Detection by strewing ashes (sand). Trespasser (lover, mistress, ghost, fairy, etc.) leaves footprints in the ashes

Motif

Detection by strewing ashes (sand). Trespasser (lover, mistress, ghost, fairy, etc.) leaves footprints in the ashes.

The wise and the foolish. · Cleverness. · Clever persons and acts. · Cleverness in the law court. · Cleverness in detection of truth. · view the constellation · filed as J1146

Filed across the traditions

Jewish Neuman
India *Thompson-Balys
N. Am. Indian (Seneca) Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 510 No. 109, 526 No. 111, 810 n. 410.
general *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt I 117ff., 221ff.
general *Gaster Germania XXV 290f.
general Fb "mel" II 570

Within the index

Filed under Cleverness in detection of truth.

1 finer motif beneath it

Detection by pitch-trap. Pitch is spread so that footprints are left in it, or that shoe is left behind as clue

Filed beside it

Solomon able to detect truth without evidence of witnesses Confession obtained by a ruse Pseudo-scientific methods of detecting Thief detected by building straw fire so that smoke escapes through thief's entrance. The secret hole into the building is thus discovered and the thief caught Eaters of stolen food detected Detection through aid of animal Detection through feigned dream Miscellaneous means of detecting

Carried in tale types

The Sister of Nine Brothers (previously The Stork's Daughter) · ATU 709A 1 recorded variant

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “trespasser” · wander