A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Two serpent-gods control the pool supplying a kingdom’s river and demand an annual human victim. The older is gold-yellow and the younger emerald-green. A prince and his loyal companion overhear them explain that swords cannot defeat them, whereas blows from stout staffs can sever their heads.

The prince understands animal speech, follows the disclosed method and eats the older serpent’s head; his companion eats the younger one’s. They gain the ability to spit gold coins and emeralds respectively, and the river’s flow is restored. These slain serpents are a distinct episode from the compassionate water beings in Busk’s Sunshine tale; their shared role does not make the two groups identical.

Water-controlling serpent pair whose heads confer treasure-spittingSource-specific narrative
01

Origins & earliest records

Kalmouk tale cycle as presented by Rachel Harriette Busk

02

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant tale or frame passages directly read in the 1873 textual witness.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Sagas from the Far East

    Rachel Harriette Busk, compiler and adapter · 1873

    Tale II, The Gold-spitting Prince, pp. 18–35, especially pp. 18–22

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

Rachel Harriette Busk, Sagas from the Far East (1873)

Saga of the Well-and-wise-walking Khan. Tale II, The Gold-spitting Prince, pp. 18–35, especially pp. 18–22

Full relevant narrative read from cached Gutenberg historical text; preface read for transmission limits. Primary evidence of this published adaptation, not proof of the described supernatural events. No modern translation quoted.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical literary adaptationBusk, Sagas from the Far East (1873), Tale II, The Gold-spitting Prince, pp. 18–35, especially pp. 18–22Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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