Polish horses & more

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

   Greetings again from Bialystok, where the best I could find is a "bagiel"...If the U.S. stock marlet goes down any more, the only "bread" I'll have will be "Bialystock."
   From that first viewing and listening of Chopin at Lazienki Park in Warsaw, my tour guide said that the barred "L" is "W" in English pronunciation.  The online slang guides I cited that list "pedal" also include that pronunciation note.  Again, it doesn't excuse the "pedal" bicycle etymology, however.

POLISH HORSES--Seen today at Bialowieza National Park (barred L again).  Also known as Tarpan horses (OED 1841) and forest horses.  The OED entry doesn't mention Poland, and I can probably antedate the entry.

EUROPEAN BISON--Also seen at the park, and almost extinct.  I didn't find any other names, however.

LAJKONIK HOBBY HORSE--OED has "hobby horse" from 1557, but this legend of Cracow appears to go back to the 13th century.

TREASURER OF WIELICZA--Treasurer is "Skarbnik" in Polish, and it is the guardian ghost of mines and miners.  OED should consider it (like a "dwarf" or "troll" entry).

CRACOW CRIBS--"Cracovian Christmas Cribs" is on pages 120-121 of my LEGENDARY CRACOW book.  This is an old tradition.  Perhaps it should be considered (like a "Swiss cheese" or "Manhattan clam chowder" entry).

WALKING STICK (LASKA)--A girl.

SOUP--Gasoline.

IN POLAND, ALL MUSHROOMS ARE EDIBLE.  SOME ONLY ONCE--A gem from my tour guide.