362 ALTARS, TEMPLES, HIGH-SEAT PILLARS, ETC. 



there came a breeze ; they sailed westward past Snjofellsnes and 

 into the fjord ; they saw it was very broad and long, with very 

 high mountains on both sides. Thorolf named it Breidifjord 

 (broad fjord). Jie landed on the southern side, nearly at 

 its middle, and laid the ship in the bay, which they afterwards 

 called Hofs-vag. They searched the shore, and found on the 

 point of a ness north of the bay that Thor had there landed 

 the pillars. The ness was called Thorsness. After this Thorolf 

 went with fire around the land which he took up from 

 Staia (river) to the river which he called Thorsa, and 

 there settled his ship's crew. He raised a large .house at 

 Hofs-vag which he called Hofstadir. There he had a large 

 temple built ; there was a door on the side wall, near the one 

 end ; inside stood the high-seat pillars, and pegs were in 

 them ; they were called regin naglar. Inside this there was 

 a great peace-place ; in the innermost part of the temple was 

 a room like the choirs in churches now, and a platform was 

 raised on the middle of the floor like an altar, on which there 

 lay a jointless ring weighing two ounces, and on this all oaths 

 had to be sworn. The temple priest had to \vear that ring on 

 his arm at all meetings" (Eyrbyggja, c. 4). 



After Ingimund had departed from Norway for Iceland he 

 landed at Borgarfjord. He was met by Grim and Haniund, 

 the former of whom invited him to remain with him, and take 

 whatever he wanted, whether real or portable property. For 

 the offer Ingimund thanked him, but said he would only 

 remain over winter, and in the spring would go to look for the 

 place he intended to settle on. The following summer he 

 wandered about, and in the autumn took winter quarters in a 

 valley called Vididal, at a place which was afterwards named 

 Ingiinundarholl. 



" When spring came and the snow began to melt on the 

 mountain sides Ingimund said, ' I should like some men to go 

 up on a high mountain to look if there is less snow in other 

 places, for I clo not think we will settle in this valley, for it is 

 not an equal bargain.' They went up on a high mountain and 

 saw far away. They returned and told him that the mountains 

 on the north-west were very snowless, and soon they were all 

 on their way thither. As they approached the Vatnsda! 

 valley Ingimund recognised it from the description given by 

 the Fins ; and when they came to the Vatnsdal river Vigdis 

 said ' I must rest a little while, for I feel sick.' She gave 

 birth to a girl who was named Thordis, after Ingimund's 



