CHAPTER XX. 



OCCUPATIONS AND SPORTS OF MEN. 



Honour in which work was held Kings superintend their own estates Im- 

 portance of fisheries Skill of the people in the working of iron, and in 

 shipbuilding The Thiele find Sports Falconry Retrievers and 

 hounds Dancing not a favourite amusement Chess and backgammon 

 Several varieties Costliness of chessboards Games with dice 

 Jugglers and buffoons Horsefights Parables and puzzles Gest's 

 riddles. 



PROMINENT chiefs did not disdain to take part in or super- 

 intend the work on their estates, and neither master, mistress 

 nor children of wealthy families were ever idle. 



''Harald Grcenski's son, Olaf, was fostered with his step- 

 father Sigurd Syr and his mother Asta. Hrani Vidforli (the 

 Wide-travelling) was with her, and fostered King Olaf Haralds- 

 son. Olaf soon became an accomplished man, fair of face, of 

 middle stature, and wise and eloquent. Sigurd Syr was a great 

 husbandman ; his men were always at work, and he often went 

 himself to look to the fields, meadows, and cattle, and to the 

 smithy, or wherever anything was going on " (St. Olaf, c. I). 1 



" King Olaf often stayed in the country on the large beer 

 which he owned. When he was at Haukboer in Eanriki, he 

 fell sick and died " (Olaf the Quiet's Saga, c. II). 2 



The well-to-do generally had a very large number of 

 servants, both free and thralls, to assist them in their work. 



" It is told that Gudmund Kiki was much superior to other 

 men in magnificence, and had 100 servants and 100 cows ; 

 it was his custom to have the sons of prominent men with 

 him, and he treated them well ; they had not to do any work, 

 but were always to sit with him, though it was their custom 

 when they were at home, high-born though they were, to 

 work " (Ljosvetninga Saga, c. 5). 3 



1 Cf. also Njala, cc. 44, 53. 



2 Cf. also Njala, cc. 44, 53, 111; 



Ragnar Lodbrok. 



* Cf. also Vatnsdsela, c. 22. 



