Part #3

        Another daughter was Gudrun who was the wife of Kjartan the son of Asgeir from Vatnsfirth, their children were Thorvald and Ingirid, whom Gudlaug the priest married; Foslolf and Thjoslolf settled in Eingihlid in Langdale. They took in a certain outlaw, named Thorgrim, the same whom Hunraud and Thoralf Leikgodi slew on the Keel-mountain.
        After that Fostolf and Thjostolf slew Ulfhedin, the brother of Hunraud, at Grindbrook, they abode then at Holt; but Finn of Breida-bolstead in Vestrhope, the kinsman of Fotslof, and son of Jorund gave them quarter and Thorkell got them a berth far abroad. Ulfhedinn concealed his wounds and begged that no revenge should be sought, saying he was minded to think that it was fated to no one to wreak it. Afterwards Fostolf and Thjostolf slew east in Norway, Skum the freedman of Hunraud --- very rich (42) in possessions and sent all his wealth out to Hunraud and then they were wholly at peace again. There was a man named Holmgang-Mani, who settled Skagaströnd to the west of the Foss (43) river, and to the east to Mani's-Hummock and dwelt in Mani's-wick, his daughter was the wife of Thorbrand in Dales, the father of Mani, the father of Kalf the Scald.

Eilif Eagle settles land from Manis-Hummock to Gunnguskeld river and Lax-river-dale. Sæmund from the Hebrides brings his ship to the mouth of Gaunga-skards river. Settles land from Sæmunds slope to Vatn's-Skard. Skefil contemporary with Sæmund settles land beyond the Sand river. Settlements of his descendants. Ulfljot settles Langholt. Alfgeir settles Algeirs fields up to Machfells river. Settlement by Hrosskell in Svart-river-dale.

Chapter VI. There was a man named Eilif Orn (44) = eagle, the son of Atli, the son of Skidi the Old, the son of Bard in Al. The son of Eilif the eagle was Kodran at Gill river and Thjodolf the godi at Hof = Temple on Skagastrand, and Eystein, the father of Thorvald Tinrod and Thorstein 'heidrnenning' and Orn in Fljot. Eilif settled land up from Mani's-Hummock to Gaungaskard-river and Lax-river-dale and abode there. Eilif had for wife Thorlaug the daughter of Sæmund from Hlid; their sons were Solmund the father of Gudmund the father of Slaughter-Bardi and his brothers. Another was Atli the Strong, who had for wife Herdis the daughter of Thord from Hofdi; their children were Thorlaug whom Gudmund the mighty had for wife, and Thorarinn, who had for wife Halla, the daughter of Jonund Neck, their son was Styrbjorn, who had for wife Yngvild the daughter of Steinraud, the son of Hedin of Hedinshofdi, their daughter was Arndis whom Hamall the son of Thormod the son of Thorkel Moon, had for wife. Sæmund from the Hebrides was the companion of Ingimund the Old and as has been written he brought his ship to the mouth of the Gaungu Skard (45) river. Sæmund settled all Sæmund's slope to Vatns Skard, (45) above Sæmund's brook, and dwelt at Sæmunds-stead; his son was Geirmund who abode there afterwards. The daughter of Sæmund was Reginleif whom Thorodd hjalmr (46) had for wife; their daughter was Hallbera, the mother of Gudmund the mighty, the father of Eyjolf, the father of Thoreyj, the mother of Sæmund the learned. Another son of Sæmund was named Arnhalld, the father of Rjupa, whom Thorgeir, the son of Thord from Hofdi had for wife, their son was Halldor from Hof.
        There was a man named Skefill who came to the mouth of Gaungaskard river in the same week as Sæmund, and whilst Sæmund marked out for himself his landtake by fire, Skefill occupied all the land beyond the Sand (47) river, which he took from Sæmund's landtake without his leave (ólofi) (48) and Sæmund allowed it to be so settled. There was a man named Ulfljot, he settled all Longholt below Sæmund's brook. Thorkell Vingnir was the son of Skidi the old, he settled all the land about Vatn's Skard, and Swart river dale, his son was Arnmod the squinter, the father of Galti, the father of Thorgeir, the father of Styrmir, the father of Hall, the father of Kolfinna.
        There was a man named Alfgeir who settled land about Alfgeir's fields and up to Mælifells river and abode in Alfgeirs fields. There was a man named Thorvid, who settled the land from Mælifells river to Gill's river.
        Hrosskell was the name of a man who settled the whole of Swart-river-dale and all the lands of Yrarfell by the advice of Eirek, he took land as far down as Gilhagi and abode at Irafell; he had a thrall who was named Rodrek whom he sent up along Mælifell's-dale to seek for settlements southwards about the mountain tracts. He came to the gill which lays to the south of Mælifell, and which now is called Rodrek's Gill, then he set down his new barked staff which they called Land (49) Konnud = land-scanner and thence withall he returned home.

