Part 1
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Transcriber's Note
Illustration captions in {brackets} have been added by the transcriber from the list of illustrations, for the convenience of the reader.
THE ORANGE FAIRY BOOK
Edited by ANDREW LANG
With Numerous Illustrations by H. J. FORD
_Crown Edition_
LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. LONDON . NEW YORK . TORONTO
LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO.
114 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 221 EAST 20TH STREET, CHICAGO 88 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON 215 VICTORIA STREET, TORONTO
LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. LTD.
39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E C 4 53 NICOL ROAD, BOMBAY 6 OLD COURT HOUSE STREET, CALCUTTA 36A MOUNT ROAD, MADRAS
LANG THE ORANGE FAIRY BOOK
COPYRIGHT . 1906 BY LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO.
_All Rights Reserved_
First Edition August 1906 Reprinted March 1911, August 1914 January 1917, February 1919, May 1922 January 1925, November 1927, August 1929 February 1937
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE LANG FAIRY BOOKS Crown Edition
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS. _With 4 Coloured Plates and 63 Illustrations._
THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK. _With 4 Coloured Plates and 128 Illustrations._
THE BOOK OF ROMANCE. _With 8 Coloured Plates and 43 Illustrations._
THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK. _With 8 Coloured Plates and 42 Illustrations._
THE CRIMSON FAIRY BOOK. _With 8 Coloured Plates and 45 Illustrations._
THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK. _With 4 Coloured Plates and 100 Illustrations._
THE GREY FAIRY BOOK. _With 4 Coloured Plates and 56 Illustrations._
THE LILAC FAIRY BOOK. _With 6 Coloured Plates and 46 Illustrations._
THE OLIVE FAIRY BOOK. _With 8 Coloured Plates and 43 Illustrations._
THE ORANGE FAIRY BOOK. _With 8 Coloured Plates and 50 Illustrations._
THE PINK FAIRY BOOK. _With 4 Coloured Plates and 68 Illustrations._
THE RED BOOK OF HEROES. _By Mrs. Lang. With 8 Coloured Plates and 40 Illustrations._
THE RED FAIRY BOOK. _With 4 Coloured Plates and 91 Illustrations._
THE VIOLET FAIRY BOOK. _With 8 Coloured Plates and 59 Illustrations._
THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK. _With 4 Coloured Plates and 105 Illustrations._
_PREFACE_
The children who read fairy books, or have fairy books read to them, do not read prefaces, and the parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, who give fairy books to their daughters, nieces, and _cousines_, leave prefaces unread. For whom, then, are prefaces written? When an author publishes a book 'out of his own head,' he writes the preface for his own pleasure. After reading over his book in print--to make sure that all the 'u's' are not printed as 'n's,' and all the 'n's' as 'u's' in the proper names--then the author says, mildly, in his preface, what he thinks about his own book, and what he means it to prove--if he means it to prove anything--and why it is not a better book than it is. But, perhaps, nobody reads prefaces except other authors; and critics, who hope that they will find enough in the preface to enable them to do without reading any of the book.
This appears to be the philosophy of prefaces in general, and perhaps authors might be more daring and candid than they are with advantage, and write regular criticisms of their own books in their prefaces, for nobody can be so good a critic of himself as the author--if he has a sense of humour. If he has not, the less he says in his preface the better.
These Fairy Books, however, are not written by the Editor, as he has often explained, 'out of his own head.' The stories are taken from those told by grannies to grandchildren in many countries and in many languages--French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Gaelic, Icelandic, Cherokee, African, Indian, Australian, Slavonic, Eskimo, and what not. The stories are not literal, or word by word translations, but have been altered in many ways to make them suitable for children. Much has been left out in places, and the narrative has been broken up into conversations, the characters telling each other how matters stand, and speaking for themselves, as children, and some older people, prefer them to do. In many tales, fairly cruel and savage deeds are done, and these have been softened down as much as possible; though it is impossible, even if it were desirable, to conceal the circumstance that popular stories were never intended to be tracts and nothing else. Though they usually take the side of courage and kindness, and the virtues in general, the old story-tellers admire successful cunning as much as Homer does in the Odyssey. At least, if the cunning hero, human or animal, is the weaker, like Odysseus, Brer Rabbit, and many others, the story-teller sees little in intellect but superior cunning, by which tiny Jack gets the better of the giants. In the fairy tales of no country are 'improper' incidents common, which is to the credit of human nature, as they were obviously composed mainly for children. It is not difficult to get rid of this element when it does occur in popular tales.
