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192 RELIGION OP THE NORTHMEN.
rode to the Assemblies, and his brothers when they
went out on fishing excursions.*
The LandvsBttir were believed to be of various
forms ; in some places they were great animals, in
others, again, they were giants. When the Danish
King Harald Gormsson had the intention of attack-
ing Iceland, he sent out beforehand—^so the account
goes—a magic-skilled man, who was to explore the
country. The sorcerer goes forth in the form of a
whale, but he finds every mountain and promontory
upon the island filled with Landv^ttir both great
and small. When he came to YapnafjorQ and was
about to go up, there met him from the upper val-
ley a great Dragon with many snakes and toads in
its train, which cast forth venom upon the sorcerer
and forced him to fiy. When he came to Eyjafj6r6
a bird fiew against him, which was, so large that
its wings reached the mountains upon each side of
the valley, and a crowd . of large and small birds
followed it. In BreiSafjorS he met a great beast
which waded oijt into the sea and bellowed dread-
fully ; many Landvsettir accompanied him also.
Finally, at Eeykjanes he saw a mountain-giant with
an iron staff in his hand ; his head towered above
the mountain-tops, and many Jotijns followed him.
Intelligence concerning the powerful Guardian
Spirits of this island had, it seems, the effect of de-
terring King Harald from the intended invasion of
Iceland.
f
It is quite certain that in Norway and Iceland
» Landnmb. IV. 12.
t
Snorri : 01. Tr. S. 87.