18 



TRINIDAD: THEN AND NOW. 



remained behind ; they coasted southward till they 

 came to a place where a firth penetrated far into the 

 country, and up which they sailed. Landing on an 

 island they made preparations for a winter's resi- 

 dence, and from time to time explored the neighbour- 

 ing shores in all directions. They found the country 

 beautiful ; with abundance of growing wheat and 

 vast pasture lands. 



In the course of the season Guirida, the wife of 

 Thorfinn, gave birth to a son, who was called Snorre, 

 the first child of European descent born in America. 

 In course of time, Eric and his son Leif having died, 

 the remaining members of this family returned to 

 their home in Europe where they settled, and Snorre 

 became the ancestor of many distinguished persons, 

 amongst whom was Thorvaldsen, the great sculptor. 

 Leif had called his place Vinland in consequence of 

 the large quantity of Vines bearing abundance of 

 grapes, and also well stocked by numerous fruit trees, 

 and by that name it was known for many years. 



Prom this period, we hear no more of this north- 

 ern colony in America till the year 1059 when an Irish 

 or Saxon priest went there for the purpose of con- 

 verting the colonists and natives to Christianity, 

 where he was murdered by the natives. 



In the latter part of the fourteenth century two 

 Venetian navigators in the service of a Norman 

 prince of the Orcades, are said to have visited Vin- 

 land and there found traces of the colony left by the 

 Northmen of Red Eric 's time. Prom this time to the 

 discovery of the New World by the Cabots, and a few 



