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66 INTEODUCTION.
fined to the history of the island itself, and of the
Northern Kingdoms, hence the Sagas of this class
are divided into Icelomderi Histories (Islendinga
Sogur) and the Histories of their Ancestors (Fornmanna
Sogur). To the former belong all that
relate to Iceland, usually including those of the
Orkneys, Faroes, and Greenland. The General
Histories are few in number. They are : 1. Islendinga-bok,
the Icelanders' Book, written by Ari
FroSi, and usually entitled " Schedse," which is re-
garded as the oldest book of the whole Icelandic
literature. It is a dry and meagre sketch of the
most important events of Iceland from the first set-
tlement down to about the year 1120.
2. Landnama-bok Land-taking BooJc, a detailed
history of the early settlement and appropriation of
Iceland until toward the end of the tenth century.
It is also rather dry, from the long lists of names and
genealogies, but the details are more interesting
than the " Schedse." It presents a good picture, of
the religious ceremonies, and of their connection
with judicial and political affairs. It was written
and continued by various authors, and received its
present form about the end of the thirteenth, or
beginning of the fourteenth century.
3. Kristni-saga, a History of the Introduction of
Christianity into Iceland. It openB with the year
981, closes with 1121, and appears to have been
written in the beginning of the fourteenth century.
It contains much important information respecting
the heathen life and occupations of the Icelanders.
To these may be added the Orkneyinga-saga, a his-