TRAVELS IK ICELAND, 



95 



various objects. Disa blot consisted in sacrificing to a goddess 

 called Discn, to whom they attributed the power of deciding 

 the fate of mortals. Their Aha blot was a sacrifice to the 

 spirits of rivers and fields, in order that they might succeed in 

 their culture, or that misfortune might fall upon those of an 

 enemy. The most ancient and terrible species of magic was 

 called Seidur; and was effected by fire, poetry, and singing: 

 by this means those who were present, and even absent, who 

 were the objects of the mysteries, became as it were bewitched, 

 mad, and overwhelmed with misfortune. Sit. Sturleson says, 

 that Odin himself disapproved of this vile and dangerous art, 

 which could not fail to displease the gods, as well as the moral 

 part of mankind. It was after this that they ceased to make 

 sacrifices to the idols ; which proves that magic, even in pagan 

 times, was held in abhorrence by all persons capable of reflection. 

 They particularly detested the Seidur ; and Harald Haarfagar 

 caused his own son to be burnt, as well as his partisans, on being 

 convicted of having formed a society for practising this art. 

 It is forbidden in the most ancient laws of Iceland and the 

 North. The ordinary punishment inflicted on those who exer- 

 cised it, was to enclose them in a sack, stone them to death, 

 burn the corpse, and throw the ashes into the sea. In generat 

 they burned the sorcerer or magicians, and scattered their allies 

 before the wind ; in order, as they asserted, that they might not 

 return to torment the living. For in that time they had belief in 

 the appearance of ghosts ; doubtless because Odin boasted that 

 his art enabled him to make the dead appear, and that he had 

 even learnt in what manner to lay spirits. But it is known that 

 these ridiculous ideas likewise took root during the barbarous 

 ages in all other nations ; and no person is ignorant of the tales 

 about goblins. The more learned men in Iceland at the period 

 in question employed themselves in writing on this subject, and 

 several of their dissertations still remain. 



OF THE MAGIC IN THE EARLIEST TIMES OF CHRIS- 

 TIANITY. 



The magic of the early christian ages was the same as that of 

 pagan times, and was practised only in secret : it was in use as 

 much in Iceland as in Norway ; and the magicians made choice 

 of the few nights that preceded any grand festival, to perform 

 their operations. This kind of magic is called in the ancient code 

 of northern laws Uteseter ; which means u outside the house." 

 Odin himself practised it, and Sn. Sturleson mentions this re- 

 markable circumstance respecting it. Those who perf ormed their 

 incantations yi the open air were supposed to converse with spirit? 

 -who commonly advised them to do ill ° f on which account they 



