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In this volume we are informed, that Naddodd, a famous Norwegian pirate, who had been obliged to settle on the Faroe Islands, as the only place where he could be safe from the attacks of those whom he had plundered, on his return from an expedition against Norway, about the year 860, was driven by a tempest on the coast of Iceland. Entering one of the eastern friths, he ascended a high mountain, from which he commanded an extensive prospect of the island, but discovered no vestige whatever of its being inhabited. The following autumn he again put to sea; and observing the mountains to be covered with an immense quantity of snow, gave to the island the name of Snæland, or the Land of Snow. It was again discovered in the year 864, by Gardar Svafarson, a native of Sweden, who, on proceeding through the Pentland Frith, on a voyage to the Western Islands of Scotland, in order to take possession of some property which had there been left him by his father-in-law, was in like manner driven by a storm to the westward, till he reached the eastern coast of Iceland, and circumnavigating it, discovered it to be an island; and, on that account, called it Gardarsholm, or the Island of Gardar. Having entered the bay, afterwards named Skialfandafiord, he landed on its eastern shore, where he erected a habitation, and spent the winter, but returned the following spring to Norway.

The favourable account which he gave of the country, excited the spirit of adventure among the Norwegians; and Floki, another celebrated pirate, resolved to proceed thither, in order to take possession of the newly-discovered island. The compass being not then in use, Floki had recourse to superstition, and performing a great sacrifice, he devoted to the gods three ravens, which, having been thus consecrated, he took out with him to guide him on his voyage. Having touched at the Shetland and Faroe Isles, he proceeded towards Iceland. The first raven which he let loose returned to Faroe; the second, after having ascended to some height

it is most probable they had only been occasional visitors, who repaired thither during the summer months for the purpose of fishing, and returned home again before winter,

in the air, returned again to the ship; but the third directed its flight towards Iceland, where Floki shortly afterwards landed. Not being pleased with the appearance of the coasts about the East Foreland, where he first touched, he sailed round the southern and western shores, till he came to Vatnsfiord in the division of Bardastrand, where he took possession of a certain extent of country; but, having devoted too much of his time to fishing, he neglected the hay-harvest: the consequence of which was, that all the cattle he had taken with him, died in the course of the winter. Full of chagrin at this loss, and the coldness of the ensuing spring, and happening to discover, from the summit of one of the mountains, that one of the bays was completely filled with ice, he determined to repair to a warmer region, and gave to the island the name by which it has ever since been known. Having spent the following winter near Hafnarfiord, Floki returned next summer to Norway, fully resolved to abandon, for ever, the idea of settling in Iceland.

That the name he gave to the island, and the report which he spread of it, on his return, were more the effect of prejudice and disappointment, than derived from any other cause, is evident from the very different account given by Heriolf and Thorolf, his two companions on the expedition. The former depicted it as a most delightful country; and the latter did not conceive how he could better convey an adequate idea of its richness and fertility, than by asserting, that "butter dropped from every plant" it produced.

In the year 870, Iceland was again visited by two Norwegians, of the name of Hiörleif and Ingolf, who were so highly satisfied with its appearance, that, after wintering there, they returned to Norway, in order to make every possible preparation for a permanent establishment on the island. This they effected, A. D. 874,, and from this year the Icelanders date the occupation of the country. Closely as these two settlers were allied to each other in every other respect, they differed widely on the subject of religion. Of Hiörleif it is recorded, that he never offered sacrifice; whereas Ingolf appears to have been addicted to all the idolatrous

and superstitious customs of the age; and not only consulted an oracle, respecting his future destiny, previous to his departure from Norway, but on his arrival off the coast of Iceland, he threw the principal wooden pillars of his house, which he had taken with him, into the sea, and made a vow, that he would choose, as the site of his future habitation, the spot where they should be cast on shore. As mentioned in the beginning of the journal, he afterwards found these driven up near the portion of ground occupied by Reykiavik, the present capital of the island.

