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ing covered with wood, he denominated Markland ; and which, from 

 the course and length of his voyage, is believed to be a part of Nova 

 Scotia. Pursuing his course southwards, he reached a portion of 

 Massachusetts, not far from Cape Cod ; and coasting along this, he 

 took up his winter quarters in a fertile country, which, from his 

 description, is easily seen to have been about Rhode Island, This 

 region, from the discovery of a species of wild vine found there, he 

 termed Vinland. In the summer, he fitted out his vessel, and 

 sailed to join his father in Greenland. 



The fame of his discovery induced his brother Thorwald, in a.d. 

 1002, to sail for Vinland, intending to settle there; but in one of 

 his excursions he encountered and was slain by a people, the Ice- 

 landers, in contempt denominated Skrelmgs, evidently Esquimaux, 

 who then appear to have possessed the shores far to the south of 

 their present location. 



The next and most remarkable voyage to Vinland, was that of 

 Thorfinn Karlsefne, which took place in a.d. 1006. He carried with 

 him his wife, and one hundred and thirty-one followers, and domestic 

 animals, with the intention of establishing a colony at the huts built 

 by Leif in Rhode Island. The soil and climate were suitable, and 

 they remained in that country till 1011, when they were attacked 

 by a vast number of Skrelings, whom they repulsed ; but the hos- 

 tility of the natives induced him to abandon his design, and he finally 

 settled in Iceland. Thorfinn, however, had a son, Snorro, born in 

 America, from whom some of the most distinguished families in 

 Iceland are lineally descended. 



After this period, it appears that there were many voyages to 

 Vinland, and that Iceland sent colonies thither for more than a 

 century ; for it is stated in Icelandic MSS., that Eirik, bishop of 

 Greenland, went to Vinland in a.d. 1125, to confirm the colonists in 

 the Christian faith. 



The work of TorfcRus also gives us a singular account of Icelandic 

 voyages to a country, either a continent, or a vast island, lying far 

 to the west of the British Islands, and near Vinland. It seems to 

 have been first visited by Are Marson in a.d. 983, who was driven 

 there by a great storm. He named it Huitramannaland, or Land of 

 White Men, from the complexion of the natives, who were also Chris- 

 tians ; and Are himself was then converted from the worship of Odin 

 to the religion of Christ. 



