C8F — Salvation in a drum during the flood.

During the flood, a brother and sister float in a drum.

Berezkin category: Disasters

C8.  At the beginning of time or as a result of a catastrophe, the only human couple is a brother and sister (less often a mother and son, father and daughters). They marry and give birth to people.
C8a.  Finding themselves alone and without other marriage partners, a brother and sister make it possible to marry each other by the occurrence of an incredible event. This event takes place, giving them a sign to become spouses. Among such events (alternatively or sequentially): 1) millstones rolling down from two different mountains fall on top of each other; 2) swords thrown from two mountains end up in the same scabbard; 3) objects thrown up join together; 4) smoke from two fires joins together (rising in a column); 5) two planted bamboo stalks join at the tops. See motif C8.
C8a1.  Finding themselves alone and without other marriage partners, a brother and sister make their marriage possible by the occurrence of an incredible event: a thread far from the needle must enter the eye of the needle.
C8a2.  The lion (often stone) helps to survive the flood.
c8aa.  At the beginning of time, or as a result of a catastrophe, the only human couple are a brother and sister. They marry and give birth to people.
C8b.  A brother and sister (or mother and son) find themselves alone, without marriage partners. Both of them (or only the brother, son) refuse to marry, but do so after accepting each other (or the brother accepts the sister, the son accepts the mother) as strangers. They give birth to new people.
C8c.  After a global catastrophe, at the beginning of time or when settling a new land, a woman and her son give birth to humans.
C8c1.  At the beginning of time or after the destruction of the rest of humanity, a father and daughter (daughters) remain. They marry and give rise to humans or certain ethnic groups.
C8D.  A brother and sister survived the flood. They married after having had smallpox and therefore did not recognise each other.
c8e.  During the flood or at the beginning of time, people (usually a brother and sister) float in a large gourd.
c8f.  During the flood, a brother and sister float in a drum.

This motif has been recorded in 6 traditions: Kachin (Singpho), Chak, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Meo (Hmong) of Thailand, Laos and Northern Vietnam, Lahu, Kucong, Nosu, Nisu, Nusu, Sani, Jino, Tats, Lisu, Lolo (incl. Bai), Achang, Yi, Axi, Nasu, Jino, Taungyo