The Humming Bird. 109 



ding that lake that he determined to remain there all the 

 winter. To that effect, he had several houses built. It appears 

 that the place, then discovered by Leif, is the same where 

 the actual Boston stands. This land where he found some 

 wild grapes, was called Vinland. 



In the following spring, Leif returned to Groenland. 



TiiORWALD, another son of Erich the Red, came back 

 to Vinland the year after, and remained there three years, 

 at which time he was killed in an encounter with the natives 

 of the country. 



Soon after Thornstein, the third son of Erich the Red 

 went also to Vinland. He was accompanied by his wife 

 GuDRiD.but he did not remain there, and died soon after his 

 return to Groenland. 



His widow married a rich merchant of Iceland named 

 TnoRFiNN Harlsefne , and soon after they started with 

 three ships and one hundred and sixty men to Vinland. This 

 was in 1007. One year after, she gave birth to a son who 

 was called Snorre, son of Thorfinn. 



After the death of her second husband, Gudrid went to 

 Roma, where she contributed to spread the news of this great 

 discovery. In effect we see that in 1112, Erick Upsi was crea- 

 ted Bishop of Iceland, Groenland and Vinland, by Pope 

 Pascal II. 



Up to 1347, constant communications were kept between 

 these three countries ; but, at that time, the cholera having 

 reduced the population of Norway, from two millions to three 

 hundred thousand inhabitants, the emigration for these coun- 

 tries ceased entirely. But the tradition of this land has been 

 faithfully kept by the Norwegians . 



Hence, there is not the least doubt that AMERICA, was re- 

 discovered a second time by the Vikings or Northmen, about 

 four hundred and sixty five years before the discoveries of 

 Christopher Columbus. 



But this don't lesson in any way the glory of the great Ge- 

 noese Navigator because the discoveries made, firstly by the 

 Tartarians and Chinese, and secondly by the sons of Ërick the 

 Red were of little consequence for the rest of the AVorld ; 

 meanwhile those of Columbus have been and will be of the 

 utmost importance to all MANKIND. 



However it is probable that some of the descendants of the 

 followers who accompanied the sons of Erick the Red, found 

 their way in the interior, reached Mexico, and were the fac- 

 tors of great changes in the internal Economy, Civilisation 

 and Government of that Country. 



