58 
LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 
anterior to the year 1395, that is to say, one hundred 
years before Columbus’ voyage, which contains a 
minute account of how a certain person named Lief, 
while sailing over to Greenland, was driven out of his 
course by contrary winds, until he found himself off 
an extensive and unknown coast, which increased in 
beauty and fertility as he descended south, and how 
in consequence of the representation Lief made on his 
return, successive expeditions were undertaken in the 
same direction. On two occasions their wives seem 
to have accompanied the adventurers; of one ship’s 
company the skipper was a lady: while two parties 
even wintered in the new land, built houses, and 
prepared to colonize. For some reason, however, the 
intention was abandoned; and in process of time 
these early voyages came to be considered as apo¬ 
cryphal as the Phoenician circumnavigation of Africa 
in the time of Pharaoh Necho. 
It is quite uncertain how low a latitude in America 
the Northmen ever reached; but from the description 
given of the scenery, products, and inhabitants,—from 
the mildness of the weather,—and from the length of 
the day on the 21st of December,—it is conjectured 
