fjord to Karlsbudhir, and three more from this place to Biarney or the present island of Disco. Still farther north were situated Eysunes or Esiunes, and Aedanes, which it required a fortnight's voyage to visit.1

According to Steenstrup, the only ruin in northern Greenland, not of Esquimau origin, of which we have any knowledge, is the so-called "Bear-trap" on Nugsuak Cape, a short distance north of Disco Island.2

The uttermost limit of Vestrebygd was the large and high mountain called Himinradz or Himelrachsfiall, and beyond this glacier navigation was insecure at all seasons of the year.3

Karlsbudhir, Biarney, Esiunes or Eysunes, and Aedanes properly belonged to what we might call the arctic province of Scandinavian Greenland, designated by the colonists under the name of "Nordhrsetur" or Northern Stations, and to which, in the summer season, they resorted on board their "big ships" for the purpose of hunting and fishing. The most frequented places of this province were on that portion of the main-land coast called Greipar, south of the island Disco, and on this island itself.

4

The ancient Northmen, as daring as our modern explorers, sailed farther north still, to several localities, among which are known the island "Kingiktorsoak” or Women's Island, situated past Upernavik, which is the northernmost trading place of the present Danish colonies; and "Kroksfjord" or "Kroksfjordarheidi," that is, the Deserts of Krok's Inlets, corresponding to the shores of Lancaster Sound and Barrow's Strait."

1 Moosmüller, S. 73; Torfæus, Gronl. Ant., cap. vi. p. 36.

2 Reeves, p. 166, n. 25.

3

p. 51.

Rafn, in Mémoires des Antiq., 1845-49, p. 132, and Antiq. Amer.,

p. 413.

5 Torfæus, Gronl. Ant., cap. vii.

Rafn, in Mémoires des Antiq., 1845-49, p. 132; Moosmüller, S. Beamish, Discovery, p. 125; 197; Beamish, Discovery, p. 125.

The Scandinavian colonists, thus scattered all along the western coast of Greenland, had built churches wherever their settlements formed a kind of agglomeration. If we except St. Thomas's monastery, no traces can be found of religious structures in other parts of the island; nor did we meet with ruins or other evidences of churches built at any particular spot of Greenland's continental province. It is very doubtful whether any titular bishop of Gardar ever visited the colonies of Vinland, nor is it likely that any sailed up to the frozen "Nordhrsetur;" but we know that portions of our continent repeatedly enjoyed the ministrations of Scandinavian priests, and we shall notice soon that Greenland clerics went, if not farther, as far north, at least, as any of their countrymen.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE GREENLANDERS' EXPLOITS AND PERVERSION.

THE great distances between the few scattered parishes of Greenland, the hard and only possible mode of travel in open ships and skiffs, the rigors of the climate, and a hundred difficulties attendant upon the inception of a new diocese were sharp thorns in the bright new mitre of the first bishop. To all these material and unavoidable hardships no objections had been made by the chosen prelate; but Arnold had hesitated to accept the proffered honors and dignity, because of the rash and lawless character of the people whom he was requested to govern. He had not been deceived in his sinister anticipations: unjust and cruel deeds of those that should have respected him and obeyed the laws of the country soon made him feel his pectoral cross weigh heavy on his heart.

As soon as Einar Sokkeson had returned home with the valued prize of his important embassy, he inquired all over the colonies after the Norwegian vessel in which Arnbiörn had set out for Greenland at the time that he had himself commenced his return voyage; but Arnbiörn had not arrived, nor were there any tidings of him or his fate until four years later. In the year 1130 a Greenlander, named Sigurd Nialson, went on a fishing voyage to Cape Hvítserk. Meeting with but little success, he and his companions concluded to explore some of the unknown firths of the eastern coasts of Greenland; and in one of these distant inlets they saw a large ship stranded at the mouth of a river, and a

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jolly-boat near by. The ship had carved figures on it, was well painted, and well equipped for the ocean. On landing, they saw a large hut, and a tent not far away; and, on repeating their visit to the shore the next morning, they saw first a piece of timber with an axe sticking in it, and close by lay the body of a dead man. Proceeding cautiously, they soon discovered another corpse, and then approaching the tent, they raised off its roof, in order to allow the escape of the noxious vapors from the dead bodies which they expected to find within. There, indeed, lay the corpses of Arnbiörn and his companions, together with a considerable quantity of goods.

They placed the ghastly human remains in a boiling cauldron to remove the flesh still adhering to the bones, which were then, with all the goods, carried to the ship; for it was the intention of Sigurd to convey the remains to the cathedral for interment. The ship he presented to the Church for the benefit of the souls of the dead, and the commodities were divided among the captain and his sailors according to the laws of Greenland. The bishop accepted the fine ship and solemnly buried her unfortunate crew.

These tragical events had most fearful consequences. Özsur, Arnbiörn's nephew, having heard of them, left Norway in the year 1131 to claim his uncle's successsion from the Greenlanders, and stayed with the bishop of Gardar the following winter. He required the ship from him, and requested his assistance to obtain the chattels from the other detainers. Bishop Arnold refused his demand, alleging that he had taken possession of the property according to the provisions of the laws of Greenland, that he had not acted arbitrarily nor on his own authority, and that, moreover, the whole wreck had belonged to Arnbiörn and to his companions of

misfortune, and could not be more appropriately disposed of than for the benefit of their souls. Hearing this, Özsur would not stay with the prelate any longer, and left his presence with threats of revenge.

In the spring of 1132 Özsur preferred his claims at the "Thing," or general assembly of the people, held at Gardar. As soon as the court opened, Einar Sokkeson approached it with a great multitude of men, and said that the Greenlanders would have to expect little justice from the Norwegians in Norway, if the latter should thus carry everything with a high hand even in Greenland. "Here," he added, "we will abide by the laws of this country." The Norwegians, it is stated, were not allowed to plead, and left.

This last remark is evidence either that this ancient account was written by a party prejudiced against Einar and Bishop Arnold, or that the case was so plain and evident to all as not to admit of any formal trial.

Defeated at the people's tribunal Özsur assumed to do justice to himself, or rather to his passion. He went and cut two planks out of the disputed ship, one on each side of the keel, and left for the western colony.

When the bishop heard how the ship had been damaged, he felt greatly provoked, sent for Einar, and reminded him of his oath taken in Norway to defend the rights and emoluments of the Church; and he added that he would hold Einar as a perjured man if nothing was done. Einar, having rather excused Özsur, took a cold leave of the bishop.

While in Vestrebygd the wrathful Norwegian met with two merchant vessels from his country, upon whose crews he prevailed to lend him their assistance and revenge still further the injury offered in his person to all Norwegian subjects, and with them he threateningly returned to Gardar. It was evident that peace