60 THE ARVEL, OR INHERITANCE FEAST. 



to the country in which the man died unless the heir came to 

 claim it. 



" If English (Enskir) men die here or those whose language 

 or tongue is not known here, then the law does not require 

 that their inheritance be sent out of the country, unless a 

 father or son or brother of the deceased has been in this 

 country and claims it. The inheritance of foreigners received 

 here by law need not be given up except to the heir " (Gragas, 

 i. 224). 



" King Svein held this feast in Eingstadir, and took great 

 pains that nothing should be wanting to render it more splendid 

 than any before it. The Jomsvikings came on the first day, and 

 King Svein welcomed with great kindness Sigvaldi jarl and 

 all his men. According to old custom the arvel had to be held 

 during the year in which the person died for whom the arvel 

 was made, but the man who gave it could not occupy the high- 

 seat of him from whom he inherited until the arvel was drunk. 

 On the first evening of the arvel many horns were to be filled, 

 as is now done with memorial cups, and there they drank in 

 honour of their mightiest kinsmen, or of Thor and other gods 

 in the heathen times. The horn of Bragi was to be filled last 

 then he who gave the arvel was to make a vow at it, and also 

 all who were at the feast, after which the heir could sit down 

 in the seat of the man for whom the arvel was made, and there- 

 after enjoy his inheritance and honour" (Fagrskinna, ch. 55). 



