The Sagas of the Icelanders (40 page)

13
This was the time of greatest emigration to Iceland, and it was then that Vigdis gave birth to a child. It was a boy, and he was very fine-looking.

Ingimund gazed at the child and said, ‘That boy has a thoughtful look in his eye, and I don’t need to search far for a name. He will be named Thorstein, and it is my hope that good luck will go with the name.’

The boy was good-looking and accomplished from an early age, even-tempered, witty, far-sighted, steadfast in friendship and moderate in everything.

They had a second son. He was also presented to his father and Ingimund had to choose a name for him.

He looked at him and said, ‘This boy is hefty and sharp-sighted. If he survives, few will be his match, and he will be no great shakes at controlling his temper; but he will be true to his friends and kinsmen, and a great warrior, if I am any judge. Our kinsman Jokul must be remembered, as my father requested of me, and he will be named Jokul.’

The boy grew up to be a formidable figure in size and strength. He was taciturn, tough, difficult to deal with, stern-minded and brave in every way.

The third son of Ingimund’s marriage was named Thorir. He was a fine-looking fellow, a big man with very much the mind of a merchant. The fourth was named Hogni; a fifth child was Smid he was a concubine’s son. Thorstein was the wisest of all the brothers. Ingimund’s first daughter was called Thordis, named after his mother; there was a second daughter named Jorunn.

There was a man named Jorund, the son of Earl Thorir the Silent, Vigdis’s brother. He made it known that he would be going to Iceland with Ingimund, saying that it was for reasons both of friendship and kinship. Ingimund said that he was well pleased with this. There was a man named Hvati and another called Asmund, both of them Ingimund’s slaves. There was a man named Fridmund, another was named Thorir, a third Refkel, a fourth Ulfkel, a fifth Bodvar. These men prepared to leave for Iceland with Ingimund, and all of them were very wealthy.

14
Ingimund set sail with his company as soon as he was ready, had a good voyage and arrived off the west coast of Iceland, and sailed on into Borgarfjord to Leiruvog. News of the ship’s arrival soon spread.

Grim rode to the ship and greeted his foster-brother warmly, and said
that he was very pleased about his arrival, ‘and so it is with you here now that, as the saying goes, it is very hard to fly in the face of fate’.

Ingimund said that this was true – ‘It cannot be resisted, foster-brother.’

Grim said, ‘I invite you and all your company to my home, and you may have anything of mine that you want, whether land or other valuables.’

Ingimund thanked him for the offer and said that he would stay with him over the winter, ‘but because I have changed my life by undertaking this voyage, I must in due course set off to look for the place which was revealed to me as my settlement’.

Ingimund and his wife and sons went to Hvanneyri, and all his followers were everywhere in the vicinity. Grim looked after them nobly and did everything he could to honour them over the winter. And when spring came, then as earlier Grim made available to them everything which he owned, whether land or other resources.

Ingimund said that, as was to be expected, he had been treated as well as could be, ‘but I must head north, though we will avail ourselves of your help with transportation and provisions’.

Grim said that this should be so, and so also did Hromund, because they had all welcomed the worthy Ingimund warmly.

He journeyed north that summer in search of land, and went up Nordurardal and came down into an uninhabited fjord. On the day they travelled along the fjord, two sheep ran down the mountain side towards them. They were rams.

Then Ingimund said, ‘It seems only right that this fjord should be called Hrutafjord (Rams’ fjord).’

After they came to the fjord, a thick fog descended. They came to a headland, and found there a big wooden plank, newly washed ashore.

Ingimund then said, ‘It must be intended that we should give this place a name – one that will last – and so let us call the headland Bordeyri (Plank headland).’

Summer was passing, for there was a great deal to move and they had set out late, and winter was almost upon them when they came to a valley with willow scrub growing all over it.

Then Ingimund said, ‘This valley is overgrown with willow; let us call it Vididal (Willow valley), and I think that this looks just the place for our winter quarters.’

They stayed there for a second winter and built themselves a hall which is now called Ingimundarhol (Ingimund’s hill).

Then Ingimund said, ‘Our home here may not be as cheery as the one in Norway, but we need not to think about that because there are many good men assembled here for some fun, and so let us enjoy ourselves as far as our resources allow.’

Everyone agreed with this. They remained there throughout the winter, and played games and had all kinds of merriment.

15
And when spring came, and the snow had melted a little from the slopes, Ingimund said, ‘I am curious to know if anyone can climb to the top of a high mountain and see if there is any less snow visible elsewhere, because it does not seem to me that we can start a settlement in this valley; it is a poor exchange for Norway.’

Men then climbed up one high mountain and from it they could see far and wide.

They returned and told Ingimund that those mountains which lay to the north-east were quite without snow, ‘and they are lovely to look on, but here where we are it is as if the same storm is always with us, and we can see that over there the quality of the land is much better’.

Ingimund replied, ‘Well and good, then, and we may yet hope that some greenness awaits us. This may turn out to be our lot.’

