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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35060-8.txt b/35060-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7f61d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/35060-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4700 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Santal Folk Tales, by A. Campbell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Santal Folk Tales + +Author: A. Campbell + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35060] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SANTAL FOLK TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This book was produced from scanned images of +public domain material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + SANTAL FOLK TALES. + + + Translated from the Santali + By + + A. CAMPBELL, + + + Free Church of Scotland Santal Mission, + + Santal Mission Press, + + Pokhuria. + + + + + + + Printed at the Santal Mission Press, + Pokhuria. + + 1891. + + + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Of late years the Folk tales of India have been the subject of much +study and research, and several interesting collections of them have +been published. But I am not aware that as yet the folk lore of the +Santals, has received the attention which it deserves. The Santals +as a people, have, to a remarkable degree, succeeded in resisting the +subtle Hinduising influences to which they have long been exposed, and +to which such a large number of aboriginal tribes have succumbed. They +have retained their language, institutions, tribal organization, and +religion almost intact. Their traditions show the jealousy with which +these have been guarded, and the suspicion and distrust with which +contact with their Aryan neighbours was regarded. The point at which +they have been most accessible to outward influence and example, is +in their relations with the aboriginal tribes, who in a more or less +degree have merged themselves in Hinduism. Hindu ideas, customs and +beliefs, filtering through these tribes, became considerably modified +before they reached the Santals, and were therefore less potent in +their effects than if they had been drawn from the fountain head of +Hinduism itself. Still, in respect to their aboriginal neighbours +they are always on their guard, ready to repel any innovation on +their customs or religion with which they may be threatened. In the +folk tales of such a people we may well expect to find something, +if not altogether new, still interesting and instructive from an +ethnological point of view, and this expectation, I believe, would be +abundantly gratified if they were only made accessible to those who, +by training and study, are competent to deal with them. + +Santal folk-tales may be divided into two classes--those apparently +purely Santal in their origin, and those obtained from other +sources. Those of the first class are by far the more numerous, +and besides showing the superstitious awe with which the Santals +regard the creations of their own fancy, they throw a flood of +light upon the social customs and usages of this most interesting +people. The second class embraces a large number of the more popular +tales current among the Hindus and semi-Hinduised aborigines. These, +although adapted and modified by the Santals to suit their language, +modes of thought, and social usages, may generally be detected by the +presence of proper names, or untranslatable phrases which unmistakably +indicate the source from which they have been derived. + +These tales were taken down in Santali at first hand, and are therefore +genuine and redolent of the soil. In translating them I have allowed +myself considerable latitude without in any way diverging so far from +the original as to in any degree impair their value to the student +of Indian Folk-lore. + +It was to be expected that in the popular tales of a simple, unpolished +people like the Santals, expressions and allusions unfitted for ears +polite would be found. In all such cases the changes which have been +made are in accord with Santal thought and usage, so that the tales +are, notwithstanding these alterations, thoroughly Santali. + +I have aimed at making these Santal Folk-tales, in their English dress, +true to the forests and hills of their nativity. I am not without hope, +that in this I have succeeded in some small degree. + +A number of the tales included in this volume have already appeared +in the Indian Evangelical Review, but in this collected form they +are more likely to prove of service to those who take an interest in +the subject. + +This volume of Santal Folk-Tales is offered as a humble contribution +to the Folk-lore of India. + + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Page. + + The Magic Lamp 1 + The Two Brothers, Jhorea and Jhore 6 + The Boy and his Stepmother 15 + The Story of Kara and Guja 18 + The King and his inquisitive Queen 22 + The Story of Bitaram 25 + The Story of Sit and Bosont 33 + The Story of a Tiger 40 + Story of a Lizard, a Tiger, and a lame Man 42 + The Story of a Simpleton 45 + A Thief and a Tiger 49 + The Magic Fiddle 52 + Gumda the Hero 57 + Lipi and Lapra 62 + The Story of Lelha 65 + The Story of Sindura Gand Garur 89 + The Tiger and Ulta's Mother 93 + The Greatest Cheat of Seven 98 + The Story of Two Princesses 102 + Seven Brothers and their Sister 106 + The Story of Jhore 111 + The Girl who always found helpers 119 + A Simple Thief 125 + + + + + + +SANTAL FOLK-TALES. + +THE MAGIC LAMP. + + +In the capital of a certain raja, there lived a poor widow. She had +an only son who was of comely form and handsome countenance. One +day a merchant from a far country came to her house, and standing +in front of the door called out, "dada, dada," (elder brother). The +widow replied, "He is no more, he died many years ago." On hearing +this the merchant wept bitterly, mourning the loss of his younger +brother. He remained some days in his sister-in-law's house, at the +end of which he said to her, "This lad and I will go in quest of the +golden flowers, prepare food for our journey." Early next morning they +set out taking provisions with them for the way. After they had gone +a considerable distance, the boy being fatigued said, "Oh! uncle I can +go no further." The merchant scolded him, and walked along as fast as +he could. After some time the boy again said, "I am so tired I can go +no further." His uncle turned back and beat him, and he, nerved by +fear, walked rapidly along the road. At length they reached a hill, +to the summit of which they climbed, and gathered a large pile of +firewood. They had no fire with them, but the merchant ordered his +nephew to blow with his mouth as if he were kindling the embers of +a fire. He blew until he was exhausted, and then said, "What use is +there in blowing when there is no fire?" The merchant replied "Blow, +or I shall beat you." He again blew with all his might for a short +time, and then stopping, said, "There is no fire, how can it possibly +burn?" on which the merchant struck him. The lad then redoubled his +efforts, and presently the pile of firewood burst into a blaze. On +the firewood being consumed, an iron trap-door appeared underneath the +ashes, and the merchant ordered his nephew to pull it up. He pulled, +but finding himself unable to open it, said, "It will not open." The +merchant told him to pull with greater force, and he, being afraid lest +he should be again beaten, pulled with all his might, but could not +raise it. He again said, "It will not open," whereupon the merchant +struck him, and ordered him to try again. Applying himself with all +his might, he at length succeeded. On the door being raised, they saw +a lamp burning, and beside it an immense quantity of golden flowers. + +The merchant then said to the boy, "As you enter do not touch any of +the gold flowers, but put out the lamp, and heap on the gold tray as +many of the gold flowers as you can, and bring them away with you." He +did as he was ordered, and on reaching the door again requested his +uncle to relieve him of the gold flowers, but he refused, saying, +"Climb up as best as you can." The boy replied, "How can I do so, +when my hands are full?" The merchant then shut the iron trap door +on him, and went away to a distant country. + +The boy being imprisoned in the dark vault, wept bitterly, and having +no food, in a few days he became very weak. Taking the lamp in his +hand, he sat down in a corner, and without knowing what he was doing, +began to rub the lamp with his hand. A ring, which he wore on his +finger, came into contact with the lamp, and immediately a fairy +issued from it, and asked, "What is it you want with me?" He replied, +"Open the door and let me out." The fairy opened the door, and the +boy went home taking the lamp with him. Being hungry, he asked for +food, but his mother replied, "There is nothing in the house that I +can give you." He then went for his lamp, saying, "I will clean it, +and then sell it, and with the money buy food." Taking the lamp +in his hand he began to rub it, and his ring again touching it, a +fairy issued from it and said "What do you wish for?" The boy said +"Cooked rice and uncooked rice." The fairy immediately brought him +an immense quantity of both kinds of rice. + +Sometime after this, certain merchants brought horses for sale, and +the boy seeing them wished to buy one. Having no money, he remembered +his lamp, and taking it up, pressed his ring against it, and the +fairy instantly appeared, and asked him what he wanted. He said, +"Bring me a horse," and immediately the fairy presented to him an +immense number of horses. + +When the boy had become a young man, it so happened, that one day +the raja's daughter was being carried to the ghat to bathe, and he +seeing her palki with the attendants passing, went to his mother and +said, "I am going to see the princess." She tried to dissuade him, +but he insisted on her giving him permission, so at length she gave +him leave. He went secretly, and saw her as she was bathing, and +on returning home, said to his mother, "I have seen the princess, +and I am in love with her. Go, and inform the raja that your son +loves his daughter, and begs her hand in marriage." His mother said, +"Do you think the raja will consider us as on an equality with him?" He +would not, however, be gainsaid, but kept urging her daily to carry his +message to the raja, until she being wearied with his importunity went +to the palace, and being admitted to an audience, informed the raja +that her son was enamoured of the princess, his daughter, and begged +that she might be given to him in marriage. The raja made answer that +on her son giving him a large sum of money which he named, and which +would have been beyond the means of the raja himself, he would be +prepared to give his daughter in marriage to her son. The young man +had recourse to his lamp and ring, and the fairy supplied him with a +much larger sum of money than the raja had demanded. He took it all, +and gave it to the raja, who was astonished beyond measure at the +sight of such immense wealth. + +After a reasonable time the old mother was sent to the raja to +request him to fulfil his promise, but he, being reluctant to see +his daughter united to one so much her inferior in station, in hope +of being relieved from the obligation to fulfil his promise, demanded +that a palace suited to her rank and station in life be prepared for +her, after which he would no longer delay the nuptials. The would-be +bridegroom applied to his never failing friends, his lamp and ring, +and on the fairy appearing begged him to build a large castle in +one night, and to furnish and adorn it as befitted the residence +of a raja's daughter. The fairy complied with the request, and the +whole city was amazed next morning at the sight of a lordly castle, +where the evening before there had not been even a hut. The dewan +tried to dissuade the raja, but without effect, and in due time the +marriage was celebrated amid great rejoicings. + +On a certain day, some time after the marriage, the raja and his +son-in-law went to the forest to hunt. During their absence, the +merchant to whom reference has already been made, arrived at the castle +gate, bearing in his hand a new lamp which he offered in exchange to +the princess for any old lamp she might possess. She thought it a good +opportunity to obtain a new lamp in place of her husband's old one, +and without knowing what she did, gave the magic lamp to the merchant, +and received a new one in return. The merchant rubbed his ring on the +magic lamp, and the fairy obeyed the summons, and desired to know what +he wanted. He said, "Convey the castle as it stands with the princess +in it, to my own country," and instantly his wish was gratified. + +When the raja and his son-in-law returned from the chase, they were +surprised and alarmed to find that the palace with its fair occupant +had vanished, and had not left a trace behind. The dewan reminded +his master that he had tried to dissuade him from rashly giving his +daughter in marriage to an unknown person, and had foretold that +some calamity was sure to follow. The raja being grieved and angry +at the loss of his daughter, sent for her husband, and said to him, +"I give you thirteen days during which to find my daughter. If you +fail, on the morning of the fourteenth, I shall surely cause you to +be executed." The thirteenth day arrived, and although her husband +had sought her every where, the princess had not been found. Her +unhappy husband resigned himself to his fate, saying, "I shall go +and rest, to-morrow morning I shall be killed." So he climbed to +the top of a high hill, and lay down to sleep upon a rock. At noon +he accidentally rubbed his finger ring upon the rock on which he +lay, and a fairy issued from it, and awaking him, demanded what +he wanted. In reply he said, "I have lost my wife and my palace, +if you know where they are, take me to them." The fairy immediately +transported him to the gate of his castle in the merchant's country, +and then left him to his own devices. Assuming the form of a dog, +he entered the palace, and the princess at once recognized him. The +merchant had gone out on business, and had taken the lamp with him, +suspended by a chain round his neck. After consultation, it was +determined