94 



OLAFSEN AND POY£LSEN ? S 



bhshment of Christianity. From time immemorial, superstitious 

 means were employed in Iceland for the cure of diseases. To 

 bleed, letting a small quantity of blood, and then closing the 

 puncture ; to cure those possessed by exorcising the evil spirits ; 

 and for similar purposes, such magic was constantly adopted. 

 There was a certain invocation or formula adhered to for each 

 respective purpose ; which was accompanied by the ringing of 

 bells, the ornamenting of the altars, and the distribution of sacred 

 bread, wine, water, incense, &c. 



In more modern times they adopted other methods ; such as 

 forming a cross with the fingers, by disposing them in different 

 ways : making use of the bread and wine employed at the altar ; 

 reciting prayers or psalms, and wearing them in writing on the 

 breast : to all of which they attributed curative virtues. We 

 find here but few traces of divination ; though there may be re- 

 marked some vestiges of chiromancy, and several copies of the 

 figures and hieroglyphics which relate to that art. There are 

 likewise several ancient writings on astrology ; and the most il- 

 literate of the people believe that there is no disease or evil 

 which such superstitious juggling cannot remove : they entertain 

 similar ideas of the supernatural virtues of certain plants and 

 stones, as well as of various remedies derived from the animal 

 kingdom. Most of these absurd opinions seem to have origi- 

 nated from false translations of foreign books, which were in- 

 troduced in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries ; and which 

 were approved by the clergy, who themselves adhered most ri- 

 gidly to their contents. 



Black magic is that which is generally described by the word 

 necromancy, as it is supposed to be effected by the aid of 

 evil spirits. In ancient times it was much practised in Nor- 

 way, but it has not been known in Iceland for more than 

 two centuries. It is effected in two different ways, viz. by magi- 

 cal characters, and by poetry ; but in great operations they join 

 both together. In the histories of Eddtn and Sn. Sturhson, we 

 learn that Odin was the first and greatest philosopher of the 

 .North; which is confirmed in several other annals, that mention 

 all the ceremonies which he practised. These two kinds of magic 

 were not merely in vogue in the times of paganism, but existed 

 long after the introduction of Christianity. - 



OF THE MAGIC IN THE TIME OF PAGANISM. 



The word Blot signifies, in the North, the religion of the 

 pagans. They adored idols, and made sacrifices to them in 

 order to obtain their wishes ; and this idolatry was tolerated by 

 the laws. The greatest evil was, that they intermixed magic with 

 their religious ceremonies. This idolatry was connected with 



