Lögberg-Heimskringla - 20.07.1984, Page 3

WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 20. JÚLÍ 1984-3
Roadbuilding
sabotaged by elves?
Elves or ''hidden people" have
been held responsible for delays and
technical problems on a road-
building project at Halland near
Akureyri in northern Iceland. Heavy
machinery bogged down in the soft
clay of the area, and work stopped
for a week when a bulldozer broke
down.
Belief in elves, living in craggy
areas and resenting human inter-
ference, is remarkably widespread
even today. A survey published in
1978 showed that 55% thought the
existence of elves was possible, pro-
bable or certain, while only 28% said
it was unlikely or impossible. One in
twenty even claimed to have seen
elves on one or more occasions.
When plans were made to build a
road through Halland, which has
traditionally been regarded as an
elvish metropolis, supernatural in-
terference could perhaps have been
expected. In an interview with the
daily Morgunbladid, Ármann
Magnússon and Ármann Snjólfsson,
repairing the ''jinxed bulldozer,
would not commit themselves to a
supersititous explanation of events,
but they felt it was only reasonable
to disturb the environment as little as
possible.
Rumours of activity in the rocky
haunts of the elves are corroborated
by Bjarni Gestsson who works in a
freezing plant on the opposite bank
of the fjord. Although "quite down
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to earth" by his own account, he
claims to have seen lights at night in
the derelict farmhouse at Halland,
which he attributes to "something
going on that we humans cannot
understand."
It remains to be seen whether the
elves will continue to sabotage opera-
tions, but if so, the roadbuilding
plans may have to be altered.
Although embarrassed to admit it,
many Icelanders would prefer not to
risk the repercussions of disturbing
elves, who are known to be loyal
friends but implacable enemies. Pro-
jects have been delayed and even
abandoned in the past, when elves
have been opposed to them.
In Kópavogur, just outside Reyk-
javík, the main road was diverted
around large rock believed to be the
home of elves. Where the "hidden
people" are concerned, it is best to
play safe.
MESSUBOÐ
Fyrsta Lúterska
Kirkja
JOHN V. ARVIDSON
PASTOR
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Every Neil Bardal funeral service is
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respect — a long-standing
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Motorists in Kópavogur, near Reykjavík, accept this sharp bend in
the main road without complaint. Anything is preferable to annoy-
ing the elves inhabiting the rock which juts out unrelentingly into the
world of modern communications.

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