that the princess should put poison in the merchant's +food that evening. When he returned, he called for his supper, and +the princess set before him the poisoned rice, after eating which +he quickly died. The rightful owner repossessed himself of the magic +lamp, and an application of the ring brought out the attendant fairy +who demanded to know why he had been summoned. "Transport my castle +with the princess and myself in it back to the king's country, and +place it where it stood before," said the young man; and instantly +the castle occupied its former position. So that before the morning +of the fourteenth day dawned, not only had the princess been found, +but her palace had been restored to its former place. The raja was +delighted at receiving his daughter back again. He divided his kingdom +with his son-in-law, giving him one-half, and they ruled the country +peacefully and prosperously for many years. + + + + + + +THE TWO BROTHERS, JHOREA, AND JHORE. + + +There were two brothers, whose parents died, leaving them orphans +when very young. The name of the elder was Jhorea, and of the younger +Jhore. On the death of their parents, the two brothers went to seek +employment, which they found in a certain village, far from where +their home had been. The elder, Jhorea, was engaged as a farm servant, +and the younger, Jhore, as village goat-herd. + +After some time, it so happened that one day the brothers had no rice +for their dinner, and Jhorea said to his brother, "Go to the owners of +the goats you herd, and ask them for the hire they promised you. One +will give you a pai, another a pawa, and a third a paila, and so +on, according to the number of animals they have in your charge; +some will give you more and others less, bring what you get, and +cook some for dinner." The boy went as he was ordered, and entering +the first house he came to, said, "Give me a pai." They said: "What +do you want with a pai?" "Never mind what I want with it, give it," +he replied. So they gave him a pai. Then he went to another house +and said, "Give me a pawa." "What do you want with a pawa?" they +said. "Never you mind, give it to me," and they gave him a pawa. He +then went to a third house and asked for a paila. "What do you want +with a paila?" they enquired. "Never you mind, give it to me," he +replied. Instead of bringing rice he brought the wooden measures, and +breaking them into small pieces, put them into the pot to cook. The +elder brother was ploughing, and being very hungry, he kept calling +out, "Cook the rice quickly, cook the rice quickly." His brother being +impatient, he stirred the contents of the pot with all his might, at +the same time exclaiming, "What can be the matter brother? it is very +hard." The elder brother came to see what was wrong, and on looking +into the pot saw only pieces of wood. He became very angry, and said, +"I sent you to bring rice, why did you bring measures?" To which he +replied, "You told me to ask a pai from one, a pawa from another, +and a paila from a third, and I did so." + +The elder then said to the younger, "You go and plough, and if the +plough catch in a root on the right hand, cut the root on the left +hand, and if it catch in a root on the left side, cut the root on +the right side, and in the meantime I will cook." He went and began +to plough, and in a short time the plough caught in a root on the +right, and not understanding the directions given to him, he struck +the left hand bullock a blow on the leg with his axe. The bullock +limped along a short distance. When the plough caught in a root on +the left, he smote the bullock on the right, wounding it as he had +done the other. Both of the bullocks then lay down, and although he +beat them they did not get up. He therefore called to his brother, +"These bullocks have lain down, and will not get up, what shall I +do?" "Beat them," was the reply. Again he beat them, but with no +better result. The elder brother then came, and found that the oxen +had been maimed, and were unable to stand, at which he became greatly +alarmed, and said, "Why did you maim the oxen? The owners will beat +us to death to-day." He then gave him some parched grain to eat, +and sent him to look after his goats. The sun being hot, the goats +were lying in the shade chewing their cud. He sat down near them, +and began to eat the parched grain. Seeing the goats moving their +jaws as if eating, he said, "These goats are eating nothing, they +are lying there mocking me," and becoming enraged, he killed them +all with his axe. Then going to his brother, he said, "Oh! brother, +I have killed all the goats." His brother asked, "Why did you kill +them?" He replied, "While I was watching them and eating the parched +grain which you gave me, I saw them chewing, and as they were eating +nothing I knew they were mocking me, and so I killed them all." The +elder brother became greatly alarmed, and calling to the younger to +come, they quickly ate their dinner, and then went to where the goats +were lying dead. From among them they chose the fattest, and carried +it off to the jungle, where they flayed, and cut it into pieces. + +Jhore then said, "I shall take the stomach as my share," but his +brother said, "No, let us take the flesh." Jhore, however, would not +agree to that, and at length his brother said, "Well you take the +stomach, I shall take the flesh." So each took what he fancied most, +and they set off. After travelling a long distance, they came to a +large tree growing on the side of the road, into which they climbed +for safety. After they had been some time on the tree, a raja on his +way to be married, lay down to rest in its shade, and when he and +his attendants had fallen asleep, Jhore let the goat's stomach fall +down on the raja. The raja having his rest thus rudely disturbed, +sprang to his feet, and calling out, awoke his servants, who seeing +the goat's stomach, and not knowing what had happened, thought the +raja himself had burst. They fled in terror followed by the raja, +and did not halt till they were many miles away from the scene of +the raja's discomfiture. + +After waiting a little while, the brothers descended, and began to +help themselves to the raja's property. Jhore said, "I shall take the +drum." His brother said, "No, let us take the brass vessels and the +clothes." Jhore, however, insisted, and after considerable wrangling, +his brother said, "Well, take the drum if you will have it, I shall +take the brass vessels and the clothes." So each took what pleased +him best, and then they went away and hid in the jungle. + +While walking about in the jungle, they collected bees, wasps, and +other stinging insects, and put them into the drum. Having filled the +drum, they emerged from the forest at a place where a washerman was +washing clothes. Jhore tore all his clothes into strips, and scattered +them about. The washerman went and told the raja that two persons +had come out from the jungle, and had destroyed all his clothes. On +hearing this, the raja said to his servants, "Come, and let us fight +with these two men." So arming themselves with guns, they went to the +tank where Jhorea and Jhore were sitting, and began to shoot at them, +but the bullets did them no harm. When their ammunition was exhausted, +they said, "Will you still fight?" The brothers answered, "Yes, we +will fight." So they began to fire their guns, and beat their drum, +and the bees and wasps issued from it like a rope, and began to sting +the raja and his soldiers, who to save themselves, lay down and rolled +on the ground. The raja, in anguish from the stings of the bees, +exclaimed, "I will give you my daughter, and half of my kingdom, +if you will call off the bees." Hearing this they beat the drum, +and calling to the bees and wasps, ordered them all to enter the drum +again, and the raja and his people went to their homes. The brothers +however, could not agree as to who should marry the princess. One said, +"You marry her." The other said, "No, you marry her." The younger at +length said to the elder, "You are the elder, you should take her, +as it is not fitting that you should beg. If I were to marry her, +I could no longer go about begging." So the elder brother married +the princess, and became the raja's son-in-law. + +The two settled down there, and cultivated all kinds of crops. One +day the elder brother sent his younger brother to bring a certain +kind of grain. Taking a sickle and a rope to tie his sheaves with, he +went to the field. Arrived there, he found that the grain was covered +with insects. So he set fire to it, and while it was burning he kept +calling out, "Whoever desires to feast on roasted insects, let him +come here." When his brother knew what he had done, he reprimanded +him severely. + +Some time afterwards, when the black rice was ripe, he again +ordered him to go and reap some, so getting a sickle, and rope to +bind his sheaves with, he went to the rice field. On looking about +to see where he would begin, he discovered that each stalk of rice +was covered with flies. "There is nothing here but flies. How can I +reap this?" Saying this, he set fire to the growing rice and burnt +it all to the ground. His brother, when he knew what had happened, +was very much displeased and threatened to beat him. + +On another day he was sent to cut jari [1] to make ropes, so taking +his sickle, he set off to the field of jari. As soon as he began +to cut the stalks, the seeds rattled in the pods, hearing which he +stopped and called out, "Who is calling me?" After listening awhile +and hearing nothing he began again, and the same noise issuing from +the plant he was cutting, he said, "These plants are remonstrating +with me for cutting them." So being offended, he set fire to and +burnt down the whole crop of jari. + +On being informed of his brother's action, Jhorea seized a stick, +and ran after him to beat him, but could not overtake him. In the +direction Jhore was running, there were some men flaying an ox, and +Jhorea called to them to lay hold of his brother. They could not, +however, accomplish this, but as he passed, they threw the stomach +of the ox at him, which he caught in his arms and carried away with +him. Finding a drain that was open at both ends, he crept in at one +end, and passed out at the other, but left the ox's stomach behind +him. His brother soon arrived at the drain, and thinking he was still +there, tried to drive him out by pushing in a stick, the sharp point +of which perforated the ox's stomach. On withdrawing the stick, and +seeing the contents of the ox's stomach adhering to it, he thought he +had pierced and killed his brother, but he having passed out at the +other end had run swiftly home, and hid himself among the rafters of +the house. Jhorea returned home weeping, and immediately began to make +the preparations necessary for Jhore's funeral ceremonies. He caused +a sumptuous feast to be got ready, and invited all his relations and +friends. When they were all assembled, he went into the house to offer +Jhore his portion. Presenting it, he said: "Oh! my brother Jhore, I +offer this to you, take it, and eat it." Jhore, from among the rafters +said, "Give it to me brother, and I shall eat it." His brother, not +expecting an answer, was alarmed, and fled to his friends without, +exclaiming, "Do the spirits of dead men speak? Jhore's speaks." + +It now being dark, Jhore descended from his perch, and taking up the +food which had been cooked for his funeral feast, left the house +by another door. Passing on to the high way, he kept calling out, +"Travellers by the road, or dwellers in the jungle, if you require +food, come here." Some thieves hearing him, said, "Come, let us go and +ask some." So going to him they said, "Give us some too, Jhore." But +he replied, "It is for me alone." On their asking a second time, +he give it to them. After they had eaten it all, they said to him, +"Come, let us go a thieving." So they went to a house, and while the +thieves were searching for money, Jhore went and picked up small pieces +of pottery, and tied them up in his cloth. When they met afterwards, +seeing Jhore's bundle of what appeared like rupees, they said, +"You were not with us, where did you get the money?" Opening his +parcel, he shewed them the pieces of pottery, seeing which they said, +"We will not have you as our comrade." He replied, "Then return the +food which you ate." As they could not comply, they agreed to take +him with them. Jhore then said, "Where shall we go now?" They replied, +"To steal cloth." So they went to a house, and while the robbers were +searching for cloth, Jhore began to pull the clothes from off the +sleeping inmates. This awoke them, and starting up, they began to call +loudly for help. The thieves made off, and Jhore with them. Seeing +Jhore had spoiled their game, they said to him, "We will not allow +you to go with us again." He said, "Then give me back the food you +ate." Not being able to do so, they said, "Well, we will allow you +to accompany us this once." Jhore then said, "What shall we steal +now?" The thieves answered, "We shall now go to steal horses." So +they went to a stable, and each of the thieves helped himself to a +horse; but Jhore going behind the house, found a large tiger which he +saddled and mounted. The thieves also mounted each on the horse he +had stolen. As they rode along, Jhore's tiger sometimes went first, +and sometimes the thieves' horses. When the thieves were in front, +Jhore's tiger bit and scratched their horses, so they said to him, +"You ride first, we shall follow." But Jhore said, "No, my horse is a +Hindu horse, he cannot run in front, your horses are Santal horses, +they run well and straight, so you ride ahead." When day began to +dawn, Jhore's tiger evinced a tendency to leave the road and take to +the jungle, but Jhore holding him in, exclaimed, "Ha! ha! my Hindu +steed, ha! ha! my Hindu steed." When it was fully light, the tiger +ran into the jungle, and Jhore got caught in the branch of a tree, +and continued dangling there for some days. + +It so happened that one morning a demon passing that way spied Jhore +dangling from the tree, and seizing him, put him in a bag and carried +him away. Being thirsty, he laid the bag down, and went to a spring +to drink. While he was absent, Jhore got out of the bag, and putting +a stone in instead, ran away. The