516 THE THING. 



affairs, and every Fylki was independent one from the other, 

 each having self-government. When the affairs of the country 

 required the presence of all the people, then the bcendr of 

 the Herads and Fylki met together at a general Thing called 

 Allslierjar-tliing (Thing of all the hosts), and all had to abide 

 by the decision taken. In fact the country was a union of 

 states bound together for mutual protection ; but they felt that 

 a general government was not able in all things to attend to 

 the affairs of each Herad or Fylki, and could not know the 

 wants of the people, as the majority of those who would have 

 had the management of affairs lived far from them, and many 

 had never seen other Herads or Fylki than their own. The 

 nearest approach to this ancient form of government is that 

 of the United States. 



When we say that the Thing was the assembly of the people, 

 we must qualify the expression, for only boendr (or free men) 

 who owned land had a voice in the deliberations. The sons 

 and other relations of these boendr, or free men, who did not 

 own land had no voice whatever in the affairs of the country. 

 The Thingmen were followed by a more or less large retinue, 

 according to their rank or wealth. 



All the boendr of the Herad were bound to appear at the 

 Herads-thing on pain of fine, unless a bondi had such a small 

 farm as to be einvirki (sole worker). These latter were not 

 obliged to appear at any other Thing than (1) Konungs-thing, 

 i.e. a Thing summoned by the king himself ; (2) Manndrdps- 

 thing, i.e. a Thing in consequence of a murder ; (3) Manntals- 

 thing, i.e. a Thing for the equalization of the tax ; and (4) Vdpna- 

 thing, i.e. a Thing to examine if every man possessed the 

 weapons prescribed by law. All members of the Thing accord- 

 ing to law had an equal vote. 



The summons was by sending out a Thingbod (Thing-sum- 

 mons), or, in case of murder, an or (arrow) throughout the whole 

 Thing-district ; the summons or arrow was sent from farm to 

 farm, and called upon all Thing-men to meet at the usual Thing- 

 place, generally the fifth day after the issue of the summons. 



" livery man who thinks a Thing necessary may have one. 

 Every man shall carry the summons and not drop it. It shall 



