s found among the
Karens, the Algonquins, and the Aztecs, Mr. Tylor remarks, "On the
suggestion of this group of solar conceptions and that of Maui's
death, we may perhaps explain as derived from a broken-down fancy of
solar-myth, that famous episode of Greek legend, where the good ship
Argo passed between the Symplegades, those two huge cliffs that opened
and closed again with swift and violent collision."

Several of the Modern Greek stories are very like the skazka mentioned
above. In one of these (Hahn, ii. p. 234), a Lamia guards the water of
life (+abanato nero+) which flows within a rock; in another (ii. p.
280) a mountain opens at midday, and several springs are disclosed,
each of which cries "Draw from me!" but the only one which is
life-giving is that to which a bee flies.

[310] Wenzig, p. 148.

[311] Afanasief, _P.V.S._ ii. 353.

[312] See above, p. 233.

[313] _Silnaya voda_ or potent water, and _bezsilnaya voda_, or
impotent water (_sila_ = strength).

[314] _Palitsa_ = a cudgel, etc. In the variant of the story quoted in
the preceding section the prince seized Vikhor by the right little
finger, _mizinets_. _Palets_ meant a finger. The similarity of the two
words may have led to a confusion of ideas.

[315] Afanasief, vii. pp. 97-103.

[316] Muir's "Sanskrit Texts," v. p. 258 and p. 94. See, also
Mannhardt's "Germ. Mythen," pp. 96-97.

[317] Being as destructive as the poison which was created during the
churning of the Amrita.

[318] Afanasief, v. No. 35.

[319] In the original he is generally designated as _Katoma--dyad'ka,
dubovaya shapka_, "Katoma-governor, oaken-hat." Not being able to
preserve the assonance, I have dropped the greater part of his title.

[320] _Bogodanny_ (_bog_ = God; _dat'_, _davat'_ = to give). One of
the Russian equivalents for our hideous "father-in-law" is "god-given
father" (_bogodanny otets_), and for "mother-in-law," _bogodanny mat'_
or "God-given mother." (Dahl.)

[321] Four lines are omitted here. See A. de Gubernatis, "Zool.
Mythology," i. 181, where a solar explanation of the whole story will
be found.

[322] These ejaculations belong to the story-teller.

[323] Literally, "Seemed to her as small as a lamb."

[324] _Kolodez_, a word connected with _koloda_ a log, trough, &c.

[325] Afanasief, viii. No. 23 _a_.

[326] To this episode a striking parallel is offered by that of
Gunther's wedding night in the "Nibelungenlied," in which Brynhild
flings