demon having quenched his thirst, +returned, and lifting the bag carried it home. His daughter came to +welcome him, and he said to her, "Jhore is in the bag, cook him, +and we shall have a feast." He then went to invite his friends to +share it with him. When the demon's daughter had opened the bag, +she found the stone, and was angry, because her father had deceived +her. In a short time her father returned, bringing a large number of +jackals with him. He said to her, "Have you cooked Jhore?" She replied, +"Tush! tush! you brought me a stone." + +The demon was highly incensed at having been outwitted, and exclaimed, +"I will track Jhore till I find him, and this time I shall bring him +home without laying him down." He then left, and before long found +Jhore swinging in the same branch as before. Catching hold of him, he +put him into a bag, the mouth of which he tied. This time he brought +him home without once laying him down. Calling to his daughter, +he said, "Cook Jhore, while I go to invite my friends." She untied +the bag, and took Jhore out, and seeing his long hair, she said, +"How is it that your hair has grown so long?" "I pounded it in the +dhenki," he replied, "Will you pound mine, so that it may become long +like yours," said the demon's daughter. Jhore replied, "I shall do so +with pleasure, put your head in the dhenki, and I shall pound it." So +she put in her head, and he pounded it so that he killed her. He then +possessed himself of all her jewellery, and dressing in her clothes, +cooked her body. + +When the demon returned, accompanied by his friends, he said, +"Well! daughter, have you cooked Jhore?" Jhore replied, "Yes, I have +cooked him." On hearing this, the demon and the jackals who had come +with him, were delighted, and setting to, they devoured the body of +the demon's daughter. + +After some days, the demon went to visit a friend, and Jhore divesting +himself of the demon girl's clothes, went to where the demon had at +first found him, and began to swing as before. Presently a tigress +approached him and said, "Oh! brother, the hair of my cubs has +grown very long, I wish you to shave them to-day." Jhore replied, +"Oh! sister, boil some water, and then go to the spring to bring +more." The tigress having boiled the water, went to the spring. While +she was away, Jhore poured the boiling water over the two cubs, +and scalded them to death. He made them grin by fixing the lips +apart, and propped them up at the door of the tigress' house. On her +return as she drew near, she saw her cubs, as she fancied, laughing, +and said to herself. "They are delighted because their uncle has +shaved them." Setting down her water pot, she went to look at them, +and found them dead. Just then the demon came up, and she asked him, +"Whom are you seeking to-day uncle?" He replied "I am seeking Jhore, +he has caused me to eat my own daughter. Whom are you seeking?" The +tigress replied, "I also am seeking Jhore; he has scalded my cubs +to death." + +The two then went in search of Jhore. They found him in a lonely part +of the forest preparing birdlime, and said to him, "What are you doing, +Jhore?" He replied, "I look high up, and then I look deep down." They +said, "Teach us to do it too." He answered, "Only I can do it." They +asked him a second time, and received the same reply. On their begging +him a third time to teach them, he said, "Well, I shall do it." He +then put some of the birdlime into their eyes, and fixed their eyelids +together, so that they could not open them. While they were washing +their eyes, he ran away. As soon as they had rid themselves of the +birdlime, they followed him and found him distilling oil from the +fruit of the marking-nut tree. They said to him, "What are you doing, +Jhore?" He replied, "I look deep down, and then high up." They said, +"Teach us also." He replied, "Only I can do it." They asked him again, +and he said, "Well I will do it." He then poured some of the oil he +had distilled into their eyes. It burned them so, that they became +stone-blind. + +Jhore was next seen seated in a fig-tree eating the fruit. Some cattle +merchants, passing under the tree with a large herd of cattle, saw him +eating the figs, and asked him what it was he was eating. He replied, +"Beat the bullock that is going last, and you shall find it." So +they beat the bullock till it fell down. In the meantime, the herd +had gone on ahead, and Jhore running after them drove them to his +own house. His brother seeing the large herd of cattle, asked to whom +they belonged. Jhore replied, "They are Jhore's property." Jhorea then +said, "I killed my brother Jhore, what Jhore is it?" He made answer, +"Your brother Jhore whom you thought you had killed." Jhorea was +delighted to find his brother alive, and said to him, "Let us live +together after this." So they lived peacefully together ever after. + + + + + + +THE BOY AND HIS STEPMOTHER. + + +A certain boy had charge of a cow which he used to tend while +grazing. One day the cow said to him, "How is it that you are becoming +so emaciated?" The boy replied, "My stepmother does not give me +sufficient food." The cow then said to him, "Do not tell any one, +and I will give you food. Go to the jungle and get leaves with which +to make a plate and cup." The boy did as he was ordered, and behold, +the cow from one horn shook boiled rice into the leaf plate, and from +the other a relish for the rice into the cup. This continued daily +for a considerable time, until the boy became sleek and fat. + +The stepmother came to know of the relation which existed between +the cow and her herd-boy, and to be revenged upon them she feigned +illness. To her attendants she said, "I cannot possibly live." They +asked, "What would make you live?" She replied, "If you kill the cow, +I will recover." They said, "If killing the cow will cure you, we will +kill it." The boy hearing that the life of the cow which supplied +him with food was threatened, ran to her and said, "They are about +to kill you." Hearing this the cow said, "You go and make a rope of +rice straw, make some parts thick, and some thin, and put it in such a +place as they can easily find it. When they are about to kill me, you +seize hold of my tail and pull." The next day they proceeded to make +arrangements to kill the cow, and finding the rope prepared by the boy +the day before, they tied her with it to a stake. After she was tied +the boy laid hold of her tail, and pulled so that the rope by which +she was secured was made taut. A man now raised an axe, and felled +her by a blow on the forehead. As the cow staggered the rope broke, +and she and the boy were borne away on the wind, and alighted in an +unexplored jungle. From the one cow other cows sprang, in number equal +to a large herd, and from them another large herd was produced. The boy +then drove his two herds of cows to a place where they could graze, and +afterwards took them to the river to drink. The cows having quenched +their thirst, lay down to rest, and the boy bathed, and afterwards +combed and dressed his hair. During this latter operation a hair from +his head fell into the river, and was carried away by the current. + +Some distance lower down, a princess with her female companions and +attendants came to bathe. While the princess was in the water she +noticed the hair floating down stream, and ordered some one to take it +out, which when done they measured, and found it to be twelve cubits +long. The princess on returning home went to the king, her father, +and showing him the hair she had found in the river said, "I have made +up my mind to marry the man to whom this hair belonged." The king gave +his consent, and commanded his servants to search for the object of his +daughter's affection. They having received the king's command went to +a certain barber and said to him, "You dress the hair and beards of +all the men in this part of the country, tell us where the man with +hair twelve cubits long is to be found." The barber, after many days, +returned unsuccessful. The king's servants after a long consultation +as to whom they should next apply to, decided upon laying the matter +before a tame parrot belonging to the king. Going to the parrot they +said, "Oh parrot, can you find the man whose hair is twelve cubits +long?" The parrot replied, "Yes, I can find him." After flying here +and there the parrot was fortunate enough to find the boy. It was +evening, and having driven his two herds of cattle into their pen, +he had sat down, and was employed in dressing his long hair. His +flute was hanging on a bush by his side. + +The parrot sat awhile considering how she might take him to the king's +palace. Seeing the flute the idea was suggested to her, that by means +of it she might contrive to lead him where she desired. So taking it up +in her beak, she flew forward a little and alighted in a small bush. To +regain possession of his flute the boy followed, but on his approach +the bird flew away, and alighted on another bush a short distance +ahead. In this way she continued to lead him by flying from bush to +bush until at length she brought him to the king's palace. He was then +brought before his majesty, and his hair measured, and found to be +twelve cubits in length. The king then ordered food to be set before +him, and after he was refreshed the betrothal ceremony was performed. + +As it was now late they prevailed upon him to pass the night as the +guest of the king. Early in the morning he set out, but, as he had +a long distance to go, the day was far advanced before he reached +the place where his cattle were. They were angry at having been kept +penned up to so late an hour, and as he removed the bars to let them +out, they knocked him down, and trampled upon his hair in such a way, +as to pull it all out leaving him bald. Nothing daunted, he collected +his cows, and started on his return journey, but us he drove them +along, one after another vanished, so that only a few remained when +he reached the king's palace. + +On his arrival they noticed that he had lost all his hair, and on being +questioned he related to the king all that had fallen him. His hair +being gone the princess refused to marry him, so instead of becoming +the king's son-in-law, he became one of his hired servants. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF KARA AND GUJA. + + +There were two brothers named Kara and Guja. Guja, who was the elder +did the work at home, and Kara was ploughman. + +One day the two went to the forest to dig edible roots. After they +had been thus engaged for some hours, Kara said to Guja, "Look up +and see the sun's position in the heavens." Looking up he said, +"Oh brother, one is rising and another is setting." They then said, +"The day is not yet past, let us bestir ourselves, and lose no +time." So they dug with all their might. + +After digging a long time Kara looked up and became aware that it was +night. He then exclaimed, "Oh brother, it is now night, what shall +we do? Come let us seek some place where we can remain until the +morning." After they had wandered awhile in the forest they spied a +light in the distance, and on drawing near they found that a tiger had +kindled a fire, and was warming himself. Going up to the entrance to +the cave they called out to the tiger, "Oh uncle, give us a place to +sleep in." He answered, "Come in." So the two went in, and being hungry +began to roast and eat the roots they had brought with them. The tiger +hearing them eating, enquired what it was. They replied, "Oh uncle, we +are roasting and eating the roots which we dug up in the forest." He +then said, "Oh my nephews, I will also try how they taste." So they +handed him a piece of charcoal, and as he munched it he said, "Oh +my nephews, how is it that I feel it grating between my teeth?" They +replied, "It is an old one that you have got, uncle." He then said, +"Give me another, and I will try it." So they gave him another piece of +charcoal, and after he had crunched it awhile he said, "Oh my nephews, +this is as bad as the other," to which they rejoined, "Oh uncle, +your mouth is old, therefore what is good to us, is the reverse to +you." The tiger did not wish to try his grinders on another piece of +charcoal, so the brothers were left to enjoy their repast alone. + +After they had eaten all the roots, Guja said to Kara, "What shall +we eat now? Come let us eat this old tiger's tail." Kara replied, +"Do not talk in that way, brother, the tiger will devour us." "Not so, +brother," said Guja, "I have a great desire to eat flesh." The old +tiger understood their conversation, and being afraid tried to get +out of the cave, but the brothers caught hold of him, and wrenched +off his tail, which they roasted in the ashes, and then ate. + +The tiger after losing his tail summoned a council of all the tigers +inhabiting that part of the forest, at which they decided to kill and +eat the two brothers. So they went to the cave, but Kara and Guja had +fled, and had taken refuge in a palm tree which grew on the edge of +a large deep tank. Not finding them in the cave the tigers, headed +by him who had lost his tail, went in quest of them, and coming to +the tank saw them reflected in the water, and one after another they +dived in, thinking they would be able to seize them, but of course +they could not catch a shadow. One of the tigers, when in the act +of yawning, looked upwards, and seeing them in the tree exclaimed, +"There they are. There they are." They then asked the brothers how +they had managed to climb up, to which they replied, "We stood on +each other's shoulders." The tigers then said, "Come, let us do the +same, and we shall soon reach them." As the tailless tiger was most +interested in their capture, they made him stand lowest, and a tiger +climbed up and stood on his shoulders, and another on his, and so +on; but before they reached the brothers, Kara called out to Guja, +"Give me your sharp battle-axe, and I shall hamstring the tailless +tiger." The tailless tiger forgetting himself jumped to one side, +and the whole pillar of tigers fell in a heap on the ground. They now +began to abuse the old tailless tiger, who fearing lest they should +tear him in pieces fled into the forest. + +After the tigers had left, the two brothers descended from the palm +tree, and walked rapidly away as they dreaded that the tigers might +yet follow