Part #2

        Thorhadd was a son of Stein muchsailing, the son of Vigbjod, the son of Bodmod, from Bulkarum; he settled Hitdale, southward to Grjota river, and westward to Kalda (= the cold stream), and between Hita and Kalda (= the hot stream and the cold stream), down to the sea. His son was Thorgeirr, the father of Hafthor, the father of Gudny, the mother of Thorlak the Rich, the father of Thorleif beiskaldi, the father of Thorleik, the father of Ketil, the father of Valgerd, the mother of the Narvisons, Thorlak and Thord, to wit. The sons of Thorgeir were Grim in Skard, and Thorurin, Finnbogi, Eystein, Gest and Torfi. Thorgils knappi, the freedman of Kolli, the son of Hroald, settled Knappidale; his sons were Ingjald and Thorarin, and Thorir, who dwelt at Akrar, and got for his own land between Hita and Alpta (= the hot river and the swan river), and up until it joined the landtake of Steinolf. The son of Thorarin was Thrand, who married Steinun, the daughter of Hrut, at Kambness. Their sons were Thorir and Skum, the father of Torfi, the father of Janni. His son was Hrut, who married Kolfinn, the daughter of Illugi the Black. Now have those men been recounted who settled in the landtake of Skallagrim.

Grim draws up a mereman (marmennil) while fishing which he compels to foretell place for settlement. First appearance of Volcano Eld-borg to Thorir his son in old age.

Chapter V. There was a man named Grim, the son of Ingjald, the son of Hroald, from Haddingdale; he was the brother of Asi, a hersir. He went to Iceland to seek for settlement, and sailed by the north of the land; he was for one winter in Grimsey, in Steingrimsfirth; his wife was named Bergdis, and their son Thorir. Grim went out to fish in the Autumn with his housecarles and the lad. Thorir lay in the prow and was in a seal-bag which was drawn together at the neck. Grim drew up a mereman and when he came up asked him "What do you foretell shall be our fortune, or where shall we settle in Iceland? The mereman answered, "No need to tell the fortune of you and your men, but rather of the lad that lays in the seal bag, he shall there settle and take land where Skalm your mare lays down under her load," and no more words got they from him. Later in the winter Grim and his men rowed out, but the lad was upon land; then the whole crew was lost. Then Bergdis and Thorir went about spring-time from Grimsey, and westward over the Heath to Breidafjord (= Broadfirth); there Skalm went before them and never laid down. Another winter they were at Skalmness, in Breidafjord, and in the summer after they turned south, then Skalm went before them until they came off the Heaths to Borgfjord, unto a spot where two red sandhills (16) stood before them. There Skalm laid down under the westernmost sand hill, under her load. There Thorir took land from the south of Gnupa to Kalda (or Coldstream), down below Knappadale, between fell and foreshore; he dwelt at Raudamel (17) the westernmost. He was a great Chieftain.
        Then was Thorir old and blind, when once he went out late one evening and saw how a man rowed up from the offing into the mouth of Kalda (cold stream), in an iron tub, great and evil looking, and walked aland there up to the homestead called Hrip, and set to digging there in the gate of the milking-stead, and in that night there came earth-fire (volcanic eruption), and then the Borg lava was created by fire, and there stood the dwelling where now is the volcanic hill Eld-borg. (18)
        The son of Selthoris was Thorfin, who married Jofrid, the daughter of Tunga Odd, their sons were Thorkel and Thorgils, Stein and Galti, Orm and Thororm and Thorir. Steinn Thorfinson was the father of Arnoru, the mother of Hallbjorg, the mother of Oddnyj, the mother of Geirlaug, the mother of Snælang, the mother of Markus of Melar. The daughter of Thorfin was Thorbjorg, who married Thorbrand from Alptafirth. Selthorir and his heathen kindred died (19) into Thorisbjorg = Thorir's rocks. Thorkell and Thorgils, the sons of Thorfinn both married Um, the daughter of Alf of the Dales. Skalm, the mare of Thorir, died in Skalmkelda (Skalm's Ditch). Kolbein Klakkhofdi, the son of Atli of Atley from Fjaler, went to Iceland and bought all the land between Kalda and Hita, or the cold river and the hot river, down below Sandbrekka, and dwelt at Kolbeinstead; his sons were Finnbogi in Fagriskogr and Thord the Scald.

Note on Eldborg and Raudamel.

