502 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



sing a song within the aul and before the bride's yurt. He mounts 

 his horse, rides into the aul, sings his greeting to the inhabitants, 

 and, stopping before the yurt of his bride-elect, expresses his lover's 

 plaint in a song, original or otherwise. 



Sweetheart, my love brings me dule and pain, 

 For it's thrice that I've tried to win thee ; 



Thou would'st not waken ; my heart is fain ; 

 For it's thrice thou would'st not hear me. 



But late in night, when the camels rest, 



All fixed by their hairy tether, 

 My heart shall fly to its own warm nest, 



Our hearts shall be one together. 



Let me but see thy face, sweetheart, 



And I shall be brave and strong; 

 Thou hast stolen away my peace, sweetheart, 



And left me with only a song. 



I pray for a draught of koumiss, love, 



For dry and parched is my soul ; 

 Thou wilt hearken and give me bliss, love, 



And make my bleeding heart whole. 



But should all my pleading tease thee, 



And thine ear be deaf to my song, 

 The friends will help me to please thee, 



And the wedding shall be ere long. 



Without entering the yurt he returns to his tent. Soon an old 

 woman comes to him and promises that she will take him to 

 the bride if he will make her a present. He at once agrees, and 

 they set out together. But they do not attain their object without 

 having to overcome various obstacles. Another woman lays the 

 fork which is used to lift the ring of the yurt to its place, across his 

 path; to step over it would be unlucky, for the person who laid 

 it down must take it away again. A gift overcomes this difficulty, 

 but a second is met with very soon. A woman, apparently dead, 

 lies on the path; but a second gift calls the dead to life again, 

 and the way is clear to within a short distance of the yurt. But 

 there stands a figure which snarls like a dog. Shall it be said that 

 the dog snarled at the bridegroom ? Never! A third gift closes the 