them. Towards evening they came to a village, and entering +into the house of an old woman lay down to sleep. The owner of the +house observing them said, "Oh my children, do not sleep to-night, +for there is a demon who visits in rotation each house in the village, +and each time he comes carries off some one and eats him; it is my +turn to receive a visit to-night." They said, "Do not trouble us now, +let us sleep, as we are tired." So they slept, but kept their weather +eye open. During the night the old woman came quietly, and began +to bite their arms, which they had laid aside before retiring to +rest. Hearing a sound as if some one were crunching iron between his +teeth, the brothers called out, "Old woman, what are you eating?" She +replied "Only a few roasted peas which I brought from the chief's +house." About midnight the demon came, and as he was entering the +house Kara and Guja shot at him with their bows and arrows, and he +fell down dead. Then they cut out his claws and tongue, and placed +them in a bag. Afterwards they threw out the body of the demon into +the garden behind the house. + +Now it so happened that the king had promised to give his daughter +and half of his kingdom to the man who should slay the demon. Early +in the morning a Dome, who was passing, discovered the body of the +demon, and said within himself, "I will take it to the king and claim +the reward." So running home he broke all the furniture in his house +and beat his old woman saying, "Get out of this. I am about to bring +the king's daughter home as my bride." He then returned quickly, +and taking up the body of the demon carried it to the king, and said, +"Oh sir king, I have slain the demon." The king replied, "Very well, +we will enquire into it." So he commanded some of his servants to +examine the body, and on doing so they found that the claws had been +extracted and the tongue cut out. They reported the condition of +the body to the king, who ordered the Dome to state the weapon with +which he killed him. The Dome replied, "I hit him with a club on the +head." On the head being examined no mark whatever was seen, so in +order to arrive at the truth the king ordered all the inhabitants of +the village to be brought together to the palace. He then enquired +of them as to who killed the demon. + +The old woman, in whose house Kara and Guja had passed the night, +stepped forward and said, "Oh sir king, two strangers came to my house +yesterday evening, and during the night they slew the demon." The +king said, "Where are those two men?" The old woman replied, "There +they are, the two walking together." So the king sent and brought +them back, and questioned them as to the slaying of the demon. They +pointed out the arrow-marks on the body, and produced his claws and +tongue from their bag. This evidence convinced the king that they, +and not the Dome, had slain the demon. Kara and Guja were received +with great favour by the king, and received the promised reward. + +The king sentenced the Dome to be beaten and driven from the +village. After receiving his stripes, the Dome returned home, and +gathered the shreds of his property together. He also went in search +of his Dome wife and children, but they mocked him saying, "You went +to marry the king's daughter, why do you come again seeking us." + +Thus Kara and Guja gained a kingdom. + + + + + + +THE KING AND HIS INQUISITIVE QUEEN. + + +There was a certain king known by the name of Huntsman, on account of +his expertness in the chase. One day when returning from the forest +where he had been hunting he found a serpent and a lizard fighting +on the path along which he was moving. As they were blocking the way +he ordered them to stand aside and allow him to pass, but they gave +no heed to what he said. King Huntsman then began to beat them with +his staff. He killed the lizard, but the serpent fled, and so escaped. + +The serpent then went to Monsha, the king of the serpents, and +complained of the treatment the lizard and himself had received at +the hands of king Huntsman. The next day king Monsha went and met king +Huntsman on his way home from the forest, and blocked his way so that +he could not pass. King Huntsman being angry said, "Clear the way, +and allow me to pass, or else I shall send an arrow into you. Why +do you block my way?" King Monsha replied, "Why did you assault the +lizard and the serpent, with intent to kill them both?" King Huntsman +answered, "I ordered them to get out of my way, but they would not, +I therefore assaulted them, and killed one. The other saved himself +by flight." King Monsha hearing this explanation said, "Very good, +the fault was theirs, not yours." + +King Huntsman then petitioned the king of the serpents to bestow upon +him the gift of understanding the language of animals and insects. King +Monsha acceded to his request, and gave him the gift he desired. + +A few days after this event King Huntsman went to the forest, and after +hunting all day returned home in the evening Having washed his hands +and feet, he sat down to his meal of boiled rice. When the rice was +being served to the king a few grains fell on the ground, and a fly +and an ant began to dispute as to who should carry them away. The fly +said, "I will take them to my children." The ant replied, "No, I will +take them to mine." Hearing the two talk thus, the king was amused, +and began to smile. The queen, who was standing by, said to him, +"Tell me what has made you laugh." On being thus addressed the king +became greatly confused, for at the time the gift of understanding the +language of animals and insects was bestowed upon him, King Monsha had +forbidden him to make it known to any one. He had said, "If you tell +this to any one, I shall eat you." Remembering this the king feared +to answer the question put to him by the queen. He tried to deceive +her by saying, "I did not laugh, you must have been mistaken." She +would not, however, be thus put off, so the king was obliged to tell +her that if he answered her question his life would be forfeited. The +queen was inexorable, and said, "Whether you forfeit your life or +not, you must tell me." The king then said, "Well, if it must be so, +let us make ready to go to the bank of the Ganges. There I shall +tell you, and when I have done so you must push me into the river, +and then return home." + +The king armed himself, and the two set out for the river. When they +had reached it, they sat down to rest under the shade of a tree. A +flock of goats was grazing near to where they were seated, and the +king's attention was arrested by a conversation which was being carried +on between an old she-goat and a young he-goat. The former addressed +the latter thus, "There is an island in the middle of the Ganges, +and on that island there is a large quantity of good sweet grass. Get +the grass for me, and I shall give you my daughter in marriage." The +he-goat was not thus to be imposed upon. He angrily addressed his +female friend as follows, "Do not think to make me like this foolish +king, who vainly tries to please a woman. He has come here to lose +his own life at the bidding of one. You tell me to go and bring you +grass out of such a flood as this. I am no such fool. I do not care +to die yet. There are many more quite as good as your daughter." + +The king understood what passed between them, and admitted to himself +the truth of what the he-goat had said. After considering a short time +he arose, and having made a rude sacrificial altar, said to the queen, +"Kneel down, and do me obeisance, and I shall tell you what made me +laugh." She knelt down, and the king struck off her head and burnt +her body upon the altar. Returning home he performed her funeral +ceremonies, after which he married another wife. + +He reigned prosperously for many years, and decided all disputes that +were brought before him by animals or insects. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF BITARAM. + + +In a certain village there lived seven brothers. The youngest of +them planted a certain vegetable, and went every day to examine +it to see how it was growing. For a long time there were only the +stalk and leaves, but at length a flower appeared, and from it a +fruit. This fruit he measured daily to mark its growth. It grew +continuously until it became exactly a span long, after which it +remained stationary. One day he said to his sisters-in-law, "Do not +eat my fruit, for whoever does so will give birth to a child only one +span long." He continued his daily visits to his plant as usual, and +was pleased to note that the fruit was evidently ripening. One day, +during his absence, one of his sisters-in-law plucked the fruit and +ate it. On returning from the field where he had been ploughing, he +went to look at and measure his fruit, but it was gone, it had been +stolen. Suspecting that some one of his sisters-in-law was the thief, +he accused each of them in turn, but they all denied having touched +it. When he found that no one would confess to having taken it, he +said to them, "Do not tell upon yourselves, the thief will be caught +before long." And so it happened, for one of them gave birth to a +baby one span long. The first time he saw his sister-in-law after +the child was born he laughed, and said to her, "You denied having +stolen my fruit, now you see I have found you out." + +When the time came that the child should receive a name, Bitaram [2] +was given to him, because he was only a span in height. Bitaram's +mother used to take food to the brothers to the field when they were +ploughing, and when Bitaram was able to walk so far he accompanied +her. One day he surprised his mother by saying, "Let me take the food +to my father and uncles to-day." She replied, "What a fancy! You, +child, are only a span high, how can you carry it?" But Bitaram +insisted saying, "I can carry it well enough, and carry it I will." His +mother being unable to resist his pertinacity said, "Then, child, +take it, and be off." So she placed the basket on his head and he +set out. Arrived at the field he went up a furrow, but the ground was +so uneven that before he reached his destination, he had lost nearly +all the rice, which had been shaken out of the basket. On his coming +near, one of his uncles called out, "Is that you Bitaram?" He replied, +"Yes, it is I, Bitaram." Climbing up out of the furrow, he put down +the basket saying, "Help yourselves, and I will take the oxen and +buffaloes to the water." So saying, he drove off the cattle to the +river. When they had quenched their thirst he gathered them together, +and began to drive them back again to where he had left his father and +uncles. While following them up the sandy back of the river, he fell +into a depression made by the hoof of a buffalo, and was soon covered +up by the loose sand sent rolling down by the herd as they ascended. + +When the cattle returned without Bitaram, his father and uncles became +alarmed for his safety, and immediately went in search of him. They +went here and there calling out "Bitaram, where are you?" But failing +to find him they concluded that he had been devoured by some wild +animal, and returned sorrowfully home. Rain fell during the night, +and washed the sand from off Bitaram, so that he was able to get up, +and climb out. On his way home he encountered some thieves who were +dividing their booty in a lonely part of the forest. Bitaram hearing +them disputing called out "Kehe kere" at the pitch of his voice. The +thieves hearing the sound, looked round on all sides to see who was +near, but the night being dark, and they not directing their eyes near +enough to the ground to see Bitaram, they could discern no one. Then +they said to each other, "Let us seek safety in flight. A spirit has +been sent to watch us." So they all made off leaving behind them the +brass vessels they had stolen. Bitaram gathered these up, and hid +them among some prickly bushes, and then went home. + +It was now past midnight, and all had retired to rest, and as Bitaram +stood shivering with cold at the closed door, he called out, "Open +the door and let me in." His father hearing him said, "Is that you +Bitaram?" He replied, "Yes, open the door." They then enquired where +he had been, and he related all that had happened to him after he had +driven the cattle to the river. Having warmed himself at the fire, he +told his father of his adventure with the thieves in the forest. He +said, "I despoiled some thieves, whom I met in the jungle, of the +brass vessels they had stolen." His father replied, "Foolish child, +do not tell lies, you yourself are not the height of a brass lota" +(drinking-cup). "No father," said Bitaram, "I am telling the truth, +come and I will shew you where they are." His father and uncles went +with him, and he pointed out to them the vessels hidden among the +prickly bushes. They picked them all up and brought them home. + +Early next morning some sepoys, who were searching for the thieves, +happened to pass that way, and seeing the stolen property lying out +side of the house, recognized it, and apprehended Bitaram's father +and uncles and dragged them off to prison. After this Bitaram and +his mother were obliged to beg their bread from house to house. She +often attributed to him the misery which had befallen them, saying, +"Had it not been for your pertinacity, your father and uncles would +not have been deprived of their liberty." + +One day, as they were following their usual avocation, they entered +a certain house, and Bitaram said to his mother, "Ask the people of +the house to give me a tumki. [3]" She did not at first comply, but +he kept urging her until being irritated she said, "It was through +your pertinacity in insisting upon being allowed to carry the food +to your father and uncles that they are now bound and in prison, and +yet you will not give up the bad habit." Bitaram said, "No, mother, +do ask it for me." As he would not be silenced she begged it for him, +and the people kindly gave it. + +At the next house they came to, they saw a cat walking about, and +Bitaram said, "Oh mother, ask the people to give me the cat." As +before, she at first refused, but he continued to press her, and she +becoming annoyed scolded him saying, "The young gentleman insists on +obtaining this and that. It was your pertinacity that caused your +father and uncles to be dragged