"Here rests Fridgerdur Gunnar's daughter; and pray for me."

The other basalt is heptagonal, six inches in diameter, and an ell and a half in length. The inscription is shorter, and the name appears to be foreign:

XOR XN/10R YARPRO11 POIRY

Her hviler Marfreda Feirm.

"Here rests Marfreda Feirm."

The former of these inscriptions sufficiently indicates that it was made before the Reformation, about which time a church that formerly stood here was razed; and the church-yard having disappeared, the stones remained concealed till last summer, when they were discovered by the peasant, as he was taking up part of the burying-ground in order to enlarge his garden.

It still remains to be decided by antiquaries, why so few Runic inscriptions are found in Iceland; whereas they are widely spread over Scandinavia, from which that island received its inhabitants. The frequent mention of runes in the more ancient or poetic Edda, shews that they were familiarly known in that island, at least before the eleventh century. They also occur in several of the Sagas, though not in connection with the interment of the dead; yet not above eight or ten epitaphs have hitherto been discovered, and of these the greater number are of recent date.

The two gentlemen accompanied me to the termination of the Kolgrafurfiord, where we overtook the man that had the care of my baggage-horses, and I proceeded with him up a short, but very steep mountain-road, called Tröllaháls, or the Giant's Neck, descending from which we entered a pretty

extensive valley, ornamented with a few cottages, and divided towards the east by the Hraunfiord, which derives its name from the circumstance of its having been almost entirely crossed by a stream of lava that has only left a small strait on the north side, through which the sea ebbs and flows. The blackness of the lava was finely contrasted by the prodigious number of swans that were swimming in the bay. The lava itself wears a very rugged and melancholy appearance, and the path across it is extremely rough and annoying to travellers. About the middle of the tract my horse threw me, and my feet getting entangled in the stirrups, I every moment expected he would have trampled upon me, but in the good providence of God I escaped unhurt.

Se

We next entered a tract of red volcanic cinders, and skirted the base of a large conical hill of the same colour. veral more cones were visible to the right, the direction in which the stream of lava has descended from the original crater, which I could plainly descry among the mountains. Passing a solitary farm near the margin of the lava, we encountered the famous arm called the Berserkia lava, from the path and fence that were laid across it by two Swedes of gigantic prowess, towards the close of the tenth century.*

* The narrative of the circumstances connected with this singular transaction is preserved in Eyrbyggia Saga, the substance of which has lately been given to the British public by Walter Scott, Esq. As it will convey to the reader a fair specimen of the Sagas, I shall here insert his translation, only taking the liberty to alter a phrase or two, in order to render it more conformable to the original.

"While Vermund Miofi, of Biarnarhafn, a harbour in the vicinity, spent a winter with Count Hacon, at that time regent of Norway, there happened to be at the court two of those remarkable champions, called Berserkir, men who, by moral or physical excitation of some kind or other, were wont to work themselves into a state of phrensy, during which they atchieved deeds passing human strength, and rushed, without sense of danger, or feeling of pain, upon every species of danger that could be opposed to them. Vermund contracted a sort of friendship with these champions, who, unless when seized with their fits of fury, were not altogether discourteous or evil disposed. But as any cor.tradiction was apt to excite their stormy passions, their company could not be called very safe or commodious. Vermund, however, who now desired to return to Iceland, conceived that the support of the two Berserkir would be of the greatest advantage to him, as they would enable him to control his brother, who had

When we had gained the highest part of the lava, I obtained a view of the fences running completely across it; and in some places apparently of considerable height. The path itself is the best I have seen through any lava in Iceland.

acted unjustly towards him in regard to his patrimony; and, therefore, when, at his departure, Count Hacon, according to custom, offered him any reasonable boon which he might require, he prayed that he would permit these two champions to accompany him to his native country. The Count assented, but not without shewing him the danger of his request. "Though they have rendered me obedient service,” said Hacon, " they will be reluctant and disobedient stipendiaries to a person of meaner station." Vermund, however, grasped at the permission of the Count, though reluctantly granted, and was profuse in promises to Halli and Leikner, providing they would accompany him to Iceland. They frankly objected the poverty of the country, yet agreed to go thither, apprising their conductor at the same time, that their friendship would not endure long, if he refused them any boon which it was in his power to grant, and which they might choose to demand. Having finally agreed, they set sail for Iceland; but Vermund soon found reason to repent of his choice, and began to think of transferring his troublesome and ungovernable satellites to his brother Arngrim, who was surnamed Styr, on account of his fierce and quarrelsome disposition. It was no easy matter, however, to prevail upon Styr to accept of the patronage of the Berserkir. In vain Vermund protested that he gifted him with two such champions as would enable him to become an easy victor in every quarrel he might engage in; and that he designed this present as a gage of their fraternal union. Styr expressed his happiness at the prospect of their becoming better friends; but intimated, that he had heard enough of the disposition of these foreign warriors to satisfy him, that they would be rather embarrassing than useful dependents, and was fully determined never to admit them within his family. Vermund was, therefore, pbliged to change his tone; to acknowledge the dread in which he stood of the Berserkir, and request his brother's advice and assistance to rid him of them. "That," answered Styr, "is a different proposal. I could never have accepted them as a pledge of favour or friendship; but, to relieve thee from danger and difficulty, I am content to encumber myself with the charge of thine associates." The next point was to reconcile the Berserkir, (who might resent being transferred, like bondmen, from the one brother to the other,) to this change of masters. The warlike and fierce disposition of Styr, seemed, however, so much more suitable to their own than that of Vermund, that they speedily acquiesced; and accompanying their new patron upon a nocturnal expedition, evinced their strength in breaking to pieces a strong wooden frame or bed, in which his enemy had taken refuge, so that Styr had an opportunity of slaying him.

