YASHPEH
International Folktales Collection
The Cuckoo |
Aino Folk-Tales |
Tradition: Japan, Aino |
|
The male cuckoo is called kakkok, the female tutut. Both are beautiful birds, and live in the sky. But in spring they come down to earth, to build their beautiful bottle-shaped white nests. Happy the man who gets one of these nests, and lets no one else see it. He will become rich and prosperous. Nevertheless, it is unlucky for a cuckoo to light on the window-sill and look into the house; for disease will come there. If it lights on the roof, the house will be burnt down. |
Written down from memory. Told by Penri, 16th July, 1886. |
|