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.