S OF SLAVIC. 503 



took root in Denmark, and showed there to what a miserable 

 condition a free people can be gradually brought by not 

 watching over their liberties. 



There are in the Sagas numerous examples showing the con- 

 tempt in which the thrall was held ; his mark was closely 

 cropped hair, and his dress was of white vadmal, to distinguish 

 him from the free man. 



" Thrand said he had two young thralls to sell him. liafii 

 answered that he would not buy them before he saw them. 

 Thrand led forward the two boys ; their hair was cropped, and 

 they were in white coats (kulf) " (Flateyjarbok, i.). 



" Almstein thrall had many children. ' Now I think it is 

 thy kin, Ulf, as Almstein was thy grandfather, but I am 

 Halfdan's grandson ; thy family has got hold of the king's 

 property, as can be seen, by ale-service and other outfittings. 

 Now take here the white kirtle which my grandfather Half- 

 dan gave thy grandfather Almstein, and therewith take thy 

 family name, and be a thrall henceforth ; for it was decided at 

 the Thing, when Halfdan got a king's name, that thy grand- 

 father should wear the kirtle, and the mother of his children 

 came to the Thing, and all his children put on clothes of 

 the same kind, and all their offspring had to do the same.' 

 Harald had a white kirtle carried before the eyes of Ulf, and 



sang : 



Knowest thou this kirtle ? A pig and a fattened goose 



Thou hast to pay the Skjoldung a cow, Thou hast to pay the Skjolduug ; 

 And a full-grown ox Children and all which thou earnest 



Thou hast to pay the Skjoldung ; Thou hast to pay the Skjoldung." 



(Fornmanna Sogur vi., Harald Hardradi.) 



Captives in war formed the chief supply of slaves, who 

 consequently came from many different countries whither 

 expeditions were made, as Hunaland, Friesland, Valland 

 (France), Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, and other countries 

 on the shores of the Mediterranean. 



" When Egil went to Iceland from a journey to England, 

 Norway, and Yermaland, the district (south-western part 

 of Iceland) was all settled ; the first settlers were dead, but 

 their sons or grandsons dwelt there. Ketil Gufa had come to 

 Iceland when the land was much settled ; he was the first 

 winter at Gufuskalar in Eosrnhvalanes ; he had come from 

 Ireland across the sea, and had many Irish thralls with him ' ; 

 (Egil's Saga, c. SO). 



