, the
Bishops See of Gardar was founded
which subsisted for upwards of 800 years
The head firths or bays were named aftel
the chiefs of the expedition. Erik tht
Red settled in Erik's firth, Emar, Raft
and Keith in the frths called after them
and Heiruf on Heriulfsnes. On voy
age from Iceland to Greenland this SAM
year 1856, Biarne, the son of the latter
was driven far out to sea towards the
southwest. and for the first time behel
the coasts of the American lands, after
wards visited and named by his country
men. In order to examine these coun
tries more narrowly, Left the FOrtunat
son Of Erik the Red, undertook voyag
of discovery tbither in the year 1000
He landedd on the shores described b
Biarne, detailed the character Of thes
lands more exactly, and gave them name
according to their appearance: He'll
land (NewfoundIand) was so called fro'
its fat stones MARYLAND (Nova Scotia
from its woods; and Yineland Ne
England) from its vines. Here he IT
NAMED for some time, and construct
large houses. called after him Leifsbud
(Leifs Booths). A German name
Tyrker, who accompanied Left on th
VOYAGE. was the man who found the vi
vines, which be recognized from havir
seen them in his own land, and Ii
gave the country its name from this C
cumstance. Two years afterwards Lett
brother, Thorwald, repaired thither, al
in 1908 caused an expedition TO be u
dertaken 10 the south, along the sho
INT he was killed IN the summer Of To-
on 9 voyage northwards, in skirmi
With the natives.
The most distinguished, however,
all the first American discoveries,
Thorfun Karlesine, an Icelander, whit
genealogy is carried back in the
Northern ANNALS 10 Danish, Swedi
Norwegian, Scottish and Irish ancesto
some Of them of royal blood. Ia IL
this chief on a merchant voyage visi
Greenland, and there married Cue
the widow of Thorstein (son Of Z
The red who had died the year BET
IN an unsuccessful expedition to Vi
land. Accompanied by bis wife,
encouraged him to the voyage, and D
crew $50 men on board three vessels,
IL