The old puzzle remains a puzzle--why do the stories of the remotest people so closely resemble each other? Of course, in the immeasurable past, they have been carried about by conquering races, and learned by conquering races from vanquished peoples. Slaves carried far from home brought their stories with them into captivity. Wanderers, travellers, shipwrecked men, merchants, and wives stolen from alien tribes have diffused the stories; gipsies and Jews have peddled them about; Roman soldiers of many different races, moved here and there about the Empire, have trafficked in them. From the remotest days men have been wanderers, and wherever they went their stories accompanied them. The slave trade might take a Greek to Persia, a Persian to Greece; an Egyptian woman to Phoenicia; a Babylonian to Egypt; a Scandinavian child might be carried with the amber from the Baltic to the Adriatic; or a Sidonian to Ophir, wherever Ophir may have been; while the Portuguese may have borne their tales to South Africa, or to Asia, and thence brought back other tales to Egypt. The stories wandered wherever the Buddhist missionaries went, and the earliest French _voyageurs_ told them to the Red Indians. These facts help to account for the sameness of the stories everywhere; and the uniformity of human fancy in early societies must be the cause of many other resemblances.
In this volume there are stories from the natives of Rhodesia, collected by Mr. Fairbridge, who speaks the native language, and one is brought by Mr. Cripps from another part of Africa, Uganda. Three tales from the Punjaub were collected and translated by Major Campbell. Various savage tales, which needed a good deal of editing, are derived from the learned pages of the 'Journal of the Anthropological Institute.' With these exceptions, and 'The Magic Book,' translated by Mrs. Pedersen, from 'Eventyr fra Jylland,' by Mr. Ewald Tang Kristensen (Stories from Jutland), all the tales have been done, from various sources, by Mrs. Lang, who has modified, where it seemed desirable, all the narratives.
_CONTENTS_
PAGE _The Story of the Hero Makoma_ 1
_The Magic Mirror_ 16
_Story of the King who Would See Paradise_ 24
_How Isuro the Rabbit Tricked Gudu_ 29
_Ian, the Soldier's Son_ 37
_The Fox and the Wolf_ 56
_How Ian Direach Got the Blue Falcon_ 63
_The Ugly Duckling_ 79
_The Two Caskets_ 90
_The Goldsmith's Fortune_ 106
_The Enchanted Wreath_ 110
_The Foolish Weaver_ 124
_The Clever Cat_ 126
_The Story of Manus_ 141
_Pinkel the Thief_ 148
_The Adventures of a Jackal_ 160
_The Adventures of the Jackal's Eldest Son_ 167
_The Adventures of the Younger Son of the Jackal_ 173
_The Three Treasures of the Giants_ 177
_The Rover of the Plain_ 190
_The White Doe_ 201
_The Girl-Fish_ 225
_The Owl and the Eagle_ 236
_The Frog and the Lion Fairy_ 241
_The Adventures of Covan the Brown-haired_ 265
_The Princess Bella-Flor_ 280
_The Bird of Truth_ 292
_The Mink and the Wolf_ 307
_Adventures of an Indian Brave_ 313
_How the Stalos Were Tricked_ 319
_Andras Baive_ 329
_The White Slipper_ 335
_The Magic Book_ 349
_ILLUSTRATIONS_
COLOURED PLATES
_Ian and the Blue Falcon_ _Frontispiece_
_The Three Maidens Sitting on the Rocks_ _Facing page_ 38
