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Overview
In Parker’s No. 201, a pregnant woman and a pregnant dog both crave yams. Her husband finds none when digging for his wife but an enormous yield when digging for the dog; nevertheless the human couple eat them without sharing. The dog wishes that their unborn offspring might change places. She then gives birth to two princesses in a forest cave. The main tale does not explicitly follow this by describing what the woman bears.
After the daughters grow up, a hunter discovers them and helps two princes enter their home and take them away to marry. The dog returns to the empty cave and follows the broken branches marking their route. Her elder daughter beats her away, while the younger bathes her in sandal-scented water and places her on a bed. At that point the mother becomes a golden ash-pumpkin; no death or later return to canine form is stated.
The younger princess conceals this transformation by saying her mother gave her the precious object. When her husband wants to visit the supposedly wealthy maternal home, a Nāga king provides treasure in the old cave. The elder daughter’s attempt to obtain similar wealth ends with a fatal cobra bite. Parker also compares Frere’s different dog-mother story, where the animal dies and a jeweled dog figure is found; that comparison must not replace the golden ash-pumpkin transformation of his main witness.
Origins & earliest records
Sri Lankan oral narrative in Parker’s English collection
Records & interpretation
Complete numbered main tale, ending and appended notes read from retained primary edition.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume III
No. 201, main tale pp. 102–104, followed by comparative notes pp. 104–105; Tom-tom beater, North-western Province; individual teller not named.
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
H. Parker, Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume III (1914)
Volume III. No. 201, pp. 102–104; following notes also read
Complete retained parker3-s201.txt read. Tom-tom beater, North-western Province; individual teller not named. The younger princess conceals this transformation by saying her mother gave her the precious object. When her husband wants to visit the supposedly wealthy maternal home, a Nāga king provides treasure in the old cave. The elder daughter’s attempt to obtain similar wealth ends with a fatal cobra bite. Parker also compares Frere’s different dog-mother story, where the animal dies and a jeweled dog figure is found; that comparison must not replace the golden ash-pumpkin transformation of his main witness.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical primary folklore collectionParker, Volume III, No. 201Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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