: 



$£AFSEN AND POVELSEn's 



sally out according to their pleasure, and they were particularly 

 commanded not to strike them. They consequently considered 

 the mountain in question as a sacred place, and no one presumed 

 to look at it till he had washed his face and hands. The baili- 

 wick of Thorolf was also regarded as a sacred place, and served 

 as a hall for the administration of justice. Near this spot, at 

 Thiugvalle, is still to be seen their Rlodstein, or sacrificial stone, 

 on which they put to death their criminals. They were extended 

 across the stone, with the face upwards ; and the executioner, 

 after breaking their loins, cut their throat, and knocked thenr 

 on the head. W hen private parties had disputes on doubtful 

 subjects, they proceeded to HelgafeH to take advice ; for it was 

 supposed, that whatever should be decided there, would succeed 

 to the utmost. 



At HelgafeH was built one of the first churches erected in the 

 western part of Iceland. In 1183, or 1184, the convent of 

 Flatoe, which had already existed ten years, was transferred 

 thither. This rich convent was secularized at the -time of the 

 Reformation, and the ground belonging to it, which consisted 

 of a hundred pieces of land, was dismembered, and divided into 

 as many portions, on each of which were established from two 

 to four farms. Of this convent Glaus Magnus speaks, and as- 

 serts, that a considerable quantity of fish was amassed in it, and 

 sold to commercial foreigners. 



INNS OF THE ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTRY* 

 One cannot read without admiration, in the Landnarna-Saga, 

 of the zeal of the inhabitants of Sneefiaelds-Naes, for the pub- 

 lic good. They formed roads, and established inns, at which 

 all travellers were received, without paying any thing. The an- 

 nals above mentioned, take particular notice of two of these bins, 

 which were formerly in this canton. They were founded by two 

 women, one named Gerrid, and the other Thara. The same 

 order was observed in each : the tables were always well co- 

 vered, and ail strangers might eat gratuitously of what they af- 

 forded. These matrons used to seat themselves before their 

 doors, and solicit travellers to dismount from their horses, and 

 refresh themselves. An example of benevolence equally re- 

 markable, is that of a man named Soelve, who resided to the 

 south ®f the glacier : finding that he could not carry his 

 establishment to as great an extent as he wished, in the country 

 where he resided, he transferred his property to a place called 

 Salvohammer, and laid out a farm on the edge of a road, near 

 which all necessitous travellers were obliged to pass. A person 

 of distinction founded a similar establishment in the Norderadal, 

 beyond the SkagefiorcL This mans name was Thorbrand Oer- 