_'Ashes, Ashes!' Twittered the Sparrows_ 98
_Standing in the Shelter of a Tree, He Watched Her a Long While_ 114
_The Queen and the Crab_ 202
_The Crown Returns to the Queen of the Fishes_ 234
_How Jose Found the Princess Bella-Flor_ 288
_The Princess Imprisoned in the Summer-house_ 356
FULL-PAGE PLATES
_Makoma Leaps into the Pool of Crocodiles_ _Facing page_ 2
_Makoma Gets Entangled by a Hair of Chin-debou Mau-giri_ 8
_Makoma in the Hands of Sakatirina_ 12
_The Knight and the Raven_ 38
_Ian Breaks the Giant's Chain_ 44
_The Princess Finds Herself a Prisoner on the Ship_ 68
_How Ian Direach Returned Home, and How His Stepmother Fell as a Bundle of Sticks_ 74
_'That is an End of You,' She Said. But She Was Wrong, for it Was only the Beginning_ 90
_The Princess Returns from the Sea_ 120
_The Giants Find Jack in the Treasure Room_ 182
_The Uninvited Fairy_ 204
_How the Queen Met the Lion-Fairy_ 242
_The King on his Dragon Fights his Way through the Monsters to the Queen and Muffette_ 258
_Doran-Donn Brings the Salmon to Covan the Brown-Haired_ 276
_'We Never Waste Time When We Are Helping Others'_ 284
_'Who Are You who Dare to Knock at my Door?'_ 298
_The Little Boy Sees the Stalo in the Wood_ 320
IN TEXT
PAGE _Makoma Throws his Hammer at the Fire-eater_ 7
_Gopani-Kufa Sees a Strange Sight_ 17
_Shasasa Hides the Mirror_ 21
_No One Knows What Was there Shown to the King_ 25
_The Old King Sees Himself Reflected in the Shields of the Bodyguard_ 28
_Gudu Drops a Stone into the Water_ 30
_'Where Did You Get that from?' Asked Isuro_ 31
_How Gudu Danced and the Bones Rattled_ 35
_Ian Finds the Youngest Sister_ 43
_The Seven Big Women Fall over the Crag_ 72
_She Found Sitting Round Her a Whole Circle of Cats_ 95
_'Take the Black! Take the Black!' Cried the Cats_ 100
_Three Little Doves Were Seated on the Handle of the Axe_ 111
_The Stepmother Tries to Drown the Princess_ 116
_The Jew Brings the Jewels to the Princess_ 130
_I Go to Seek my Fortune Alone_ 136
_The Cat Lets Fall the Stone_ 139
_How Manus Got the Lion's Cub_ 145
_Pinkel Brings the Witch's Lantern to the King_ 151
_Pinkel Steals the Witch's Goat_ 156
_The Brothers Ill-treat Poor Jack_ 180
_The Rover of the Plain Does the Girl's Work_ 193
_Last of All She Sang in a Low Voice a Dirge over the Rover of the Plain_ 197
_For a Minute They Looked at Each Other_ 219
_'A Small Dragon Crept in and Terrified Her'_ 249
_Ardan Pursues the Golden Cock and the Silver Hen_ 269
_The King Jumps into the Cauldron_ 290
_How the Boy Found the Bird of Truth_ 303
_The Mink is Very Rude to the Grandmother Wolf_ 309
_Andras Baive Shoots the Stalo_ 333
_Balancin's Delight at the White Slipper_ 338
_Gilguerillo Falls in Love with Princess Diamantina_ 344
_'Just as He Was Going to Strike'_ 353
THE ORANGE FAIRY BOOK
_THE STORY OF THE HERO MAKOMA_
_From the Senna (Oral Tradition)_
Once upon a time, at the town of Senna on the banks of the Zambesi, was born a child. He was not like other children, for he was very tall and strong; over his shoulder he carried a big sack, and in his hand an iron hammer. He could also speak like a grown man, but usually he was very silent.
One day his mother said to him: 'My child, by what name shall we know you?'
