Lögberg-Heimskringla - 30.04.1999, Blaðsíða 7

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 30. apríl 1999 • 7
The Saga of Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir
From Geislar yfir
kynkvislum (Auras
Over the Family
Line) by Hallgrímur
Jónasson
Translated by
David Gislason
orfinn Karlsefni sailed directly
from Norway, his ships laden
with goods much needed in
Greenland at that time. The other ship
was piloted by Bjami Grímólfsson from
Breiðafjörður, and Þórhailur Gamlason.
The crews of both ships spent the win-
ter at Brattahlíð. There Þorfinnur
Karlsefni saw Guðríður for the first time
as a mature woman. They seemed to be
meant for each other, both extremely
able, with personalities that drew others
to them. In no time at all they fell in
love. Þorfinn proposed to Guðríður, and
their marriage was celebrated at
Brattahlíð that winter.
It can be assumed that at this time
there was much talk of Leifur's discov-
ery of Vineland, and tlie
rich lands that waited
there. These widely trav-
elled men must have
yearned to seek out this
amazing world that
Leifur had touched on,
but now it seems, he was
tied down with the aífairs
of goveming Greenland.
We gather from the sagas
that Guðríður encour-
aged, rather than discour-
aged, her husband to
investigate this land of
adventure. The desire
was kindled in her veins
as before. The young
couple soon committed
to sailing there next sum-
mer, and even settle there
if that seemed suitable,
and the land promising. It
was quite clear to her that Greenland
could not induce them to stay and make
their home.
Three ships sailed together from
Eiríksfjörður, headed for Vineland with
Þorfinnur Karlsefni in command. His
ability as a navigator soon becomes
clear. The ships sail north along the
west coast of Greenland, then head west
at the shortest distance to land on the
other side, then south along this new
found coast, in full view of land. This
trip will not be described here, other
than where the heroine of our story is
mentioned, anything more would be too
lengthy a tale, and here Eirík’s saga and
the Greenlanders ’ saga do not agree, as
has been mentioned. The travellers find
Leifur’s buildings. Disagreement arose
between the ships’ crews. Þórhallur the
hunter, with a crew of ten, sails north,
but his ship is driven onto the coast of
Ireland. The others sail south and find
even more fertile lands than at Leif’s
houses. There they encounter local abo-
riginals, and the Noresmen retum again
to their former camp.
After the first winter there,
Guðríður gave birth to a son whom they
named Snorri, likely after Þorfinnur’s
grandfather. Snorri was the first
European bom in the New World, as far
as we know. Trade between the
Northmen and the natives, which the
newcomers called “Skrælings,” took
place peacefully at first, but the rela-
tionship soon worsened, and led to
bloodshed and death. Guðríður watched
over her newbom son as the clash
between these two disparate groups
unfolded.
The hopes of the settlers for peace-
ful pioneering were dashed by the mul-
titude of the natives, and Karlsefni
decided to leave, and make for
Greenland once more. With that, the
efforts of the Norsemen at making a
foothold in this land came to a close, at
least for now. Þorfinn brought nearly all
of his company back to Greenland in
safety. Bjami Grímólfsson's ship sank
not far from Ireland, its timbers eaten
through by shipworms. Some of the
crew reached safety in the shoreboat,
but the captian died a hero’s death as
the saga records.
As before, good fortune followed
Guðríður and her husband Þorfinn. Four
times now this courageous and capable
woman had sailed the northem seas. It
would hardly have occurred to her that
she had yet to make as many voyages,
some of which would be even longer.
They spent the next winter at
Brattahlíð. Both her parents, as well as
her friend Eirík the Red were now dead.
