Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/27

Rh could only give out an unintelligible buzzing. — (Dorchkē, a Khalka man of the Baru tribe from the mouth of the Orkhon River.)

Formerly there was war between the Messenger of Poland and the snake (Djēlan Kurkul taiga Uch buladui). The snake's young ate the commander of the Messenger of Poland (Kurkulgai duin tiurênui). After this the Messenger of Poland (Kurkulgai) built his nest over the water on the end of a branch. — (Siēr Bai, a Kirghis of Tarbagatai.) In former times the snake was crooked, and destroyed much people and animals ; the Messenger of Poland, out of fright, built herself a nest over the water and hid herself. A priest came to the land and met a man. "Whither goest thou ?" asked he him. "To complain to God," replied he, "of the snake who destroys men and animals." The priest said, "I will overcome her by fraud." Then the priest went to the snake, and said : "If thou wishest, snake, I will make thee straight — thou shalt run still faster." The snake agreed ; the priest pressed her under a press, and drew her out under a sickle. From this time she became straight, slippery, and without strength. — (Raēs, a Kirghis of Chubaraigir, clan of Tarbagatai.)

Not only was it no sin to kill Letyaga, but, by his death, fortune came to the sky itself. In grey antiquity the son of the sky came upon the earth ; him Olbē saw. God's son slept under a tree. Then Olbē bit through his throat. Therefore, a Mongol deems it a good deed to slay Olbē and hang him upon a tree. The sky destroyed Olbē with thundering lightning and now, whenever a storm rages on the earth, the thunder-stroke is directed to that quarter where sits Olbē. — (Tabuin Sakhal, a Shaman of the Mongol Uryankhait race, in the Altai mountains.)