And he answered: 'Call all the head men of Senna here to the river's bank.' And his mother called the head men of the town, and when they had come he led them down to a deep black pool in the river where all the fierce crocodiles lived.
'O great men!' he said, while they all listened, 'which of you will leap into the pool and overcome the crocodiles?' But no one would come forward. So he turned and sprang into the water and disappeared.
The people held their breath, for they thought: 'Surely the boy is bewitched and throws away his life, for the crocodiles will eat him!' Then suddenly the ground trembled, and the pool, heaving and swirling, became red with blood, and presently the boy rising to the surface swam on shore.
But he was no longer just a boy! He was stronger than any man and very tall and handsome, so that the people shouted with gladness when they saw him.
'Now, O my people!' he cried waving his hand, 'you know my name--I am Makoma, "the Greater"; for have I not slain the crocodiles in the pool where none would venture?'
Then he said to his mother: 'Rest gently, my mother, for I go to make a home for myself and become a hero.' Then, entering his hut, he took Nu-endo, his iron hammer, and throwing the sack over his shoulder, he went away.
Makoma crossed the Zambesi, and for many moons he wandered towards the north and west until he came to a very hilly country where, one day, he met a huge giant making mountains.
'Greeting,' shouted Makoma, 'who are you?'
'I am Chi-eswa-mapiri, who makes the mountains,' answered the giant, 'and who are you?'
'I am Makoma, which signifies "greater,"' answered he.
'Greater than who?' asked the giant.
'Greater than you!' answered Makoma.
The giant gave a roar and rushed upon him. Makoma said nothing, but swinging his great hammer, Nu-endo, he struck the giant upon the head.
He struck him so hard a blow that the giant shrank into quite a little man, who fell upon his knees saying: 'You are indeed greater than I, O Makoma; take me with you to be your slave!' So Makoma picked him up and dropped him into the sack that he carried upon his back.
He was greater than ever now, for all the giant's strength had gone into him; and he resumed his journey, carrying his burden with as little difficulty as an eagle might carry a hare.
Before long he came to a country broken up with huge stones and immense clods of earth. Looking over one of the heaps he saw a giant wrapped in dust dragging out the very earth and hurling it in handfuls on either side of him.
'Who are you,' cried Makoma, 'that pulls up the earth in this way?'
'I am Chi-dubula-taka,' said he, 'and I am making the river-beds.'
'Do you know who I am?' said Makoma. 'I am he that is called "greater"!'
'Greater than who?' thundered the giant.
'Greater than you!' answered Makoma.
With a shout, Chi-dubula-taka seized a great clod of earth and launched it at Makoma. But the hero had his sack held over his left arm and the stones and earth fell harmlessly upon it, and, tightly gripping his iron hammer, he rushed in and struck the giant to the ground. Chi-dubula-taka grovelled before him, all the while growing smaller and smaller; and when he had become a convenient size Makoma picked him up and put him into the sack beside Chi-eswa-mapiri.
He went on his way even greater than before, as all the river-maker's power had become his; and at last he came to a forest of bao-babs and thorn trees. He was astonished at their size, for every one was full grown and larger than any trees he had ever seen, and close by he saw Chi-gwisa-miti, the giant who was planting the forest.
Chi-gwisa-miti was taller than either of his brothers, but Makoma was not afraid and called out to him: 'Who are you, O Big One?'
'I,' said the giant, 'am Chi-gwisa-miti, and I am planting these bao-babs and thorns as food for my children the elephants.'
'Leave off!' shouted the hero, 'for I am Makoma, and would like to exchange a blow with thee!'
The giant, plucking up a monster bao-bab by the roots, struck heavily at Makoma; but the hero sprang aside, and as the weapon sank deep into the soft earth, whirled Nu-endo the hammer round his head and felled the giant with one blow.
So terrible was the stroke that Chi-gwisa-miti shrivelled up as the other giants had done; and when he had got back his breath he begged Makoma to take him as his servant. 'For,' said he, 'it is honourable to serve a man so great as thou.'
