Note 237-1 — Chapter III

The Icelandic repps consisting as a rule of 20 citizens subject to taxation, who mutually insured one another against the death of cattle (to the extent of at least one-fourth the value), and against damage from fire. After every fire three chambers of each house were replaced; so also the loss of clothing and of the means of subsistence, but not other goods or articles of display. (Dahlmann, Danisch Gesch., II, 281 ff.) Scandinavian parish-duty, (Gemeindepflicht), of assistance in case of damage by fire: Wilda, Gesch. des deutschen Strafrechts, I, 142. Similarly Capitul. a. 779 in Pertz, Leges, I, 37. This matter plays an important part in the guilds out of which a large portion of the ancient cities were evolved: compare Wilda, Gildenwesen in M. Alter. 123.