to prison in bonds." Bitaram replied, +"Not so, mother, do ask them to give me the cat." As the only way to +silence him she said to the people of the house, "Give my boy your cat, +he will hold it in his arms for a few minutes, and then set it down, +but he carried it away with him." Bitaram then begged his mother to +make him a bag, and fill it with flour, saying, "I am going to obtain +the release of my father and uncles." She mockingly replied, "Much you +can do." She made him a bag, however, and filling it with flour said, +"Be off." + +Bitaram then strapped the bag of flour on the cat's back as a saddle, +and mounted. Puss, however, refused to go in the direction desired, +and it was with great difficulty that he prevailed upon her to take +the road. As he rode along he observed a swarm of bees on an ant +hill, and dismounting he addressed them as follows, "Come bees, go +in, come bees, go in." The bees swarmed into the tumki, and Bitaram +having covered them up with a leaf continued his journey. Before he +had gone far he came to a large tank, which belonged to the raja who +had imprisoned his father. A number of women had come to the tank for +water, and Bitaram taking his stand upon the embankment began to shoot +arrows at their waterpots. After he had broken several, the women +espied him mounted on his cat with his bow and arrows in his hand, +and believing him to be an elf from the forest fled in terror to +the city. Going to the raja they said "Oh raja, come and see. Some +one is on the tank embankment. We do not know who or what he is, +but he is only a span high." The raja then summoned his soldiers, +and commanded them to take their bows and arrows, and go and shoot +him whoever he was. The soldiers went within range, but although they +shot away all their arrows, they failed to hit him. So returning to +the raja they said, "He cannot be shot." Hearing this the raja became +angry, and calling for his bow and arrows, went to the tank and began +to shoot at Bitaram, but although he persevered until his right side +ached with drawing the bow, he could not hit him. + +When he desisted, Bitaram called out "Are you exhausted?" The raja +answered "Yes." Then said Bitaram "It is my turn now," and taking the +leaf from off the mouth of the basket called to the bees, "Go into the +battle, bees." The bees issued from the basket like a black rope, and +stung the raja and those who were with him. No way of escape offering, +the raja called out to Bitaram, "Call off your bees, and I will give +you the half of my kingdom and my daughter, and I will also set at +liberty your father and uncles." Bitaram gathered the bees into the +basket, and after his father and uncles had been released, took them +back to the ant hill from whence he had brought them. On his return +he wedded the princess and received half of her father's kingdom. + +Bitaram and his wife lived happily together, and every thing they +took in hand prospered, so that before long they were richer than the +king himself. One great source of Bitaram's wealth was a cow which +the princess had brought him as part of her dowry. Being envious of +their good fortune, the raja and his sons resolved to kill the cow, +and thus obtain possession of all the gold and silver. So they put +the cow to death, but when they had cut her up they were disappointed +as neither gold nor silver were found in her stomach. + +Bitaram placed his cow's hide in the sun, and when it was dry carried +it away to sell it. Darkness coming on he climbed into a tree for +safety, as wild beasts infested the forest through which he was +passing. During the night some thieves came under the tree in which +he was, and began to divide the money they had stolen. Bitaram then +relaxed his hold of the dry hide, which made such a noise as it fell +from branch to branch that the thieves fled terror-stricken, and +left all their booty behind them. In the morning Bitaram descended, +and collecting all the rupees carried them home. He then shewed the +money to his wife, and said "Go and ask the loan of your father's +paila, that I may measure them." So she went and brought the +measure, which had several cracks in it. Having measured his money +he sent back the raja's paila, but he had not noticed that one or +two pieces were left sticking in the cracks. So they said to him, +"Where did you get the money?" He replied "By the sale of my cow's +hide." Hearing this they said, "Will the merchant who bought yours, +buy any more?" He said, "Yes. I received all this money for my one +hide, how much more may not you receive seeing you have such large +herds of cattle! If you dispose of their hides at the same rate as +I have done, you will secure immense wealth." So they killed all +their cattle, but when they offered the hides for sale they found +they had been hoaxed. They were ashamed and angry at having allowed +themselves to be thus imposed upon by Bitaram, and in revenge they +set fire to his house at night, but he crept into a rat's hole and +so escaped injury. In the morning he emerged from his hiding place, +and carefully gathering up the ashes of his house tied them up in a +cloth, and carried them away. As he walked along he met a merchant, +to whom he said, "What have you in your bag?" He replied "Gold-pieces +only." The merchant then enquired of Bitaram what he had tied up in +his cloth, to which he answered, "Gold-dust only." Bitaram then said, +"Will you exchange?" The merchant said, "Yes." So they exchanged, +and Bitaram returned laden with gold. Not being able to count it, he +again sent his wife to borrow her father's paila, and having measured +the gold-pieces returned it to him. This time a few pieces of gold +remained in the cracks in the paila, and the raja, being informed of +it, went and asked Bitaram where he got the gold. He replied, "I sold +the ashes of my house which you burnt over my head, and received the +gold in return." The raja and his sons then enquired if the merchant, +who bought the ashes from him, would buy any more. Bitaram replied, +"Yes, he will buy all he can get." "Do you think," said they, "he +will buy from us?" Bitaram advised them to burn their houses, and +like him, turn the ashes into gold. "I had only one small house," +he said, "and I obtained all this money. You have larger houses, +and should therefore receive a correspondingly large amount." So +they set fire to, and burnt their houses, and gathering up the ashes +took them to the bazar, and there offered them for sale. After they +had gone the whole length of the bazar, and had met with no buyers, +some one advised them to go to where the washermen lived, saying, +they might possibly take them. The washermen, however, refused, +and as they could not find a purchaser, they threw away the ashes, +and returned home determined to be revenged upon Bitaram. + +This time they decided upon drowning him, so one day they seized him, +and putting him into a bag they carried him to the river. Arrived +there they put him down, and went to some little distance to cook +their food. In the meantime a herd boy came up and asked Bitaram why he +was tied up in the bag. He replied, "They are taking me away to marry +me against my will." The herd boy said, "I will go instead of you. I +wish to be married." Bitaram replied, "Open the bag and let me out, +and you get in, and I will tie it up again." So Bitaram was released, +and the herd boy took his place, and was afterwards thrown into the +river and drowned. + +Bitaram on escaping collected all the herd boy's cattle, and drove +them home. When the raja and his sons returned, they found Bitaram +with a large herd of cows and buffaloes. Going near, they enquired +where he had got them. He replied, "At some distance below the spot +where you threw me into the river, I found numerous herds of cattle, +so I brought away as many as one person could drive. If you all go, +you will be able to bring a very much larger number." So they said, +"Very well, put us into bags, and tie us up as we did you." Bitaram +replied, "It is impossible for me to carry you as you did me. Walk to +the river bank, and there get into the bags, and I will push you into +the river." They did as he suggested, and when all was in readiness, +he pushed them into the river, and they were all drowned. + +Bitaram returned alone, and took possession of all that had belonged +to them. The whole kingdom became his, and he reigned peacefully as +long as he lived. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF SIT AND BOSONT. + + +There was a certain raja who had two sons named Sit and Bosont. Their +mother the rani had been long ill, and the raja was greatly dejected +on her account. From the bed on which she lay, the rani could see +two sparrows who had made their nest in a hole in the wall of the +palace, and she had remarked the great love and tenderness which +the hen-sparrow bore towards her young ones. One day she saw both +sparrows sitting in front of their nest, and the sight of them set her +a-thinking, and she came to the conclusion that the hen-sparrow was +a model mother. The raja also had his attention attracted daily by +the sparrows. One day, very suddenly, the hen-sparrow took ill, and +died. The next day the cock-sparrow appeared with another mate, and +sat in front of the nest with her, as he had done with the other. But +the new mother took no notice of the young ones in the nest, but left +them to die of hunger. The rani, who was greatly grieved to see such +want of compassion, said to the raja, "This is how it is, one has no +pity for those who belong to another. Remember what you have been a +witness of, and should I die take care of the two children." Shortly +after this the rani died, and the raja mourned over her, and continued +most solicitous for the welfare of their two boys. + +Some months after the rani's death, the raja's subjects prayed +him to take another wife, saying, "Without a rani your kingdom is +incomplete." The raja refused to comply, saying, "I shall never +take another wife." His subjects would not, however, be silenced, +but continued to press the matter upon him with such persistency +that eventually he had to accede to their wishes, and take to himself +another partner. He continued, however, to love and cherish his two +sons Sit and Bosont. + +Some time after their marriage the rani took a dislike to the elder +son Sit, and was determined that he should no longer be allowed to +remain within the precincts of the palace. So she feigned sickness, +and the raja summoned physicians from all parts of his dominions, but +without avail, as none of them could tell what the disease was from +which the rani was suffering. One day when Sit and Bosont were out of +the way, and the raja and she were alone together, she said to him, +"Doctors and medicines will not save my life, but if you will listen +to me, and do what I tell you, I shall completely recover." The +raja said, "Let me hear what it is, and I shall try what effect it +may have." The rani said, "If you will promise to do for me what I +shall request, I will tell you, and not otherwise." The raja replied, +"I shall certainly comply with your wishes." The rani again said, +"Will you without doubt, do what I wish?" The raja replied, "Yes, I +shall." After she had made him promise a third time she said, "Will you +take oath that you will not seek to evade fulfilling my desire?" The +raja said, "I take my oath that I shall carry out your wishes to the +full extent of my ability." Having thus prevailed upon the raja to +pledge his word of honour, she said, "Do not allow your eldest son, +Sit, to remain any longer in the palace. Order him to leave, and go +somewhere else, so that I may not see his face, and never to return." + +On hearing this the raja was greatly distressed. But what could he +do? The rani had said, "If you permit him to remain, I shall die, +and if you fulfil my wishes I shall live," and in his anxiety to save +the life of his rani, he had bound himself by an oath before he knew +what it was he would be required to do. After much consideration as +to how he could best communicate the order to leave the palace to his +son, he decided to write it on a sheet of paper and fix it, during +his absence, to the door of his room. When the brothers returned, +they found the paper placed there by the raja, and on reading it, +were greatly troubled. After some time, during which Sit had been +considering the position in which he found himself, he said to his +brother, "You must remain, and I must go." On hearing his brother's +words, Bosont's heart was filled with sorrow, and he replied, "Not so, +I cannot see you go away alone. You have been guilty of no fault for +which our parents could send you away. I cannot remain here alone. I +will accompany you. We are children of the same mother, and we should +not part." His brother replied, "Let us leave the house to-day. We +can pass the night in some place close at hand." So they left their +father's house, and concealed themselves in its vicinity. On the +approach of evening they began to feel the pangs of hunger, and the +younger said to the elder, "What shall we do? We have no food." After +a minute's thought, the elder replied, "Although we have been sent +adrift, we will take our elephants, and horses, and clothes, and +money along with us." So when night had fallen, they entered the +palace and brought out all that belonged to them, and at cock-crow, +set forth on their journey. They travelled all day, and as the sun +began to decline, they reached a dense jungle, and passing through +it they came to a large city where they put up for the night. The +city pleased them much, and they hired quarters in the Sarai. After +they had gained a little acquaintance with their surroundings, Sit, +attired in gorgeous apparel, and mounted on a splendid horse, rode +every evening through the principal streets of the city. One evening +the daughter of the raja of that country, from the roof of the palace, +saw him ride past, and fell deeply in love with him. She immediately +descended to her room, and feigning sickness, threw herself upon +her couch. Her parents, on entering, found her weeping bitterly, +and on enquiring the cause were informed by her attendants that she +had been suddenly seized with a dangerous illness, the nature of which +they did not know. The raja at once summoned the most famed physicians +that could be found, to cure his daughter. One after another, however, +failed to understand her complaint, and she grew worse daily. She was +heard continually wailing, "I shall never recover; I shall die." After +the doctors had retired baffled, she addressed her parents as follows; +"You, who gave me life, listen to my entreaty. There is one expedient +still, which if you will agree to put into execution, I shall recover, +and be as well as formerly, and should you refuse to do as I say, +and call it foolishness, then you shall never see my face again, +I shall depart this life at once." On hearing these words, her +parents said, "Tell us, what it is, we will surely act agreeably +to your wishes." She replied, "Oh! father, promise me that you will +carry them out without reserve." Her parents then promised with an +oath, that they would do all she desired. Then she told her story, +"Of late we have daily seen a young man in dazzling white apparel, +riding and curveting his horse through the city; if you betroth me +to that young prince, I shall enjoy my accustomed health again." + +On hearing this, her parents became greatly distressed, as they +were averse to betrothing their daughter to a stranger of whom +they knew nothing. After consulting together they said, "He comes +this way in the evening, let us look out for him, and see what he is +like." About sunset, Sit, mounted on his horse, rode in the direction +of the palace. The raja had given orders to some of his attendants +to arrest the man who, every evening dressed in white, rode past the +palace. So, on his appearing, they laid hold of him and led him into +the presence of the raja, who being pleased with his appearance, at +once introduced him to his daughter's room. She, on beholding him, +instantly became well, and that same evening the two were married. + +Bosont having charge of the property remained in the Sarai, while +his brother went out riding. Sit not returning at his usual time, +Bosont was alarmed and waited anxiously for his return. At length, +being wearied, he fell asleep. During the night a gang of thieves +entered his room, and began to carry off all his valuables. Bosont +slept so soundly that they had time to take away everything save his +bed-clothes. To obtain possession of these they had to lift him, on +which he awoke and gave the alarm. The thieves beat him with their +clubs till he was half dead; then, senseless and with a broken leg, +they threw him into the dry bed of a river. + +In the morning his servants became aware of the robbery, and also +that their master was missing. His groom found him some time after +in the river bed, and carried him to a doctor who bound up his limb, +and took care of him. He was soon well enough to move about, but +doomed to halt through life. + +The raja of that country was very wealthy, and had ships on the +sea. Whenever a ship left the port on its outward voyage, it was +customary to carry a man on board, who, on the rising of a storm at +sea, was cast over board to appease to wrath of the Spirit of the +mighty Deep. Without such a victim on board, no ship could leave +the harbour. Now, it so happened that one of the raja's vessels was +about to sail to a foreign port, but no man suitable for the sacrifice +could be obtained. At last the raja ordered them to take the lame man, +whom he had seen limping about the city. He, not knowing the purpose +they had in view in asking him to accompany them on their voyage, +gladly embraced the opportunity of seeing foreign lands. No sooner +was he on board than the ship began to move, and to obtain a better +view he climbed up the mast, and sat on the top of it. In twelve +days they reached a port. Bosont, however, did not decend from his +elevated station, but continued gazing on the country lying around. + +The daughter of the raja of that city, while walking on the roof +of the palace, enjoying the cool of the evening, saw Bosont seated +on the ship's mast. She at once fell violently in love with him, +and descending to her room, feigned sickness. Her parents called in +the most famed physicians, but their skill was of no avail, the young +lady's illness increased in intensity. At last, when her parents began +to give up hope of saving her life, she said, "The doctors cannot do me +any good, but if you will do as I direct you, I shall recover." They +said, "Tell us what it is that we can do for you." She replied, +"Before I can make it known to you, you must take oath that you will +not seek to evade the performance of it." To this they agreed, and the +princess said, "If you will betroth me to the man sitting on the top +of the mast of the vessel in the harbour, I shall immediately regain +my health." The raja despatched messengers to the ship, and had Bosont +brought to the palace, and solemnized their marriage that same evening. + +A few days after the above occurrence, the ship was ready to set sail +on her homeward voyage, so they took the lame man on board, his wife +also following. After they had been a few days at sea, the vessel +was in danger of foundering in a storm. The sailors searched for +the victim, but he could nowhere be found. At last one of the crew +looking up, spied him seated on the mast and climbing swiftly up, +pushed him into the sea. His wife had brought a tumba with her, and +seeing her husband in the sea, threw it to him. With this assistance he +was able to swim to the vessel, and laying hold of the stern, followed +swimming all the way to port. When the vessel was brought to anchor, +he climbed up into it, and disguised himself as a fakir. The people of +the city noticed him daily walking on the shore in front of the ship, +and believed him to be in reality a fakir. + +One day the raja seeing Bosont's wife took a fancy to her, and caused +her to be brought to his palace. She had apartments assigned to her +in the best part of it, and was treated with great distinction. On the +raja offering her marriage, she declined, saying, "Speak not to me of +it." After several days the raja enquired, "Why do you still refuse to +become my wife." She replied, "Ask the fakir who is always to be seen +pacing the shore in front of a vessel lying in the harbour." The raja +gave orders immediately to have the fakir brought to the palace. On +his being ushered into his presence, the raja said, "What do you know +regarding the woman, who on declining to be my wife, referred me to you +for an explanation?" In reply Bosont related in the form of a fable, +the history of Sit and himself, and also what befell him after they +were parted from each other. Sit, who was now raja recognized his +brother in the fakir before him, and falling on his neck, wept for +joy. The two brothers continued ever after to live together. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF A TIGER. + + +A certain man had charge of a number of cattle. One day he took them +to graze near a quagmire, and leaving them there went in search of +jungle fruits. It so happened that one of the bullocks was browsing +on the edge of the quagmire when a tiger came creeping stealthily up, +and sprang upon it, but somehow or other missed his mark, and fell +into the quagmire and there stuck fast. When the herd come to drive +his cattle home, he found the tiger fast in the mud, and called a +large number of people to come and see him. The tiger addressed those +who came to gaze upon him as follows, "Oh men, pull me out. I am in +great straits." They replied, "We will not pull you out even to save +your life. You are a ravenous animal." The tiger said, "I will not eat +you." So they pulled him out. When he was again on dry land, he said, +"I will devour you, for it is my nature to do so." They replied, +"Will you really eat us?" "Yes, I will," said the tiger. "Well," +they rejoined, "if you will devour us, what can we do to prevent +you? But let us first ask the opinion of some others as to whether +it is right for you to eat us or not." So they requested the opinion +of all the trees in the forest, and each said, "Human beings are all +bad." On asking the Mohwa tree, it replied, "Men are not good. Behold +every year I give them my flowers to eat, and my fruit from which +to make oil. In the hot weather I give them shade, and on leaving, +when they have rested, they give me a parting slash with their axes, +therefore it is right to eat these people, as they return evil for +good." So said all the trees. + +From this forest they went to another in which they found a cow to whom +they said, "We are come to ask your opinion on a certain matter about +which we are at variance. This tiger was up to the neck in a quagmire, +and we pulled him out. Now he wishes to return evil for good. Is it +right for him to do so?" The cow replied, "Yes, yes, I have heard what +you have got to say. You human beings are not the correct thing. Behold +me, how much I have contributed to the health and comfort of my master, +yet he does not recognize my merit. Now that I am old, he has turned +me out, and should I improve a little in condition, he will say, 'I +will take this cow to the market and sell it. I will at least get a few +pence for it.' Behold, when a man is well to do, he has many friends, +but when he is poor, no one knows him. Verily, you are worthy to be +devoured." The tiger then said to the men, "Well, have you heard all +this? Are you convinced?" They said, "Hold on, let us ask one person +more." So as they walked along they saw a jackal and called to him, "Oh +uncle, stand still." The jackal said, "No I cannot wait, my companions, +who are on their way to see the swinging festival, are far ahead of me, +and I am hurrying to overtake them." They said to him, "Wait a little +and settle this matter for us. We pulled this tiger out of a quagmire, +and now he wishes to devour us." The jackal then said to the tiger, +"Is this true? I cannot believe that a famed individual like yourself +would be fool enough to jump into a quagmire. Come, shew me the place, +and how it happened." So the tiger led him to the quagmire, and said, +"This is the place from which I sprang, and this is how I did it," +and he leaped into the quagmire. The jackal turning to the men, said, +"What are you staring at? Pelt him with stones." So they all set to +and stoned the tiger to death. + + + + + + +STORY OF A LIZARD, A TIGER, AND A LAME MAN. + + +Once upon a time in a certain jungle, a lizard and a tiger were +fighting, and a lame man, who was tending goats near by, saw them. The +tiger being beaten by the lizard was ashamed to own it, and coming to +the lame man said, "Tell me which of us won." The lame man being in +great fear lest the tiger should eat him, said, "You won." On another +occasion the lizard was compelled to flee, and took refuge in an +ant hill. The tiger pursued him, but not being able to get him out, +sat down to watch. + +The lizard seeing his opportunity, crept stealthily up to his +inveterate enemy, and climbing up his tail, fixed his teeth into his +haunch, and held firmly on. The tiger felt the pain of the lizard's +bite, but could not reach him to knock him off, so he ran to the lame +man, and said, "Release me from this lizard." When he had caused the +lizard to let go his grip, the tiger said, "Oh lame man, which of us +won in the encounter?" The poor man in great fear said, "You won." + +The same scene was enacted daily for many days. The tiger always came +to the lame man and said, "Knock off this lizard," and after he had +done so, would say, "Which of us won?" The lame man invariably replied, +"You won." This had happened so often that the lame man began to feel +annoyed at having to tell a lie every day to please the tiger. So one +day after an ignominious flight on the part of the tiger, he being, +as usual, requested to give his opinion as to who won, said, "The +lizard had the best of it." On hearing this the tiger became angry, +and said, "I shall eat you, my fine fellow, because you say the lizard +defeated me. Tell me where you sleep." The poor lame man on hearing +the tiger threaten him thus, trembled with fear, and was silent. But +the tiger pressed him. He said, "Tell at once, for I shall certainly +devour you." The lame man replied, "I sleep in the wall press." When +night fell, the tiger set off to eat the lame man, but after searching +in the wall press failed to find him. In the morning the lame man +led his goats out to graze, and again met the tiger, who addressed +him as follows, "You are a great cheat. I did not find you in the +wall press last night." The lame man replied, "How is it you did not +find me? I was sleeping there." "No," said the tiger, "you were not, +you have deceived me. Now, tell me truly where you sleep." "I sleep +on a rafter," said the lame man. About midnight the tiger went again +in search of him to eat him, but did not find him on the rafter, so +he returned home. In the morning the lame man as usual led his goats +out to graze, and again encountered the tiger, who said to him, "How +now! Where do you sleep? I could not find you last night." The lame +man rejoined, "That is strange, I was there all the same." The tiger +said, "You are a consummate liar. Now tell me plainly where you sleep +at night, for I shall without doubt eat you." The lame man replied, +"I sleep in the fire-place." Again the tiger went at night, but could +not find him. Next morning he met the lame man, and said to him, +"No more tricks, tell me where you sleep." He, thrown off his guard, +said, "In the gongo." [4] + +The tiger then withdrew to his den to wait till night came on, and +the lame man, cursing his indiscretion, with a heavy heart, drove his +goats homewards. Having made his charge safe for the night, he sat down +feeling very miserable. He refused the food that was set before him, +and continued bewailing his hard lot. In the hope of inducing him to +eat, they gave him some mohwa wrapped in a sal leaf. This also failed +to tempt him to eat; but he carried it with him when he crept into the +gongo to sleep. At night the tiger came and lifting up the gongo felt +it heavy, and said, "Well, are you inside?" He replied, "Yes, I am." So +the tiger carried off the gongo with the lame man in it. By the time +the tiger had gone a considerable distance, the lame man became hungry +and said within himself, "I shall have to die in the end, but in the +meantime I will appease my hunger." So he opened his small parcel of +mohwa, and the dry leaf crackled as he did so. The noise frightened the +tiger and he said, "What is it you are opening?" The lame man replied, +"It is yesterday's lizard." "Hold! hold!" exclaimed the tiger, "Do +not let him out yet, let me get clear away first." The lame man said, +"Not so, I will not wait, but will let him out at once." The tiger +being terrified at the prospect of again meeting his mortal enemy, +the redoubtable lizard, threw down the gongo and fled, calling out, +"I will not eat you. You have got the lizard with you." + +In this way the lame man by means of the lizard saved his life. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF A SIMPLETON. + + +There was once a certain simpleton who had never seen a horse, but +had heard that there was such an animal, and that men rode on his +back. His curiosity was greatly excited, and he went here and there +searching for a horse, so that he might ride on its back. On his way +he fell in with a wag, and asked him, what horses were like, where +they could be found, and whence were they produced. The wag replied, +"They are very large, they are to be had at the weekly market, +and they are hatched from eggs." He then asked, "What is the price +of the eggs?" The other replied, "Price! They are cheap, one pice +each." So one day he went to the market and bought four eggs which he +saw exposed for sale, and brought them home with him. He then made +preparations for a lengthened absence from his house, and started +for the jungle, taking with him rice, a cooking pot and fire, to +get the eggs hatched. Having reached the jungle, he placed the eggs +to hatch in what turned out to be a tiger's den, and then went some +distance off and sat down. After a short time he went to have a look +at the eggs, and found one was missing. He was greatly distressed, at +having as he fancied lost his horse, and cried out, "It has hatched, +and run away somewhere. But what has happened, has happened. What +can I do? I'll look out for the next one when it hatches." He then +went to cook his rice, and returning after some time missed another +of the eggs. He was very much grieved over the loss of the two eggs, +and mourning his misfortune, cried, "Where have the two gone, after +they came out of the shell? There still, however, remain two eggs." So +saying, he returned to finish his cooking. After a few minutes' +interval, he went to have a look at the eggs, and saw that another had +disappeared; only one remained. His grief at the loss of three horses, +was intense. He cried out, "Oh! where shall I find them? Three horses +have been hatched, and they have all run away." He then went to where +his cooking had been performed, and quickly ate his rice, and returned +in all haste to look at his egg. It too was gone. On seeing this, +his sorrow and disappointment were acute. He bemoaned his ill luck +as follows, "After all the trouble I was at to procure my eggs, they +have all hatched, and the horses are lost. But what is, must be. I +shall relieve my mind by taking a chew of tobacco." After putting the +tobacco into his mouth he noticed the tiger's den, and said, "It is +in here, the horses have gone." So he went and broke from a tree a +long stick with which he tried to poke his horses out. For some time +his labours met with no reward, but at last he succeeded in forcing +the tiger out of his den. Just as he was coming out, the simpleton +by some chance or other got astride of his back, and called out, +"At last I have found a horse." His delight was boundless. But the +tiger would not go in the direction of his rider's house, but kept +going further into the jungle. The simpleton then struck him about the +head and ears saying, "As ghur ghur, as ghur ghur;" [5] nevertheless +the tiger plunged deeper into the jungle. At last he bolted into a +thicket of trailing plants, where he unseated the simpleton. The tiger +having got rid of his rider fled. Afterwards he met a jackal who said +to him, "Where away, in such hot haste?" "Uh!" he said, "how much +of it can I tell you! I have been greatly harassed, and distressed +by As ghur ghur. It was with great difficulty I succeeded in giving +him the slip, and now I am fleeing for dear life." The jackal said, +"Come along and shew him to me, and I shall soon eat him up." The +tiger replied, "Oh dear! no. I cannot go. If he finds me again he +will do for me altogether." "Nonsense," said the jackal, "lead me to +where he is, and I shall devour him." The tiger was persuaded, and +led the way, and the jackal followed. After some little time they met +a bear, who said, "Where are you two going?" The jackal gave answer, +"This person has somewhere seen As ghur ghur and I am saying to him, +'Take me to where he is, and I shall eat him,' but he will not push +ahead." Then the bear said, "Come let us all go together, and I shall +eat him up." The tiger said, "I will go no further." The jackal then +said, "Listen to me, I will put you upon a plan. Let us hold on by +each other's tails, in this way you will have no cause to fear any +evil." This suggestion pleased them well, and they cried out, "Yes, +let us do that. You have hit upon a first rate expedient." Then the +bear took hold of the tiger's tail, and the jackal that of the bear, +and in this way they pursued their journey. But just as they drew near +the thicket in which the simpleton had been left, the tiger exclaimed, +"Look there, he is coming towards us," and being terribly frightened, +fled at his utmost speed dragging the bear and jackal after him tearing +the skin from off their bodies on the rough stones and gravel. At +length the jackal cried out, "Hold on uncle, hold on uncle, you have +rubbed all the skin off my body." But he would not halt, but kept +dashing on through wood and brake, dragging them after him, until the +bear's tail broke, and the jackal was released. His body by this time +was all raw flesh, and he was swollen into a round mass. However, +he managed to pick himself up, and run for his life. + +Afterwards they met in with a pack of wild dogs who said, +"Hulloo! what's up, that you are fleeing in such a plight?" They +replied, "We are fleeing from As ghur ghur." "Where is he?" said they, +"We will eat him." The tiger said, "There just in front of you, where +you see the dark spot in the forest." So they went in the direction +indicated, and while they were yet some distance off, they saw the +simpleton standing in the shade of the trees. He also saw them, and +being afraid hid himself in a hollow tree. On coming up to the tree +in which he was, they surrounded it, and one of their number essayed +to poke him out of his hiding place with his tail. The simpleton, +however, taking hold of it twisted it round his hands, and pulled +with all his might. The pain caused by his tail being pulled, caused +the wild dog to grin. On seeing this, one of his companions said, +"Oh! Brother, wherefore do you grin." He said, "I have got hold of +him, and I am smiling with pleasure." The simpleton from within +the tree continued to pull, till the tail of the wild dog broke, +and he fell to the ground with a thud. The others on looking at him +noticed that he had lost his tail. So they all became panic stricken, +and fled from the place with all possible speed. + +The simpleton took up his residence in that part of the jungle in +which the above occurred. He is said to be the ancestor of the Bir +hors, or jungle Santals. + + + + + + +A THIEF AND A TIGER. + + +In a certain country there lived a very wealthy man whose cattle +grazed on a wide plain. One day a tiger noticed them, and so did three +thieves. At night the tiger came to where they were lying, and so did +the three thieves, but the tiger arrived first. The night was pitch +dark, and the cows getting frightened fled to their owner's premises, +and all entered the cattle shed. When the tiger saw the cattle flee +he ran after them, and entered the shed along with them. The thieves, +coming to where they expected to find the cattle, and not seeing them, +also went to the cattle shed; but the people of the house not having +yet retired to rest, they hid themselves in the vicinity. When all +became still, they entered the cattle shed, and began feeling for +the largest and fattest oxen. Two of the thieves, each finding one to +his mind, drove them away. But one man being more difficult to please +than his neighbours continued to go from one to another groping for a +good fat one. In this way he laid his hands on the tiger, it seemed a +fat one, but lest there should be one still fatter, he left him for +a little. However, as he did not find one better than the tiger he +returned to him, and felt him all over again. He was without doubt the +fattest in the shed, so he drove him out. On reaching the open field, +the tiger went in the direction of the jungle, and his driver had great +difficulty in getting him to go the road he wished. In this way,--the +tiger going one direction, and the man pulling him another,--they +spent the night. At cock-crow the thief became aware, that it was +a tiger he had been contending with in the dark, and not an ox. He +then said to the tiger, "It is you then, whom I have taken possession +of." He then released the tiger, who fled to the jungle at full speed. + +The thief having been awake all night felt tired, and lying down in +the shade of a ridge of a rice field to rest, fell asleep. + +The tiger as he ran encountered a jackal who exclaimed, "Ho! Ho! uncle, +where are you off to, at such a break-neck pace?" The tiger replied, +"I am going in this direction. A mite kept me awake all night, I +am fleeing through fear of him." The jackal then said, "It is very +strange, uncle, that you did not vanquish him. We eat such as he. Tell +me where he is, and I shall soon snap him up." The tiger said, "He is +over in the direction of those rice fields, asleep somewhere." The +jackal then went in search of him, and soon found him asleep in +the shade of a ridge of a rice field. He then went all round him +reconnoitring, and when he had completed the circuit exclaimed, +"The tiger said he was a mite, but he turns out to be of immense +size, I cannot eat him all myself. I will gather my friends together +to assist me, and then we shall devour him in no time." So he sat +down with his back towards the sleeping thief, so near that his tail +touched his neck, and began to yell as only a hungry jackal can. The +noise awoke the sleeper, and seeing the jackal sitting so near to him, +he quietly caught him by the tail, and springing on to his feet swung +him round and round above his head, and then flung him from him. The +jackal was severely stunned, but picking himself up, fled as fast as +his legs could carry him. After he had gone some little distance he +met a bear, who said, "Where away in such hot haste?" He made answer, +"Uh! What can I tell you more than that that barren tiger grossly +deceived me. He told me he was a mite, I went to see him and found he +was a ghur pank, [6] and without doubt he ghur panked me." The bear +then said, "Oh! I'll eat him. Tell me where he is." The jackal said, +"You will find him over in these rice fields." So the bear went +to find him and eat him. When still some distance off he spied him +laying asleep, and was greatly delighted, exclaiming, "My belly will +be swollen with eating him before long." The thief accidentally lifted +his head, and saw the bear coming straight for him, so he jumped up +and ran to the nearest tree into which he climbed. The bear saw him, +and went up after him, and tried to get hold of him, but he jumped +from one branch to another as the bear followed him. After this had +gone on for some time, it so happened that the bear missed his footing +and fell heavily to the ground. The thief immediately jumped on to his +back. The bear was frightened, and getting to his feet fled as fast +as he could; the thief clasped him tightly round the neck, saying, +"If I let go my hold he will eat me." The bear of course ran to the +jungle, where the thief was caught by the branches of the trees, and +dragged off his back. He did not return to the rice fields to sleep, +as he feared some other animal might come to eat him, but went to +his own home. + +As the bear fled, he again met the jackal who asked him, "Well! did +you eat him?" The bear replied, "You Sir, are a great cheat, you told +me he was ghur pank. He is kara upar chap." [7] The two quarrelled +over the matter, and the bear tried to catch the jackal to eat him, +but he managed to escape. + + + + + + +THE MAGIC FIDDLE + + +Once upon a time there lived seven brothers and a sister. The +brothers were married, but their wives did not do the cooking for +the family. It was done by their sister. The wives for this reason +bore their sister-in-law much ill will, and at length they combined +together to oust her from the office of cook and general provider, +so that one of themselves might obtain it. They said, "She does not +go out to the fields to work, but remains quietly at home, and yet +she has not the meals ready at the proper time." They then called +upon their Bad Bonga, [8] and vowing vows unto him they secured his +good will and assistance; then they said to the Bad Bonga, "At mid-day +when our sister-in-law goes to bring water, cause it thus to happen, +that on seeing her pitcher the water shall vanish, and again slowly +re-appear. In this way she will be delayed. May the water not flow into +her pitcher, and you keep the maiden as your own." At noon when she +went to bring water, it suddenly dried up before her, and she began +to weep. Then after a while the water began slowly to rise. When it +reached her ankles she tried to fill her pitcher, but it would not +go under the water. Being frightened she began to wail as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my ankles, + Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my ankles, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +The water continued to rise until it reached her knee, when she began +to wail as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my knee, + Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my knee, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +The water continued to rise, and when it reached her waist, she wailed +as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my waist, + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my