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HE name of Christopher Columbus has so long been associated with the first general knowledge of the New World, by Europeans, that numbers of the present day are ignorant of any discovery of our continent prior to his time. There is conclusive evi

dence, however, of such discovery having been made, although the fact cannot in the least detract from the hard-earned fame of the Genoese mariner. The people whose records and traditions bear testimony to this event, are the Normans or Northmen.

In the dark ages, the Northmen, natives of Scandinavia, which included Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, were the most daring adventurers of Europe. At different periods, they conquered portions of France, England, Germany, and other nations of Northern and

Middle Europe, and established naval and trading stations along all the north-western coast. They also fitted out numerous expeditions for distant parts, several of which visited Iceland as early as the ninth century, and established a colony there.

In the year 986, Greenland was visited by Eric Rauda, (the Red,) who planted a colony on the south-eastern shore, and named it Brattalid. The whole country he called Greenland, either ironically or, most probably, for the purpose of alluring emigrants. Different settlements were styled Ericsfiord, Heriulfsfiord, Rafnsfiord, &c., after the names of the colonists.

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and acquired great knowledge of men and society, by visiting foreign countries. When Eric's expedition sailed from Denmark, Biarne was in Norway; but, on ascertaining this, when he arrived in his native country, he followed it thither. Being totally unacquainted with Eric's course, the navigators wandered for some time upon the ocean, encountering violent winds and severe weather. This was succeeded by fogs. When the atmosphere again became clear, they discovered a level, sandy coast, swelling gradually into hills, whose tops and sides were crowned with thick woods. As this did not correspond to the description of Greenland sent to Europe by Eric, no landing was attempted. On the following day, more land was discovered, presenting the same topographical outline. Three days after, they came in sight of an island, and continuing their course for forty-eight hours, they reached the southern extremity of Greenland. They were received gladly by Heriulf, and remained in Greenland, until his death, when Biarne succeeded o the administration of affairs.

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The account of the land seen by the young navigator excited much attention in the Greenland colony, and roused a spirit of adventure, somewhat singular in a youthful settlement. Under its influence, a son of Eric, named Leif, purchased Biarne's vessel, and, with thirty-five men, set sail on a voyage of discovery, (about A. D. 1000.) Touching at the island seen by Biarne, he called it Helluland, (flat land,) and reaching, soon after, the first land mentioned by his predecessor, he gave it the title of Markland, (woody land.) Two days after, they landed on an island covered with vegetation, and then sailing westward, they reached the mouth of a river, near a strait which separated the island from a high promontory

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and. A lake was the source of this stream. Pleased with this wild spot, Leif determined to establish here a colony; and, accordingly, erected wooden huts on the shore of the lake, and caused his goods to be conveyed to the lake in boats.

After remaining some time, and building more commodious houses, the colony was organized into two parties, one of which explored the country at regular periods, while the other remained at home, the leader accompanying them alternately. On one of these expeditions, grapes were discovered by a German named Tyrker; and from this circumstance the country was called Wineland or Vinland. This discovery, together with the mildness of the climate, and the great abundance of salmon and other fish in the river, rendered them still more willing to form a permanent settlement.

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