1 86 Norway and the Norwegians 



in the Salten Fjord in Halogaland (Nordland) — it lies 

 about opposite the southern end of the Lofotens — when 

 he sought to carry the new faith into those far northern 

 countries. There are, on the other hand, accounts of 

 excessive cruelties practised by Olaf upon individuals 

 who resisted all gentler persuasion. But we may be- 

 lieve that these stories are not authentic. 



It is certain, however, that Olaf proceeded in a suffi- 

 ciently high-handed fashion. Not content with the con- 

 version of Norway, he accomplished that of the Orkneys 

 and Shetlands and of the Faroes. Finally, he looked to 

 Iceland, and sent thither a strange sort of missionary, one 

 Thangbrand, a Saxon priest, ' a passionate, headstrong 

 man, and a great man-slayer.' Thangbrand came to 

 Iceland, and obtained the countenance and assistance 

 of one of the leading men of the country called Hall of 

 Side. Njal, too, the hero of the Njals Saga, accepted 

 baptism, as did many others. There is a curious 

 account of the proceedings of Thangbrand and his 

 companion Gudleif in the Njals Saga. The two mis- 

 sionaries seem to have challenged every man who would 

 not accept the new faith ; and the slaying of one of the 

 great chiefs of the country was taken very ill by his 

 kin at the Thing assembled. Hall, however, and Njal 

 stood by Thangbrand. If it was a woman whom he 

 encountered, a ' sorceress,' i.e. a spaewife of the old 

 heathen kind, Thangbrand tried with her a battle 

 of words. 



' Hast thou heard,' said one of these, ' how Thor 

 challenged Christ to single combat, and how he did not 

 "dare to fight with Thor ? ' 



' I have heard tell,' said Thangbrand, ' that Thor was 



