CANADA HISTORY

Bjarni-Grimolfsson

Bjami Grimolfsson's ship was blown into the Greenland Sea. They found themselves in waters infested with maggots, and before they knew it the ship was riddled under them and had begun to sink.They discussed what they should do. They had one ship's boat Which had been treated with tar made from seal-blubber; it is said that shell-maggots cannot penetrate timber which has been so treated. Most of the crew said that they should fill this boat with as many people as it would hold; but when this was tried they found that the boat would not hold more than half of them.
Then Bjarni said that the people who were to go should be " chosen by lot, and not by rank.
But everyone tried to get into the boat. The boat, however,
would not hold them all and so they agreed to this suggestionof drawing lots for places in it. When the lots were drawn it so happened that Bjami himself, along with nearly half the crew, drew a place, and these all left the ship for the boat. When they were in the boat one young Icelander who had been Bjami's companion said, .Are you going to leave me here. Bjami?'
'That is how it has to be: replied Bjami.
The Icelander said, 'But that is not what you promised when I left my father's farm in Iceland to go with you.'
'I see no other way,' said Bjami. 'What do you suggest?' ;
'I suggest we change places; you come up here and I shall go , down there.'
'So be it: said Bjami. 'I can see that you would spare no effort to live, and are afraid to die.'
So they changed places. The Icelander stepped into the boat and Bjami went back on board the ship; and it is said that Bjami and all those who were on the ship with him perished there in the maggot sea.
Those in the ship's-boat sailed away and reached land} where they recounted this story-