Among the tales of the South African Bechuana, there is one of a younger brother, who has been killed by an older, immediately appearing as a bird, and announcing what has occurred. The bird is twice killed, and the last time burnt and its ashes scattered to the winds, but still reappears, and proclaims that his body lies by a spring in the desert. Grimms, K. u. H. m. III, 361. Liebrecht has noted that the fundamental idea is found in a Chinese drama, 'The Talking Dish,' said to be based on a popular tale. An innkeeper and his wife kill one of their guests for his money, and burn the body. The innkeeper collects the ashes and pounds the bones, and makes a sort of mortar and a dish. This dish speaks very distinctly, and denounces the murderers. Journal Asiatique, 1851, 4th Series, vol. 18, p. 523. * * * * * Danish #A#, #E# are translated by Prior, I, 381, 384. English #B#, with use of #C#, is translated by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, p. 104, No 15; #C#, by Afzelius, III, 22. #C#, by Talvj, Versuch, u. s. w., p. 532; by Schubart, p. 133; by Gerhard, p. 143; by Doenniges, p. 81; Arndt, p. 238. #C#, with use of Aytoun's compounded version, by R. Warrens, Schottische V. L. der Vorzeit, p. 65; Allingham's version by Knortz, Lieder u. Romanzen Alt-Englands, p. 180. A #A. a.# Broadside "printed for Francis Grove, 1656," reprinted in Notes and Queries, 1st S., V, 591. #b.# Wit Restor'd, 1658, "p. 51," p. 153 of the reprint of 1817. #c.# Wit and Drollery, ed. 1682, p. 87,== Dryden's Miscellany, Part 3, p. 316, ed. 1716. #d.# Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 315. 1 There were two sisters, they went playing, With a hie downe downe a downe-a To see their father's ships come sayling in. With a hy downe downe a downe-a 2 And when they came unto the sea-brym, The elder did push the younger in. 3 'O sister, O sister, take me by the gowne, And drawe me up upon the dry ground.' 4 'O sister, O sister, that may not bee, Till salt and oatmeale grow both of a tree.' 5 Somtymes she sanke, somtymes she swam, Until she came unto the mill-dam. 6 The miller runne hastily downe the cliffe, And up he betook her withouten her life. 7 What did he doe with her brest-bone? He made him a violl to play thereupon. 8 What did he doe with her fingers so small? He made him peggs to his violl withall. 9 What did he doe with her nose-ridge? Unto his violl he made him a bridge. 10 What did he doe with her veynes so blew? He made him strings to his violl thereto. 11 What did he doe with her eyes so bright? Upon his violl he played at first sight. 12 What did he doe with her tongue so rough? Unto the violl it spake enough. 13 What did he doe with her two shinnes? Unto the violl they danc'd Moll Syms.