Comment
Recorded from
Ivan Dolganov in 1986. The tale is of Russian origin.
Translation
(11-1) There was an old man and an old woman.
(11-2) They had a son.
(11-3) They lived and one day their son said: "I will get married".
(11-4) That old man said: "Go, leave. Go, look for a wife for yourself."
(11-5) He put his coat on and left.
(11-6) When he was walking, there was a small fish lying in the pool.
(11-7) He took his coat off, caught that fish, went and threw it in the river.
(11-8) Then he left.
(11-9) He walked and reached some people.
(11-10) He reached the people. There was an old man there, he had a daughter.
(11-11) He took some beads and threw them into the water.
(11-12) He threw them and said: "My daughter will belong to the one who will gather all the beads."
(11-13) That man went down to the river. He came, stood by the river and said: "Fish which I previously threw into the water, collect the beads and bring them to me."
(11-14) As he stood there, the fish came, carrying the beads in its mouth.
(11-15) The man took them, went up the bank and gave them to that old man.
(11-16) That old man took the beads and counted them. They were all there.
(11-17) Then he said to his daughter: "Marry this man."
(11-18) So that man started living with his wife.
(11-19) After some time, as they were living there, the old man said: "Eventually you should go to your own land."
(11-20) When he said that, the man and his wife went to their own land and arrived there.
(11-21) That man's house was still standing.
(11-22) They live there still.
Glosses