The Polar World: A popular description of man and nature in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the globeHartwig, G. (Georg)
History
The Polar World: A popular description of man and nature in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the globe
Hartwig, G. (Georg)
Antarctica; Arctic peoples; Arctic regions; Natural history
On approaching the southern coast, Ingolfr cast the sacred pillars
belonging to his former dwelling into the water, and vowed to establish
himself on the spot to which they should be wafted by the waves. His
pious intentions were for the time frustrated, as a sudden squall
separated him from his penates, and forced him to locate himself
on a neighboring promontory, which to this day bears the name of
Ingolfrshofde. Here he sojourned three years, until the followers he
had sent out in quest of the missing pillars at length brought him
the joyful news that they had been found on the beach of the present
site of Reykjavik, whither, in obedience to what he supposed to be the
divine summons, he instantly removed. Ingolfr’s friend and relative
Leif was shortly after assassinated by some Irish slaves whom he had
captured in a predatory descent on the Hibernian coast. The surviving
chieftain deplored the loss of his kinsman, lamenting “that so valiant
a man should fall by such villains,” but found consolation by killing
the murderers and annexing the lands of their victim. When, in course
of time, he himself felt his end approaching, he requested to be buried
on a hill overlooking the fiord, that from that elevated site his
spirit might have a better view of the land of which he was the first
inhabitant.
Such are the chronicles related in the “Landnama Bok,” or “Book of
Occupation,” one of the earliest records of Icelandic history.
Ingolfr and his companions were soon followed by other emigrants
desirous of escaping from the tyranny of Harold Haarfager, who at
first favored a movement that removed far beyond the sea so many of
his turbulent opponents, but subsequently, alarmed at the drain of
population, or desirous of profiting by the exodus, levied a fine
of four ounces of silver on all who left his dominions to settle in
Iceland. Yet such were the attractions which the island at that time
presented, that, in spite of all obstacles, not half a century elapsed
before all its inhabitable parts were occupied, not only by Norwegians,
but also by settlers from Denmark and Sweden, Scotland and Ireland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account