Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/455

 TABULATION OP FOLKTALES. Ill

[No. 42.J

Title of Story.— story of the Bird that made Milk, I.

Dramatis Personas— Poor man.— Wife.— Their children.— Bird.— Crocodile. — His daughter. — Child.

Abstract of Story-— (l) Poor man, wife, children, Gingci and Lonci (boys), and Dumangashe (girl), lived in village; got milk from tree by squeezing. It was not so nice as cows' milk, people were thin and not glossy who drank. — (2) One day woman began to cultivate garden, at night left cut grass in heap ; bird came and sang to weeds to disappear, which they did. Next morning woman astonished at this, worked as on previous day, marked places with sticks ; went home, told husband, who said it was false- hood and she had been lazy; told her to get out of his sight or he would beat her. — (3) Third day she felt sorrowful when going to work; grass had grown again and sticks were there; she only hoed ground. Whilst there bird came, perched on one of sticks, sang to pick-handle to come ofE and break and sods to go back to places ; these things happened. — (4) Wo- man told husband ; they dug deep hole in ground, covered it with sticks and grass. Man hid in hole and put up hand ; woman began to hoe ; bird came, perched on hand, sang to pick, to break, and sods to return, and it was so. Man tightened fingers, caught bird, came out of hole, told bird as it spoilt work in garden he would cut off head with sharp stone. Bird said it was not one to be killed, for it could make milk; made some at his request, which he tasted ; found very nice ; sent wife for milk basket which bird filled. Man said his bird was better than a cow; took it home. — (5) Had milk from it every day for wife and himself (children had milk from tree), and he became fat and skin-shining. Dumangashe wondered to Gingci why father got so fat aud they remained thin, who thought he eat in night. They watched and heard him tell bird to make milk, of which he partook. Next day woman went to work in field ; husband, before visit- ing friend, fastened door of house, telling children not to enter. — (6) They disobeyed him, told bird to make milk ; it said it must be put by fireplace, and when there made little milk ; boy asked for more ; it said it must be put by door, when it made little milk; girl asked for some; this time it requested to be put in sunlight, when it made jar full of milk, sang about Dumangashe's father finding fault with it, and that the Umkonanzl could not be crossed except by swallows who had long wings, then flew away. Gingci and Dumangashe followed it, for they feared father would kill them. — (7) They came to tree where were many birds; boy caught one and asked for milk, but it bled like river, so he let it go. In evening man returned; saw door was not shut in way he had left it. Lonci said when he returned from river others had gone. Man searched ; found girl under