Trade and Battle at Hóp

Ok einn morgin snemma, er þeir lituðuz um, sáu þeir níu húðkeipa, ok var veift trjánum af skipunum, ok lét því líkast í, sem í halmþustum, ok fer sólarsinnis. Þá mælti Karlsefni: Hvat mun þetta tákna? Snorri svarar honum: Vera kann, at þetta sé friðartákn, ok tǫkum skjǫld hvítan, ok berum í mót. Ok svá gerðu þeir.

And one morning early, when they looked about, they saw nine hide-boats, and staves were waved from the boats, and it sounded most like flails, and [they went] sunwise. Then said Karlsefni: What will this signify? Snorri answers him: It may be that this is a peace-sign, and let us take a white shield and carry [it] toward [them]. And so they did.

Early one morning, as they looked around, they saw nine skin boats.1 The people in them were waving sticks, which made a sound like flails threshing grain, and they waved them sunwise. Then Karlsefni said, “What can this mean?” Snorri2 answered him, “It may be a sign of peace. Let’s take a white shield and hold it out toward them.”3 And so they did.

1. Boats made of hide stretched over a frame. Wallace notes that skin canoes were used by the Mi’kmaq before the 1600s.
2. Snorri Thorbrandsson, one of Karlsefni’s companions, not Karlsefni’s son of the same name.
3. In the saga, a white shield signals peace. Later in the passage a red shield signals war.

Þá reru hinir ímót, ok undruðuz þá, ok gengu þeir á land. Þeir váru smáir menn ok illiligir, ok illt hǫfðu þeir hár á hǫfði; eygðir váru þeir mjǫk ok breiðir í kinnunum. Ok dvǫlðuz þeir um stund ok undruðuz, reru síðan íbrott ok suðr fyrir nesit.

Then the others rowed toward [them], and wondered at them, and they went on land. They were small men and ill-looking, and they had bad hair on [the] head; they were very [large-]eyed and broad in the cheeks. And they stayed a while and wondered, rowed then away and south around the headland.

Then the others rowed toward them, staring at them in wonder, and came ashore. They were small men and fierce-looking, with coarse hair on their heads. Their eyes were large and their cheeks broad. They stayed a while, gazing at the newcomers, and then rowed away south around the headland.

Þeir hǫfðu gert bygðir sínar upp frá vatninu, ok váru sumir skálarnir nær vatninu, en sumir firr. Nú váru þeir þar þann vetr. Þar kom alls engi snjár, ok allr fénaðr gekk þar úti sjálfala.

They had made their dwellings up from the lake, and some of the halls were near the lake, and some farther. Now they were there that winter. There came no snow at all, and all the livestock went there outside self-feeding.

Karlsefni’s people had built their houses above the lagoon, some halls near the water and some farther away. They stayed there that winter. No snow fell at all, and all the livestock grazed outdoors and fed themselves.

Enn er vára tók, geta þeir at líta einn morgin snemma, at fjǫlði húðkeipa reri sunnan fyrir nesit, sva margir, sem kolum væri sáit, ok var þó veift á hverju skipi trjánum. Þeir brugðu þá skjǫldum upp. ok tóku kaupstefnu sín á millum, ok vildi þat fólk helzt kaupa rautt klæði; þeir vildu ok kaupa sverð ok spjót, enn þat bǫnnuðu þeir Karlsefni ok Snorri.

And when spring came, they get to see one morning early that a multitude of hide-boats rowed from the south around the headland, so many as if [the bay] were sown with charcoal, and yet staves were waved on every boat. They then raised up shields, and held a market between them, and that people wanted most to buy red cloth; they also wanted to buy swords and spears, but Karlsefni and Snorri forbade that.

When spring came, early one morning they saw a great crowd of skin boats rowing up from the south around the headland. There were so many that the bay looked as if it had been sown with charcoal, and on every boat sticks were waved. Then Karlsefni’s people held up their shields, and the two sides began to trade. Those people wanted most of all to buy red cloth. They also wanted to buy swords and spears, but Karlsefni and Snorri forbade it.

Þeir hǫfðu ófǫlvan belg fyrir klæðit, ok toku spannar langt klæði fyrir belg ok bundu um hǫfuð sér, ok fór svá um stund. Enn er minka tók klæðit, þá skáru þeir í sundr, svá at eigi var breiðara enn þvers fingrar breitt. Gáfu þeir Skrælingar jafnmikit fyrir eða meira.

They had an unfaded [?] pelt for the cloth, and took a span-long [piece of] cloth for a pelt and bound [it] about their heads, and it went so for a while. But when the cloth began to run short, then they cut [it] apart, so that it was not broader than a finger’s breadth. The Skrælings gave as much for it or more.

