[330] Prashchurui.
[331] The sentence in italics is a good specimen of the priskazka, or preface.
[332] Gramota = γράμματα whence comes gràmotey, able to read and write = γραμματικός.
[333] Vanya and Vanyusha are diminutives of Ivan (John), answering to our Johnny; Vanka is another, more like our Jack.
[334] Literally “with a Solovei-like whistle.” The 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.
[335] Chmoknuel, smacked.
[336] See Barsof’s rich collection of North-Russian funeral poetry, entitled “Prichitaniya Syevernago Kraya,” Moscow, 1872. Also the “Songs of the Russian People,” pp. 334-345.
[337] Miss Frere’s “Old Deccan Days,” pp. 3, 4.
[338] Grimm, KM. No. 21.
[339] Afanasief, vi. No. 54.