MDDM: more background re Stig's tale

[Doug Millison]

http://www.athenapub.com/vinland1.htm
[...] 11th century AD Cultural Contacts: Both peaceful and violent meetings
between the Norsemen and natives are recorded in the sagas. Skraelings, the
Norse term for the natives, included both northeastern Algonquin tribes
(possibly Micmacs or Beothuks) and Eskimos. The short accounts in the sagas
provide tantalizing glimpses of North American aboriginal physical
appearances and customs, as well as initial inter-cultural reaction. The
Graenlendinga Saga contains the first known record of an encounter between
native North Americans and Europeans, shortly after AD 1000. That narrative
tells how eight Indians were killed by Thorvald, Leif Eirikson's brother,
and the battle which ensued. [...]





http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1000Vinland.html
Modern History Sourcebook:
The Discovery of North America by Leif Ericsson, c. 1000
from The Saga of Eric the Red, 1387

 [...] Gudrid was sitting within, in the doorway, beside the cradle of her
infant son, Snorri, when a shadow fell upon the door, and a woman in a
black namkirtle entered. She was short in stature, and wore a fillet about
her head; her hair was of a light chestnut color, and she was pale of hue,
and so big-eyed that never before had eyes so large been seen in a human
skull. She went up to where Gudrid was seated, and said, "What is thy
name?" "My name is Gudrid, but what is thy name?" "My name is Gudrid," says
she. The housewife Gudrid motioned her with her hand to a seat beside her;
but it so happened that at that very instant Gudrid heard a great crash,
whereupon the woman vanished, and at that same moment one of the
Skrellings, who had tried to seize their weapons, was killed by one of
Karlsefni's followers. At this the Skrellings fled precipitately, leaving
their garments and wares behind them; and not a soul, save Gudrid alone,
beheld this woman. "Now we must needs takes counsel together," says
Karlsefni; "for that I believe they will visit us a third time in great
numbers, and attack us. Let us now adopt this plan. Ten of our number shall
go out upon the cape, and show themselves there; while the remainder of our
company shall go into the woods and hew a clearing for our cattle, when the
troop approaches from the forest. We will also take our bull, and let him
go in advance of us." The lie of the land was such that the proposed
meeting-place had the lake upon the one side and the forest upon the other.
Karlsefni's advice was now carried into execution. The Skrellings advanced
to the spot which Karlsefni had selected for the encounter; and a battle
was fought there, in which great numbers of the band of the Skrellings were
slain. There was one man among the Skrellings, of large size and fine
bearing, whom Karlsefni concluded must be their chief. One of the
Skrellings picked up an axe; and, having looked at it for a time, he
brandished it about one of his companions, and hewed at him, and on the
instant the man fell dead. Thereupon the big man seized the axe; and, after
examining it for a moment, he hurled it as far as he could out into the
sea. Then they fled helter skelter into the woods, and thus their
intercourse came to an end. Karlsefni and his party remained there
throughout the winter; but in the spring Karlsefni announces that he is not
minded to remain there longer, but will return to Greenland. They now made
ready for the voyage, and carried away with them much booty in vines and
grapes and peltries. They sailed out upon the high seas,and brought their
ship safely to Ericsfirth, where they remained during the winter. [...]




Doug Millison - Writer/Editor/Web Editorial Consultant
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