It accordingly occurs in most of the German books of drolls as those by Bebel and Pauli, and it is possible that the folk versions were derived from this, though they stretch as far as Cairo and North India.
"Europa's Fairy Book"
Joseph Jacobs
The case for Indian origin is strongest for drolls of this kind.
"Europa's Fairy Book"
Joseph Jacobs
They must have made clowns whiten their faces in the dawn of time, and no doubt there were drolls among the antediluvians who enhanced the effect of their fun by that means.
"Short Stories and Essays From "Literature and Life""
William Dean Howells