They offered an unspoiled pelt4 for the cloth. For each pelt the Skrælings5 took a piece of cloth a hand’s span long and tied it around their heads. This went on for a while. When the cloth began to run short, Karlsefni’s people cut it into strips no wider than a finger. The Skrælings still gave as much for it, or more.

4. A pelt whole and unspoiled; the exact sense of the Norse word is uncertain.
5. The saga’s name for the people of Vinland. It does not say who they were.

Þat bar til, at griðungr hljóp ór skógi, er þeir Karlsefni átti, ok gall hátt við. Þeir fælaz við Skrælingar ok hlaupa út á keipana ok reru suðr fyrir land. Varð þá ekki vart við þá þrjár vikur í samt.

It happened that a bull ran out of the forest, which Karlsefni and his men owned, and bellowed loudly. The Skrælings take fright at it and run out to the boats and rowed south along the land. Then nothing was noticed of them for three weeks together.

Then it happened that a bull belonging to Karlsefni and his men ran out of the forest, bellowing loudly. The Skrælings took fright, ran out to their boats, and rowed away south along the coast. For three whole weeks after that there was no sign of them.

Enn er sjá stund var liðin, sjá þeir sunnan fara mikinn fjǫlða skipa Skrælinga, svá sem straumr stœði. Var þá veift trjánum ǫllum rangsœlis, ok ýla allir Skrælingar hátt upp. Þá tóku þeir rauða skjǫldu ok báru ímót. Gengu þeir þá saman ok bǫrðuz, varð þar skothríð hǫrð. Þeir hǫfðu ok valslǫngur, Skrælingar.

But when this time was past, they see coming from the south a great multitude of Skrælings’ boats, as if a stream were flowing. Then all the staves were waved against the sun, and all the Skrælings howl loudly. Then they took red shields and carried [them] toward [them]. Then they went together and fought; there was a hard shower of missiles. The Skrælings also had war slings.

When that time had passed, they saw a great crowd of Skræling boats coming from the south, pouring in like a stream. This time all the sticks were waved against the sun,6 and all the Skrælings howled loudly. Then Karlsefni’s men took red shields and held them out toward them. The two sides met and fought, and a heavy shower of missiles flew. The Skrælings also had war slings.7

6. “Against the sun”: from west to east, the opposite of the peaceful sunwise waving before.
7. War slings, or perhaps a kind of catapult. The ball on a pole that follows has never been explained with certainty.

Þat sjá þeir Karlsefni ok Snorri, at þeir fœrðu upp á stǫngum, Skrælingarnir, knǫtt mikinn ok blán at lit, ok fló upp á land yfir liðit ok lét illiliga við, þar er niðr kom. Við þetta sló ótta miklum yfir Karlsefni ok á lið hans, svá at þá fýsti enskis annars enn hallda undan ok upp með ánni, því at þeim þótti lið Skrælinga drífa at ser ǫllum megin, ok létta eigi fyrr, enn þeir koma til hamra nǫkkura. Veittu þeir þar viðtǫku harða.

Karlsefni and Snorri see that they raised up on poles, the Skrælings, a great ball, and black-blue in color, and [it] flew up on land over the troop and made an ugly noise where it came down. At this great fear struck Karlsefni and his troop, so that they desired nothing else but to hold off and up along the river, because it seemed to them that the Skrælings’ troop drove at them on all sides, and [they] do not stop before they come to some cliffs. There they put up a hard resistance.

Karlsefni and Snorri saw the Skrælings raise up on poles a large ball, dark blue in color. It flew up over the land above Karlsefni’s band and made a terrible noise where it came down. At this a great fear came over Karlsefni and his men. All they wanted was to retreat up along the river, because it seemed to them that the Skrælings were closing in from every side. They did not stop until they reached some cliffs. There they fought back hard.

Freydís kom út ok sá, er þeir helldu undan. Hon kallaði: Hví renni þér undan slíkum auvirðis mǫnnum svá gildir menn, er mér þætti líkligt at þér mættit drepa þá svá sem búfé, ok ef ek hefða vápn, þætti mér sem ek munda betr berjaz enn einnhverr yðvar. Þeir gáfu ǫngvan gaum hvat sem hon sagði.

Freydis came out and saw that they held off. She called: Why do you run from such wretched men, such worthy men [as you are], when it would seem likely to me that you could kill them like cattle, and if I had a weapon, it seems to me that I would fight better than any of you. They paid no heed, whatever she said.

