ABSTRACT
IN Iceland, that is, the icy land that from long ago has been and still is subject to Norway, it is stipulated by law that whoever slaughters a dangerous beast shall receive from the treasury or from the royal governor a set reward, graded according to the ferocity of the creature which he has killed and whose carcase he has produced. Since ravens, therefore, including the white variety, are more savage than in other lands in the way they kill lambs and piglets with their swooping attacks and snatching talons, the young fellows of that country energetically train and harden themselves to hunt the ravens and to avenge their ravages by killing a great many of them with arrows. Those who are seeking a reward show as a token to those in authority only the beaks strung on cords. This 216recompense is bestowed most generously, for they receive arrows equal in number to the predators slain. 1 The same regard is paid to other injurious animals over the whole northern region, except that the pelts of great bears, especially of white ones, are spread under the seats before sacred altars, to prevent the cold from hurting the priests. 2
Iceland
Arrows are given as a reward
White bears Skins at the feet of altars
