42 TIIK BIRTH AND BRINGING-VP OF CHILDREN. 



child in a covered grave ; but the most common was to leave 

 the death or life of the child to fate, by exposing it in an out- 

 of-the-way place ; for instance, between heaped-up stones, or 

 in a hollow under the root of a tree, but making it tolerably 

 secure against wild animals. Sometimes nourishment, mostly 

 pork to suck, was given, in order to prolong its life, in case any 

 one might possibly find it and take pity on it. 



" Thorkatla, Asgrirn's wife, bore a boy, and he ordered it to 

 be exposed. The thrall who was to dig the grave whetted a 

 hoe, and laid the boy on the floor. Then they heard the boy 



sing 



Let me get to my mother, You need not whet the iron, 



It is cold for me on the floor, Nor cut the turf, 



What is fitter for a boy Leave this hideous work, 



Than his father's arms. I shall live yet with men. 



(Landnama V. c. 6.) 



Thereupon the boy was water-sprinkled, and named Thorstein." 

 The custom of exposing children was so deeply rooted in the 

 minds of the people that Christianity itself could not at first 

 prevent it from taking place. 



" It was then made law, that all men of the country should 

 become Christians, and such as were not baptized should be so. 

 But in regard to child exposure and the eating of horseflesh 

 the old law was to stand ; men would be allowed to sacrifice in 

 secret, if they wished to, but became outlaws if witnesses saw 

 it" (Islendingabok, c. 7). 



" Sigvat skald and other Icelanders were with King Olaf as 

 has been told. Olaf enquired carefully how Christianity was 

 kept in Iceland. He thought it was very badly kept when they 

 told him that it was allowed by the laws to eat horseflesh and 

 expose children as the heathens used to do " (St. Olaf s Saga, 

 c. 56). 



It was the general custom among the chiefs and other 

 leading men not to have the children reared at home, but to 

 have them educated with some distinguished friend for the 

 future duties of life. Those who received them were bound to 

 treat them as their own children, with love and kindness ; and 

 there are many examples in the Sagas of the great love of the 

 foster-parents for their foster-children. 



