I. The Three Precepts, 109 II. Kazha-ndii, 112 III. The Story of Geria, the Poor Man's Son, 118 IV. The Prince who befriended the Beasts, 124 V. The Cunning Old Man and the 'Demi,' 129 VI. Sanartia, 132 VII. The Shepherd Judge, 138 VIII. The Priest's Youngest Son, 140 Mingrelian Proverbs, 142
I. The Strong Man and the Dwarf, 147 II. The Grasshopper and the Ant, 150 III. The Countryman and the Merchant, 153 IV. The King and the Sage, 160 V. The King's Son, 162 VI. Teeth and No-Teeth, 163 VII. The Queen's Whim, 164 VIII. The Fool's Good Fortune, 165 IX. Two Losses, 167 X. The Story of Dervish, 168 XI. The Father's Prophecy, 171 XII. The Hermit Philosopher, 172 XIII. The King's Counsellor, 173 XIV. A Witty Answer, 174
Once upon a time there was a poor peasant who had one son. And it came to pass that his wife said to him: 'He should learn some trade, for when he is separated from thee, what will he do if he is left ignorant like thee?' The wife importuned him; she gave him no rest. So the peasant took his child, and went to seek a master for him. On the way they were thirsty. He saw a rivulet, drank eagerly till his thirst was quenched, and when he lifted up his head he cried out: 'Ah! how good thou art!' [2] On saying this, there came forth from the water a devil in the form of a man, and said to the peasant: 'What dost thou want, O man! I am Vakhraca; what troubles thee?' The peasant told him all his story. The devil, when he learnt this, said: 'Give me this son of thine: I will teach him for one year, then come hither; if thou knowest him, it is well, he will go with thee; if not, he is mine and mine alone, he shall be lost to thee.'
Now this devil had other children to bring up on the same conditions; and, since in a year children change so much that their parents may no longer know them, the devil always had the best of it. The peasant knew nothing about this; he agreed to the proposal, and went home. A year passed by, and the father of the child came to the devil; he did not find the devil at home. He saw in the courtyard a multitude of boys, and looked again and again, but could not recognise his boy. He was sad. However, his own son came up and knew him. Then the boy said: 'Presently my instructor will come; he will turn us all into doves, and we shall fly away; in the flight I shall fly before all, and in the return I shall be behind all; and when my master asks thee which is thy son, thou wilt point to me.' The peasant rejoiced, and awaited the master with a hopeful heart. In a little while the master appeared. He called his pupils, turned them into doves, and ordered them to fly away. The peasant's son flew before all, and when they returned remained behind. The master inquired: 'Now, dost thou know which is thy son?' The peasant pointed him out. The devil was enraged when he perceived the trick his pupil had played him, but what did it matter! The boy left him.