"The presumption of Halli, however, soon discomposed their union. The champion cast the eyes of affection on Asdisa, the daughter of his patron, a young, haughty, fiery, and robust damsel, well qualified to captivate the heart of a Berserk. He formally announced to Styr, that he demanded her hand in

Its formation has certainly been accompanied with immense labour; and little short of what we fancy the strength of a giant would be required to move many of the masses of lava that have been raised on either side. About the middle of

marriage; that a refusal would be a breach of their friendship; but that if he would accept of his alliance, he and his brother would render him the most powerful man in Iceland. At this unexpected proposal, Styr for a time remained silent, considering how best he might evade the presumptuous demand of this frantic champion; and at length observed, that the friends of his family must be consulted upon his daughter's establishment. "Three days space," answered Halli, “will suffice for that purpose; and be mindful that our friendship depends on thine answer." Next morning, Styr rode to Helgafell, to consult the experience of the Pontiff Snorro. When Snorro learned that he came to ask advice, "Let us ascend," he said, "the sacred mount, for such counsels as are taken on that holy spot rarely prove unpropitious." They remained in deep conference on the mount of Thor until evening, nor did any one know the purpose which they agitated; but what followed sufficiently shews the nature of the counsels suggested upon the holy ground. Styr, so soon as he returned home, announced to Halli his expectation, that since he could not redeem his bride by payment of a sum of money as was usual, he should substitute in lieu thereof, according to ancient right and custom, the performance of some unusual and difficult task. "And what shall that task be ?" demanded the suitor.“Thou shalt form," said Styr," a path across the lava to Biarnarhaƒn, and a fence between my pasture-grounds and those of my neighbours; also, thou shalt construct a house on this side of the lava for the reception of my flocks, and these tasks accomplished, thou shalt have Asdisa to wife."—"Though unaccustomed to such servile toil," replied the Berserk, "I accept of the terms thou hast offered." And by the assistance of his brother, he accomplished the path required, a work of the most stupendous masculine labour, and erected the bound-fence, which may be seen at this day; and while they were labouring at the stable for the flocks, Styr caused his servants to construct a subterranean bath, so contrived, that it could on a sudden be deluged with boiling water, and heated to a suffocating degree.

“The stipulated task being ended, the champions returned to the dwelling of Styr. They were extremely exhausted, as was common with persons of their condition, whose profuse expenditure of strength and spirits induced a proportional degree of relaxation after severe labour. They, therefore, gladly accepted Styr's proposal, that they should occupy the newly-constructed bath. When they had entered, their insidious patron caused the trap-door to be lockaded, and a newly stripped bullock's skin to be laid on the stair, and then proceeded to pour in scalding water through a window above the stove, so that the bath was heated to an intolerable pitch. The unfortunate Berserkir endeavoured to break out, and Halli succeeded in forcing the door, but his fect being entangled in the slippery hide, he was stabbed by Styr ere he could make any defence: his brother attempting the entrance, was forced back headlong into the bath.

the tract we descended into a deep glen, where we found the Berserkia-dis, or the cairn beneath which the Berserkir lie interred. It is situated on the north side of the road, and may be about twenty feet in length, six in breadth, and four in height. It consists of larger stones towards the base; but the superior regions are made up of small stones that have been thrown upon it, from time to time, by those that have passed this way. This custom, which obtains at this day in the north of Scotland, in Sweden, and many other countries, is found to have prevailed in the time of Herodotus: and some learned men are of opinion, that an allusion is made to it by Job, when speaking of the Gadish, or tumulus of the wicked. "And every man shall draw out (the stone he hath taken with him on purpose, and throw it) after him, as there were innumerable before him," Job xxi. 33.

At the termination of the lava, my guide pointed out to me the cottage of Hraun, which was inhabited by Styr, and several other places mentioned in the Saga. He had the story completely by heart, and finding that I took some degree of interest in the scenery, he proceeded to relate the different circumstances, in a strain of eloquence that perfectly astonished me; nor is it easy to say when his national enthusiasm might have been arrested, had we not arrived at the farm of Kongsbacka, where I pitched my tent under the lee of the house, and was kindly treated by the inhabi

tants.

and thus both perished. Styr caused their bodies to be interred in a glen in the lava, close to the road, and of such depth that nothing but the sky was visible from its recesses. Then Styr composed this song concerning his exploit:

"Synduz mer, sem myndi,

Moteflendr Spiota;

Ala ekki dælir,

El-herdendum verda.

Uggì ek eigi Seggia

Ofrgang vid mik strangan:

Nu hefir bilgröndudr branda,

Berserkium stad merktan."

"These champions from beyond the main, Of Iceland's sons I deem'd the bane,

Nor fear'd I to endure the harm

And frantic fury of their arm;

But, conqueror, gave this valley's gloom

To be the grim Berserkir's tomb."

Eyrbyggia Saga, caps. xxv. and xxviii. and Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 489-492.