324 BURIALS. 



The ceremony was sometimes considered as an incitement 

 for the performer to avenge the dead. 



Hoskuld, an illegitimate son of Njal and Hrodny, was 

 attacked by six men on his way home and slain. Hrodny 's 

 shepherd found the corpse and told her. They went during 

 the night to Njal's farm, Bergthorshval. 



" Then they both walked to the house and knocked at the 

 door. A hiiskarl opened the door. She . . . went to Njal's 

 bed. She asked if Njal was awake. He answered : ' I have 

 slept till now, but now I am awake, and why art thoti here so 

 early ? ' She said : ' Rise from the bed of my rival and walk 

 out with me, with her, and with thy sons.' They rose and 

 went out. Skarphedin (Njal's son) said : ' Let us take our 

 weapons with us.' Njal said nothing ; they ran in and came 

 out armed with their weapons. Hrodny walked in front till 

 they came to the sheephouse. She went in and told them to 

 follow her. She took a creeping light (lantern) and said: 

 ' Here, Njal, is thy son Hoskuld. He has got many wounds 

 and now needs to be healed.' Njal said : ' I see marks of 

 death on him but no marks of life. Why hast thou not given 

 him nabjargir as his nostrils are open ? ' She answered : ' I 

 intended that for Skarphedin.' Skarphedin walked to the 

 corpse and performed the nabjargir. Then he said to his 

 father: ' Who, sayest thou, has slain him?' Njal answered: 

 ' Lyting of Samsstadir with his brothers has probably slain 

 him.' Hrodny said : 'I intrust it to thy hands, Skarphedin, 

 to avenge thy brother. I expect thou wilt do thyself honour 

 though he is not legitimate, and that thou wilt take the 

 revenge into thy hands ' ' (Njala, c. 98). 



Before putting a body in the mound liel shoes were put on 

 for the journey to Hell. 



" Thereafter Gisli and all his household made ready for the 

 mounding of Vestein, his brother-in-law. He intended to mound 

 him in the sand plain .... below Srebol. When they were 

 on their way with the corpse Thorgrim with many men joined 

 him. When they had made the mound Thorgrim godi walked 

 to Gisli and said : It is now the custom, brother-in-law, to tie 

 Hel-shoes on the feet of men before they are mound-laid. 

 For it was said that they (the shoes) should go to Hel when 

 the man was dead, and therefore a man who dresses much 

 when he goes out, or is long in dressing, is said to prepare for 

 Hel. Thorgrim said : I will do this with Vestein and tie the 

 Hel-shoes on his feet. When he had done it, he said : I know 



