Northern mythology

the other gods.
SWEDISH TRADITIONS. 53
The Thorbagge (scarabseus stercorarius)
was sacred to him. Relative to this beetle a superstition
still exists, which has been transmitted from father to son,
that if any one in his path finds a Thorbagge lying helpless
on its back, and turns it on its feet, he expiates seven
sins ; because Thor in the time of heathenism was regarded
as a mediator with a higher power, or All-father. On the
introduction of Christianity, the priests strove to terrify the
people from the worship of their old divinities, pronouncing
both them and their adherents to be evil spirits and
belonging to hell. On the poor Thorbagge the name was
now bestowed of Thordjefvul or Thordyfvel (Thor-devil), by
which it is still known in Sweden Proper. No one now
thinks, of Thor, when he finds the helpless creature lying
on its back; but the good-natured countryman seldom
passes it without setting it on its feet, and thinking of his
sins' atonement.
That the remembrance of and veneration for Thor were
long retained in Norway and in Bohuslan, appears from
many traditions. Of some sailors from Bohuslan, about
a hundred years since, it is related, that while out in a
Dutch ship from Amsterdam, on the whale fishery near
Greenland, being driven out of their known course, they
observed for many nights the light of a fire from an island
or shore, at which some of the
sailors, and among them
one of the men from Bohuslan, were seized with a desire
to visit the place and see what people were there. They
therefore took the ship^s boat and rowed to the spot.
Having landed and approached the fire, they found sitting
by it
an old man warming himself, who immediately asked
" From Holland,'' answered the
them whence they came.
man from Bohuslan.
*' But from what place art thou thyself
?'^ inquired the old man. '^ From Safve on Hisingen,"
answered the sailor. " Art thou acquainted with Thorsby?'^
" Yes, well." " Dost thou know where the Ulfveberg