Eirek, a Norwegian, settles Goddale down to North River. Contends with Vekell the Shapechanger.

Chapter VII. There was a man of renown named Eirek; he went from Norway to Iceland, he was the son of Hroald the son of Geirmund the son of Eirek Ordigskeggja or Shockbeard. Eirek settled land from Gill's river round all Goddale and adown to Northriver, he dwelt at Hof in Goddales. Eirek had for wife Thurid the daughter of Thord Skeggi, the sister of Helga whom Ketilbjorn the Old at Mossfell had to wife. The children of Eirek and his wife were Thorkell and Hroald, Thorgeir and Holmgang-Starri, and Gunnhild. Thorgeir the son of Eirek had for wife Yngveld the daughter of Thorgeir; their daughter was Rannveig, whom Bjarni the son of Broddhelgi had for wife. Gunnhild the daughter of Eirek was the wife of Vefreyd, the son of Ævar.
        There was a man named Vekell, the Shapechanger, (50) who settled land down from Gill's river to Mælifell's river, and dwelt at Mælifell, he heard about the journey of Rodrek, and a short time afterwards he went south into the mountain tracts in search of settlements and came to those howes which now are called Vekell's Howes; he shot forth an arrow between the Howes and then turned back again. But when Eirek in Goddales learned this he sent his thrall who was named Raungud south into the mountain ranges, and he went still in search of lands that might be settled; he came south to the head waters of the river Blanda and thence he went up along the river which flows to the west of Vinverjadale, and made his way westward till he came upon the lava between Reykjavellir and the Keel (mountain), and there he came upon the track of a man which he judged lay from the south; there he raised that beacon which is now called Raungud's Beacon; (51) then he went back, and Eirek gave him his freedom in return for his journey, and from that time began journeys across the mountains that divide the Southlanders' quarter from the Northlanders'.
        There was a man named Kraku (or Crow) Hreidar and Ofeig Danglebeard his father son of Ox-Thorir; father and son arrayed their ship for Iceland; but when they came within sight of land then Hereidar went up to the mast and said that he would not cast overboard the High Seat Pillars, and said he thought it was an idle thing to frame one's counsel on such a custom; but that he would rather make a vow to Thor to the end that he would guide him to the land settlements he sought, and that there he would fight for lands if already taken. So he came into Skagafirth and sailed his ship up on to Burgsand for a wreck. Havard hegri (or heron) came to him and bade him come and be with him, and there he was at Hegraness through the winter. In spring Havard asked him what he had made up his mind to do, and he said that he was minded to fight with Sæmund for land; but Havard hindered his doing this, saying that that had never come to a good end, and bade him go rather to meet Eirek in Goddale and take advice from him: "for that he is the wisest man in this countryside." This Hreidar did. But when he met Eirek he bade him give up the thought of such unpeace, saying how unbecoming it was that men should be at odds while yet there were so few folk in the land. He said that he would rather give him all that tongue of land down from Scale-moor, for thither, he said, that Thor had guided him, and thitherward had the prow (of his ship) looked, when he ran upon Burgsand; that landtake, he said, was plenteous for himself and his sons. With this choice Hreidar fell in and dwelt at Stonestead; he chose to die into (52) Mælifell. His son was Ofeig Thinbeard the father of Bjorn, the father of Tongue-stein.

Eirek and Önund the wise contend for land east of Mark Gill. Taking possession of the land by the fire arrow. Thorbrand's hospitality. Horse racing and fighting.