        At the distance of two miles rose the grand circular crater of Eld-borg, which is not only remarkable on account of its singular configuration, but also because it stands quite insulated in the middle of an extensive plain, which it has almost entirely deluged with lava.
        On our arrival at the base of the volcano, we could not sufficiently admire the regularity with which it rose by a gradual acclivity till within about eighty feet of the summit, when the heath and every vestige of vegetation ceased, and a wall of dark vitrified lava rose at once in nearly a perpendicular direction, and terminated in a rough and irregular top. From the perfect resemblance of this wall to an immense artificial fortification, it has obtained the name of Eld-borg, or "The Fortress of Fire." When we reached the summit we were not a little alarmed that we were only separated from a tremendous abyss by a dome of lava, in many places not six inches thickness, extremely loose in contexture and mouldering with age into the crater, which opened like an immense basin directly before us. It is not an entire circle, but somewhat oval; its longitude stretching east-south-east to west-north-west. The crater measures 1800 feet in circumference, and consists of rugged cliffs amongst which a number of ravens annually build their nests.
        From the summit we had an extensive view of the plain which the lava has inundated, and higher up the opposite valley several red cones presented themselves, which have also poured forth streams of melted substances, the largest of which are those situated in the vicinity of Raudamel. --- Henderson's Travels.

Settlements by Straumfjord river. The Holmgang. Ancestors of the Sturlungs of Hvamm. Hospitality of Thora. Story of the interment of Asmund.

Chapter VI. Thormod and Thord gnupa were the sons of Odd the Rank, the son of Thorvid, the son of Freyvid, the son of Alf from Vors; these brothers went to Iceland and settled land from Gnupa to Straumfjord river. Thord had Gnupadale and dwelt there, his son was Skapti, the father of Hjorleif the godi, and of Tinna, who was married to Ref the Great, the father of Steinunn, the mother of Hofgurd Rey. Thormod dwelt at Raudkollstead; he was called Thormod the godi; he married Gerd, the daughter of Kjallak the Old. Their son was Gudlaug the Rich; he married Thordis, the daughter of Svathofdi, the son of Bjorn Gullber (gold-bearer), and of Thurid, the daughter of Tungu Odd, who, at that time, dwelt in Horgsholt. Gudlaug the wealthy observed that the lands of Raudamel were better than other lands south in that countryside. Then he challenged Thorfinn for his land, and called him out to the Holmgang. (20) They both fell on the Holm, but Thurid, the daughter of Tungu Odd, healed them both of their wounds and reconciled them. Gudlaug afterwards settled land from Straumfjord river to Furu, between fell and foreshore, and dwelt at Borgholt; from him are the Straumfirthings come. His son was Gudleif, who had a ship of his own, while another of his own had Thorolf, the son of Lopt the Old, when they fought with Earl Gyrd, the son of Sigvaldi. Another son of Gudlaug was Thorfin, the father of Gudlaug, the father of Thordis, the mother of Thord, the father of Sturla, in Hvamm. A daughter of Gudlaug the Rich was named Valgerd. One of the body guarld of Harald the Fairhaired was named Vali the Strong; he wrought a manslaughter in a hallowed place and was outlawed. He went to the Hebrides or Sodor, and took up his abode there, but his three sons went to Iceland. Hlif hestageldir was their mother. One was named Atli, another Alfarin, and the third Audun Stoli. They all went to Iceland. Atli, the son of Vali, and Asmund, his son, settled land from Fura to Lysa. Asmund dwelt in Langholt, at Thoratofts, he had for wife Thora, of Langholt. Then Asmund as he grew old dwelt at Oxl, but Thora dwelt there after (at Langholt), and had her Scale built right across the highway, and there she sat upon a stool, and invited as guests there whoever would eat meat. Asmund was howed (interred) in Asmund's how, and laid in his ship, and his thrall or slave was laid beside him. (21) A man heard the following ditty sung within his howe (gravemound) as he passed by it:
                In stony stead, (22) on Atal's Raven, (23)
                I have the prow-room to myself,
                Nor is the deck with thanes (24) o'ercrowded,
                The timbers' steed (25) is my abode.
                But better to one skilled in battle,
                In empty space than evil suite, (26)
                Yet longer (27) people may remember
                I'm master here of my own ship.

        After that they made for the How, and the thrall was taken out from the ship. Hrolf the Stout, son of Eyvind Oak Crook, brother of Illugi, Fells-godi east from Sida, settled land from Lysa to Hraum haven; his son was Helgi, in Hofgarth, father of Finnbogi and Bjorn, and Hrolf Bjorn was the father of Gest, the father of Skald Reef.

                Deadly conflict between the party of Laugarbrekka-Einar and the party of Lon-Einar about alleged witchcraft. Einar's grave mound.

