North cape, Iceland (photo.) 
Chapter I. 
Eric the Red’s Youth in Iceland. 
Br years are a comparatively short time for the develop- 
ment of the human race, although an endless time, for the living 
generation to look back on. 
For more than a thousand years ago when the people of Denmark 
and Sweden were collected each under their own king, and Norway 
was about to become a realm, /celand was still uninhabited, whilst 
the Faroe Islands had been discovered by Irish hermits who here 
sought a refuge from the persecution of the Vikings. Very soon these 
hermits fouud their way to Iceland, settling down on the island of Parey 
and Sıpa, a beautiful part of the country along the south and south 
east coast. Only a short time they were allowed to live here in peace 
as the Norsemen followed in their wake, partly driven from home on 
account of political circumstances. When King HAROLD FAIRHAIR, after 
the battle of Hafrsfiord (near Stavanger) had assigned the whole of 
Norway, the freeborn, liberty loving Norwegian chiefs, accompanied by 
a few Swedes and Danes with their thralls, began to emigrate on their 
ships taking their domestic animals and valuables along with them. 
Iceland became fully inhabited in the socalled “Landndmséldin” 
(time of colonization) (874—930) as the Faroe Islands had been taken 
in possession by the Norwegians. 
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