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as it appeared to the primitive mind； and we may be sure that any idea which commonly occurs in them； however absurd it may seem to us； must once have been an ordinary article of belief。 This assurance； so far as it concerns the supposed power of disengaging the soul from the body for a longer or shorter time； is amply corroborated by a comparison of the folk…tales in question with the actual beliefs and practices of savages。 To this we shall return after some specimens of the tales have been given。 The specimens will be selected with a view of illustrating both the characteristic features and the wide diffusion of this class of tales。
In the first place； the story of the external soul is told； in various forms； by all Aryan peoples from Hindoostan to the Hebrides。 A very common form of it is this： A warlock； giant； or other fairyland being is invulnerable and immortal because he keeps his soul hidden far away in some secret place； but a fair princess； whom he holds enthralled in his enchanted castle； wiles his secret from him and reveals it to the hero； who seeks out the warlock's soul； heart； life； or death （as it is variously called）； and by destroying it； simultaneously kills the warlock。 Thus a Hindoo story tells how a magician called Punchkin held a queen captive for twelve years； and would fain marry her； but she would not have him。 At last the queen's son came to rescue her； and the two plotted together to kill Punchkin。 So the queen spoke the magician fair； and pretended that she had at last made up her mind to marry him。 And do tell me； she said； are you quite immortal？ Can death never touch you？ And are you too great an enchanter ever to feel human suffering？ It is true； he said； that I am not as others。 Far； far away； hundreds of thousands of miles from this； there lies a desolate country covered with thick jungle。 In the midst of the jungle grows a circle of palm trees； and in the centre of the circle stand six chattees full of water； piled one above another： below the sixth chattee is a small cage； which contains a little green parrot；on the life of the parrot depends my life；and if the parrot is killed I must die。 It is； however； he added； impossible that the parrot should sustain any injury； both on account of the inaccessibility of the country； and because； by my appointment； many thousand genii surround the palm trees； and kill all who approach the place。 But the queen's young son overcame all difficulties； and got possession of the parrot。 He brought it to the door of the magician's palace； and began playing with it。 Punchkin； the magician； saw him； and； coming out； tried to persuade the boy to give him the parrot。 Give me my parrot！ cried Punchkin。 Then the boy took hold of the parrot and tore off one of his wings； and as he did so the magician's right arm fell off。 Punchkin then stretched out his left arm； crying； Give me my parrot！ The prince pulled off the parrot's second wing； and the magician's left arm tumbled off。 Give me my parrot！ cried he； and fell on his knees。 The prince pulled off the parrot's right leg； the magician's right leg fell off； the prince pulled off the parrot's left leg； down fell the magician's left。 Nothing remained of him except the trunk and the head； but still he rolled his eyes； and cried； Give me my parrot！ Take your parrot； then； cried the boy； and with that he wrung the bird's neck； and threw it at the magician； and； as he did so； Punchkin's head twisted round； and； with a fearful groan； he died！ In another Hindoo tale an ogre is asked by his daughter； Papa； where do you keep your soul？ Sixteen miles away from this place； he said； is a tree。 Round the tree are tigers； and bears； and scorpions； and snakes； on the top of the tree is a very great fat snake； on his head is a little cage； in the cage is a bird； and my soul is in that bird。 The end of the ogre is like that of the magician in the previous tale。 As the bird's wings and legs are torn off； the ogre's arms and legs drop off； and when its neck is wrung he falls down dead。 In a Bengalee story it is said that all the ogres dwell in Ceylon； and that all their lives are in a single lemon。 A boy cuts the lemon in pieces； and all the ogres die。
In a Siamese or Cambodian story； probably derived from India； we are told that Thossakan or Ravana； the King of Ceylon； was able by magic art to take his soul out of his body and leave it in a box at home； while he went to the wars。 Thus he was invulnerable in battle。 When he was about to give battle to Rama； he deposited his soul with a hermit called Fire…eye； who was to keep it safe for him。 So in the fight Rama was astounded to see that his arrows struck the king without wounding him。 But one of Rama's allies； knowing the secret of the king's invulnerability； transformed himself by magic into the likeness of the king； and going to the hermit asked back his soul。 On receiving it he soared up into the air and flew to Rama； brandishing the box and squeezing it so hard that all the breath left the King of Ceylon's body； and he died。 In a Bengalee story a prince going into a far country planted with his own hands a tree in the courtyard of his father's palace； and said to his parents； This tree is my life。 When you see the tree green and fresh； then know that it is well with me； when you see the tree fade in some parts； then know that I am in an ill case； and when you see the whole tree fade； then know that I am dead and gone。 In another Indian tale a prince； setting forth on his travels； left behind him a barley plant； with instructions that it should be carefully tended and watched； for if it flourished； he would be alive and well； but if it drooped； then some mischance was about to happen to him。 And so it fell out。 For the prince was beheaded； and as his head rolled off； the barley plant snapped in two and the ear of barley fell to the ground。
In Greek tales； ancient and modern； the idea of an external soul is not uncommon。 When Meleager was seven days old； the Fates appeared to his mother and told her that Meleager would die when the brand which was blazing on the hearth had burnt down。 So his mother snatched the brand from the fire and kept it in a box。 But in after…years； being enraged at her son for slaying her brothers； she burnt the brand in the fire and Meleager expired in agonies； as if flames were preying on his vitals。 Again； Nisus King of Megara had a purple or golden hair on the middle of his head； and it was fated that whenever the hair was pulled out the king should die。 When Megara was besieged by the Cretans； the king's daughter Scylla fell in love with Minos； their king； and pulled out the fatal hair from her father's head。 So he died。 In a modern Greek folk…tale a man's strength lies in three golden hairs on his head。 When his mother pulls them out； he grows weak and timid and is slain by his enemies。 In another modern Greek story the life of an enchanter is bound up with three doves which are in the belly of a wild boar。 When the first dove is killed； the magician grows sick； when the second is killed； he grows very sick； and when the third is killed； he dies。 In another Greek story of the same sort an ogre's strength is in three singing birds which are in a