Nothing contributed more essentially to promote the colonization of Iceland, than the tyranny at that time exercised by Harald Harfagra over the inhabitants of Norway. This prince, not contented with the hereditary crown left him by his father, extended his ambitious views to all the petty kingdoms in that part of Scandinavia; and in the course of a short time completely subdued them, and thereby put an end to that system of liberty and independence which they had hitherto enjoyed. Such of the kings as submitted to him, he suffered to retain their kingdoms under the name of earldoms, on condition that he should receive two-thirds of the royal tribute that was raised by their subjects. But the greater number of these petty princes preferred a life of exile on foreign shores, to the cruel oppres sion under which they groaned in their native country. Accompanied by their families, and a numerous train of dependents, they emigrated towards the west, and formed numerous colonies on the Hebrides, the Orkney, Shetland, and Faroe Islands. To no quarter, however, did they flock in greater numbers than to Iceland; being attracted to that island, on the one hand, by the promising accounts that were circulated respecting its fertility, and stimulated, on the other, by the hopes of being placed in perfect security from the attacks of their oppressor. In little more than half a century, all the coasts around the island were occupied by settlers; and, in order to put a stop to the emigration, King Harald was under the necessity of imposing a heavy fine upon all who left Norway for Iceland.

On their arrival, the new settlers proceeded to take possession of such parts of the island as lay in the immediate vicinity of the place where they landed. At first, they appear to have marked off larger districts than they could properly manage; but, finding this extent of territory disadvantageous, they conformed to a regulation made in the mother-country-that no individual should be permitted to appropriate to his use more land than he could measure off in one day, by proceeding round it with fire, and kindling the grass, or heaps of bushes raised at the different bounda ries. The chiefs having been accompanied by a number of free men who had not been able to fit out an expedition by themselves, had naturally the privilege of allotting certain parts of the country for occupation to these individuals, where they erected their habitations, and enjoyed that liberty which had entirely deserted their native land. Such as had already arrived threw no obstacles in the way of those who followed, but treated them with the hospitality due to fellowcitizens, and assisted them with their advice in regard to their settlement on the island.

For some time after the arrival of the Norwegians, the patriarchal form of government seems to have obtained among them. However, they soon found it necessary to establish certain common regulations for their mutual protection and benefit; and, in doing this, they imitated as closely as possible, the mode of administration which had prevailed in Norway. The people of that country had been accustomed, from time immemorial, to frequent public assemblies, at which the king presided, and to give their vote in the matters which came before them. To entitle them to vote on these occasions, it was not necessary to possess extensive landed property, but simply to have some land, how small soever the quantity. Physical or mental strength naturally procure for those who are possessed of them an ascendancy over their less-gifted brethren; and we feel powerfully inclined to entrust the management or protection of our concerns to such as are likely to afford us these advantages. The new settlers in Iceland, dividing themselves into smaller com

munities, proportioned to the size of the different regions of the island which they inhabited, elected one of their number to be arbiter of their disputes, and the prime minister of religion, on which account he obtained the name of Godi. He was generally a man of superior abilities and extensive influence in the district over which he presided. Their Thing, or public assembly, was held at stated periods, and their legal procedures were always solemnized by the observance of certain religious ceremonies. Dipping a ring in the blood of a sacrificed victim, not only such as were to appear as witnesses, but the judge himself took it, and repeated the customary oath: "So help me, Freya, and Thor, and the Omnipotent God!"

About the year 928, the inhabitants of Iceland formed themselves into a regular republic; and so admirably did they distribute the different powers of government, that their mutual rights were secured without any compromise of personal liberty. They divided the island into four quarters, agreeably to a division already made in its natural constitution, in each of which a chief magistrate was elected by the free suffrage of the people, whose office very much resembled that of the Godi before described, only his jurisdiction was much more extensive. Each quarter was subdivided into three prefectures or sheriffdoms, excepting the northern quarter, which, on account of its sizę, was divided into four, These were governed by an officer, whose department it was to pay due attention to the maintenance of order within his district; to call an assembly for the trial of public causes; to preside and judge on these occasions; and to see that the punishment prescribed by the laws of the republic were carried into execution. He was, at the same time, minister of religion; and upon him devolved the care of the temple, and the preservation of due respect to the rites of worship. The sheriffdoms were again divided into a number of smaller districts, called Hrepps, consisting of the families which lived contiguous to each other, and generally they were of the size of the present Icelandic parishes; and over each of these was appointed a Hreppstiori, or bailiff, who had the imme.