Freydis8 came out and saw them retreating. She shouted, “Why are you running from such wretches, strong men like you? I’d have thought you could slaughter them like cattle. If I had a weapon, I think I could fight better than any of you.” They paid no attention to anything she said.

8. Freydis, a daughter of Erik the Red and half-sister of Leif.

Freydís vildi fylgja þeim, ok varð hon helldr sein, þvíat hon var eigi heil. Gekk hon þá eptir þeim í skóginn, enn Skrælingar sœkja at henni. Hon fann fyrir sér mann dauðan, Þorbrand Snorrason, ok stóð hellusteinn í hǫfði honum. Sverðit lá hjá honum, ok hon tók þat upp ok býz at verja sik með. Þá koma Skrælingar at henni. Hon tekr brjóstit upp ór serkinum ok slettir á sverðit. Þeir fælaz við ok hlaupa undan ok á skip sín ok helldu á brottu.

Freydis wanted to follow them, and she was rather slow, because she was not whole. She went then after them into the forest, but the Skrælings press at her. She found before her a dead man, Thorbrand Snorrason, and a flat stone stood in his head. The sword lay beside him, and she took it up and prepares to defend herself with [it]. Then the Skrælings come at her. She takes her breast out of her shift and slaps [it] with the sword. They take fright at that and run off and onto their boats and held away.

Freydis wanted to go with them, but she was rather slow, because she was with child.9 She followed them into the forest, and the Skrælings came after her. In front of her she found a dead man, Thorbrand Snorrason, with a flat stone sunk into his head. His sword lay beside him. She picked it up and got ready to defend herself. Then the Skrælings came at her. She pulled her breast out of her shift and slapped the sword against it. At this the Skrælings took fright, ran off to their boats, and rowed away.

9. Literally “not whole,” a phrase that could mean unwell or pregnant. The breast-baring scene suggests pregnancy.

Þeir Karlsefni finna hana ok lofa happ hennar. Tveir menn fellu af Karlsefni, enn fjórir af Skrælingum; enn þó urðu þeir Karlsefni ofrliði bornir. Fara þeir nu til búða sinna ok íhuga, hvat fjǫlmenni þat var, er at þeim sótti á landinu. Sýndiz þeim nú, at þat eina mun liðit hafa verit, er á skipunum kom, enn annat liðit mun hafa verit þversýningar.

Karlsefni and his men find her and praise her luck. Two men fell of Karlsefni’s, and four of the Skrælings; but yet Karlsefni’s men were borne down by superior numbers. They go now to their booths and consider what multitude that was which attacked them on the land. It seemed to them now that only that troop must have been [real] which came on the boats, but the other troop must have been illusions.

Karlsefni and his men found her and praised her good luck. Two of Karlsefni’s men had fallen, and four of the Skrælings, but still Karlsefni’s band had been overwhelmed by their numbers. They went back to their camp and wondered about the great crowd that had attacked them on land. Now it seemed to them that only the band that came in the boats had been real. The other band must have been an illusion.10

10. Þversýningar: something seen falsely, an illusion. The Hauksbók copy uses a word meaning “tricks of the eye.”

Þeir Skrælingar fundu ok mann dauðan, ok lá øx hjá honum; einn þeirra tók upp øxina ok hǫggr með tré, ok þá hverr at ǫðrum, ok þótti þeim vera gersimi ok bita val. Síðan tók einn ok hjó í stein ok brotnaði øxin, þótti honum þá ǫngu nýt, er eigi stóð við grjótinu, ok kastaði niðr. Þeir þóttuz nú sjá, þótt þar væri landskostir góðir, at þar mundi jafnan ófriðr ok ótti á liggja af þeim, er fyrir bjuggu. Síðan bjugguz þeir á brott ok ætluðu til sins lands.

The Skrælings also found a dead man, and an axe lay beside him; one of them took up the axe and strikes at a tree, and then each after another, and it seemed to them to be a treasure and to bite well. Then one took [it] and struck at a stone, and the axe broke; then it seemed to him worth nothing, since it did not stand up to the stone, and [he] threw [it] down. They [Karlsefni’s men] thought they now saw that, although the land’s resources there were good, there would always be hostility and fear lying on [them] from those who lived there before. Then they made ready to leave and intended [to go] to their own land.

The Skrælings had also found a dead man with an axe lying beside him. One of them picked up the axe and chopped at a tree with it, and then each of the others did the same. They thought it a treasure that cut well. Then one of them struck a stone with it, and the axe broke. Then he thought it worthless, since it could not stand up to stone, and he threw it down. Karlsefni’s people now saw that, good as the land was, they would always live in fear and in conflict with the people who already lived there. So they got ready to leave, meaning to go back to their own country.