They made themselves ready early in the spring and, as they approached Vatnsdal to the north, Ingimund said, ‘This must confirm the Lapps’ prophecy for I now recognize the lie of the land from their description; this must be the place intended for us, and how very good it now looks. I see a spacious land, and if its qualities match its size, it may be that here is a fine place to settle.’

And when they came to Vatnsdalsa river, Vigdis, the wife of Ingimund, then said, ‘I must take a rest here, because I feel unwell.’

Ingimund replied, ‘May all go well with you.’

Then Vigdis gave birth to a girl; she was named Thordis.

Ingimund said, ‘This place will be called Thordisarholt (Thordis’s wood).’

Then people set off up the valley and saw there fine land with good grass and woods. It was lovely to behold; people’s faces brightened. Ingimund claimed all Vatnsdal above the lakes Helgavatn and Urdarvatn. The Thordis-arlaek stream flows from the west into Smidjuvatn lake. Ingimund chose a site for his home in a very beautiful vale and prepared to build his homestead. He built a great temple a hundred feet long, and when he dug holes for the high-seat pillars, then he found the amulet as had been prophesied.

Then Ingimund said, ‘Though it is true to say that one cannot fight against fate, yet we may now settle here in good spirits. This farm will be called Hof (Temple).’

Ingimund’s men spread themselves all over the valley and took settlement sites as he directed.

That autumn there was a good deal of ice, and when men walked out on to it, they found a she-bear and with her were two cubs. Ingimund was with them on this trip and said that the lake should be called Hunavatn (Cubs’ lake), ‘and the fjord into which all the waters flow will be called Vatnafjord’.

After that Ingimund went home. He built a splendid homestead and soon became chieftain of the Vatnsdal people and of the adjoining areas. He owned a good many livestock, both cows and sheep and other beasts. That same autumn some sheep went astray and were found the following spring in the woods – this place is now called Saudadal (Sheep valley). The excellence of the land at this time can be judged from the fact that all the sheep fed themselves out of doors. It is also said that some pigs went missing from Ingimund’s land and were not found until the autumn of the following year, and by that time there were a hundred of them in all; they had become wild. A big old boar followed them around and was called Beigad. Ingimund gathered men together to round up the swine and declared that it could truly be said that there were two heads on every one of them. They chased after the swine, and drove them to the lake which is now called Svinavatn (Swine lake), and wanted to head them off there, but the boar jumped into the water, swam across and grew so tired that his trotters dropped off. He reached a hill which is now called Beigadarhol (Beigad’s hill) and died there. By now Ingimund felt comfortable in Vatnsdal. Many districts had been settled; they also adopted laws and established rights.

16
When Ingimund had lived for some time at Hof, he announced that he was going abroad to collect building-wood for himself, because he said that he wanted to live in fine style there, and that he expected King Harald to greet him warmly. Vigdis said that good was to be expected from the king. He appointed men to look after the estate, along with Vigdis. Ingimund took the bears along with him.

The journey went well for him and he arrived in Norway. He asked where King Harald was; the country was then at peace. And when he found King Harald he was warmly welcomed. The king invited him to stay with him and Ingimund accepted. Throughout the winter he was entertained with great honour by the king. The king asked what the good points were about the new land.

He spoke well of it, ‘and it is my main object now to get some building timber’.

The king said, ‘Good for you. I grant you permission to have whatever timber you want cut from our forests, and I will have it moved to the ship, and you need have no concerns on that score; and you will stay here with me.’

Ingimund said, ‘My lord, you can see here before you a bear which I captured in Iceland, and I would like you to accept it from me.’

The king answered, ‘I will certainly accept it and offer you my thanks.’

They exchanged many gifts over the winter, and when spring came, Ingimund’s ship was loaded with the cargo which he had selected, and with the choicest timber to be found.

The king said, ‘I see, Ingimund, that you have no intention of travelling again to Norway; you should take enough timber with you now to meet your needs, but a single ship cannot carry it. Here are some other ships to look at. Select whichever one you want.’

Ingimund said, ‘Select one for me, my lord. That will ensure the best possible luck.’

‘So be it; I know them best. Here is a ship called Stigandi (High Stepper) which we consider the best ship of all upwind under sail and better voyaging than any of the others, and this is the one which I choose for you. It is a fine vessel, though not a large one.’

Ingimund thanked the king for the gift. He then took his leave with many tokens of friendship.

He soon discovered how fast a ship Stigandi was.

Then Ingimund said, ‘The king’s choice of ship for me was a good one, and rightly is it called Stigandi, stepping through the waves as it does.’

They arrived off the coast of Iceland, and then sailed first to the north, and then westwards. No one had done this before. Ingimund brought both ships into Hunavatnsos and there assigned all the place names which have lasted ever since. The place where the ship beached was called Stigandahrof (Stigandi’s Shed). News of Ingimund’s arrival spread widely, and all were pleased that he had returned. Ingimund had an excellent farm with ample resources. He now greatly improved his homestead, because he had enough building materials. He also acquired for himself a godord and authority over men.

