INTRODUCTION. 
xii 
birth and great opulence, dreading the tyranny 
of Harald Hafalgar, conceived, together with 
his friend Hiorleif, the project of establishing 
themselves in Iceland, in pursuance of which 
plan, the former sailed in 870 , for the purpose 
of exploring its shores; but no settlement was 
made till the year 874, when they both emi¬ 
grated, accompanied by their respective families. 
In compliance with a religious custom, at that 
time prevalent among the Norwegians, Ingulf, 
on his approach to the coast, cast the door¬ 
posts of his house into the sea, that where¬ 
soever they were thrown on shore he might 
establish his infant colony. Being himself how¬ 
ever driven in a different direction from them, he 
was reduced to the necessity of landing upon a 
promontory, which to this day bears the name of 
Ingulfshofde, in the south-eastern part of the 
island, and it was not till three years afterwards 
that the door-posts were found on the shore of 
the bay where Reikevig now stands; to which 
spot Ingulf, with his family, immediately re¬ 
paired, and there built their habitation. Hiorleif, 
more averse to heathenish superstitions, fixed his 
abode at a place called Hiorleifshofde, and em¬ 
ployed himself in attending to the cultivation of 
the soil. He had, however, in the following year, 
the hard fate to be murdered by the treachery 
of some Irish servants whom he had brought with 
