The Folk-Tales of the Magyars

nd anything extraordinary in their appearance, such as one eye-as Cyclops[56], or sundry heads as the northern giants, nor redundant fin

and as tall as towers,[58] and step from

who inhabited a fortress called Kadicsavár, near the River Nyikó, were in the act of shaving when the bells rang first f

the top of this there is a cavity resembling in shape the heel of a man; the diameter o

ist are shown now-a-days on a rock near Ikavar; his footstep is shown in the neighbourho

with the other on a mountain opposite, and bending down, he picks up the water of

n Bodok in Háromszék, while its fore-legs rest on another mountain in Bickfalú,

s. On returning home from a long ride he throws his mace, weighing forty hundredweights, from a distance of forty miles (= about

the Hungarian giant uses swords and maces of iron and copper, and also goes in for wrestling. He is not a cannibal. He

Is there nothing else to be seen? I have already seen everything in the world." The second is wandering about a vast plain, the boundaries of which cannot even be seen, and is moaning, evidently in great trouble. "Where shall I run? In which direction? No sooner do I start than I am at the end of this place." The third is seen sitting among huge pieces of rock, and crying, "Where shall I throw now? Which way? The whole world is covered by the st

asleep; and "Far-thrower" knocks away the pillow from underneath his head, thus enabling him to return by the appointed time. "Glutton" consumes 366 fat oxen within six hours. "Drinker" empties during the same interval the contents of 366 casks, each holding 100 buckets of wine. "Shiverer"

p of lofty mountains or steep rocks. In Székelyland the ruins of thirty-six such castles are existing, all of which are ascribed by the people to the giants. Some of their names show this; they are called

structed by devils and magic cocks who were in the service of the giants. Hence also the name "Cocks' Ridge." In one case, however, near Száraz

nced to exist." When the husbandmen appeared and began to till the lands in the valleys and lowlands th

ily, "Take him back, as he and his fellow-creatures are destined to be the lords of the globe," or "Their anger might cause our ruin," or "They will be our successors." We thus see that, while in the German tale the giant of Nideck-burg in

Beseny? there is one that is called "Csentetet?." Tradition has even preserved the giant-king's name, which was Bábolna. This king used to convoke the other giants to the assembly with huge golden bell

s is to be found in Kriza's "Prin

ood-natured and full of kin

r race was doomed to extermination. They fall in love, and are fond of courting. Near Bikkfalva, in Háromszék, the people still p

eamt 600 years ago. His friend Knight Mezei finds him after a separati

ormul? and charms of the fairies, and know how to overcome them. They have a thorough knowledge of geography, and can give advice to those who enter their service, &c. They have great physical str

uarded the giant's treasures we may mention the bullock with golden hair, the tátos, &c. Of weapons, charms, &c., Doghead's copper mace

t the first appearance of the new moon, by a fire of wheat straw, this bullet will kill the monarch. Such a man was found, and the bullet was made, and it killed the

heir master in a nutshell. They then clothe the poor lad in a copper suit and seat him on a copper steed so that he may appear decently dressed before the king; they change his miserable hovel into a fine palace at eleven o'clock, an

with the fluid gold. In the cellars of Hereczvára in black casks the accumulated treasure of the negro-giants is guarded by the black dwarfs, who spend their time in eating, drinking, and dancing. In the cellar of Kézdi-Szent-Lélek castle the treasure is guarded by a copper greyhound. In the well and cellar of the Várbércz, near Kis-Borosnyó, the gigantic golden bells and othe

some of it out; but the moment the wind touched it it changed into dry leaves or bits of charcoal. Some unwise people have been foolhardy enough to try the expedition a second time, but the huge iron doors closed behi