Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 17, 1906.djvu/417

 Custom and Belief in Icelandic Sagas. 401

flourish side by side, on subjects of which we know nothing, especially in the case of death, where loss and affection keep the mind restless. The Valhalla notion belongs to the systematised religion of the Viking age ; yet it is clear that the primitive idea of continued existence in the howe, and of a man's wanting the same things after death as before it, continued in full force. He is buried in his clothes and weapons ; often in a ship ; once with his horse and tools ; once with a slave ; often with treasure, though this custom, as was natural, fell into decay. The following are the chief instances :

1. {EgiVs Saga, Syj.) They did with Thorolf's body

according to custom, and put up a memorial stone after him. (In Norway.)

First Quarter of the loth Century.

2. {Svarfdcela, before 910.) Thorstein took Thorolf's

body to Sweden, and borrowed an earl's hall to drink the arval. He laid Thorolf in the howe with much money to honour him, and the feast was held three nights, according to custom.

3. {lb.) Thorstein put his father Thorgnyr in the howe,

and much money.

4. {Landnama.) Geirmund was laid in a ship in a

wood not far from the house.

5. {EgiVs Saga, 925.) Egil took up Thorolf's body and

washed and prepared it according to custom. He was put in the grave with all his weapons and clothes, and Egil put a gold ring on each hand. Then they built it up with stones, and sprinkled it with earth.

6. {Floamaujia, 926.) Atli was howed as was then the

custom.

7. {Reykdcela, c. 925.) Eyvind was howed at HelgastaS.

8. {Lujidnama, c. 925.) Hafnar-Orm was howed on the

headland in front of the homestead at Hafn, where he first came to land.

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