Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/35

 Arigur, the widgeon. In ancient times there was a poor man. He had only five goats. While tending them he saw seven Lhamas sitting down drinking tea. He took them a little goat's milk; the Lhamas accepted the milk and said to him, "Be rich for seven centuries." After that those seven Lhamas flew away in the form of widgeons; and indeed that man became rich, he lived for a century, died, was born again and again, became rich. That very man lives now in Tachjēn Uryankhai Gachoun, his name is Khun Taichjē.

According to another account, people do not kill the widgeon because he is yellow, and there is yellowness on the cheek of the swan.—(Daba, a Khalka man of Kêhē tushē gun Gachoun.)

Kēre the crow. In olden times there was a Lhama (the narrator thought it was the same Lhama who stirred the ocean with his rod). He created all the animals and the birds and among them the crow. Having drawn some beautiful water in a cup he gave it to the crow and said, "Pour this water, drop by drop, on the head of each man, that they may become immortal." The crow flew away, and sat in a certain place on a cedar tree. She croaked, the precious cup fell in consequence, the water was spilt. In that place grew three plants, always green, always fresh, that never die, the kosh (Pinus cembra), the djergene (ephedra) and the artsa (juniper). Other trees, like men, are mortal, they die each winter. The crow returned to the Lhama; he asked her, "Where is the water?" "Spilt." Then the Lhama said to the crow, "For this thy name shall be Khara kēre (black crow). Thou shalt have no other food than the eyes of dead men."

By another account people do not kill the crow because she is all black, and the swan has black feet.—(Chērēn Dorchkē, a Khalka man by the River Tamēr.)

In former times people who died rose again after three days. This has ceased to be so, from the following circumstance: a man died who had only a wife and one daughter. The widow went to and fro