μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 3references

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • IndonesiaDixon 224, 225 n. 31, Beckwith Myth 194
  • TahitiDixon 63, Beckwith Myth 197 n. 21, ch. 13 passim
  • HawaiiBeckwith Myth 194.
Within the index

Filed under Murderer or captor otherwise beguiled.

1 finer motif beneath it
Cannibal sent for water which magically recedes from him: victim escapes
Filed beside it
Escape by posing as member of murderer's family or tribe"Noman." Escape by assuming an equivocal name. (Sometimes "myself.")Escape under ram's belly. By hiding under the belly of a ram the hero escapes under the legs of the blind ogreThe three teachings of the bird (fox). In return for release from captivity the bird (fox) gives the man three teachings. These usually mock the man for his foolishness in releasing what he has. (See for these counsels: J21.12, J21.13, J21.14.)Escape by singing song. Captive gradually moves away and at last escapesEnemy in ambush (or disguise) deceived into declaring himselfEscape by laughing and crying at same time. Captured bird cries in thinking of her little ones and laughs under pretext that the hunter is wasting his time instead of taking the treasure which she pretends is in her house. The hunter leaves herEscape by putting captor off guardPrisoner released on promise to wed guard (captor)Prisoner released on promise of life-long allegianceAnimal captor appeased by being fed captive's familyBoy in hole escapes descending log by digging holeMurderer or captor beguiled – miscellaneous
Travels with
Escape from madman by sending him for cooking water. (Cf. K605.)

wander