Q: WHAT is the difference between a sedan and a palanquin? - J Anderson, Houghton-le-Spring.

A: SEDANS and palanquins are very similar although palanquins are normally called litters. A sedan is a kind of portable chair which is usually enclosed and elaborately decorated. They originated in the East and were introduced to England in 1634 by Sir Sanders Duncombe, who was granted a 14-year royal patent to sell them in England. Sedans proved popular because they were an alternative to the overcrowded coaches of the time.

Litters, called palanquins in the Orient, are similar to sedans, but they are portable beds or couches rather than chairs. They are thought to have been adapted from special kinds of sledges and they have a very long history. Ancient Egyptian paintings depict litters and the Persians are also known to have used them. In the Bible they are mentioned in the Old Testament in the Book of Isaiah. Sedans and litters are normally associated with the wealthy and their use was limited to the wives of emperors and senators in Ancient Rome.

Q: IT IS said that the Vikings were the first to discover America and I have also heard that there was a Welsh settlement in America in early times. Is there any truth in either of these stories? - Catherine Ridley, Newton Aycliffe.

A: OF course the first people to discover America were the native Americans who entered the continent from Asia at least 20,000 years ago. As for the European discovery of America, the story of Leif Eriksson's visit is quite well known and is recorded in the Viking sagas.

Eriksson visited America around 1000AD although he was not the first Viking to sight the American mainland. That honour belongs to Bjarni Herjulfsson who first recorded its existence in 986AD.

Eriksson had heard of Herjulfsson's sighting and set off with a crew of 35. Sailing southward along the American coast from the Canadian Arctic, he named three areas from north to south - Helluland, Markland and Vinland. Eriksson and his men built houses in Vinland and set off to explore before returning to Greenland months later.

Eriksson's brother Thorvald led a new expedition in 1003 and stayed for two years. This was followed by further expeditions around 1004 or 1010 under Thorfinn Karlsfeni. The last recorded Viking visit to America (Vinland) was by Eric the Red's daughter in 1013 and this proved to be unsuccessful.

The early Welsh connection with America is regarded by many as a legend. The story concerns Madog Ab Owain, the 13th Century son of Owain, Prince of Gwynedd. Madog was involved in a dispute with his brother over the distribution of land and fled to Ireland and then further west. He returned a year later and is said to have reached the Missouri River. The settlers are said to be the ancestors of a reputed Welsh-speaking "Indian" tribe in Kentucky.

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