300 DRESS OF WOMEX. 



Girls wore the hair, when long, wrapped round their belt ; 

 widows also wore their hair hanging down. Long yellow hair, 

 and a delicate complexion, were considered essentials of 

 beauty. 



Bui once went to Dofrafjoll (Dovrefjeld) on an errand for 

 King Harald Fairhair, and there met a woman of large stature. 



" She was fair to look at, and dressed in a red kirtle, orna- 

 mented all over with lace ; she wore a broad silver belt ; she 

 wore her long and fine hair loose, as is the custom of maidens ; 

 she had beautiful hands, and many gold rings on them" 

 (Kjalnesinga Saga, c. 13). 



Ermingerd, a queen in Valland, at a feast which she gave 

 to Kognvald jarl, 



" came into the hall with many women. She had in her 

 hand a driiiking-vessel of gold, and was dressed in the finest 

 clothes ; her hair was loose, as is the custom of maidens, and 



Fig. 1172. Bone comb, a little less than \ real size, found in a round tumulus, 

 with an iron kettle, glass beads, charcoal, and burnt bones. 



on her forehead she had placed a golden band " (Orkneyinga 

 Saga, p. 280). 



" Helga was so beautiful, that wise men say she was the 

 most beautiful woman in Iceland. Her hair was so long that 

 it could cover her whole body, and was as fine as gold ; no 

 match was then thought equal to her in the whole of Borgar- 

 fjord and many other places " (Gunnlaug Orrnstunga, c. 4). 



" Then Hallgerd was sent for, and came with two women. 

 She wore a blue woven mantle (vefjarmottuT), and under it a 

 scarlet kirtle with a silver belt ; her hair reached down to her 

 waist on both sides, and she tucked it under her belt " (Njala, 

 c. 13). 



When Gimnar went to the Althing he met the widow 

 Hallgerd, daughter of Hoskuld, who 



" was dressed in a red ornamented kirtle, and over it a 

 scarlet cloak ornamented with lace down to the skirt. Her 

 long and fair hair reached down to her bosom " (Njala, c. 33). 



