212 TRADERS AND TRADING-SHIPS. 



this, and said they would willingly give silver to honour the 

 king rather than stay there to their disadvantage. This plan 

 was adopted, and the silver collected " (Faereyinga Saga, c. 3). 



The trading ships, with very few exceptions, were free from 

 the attacks of the Vikings, as plundering a merchant vessel 

 at sea seems to have been considered unmanly. They were 

 unlike the war vessels which we have described, and the general 

 name given to these Kaup-skip (trading ships) shows that the 

 distinction was easily recognised. They were neither orna- 

 mented with dragons nor with shields, and the war pennant 



was missing. 



We find them mentioned under their different names 

 viz., Knurr, Kugg, Byrding (ship of burden), Vistabyrding 

 (provision ships), and Haf-skip (deep-sea ship) ; there were 

 also smaller or less important ones, among them even ferry- 

 boats. Byrdings (ships of burden), the real cargo-carrying 

 vessels, are frequently mentioned. 



" One day when Asmund was rowing through a Sound, a 

 byrding sailed towards them ; it was easily recognised, for it 

 was painted on the bows with white and red ; the sail was 

 striped " (St. Olaf, 132). 



Trade was considered a high calling. Even the sons of kings 

 did not despise it ; Harald Fairhair's son Bjorn was a great 

 Farman (seafarer) and Kaupman (trader, merchant). 



" King Harald's son, Bjorn, ruled over Vestfold, and resided 

 chiefly in Tiinsberg, but seldom engaged in warfare. To 

 Tiinsberg came many traders, both from around Vikin and 

 from the country to the north, from the south from Denmark 

 and Saxland. King Bjorn also had trading-ships sailing to 

 various countries, and thus procured himself precious things, 

 and other goods which he needed. His brothers called him 

 trading-man, or taring-man. Bjorn was wise and quiet, and 

 was thought likewise to be a good chief" (Fornmanna Sogur, 

 vol. i.). 



Even kings sometimes entered into partnership with traders. 

 Ingiinimd, who had fought on the side of Harald Fairhair, 

 but who had settled in Iceland, came to Norway. 



