[50] Chudinsky, No. 8. The proverb is dear to the Tartars also.
[51] Ibid. No. 23. The liulka, or Russian cradle, is suspended and swung, instead of being placed on the floor and rocked. Russian babies are usually swaddled tightly, like American papooses.
[52] “Panchatantra,” 1859, vol. i. § 212, pp. 519-524. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of gratefully acknowledging my obligations to Dr. Benfey’s invaluable work.
[53] Afanasief, i. No. 9. Written down in the Novgorod Government. Its dialect renders it somewhat difficult to read.
[54] This story is known to the Finns, but with them the Russian Demon, (chortenok = a little chort or devil), has become the Plague. In the original Indian story the demon is one which had formerly lived in a Brahman’s house, but had been frightened away by his cantankerous wife. In the Servian version (Karajich, No. 37), the opening consists of the “Scissors-story,” to which allusion has already been made. The vixen falls into a hole which she does not see, so bent is she on controverting her husband.
[55] Afanasief, ii. No. 12. Written down by a “Crown Serf,” in the government of Perm.
[56] Afanasief, viii. No. 20. A copeck is worth about a third of a penny.
[57] The story is continued very little further by Afanasief, its conclusion being the same as that of “The Wise Wife,” in Book vii. No. 22, a tale of magic. For a Servian version of the tale see Vuk Karajich, No. 7.
[58] Afanasief, v. No. 3. From the Novgorod Government.
[59] Literally, “has bid to live long,” a conventional euphemism for “has died.” “Remember what his name was,” is sometimes added.