The _Pantschatantra_ is a collection of fables in Sanskrit. In its original form, according to Mr. Max Mueller, its date can be fixed, by aid of an ancient Persian translation, as previous to 550 A.D. 'At that time a collection somewhat like the Pa_n_katantra, though much more extensive, must have existed[34].' By various channels the stories of the _Pantschatantra_ reached Persia, Arabia, Greece, and thence were rendered into Latin, and again, were paraphrased in different vernacular languages, by literary people. But when we find, as we do, a story in the _Pantschatantra_ and a similar or analogous story in the Arabic _Book of Sindibad_ (earlier than the tenth century), and again in the Greek _Syntipas_ (eleventh and twelfth century), and again in Latin, or Spanish, or French literature, we cannot, perhaps, always be sure that the tale is derived from India through literary channels. Whoever will compare the _Wish_ story of the _Double-headed Weaver_ in the _Pantschatantra_[35] with _The Three Wishes_ in the _Book of Sindibad_ (Comparetti. _Folk Lore Society_, 1882, p. 147), and again, with Marie de France's twenty-fourth Fable (_Dou Vilain qui prist un folet_), and yet again with Perrault's _Trois Souhaits_, and, lastly, with the popular tales among Grimm's variants, will find many perplexing problems before him[36]. The differences in the details and in the conduct of the story are immense. Did the various authors borrow little but the main conception--the wasted wishes? Are the variations the result of literary caprice and choice? Has the story travelled from India by two channels,--(1) literary, in _Pantschatantra_, and _Syntipas_ with the translations; (2) oral, by word of mouth from people to people? Are the _popular_ versions derived from literature, or from oral tradition? Is the oldest literary version, that of the _Pantschatantra_, more akin to the _original_ version than some of the others which meet us later? Finally, might not the idea of wasted wishes occur independently to minds in different ages and countries, and may not some of the versions be of independent origin, and in no way borrowed from India? Is there, indeed, any reason at all for supposing that so simple a notion was invented, once for all, in India? It is easy to ask these questions, it is desirable to bear them in mind, so that we may never lose sight of the complexity and difficulty of the topic. But it is practically impossible to answer them once for all.