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Historical Lectures and Essays
Historical Lectures and
Essays
by Charles Kingsley
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Historical Lectures and Essays
THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF
AMERICA
Let me begin this lecture ｛1｝ with a scene in the North Atlantic 863
years since。
〃Bjarne Grimolfson was blown with his ship into the Irish Ocean； and
there came worms and the ship began to sink under them。 They had a
boat which they had payed with seals' blubber； for that the sea… worms will
not hurt。 But when they got into the boat they saw that it would not hold
them all。 Then said Bjarne； 'As the boat will only hold the half of us； my
advice is that we should draw lots who shall go in her； for that will not be
unworthy of our manhood。' This advice seemed so good that none gainsaid
it； and they drew lots。 And the lot fell to Bjarne that he should go in the
boat with half his crew。 But as he got into the boat； there spake an
Icelander who was in the ship and had followed Bjarne from Iceland； 'Art
thou going to leave me here； Bjarne？' Quoth Bjarne； 'So it must be。'
Then said the man； 'Another thing didst thou promise my father； when I
sailed with thee from Iceland； than to desert me thus。 For thou saidst that
we both should share the same lot。' Bjarne said； 'And that we will not do。
Get thou down into the boat； and I will get up into the ship； now I see that
thou art so greedy after life。' So Bjarne went up into the ship； and the
man went down into the boat； and the boat went on its voyage till they
came to Dublin in Ireland。 Most men say that Bjarne and his rades
perished among the worms； for they were never heard of after。〃
This story may serve as a text for my whole lecture。 Not only does it
smack of the sea…breeze and the salt water； like all the finest old Norse
sagas； but it gives a glimpse at least of the nobleness which underlay the
grim and often cruel nature of the Norseman。 It belongs； too； to the
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culminating epoch； to the beginning of that era when the Scandinavian
peoples had their great times； when the old fierceness of the worshippers
of Thor and Odin was tempered； without being effeminated； by the Faith
of the 〃White Christ；〃 till the very men who had been the destroyers of
Western Europe became its civilisers。
It should have； moreover； a special interest to Americans。 Foras
American antiquaries are well awareBjarne was on his voyage home
from the coast of New England； possibly from that very Mount Hope Bay
which seems to have borne the same name in the time of those old
Norsemen； as afterwards in the days of King Philip； the last sachem of the
Wampanong Indians。 He was going back to Greenland； perhaps for
reinforcements； finding； he and his fellow…captain； Thorfinn； the
Esquimaux who then dwelt in that land too strong for them。 For the
Norsemen were then on the very edge of discovery； which might have
changed the history not only of this continent but of Europe likewise。
They had found and colonised Iceland and Greenland。 They had found
Labrador； and called it Helluland； from its ice…polished rocks。 They had
found Nova Scotia seemingly； and called it Markland； from its woods。
They had found New England； and called it Vinland the Good。 A fair
land they found it； well wooded； with good pasturage； so that they had
already imported cows； and a bull whose lowings terrified the Esquimaux。
They had found self…sown corn too； probably maize。 The streams were
full of salmon。 But they had called the land Vinland； by reason of its
grapes。 Quaint enough； and bearing in its very quaintness the stamp of
truth； is the story of the first finding of the wild fox…grapes。 How Leif
the Fortunate； almost as soon as he first landed； missed a little wizened old
German servant of his father's； Tyrker by name； and was much vexed
thereat； for he had been brought up on the old man's knee； and hurrying off
to find him met Tyrker ing back twisting his eyes abouta trick of his…
…smacking his lips and talking German to himself in high excitement。
And when they get him to talk Norse again； he says： 〃I have not been
far； but I have news for you。 I have found vines and grapes！〃 〃Is that
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true； foster…father？〃 says Leif。 〃True it is；〃 says the old German； 〃for I
was brought up where there was never any lack of them。〃
The sagaas given by Rafnhad a detailed description of this quaint
personage's appearance； and it would not he amiss if American wine…
growers should employ an American sculptorand there are great
American sculptorsto render that description into marble； and set up little
Tyrker in some public place； as the Silenus of the New World。
Thus the first cargoes homeward from Vinland to Greenland had been
