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.