Makoma, after placing him in his sack, proceeded upon his journey, and travelling for many days he at last reached a country so barren and rocky that not a single living thing grew upon it--everywhere reigned grim desolation. And in the midst of this dead region he found a man eating fire.
'What are you doing?' demanded Makoma.
'I am eating fire,' answered the man, laughing; 'and my name is Chi-idea-moto, for I am the flame-spirit, and can waste and destroy what I like.'
'You are wrong,' said Makoma; 'for I am Makoma, who is "greater" than you--and you cannot destroy me!'
The fire-eater laughed again, and blew a flame at Makoma. But the hero sprang behind a rock--just in time, for the ground upon which he had been standing was turned to molten glass, like an overbaked pot, by the heat of the flame-spirit's breath.
Then the hero flung his iron hammer at Chi-idea-moto, and, striking him, it knocked him helpless; so Makoma placed him in the sack, Woro-nowu, with the other great men that he had overcome.
And now, truly, Makoma was a very great hero; for he had the strength to make hills, the industry to lead rivers over dry wastes, foresight and wisdom in planting trees, and the power of producing fire when he wished.
Wandering on he arrived one day at a great plain, well watered and full of game; and in the very middle of it, close to a large river, was a grassy spot, very pleasant to make a home upon.
Makoma was so delighted with the little meadow that he sat down under a large tree, and removing the sack from his shoulder, took out all the giants and set them before him. 'My friends,' said he, 'I have travelled far and am weary. Is not this such a place as would suit a hero for his home? Let us then go, to-morrow, to bring in timber to make a kraal.'
So the next day Makoma and the giants set out to get poles to build the kraal, leaving only Chi-eswa-mapiri to look after the place and cook some venison which they had killed. In the evening, when they returned, they found the giant helpless and tied to a tree by one enormous hair!
'How is it,' said Makoma, astonished, 'that we find you thus bound and helpless?'
'O Chief,' answered Chi-eswa-mapiri, 'at midday a man came out of the river; he was of immense stature, and his grey moustaches were of such length that I could not see where they ended! He demanded of me "Who is thy master?" And I answered: "Makoma, the greatest of heroes." Then the man seized me, and pulling a hair from his moustache, tied me to this tree--even as you see me.'
Makoma was very wroth, but he said nothing, and drawing his finger-nail across the hair (which was as thick and strong as palm rope) cut it, and set free the mountain-maker.
The three following days exactly the same thing happened, only each time with a different one of the party; and on the fourth day Makoma stayed in camp when the others went to cut poles, saying that he would see for himself what sort of man this was that lived in the river and whose moustaches were so long that they extended beyond men's sight.
So when the giants had gone he swept and tidied the camp and put some venison on the fire to roast. At midday, when the sun was right overhead, he heard a rumbling noise from the river, and looking up he saw the head and shoulders of an enormous man emerging from it. And behold! right down the river-bed and up the river-bed, till they faded into the blue distance, stretched the giant's grey moustaches!
'Who are you?' bellowed the giant, as soon as he was out of the water.
'I am he that is called Makoma,' answered the hero; 'and, before I slay thee, tell me also what is thy name and what thou doest in the river?'
'My name is Chin-debou Mau-giri,' said the giant. 'My home is in the river, for my moustache is the grey fever-mist that hangs above the water, and with which I bind all those that come unto me so that they die.'
'You cannot bind me!' shouted Makoma, rushing upon him and striking with his hammer. But the river giant was so slimy that the blow slid harmlessly off his green chest, and as Makoma stumbled and tried to regain his balance, the giant swung one of his long hairs around him and tripped him up.
For a moment Makoma was helpless, but remembering the power of the flame-spirit which had entered into him, he breathed a fiery breath upon the giant's hair and cut himself free.
As Chin-debou Mau-giri leaned forward to seize him the hero flung his sack Woro-nowu over the giant's slippery head, and gripping his iron hammer, struck him again; this time the blow alighted upon the dry sack and Chin-debou Mau-giri fell dead.