The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE BRAVE NAZZAR

THERE IS A STORY IN LEBANON ABOUT A DIRTY LITTLE MAN WHO
KILLS 1,000 FLIES WITH ONE STROKE. HE BECOMES FAMOUS
FOR KILLING "1,000 AT A STROKE," SO THE PEOPLE MAKE HIM
KING. WHILE LEADING THE ARMY IN WAR, HE BECOMES
FRIGHTENED AND SEEKS SOME WAY OF ESCAPE. BUT HIS HORSE
GETS NERVOUS AND RUNS AWAY WITH HIM, STRAIGHT INTO
THE ENEMIES ARMY. ALL HIS SOLDIERS FOLLOW AND THEY
WIN THE WAR. ON ANOTHER DAY, HE FALLS OUT OF A TREE
AND LANDS ON A LION'S BACK, SO EVERYONE THINKS HE IS
"RIDING" THE LION.

Submitter comment: THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY WHICH THE INFORMANT COULDN'T
REMEMBER. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE STORY IS NOW IN
PRINT IN LEBANON, BUT IT WAS AND STILL IS CURRENT EVEN
AMONG ILLITERATES. HE HEARD THE STORY IN LEBANON ABOUT
1945.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-00-1963