38 THE BIRTH AND BRINGING-UP OF CHILDREN. 



Traders arid warriors who lived abroad among Christians 

 had to receive what was called the prime sign, which enabled 

 them to live among Christians without becoming baptized and 

 forsaking their ancient faith. These prime-signed men on 

 their return to their native land brought with them the first 

 notions of Christianity, and undoubtedly paved the way for 

 its final acceptance. 



" A man by name Toki came to King Olaf Haraldsson 

 The king asked him if he was baptized. Toki answered : 

 * I am prime-signed and not baptized, because I have been 

 in turn with the heathens and the Christians, though I 

 believe in Hvitikrist (the white Christ). My errand to 

 you is also that I want to be baptized and have the creed 

 which you preach, for I am not likely to get it from a better 

 man. The king was glad, when he wanted to be baptized and 

 serve God. Thereupon Toki was baptized by the king's hircl- 

 bishop and died in the white garments (of baptism) " (Flatey- 

 jarbok, ii. 137). 



" In the spring the brothers-in-law Thorgriin and Thorkel 

 made the ship of the eastmen ready for a voyage abroad, and 

 took it as their property. These eastmen had been very un- 

 ruly in Norway and there was no peace there. They went to 

 sea, and this same summer GisK and his brother-in-law Vesteiu 

 went abroad from Skeljavik in Steingrirn's fjord. Onund of 

 Medaldal managed the farm of Gisli and Thorkel, and Saka- 

 Stein that of Thorgrirn in Soebol, with the latter's wife, Thordis. 

 He was a near kinsman of Thorgrim. At this time Harald 

 Grafeld (gray skin) ruled over Norway. Thorgrim and Thorkel 

 landed north in Thrandheirn and there met the king, went 

 before him and greeted him, and he received them well ; they 

 became friendly with his men, and it was easy for them 

 to get property and honour. Gisli and his followers were at 

 sea more than a hundred days and landed in Hordaland, 

 during the winter-nights (first three nights of winter), in a 

 heavy snowstorm and violent gale. Their ship was broken 

 into chips, but they saved their property and lives. Skegg- 

 Bjalfi had a trading ship, and was going to Denmark. Gisli 

 wanted to buy half his ship from him, and he said he had 

 heard they were good men and sold them this half; they at 

 once gave him more than its value in property. They went 

 south to Denmark, to the trading town called Vebjorg (Viborg) ; 

 they stayed there during the winter with Sigrhadd ; they were 

 three together there, Gisli, Vestein, and Bjalfi ; they were good 

 friends and exchanged many gifts. At this time Christianity 



