Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/154

 146 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. far from being observed as it should be in Numedal, and the interior of Drontheim. There was a man by name Harek, a son of Eyvind Skaldaspiller, who dwelt in an island called Thiotto in Halogaland. Ey- vind had not been a rich man, but was of high family and high mind. In Thiotto, at first, there dwelt many small bonders ; but Harek began with buying a farm not very large, and lived on it, and in a few years he had got all the bonders that were there be- fore out of the way; so that he had the whole island, and built a large head-mansion. He soon became very rich ; for he was a very prudent man, and very successful. He had long been greatly respected by the chiefs ; and being related to the kings of Norway, had been raised by them to high dignities. Harek' s father's mother, Gunhild, was a daughter of Earl Halfdan, and of Ingeborg, Harald Haarfager's daugh- ter. At the time the circumstance happened which we are going to relate he was somewhat advanced in years. Harek was the most respected man in Halo- galand, and for a long time had the Lapland trade, and did the king's business in Lapland*; sometimes alone, sometimes with others joined to him. He had not himself been to wait on King Olaf, but mes- sages had passed between them, and all was on the most friendly footing. This winter that Olaf was in Nidaros, messengers passed between the king and Harek of Thiotto. Then the king made it known that he intended going north to Halogaland, and as far north as the land's end ; but the people of Halo- galand expected no good from this expedition. Chapter Olaf rigged out five ships in spring, and had with CXI of the ' him about 300 men. When he was ready for sea he people of set ou t northwards along the land ; and when he came Halojia- land. Laplanders, — has in all ages been a profitable office bestowed by the king.
 * Receiving the scatt paid in skins or furs by the Finns, — that is, the