[16] Brittany is the most westerly province of France. The people, who are called Bretons, are descendants of the ancient Celts. They have a language of their own, are very imaginative, and delight in extravagant tales like this one, which is one of their special favorites. Laboulaye also gives a version of this tale in his "Fairy Book."
[17] A Russian fable.
[18] A Russian folktale.
[19] One of the folktales so popular among Russian peasants. All the witches are known as Baba-Iaga in Russia.
[20] This is one of the Hungarian-Slavonian stories. Different versions have been given by Slavonic writers. Wratislaw gives a translation of it in his "Sixty Folk Tales," and Laboulaye has given his version of it in his "Fairy Book."
[21] An Arabian legend. The Mahometans are the followers of Mahomet. In Arabia and Turkey God is called Allah. A pacha is the same as a bashaw. The Koran is the Mahometan Bible.
[22] A Slavonic legend.
[23] A Servian tale.
[24] This story is adapted from a legend published in "Le Magasin Pittoresque," a popular French periodical.
[25] This is a popular tale in Touraine, in Central France. It is merely the French version of the tale told by every nation, and has innumerable counterparts. Tours is the capital of the province of Touraine. The Loire is one of the great rivers in France, which it divides into two almost equal parts.