Europeans they seemed a strange and childlike people and were often misunderstood and abused. When the Indians discovered that an advantage had been taken of them they became suspicious and revengeful.

Arts and Crafts. - The Indians were skilled in the arts of basketry and pottery. Their designs were simple and conventional in form, and their colors were dull, but

beautiful and harmonious in arrangement. They used grasses and split reed canes for their baskets and made their dyes from leaves and bark of trees. Sometimes they lined and covered their baskets with clay, thus making them water-tight. Among their most interesting inventions were snowshoes, with which they could make long journeys over the heavy snows.

Money. Their money consisted of polished sea shells that were strung like beads. This was called wampum and was used in exchange for many things. Certain shells

were very highly prized and sometimes the Indians would. make long journeys to the seaside to secure them. The turquoise was valued by the Indians of New Mexico and used as a medium of exchange. When the Europeans saw the delight of the savages in these things, they brought over many brightcolored beads and trinkets, and these served as a means of securing trade with the Indians. Later European blankets and goods attracted the Indians, and these were readily taken in exchange for furs.

THE NORSEMEN

Early Norse Explorations.

Far away

INDIAN MONEY.

toward the north there is a little island in the Atlantic that is called Iceland. It is very small indeed, but it has an interesting history and is the home of a wide-awake, progressive people. The first white people who visited North America came from Iceland, and the story of their coming is as follows:

In the ninth century, when Harold Fairhair became the king of Norway, a great political revolution took place in opposition to his rule. Many of the nobles of Norway left the country and went to different parts of Europe, and a number sailed to Iceland and made this their home. This latter settlement proved successful, and, as conditions were agreeable, other Norsemen came to Iceland and formed permanent settlements. Their history of this time is more or less vague and is recorded in sagas or songs sung by their skalds or gleemen. It is from these and certain old chronicles that we learn the story of their visits to America.

Norse Explorers. We are told that one day a terrible storm drove the boat of a Norse captain, named Gunnbjorn, to the coast of Greenland and there it was locked in ice until the spring, when Gunnbjorn and his men were finally released. They returned to their home in Iceland and told of the new land across the sea. Shortly after this, a man

named Eric, the Red, who lived in Iceland, committed a murder and was banished from the country. Eric took a few followers and left his home to find the land that Gunnbjorn had discovered. He reached Greenland and sailed up a little bay until he came to a pleasant grassy plain, and there he established his new abode. He called the country Greenland, for he thought, "This pretty name will surely bring others here to live." Later on, Eric went back to Iceland and brought over a colony of people who settled permanently. Others came over and gradually formed several little. settlements in the country.

Some time after this, Eric's son, Leif, the Lucky, who had become a Christian, determined to seek his father and tell him the story of the Gospel. Leif came to Greenland and after preaching the message started for the mainland to seek the heathen who were scattered along the shores. He reached the coast. of what is now Labrador and called the country Slateland. He then continued his voyage until he came to a region that was heavily wooded and this he called Markland or woodland. After a short stay at this place, Leif went farther south until he and his hardy seamen found a pleasant land where plenty of wild grapes grew, and to this new country he gave the name of Vinland.

This was perhaps the coast of New England or New Jersey. Leif spent the winter here and in the spring returned to Greenland

with a load of timber. Later another company led by Leif's brother made a settlement in New England, but these men fell into great difficulty with the natives; some of the Norsemen were killed, and the others returned to Greenland.

From time to time other attempts were made by the Norsemen to visit the new country, but no successful settlements were

made. By the time of

A NORSE SHIP.

Columbus's great voyage to the New World, there was little remembered of the land across the sea.

TOPICAL OUTLINE

I. Our Country.

I. Location.

2. Natural Advantages.

II. American Indians.

1. Origin.

2. Distribution.

3. Appearance.

4. Mode of Life.

5. Food.

6. Clothing.
7. Houses.

8. Warfare.

9. Religion.

10. Arts and Crafts.

II. Money.

III. The Norsemen.

1. Early Norse Explorations.

2. Norsemen Visit the New World.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Locate the United States, giving the general boundaries.

2. What are some of the natural advantages of this country?

3. How have the climate and resources of the United States aided in its development?

4. What is the supposed origin of the Indians?

5. How did they receive their name?

6. Name and locate the principal tribes.

7. Describe the appearance of the Indians.

8. Give an account of their mode of life.

9. What do you know of their government and religion?

10. Locate Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Labrador.

II. Who were the first Europeans to visit America? 12. Were these explorations important in history?

REFERENCES

Brigham: Geographic Influences in American History.

Semple: American History and Its Geographic Influences.

Coman: Industrial History of United States. (The Indians.)

Drake: American Indians.

Starr: The American Indians.

Gayarre: History of Louisiana, Vol. I. (Natchez Indians.) (The Norsemen.)

Fiske: Discovery of America, Vol. I.

Lilenjenzcrantz: The Thrall of Leif the Lucky.