Folklore -- Japan; Japan -- Social life and customs
"I'm going to the ogres' island, to carry off their treasure,"
answered Little Peachling.
"What are you carrying at your girdle?"
"I'm carrying the very best millet dumplings in all Japan."
"If you'll give me one, I will go with you," said the ape.
So Little Peachling gave one of his dumplings to the ape, who received
it and followed him. When he had gone a little further, he heard a
pheasant calling--
"Ken! ken! ken![54] where are you off to, Master Peachling?"
[Footnote 54: The country folk in Japan pretend that the pheasant's
call is a sign of an approaching earthquake.]
Little Peachling answered as before; and the pheasant, having begged
and obtained a millet dumpling, entered his service, and followed him.
A little while after this, they met a dog, who cried--
"Bow! wow! wow! whither away, Master Peachling?"
"I'm going off to the ogres' island, to carry off their treasure."
"If you will give me one of those nice millet dumplings of yours, I
will go with you," said the dog.
[Illustration: LITTLE PEACHLING.]
"With all my heart," said Little Peachling. So he went on his way,
with the ape, the pheasant, and the dog following after him.
When they got to the ogres' island, the pheasant flew over the castle
gate, and the ape clambered over the castle wall, while Little
Peachling, leading the dog, forced in the gate, and got into the
castle. Then they did battle with the ogres, and put them to flight,
and took their king prisoner. So all the ogres did homage to Little
Peachling, and brought out the treasures which they had laid up. There
were caps and coats that made their wearers invisible, jewels which
governed the ebb and flow of the tide, coral, musk, emeralds, amber,
and tortoiseshell, besides gold and silver. All these were laid before
Little Peachling by the conquered ogres.
[Illustration: LITTLE PEACHLING. (2)]
So Little Peachling went home laden with riches, and maintained his
foster-parents in peace and plenty for the remainder of their lives.
THE FOXES' WEDDING
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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