Notice of Runic Inscriptions Discovered during Recent Excavations in the Orkneys Part 3

The writer is probably recording the name of some fair woman, who has perhaps slighted him, and then reflects that the women who had been buried here, though ever so haughty, had been curbed by death. Ingibjorg, or Inkibiorh, is a common female name in the north. The other characters in the third line are known as Limouna, or Bough Runes. They were used in the later times of the Runic period, in the same manner as the Irish Ogum, but are not here intelligible. The writer probably intended to represent the chief vowels--A. E. I. O. Y. U. The Runic alphabet was divided into cla.s.ses; the strokes on the left of the vertical line indicating the cla.s.s, and those on the right the rune itself. Figures of fishes were occasionally in use, and were known as Fish-runes.--Professor MUNCH.

INGIBIORG HIN FAHRA aeHKIA A MORHG KONA HaeFIR FARIT LUT IN HIR MIHKIL OFLATI.

_Ingibiorg, the fair widow, or Ingibiorg the Fair, the widow. Many a rather proud woman did walk here stooping (bent forward), or did walk stooping here in (into)._

The Palm-runes underneath cannot be read in the usual manner; the first, third, and fourth of the runes being a, o, and i; the writer probably intended to give all the vowels, but some of the letters have been obviously miscarved, and have perhaps been altered and defaced at a later period by other persons. In the first of them a cross line has been added to shew that the letter [rune] or (a) is intended.--Professor RAFN.

No. IX.

Th.o.r.n.y SAERTH . . . HAELGHIS RAEISTO.

_The javelin pierceth . . . Haelghis carved._

Haelghis was probably an Englishman or Frislander. The inscription is much worn, and evidently very old. The last letter [rune] is the old northern [rune].--Professor STEPHENS.

THORNU SAERTH . . . HAELHI RAEIST R.

_Th.o.r.n.y . . . Haelhi engraved._

Th.o.r.n.y is a female name. Saerth is unintelligible; something is wanting here; the last letter R. is clearly the beginning of the word Runar.--Professor MUNCH.

Th.o.r.n.y SAERTH . . . HAELHI RAEIST.

_Th.o.r.n.y Saerd . . . Helge carved._

The word Saerth is of doubtful meaning.--Professor RAFN.

[Sidenote: _Plate IX._]

No. X.

Th.o.r.eR FORMIR, a proper name.

or

_Th.o.r.er Fonkmir._ Th.o.r.er, follow me.--Professor STEPHENS.

Probably the name of a man: there is a rude figure of a horse engraved.--Professor MUNCH.

Thorir Fomir, a name of doubtful import. Fa mer, perhaps procure me.

Th.o.r.er, procure me the cross. The great cross underneath may refer to the Crusade. (_Note._--This cross has been apparently engraved at a comparatively late period.)--Professor RAFN.

No. XI.

RAEIST RUNAR THESAR OFRAMR SIGHURTHERSONR.

_Ofram Sigurthson carved these Runes._

Several of the letters at the beginning are obliterated. The crosses may be intended for ornament.--Professor STEPHENS.

REIST RUNAR THESSAR UFRAMR SIGURTHARSONR.

_Ofram, the son of Siward, engraved these Runes._--Professor MUNCH.

RAEIST RUNAR THAESIR OFRAMR SIHURTHARSONR.

_Ofram Sigurdson carved these Runes._

The word Oframr, or Uframr, is hardly to be found anywhere else. It signifies "the modest," "the reserved." The seven crosses denote that this man was one of the Crusaders.--Professor RAFN.

No. XII.

OTAR, FILA, RAEIST, RUNAR THESAR.

_Otar Fila carved these runes._--Professor STEPHENS.

IOTAR, FILA, REIST RUNAR THESSAR.

_Iotar Fila engraved these runes._--Professor MUNCH.

IOTA FILA RAEIST RUNAR THISAR.

_Iotar Fila carved these runes._

This is an unknown name.--Professor RAFN.

No. XIII.

THAT, MAN, SAT, IR, EKIae, HE, AT, FEUAR, FORT, ABROT, THRIM NOTOM, UARFI, BROT, FORT, HAELTR, aeNTHAEIR.

This is to be read from right to left. (The figure at the beginning is probably a mere scratch. J. F.) It reads thus:--That man who sat here in ache (sorrowfully) He at the Fee-Ware (at the treasure-gate--from the treasure-guard) forth a broke, with three comrades from the stronghold broke forth the Hero aenthaeir. This probably announces the escape of a prisoner, perhaps an Englishman, as is indicated by some of the words--That for Sa, He for Han, as examples. He boasts of his escape. He may, however, have intended to record a message.--Professor STEPHENS.

No. XIV.

JORSALA MEN BURTU HAUK.