of timber and of raisins； and of vine…stocks； which were not like to thrive。
And more。 Beyond Vinland the Good there was said to be another
land； Whiteman's Landor Ireland the Mickle； as some called it。 For these
Norse traders from Limerick had found Ari Marson； and Ketla of
Ruykjanes； supposed to have been long since drowned at sea； and said that
the people had made him and Ketla chiefs； and baptized Ari。 What is all
this？ and what is this； too； which the Esquimaux children taken in
Markland told the Northmen； of a land beyond them where the folk wore
white clothes； and carried flags on poles？ Are these all dreams？ or was
some part of that great civilisation； the relics whereof your antiquarians
find in so many parts of the United States； still in existence some 900
years ago； and were these old Norse cousins of ours upon the very edge of
it？ Be that as it may； how nearly did these fierce Vikings； some of whom
seemed to have sailed far south along the shore； bee aware that just
beyond them lay a land of fruits and spices； gold and gems？ The adverse
current of the Gulf Stream； it may be； would have long prevented their
getting past the Bahamas into the Gulf of Mexico； but； sooner or later；
some storm must have carried a Greenland viking to San Domingo or to
Cuba； and then； as has been well said； some Scandinavian dynasty might
have sat upon the throne of Mexico。
These stories are well known to antiquarians。 They may be found；
almost all of them； in Professor Rafn's 〃Antiquitates Americanae。〃 The
action in them stands out often so clear and dramatic； that the internal
evidence of historic truth is irresistible。 Thorvald； who； when he saw
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what seems to be； they say； the bluff head of Alderton at the south…east end
of Boston Bay； said； 〃Here should I like to dwell；〃 and； shot by an
Esquimaux arrow； bade bury him on that place； with a cross at his head
and a cross at his feet； and call the place Cross Ness for evermore；
Gudrida； the magnificent widow； who wins hearts and sees strange deeds
from Iceland to Greenland； and Greenland to Vinland and back； and at last；
worn out and sad； goes off on a pilgrimage to Rome； Helgi and Finnbogi；
the Norwegians； who； like our Arctic voyagers in after times； devise all
sorts of sports and games to keep the men in humour during the long
winter at Hope； and last； but not least； the terrible Freydisa； who； when the
Norse are seized with a sudden panic at the Esquimaux and flee from them；
as they had three weeks before fled from Thorfinn's bellowing bull； turns；
when so weak that she cannot escape； single… handed on the savages； and
catching up a slain man's sword； puts them all to flight with her fierce
visage and fierce criesFreydisa the Terrible； who； in another voyage；
persuades her husband to fall on Helgi and Finnbogi； when asleep； and
murder them and all their men； and then； when he will not murder the five
women too； takes up an axe and slays them all herself； and getting back to
Greenland； when the dark and unexplained tale es out； lives
unpunished； but abhorred henceforth。 All these folks； I say； are no
phantoms； but realities； at least； if I can judge of internal evidence。
But beyond them； and hovering on the verge of Mythus and Fairyland；
there is a ballad called 〃Finn the Fair；〃 and how
An upland Earl had twa braw sons； My story to begin； The tane was
Light Haldane the strong； The tither was winsome Finn。
and so forth； which was still sung； with other 〃rimur；〃 or ballads； in
the Faroes； at the end of the last century。 Professor Rafn has inserted it；
because it talks of Vinland as a well…known place； and because the
brothers are sent by the princess to slay American kings； but that Rime has
another value。 It is of a beauty so perfect； and yet so like the old Scotch
ballads in its heroic conception of love； and in all its forms and its
qualities； that it is one proof more； to any student of early European poetry；
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that we and these old Norsemen are men of the same blood。
If anything more important than is told by Professor Rafn and Mr。
Black ｛2｝ be now known to the antiquarians of Massachusetts； let me
entreat them to pardon my ignorance。 But let me record my opinion that；
though somewhat too much may have been made in past years of certain
rock…inscriptions； and so forth； on this side of the Atlantic； there can be no
reasonable doubt that our own race landed and tried to settle on the shore
of New England six hundred years before their kinsmen； and； in many
cases； their actual descendants； the august Pilgrim Fathers of the
seventeenth century。 And so； as I said； a Scandinavian dynasty might
have been seated now upon the throne of Mexico。 And how was that
strange chance lost？ First； of