Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-21

THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

Blarne was much blamed for his failure
TO explore the countries which he had seen.
But he seems to have taken matters very
coolly; and as it was more profitable for
him to carry on his trading voyages with
Norway, he made no use of his observa-
tions in the unknown Western sea. The
son OF Earl Eric, however, burned with
desire TO explore the mysterious regions of
which Biarne and his crew had brought
such vague accounts.
Accordingly, a family council having
settled the details. Left, the eldest son Of
Eric the Red. in 1000, brought Barnes
composed the crew, and Left entreated his
father to take command. The old Viking
ruluctantly consented; but, on the way TO
the point of departure, his horse stumbl ed
and threw his rider. This was bad
omen to the superstitious Eric, who de-
clared that it was ordained that he should
therefore gave up the command to Left,
who sailed prosperously into the West.
Reversing the order of Barnes voyage,
Lief first found the land which Biarne had
last seen. This region is now known as
Newfoundland. Left went on shore.
Left went on shore. From the sea to the
AuOuHtuAuo W do PAdtu VI udI SLOuCS.
SO he called it Helleluland, from heLa, q
flat stone. In like manner, when he came
to the next land, which was country
covered with wood. he gave that the
name of Markland, or Woodland. The
name of that region is now Nova Scotia.
The young Viking kept on with northeast
wind and in two days andtwo nights, made
land a third time. This was undoubtedly on
fbn aSt Of Nauy
where has never been satisfactorily settled
Left first landed on an island, where he
waited for good weather. Then coasting
along the shoreline, he wentupa river that
came through lake, says the chronicle.
Here they cast anchor and made prepar-
ations to winter, for it was now autumn.
1t is generally conceded that this was
the discovery by the Mortimer of the
coast of what is now Rhode Island, and
that Left built his booths, or houses,
somewhere on the shore of Mount Hope
Bay, or Narragansett Bay.
On his homeward voyage in the spring,
Lett picked up a shipwrecked crew. which
he kindly carried to shore. This, and his
marvellous adventures in the New World,
gave him the title of Left the Fortunate.
1t was not long before the news reached
EuTOpe. tlneiduu, as LelI calleu IL, was
known as Vinland the Good. By this
name one historian, Adam of Bremen,
heard of the land when he visited Sweden
In 1919.
Soon after this. Eric, died, and Left.
now the head Of the family. sailed the seas
no more. His brother, Thorvald, took
up the enterprise, and in 1902. set sail in
Leif's ship for Vinland the Good. He
found the booths built by his brother and
took possession of them, and there he
spent the winter. In the following spring,
he coasted far to the westward, and we
conclude. from the description of the coun-
try which he saw, that he passed through
the whole length of Long Island Sound.
Possibly, he went as far as New YORK
Bay, and there found "another lake
through which river flowed to the sea- y
Of which he spoke. The party landed on
many islands, and were enchanted with
the groves of great trees, the green grass
and the abundance of vegetable growths
which were SO new and strange to them.
| 81. Nicholas for judy.