There was nothing to tie her to this vast,
mgged land, and her husband, the trav-
eller, had other thoughts than to pass the
years here. Here he had found his wife,
as word would have it, one of highest
quality. Their son, he felt, was too
young to set out on perilous joumeys
over the rolling sea. He was more suit-
ed to a quiet life and home. From
Greenland they planned to sail to
Norway, and was it not time to look up
relatives and homeland in
Skagafjörður? Þorfinn knew, as did
Leifur, a direct sea route to Nonvay. It
was much farther than the route to the
new found land, and the opportunities
for trade made it natural to go there first
before heading to Iceland, and home to
the family farms.
Guðríður needed no encouragement
to make the joumey. She was ready to
set out on her fifth voyage over the sea,
doubtless there was no one with whom
she would be safer, as her husband
would be in charge. Her fortunes were
now such that, as ramour had it “no ship
would have left Greenland with a more
valuable cargo, than that which he com-
manded.”
The Saga of Guðríður Þorbjarn-
ardóttir will continue in the next issue.
Calendar of Events
April 30-May 2 Toronto, ON INL Annual Convention, Bond Palace Hotel. TO BOOK: Convention/Luncheon/Þorrablót/Kinmount Trip: INL Box 99, Gimli, MB ROC 1B0 (More information inl@ecn.mb.ca) Hotel: Bond Palace Hotel, Group # 176 phone 1-800-268- 9390 or (416) 362-6061, fax (416) 360-6406
Sun. May 2 Gimli, MB The Islendingadagurinn Fjallkona Spring Brunch will be held at the Country Resort, Gimli, at 12:00 noon. Tickets are $20.00 per person. Call Lorna Tergesen at 284-4518 , Ardith Sigurdson at 642-5625, or Connie Magnusson- Schimnowski at 338-2654.
Sat. May 15 Markerville, AB 1999 Creamery Season opens at 10:00 am.
Tues. May 18 Toronto, ON ICCT Annual General Meeting/Election of Officers. There will also be a celebration of Rosa Hermansson Vernon’s 100th birthday, along with the 40th anniversary of the founding of the club. 8:00 pm, Unitarian Hall, 175 St. Clair Ave. W. (just west of Avenue Road).
Fri. May 21 Vancouver, BC The lceland trio will make their canadian debut at the Unitarian Centre, 949 Oak Street (corner of Oak and 49th), at 7:30 pm. Program includes music by lcelandic composers. Guest artist Heather Alda Ireland. Tickets: $12.00 for adults, no charge for students 18 and under. Advance tickets available from Heather at (604) 691-7526 and Gerri (604) 279-0420. Tickets also available at the door. Reception to follow.
Sun. May 23 Seattle, WA The lceland Trio will perform at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle at 4:00 pm. Works performed will include compositions by lcelandic composers Sveinbjornsson and Nordal. Dinner following the concert will be in an lcelandic theme. For more info, call (206) 789- 5707) or contact: The Nordic Heritage Museum c/o “Mostly Nordic Concert Series” 3014 NW 67th St Seattle, WA 98117
Thurs. May 27 Winnipeg, MB Lestrarfelag presents lcelanders in Canada by Judge Walter Lindal. 7:00 pm at the Nordic House.
Sat. June 5 Vancouver, BC Solskin Annual June Tea & Bazaar at Hofn from 1:00-3:30 pm. 2020 Harrison Drive. Bake sale, raffle, crafts, plants, surprise pack.
Sat. June 12 Colborne, ON ICCT’s Annual Pot Luck Picnic/Celebration of lcelandic Independence Day. Come and visit lcelandic Horses at Gimli Farm. Contact Gail Einarson-McCleery for details: icegem@compuserve.com (416) 762-8627. Rain date for this event is Sunday, June 13.
June 19&20 Markerville, AB Markerville Creamery’s lcelandic Picnic.
What’s happening in your area? We want to hear from you before or after the events. Send us a few lines—or a lot—typed, double-spaced or on a computer disk. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if material or photos are to be returned. Fax copy to: (204) 284-3870. Send photos or material to Lögberg- Heimskringla, 699 Carter Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3M 2C3.