Chapter VII. There was a man named Solvi who settled land between Hellir and Hraun Haven (Lava Haven). He dwelt at Brenning and afterwards at Solvahamar, because he thought that there it would be more gainsome (28) to him to be.
        Sigmund, the son of Ketil Thistle, who had settled Thistilfjord in the north, had for wife Hildigun; he settled land between Hellishraum (cavern-lava) and Beruvikrhraun (Berewick lava); he dwelt at Laugarbrekka, and there he is howed. (29) He had three sons, one was Einar, who afterwards dwelt at Laugarbrekka. Father and son sold Lonland to Einar, who afterwards dwelt there; he was called Lon-Einar. After Sigmund died Einar went to Laugarbrekka with seven men, and summoned Hildigun for witchcraft, when Einar her son was not at home. He returned hom just after Lon-Einar was gone forth. (30) Hildigun told him these tidings and brought him a kirtle new-made. Einar took his shield and sword and work-horse, and rode after them. He rode his horse to death in Thufubjorg, but got up with them at Mannafallsbrekka (Mannfall-brink); there they fought and there fell four men of the party of Lon-Einar, but two thralls of his ran away from him. The two namesakes fought long until the breeks' girdle (31) of Lon-Einar tore asunder, and as Einar laid hold of it, his namesake gave him his death blow. (32) A thrall of Laugarbrekka-Einar was named Hreidar, --- he rushed after them, saw from Thufubjorg where the thralls of Lon-Einar ran away, and he ran after them and slew them both in Thrallwick. In return for that Einar gave him his freedom and land as much as he was able to encircle in three days --- that is called Heidarsgarth (33) where he dwelt afterwards. Einar at Laugarbrekka married Unni the daughter of Thorir, the brother of Aslak in Langdale. Their daughter was Hallveig whom Thorbjorn the son of Vifil had for wife. Another son of Sigmund was named Breid, he was brother to Einar; he had for wife Gunnhild the daughter of Aslak from Langdale. Their son was Thormod who had for wife Helga the daughter of Onund, and sister of Skald Hrafn; their daughter was Herthrud whom Simon had for wife; their daughter was Gunnhild whom Thorgils had for wife; their daughter was Valgerd the mother of Finnbogi the Strong, the son of Geir. The third son of Sigmund was named Thorkell, he was married to Joreid the daughter of Tind the son of Hallkel. Laugarbrekka-Einar was howed (34) (interred) a short way from the How of Sigmund (his father). His grave (35) is ever green, winter and summer. The son of Lon Einar was named Thorkel; he married Grimu, the daughter of Hallkel, before she was wedded by Thorgils, the son of Ari; their son was Finnvard. Another daughter of Laugarbrekka-Einar was Arnora, who was the wife of Thorgeir, the son of Vifil. Their daughter was Ingveld, whom Thorstein, the son of Snorri the godi, had for wife. Their daughter was Ingud, who was married to Asbjorn, the son of Arnor.

Notes:
16. Sand Melir tveir raudir. [Back]
17. Or "The Red Sandhills" compare Cartmel Eskmeals, &c. [Back]
18. Eld-borg. In the original Icelandic of the Landnama the name of this mountain is Borgarhraun or "The Fortress of Lava." [Back]
19. "Die into, into the rocks called by the name of Thoris," so as to dwell in them after death. See Part II, Chapter 12, for a like belief about Helgafell by the heathen descendants of Thorolf. A full explanation is given in the note upon that chapter. [Back]
20. Holmgang. This was the Norse wager of battle and was so called from the fact that the intending combatants in the duel went alone to an island (Holm), and there fought to the death. The survivor usually retained the name Holmgang as a nickname. [Back]
21. In another copy of the Landnama (the Melabok) it is said that the thrall committed suicide through grief at his master's death. [Back]
22. The stone-walled tomb. [Back]
23. Atall, a sea king of fame, his raven = ship. [Back]
24. = men, warriors. [Back]
25. = vessel. [Back]
26. i.e. the fellowship of the thrall buried with him. [Back]
27. i.e. longer than the fact that a thrall was left to disgrace and annoy him in death. [Back]
28. The Icelandic word is 'gagnsamari' meaning 'to be of benefit.' [Back]
29. Heygðr. [Back]
30. Nyfarinn a braut. [Back]
31. The Icelandic word for girdle here is bróklindi, and signifies that which keeps up the brók, plural brækr = breeches. This word brók is of Celtic origin and is identical with the Gaelic bræcan = tartan. It means in its first sense tartan or party coloured cloth; secondly breeches or breeks. The famous mythical Danish King Ragnar Lodbrok, had his name hence --- lod-brok = hairy breeches. An Icelandic proverb runs thus: barnid vex, en bróken ekki = the bairn waxes but the breeches not, meaning, give your children pleny of room in their first breeches. [Back]
32. Icelandic banahögg. [Back]
33. Garth is enclosure. Many parallels occur in North English Place Names and Field Names, e.g. Loppergarth, Hall Garth, Garth Nook, Applegarth, Garth House, The Garths. [Back]
34. Heygðr. [Back]
35. How or Haugr. [Back]