A whale in the fiord Ameralik. (D. B. 1903) 
Chapter IX. 
The decay of the Norse colonies. 
he Greenland republic continued to exist as such until the year 
1261. Almost coincident with the Icelanders, who on account of 
violent mutual contentions, had to surrender themselves to the rule of 
the Norwegian King HAAKON THE ANCIENT, the Greenlanders also acknow- 
ledged him as their hege lord. 
In the year 1257 three Norwegians travelled to Greenland so as to 
bring about a peaceful subjection, and they actually succeeded in making 
the Greenlanders render homage to the king. 
That this could take place bears witness to the fact that the con- 
ditions of Greenland already at this juncture were not so good. 
The Greenland people were obliged to pay taxes, also promise to pay 
fines to the king for the man-slaughter, which took place in their country, 
whether they were Norwegians or Greenlanders who were killed, and 
whether the deed was achieved in the settlements or the northern 
summer resorts. In consequence of the subjection BARD STURLA chanted, 
that the king reigned over such a kingdom as no other king had ruled 
before, and that his glory spread there where the sun no longer shone. 
In Greenland they submitted to obey the Icelandic laws, and from 
the year 1281, the written Icelandic book of law, “Jénsbook”’ is said to 
have been in force, in Greenland. Like Iceland, Greenland still had in 
the 14th century its legislative assembly and was probably devided 
into jurisdictions. 
But the qualifications for the thriving of the colonies became much 
slighter than formerly, and the conditions of livelihood became more 
ТАИТ. 9 
