18
IN one house were two maidens. The elder married; a horse of the brother-in-law was lost; the younger sister—that is, his sister-in-law—(Balduiz in Kirghis) went forth to look for it and lost herself. Now she only screeches "At djok (there's no horse) kukuk!" When she started on the search she wore on one foot her own black shoe, on the other foot the shoe of her brother-in-law, which was made of red felt (balgarui). — (The same as No. 13. See Folk-Lore Journal for October 1885.)
15. The Bee.
The king of the birds, Khan Garudē, sent two birds, Uran shēba (the Messenger of Poland[1]) and Khatuin-Kharatsē, or Altuin Kharatsē (the swallow), and the bee, to dine upon the earth and find out whose flesh was best eating. On their return they met Bur khan; [2] he asked them whose flesh is best to eat? They replied, "Human flesh." Bur khan, to save man, persuaded them not to tell the bird Khan Garudē. The birds agreed; but not believing that the bee would keep silence they cut out her tongue.
When they flew up, the first said to Khan Garudē that the most delicious flesh was the snake's, for so Bur khan had advised them to say. The bee then flew up; but to the question of Garudē she
