THE FAMILY BOCK. 423 



were turned into a strong withy, and the twig rose and lifted 

 the king up to the limbs, and there he died " (Gautrek's Saga, 

 c. 1). 



Men occasionally sacrificed themselves by throwing them- 

 selves from cliffs so that they might be acceptable to Odin 

 and go to Valhalla. 



" Once King Gauti, of Vestr Gautland, was hunting and 

 lost his way ; he found a small farm where the people were 

 afraid of him. When he went to bed a girl came to him, and 

 'when he asked about her family she answered: 'My father 

 is called Skafnortung (pincher), because he is so stingy that 

 he cannot bear to see food or anything else which is his de- 



*/ 



crease ; my mother is called Totra (tattered), because she never 

 wants to wear any clothes but those which are worn and in 

 tatters ; she calls that thrift.' The king asked : 'What are the 

 names of thy brothers ? ' She answered : ' One is called Fjol- 

 modi, the second Imsigul, the third Gilling.' The king asked : 

 ' What art thou and thy sisters called ? ' She answered : ' My 

 name is Snotra, 1 because I was thought the wisest of us all ; my 

 sisters are called Hjotra and Fjotra. There is a rock close to 

 our farm called Giilingshamar, and near it a steep rock, which 

 we call zEtternisstapi (family rock) ; it is so high and so steep 

 that anything alive falling down from it is killed. We give 

 it the name ^Etternisstapi, because by its help we reduce 

 our family in number when it seems to us that some great 

 \\onders happen. All our forefathers died there without any 

 sickness, and then went to Odin ; we need not have any burden 

 or sulkiness from our fathers and mothers, for this place of joy 

 has been equally easy for all our kinsmen to get to ; we need not 

 live with loss of property, or want of food, or any other wonders 

 or portents that may happen. Now my father thinks it the 

 greatest wonder, that thou hast come to our house ; it would 

 have been a very uncommon thing even if a man of low birth 

 had taken food here ; but this is most strange that a king, 

 chilled and without clothes, has come to us, for that has never 

 before happened. To-morrow my father and mother intend to 

 divide the inheritance, among us their children ; they will then 

 with the thrall go down the ^Etternisstapi, and journey to 

 Valhalla. My father will reward the thrall for his goodwill, in 

 intending to drive thee from the door, with nothing less than 

 that he shall enjoy the happiness with him, for he is sure that 

 Odin will not go to meet the thrall unless he is in his company." 2 



One of the goddesses is also called 



Snotra. 



2 From this we learn that a serf must | 



be iu company with some one freeboru in 

 order to au to Odin. 



