a warmer climate. The coast was low, there were broad
beaches of white sand, and behind the beaches rose thick
forests spreading over the country. Again the Norsemen
landed. Because of the trees, they gave to this place
the name of Markland, or the Country of Forests. Some
writers have thought that Markland must have been
Newfoundland, but the description also suggests Cape
Breton or Nova Scotia. The coast of Newfoundland is,
indeed, for the most part, bold, rugged, and inhospitable.

Leif put to sea once more. For two days the wind was from
the north-east. Then again they reached land. This new
region was the famous country which the Norsemen called
Vineland, and of which every schoolboy has read. There
has been so much dispute as to whether Vineland--this
warm country where grapes grew wild--was Nova Scotia or
New England, or some other region, that it is worth while
to read the account of the Norse saga, literally translated:

They came to an island, which lay on the north side
of the land, where they disembarked to wait for good
weather. There was dew upon the grass; and having
accidentally got some of the dew upon their hands and
put it to their mouths, they thought that they had
never tasted anything so sweet. Then they went on
board and sailed into a sound that was between the
island and a point that went out northwards from the
land, and sailed westward past the point. There was
very shallow water and ebb tide, so that their ship
lay dry; and there was a long way between their ship