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292 EELIGION OF THE NOETHMBN.
family (the Sturlllags of Iceland) should be descend-
ed from her. Afterward aU the company went one
after the other to the Spae-wife and consulted her
about the future matters which they wished to
know; and she gave them definite answers. Soon
afterwards she was invited to another house, and
went thither; but her prophecies concerning &.e
coming events of the year were entirely fulfilled."*
The truth of this description is confirmed by the
accounts—more imperfect, it is true—which are recorded
of the Yalas in other Sagas. Thus Orvar-
Odd's Saga relates of Hei5, a Vala and Witch of
Norway, that she wandered around to the festivals
attended by fifteen boys and fifteen girls. She fore-
told the peculiarities of the seasons and the destiny
of men. When she came by invitation to the house
of Ingjald, he went out with all his attendants to
meet her. After the evening meal, when the
house-folk had retired to bed, the Yala and her
companions set about their nocturnal vigils (&v til
ndttfarsseiSs.) In the morning, the people of the
house came in one after another before her seat and
listened to her prophecies. After a sojourn of three
days she departed with rich gifts.f We here see
that it was customary to practice sei6 during the
night, before the solemn prophecies were to be
uttered in the morning. The boys and girls who
accompanied HeiS were, doubtless, to form the circle
around the witches' seat and to sing the enchanting
* Saga af Eiriki Bftu6a, 6,
t Orv. Odds S, 2.