108. Big Begum and Little Begum. [[Story]]
See note to number [106]. The story is a version of Hans Anderson’s Big Claus and Little Claus, Grimm 61; Bolte u. Polívka 2: 1–18 and contains three episodes. (1) “Little Begum” tricks “Big Begum” into killing his oxen to get gold. (2) and (3) He exchanges places in the bag, gets a drove of sheep, and tricks “Big Begum” into getting himself drowned in the same bag, as in number [107].
(1) Episode F in Bolte u. Polívka’s analysis. This informant’s stories were not well motivated; the version does not explain how “Little Begum” sold the pretended magic hide. In Arcin, 475–476, Zeltner, 62–72, and Parsons, Andros Island, 86, the episode is accompanied by the trick of the life-giving staff (G′ and see number [106]); in Edwards, 95–96, by the trick of the dead mother pretended slain (G″ and see number [135]).
(2) and (3) In Fortier, 88–89, as in this version, (1) is accompanied by the bag trick, episodes H and J in Bolte u. Polívka’s analysis. See also number [23].
Compare the “Pedro Ordimales” cycle in Recinos, JAFL 31: 474–477.
109. The Fool and the Wise Brother. [[Story]]
The detail of this story proves a folk rather than a literary source.
The story has three parts. (1) The foolish brother kills his mother in the bath. (2) The two brothers hide in a tree under which robbers are dividing their spoil and frighten the robbers [[283]]away by dropping down a weight upon them. (3) One robber returns, and gets his tongue cut out.