108. Big Begum and Little Begum. [Story]
See note to number 106. The story is a version of Hans Anderson’s Big Claus and Little Claus, Grimm 61; Bolte u. Polívka 2: 1–18 and contains three episodes. (1) “Little Begum” tricks “Big Begum” into killing his oxen to get gold. (2) and (3) He exchanges places in the bag, gets a drove of sheep, and tricks “Big Begum” into getting himself drowned in the same bag, as in number 107.
(1) Episode F in Bolte u. Polívka’s analysis. This informant’s stories were not well motivated; the version does not explain how “Little Begum” sold the pretended magic hide. In Arcin, 475–476, Zeltner, 62–72, and Parsons, Andros Island, 86, the episode is accompanied by the trick of the life-giving staff (G′ and see number 106); in Edwards, 95–96, by the trick of the dead mother pretended slain (G″ and see number 135).
(2) and (3) In Fortier, 88–89, as in this version, (1) is accompanied by the bag trick, episodes H and J in Bolte u. Polívka’s analysis. See also number 23.
Compare the “Pedro Ordimales” cycle in Recinos, JAFL 31: 474–477.