of it to the skalds Gissur and Ottar, who thought it was the
most happy plan, if it could but be carried into effect. Ottar, who was
a man of great power of conversation, and much beloved in the court,
soon brought up the subject before the king's daughter, and recounted
to her, as Hjalte had done, all King Olaf's excellent qualities. Often
spoke Hjalte and the others about him; and now that Hjalte knew
the result of his mission, he sent those Gautland men away who had
accompanied him, and let them return to the earl with letters (1) which
the king's daughter Ingegerd sent to the earl and Ingebjorg. Hjalte also
let them give a hint to the earl about the conversation he had had with
Ingegerd, and her answer thereto: and the messengers came with it to the
earl a little before Yule.

ENDNOTES: (1) This seems the first notice we have in the sagas of
written letters being sent instead of tokens and verbal messages.
--L.

72. OLAF'S JOURNEY TO THE UPLANDS.

When King Olaf had despatched Bjorn and his followers to Gautland, he
sent other people also to the Uplands, with the errand that they should
have guest-quarters prepared for him, as he intended that winter (A.D.
1018) to live as guest in the Uplands; for it had been the custom of
former kings to make a progress in guest-quarters every third year in
the Uplands. In autumn he began his progress from Sarpsborg, and went
first to Vingulmark. He ordered his progress so that he came first to
lodge in the neighbourhood of the forest habitations, and summoned to
him all the men of the habitations who dwelt at the greatest distance
from the head-habitations of the district; and he inquired particularly
how it stood with their Christianity, and, where improvement was
needful, he taught them the right customs. If any there were who would
not renounce heathen ways, he took the matter so zealously that he drove
some out of the country, mutilated others of hands or feet, or stung
their eyes out; hung up some, cut down some with the sword; but let none
go unpunished who would not serve God. He went thus through the whole
district, sparing neither great nor small. He gave them teachers, and
placed these as thickly in the country as he saw needful. In this manner
he went about in that district, and had 300 deadly men-at-arms with him;
and then proceeded to Raumarike. He soon perceived that Christianity was
thriving less the farther he proceeded into the interior of