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300 RELIGION OF THE NOETHMEN.
sionally looked up to as the guardian spirit of a cer-
tain estate or a certain district, that he could be worshiped
in the character of " Land Guardian." The
same might be the case with beings of the Dwarf
race when they were regarded as the Disir of par-
ticular persons or families.
In regard to other supernatural beings who lived
'in the popular belief, their connection with the Asa
doctrine is not so easily seen. Such are the Mermen
and Mermaids, the Nykar, Finngalknar and
Dragons.
The Merman was called Marmennill. His form
and appearance are nowhere described. The most
remarkable attribute of this being was his gift of
prophecy. It was believed that if a man should be
so fortunate as to fish up a merman from the sea, he
could compel him to foretell his destiny. The Mar-
mennill could also live awhile upon dry land, but
it took no pleasure in that kind of life, and pined for
its home in the sea.
The Mermaid (Margygur) is described as having
the form of a woman to the belt, but that of a fish
below. It was believed to presage good or evil to
sea-farers. For instance, if one had risen above the
surface of the sea, when it again dived under it foreboded
evil if it turned itself towards the ship, but if
it turned away from the ship it was then a presage
of good; It may, however, be remarked of the
superstition concerning this being, that it is possibly
of a foreign and southern origin, and that it is the
Syren that here presents itself, although in some de-
gree fashioned 'after the notions of the Northmen.