THORFINN KARLSEFNI 51 



suddenly changed. "It so happened that a bull be- 

 longing to Thorfinn ran out of the woods, bellowing 

 loudly. The Skrselings became so terrified that they 

 dashed to their boats and rowed southward around the 

 shore." The peaceful bartering came to an end, and 

 the unfortunate bellowing of Thorfinn's bull perhaps 

 delayed the settlement of North America for five 

 centuries. 



The fact that the Skraslings were so terrified by 

 the bull proves that they were not used to cattle. 

 Some writers have wondered at that, since buffaloes 

 were native to North America and large herds have 

 been common almost up to the present time. It is not 

 on record, however, that they were ever found on the 

 New England coast, and Babcock is in all probability 

 right when he states that they never penetrated the 

 country east of the Hudson River. 



The story about the bull is very probable. There 

 are many accounts showing that timid men have been 

 much frightened by bulls, especially when the animal 

 was in an ugly mood. It is not likely that Thorfinn and 

 his men did anything to allay the fear of the Skrsel- 

 ings; on the contrary, they possibly expressed amuse- 

 ment or contempt. Furthermore, their attitude in 

 dealing with the Skrselings was probably not such as 

 to inspire trust. 



In three weeks the Skrselings came back again and 



