364 OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN. 



" Thorbjorn Skrjiip lived next to the farm of Thord in 

 Laxardal. He was wealthy, mostly in gold and silver ; he 

 was also large in stature and of great strength. . . . Hoskuld 

 bought a ship from a Shetlandrnan and equipped it, announc- 

 ing that he intended to go abroad, but would leave Jorun at 

 home to take care of the farm and their children. He set 

 sail. . . ." (Laxdasla, c. 11). 



Grettir had been captured, and they were going to hang 

 him. 



" Then they saw six men ride farther down in the valley ; 

 one of them was in coloured clothes. They guessed that 

 Thorbjorg, housewife at Vatnsfjord, was there, and so it was. 

 She was going to the saster (mountain pasture). She was a 

 highly accomplished woman, and very wise ; she ruled the 

 district, and settled all matters, when Vermund, her husband, 

 who was a godi, was not at home " (Gretti's Saga, c. 52). 



One summer, Thorodd, bondi at the farm Froda, in Iceland, 

 rose early one morning 



" And distributed work ; some took the horses, and the 

 women had to dry the hay, and the work was divided 

 between them. Thorgunna had to dry as much as the fodder 

 of a bull, and they did much work that day " (Eyrbyggja, 

 ch. 51). 



The mischief caused by gossiping women is occasionally 

 referred to. 



" The hall was 100 ells 1 long, and five fathoms broad ; to the 

 south of it was the room (dyngja) of Aud and Asgerd, and they 

 sat there sewing. Thorkel went thither and lay down near it. 

 Asgerd said : ' Help me, Aud, and cut a shirt for my bondi 

 Thorkel.' And answered : ' I know no better than thvself 

 how to do that, and thou wouldst not ask me if thou hadst to 

 make one for niy brother Vestein.' Asgerd replied : ' What 

 concerns Vestein is a thing by itself; and thus it will be for 

 some time ; but I love him more than my husband Thorkel, 

 though we may never enjoy each other.' Aud added : ' I knew 

 long ago what Thorkel thought about it, and how it went ; let 

 us talk no more of it.' Asgerd said : ' I think it no fault that 

 I love Vestein, but I heard that thou and Thorgrim often met 

 before thou wast married.' Aud replied : ' No harm was in 



1 1 dl = 2 feet. 





