X1Y 
INTRODUCTION. 
m 
the first settlers was a mixture of aristocracy smd 
democracy. Of every new colony that arrived, 
the principal person appropriated to himself a 
large spot of land, which he divided afterwards 
among himself and his companions, whose cMef 
he continued to be, under the name of Gddi. 
The tumults, however, and enmities, inseparable 
from such a state of society, soon prevailed to a 
dreadful degree among the neighboring leaders, 
till, to prevent as much as possible the con¬ 
tinuance or increase of these injurious conflicts, 
a person was chosen in the year 928, with the 
title of Langsaugumadur, and great power arid 
dignity were annexed to the office. He was 
the public speaker, the judge in all intricate 
cases, and had the charge of promulgating 
through the island all new laws that had been 
approved and determined upon by the people; 
but he held his place no longer than he preserved 
the public confidence. Notwithstanding this, it 
was still found impossible to maintain peace and 
order among so many chiefs, who were all of the 
same rank, but unequal in power. Frequent 
battles occurred of a serious nature, and the 
Sturlunga-Saga speaks of a bloody engagement 
with twenty vessels carrying thirteen hundred 
men, which so weakened the contending parties 
that the whole power became at last an easy prey 
to a few arbitrary and enterprising men, who, as 
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life 
