Tobar an Dualchais - Kist O Riches

Title - An ill-natured princess is enslaved by a witch and rescued b...
Contributors - Stanley Robertson
Reporters - Barbara McDermitt

Summary - An ill-natured princess is enslaved by a witch and rescued by Jack.

Having failed to marry off his beautiful but ill-natured daughter, the king gave her to Jack, who kept the king's pigs. On the way, the princess turned her nose up at the fruit trees in the forest and said she'd rather work for the witch, Auld Wash-a-Dish, for seven years than stay in Jack's cottage. The witch appeared, took the girl, and made her wash the witch's huge collection of dishes. If she broke three dishes it would mean her death, like the other servants before her. She had already broken two dishes when Jack got help from a wizard. Jack got the witch's broom and the wizard gave him a file, with which he cut the girl's chains.

The witch chased them through the wood, and the princess said, "Apple-tree, apple-tree [or pear tree, etc] hide me / Fae fairies and witches tae find me, / Auld Wash-a-Dish will brak my bones / And grind me neath twa marble stones." Eventually, an old withered tree took pity on her and hid them in its hollow trunk. The wizard sent the witch away and restored the withered tree. The princess was repentant and grateful, and she and Jack got work at another castle. She was in the kitchens when a big wedding feast was being prepared. It turned out to be for her and Jack. He was a prince in disguise. They lived happily ever after.

There is another version of this story, shorter and told to children, called 'Aul Ash-a-Dish'. Stanley Robertson summarises the story. The same rhyme is in it, but in this story the rowan tree got its berries because the wizard blessed it for saving the girl.


Track Duration (h:m:s) - 00:22:22
Date Recorded - 1983.03.26
Language - Scots
Genre - Story, Information
Collection - School of Scottish Studies

Track ID - 71405
Original Tape ID - SA1983.051
Original Track ID - SA1983.51.2
Audio Quality - Good
Audio Format - R2R

Classification - AT900;

Item Notes -

Permanent Link - http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/71405/1


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