The "Markland experiment" began in the spring of that year when a group of private citizens in St. John's vouched for the Commission of Government to give them relief payments for farming and agriculture.
The Newfoundland government assigned him the task of designing workshop furniture for the agricultural community of Markland.
Beyond the village, the landscape has two very unusual features: Creswell Crags and Markland Grips, both are dolomitic limestone gorges but the former is much more important as it has been identified as the home to prehistoric man and Creswell Crags hosts many famous caves.
According to Sephton's 1880 translation of the saga, the Wonderstrands was beyond Helluland, Markland and Kjalarnes, but north of Straumfjörð and Hóp.