84 OlArSEN AND POVELSEn’s sally out according to their pleasure, aud they were particularly commanded not to strike them. They consequently considered the mountain in question as a sacred place, and no one presumed fo look at it till he had washed his face and hands. The baili- wick of Thorolf was also regarded as a sacred place, and served as a hall for the administration of justice. Near this spot, at Thingvalie, is still to be seen their Blodstein, or sacrificial stone, on which they put to death their criminals. They were extended across the stone, with the face upwards; and the executioner, after breaking their loins, cut their throat, and knocked them on the head. When private parties had disputes on doubtful subjects, they proceeded to Helgafell to take advice; for it was supposed, that whatever should be decided there, would succeed to the utmost. At Helgafell was built one of the first churches erected in the western part of Iceland. Iu 1183, or 1184, the convent of Flatoe, which had already existed ten years, was transferred thither. This rich convent was secularized at the time of the Reformation, and the ground belonging to it, which consisted of a hundred pieces of land, was dismembered, and divided into as many portions, on each of which were established from two to four farms. Of this convent Olaus Magnus speaks, and as- serts, that a considerable quantity of fish was amassed in it, and sold to commercial foreigners. INNS OF THE ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTRY. One cannot read without admiration, ill the Landnama-Saga, of the zeal of the inhabitants of Sneefiaelds-Naes, for the pub- lic good. They formed roads, and established inns, at which ail travellers were received, without paying any thing. The an- nals above mentioned, take particular notice of two of these inns, which were formerly in this canton. They were founded by two women, one named Gerrid, and the other Thara. The same order was observed in each: the tables were always well co- vered, and all strangers might eat gratuitously of what they af- forded. These matrons used to seat themselves before their doors, and solicit travellers to dismount from their horses, and refresh themselves. An example of benevolence equally re- markable, is that of a man named Soelve, who resided to the. south of the glacier : finding that he could not carry his establishment to as great an extent as he wished, in the country where he resided, he transferred his property to a place called Salvohammer, and laid out a farm on the edge of a road, near which all necessitous travellers were obliged to pass. A person of distinction founded a similar establishment in the Norderadal, beyond the Skagefiord. This man’s name was Thorbrand Oer-

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