The Vazúza is a short stream crossing the borders of the provinces of Tver and Smolensk, meeting a great bend of the Vólga at Zubtsóv (in the province of Tver).
The Sea of Khvalýnsk is the Caspian, so called from an ancient people (the Khvalísi) of the eleventh and tenth centuries, who lived at the mouth of the Vólga in the Caspian. There is also a town called Khvalýnsk on the Vólga in the province of Sarátov, above the city of Sarátov.
This particular story is probably a poetization of a geographical fact, but in all the Russian folklore the river-gods play a very great part. Thus Igor in The Word of Igor’s Armament, on the occasion of his defeat, has a very beautiful colloquy with the Donéts. At least two of the heroes of the ballad cycle, Don Ivánovich and Sukhán Odikhmántevich, are in some aspects direct personifications of the rivers, whilst the river-gods exercise a direct and vital influence over the fortunes of several others, such as Vasíli Buslávich and Dobrýnya Nikítich.
Many Russian rivers have been rendered almost into human characters. The ordinary speech is still of Mother Vólga. In the Nóvgorod ballads there is a mention of Father Volkhov, much as we speak of Father Thames, and there were very great possibilities of the development of a river mythology which did not succeed. It is worth observing that in one ballad dealing with Vasíli Buslávich, the hero of Nóvgorod, this semi-comic figure is twitted by the men of Nóvgorod that he will one day turn the Volkhov into Kvass (q.v.): i.e. he will one day set the Thames on fire.66
“The Wood Sprite.” Léshi is a peculiar feature in Russian folklore. He is somewhat similar to Pan, but is also represented as having copper arms, and an iron body, terms which refer to colour rather than to material. Sometimes he has claws for hands.
Yagá-Búra. This is the same as Bába Yagá, but is specific reference to the Witch who raises the Wind.
Glossary
- Aspen
-
Always associated with magic. Its trembling leaves give it a weird appearance.
- Bába Yagá
-
Russian witch, also Yagá-Búra.
- Babushka
-
The grandmother.
- Bárkhat
-
This word also means velvet.
- Bátyushka
-
Father in a general sense, meaning anybody older. Otéts is father, meaning the relationship of father and son.
- Birds’ milk
-
The Russian folktale expression for asking for the moon.
- Boyárs
-
This may be translated earls, but in the Russian social scale it only meant the bigger men, the seigneurs.
- Boyáryni
-
Countesses, feminine plural of boyár.
- Chúdo-Yúda
-
The Old Man of the Sea. This is a very clear loan from the Homeric Proteus.
- Dyádka
-
Uncle. A term of respect.
- Egórushko Zalyót
-
Means George the Bold Flier.
- Fatá
-
A long silken glove.
- Gúsli
-
A musical instrument, something like a zither with seven strings.
- Iváshko Zapéchnik
-
Iván, who is always sitting behind the stove.
- Iváshechko
-
A diminutive form of Iván.
- Iváshko
-
A diminutive form of Iván.
- Izbá
-
Hut.
- Kaftán
-
A peasant’s overcoat, made very long.
- Khvalýnsk
-
The old name of the Caspian. Vide Vazúza and Vólga.
- Korolévich
-
King’s son. Koról, king.
- Korolévna
-
King’s wife.
- Ksálavy
-
Mythical birds, the meaning of which is entirely unknown.
- Mikháilo Ivánovich
-
The popular name for the bear.
- Mísha Kosolápy
-
Dmítri, the Bandy-legged.
- Morévna
-
Of the sea.
- Nikíta
-
From the Greek Νικήτης, conquer.
- Pope
-
Village priest.
- Pud
-
A Russian weight. Thirty-six pounds avoirdupois.
- Sarafán
-
A short sleeveless jacket, generally embroidered, worn over the bodice or the blouse.
- Sazhén
-
A length of seven feet.
- Sebézh
-
A city in the Vítebsk province, bordering on Poland. The Poles and the Mussulmen are all called infidels, Saracens or Busormany.
- Shúba
-
A fur mantle.
- Stárosta
-
Mayor of a town.
- Teléga
-
A peasant’s cart without springs.
- Tsarévich
-
Tsar’s son.
- Tyátya
-
Daddy.
- Tsarévna
-
Tsar’s wife.
- Úkaz
-
Imperial edict.
- Ványa
-
A diminutive form of Iván.
- Vertodúb
-
The oak-turner, a gigantic figure.
- Vertogór
-
The mountain-turner; a gigantic figure.
- Vóron Vóronovich
-
Crow Crowson.
- Zamorýshek
-
This name is freely translated Benjamin, the last-born son of an old man.
Endnotes
-
Vodyanóy. ↩
-
Lěši. ↩
-
Egóri. ↩
-
V. Bezsónov, Kalěki Perekhózhie ↩
-
Hut. ↩
-
Hut. ↩
-
The Mayor. ↩
-
Hut. ↩
-
Hut. ↩
-
Ten kopeks. ↩
-
Fur mantle. ↩
-
Grandmother. ↩
-
Another variant, “the Fearsome Swan.” ↩
-
Little Father. ↩
-
Hut. ↩
-
This is a simple instance of the prískazka or preface to a story. ↩
-
A sazhén is seven feet. ↩
-
Benjamin. ↩
-
Father. ↩
-
The Devil in this story is the popular myth of the water-god or spirit, The Vodyanóy. ↩
-
Countesses. ↩
-
Village priest. ↩
-
Death is feminine in Russian. ↩
-
Ilyá Múromets is one of the heroes of the Bylíny: his great feat is the slaying of the Nightingale Robber. This tale may be eponymous of geography; Svyatogór (Svyáty Góry, Sacred Mountains) Múrom is on the river Oka, in the Province of Vladímir, one of the oldest cities in Russia; the village of Karachárovo is not far off. ↩
-
Affectionate term for old servant, equivalent to uncle. ↩
-
The word means velvet. ↩
-
Hut. ↩
-
Cf. Dante, “Inferno” ↩
Fitti
