Part 2 (1/2)

The foothold thus gained by the Nors.e.m.e.n in Greenland led to voyages southward. Some years after the establishment of these colonies one Bjarne Herjulfson was on one of these voyages driven by a storm far south of Greenland and saw the coast of the main continent of North America, somewhere, it is supposed from his description, between Newfoundland and Nantucket. Without landing, he returned to Greenland, whence soon thereafter, induced by his accounts, Leif, the son of Eirek the Red, undertook the same journey with a single s.h.i.+p and about thirty-five men, for the purpose of obtaining possession of the newly discovered country. He landed probably at Nantucket Island, and settled in the vicinity of the present Fall River, and called the country Vinland on account of the grape-vines which grew there in profusion.

In confirmation of the claim that it was in this locality that Leif Erickson first set foot, the Norse records are relied upon, which state that, at the season when this discovery was made, the sun rose at 7:30 A.M. and set at 4:30 P.M. This astronomical observation would locate the place of landing on the southern coast of New England in the vicinity mentioned. That the Nors.e.m.e.n made a settlement in this country, though only of brief duration, is a fact in support of which many learned treatises have been written, dealing, among other things, with what are supposed to be Icelandic inscriptions discovered in that section of the country, and the like, a consideration of which, however, would be beyond the scope of this writing.

Leif, the son of Eirek, or to preserve the nomenclature of the artist, Lief Erickson, is described in the Sagas and other records as a large, strong man, of imposing appearance. The s.h.i.+ps in which voyages were made by the Nors.e.m.e.n in those days were called drakkars, which were propelled both by oar and sail; at the ends rose wooden apartments called kastals.

All the parts out of water were fas.h.i.+oned after the manner of monsters or drakkars (dragons, _Drachen_). The prow of the s.h.i.+p represented the terrible head, the sides, a continuation of the body, and the rear, the tail of the monster bent upward; they bore a single sail covered with warlike paintings, and to the mast were also frequently hoisted the coats of arms of various chiefs. It was in s.h.i.+ps of this character that these bold seamen braved the perils of the ocean, and it was in similar s.h.i.+ps that William, the Conqueror, came to England; and yet even these vessels, frail as they were, were superior, both in seaworthiness and size, to the s.h.i.+ps of Columbus.

The costumes of the Nors.e.m.e.n consisted of trousers, belt, s.h.i.+rt, and often a coat of mail, and over the shoulders they sometimes wore a cloak with a fringe or border at the sides. They carried swords with most elaborately carved and embossed hilts and scabbards of gilt bronze and silver.

To depict the first landing of Lief Erickson amid these surroundings was the object of the painter. How well he has succeeded, a mere inspection of this canvas will at once reveal. The heroic figure of Lief, himself, dreamily and yet with wonderment, looking out upon the newly discovered sh.o.r.e, while with uplifted sword his men are apparently consecrating the new world with a solemn vow of loyalty, some standing on a small boat which is being pushed towards the sh.o.r.e, while others stand knee-deep in the shoal water--the form of the s.h.i.+p or drakkar in the background, the costumes, swords and all the other accessories--const.i.tute a striking and fascinating group. It portrays vividly the solemnity of the occasion when the first white men were about to set foot on the American continent.

The discovery of Vinland and its subsequent colonization by Thorfinn are referred to in the beautiful verses of Bayard Taylor, written on the occasion of his visit to Iceland to attend its millennial celebration, in August, 1874.

”We come, the children of thy Vinland, The youngest of the world's high peers, O land of steel, and song, and saga, To greet thy glorious thousand years.

”Across that sea the son of Erik Dared with his venturous dragon's prow; From sh.o.r.es where Thorfinn set thy banner Their latest children seek thee now.

”What though thy native harps be silent?

The chord they struck shall ours prolong; We claim thee kindred, call thee mother, O land of saga, steel and song!”

THE SANTA MARIA, NInA AND PINTA

(_Evening of October 11, 1492_)

[Decoration]

THE DEBARKATION OF COLUMBUS

(_Morning of October 12, 1492_)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Copyright, 1898, by Edward Moran.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Copyright, 1898, by Edward Moran.]

III.

THE SANTA MARIA, NInA AND PINTA (EVENING OF OCTOBER 11, 1492)[E]

AND

IV.

THE DEBARKATION OF COLUMBUS (MORNING OF OCTOBER 12, 1492).[F]