tions of that period, would represent an hundred and sixty souls. A variety of live stock, for the settlement of a colony, was taken on board, and in the spring of 1007, the expedition set sail.

After touching on various points, they came to Helluland, the vast flat stones of which are particularly noticed. Thence they sailed to Markland, and landing on an island (probably Cape Sable), killed a bear, from which circumstance they named it Bjarney (Bear Island). Sailing southward two days more, they arrived at Kialarness, where they found the keel which Thorvald had set up on his late expedition. They coasted southerly along this desolate shore (Cape Cod), which, from its barrenness, or perhaps from a mirage occasionally seen there, they called Furdustrandir (long or wonderful shores). Coming to a bay, they put on shore two Scots whom "King Olaf had given to Leif, a man named Haki, and a woman named Hekia; they were swifter of foot than wild animals. These Leif had given to Thorfinn, and they were in his ship. When they had passed beyond Furdustrandir, he put these Scots on shore, directing them to run over the country towards the south-west, and then return. They were very lightly clad. The ships lay to during their absence. When they returned, one carried in his hand a bunch of grapes, the other an ear of corn."

Coasting the shore, they came to another bay, with an island opposite, which, from the force of the currents, they called Straumfiord, or Bay of Streams (probably Buzzard's Bay). Here they disembarked, and, finding good pasturage for their cattle, resolved to pass the winter. In the autumn a son was born to Thorfinn and Gudrid, probably the first native American of European descent. This child, Snorri Thorfinnson, became the progenitor of a long line of descendants illustrious in the histories of Iceland and Denmark-among them the learned Bishop Thorlak Runolfson, his grandson, and probably the original compiler of these voyages, and, in our own day, the famous Thorwaldsen, perhaps the greatest sculptor of modern times.

The winter proved very severe, and these hardy colonists were reduced to much suffering for want of food. A singular incident illustrates the superstition of the times, and the recent conversion of these people to Christianity. It is mentioned, at the commencement of the ancient narrative, that there sailed in the expedition one "Thorhall, commonly called the Hunter, who had, for many years, been the huntsman of Eirek during the summer, and his steward during the winter. This Thorhall was a man of gigantic stature and of great strength, and swarthy in complexion; he was a man of very few words, and when he did speak, it was chiefly in a railing way: to Eirek he had ever given evil counsel; and he was besides a very indifferent Christian. He possessed, however, much knowledge of uninhabited lands."

In this time of privation, when their prayers appeared unanswered, the ill-omened Thorhall was missing, and for three days search was made for him in vain. "On the morning of the fourth day, Thorfinn and Biarni Grimolfson found him lying on the top of a rock. There he lay, stretched out, with his eyes open, blowing through his mouth and nose, and mumbling somewhat to himself. They asked him why he had gone there. He answered,-that it was no business of theirs: that he was old enough to take care of himself without their troubling themselves with his affairs. They asked him to return home with them, which he did.

"A short time after, a whale was cast ashore, and they all ran down eagerly to cut it up; but none knew what kind of whale it was; even Thorfinn, though well acquainted with whales, did not know it. The cooks dressed the whale, and they all eat of it, but were all taken ill immediately afterwards. Then said Thorhall 'Now you see that Thor is more ready to give aid than your Christ. This food is the reward of a hymn which I composed to Thor, my god, who has rarely forsaken me!' When they heard this, none would eat any more; and so they threw all the remainder of the flesh from the rocks, commending themselves to God."

As the spring came on, Thorfinn resolved to sail south-westerly, and explore the coast. But Thorhall (who seems to have been grievously disappointed in his hope of finding grapes and wine) with only eight companions, undertook to sail around Kialarness, and explore in that direction. It is said, however, that he was driven by westerly gales to the coast of Ireland, and there, according to the report of the traders, with his companions, was reduced to slavery.

more.

Thorfinn and all the rest (151 in number), in the spring of 1008, set sail, and soon came to the deserted dwellings of Leifsbudir. This region they called Hop. The Indian name of this place is Haup, and the present appellation of the "lake" is Mount Hope Bay-certainly a curious coincidence, if nothing After remaining here a few days, the Northmen beheld a great number of canoes approaching up the bay. From these landed many of the natives, "swarthy in complexion, short and savage in appearance, with ugly hair, great eyes, and broad cheeks." When they had stayed some time, and gazed at the strangers with astonishment, they departed, and retired beyond the promontory to the south-west (Bristol Neck).

