12 



HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



decisive sea-fight of Hafursfiord, gave an impetus to Norse 

 colonisation which marked a new era in the history of the 

 Hebrides. These islands were admirably adapted for the 

 purposes of the colonists, whose means of livelihood during 

 the summer months was of a character which, in those 

 days, was considered to be not merely eminently respect- 

 able, but the only fitting occupation for him who aspired 

 to the name of warrior. The whole of the islands extend- 

 ing from the Shetlands to the Isle of Man were dominated 

 by the Scandinavians, and the Celtic inhabitants of the 

 Hebrides appear to have proved apt pupils in the Norse 

 school of piracy. 



The successive immigrations of the Norsemen to the 

 islands soon constituted a source of annoyance, if not of 

 danger, to the monarch whose iron rule had forced them 

 from the mother-country. Gaining confidence with their 

 increased numbers, they openly harassed the coasts of 

 Norway and, eluding pursuit, retired to the Scottish islands, 

 which afforded them ample security and protection from 

 attack. It was in vain that King Harald searched among 

 the isles and outskerries of the Norwegian coasts for 

 his tormentors ; the wary Vikings managed to escape his 

 vengeance by putting out to sea on his approach. The 

 King at length determined to extirpate these pests once 

 for all. Fitting out a powerful expedition, he set sail for 

 their haunts. The Shetlands were the first objective of his 

 attack. There, according to the terse phraseology of one 

 of the Sagas, he " slew all the Vikings who might not flee 

 from him." Proceeding to the Orkneys, he " cleared them 

 utterly of Vikings." Thereafter, the same account goes 

 on to say, " he sailed to the South Isles (Hebrides) and 

 harried there, and slew many Vikings who were captains 

 of bands there. There had he many battles, and ever 

 gained the day." After his clearance of the Hebrides, 

 Harald appears to have done some freebooting on his own 

 account, for we are told that before proceeding to the Isle 

 of Man, where the expedition terminated, " he harried in 

 Scotland." From this expedition of Harald Fairhair (or 



