CANADA HISTORY

Leif Vinland

Eirik was married to a woman called Thjodhild, and had two sons, Thorstein and Leif; they were both promising young men. Thorstein stayed at home with his father, and no one in Greenland at that time was considered so promising.

Leif had sailed to Norway, where he stayed with King Olaf Tryggvason. But when he had set sail from Greenland in the summer, his ship was driven off course to the Hebrides. He and his men stayed most of the summer there while they were waiting for favourable winds.

Leif fell in love there with a woman called Thorgunna; she was of noble birth, and Leif came to realize that she was a woman of unusual knowledge. When he was about to depart, Thorgunna asked if she could go with him. Leif asked if her kinsmen approved of that; she said she did not care. Leif said he did not think it advisable for him to abduct so well-born a woman in a foreign country -'for there are so few of us.'

I am not sure that you will prefer the alternative,' said Thorgunna.

'I shall take that risk,' replied Leif.

'Then I must tell you: said Thorgunna, 'that I am with child, and that you are responsible for the baby I am expecting. I have a premonition that I shall give birth to a son when the time comes; and even though you refuse to let it concern you, I intend to bring the boy up and send him to you in Greenland as soon as he can travel with others. I have the feeling that you will not enjoy having a son by me any more than our parting now warrants; and I intend to come to Greenland myself in the end.'

Leif gave her a gold ring and a Greenland mantle of homespun cloth and a belt of walrus ivory.

The boy, who was named Thorgils, later arrived in Greenland, and Leif acknowledged him as his son; according to some people this Thorgils came to Iceland the summer before the Frodriver Marvels. Thorgils then went to Greenland, and there seemed to be something uncanny about him all his life.

Leif and his men sailed from the Hebrides and reached Norway in the autumn. He joined the court of King Olaf Tryggvason, who bestowed great honour on him and thought him a very accomplished man.

On one occasion the king had a talk with Leif and said, 'Are you intending to sail to Greenland this summer?'

'Yes,' replied Leif, 'if you approve.'

'I think it would be a good idea: said the king. 'You are to go there with a mission from me, to preach Christianity in Greenland.'

Leif said that it was for the king to command, but added that in his opinion this mission would be difficult to accomplish in Greenland. The king replied that he could think of no one better fitted for it than him - 'and your good luck will see you through.'

'That will only be,' replied Leif, 'if I have the benefit of yours too.'

Leif set sail when he was ready; he ran into prolonged difficulties at sea, and finally came upon lands whose existence he had never suspected. There were fields of wild wheat growing there, and vines, and among the trees there were maples. They took some samples of all these things.

Leif came across some shipwrecked seamen and brought them home with him and gave them all hospitality throughout the winter. He showed his great magnanimity and goodness by bringing Christianity to the country and by rescuing these men; he was known as Leif the Lucky.

He made land at Eiriksfjord and went home to Brattahlid, where he was given a good welcome. He at once began preaching Christianity and the Catholic faith throughout the country; he revealed to the people King Olaf Tryggvason's message, telling them what excellence and what glory there was in this faith.

Eirik was reluctant to abandon his old religion; but his wife, Thjodhild, was converted at once, and she had a church built not too close to the farmstead. This building was called Thjodhild's Church, and there she and the many others who had accepted Christianity would offer up their prayers. Thjodhild refused to live with Eirik after she was converted, and this annoyed him greatly .

There was now much talk of going to search for this country that Leif had discovered. The leader in this was his brother, Thorstein Eiriksson, a well informed and popular man. Eirik the Red was also approached, for people had great faith in his good luck and foresight. He was reluctant at first, but did not refuse when his friends urged him.

The ship that Thorbjorn Vifilsson had brought from Iceland was now made ready, and twenty men were engaged for the voyage. They took with them little in the way of livestock, but mainly weapons and provisions.

On the morning that Eirik left home for the ship he took a chest full of gold and silver and hid it. Then he rode on his way; but before he had gone very far he was thrown from his horse, breaking some ribs and injuring his shoulder, and cried out. A-aah!' As a result he sent a message to his wife telling her to remove the treasure he had hidden: he said that he had been punished for hiding it.

Then they sailed out of Eiriksfjord. They were in high spirits and were pleased with their prospects. But they ran into prolonged difficulties and were unable to reach the seas they wanted. At one time they were within sight of Iceland; at another they observed birds off Ireland. Their ship was driven back and forth across the ocean. In the autumn they turned back towards Greenland and reached Eiriksfjord at the beginning of winter, worn out by exposure and toil.

Then Eirik said, 'You were much more cheerful in the summer when you were sailing out of the fjord than we are now; but there are still many good things in store for us.'

Thorstein replied, 'It would be a noble gesture to provide for all those who are now without resources, and find them lodgings for the winter.'

'There is much truth in the saying that one never knows until one is answered,' said Erik. 'And so it is now. What you suggest shall be done.'

All those who had nowhere to stay went ashore and went home with Eirik and his son.