Chapter VIII. There was a man named Önund the Wise who settled land up from Mark-Gill, the eastern valley-side, all to the east thereof (i.e. of Mark-gill); but when Eirek was minded to bestir himself to take possession of the whole valley, all along the western side of the gill, then Onund cast hallowed lots (53) to the end that he might know at what time Eirek would go and take possession of the dale, and Önund was the quicker and shot across the river with a tinder or fire-arrow and hallowed for himself the land on the western side of the river and built his house between the rivers. (54)
        There was a man named Kari who settled land between the North-river and Mark-Gill and dwelt at Flattongue. (55) He was called Tongue-Kari; from him are the Silversteadings descended. There was a man named Thorbrand Orrek who settled land up from Bolstead (56) river all Silversteadslope and all North-river-dale on the northern side, and dwelt at Thorbrandstead, and let there be made so great a fire hall eldhus (57) (=hall or reception room), that all men who passed on that side of the river, might take through it their horses with their loads and there should meat be welcome to all men. Orreksheath up from Hakastead took its name from him, he was the most noble of men and of a most high degree.
        There was a man named Hjalmolf who settled land about (Blonduhlid) Blandaslope, (58) his son was Thorgrim Kuggi, the father of Odd in Axlarhaga, the father of Sela-Kalf, from thence are sprung the Axlhegings. Thorir Doveneb was a freedman of Ox-Thorir; he brought his ship to the mouth of the Göngu-Skard-river, then was all the countryside settled towards the west, so he went northwards over the Jokul river at Landbrot and settled land between Glodafeykis-river and Deep river (Djupár) and dwelt at Flymoor (Flugumyri). At that time a ship came to the mouth of Kolbein's River freighted with live stock but they lost a certain young mare in Brimness woods; but Thorir Doveneb bought the reversion and found her afterwards; she was the fleetest of all horses and was called Fly.

Notes:
42. The Icelandic word is "fe" meaning moveable possessions. In Scotland it is used in this sense: --- "My riches are my penny fe." --- Burns. [Back]
43. Foss is the Icelandic equivalent of Lakeland Force, a waterfall. [Back]
44. Orn and Ari, both meaning eagle, are often found as men's names, and compounded as place names. Ari, the compiler of the Book of the Settlement, is the most eminent example of its use as a man's name. [Back]
45. This word Skard occurs often in the Book of Settlement and is worthy of special note as entering into the origin of many place names. Skard, as a common noun, means (1) a notch or chink in the edge of a thing, (2) a mountain pass, as in the phrase 'vestr yfir skordin' = west over the mountain passes; with this meaning it is used of the place names in the text, and also as the origin of many names in Iceland, e.g., Skard, Skord, Skardverjar = the men from Scard, Skardaleid = the way through Skard or the mountain pass (compare Scarf Gap, a pass in Cumberland). Skardsheidr, Skardsstrond, Vatnsdal's Skard, Ljosavatns Skard, Kerlingar Skard, Haukadale Skard, Geita Skard. [Back]
46. Hjalmr = the Helm or Helmet from the sense of covering; it is also applied to the clouds which were called hulid's hjalmr = a hiding helm or cap of darkness. The Helm is the cloud that descends upon Cross fell, when the Helm winds prevail. The Helm winds take their name from this Helm or cloud covering. [Back]
47. Sand has the same meaning as common noun, and in place names in Icelandic and in English. [Back]
48. Ólofi is from ó or u = not, and lofa (1) To praise, (2) To permit, and hence means as in this passage without permission. The process is something like what is called squatting in the American Settlements. There are place names in Cumberland and also in Yorkshire which seem to indicate that the original settler has taken land without leave as Unthank. [Back]
49. Land Kenning = to survey land with a view to taking possession of it. By setting down his staff Rodrek formally took possession of the land. See a remarkable parallel in Joshua XVIII, 8-9. [Back]
50. The word here used for Shapechanger is ham-ramr which means a man who is able to change his shape, especially by being subject to fits that impart to him supernatural strength. [Back]
51. Varda from Varda, to warn, is applied to a pile of stones or wood used to warn wayfarers; in Iceland Varda is the popular name of the Stone Cairns erected on mountains and high places to warn the wayfarer of the course of the way, or defining, in the present instance, the meeting of landtakes, shires and quarters. Notices of stones thus used as land divisions are often found in the earlier historical Books of the Old Testament; that one is most remarkable for its resemblance to the present passage which occurs in Genesis XXXI, 45 and following verses. [Back]
52. Die into, for explanation see note on Holy Hill, page 52 and 53. [Back]
53. 'Blótspánn' (probably the same as 'hlautviðr,' in 'Völuspá,' and 'hlutr' in many instances) a chip which accompanied by some religious rite, was dropped ('fella') from some height to the floor, to show which of two alternatives the 'face' declared. In its religious aspect the custom still lives in Iceland in choosing names for new-born infants, when the chip is let drop down from the main beam of the chancel of the church. [Back]
54. Milli á = "between or among the rivers." The Latin phrase for this is "in interamnio," and the Greek equivalent is found in the Scripture name Mesopotamia which is the name of the territory between the Tigris and the Euphrates. [Back]
55. Upon an estate which I know well, in Cumberland, two level fields situated together are called Tongue Flat. [Back]
56. Bol means a dwelling and finds an equivalent, I think, in such names as Bolton, Bootle, Boot, Bothel. [Back]
57. Called eldhus or fire house because the fire was kept up there. [Back]
58. Blonduhlid = the slope up from the river Blanda. [Back]