[89] This poem no longer exists. Its subject, the _Hafgerdingar_, is described as a fearful body of water, "which sometimes rises in the sea near Greenland in such a way that three large rows of waves inclose a part of the sea, so that the ship that finds itself inside, is in the greatest danger."--_Grönland's Historiske Mindismærker_, vol. I, p. 264. There does not appear to be any better foundation for this motion of the Hafgerdingar than of the old accounts of the Maelstrom, once supposed to exist on the coast of Norway. The Hafgardingar may have originated from seeing the powerful effect of a cross sea acting on the tide. [90] To this translation may be added another in metre, by Beamish: O thou who triest holy men! Now guide me on my way; Lord of the earth's wide vault, extend Thy gracious hand to me. This appears to be the earliest Christian prayer thus far found in connection with this period of American history. [91] _Æyrar._ This is not the name of a place--for Heriulf dwelt in Iceland at a place called Dropstock--but of a natural feature of ground; _eyri_, still called an ayre in the Orkney islands, being a flat, sandy tongue of land, suitable for landing and drawing up boats upon. All ancient dwellings in those islands, and probably in Iceland also, are situated so as to have the advantage of this kind of natural wharf, and the spit of land called an ayre, very often has a small lake or pond inside of it, which shelters boats.--_Laing._ [92] The details of this voyage are very simple, yet whoever throws aside his old time prejudices, and considers the whole subject with the care which it deserves, cannot otherwise than feel persuaded that Biarne was driven upon this Continent, and that the land seen was the coast of that great territory which stretches between Massachusetts and Newfoundland, for there is no other land to answer the description. Of course, no particular merit can be claimed for this discovery. It was also accidental, something like the discovery of America by Columbus, who, in looking for the East Indies, stumbled upon a new world. Yet Biarne's discovery soon led to substantial results.