Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-15
SHIPS AS BURIAL PLACES
A Curious scandinavian Method of L
posing OF the Dead.

posing OF the Dead. y.
Burial ships have so far been dis
covered to the number of a dozen in
Sweden and Norway. The bodies laid
In them burned or unburned. were
! equipped with pathetic care. Besides
helng deliberately armed and adorned.
they had placed at their disposal
means OF employment and diversion.
such as writing tablets forging tools.
whettlng stones, scissors. cooking
utensils, chessmen, draughtsmen and
dice. In one of nine boats, containing
as many bodies, disinterred in the
church yard of Wendell in Uppland
weapons and implements were as
ISOLATED with the remains of three
horses, three dogs. a COW. pig ram,
eve and goose. Another sheltered
the bones of a goose falcon. rood
owl and crane
The inference seems justified that
all these birds were domesticated.
Inside the ribs of the celebrated COX
stadt ship some peacocks' feathers lay
scattered with fragments of goId-ern-
broidered silllen staff; and the tumu.
lus near Sandeford, from which it was
unearthed 1880. contained the slzele-
tons OF at least twelve. horses and six
dogs. But the treasures of the sepui-
chral chamber amidships had long ago
fallen prey to some of the numerous
and nameless thieves who
Ransacked the graves of warriors Old,
Their falChions wrenched from the corpses'
hold.
The vessel itself, which is of oak,
clinker-built and seventy-fve feet
long, is preserved in the Archaeological
Museum at Christiania.
Life in the North, however funda-
mentally homely, was attended in
those days by accessories of consider
able splendor. Gastronomic refne-
ments were indeed unknown Boiled
veal counted as the 'best of dainties;"
roast pork, with wheaton bread might
also be provided for favored guests, in
default of which delicacies curds and
buttermilk were welcome, and the bill
OF fare during a royal visit comprised
on alternate days, fish and milk meat
and ale. Yet the tables spread with
such simple repasts were often gay
with embroidered cloths and radiant
with gilded vessels, dainty glass beah-
ers and repousse silver and bronze
drinking horns. They were surround
ed. too by gorgeously clad jewellers.
Scarlet cloaks, lined with fur and Sc
cured with magnificent fibule OF
bronze inlaid with silver. or of silver
gilt diversified with filigree work,
garnets or walrus ivy, were flung over
silken tunics or kirtles made of kind
OF velvet called ''pell."
These were belted with girdles fine
ly wrought of precious metals; gold
rings encircing legs, arms and fingers;
silk caps adorned with lace, covered
the head; shoes were of leather,
covered with beaten gold and stitched
with silk; a gold band like diadem
confined tawny and profuse locks flow
ing down to the shoulders We hear,
besides, of gloves made soft with down.
Of suits of many-colored English
cloth" rain and dust cloaks, and OF
fur-lined mantless with golden neck
straps. Sigurd the Jarl figures in ST
Oiaf's saga as clad in "a blue tirtle
and blue hose, high shoes laced around
his legs, a gray cloak and gray
broad brimmed hat and hood over
his face, q staff in his hand, with a
gilt silver mounting at the upper end.
from which silver ring hung
Edinburgh Review.