Great Epochs in American History, Vol. I | Page 8

the same answer [as that which he had
given Karlsefni], saying that he would lend the house, but not give it. It
was stipulated between Karlsefni and Freydis that each should have on
shipboard thirty able-bodied men, besides the women; but Freydis
immediately violated this compact by concealing five men more [than
this number], and this the brothers did not discover before they arrived
in Wineland. They now put out to sea, having agreed beforehand that
they would sail in company, if possible, and, altho they were not far
apart from each other, the brothers arrived somewhat in advance, and
carried their belongings up to Lief's house.
[1] From "The Saga of Eric the Red," as given in the "Old South
Leaflets." Two different versions of this saga exist, the first written by
Hauk Erlendsson between 1305 and 1334; the second by Jon
Thordharson, about 1387. Both are believed to have been based on
writings that had come down from the time of the explorations.
Confirmation of the truth of the Norwegian discovery is given in a
book by Adam of Bremen, who visited Denmark between 1047 and
1073, and makes reference to Norwegian colonies founded in Iceland

and Greenland and in another country which was "called Vinland on
account of the wild grapes that grow there." Mention is also made by
this writer of corn as growing in Vinland without cultivation. He
declares his statements to be based on "trustworthy reports of the
Danes." John Fiske thought Vinland lay somewhere between Point
Judith and Cape Breton.

III
THE FIRST CHILD OF EUROPEAN RACE BORN IN AMERICA[1]
(About 1000 A.D.)
One summer a ship came from Norway to Greenland. The skipper's
name was Thorfinn Karlsefni, and he was the son of Thord, called
"Horsehead," and a grandson of Snorri. Thorfinn Karlsefni, who was a
very wealthy man, passed the winter there in Greenland, with Lief
Ericsson. He very soon set his heart upon a maiden called Gudrid, and
sought her hand in marriage.
That same winter a new discussion arose concerning a Wineland
voyage. The people urged Rarlsefni to make the bold venture, so he
determined to undertake the voyage, and gathered a company of sixty
men and five women. He entered into an agreement with his shipmates
that they should each share equally in all the spoils. They took with
them all kinds of cattle, as they intended to settle the country if they
could. Karlsefni asked Lief for his house in Wineland. Lief replied that
he would lend it but not give it.
They sailed out to sea with the ship, and arrived safe and sound at
Lief's booths, and carried their hammocks ashore there. They were soon
provided with an abundant supply of food, for a whale of good size and
quality was driven ashore, and they secured it. Their cattle were turned
out upon the land. Karlsefni ordered trees to be felled; for he needed
timber wherewith to load his ships. They gathered some of all the
products of the land--grapes, all kinds of game, fish, and other good

things.
In the summer after the first winter the Skrellings[2] were discovered.
A great throng of men came forth from the woods; the cattle were close
by and the bull began to bellow and roar with a great noise. At this the
Skrellings were frightened and ran away with their packs, wherein were
gray furs, sables, and all kinds of skins. They fled toward Karlsefni's
dwelling and tried to get into the house, but Karlsefni caused the doors
to be defended. Neither people could understand the other's language.
The Skrellings put down their packs, then opened them and offered
their wares in exchange for weapons, but Karlsefni forbade his men to
sell their weapons. He bade the women to carry out milk to the
Skrellings; as soon as these people had tasted the milk, they wanted to
buy it and nothing else.
Now it is to be told that Karlsefni caused a strong wooden palisade to
be constructed and set up around the house. It was at this time that a
baby boy was born to Gudrid and Karlsefni, and he was called Snorri.
In the early part of the second winter the Skrellings came to them again
in greater numbers than before, and brought with them the same kind of
wares to exchange. Then said Karlsefni to the women, "Do ye carry out
now the same thing which proved so profitable before, and nothing
else." The Skrellings seemed contented at first, but soon after, while
Gudrid was sitting in the doorway beside the cradle of her infant son,
Snorri, she heard a great crash made by one of the Skrellings who had
tried to seize a man's weapons. One of Karlsefni's followers killed him
for it. "Now