Kolao

the wild man of Misanichis. He had a son who died in early youth, and he went to Pat-Koot-Parout to crave his son’s restoration to life. Pat-Koot-Parout put the soul of the dead body in a leather bag, which he fastened with packthread, and hung round the neck of Kolao, telling him to lay the body in a new hut, put the bag near the mouth, and so let the soul return to it, but on no account to open the bag before everything was ready. Kolao placed the bag in his wife’s hands while he built the hut, strictly enjoining her not to open it; but curiosity led her to open the bag, and out flew the soul to the country of Pat-Koot-Parout again.—T. S. Gueulette, Chinese Tales (“Kolao, the Wild Man,” 1723). ⁂ Orpheus, having lost his wife, Eurydĭcê, by the bite of a serpent, obtained permi ion of Pluto for her restoration, provided he looked not back till he reached the upper world. He had got to the end of his journey, when he turned round to see if Pluto had kept his word. As he turned he just caught sight of Eurydicê, who was instantly caught back again to the infernal regions.