It is related to the theme of the calumniated wife and is classified in the international Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index as ATU 707, "The Three Golden Children".
The tale was collected in Belu, near Tsiribihina River (West Coast of Madagascar), and published by Jeanne de Longchamps.
[1] The tale was translated into Russian as "Андриамбахуака Равухимена и волшебные зерна" ("Andrianbahuaca Ravuhimena and the Magic Grains").
[2] Local nobleman Ravuhimena walks about in his properties and listens to the conversations between three sisters: the eldest promises to weave a hundred braids with a single thread; the middle one that she will weave a thousand with a single thread; and the youngest promises to give birth to five sons by him after she eats five grains.
One day, on a hunt, Ravohimena finds the five children playing in the woods in front of the Man of the Forest's hut.
The king goes to the little man with long hair, who asks him to get him first honey from red bees in a fresh plantain leaf, then to kill a white boar in the woods.
[13] Andriamanjavona, "royal prince of double affiliation" and son of sovereign Andriandravindravina, is destined to take it, which he does by singing a magical charm.
[17][18] Professor Lee Haring noted the connection to the international tale type ATU 707, "The Three Golden Children".
[20] French orientalist Gabriel Ferrand collected a tale in Fianarantsoa, from the Betsileo with the title Le mari et ses trois femmes ("The man and his three wives").
In this tale, a man's third wife gives birth to a boy named Razafinjato and a girl called Ramitriavola.
When the co-wives meet the twins, they set the boy and the girl on a quest for some jewels by the margin of the river where alligators roamed, and later to cut the tail of a dangerous bull.
Refarane gives birth to two children (the older a boy) who are replaced for a cat and a little mouse, and thrown in the water.
They are saved by an old woman and find a talking bird (Voromivola), who tells them the truth and helps them reconcile their family.