[21] According to Jannsen, the forest which once surrounded the river Vaskia, which flows through a village of the same name near Revel, was formerly sacred to a goddess named Vaskia.
[22] Compare the Kalevipoeg, [Canto 1].
[23] Poestion, Lappländische Märchen, p. 122. Another Lapp version, almost identical with Homer's, is given by Latham, Nationalities of Europe, i. p. 237.
[24] It must be said, to the credit of the Esthonian devils, that they only appear occasionally in the light of ogres. In many tales they are harmless, and sometimes amiable.
[25] There are several very similar stories in Finnish.
[26] Compare the story of "Princess Helena the Fair" (Ralston's Russian Folk-Tales, p. 256).
[27] The commencement of this story reminds us of "Beauty and the Beast;" the second part is that of the "Magic Flute."
[29] Schiefner considers the name of this story (Näki Neitsi) to indicate a Swedish origin; but this seems to be very doubtful evidence, and the incidental allusion to the Swedes in the course of the narrative seems opposed to such an idea.
[30] George.