SECTION IV.

Voyage of Wulfstan in the Baltic as related to
Alfred[1].

Wulfstan said that he sailed from Haethum to Truso[2]
in seven days and nights, the ship being under sail
all the time.  Weonothland[3] was on his right;
but Langaland, Laeland, Falster, and Sconeg, were on
the left, all of which belong to Dene-mearkan[4]. 
Burgendaland[5] also, which has a king of its own,
was on the left.  After leaving Burgendaland, the
islands of Becinga-eg, Meore, Eowland, and Gotland,
were on the left, all of which belong to Sueon[6],
and Weonodland[7] was all the way on the right to the
mouth of the Wisle[8].  This is a very large river,
and near it Witland[9], and Weonodland are situated;
the former of which belongs to Estum, and the Wisle
does not run through Weonodland, but through Estmere[10],
which lake is fifteen miles broad.  Then runs
the Ilfing[11] from the eastwards into Est-mere, on
the banks of which is Truso.  The Ilfing flows
from Est-land into the Est-mere from the east, and
the Wisle through Weonodland from the south. 
The Ilfing, having joined the Wisle, takes its name,
and runs to the west of Estmere, and northward into
the sea, where it is called Wisle-mouth[12].

Est-land is a large track of country, having many
towns, in each of which there is a king.  It produces
a great quantity of honey, and has abundance of fish. 
The kings, and other rich men, drink mares milk, while
the poor people and slaves use only mead[13]. 
They have many contests among themselves; and the
people of Estum brew no ale, as they have mead in
profusion[14].  There is also a particular custom
observed by this nation; that, when any one dies,
the body remains unburnt, with the relations and friends,
for a month or two; and the bodies of kings and nobles
remain longer, according to their respective wealth,
sometimes for half a year, during all which time it
is kept in the house, and drinking and sports continue
until the body is consumed[15].  When the body
is carried to the funeral pile, the substance of the
deceased, which yet remains, after the sports and
drinking bouts, is divided into five or six heaps,
or more, according to its value.  These heaps
are placed at the distance of a mile from each other;
the largest heap at the greatest distance from the
town, and the lesser heaps gradually diminishing,
so that the smallest heap is nearest to the town where
the dead body lies.  Then all are summoned who
have fleet horses, within the distance of five or six
miles around, and they all strive for the substance
of the dead person.  He who has the swiftest horse,
gains the most distant and largest heap, and the others,
in just proportion, till the whole is won; then every
one takes away his share, as his own property: 
and owing to this custom, swift horses are in great
request, and extremely dear.  When the wealth of
the deceased has been thus exhausted, the body is
taken from the house and burnt, together with the