Paul B. (Paul Belloni) Du Chaillu - The Viking Age. Volume 2 (of 2)

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Transcriber's Note:

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

WAGGON OF THE VIKING AGE.
One of two waggons found in the Deibjerg bog, Ringkjobing, West Jutland, ornamented all over with bronze; and on each side representations of two human heads with heavy moustaches, and with the triskele and other mystic signs. Length of sides, 5 feet, 4 inches; straight pole, about 6 feet, including the bent piece; diameter of wheels, 3 feet.

THE VIKING AGE
THE EARLY HISTORY, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS OF THE ANCESTORS OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING NATIONS
ILLUSTRATED FROM
THE ANTIQUITIES DISCOVERED IN MOUNDS, CAIRNS, AND BOGS AS WELL AS FROM THE ANCIENT SAGAS AND EDDAS

BY

PAUL B. DU CHAILLU

AUTHOR OF EXPLORATIONS IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA, LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN, ETC.

WITH 1366 ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAP

IN TWO VOLUMES. Vol. II

NEW YORK:

CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS.

1889.

Copyright, 1889, by

PAUL B. DU CHAILLU.

Press of J. J. Little & Co.,

Astor Place, New York.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

CHAPTER I.
	PAGE
Marriage
CHAPTER II.
Divorce
CHAPTER III.
The Birth and Bringing-up of Children
CHAPTER IV.
The Arvel, or Inheritance Feast
CHAPTER V.
Foster-Brotherhood
CHAPTER VI.
Weapons
CHAPTER VII.
War Customs
CHAPTER VIII.
Rock-Tracings
CHAPTER IX.
War-Ships
CHAPTER X.
The Fleets of the Northmen
CHAPTER XI.
Mode of Naval Warfare of the Northmen
CHAPTER XII.
Sea Battles
CHAPTER XIII.
Traders and Trading-Ships
CHAPTER XIV.
Debts and Robbery
CHAPTER XV.
Halls and Buildings
CHAPTER XVI.
Feasts, Entertainments
CHAPTER XVII.
Dress of Men
CHAPTER XVIII.
Dress of Women
CHAPTER XIX.
The Bracteates
CHAPTER XX.
Occupations and Sports of Men
CHAPTER XXI.
Occupations of Women
CHAPTER XXII.
ExercisesIdrttir
CHAPTER XXIII.
Idrttir.Poetry or Scaldship, Music and Mental Exercises
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Conduct of Life.The Hvaml
CHAPTER XXV.
Sorrow and Mourning
CHAPTER XXVI.
Champions and Berserks
CHAPTER XXVII.
Some Expeditions and Deeds of Great Vikings
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Some Expeditions and Deeds of Great Vikings (Continued)
CHAPTER XXIX.
Some Expeditions and Deeds of Great Vikings (Continued)
CHAPTER XXX.
Some Expeditions and Deeds of Great Vikings (Continued)
CHAPTER XXXI.
Some Expeditions and Deeds of Great Vikings (Continued)
CHAPTER XXXII.
Some Expeditions and Deeds of Great Vikings (Continued)
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Discovery and Settlement of Iceland, Greenland, and America
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Orkneys and Hebrides
Appendix I. Frankish Chronicles
Appendix II. Facsimiles of Sagas
Appendix III. Coins found in Scandinavia
Index

THE VIKING AGE.

CHAPTER I.
MARRIAGE.

High position of womenMarried womens propertyMarriage a civil compactThe suitorQualities looked for in a suitorThe brides dowerRunaway marriagesThe marriage settlementThe givers away of the brideThe betrothalBreaking a betrothalLength of a betrothalThe weddingThe trousseauIllegality of marriages without betrothalGuardians of unmarried sistersMarriage against the will of the parentsAge of majorityWidowsMarriage on insufficient meansLaws relating to marriageThe wedding feastValuation of propertyLaws on kissingWomens rights.

It is particularly striking, in reading the Sagas and the ancient laws which corroborate them, to see the high position women occupied in earlier and later pagan times.

If we are to judge of the civilisation of a people in their daily life by the position women held with regard to men, we must conclude that in this respect the earlier Norse tribes could compare favourably with the most ancient civilised nations whose history has come down to us.

A maiden was highly respected, and on becoming a wife she was greatly honoured, and her counsels had great weight; by marrying she became the companion and not the inferior of her husband. She held property in her own right, whatever she received by inheritance and by marriage being her own; though there were restrictions put upon her, as well as upon her husband, in regard to the use of her property.

In a word, a retrograde movement in regard to the rights and standing of women took place after the extinction of the Asa creed. The high position they had occupied before was lost, and it is only latterly that they have striven, and in some countries with success, to regain the authority that once belonged to them in regard to property and other matters.

From the earliest time we see the chivalrous regard that men had for women, and the punishment that any breach of its laws involved. Young men went into warlike expeditions to attain great fame, so that their acts of bravery could be known or extolled, and that they might become worthy of the maiden they wished to woo. The same spirit afterwards spread from the North to other countries in Europe, where, however, the opinion only of women of higher rank was valued. Among the earlier tribes of the North all were respected.

Marriage was not a religious contract or ceremony. It was simply regarded as a civil compact, owing to the relations which man and wife held towards each other in regard to property. It was the means of joining families together, which was called tengja saman, and therefore the relation was called tengdir. Consequently marriage itself was a bargain and on that account was called brud-kaup (bride-buying).

When a man had selected for himself, or by the advice of his parents, a woman or maiden whom he wanted to marry, he, accompanied by his father, or nearest relatives or best friends, and by a retinue, according to his rank, went to get the consent of the father, or of those who were the guardians of the woman. It was the exception for the suitor himself not to go on this journey, which was called bonordsfr (suit journey).

Njal once said to his son Helgi, I have thought of a match for thee, kinsman, if thou wilt follow my advice. Certainly I will, he said, for I know both that thou meanest it well and knowest well how to act; but what is it? We will ask in marriage the daughter of Asgrim Ellidagrimsson, for she is the best match. Shortly afterwards they rode out across the Thjrs (a river), until they came to Tunga. Asgrim was at home, and received them well, and they stayed there over night. The next day they proceeded to talk the matter over. Njal opened the subject, and asked for the hand of Thorhalla for his son Helgi. Asgrim received this well, and said that with no men was he more desirous to bargain than with them. They then talked about the matter, and at last Asgrim betrothed his daughter to Helgi, and the wedding feast was agreed upon (Njala, c. 26, 27).

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