THE FOUNDING OF KRAKOW

ONCE THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT OF PEOPLE ON THE VISTULA RIVER NEAR
THE FOOT OF THE KARPATH MOUNTAINS. HOWEVER, THERE ALSO LIVED A
DRAGON IN A CAVE (CALLED THE JASKINIA). EVERY DAY HE WOULD COME
TO THE SETTLEMENT AND SWALLOW SOME SHEEP, AND THEN GO TO THE
VISTULA TO WASH HIS MEAL DOWN AND BACK TO HIS JASKINIA TO SLEEP.
THE PEOPLE WERE ANGRY--ESPECIALLY THE SHEPHERDS AND NOBLEMEN.
THE SHEPHERDS AND THE PEOPLE OFFERED REWARDS OF ALL SORTS TO
ANYONE WHO COULD KILL THE DRAGON. MANY GLORY-SEEKING NOBLEMEN
TRIED, BUT WERE CRUSHED. THEN A SHOEMAKER NAMED KRAKUS STEPPED
FORWARD. HE KILLED A SHEEP, GUTTED IT, AND STUFFED IT WITH
SULPHUR. THE FOLLOWING DAY KRAKUS WATCHED THE DRAGON COME FROM
HIS JASKINIA AND IN HIS PATH KRAKUS PLACED THE SHEEP.
THE DRAGON SWALLOWED THE SHEEP WITH ONE GULP AND CONTINUED AFTER
MORE SHEEP. HOWEVER, THE DRAGON FELT A BURNING THIRST AND RUSHED
TO THE VISTULA RIVER. THERE THE DRAGON DRANK AND DRANK, NOT BEING
ABLE TO QUENCH HIS THIRST. HE CONTINUED DRINKING. FINALLY, THE
DRAGON BURST AND DIED.
KRAKUS WAS HAILED BY THE PEOPLE AND MADE THE CHIEF OF THE SETTLE-
MENT. THEY TOOK HIS NAME AND DUBBED THE SETTLEMENT KRAKOW, OR THE
PEOPLE OF KRAKOW.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT REMEMBERED BEING TOLD THIS STORY BY HIS FATHER AND FOUND
IT VERY INTERESTING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK