MAGICAL RUNES, ETC. 441 



the seid-woman, Huld, and sent Visbur, their son, to Sweden. 

 Drifa made a bargain with the seid-woman, Huld, that she 

 should get Vanlandi by seid to Finnland, or slay him. When 

 the seid was performed Vanlandi was at Uppsalir ; thereupon 

 he wished to go to Finnland, but his friends and advisers pre- 

 vented him from going, and said that his wish was owing to 

 the witchcraft of the Finns " (Ynglinga, c. 16). 



Mai was a name given to magical characters, runes, &c., 

 which were inlaid upon weapons, and which were believed to 

 enable their owners to hold others spell-bound. 



" Thorgrim Nef dwelt at Nefstadir, near the Haukadal 

 river. He was versed in witchcraft and magic, and a very 

 great wizard. Thorgrim and Thorkel invited Thorgrim Nef to 

 their home, for they had a feast. Thorgrim was skilled in iron 

 work. The three went together to the smithy, and thereupon 

 shut the door. The pieces of the sword Grasida (grey-side), 

 which Thorkel got at the division of property between himself 

 and his brother, were taken, and from these Thorgrim made a 

 spear, which was finished at night. Ornaments (mal) were 

 inlaid on it " (Gisli Sursson's Saga). 



Witchcraft-knowing women were accustomed to rub with 

 their hands the whole body of the man who was to go to war 

 or fight ; by this means they found the most vulnerable part 

 of the body, for they believed that on this place they could 

 find a knot which was supposed to be the spot that was to be 

 wounded, and if they found such a knot they had a special 

 protection made for it. 



" Helga's foster-mother used to touch men (with her hands) 

 before they went into a fight; she did this with Ogmund 

 before he left, and said she did not find a vulnerable spot " 

 (Kormak i.). 



" It is told that Hroi gathered men and got 30 before he 

 left ; his foster-mother wanted to touch his body with her 

 hands before he went from home, and thought she knew then 

 best how he would succeed. She found a vulnerable point 

 on his foot, but in other places she was satisfied " (Veniunds 

 Saga, c. 5). 



The champion Thormod came very often to talk with the 

 widow's daughter against Grima's will. Then she sent a man, 

 Kolbak, to lie in ambush for Thormod one evening. 



