Motif-Index of Folk-Literature/Volume 1/A/2800

by Stith Thompson

A2800—A2899. Miscellaneous explanations.

A2800—A2849. MISCELLANEOUS EXPLANATIONS: ORIGINS

A2811. Origin of silk. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1.

A2812. Origin of musk. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1.

A2813. Origin of honey. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1.; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Icel.: Boberg.

A2012.2. First bees in Ireland.

A2814. Origin of spices. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1.

A2815. Origin of floating webs in summer. *Dh II 254.

A2816. Origin of smoke. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 81.

A2817. Origin of the will-o'-the-wisp (jack-o'-lantern). Type 330. — Africa (Fang): Trilles 138.

F491. Will-o'-the-wisp.

A2817.1. Smith outwits devil, is admitted to neither heaven nor hell. The devil gives him a light to find his way back in the dark; he is known as the will-o'-the-wisp or jack-o'-lantern. England, Ireland, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman.

A2817.2. Will-o'-the-wisp is girl cursed by her mother for gathering plants for dyestuffs on Sunday. Will-o'-the-wisp is seen where girl disappeared. Scotland: Baughman.

A2823. Origin of churning stick. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2824. Origin of drum. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2825. Origin of canes: from whip thrust into ground. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2826. Origin of shells. Eskimo (East Greenland): Rasmussen I 114.

D233. Troll turns to shell.

A2827. Origin of pearls. Jewish: Neuman.

A2828. Origin of particular kinds of basket. Tonga: Gifford 140.

A2831. Origin of demons. Jewish: Neuman.

G302. Demons. G303. Devil.

A2834. Origin of fish drug. S. Am. Indian: Wagley-Galvão BBAE CXLIII (3) 253.

A2847. Origin of scum on stagnant water. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2849. Miscellaneous origins.

A2849.1. Miscellaneous Jewish origins. Jewish: **Neuman.

A2850—A2899. MISCELLANEOUS EXPLANATIONS: CHARACTERISTICS

A2851. The four characteristics of wine. Devil helps Noah plant vineyard and kills various animals over it. These illustrate the four qualities of wine. Peacock: brilliant colors; ape: jokes; lion: boldness; hog; drunkenness. — *Dh I 298ff.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 244; *Köhler-Bolte I 577; Basset III 31; *Krappe Bull. Hispanique XXXIX 48; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3242; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.

A2853. Why sexes differ in form and temperament. Jewish: Neuman.

A2854. Why men like tobacco, but spit when smoking. Adam in paradise spat upon the tobacco plant. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3242, Legends No. 338f.

A2855. Trees classified as "pleasant trees, herb trees, shrub trees." Irish myth: Cross.

A2861. Why men become old. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2862. Why spirits are invisible. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2871. Why soil in certain country is poor. India: Thompson-Balys.

A2872. Why coral is soft. Africa (Tonga): Gifford 136.

A2875. Why babies have soft spots in head. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 507.

A2877. Why palm oil is red. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield.