Laxdæla Saga | Page 4

manner,
for there was no lack of means, and money was not spared. [Sidenote:
Unn takes land in Iceland] In the spring she went across Broadfirth, and
came to a certain ness, where they ate their mid-day meal, and since
that it has been called Daymealness, from whence Middlefell-strand
stretches (eastward). Then she steered her ship up Hvammsfirth and
came to a certain ness, and stayed there a little while. There Unn lost
her comb, so it was afterwards called Combness. Then she went about
all the Broadfirth-Dales, and took to her lands as wide as she wanted.
After that Unn steered her ship to the head of the bay, and there her
high-seat pillars were washed ashore, and then she deemed it was easy
to know where she was to take up her abode. She had a house built
there: it was afterwards called Hvamm, and she lived there. The same
spring as Unn set up household at Hvamm, Koll married Thorgerd,
daughter of Thorstein the Red. Unn gave, at her own cost, the
bridal-feast, and let Thorgerd have for her dowry all Salmonriver-Dale;
and Koll set up a household there on the south side of the Salmon-river.
Koll was a man of the greatest mettle: their son was named Hoskuld.

CHAP. VI
Unn Divides her Land
After that Unn gave to more men parts of her land-take. To Hord she
gave all Hord-Dale as far as Skramuhlaups River. [Sidenote: Her
followers] He lived at Hordabolstad (Hord-Lair-Stead), and was a man
of the greatest mark, and blessed with noble offspring. His son was
Asbjorn the Wealthy, who lived in Ornolfsdale, at Asbjornstead, and
had to wife Thorbjorg, daughter of Midfirth-Skeggi. Their daughter
was Ingibjorg, who married Illugi the Black, and their sons were
Hermund and Gunnlaug Worm-tongue. They are called the
Gilsbecking-race. Unn spoke to her men and said: "Now you shall be
rewarded for all your work, for now I do not lack means with which to

pay each one of you for your toil and good-will. You all know that I
have given the man named Erp, son of Earl Meldun, his freedom, for
far away was it from my wish that so high-born a man should bear the
name of thrall." Afterwards Unn gave him the lands of Sheepfell,
between Tongue River and Mid River. His children were Orm and
Asgeir, Gunbjorn, and Halldis, whom Alf o' Dales had for wife. To
Sokkolf Unn gave Sokkolfsdale, where he abode to old age. Hundi was
the name of one of her freedmen. He was of Scottish kin. To him she
gave Hundidale. Osk was the name of the fourth daughter of Thorstein
the Red. She was the mother of Thorstein Swart, the Wise, who found
the "Summer eeke." Thorhild was the name of a fifth daughter of
Thorstein. She was the mother of Alf o' Dales, and many great men
trace back their line of descent to him. His daughter was Thorgerd, wife
of Ari Marson of Reekness, the son of Atli, the son of Ulf the Squinter
and Bjorg, Eyvond's daughter, the sister of Helgi the Lean. From them
come all the Reeknessings. Vigdis was the name of the sixth daughter
of Thorstein the Red. From her come the men of Headland of Islefirth.

CHAP. VII
Of the Wedding of Olaf "Feilan," A.D. 920
Olaf "Feilan" was the youngest of Thorstein's children. He was a tall
man and strong, goodly to look at, and a man of the greatest mettle.
Unn loved him above all men, and made it known to people that she
was minded to settle on Olaf all her belongings at Hvamm after her day.
[Sidenote: Unn's advice to Olaf] Unn now became very weary with old
age, and she called Olaf "Feilan" to her and said: "It is on my mind,
kinsman, that you should settle down and marry." Olaf took this well,
and said he would lean on her foresight in that matter. Unn said: "It is
chiefly in my mind that your wedding-feast should be held at the end of
the summer, for that is the easiest time to get in all the means needed,
for to me it seems a near guess that our friends will come hither in great
numbers, and I have made up my mind that this shall be the last bridal
feast arrayed by me." Olaf answered: "That is well spoken; but such a
woman alone I mean to take to wife who shall rob thee neither of

wealth nor rule (over thine own)." [Sidenote: Olaf's wedding] That
same summer Olaf "Feilan" married Alfdis. Their wedding was at
Hvamm. Unn spent much money on this feast, for she let be bidden
thereto men of high degree wide about from other parts. She invited
Bjorn and