other sagas. The most striking of these are also included in this collection.[1]
A.—Landing in Iceland.
1. A number of the early settlers carried with them the posts on either side of their "high seat" in the hall or temple (öndvegis súlur), and, on coming near to Iceland, threw these overboard, and afterwards settled where they found them on the shore. Among those mentioned are Ingolf (1. 6), Thorolf mostrarskegg (2. 12. Thor was carved on his[2]), Lodmund (4. 5), Thord skeggi (4. 7), and Hrollaug (4. 9). Kveldulf, who died on the voyage, ordered them to throw his coffin overboard and tell his son Grim to settle where it landed (i. 18). Flóki hallowed three ravens before leaving Norway (v. No. 12), and let them off when out at sea: the first flew backwards; the second up in the air and back to the ship again; the third forward in the direction of land (1. 2).
2. In some cases the settlers were directed beforehand where they were to find a home, as in the case of Orlyg, who was told by his foster-father Bishop Patrick, in the Hebrides, that he was to settle where he saw two fells from the sea, with a dale in each of the fells, and he was to take up his abode under the southmost of these, and there make a church and dedicate it to St. Columba.[3] Some accounts add that, as he was sailing along the coast, an iron bell fell overboard, and was found among the seaweed where he landed (i. 12). In other cases, wise-women were the directors or foretellers (v. No. 24).
B.—Beliefs connected with religion, heathen or Christian.
3. The famous Aud the wealthy "was buried between high and low water, as she had previously ordered, because, having
- ↑ A few of the quotations, along with similar passages from the Sagas, are given in Du Chaillu's Viking Age, vol. i, c. 20-22, etc.
- ↑ A longer account of Thorolf's pillars is given in Eyrbyggja Saga, C.4.
- ↑ Some of his friends are said to have believed in "Kolumkilla, though they were not baptised". (Hauksbook.)
