work did not allow of many short poetical pieces
being included; nevertheless, two of the best of the numerous songs and
ballads interspersed through the _Kalevipoeg_ have been given, and two
other specimens from Neus' _Ehstnische Volkslieder_ (Revel, 1850-1852)
and Kreutzwald and Neus' _Mythische und Magische Lieder der Ehsten_ (St.
Petersburg, 1854). More poetical specimens were thought unnecessary,
because many of the principal ballads in the former work will be found
translated in Latham's "Nationalities of Europe," 1863.

PASTOR HURT'S COLLECTIONS

In recent years enormous collections of Esthonian folk-lore have been
formed by Pastor Jacob Hurt and his coadjutors.

"Three volumes of these collections were edited by Hurt in 1875, 1876,
and 1886, under the title of _Vana Kannel_, the 'Old Harp;' and other
collections were published by several of his colleagues. In 1888 Hurt
made a renewed appeal to the Esthonians to collect their old songs, and
fresh contributions came pouring in from all quarters.

"Special attention was called to Pastor Hurt's work at the Congress of
Folk-lorists in Paris by Henry Carnoy.

"According to the latest intelligence which I have received from Dr.
Krohn, Pastor Hurt has received contributions from 633 different
folk-tale collectors in the last three and a half years. Most of these
contributors are simple peasants; some are schoolmasters, but only a few
are students or highly educated persons.

"He now possesses, as the result of three and a half years' work of this
nature, epics, lyrics, wedding-songs, &c., upwards of 20,000 items;
tales, about 3000; proverbs, about 18,000; riddles, about 20,000.
Besides these he has a large collection of magical formulae,
superstitions, &c.

"He has only been able to accomplish these extraordinary results by his
having been able to awaken popular interest in the subject."[2]

I am glad to hear from my friend Dr. Kaarle Krohn, to whom I have been
indebted for much useful information and assistance in my own studies,
that part of the results of these great collections are likely to be
published very shortly. Of course a great number of tales and songs are
merely variants. Many relate to legends belonging rather to the
_Kalevala_ than to the _Kalevipoeg_.

In Dr. Krohn's important paper, _Die geographische Verbreitung
Estnischer Lieder_, published in 1892, he divides Esthonia and Northern
Livonia into several districts, and marks the numbe