The winter proved very mild, and their cattle remained without shelter. On the following spring (1009) they again saw a multitude of canoes coming round the promontory, and on their arrival, much bartering was carried on; the Indians readily giving their skins for strips of red cloth, and especially for milk porridge, which some of the women prepared, and with which they seemed excessively delighted. Finally all were frighted away by a bull, which suddenly came in from the woods, and, bellowing lustily, drove them to their canoes.

Three weeks afterwards, a vast number of canoes were seen coming from the same direction, evidently with a hostile intention. The savages "howled right sharply" (probably the warwhoop), and gave other tokens of defiance. Thorfinn and his company raised the red shield, the signal of war, and a combat commenced. The Northmen retreated to some rocks, behind which they fought stoutly, though greatly annoyed by the

slings and arrows of their numerous assailants. Freydis, the daughter of Eirek, seeing her countrymen fly, rushed out of her dwelling, and upbraided them. She was pursued by the Skrællings, but could not run far, being near her time. "She saw a man lying dead. This was Thorbrand, the son of Snorri, in whose head a flat stone was sticking. His sword lay naked by his side. This she seized, and prepared to defend herself. The Skrollings came up with her. She struck her breast with the naked sword, which so astonished the Skrællings, that they fled back to their canoes, and rowed off as fast as possible."

A considerable number of the natives fell in this contest; and it is singular that the English settlers of the country found among the Indians in this place a tradition that "there came a wooden house, and men of another country in it, swimming up the River Assoonet, who fought the Indians with mighty success," &c. This is what is now called the Taunton River, flowing into Mount Hope Bay.

Considering this place too dangerous for a habitation, on account of the enmity of the natives, Thorfinn and his companions prepared to depart. After making some exploration to the northward (probably up Providence River) they returned to Straumfiord, where they found abundant supplies. Hence Thorfinn went with one of the ships around Kialarness, in search of Thorhall, but without success. A singular account is given of a uniped, or one-leg ed animal (probably an Indian) which the Northmen met on this expedition, and which shot an arrow at them. They supposed, with probable correctness, the hills which they saw from the south-west of Cape Cod Bay to be the same which are visible from Mount Hope.

They passed the winter at Straumfiord, and in the spring of 1010, set sail for Greenland. On their way, they touched at Markland, and took two young Skrællings, whom they instructed and baptized. Thorfinn and his crew reached Eireksford in safety; but the ship of Biarni Grimolfson was driven out to sea, and, being bored with worms, began to sink. Lots were cast, and Biarni, with half the ship's company, gained

the privilege of taking to the boat. Moved, however, by the lamentations of a young Icelander, who had been entrusted to his protection, the generous chief relinquished his chance of life. "He replied, 'Do you come down into the boat, and I will go up again into the ship; for I see that you are fond of life.' So Biarni went into the ship again, and this man came down into the boat. Then those in the boat went on till they came to land, when they told all. It was generally believed that Biarni and his companions perished in that wormy ocean, for nothing more was ever heard of them."

Another expedition, in 1011, was made to Vinland, by Freydis and her husband, accompanied by some Norway merchants. But Thorfinn and his wife, having gained much renown by their adventures, settled in Iceland, where they became the founders of a numerous and distinguished race.

CHAPTER IV.

MENTION OF VINLAND IN VARIOUS MSS.-PROBABLE INTERCOURSE BETWEEN IRELAND AND AMERICA-STORY OF BIORN ASBRANDSON-ICELANDIC AND OTHER REMAINS IN AMERICA

A SUPPOSED WELSH COLONY.

IN the ancient Norse manuscripts, for several centuries, references to Vinland are found, and the existence of that country seems to have been generally known to their authors. Thus in an exceedingly ancient ballad of the Faroe isles, Holdan and Finn, two princes of Sweden, are fabled, among other marvels, to have fought the many kings of this mysterious land, for the love of Ingeborg, the daughter of the king of Ireland. In the "Account of Eirek the Red and of Greenland" it is mentioned that after the voyage of Thorfinn, "Expeditions to Vinland became now very frequent matters of consideration, for that expedition was commonly esteemed both lucrative and honorable." In the "Annals of Iceland," an authentic