Northern mythology

26 NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS.
punishment is to ride about till the end of the world. At
the head of the troop rides Guro-Rysse or Reisa-Rova
with her long tail, by which she is distinguished from the
rest. After her follows a multitude of both sexes. If
seen in front, they appear tall and comely, both riders
and horses ; but behind, nothing is to be seen but Guro's
long tail. The horses, which are coal-black, and have
eyes that glow in the dark like fire, are guided with red
hot rods and iron reins, which, together with the screaming
of the riders, cause such a terrific noise that it may
be heard at a vast distance. They ride as easily over water
as over land, their horses^ hoofs scarcely touching the surface
of the water. Wherever they cast a saddle on a roof,
there a person must soon die ; and where they understand
there will be fighting and murder in a drinking bout,
there they enter, and set themselves on the ledge above
the door. They conduct themselves quietly as long as
nothing is going forwards, but set up a horse-laugh and
make a loud rattling with their iron rods, when the fighting
is begun and murder committed. The troop rides about
chiefly at Christmas, when the great drinking bouts are
held. When a person hears the troop coming, he should
get out of the way or fall down on his face, and appear to
be asleep; for there are instances of men having been
caught up by them, and either carried back to the place
whence they were taken, or found half stupified at a distance
from it. A good man who takes this precaution
has nothing more to apprehend than that each of the
troop will spit on him. When all are passed by, he must
spit in his turn ; otherwise he would receive injury therefrom.
Tliis remarkable tradition, the title even of which points to heathenism,
is known, at least by name, over the greater part of the diocese of Christiansand,
bnt it is found most complete in the Upper Thcllemark, where
I mvself have heard it ; where it is called the Aaske-Kei or Asanerfoerd,