The Magyar title of this tale is: "HamupipÖke," and as there are no genders in the Magyar language, the name may stand either for a male or a female.

Sports similar to those mentioned in the tale (but of course on a very much reduced scale, so as to suit ordinary mortals) formed part of the wedding festivities in Hungary in days gone by. Cf. Baron RadvÁnszky's work on Magyar Family Life in the 15th and 16th Centuries. 3 vols. (In Magyar).

For the whole story, Cf. the Finnish "Maan, meren kulkija laiwa" (S. ja T. ii. p. 22), a story from Ilomantsi, which tells of a king with an only daughter, whom he does not wish to marry, as he cannot bear the thought of parting from her, and so set as a task for any one who wished to marry her, the building of a ship that could sail over land and sea. Three brothers, who were merchants, lived in the land: the youngest was called Tuhkamo (Ashiepattle): these determined to try their luck; but the elder failed, because they rejected the offer of help from an old man; Ashiepattle secured the old man's good will, and so won the day. The latter part of the tale is something like that of Shepherd Paul in this collection.

A Karelian story, entitled "Tuhkamo" turns upon three brothers, whose father before he died bade them come and pray for him by his grave: only the youngest did so. He was rewarded, and by means of a wonderful horse, achieved marvellous feats of jumping, and so won the princess. Another story from North Finland: "Tuhkamo," relates how a dead father came to his three sons in their dreams, and ordered them to watch on the sea-shore; the youngest alone did so, and caught a swan maiden, whose father set him three tasks; viz. to fell all the trees near a bay; to set them up again; and to bring a golden chain from heaven. He managed all that by the help of his bride, but got into trouble over the last, as when he rode up to it, on his wondrous steed, and seized it, it was so heavy that he fell down to the earth, and was completely buried in the ground, except a little hair, which remained above ground; a duck made her nest on his head, and laid her eggs in it, and by means of a fox and other animals which came to eat the eggs Tuhkamo got out of his difficulty; he next fooled two men who were quarrelling over three precious gifts; he then went on to three houses asking for his bride; all the animals, &c. were summoned, and at last an eagle took him to his lost bride, who recognised him by a piece of the golden chain he put in the water the princess's servants drew.

In another Finnish tale, "The Golden Bird," the third son is the only one who can watch all night, and so finds out what it is that steals fruit from his father's favourite tree.

The Lapp story, "Ruobba,[69] JÆtten og Fanden," Friis, p. 67, tells of tools of all sorts, axes and planes, &c. coming and asking the sons to give them some food; the eldest refuse, but the youngest gives them food, and so succeeds in finding out the robber.

Another tale, "Solkongens Datter," Friis, p. 152, relates how a man has a barn full of corn from which some one steals every night. The man's two elder sons try to watch and fail; but Gudnavirus (i.e. Ashiepattle) succeeds in finding the robbers—three swan-maidens—and securing one of them.

Cf. also Rink, Eskimo Legends, "Kagsagsuk," and "The Child Monster," where ill treated ones suddenly develope vast power. Dasent, Tales from the Norse, "The Princess on the glass hill." Old Deccan Days, "The Raksha's Palace," p. 205. Stokes' Indian Fairy Tales, "The boy who had a moon on his forehead," p. 126, &c. and p. 280. Mitford, Tales of Old Japan, "The story of the Old Man who made withered trees to blossom." Vernaleken, In the Land of Marvels, "Hondiddledo and his Fiddle," and "Mr. Chick," p. 228. Roumanian Fairy Tales, "The Hermit's Foundling." Geldart, Folk-Lore of Modern Greece, "The Scab Pate." Steere, Swahili Tales, "Sultan MajnÚn." Ralston, Russian Folk Tales, "The Norka," p. 73. Denton, Serbian Folk-Lore, "The Golden Apple Tree and the nine Peahens." "Who asks much gets little." Grimm, vol. i. "The Golden Bird," "The Three feathers." Ibidem, vol. ii. "Iron John," and notes, p. 434. Gubernatis, vol. i. pp. 25, 177, and 293, &c. where Russian variants are given. Thorpe, Yule-Tide Stories "The Millet Thief." Polnische Volkssagen und MÄrchen, Aus dem Polnischen des K. B. Woycicki von F. H. Levestam, "Der Glasberg." Deutches MÄrchenbuch, von L. Bechstein, "Hirsedieb." Sagen MÄrchen und GebrÄuche aus Sachsen und ThÜringen, Gesammelt von Emil Sommer, "Der Dumme Wirrschopf." Svenska Folk Sagor, HyltÉn-Cavallius och G. Steffens, "Prinsessan uppÅ Glasberget."