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213 



" Gudleik Gerski (of Gardariki) was a native of Agdir ; he 

 was a great and rich trader and seafarer, who went on trading 

 journeys to various countries ; he often went to Gardariki, and 

 therefore was called Gudleik Gerski. One spring he prepared 

 his ship, as he wanted to go to Gardariki in the summer. 

 King Olaf sent him word that he wished to see him. When 

 Gudleik came, the king said he wished to enter into partner- 

 ship with him, and asked him to buy for him costly things 

 that were rare in Norway. Gudleik promised to do as he 

 wished. ... In the summer Gudleik went to Holmgard, and 

 there bought excellent pell (costly cloth), which he intended 

 for clothes of rank (tignarklcedi) for the king, and costly 

 skins, and an exceedingly fine table-service (bord-bunad) " 

 (St. Olaf, 04). J 



" Ingirmmd then said : ' Here I will show you, my lord, two 

 bear-cubs, which I captured in Iceland, and I wish that thou 

 wouldst accept them from me.' The king thanked him, and 

 promised that he would grant him permission to take timber. 

 During the winter they exchanged many presents, and in the 

 spring his ship was loaded with the cargo which he chose, and 

 the best timber that could be got. The king then said : ' I 

 see, Ingimund, that hereafter thou wilt not any more come to 

 Norway. Thou wilt need more timber than one ship can carry ; 

 here some ships are lying ; choose which of them thou likest,' 

 ' Choose for me, lord", that one which will bring most luck.' 

 Ingimund replied. ' I will, as I know best,' said the kini^. 

 ' Here is one called Stigandi? which bites the wind better 

 than any ship (sails better), and is more prosperous, too, 

 and that I will select for thee ; it is not large, but fine.' 

 Ingimund thanked him for the gift, and departed for Iceland, 

 where he soon arrived, and was received with joy by all." 

 (Vatnsdaela Saga, c. 16). 3 



"Eyvind (an Icelander) became a trader, and went to 

 Norway, and thence to other countries, and stopped in Mik- 

 ligard (Constantinople), where he obtained great honours 

 from the Greek king, and remained some time " (Hrathkel's 



Saga). 



" This summer a ship came from Norway to the Faroes ; the 

 steersman was called Rafn ; his kin was in Vik, and he owned 

 a house in Tiinsberg. He constantly sailed to Holmgard, and 

 was called Holmgardsfari. The ship came to Thorshofn ; when 



1 Cf. St. Obif, o. 143. 



2 Stigandi = the stepping one. 



3 Cf. Hroa Thatt 

 Landnamabdk. iii. 



Flateyjarbuk. ii. ; 



