[Folklore] The Russian 'Water-grandfather'. He is a powerful shapechanger and it is believed that he drowns those who swim at twelve o'clock, be it midnight or noon. He often marries drowned or disinherited girls, but he also has a liking for happily married women. Each time a woman is about to give birth to a child of his, he will go to the nearest village to request the services of a midwife, who will be handsomely rewarded in gold and silver. The Watermaster can be recognized by his bald head, large belly, round cheeks and his green clothes. He wears a high, pointed hat made of reed. However, he also appears in the shape of a handsome young man or a well-known person from the village. He lives in rivers, pools and lakes, preferably close to a water-mill. He hides during the day as a trout or an old salmon, but during the night he emerges from the water to let his sea cows and sheep and horses graze on the meadows. Sometimes he can be seen sitting on the river bank combing his long, green ha...
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