Magic and Witchcraft., part 8 · page 21 2 3101Saechs.102Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften," December 3, 1853, pp.103194-5.104[303] The "Baital-Pachisi," translated by Ghulam Mohammad Munshi, Bombay 1868, pp.10523-24.106[304] B. G. Babington's translation of "The Vedala Cadai," p. 32. contained in the "Miscellaneous Translations" of the Oriental Translation Fund, 1831, vol. i. pt. iv pp.10732 and 67.108[305] Afanasief, _P.V.S.109_ ii.110 111[306] Afanasief, viii. p. 205.112[307] Afanasief, vii.113No. 5 _b_.114[308] Afanasief, vii.115No. 5 _a_.116For the _Zhar-Ptitsa_, see infra, p. 285.117[309] Afanasief, vi. p. 249.118For a number of interesting legends, collected from the most distant parts of the world, about grinding mountains and crashing cliffs, &c., see Tylor's "Primitive Culture," pp.119313-16.120After quoting three mythic descriptions found among the Karens, the Algonquins, and the Aztecs, Mr. Tylor remarks, "On the suggestion of this group of solar conceptions and that of Maui's death, we may perhaps explain as derived from a broken-down fancy of solar-myth, that famous episode of Greek legend, where the good ship Argo passed between the Symplegades, those two huge cliffs that opened and closed again with swift and violent collision."121Several of the Modern Greek stories are very like the skazka mentioned above.122In one of these (Hahn, ii. p. 234), a Lamia guards the water of life (+abanato nero+) which flows within a rock; in another (ii. p. 280) a mountain opens at midday, and several springs are disclosed, each of which cries "Draw from me!" but the only one which is life-giving is that to which a bee flies.123[310] Wenzig, p. 148.124[311] Afanasief, _P.V.S.125_ ii.126 127[312] See above, p. 233.128[313] _Silnaya voda_ or potent water, and _bezsilnaya voda_, or impotent water (_sila_ = strength).129[314] _Palitsa_ = a cudgel, etc. In the variant of the story quoted in the preceding section the prince seized Vikhor by the right little finger, _mizinets_.130_Palets_ meant a finger.131The similarity of the two words may have led to a confusion of ideas.132[315] Afanasief, vii. pp.13397-103.134[316] Muir's "Sanskrit Texts," v. p. 258 and p. 94.135See, also Mannhardt's "Germ.136Mythen," pp.13796-97.138[317] Being as destructive as the poison which was created during the churning of the Amrita.139[318] Afanasief, v. No. 35.140[319] In the original he is generally designated as _Katoma--dyad'ka, dubovaya shapka_, "Katoma-governor, oaken-hat."141Not being able to preserve the assonance, I have dropped the greater part of his title.142[320] _Bogodanny_ (_bog_ = God; _dat'_, _davat'_ = to give).143One of the Russian equivalents for our hideous "father-in-law" is "god-given father" (_bogodanny otets_), and for "mother-in-law," _bogodanny mat'_ or "God-given mother."144(Dahl.)145[321] Four lines are omitted here.146See A. de Gubernatis, "Zool.147Mythology," i. 181, where a solar explanation of the whole story will be found.148[322] These ejaculations belong to the story-teller.149[323] Literally, "Seemed to her as small as a lamb."150[324] _Kolodez_, a word connected with _koloda_ a log, trough, &c.151[325] Afanasief, viii.152No. 23 _a_.153[326] To this episode a striking parallel is offered by that of Gunther's wedding night in the "Nibelungenlied," in which Brynhild flings her husband Gunther across the room, kneels on his chest, and finally binds him hand and foot, and suspends him from a nail till daybreak.154The next night Siegfried takes his place, and wrestles with the mighty maiden.155After a long struggle he flings her on the floor and forces her to submit.156Then he leaves the room and Gunther returns.157A summary of the story will be found in the "Tales of the Teutonic Lands," by G. W. Cox and E. H. Jones, pp.15894-5.159[327] Khudyakof, i. No. 19. pp.16073-7.161[328] Erlenvein, No. 19, pp.16295-7.163For a Little-Russian version see Kulish, ii. pp.16459-82.165[329] Afanasief, vi.166No. 26.167From the Kursk Government.168[330] _Prashchurui.169_170[331] The sentence in italics is a good specimen of the _priskazka_, or preface.171[332] _Gramota_ = +grammata+ whence comes _gramotey_, able to read and write = +grammatikos+.172[333] Vanya and Vanyusha are diminutives of Ivan (John), answering to our Johnny; Vanka is another, more like our Jack.173[334] Literally "with a Solovei-like whistle."174The word _solovei_ generally means a nightingale, but it was also the name of a mythical hero, a robber whose voice or whistle had the power of killing those who heard it.175[335] _Chmoknuel_, smacked.176[336] See Barsof's rich collection of North-Russian funeral poetry, entitled "Prichitaniya Syevernago Kraya," Moscow, 1872.177Also the "Songs of the Russian People," pp.178334-345.179[337] Miss Frere's "Old Deccan Days," pp.1803, 4.181[338] Grimm, _KM.182_ No. 21.183[339] Afanasief, vi.184No. 54.185[340] _Ona krava shto yoy ye bila mati_, Vuk Karajich, p. 158.186In the German translation (p. 188) _Wie dies nun die Kuh sah, die einst seine Mutter gewesen war_.187[341] Afanasief, ii. p. 254.188[342] _Cherez dvyenadtsat' stekol.189_ _Steklo_ means a glass, or a pane of glass.190[343] Afanasief, ii. p. 269.191[344] Khudyakof, No. 50.192[345] Afanasief, iii. p. 25.193[346] Dasent's "Norse Tales," No. 40.194Asbjoernsen and Moe, No. 37. "195Grimsborken."196[347] Dasent, No. 13.197Asbjoernsen and Moe, No. 51. "198Jomfruen paa Glasberget."199[348] Campbell's "West-Highland Tales," iii. pp.200265, 266.1 2 3← previousMagic and Witchcraft., part 7next →Magic and Witchcraft., part 9↑ back to Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-loreThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/49/page/2/