2o-i TRADERS AND TRADING-SHIPS. 



" Only the value of the clothes or things which a man 

 owned and used every day shall be paid. If food is burned it 

 shall be paid. The value of costly things or wares shall not 

 be paid. A man's losses shall not be made good to him more 

 than three times" (i. 460). 



We have in the following passage an early reference to the 

 great fair of Novgorod : 



" One summer Harald (Fair-hair) called to him his dearest 

 favourite, Hauk habrok (= high-breech), and said : ' Now I am 

 free from all warfare and hostility in the land, and will lead a 

 life of ease and pleasure. I will send you into Eastern lands 

 this summer to buy for me some things that are costly and 

 rare here.' Hauk said he should be obeyed in this as in other 

 things, and the king allowed his men to go to various countries. 

 Hauk departed with one ship and a good body of followers, and 

 arrived east to Holmgard (= Novgorod) in the autumn as 

 the fair began, and went into winter quarters. Thither had 

 come many people from various lands, among them were the 

 champions of King Eirek from Uppsalir, Bjorn bluesidr 

 and Salgard serk (= shirt), overbearing and wronging every- 

 body. One day Hauk walked through the town with his men 

 to buy some costly things for his lord Harald, when he came to 

 where a man of Gardariki was sitting ; he saw a costly cloak all 

 over adorned with gold. This he bought, left and went for the 

 money. Before this, the same day, Bjorn had wanted to buy 

 this cloak for the King of the Swedes, and its value was given. 

 After Hauk had gone, the servant of Bjorn came and told the 

 trader that Bjorn must, of course, get the cloak, but he said 

 the matter was settled. The servant told Bjorn. Then Hauk 

 came with the money for the cloak, paid all, and took it away ' 

 (Flateyjarbok, i. 577). 



