The ocean of story, being C.H. Tawney's translation of Somadeva's ...

234 THE OCEAN OF STORY
like, she still remains aloof and untouched a lovely thing
whom we should be grateful to have met at all.
Conclusions
As a result of our inquiry into the origin of the " Swan-
Maiden " motif the following facts would seem to be
established :
1. The roots of the motif are to be found in early Sanskrit
literature.
2. By Puranic times the motif
had assumed a finished
form and began to be popular in different Indian vernaculars.
3. It gradually migrated in all directions. Towards the
North, North-east, East and South-east the dissemination
was due largely to the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Towards the West the carriers of the tale were the Moslems ;
which accounts for its inclusion in The Arabian Nights. This
lent great impetus to its introduction into Europe.
4. In Europe it found a much more suitable environment
in which to thrive in Teutonic rather than in classical mythology.
The swan-maiden herself, however, has no roots in
European primitive popular belief.
5. One of the most interesting routes which the motif
followed from India was through Mongolia into Siberia,
across Bering Strait, through North America, and so to
Greenland.
6. The persistence and endurance of the motif are due
solely to its charm and poetic beauty.
7. Although one recognises in the motif primitive ideas
of totem and taboo, they are of only secondary importance,
and a definite " interpretation " should not be too strongly
insisted upon.