Jorund Neck was the second most prominent man who came out to Iceland with Ingimund; on the advice of his kinsman Ingimund, he settled land beyond Urdarvatn and all the way to Mogilslaek, and lived at Grand below Jorandarfell in Vatnsdal. He was powerful, and so was his family. His son was a worthy man named Mar who lived in Masstadir in Vatnsdal. He and Ingimund’s sons grew up at the same time. The valley became widely settled. There was a man named Hvati who journeyed out to Iceland with Ingimund and claimed the land from Mogilslaek to Gilja. Asmund took land beyond Helgavatn and around the Thingeyrar district. Saudadal lies to the east of Vatnsdal, and then Svinadal, and in that valley lie Svinavatn and Beigadarhol.

There was a man called Thorolf Dark-skin. He settled in Forsaeludal. He was a big troublemaker and an unpopular man. He caused much friction and disruption in the district. He built a fortification for himself in the south by Fridmundara river, a short distance from Vatnsdalsa, and next to a ravine; a headland ran between the ravine and the river, and at its edge was a great cliff. The suspicion was that he offered up human sacrifice, and no man in all the valley was disliked more than he was. The place where Hvati lived was called Hvatastadir, and Asmund lived at Gnup. There was a man named Ottar, who lived at Grimstungur. He married Asdis, daughter of Olaf from Haukagil. Their son was Hallfred the Troublesome Poet, and his daughter was named Valgerd, a very showy, good-looking woman.

17
And so time passed. Ingimund grew somewhat elderly, but always kept up his generous hospitality. Nothing is said here of his dealings at the assembly – that he pursued great lawsuits against men – because he got on well with most people and was not aggressive. There were good people aplenty in the vicinity, but it was he who enjoyed the most honour, and his goodwill, generosity and clear head helped sustain this. His sons grew up and were all accomplished in the ways already described.

One summer it is said that a ship owned by some Norwegians came into Hunavatnsos. The skipper was called Hrafn. He was taciturn by nature, burly, difficult to deal with, and a self-made man; he had been on Viking raids for a long time, and was well off for weapons and war-clothing. It was Ingimund’s custom to be the first man to meet any ship, and to select from its wares whatever he fancied; and he did so on this occasion – he met with the skipper for a talk, and offered him the hospitality of his home if he wanted it. Hrafn said that there was nothing better on offer, and went home
with Ingimund, and continued to act as before, and kept very much to himself. There had been many a man staying with Ingimund whom he had liked better, because Hrafn was no loyal follower and the two men had nothing in common. Hrafn always had a fine sword in his hand. Ingimund often ran his eyes over it, and once asked to see it. Hrafn said that he could. Ingimund took hold of it and drew it. The weapon seemed to him worth no less now, and he asked if he would like to sell it. Hrafn declared that he was not so hard up that he would hand over a weapon; but he said that the farmer would have payment for his hospitality. Hrafn said that he had been in places where he had needed weapons and might find himself in such places again. Ingimund was very angry and felt that he had been insulted, and he pondered what he ought to do.

On one occasion when he went to his temple, he arranged it so that the Norwegian went with him. Ingimund then spoke to him in a casual way about the topic which he found pleased him most – Hrafn always wanted to talk about his Viking adventures and raids. Ingimund went on ahead into the temple, and the next thing he knew was that Hrafn had rushed into the temple with his sword.

Ingimund turned towards him and said, ‘It is not our custom to carry weapons into the temple, and you are exposing yourself to the wrath of the gods, and this is intolerable unless some amends is made.’

Hrafn answered, ‘You have waited and plotted here for a long time; but if I have broken your laws, then I think it right that you should deal with it, because you are said to be a just man.’

Ingimund said that it would be suitable amends for Hrafn to honour the gods, and said that it would help his cause most that he had not acted wilfully – ‘and therefore there is less likelihood of vengeance’, and said justice would be best served if Hrafn were to hand over the sword to him, because Ingimund could then say that he owned and had control of it, and in this way assuage the wrath of the gods.

Hrafn said that Ingimund had had a good deal of money off him already, and this business seemed to him no better – ‘your other dealings do you more credit’.

He went away during the summer and is out of this saga. Father and son owned this sword for as long as they lived, and they called it Aettartangi.

There was a man named Eyvind, known as ‘the Proud’. He came out from Norway with Ingimund and returned there one summer together with Thororm; the two men were friends. Ingimund lent them Stigandi and said
that, even though he was not going himself, he was curious to know whether the ship could stride the waves. Ingimund was a popular figure with all good men. The next summer they sailed back into Blonduaros from Norway and were able to tell Ingimund that the ship could not have been better. They had had a very good trading voyage. Eyvind lived at Blondudal, and Gaut in Gautsdal.