waist, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +The water in the tank continued to rise, and when it reached her +breast, she wailed as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my breast, + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my breast, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not fill, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not fill." + + +The water still rose, and when it reached her neck she wailed as +follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my neck, + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my neck, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +At length the water became so deep that she felt herself to be +drowning, then she wailed as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water measures a man's height, + "Oh! my brother, the water measures a man's height, + "Oh! my brother, the pitcher begins to fill, + "Oh! my brother, the pitcher begins to fill." + + +The pitcher filled with water, and along with it she sank and was +drowned. The bonga then transformed her into a bonga like himself, +and carried her off. + +After a time she re-appeared as a bamboo growing on the embankment +of the tank in which she had been drowned. When the bamboo had grown +to an immense size, a Jugi, who was in the habit of passing that way, +seeing it, said to himself, this will make a splendid fiddle. So one +day he brought an axe to cut it down; but when he was about to begin, +the bamboo exclaimed, "Do not cut at the root, cut higher up." When +he lifted his axe to cut high up the stem, the bamboo cried out, +"Do not cut near the top, cut at the root." When the Jugi again +prepared himself to cut at the root as requested, the bamboo said, +"Do not cut at the root, cut higher up;" and when he was about to +cut higher up, it again called out to him, "Do not cut high up, +cut at the root." The Jugi by this time was aware that a bonga was +trying to frighten him, so becoming angry he cut down the bamboo at +the root, and taking it away made a fiddle out of it. The instrument +had a superior tone and delighted all who heard it. The Jugi carried +it with him when he went a-begging, and through the influence of its +sweet music he returned home every evening with a full wallet. + +He now and again visited, when on his rounds, the house of the +bonga girl's brothers, and the strains of the fiddle affected them +greatly. Some of them were moved even to tears, for the fiddle +seemed to wail as one in bitter anguish. The elder brother wished +to purchase it, and offered to support the Jugi for a whole year, +if he would consent to part with his magical instrument. The Jugi, +however, knew its value, and refused to sell it. + +It so happened that the Jugi sometime after went to the house of a +village chief, and after playing a tune or two on his fiddle asked +something to eat. They offered to buy his fiddle and promised a +high price for it, but he rejected all such overtures, his fiddle +being to him his means of livelihood. When they saw that he was not +to be prevailed upon, they gave him food and a plentiful supply of +liquor. Of the latter he partook so freely that he presently became +intoxicated. While he was in this condition, they took away his fiddle, +and substituted their own old one for it. When the Jugi recovered, +he missed his instrument, and suspecting that it had been stolen +requested them to return it to him. They denied having taken it, +so he had to depart, leaving his fiddle behind him. The chief's son +being a musician, used to play on the Jugi's fiddle, and in his hands +the music it gave forth delighted the ears of all within hearing. + +When all the household were absent at their labours in the fields, +the bonga girl emerged from the bamboo fiddle, and prepared the family +meal. Having partaken of her own share, she placed that of the chiefs +son under his bed, and covering it up to keep off the dust, re-entered +the fiddle. This happening every day the other members of the household +were under the impression that some female neighbour of theirs was in +this manner showing her interest in the young man, so they did not +trouble themselves to find out how it came about. The young chief, +however, was determined to watch, and see which of his lady friends was +so attentive to his comfort. He said in his own mind, "I will catch +her to-day, and give her a sound beating. She is causing me to be +ashamed before the others." So saying, he hid himself in a corner in +a pile of firewood. In a short time the girl came out of the bamboo +fiddle, and began to dress her hair. Having completed her toilet, +she cooked the meal of rice as usual, and having partaken herself, +she placed the young man's portion under his bed, as she was wont, +and was about to enter the fiddle again, when he running out from +his hiding place caught her in his arms. The bonga girl exclaimed, +"Fie! Fie! you may be a Dom, or you may be a Hadi." [9] He said, +"No. But from to-day, you and I are one." So they began lovingly +to hold converse with each other. When the others returned home in +the evening, they saw that she was both a human being and a bonga, +and they rejoiced exceedingly. + +Through course of time the bonga girl's family became very poor, +and her brothers on one occasion came to the chief's house on a visit. + +The bonga girl recognised them at once, but they did not know who +she was. She brought them water on their arrival, and afterwards set +cooked rice before them. Then sitting down near them, she began in +wailing tones to upbraid them on account of the treatment she had +been subjected to by their wives. She related all that had befallen +her, and wound up by saying, "It is probable that you knew it all, +and yet you did not interfere to save me." + +After a time she became reconciled to her sisters-in-law, and no +longer harboured enmity in her mind against them, for the injury they +had done her. + + + + + + +GUMDA, THE HERO. + + +There was once a certain fatherless lad named Gumda. His occupation +was to tend the raja's goats. He, and his mother lived in a small house +at the end of the street in which the raja's palace was situated. The +raja's mahout was in the habit of taking his elephant along that +street, and every time it passed, it rubbed itself against the wall +of Gumda's house. One day at noon it so happened that Gumda was at +home when the elephant was being taken to the tank to drink, and as +usual he rubbed his side against the house as he passed. Gumda was +incensed with the elephant for thus destroying his house, and coming +out quickly, said to the mahout, "What although it is the raja's +elephant! I could take hold of any person's elephant by the trunk, +and throw it across seven seas." The elephant understood what Gumda +had said, and he refused to go down into the water, and would not even +drink. On being brought home he would not eat his grain, nor would he +so much as look at water. He continued thus so long that he began to +grow lean and weak. The mahout knew that it was Gumda's curse that had +so affected his charge. The raja one day noticing the altered condition +of his elephant, said to the mahout, "Why has the elephant become +so emaciated?" The mahout replied, "Oh! raja, one day at noon Gumda +abused him. He said, 'If you were not the raja's elephant, I would +take you by the trunk and throw you across seven seas.' 'Every day,' +he said, 'he rubs himself against my house.' Since then the elephant +has refused his food and water." The raja, on hearing this, commanded +that Gumda be brought before him. The messenger found him at home, +and brought him into the presence of the raja who asked him, "Is it +true, Gumda, that you said you would throw the elephant as you would +a stone?" Gumda replied, "Yes, it is quite true that I said so. The +elephant every time it passes along the street rubs itself against +the wall of my house, and being angry, I said these words. Now, do +with me whatsoever you please." The raja marvelled greatly on hearing +Gumda's reply, and addressing him said, "Now my lad, prove your words, +for prove them you must. If you succeed in thus throwing an elephant, +I shall present you with a large estate." The raja appointed the tenth +day following as that on which Gumda should wrestle with the elephant; +and he, after receiving permission from the raja, returned home. + +The raja in the interval caused proclamation to be made to all his +subjects, ordering them to be present on the day when Gumda was to +meet the elephant in mortal combat. On the morning of the appointed +day Gumda was found baking bread. As he did not appear punctually +in the arena, the raja sent a messenger to bring him. On arriving +at Gumda's house, he found him baking bread. He said to him, "Come +along, the raja has asked for you." Gumda said, "Wait a little till I +partake of some refreshment." He invited the messenger to be seated, +and he also sat down as if to eat, but instead of eating the bread, +he began to throw it at the man, and continued doing so until he had +buried him under eight maunds of loaves. The poor fellow cried out, +"Oh Gumda, come and release me, of a truth I am almost crushed to +death under this heap of bread." He removed the bread from above him, +and he immediately returned to the raja. As he was leaving the house +he saw 12 maunds of cooked rice, evidently intended for Gumda's +dinner. Coming into the presence of the raja he said, "Oh! raja, +I saw in Gumda's house twelve maunds of cooked rice, and he threw a +loaf of bread weighing eight maunds at me, which almost crushed me +to death. It is quite possible that he may win." + +At length Gumda came bringing with him a sledge hammer weighing +twelve maunds, and a shield of the same weight. The contest was to +take place on a plain sufficiently large to accommodate an immense +number of spectators. + +Then the fight began. The two combatants attacked each other so +furiously that they raised such a cloud of dust as to completely +conceal them from the onlookers. The elephant could not long sustain +the unequal combat, and when he was beaten, Gumda seized him by the +trunk, and threw him over the seas. Owing to the darkness caused by +the clouds of dust, none of the thousands present noticed the elephant +as he went, flying over their heads high up in the air. + +When the dust subsided, Gumda was found sitting alone, the elephant +was nowhere to be seen. The raja called the victor to him, and said, +"What have you done with the elephant?" Gumda replied "I flung him +early in the forenoon over seven seas." Hearing his answer and not +seeing the elephant, they all marvelled greatly. + +The raja then said to Gumda, "Well, you have thrown the elephant +somewhere. You must now go in search of its bones." Gumda went home +and said to his mother, "Make up a parcel of food for me, I am going +to find the elephant's bones." She complied with his request and he +set out. + +As he hurried along intent upon his quest, he found a man fishing with +a Palmyra palm tree as a rod, and a full grown elephant as a bait. On +seeing him Gumda exclaimed, "You are indeed a great hero." The man +replied, "I am no hero, the widow's son Gumda is the great hero, for +did not he fling the raja's elephant across seven seas?" Gumda said, +"I am he." The fisherman said," I will go with you." Gumda replied, +"Come along!" + +As Gumda and his attendant went on their way, they came to a field in +which a number of men were hoeing, and their master, to shield them +from the heat of the sun, stood holding over them, as an umbrella, +a large Pepul tree. [10] Gumda seeing him said, "You are a hero +and no mistake." The man replied, "No indeed, I am no hero. Gumda, +the widow's son, threw the raja's elephant across seven seas. He is +the hero." Gumda said, "I am he." "Then," said the man, "I also will +go with you." "Follow me," said Gumda, and the three proceeded on +their way. + +As they journeyed they fell in with two men, who were raising water +from a tank for irrigating purposes by merely singing. When Gumda +saw them, he exclaimed, "You two are heroes indeed." They answered, +"What do you see heroic in us? There is one hero, Gumda by name, he +threw a raja's elephant across seven seas." Gumda said, "I am he." The +men exclaimed, "We also will follow you." Gumda said, "Follow." And +the five men went forth to search for the elephant's bones. + +On and on they went until they reached the sea, which they crossed, +and entered the primeval forest beyond. Selecting a suitable place +they encamped, and began the search for the elephant's bones. The +first day the fisherman was left in the camp to cook the food, +while the others went out into the forest. Near by a certain jugi +raja resided in a cave in a rock. He came to the camp just as the +food was cooked, and said to the fisherman, "Give me some rice to +eat." He declined, and the jugi raja then said, "Will you give me +rice, or will you fight with me?" He replied, "I have prepared this +food with difficulty and prefer fighting to giving it up." So they +fought, and the jugi raja was victor. He laid a heavy stone on the +breast of the cook, and then devoured all the food. There had been +twelve maunds of rice prepared, and he left none. After a long time +he released his victim, and then went his way. Being released the +fisherman set about preparing more food, but before it was ready, +his companions returned and seeing the pot still on the fire, they +enquired why he had not made haste with his cooking. He replied, +"I have not been idle, I have spent all the time in cooking." He did +not tell them about the jugi raja having been at the camp. + +The next day another of the company remained as cook, while the +others went out to search in the forest for the elephant's bones. The +jugi raja again visited the camp, and the scene of the previous day +was re-enacted. But he also did not speak of the visit of the jugi +raja to the others when they returned. In this way the jugi raja +encountered each in turn till only Gumda was left, and he remained +in the camp to cook. When he had got the rice cooked, the jugi raja +made his appearance and said, "Will you fight with me, or will you +give up the food?" Gumda replied, "I will not give you the food. I +have spent much time in cooking it, and when those who have gone in +search of the elephant's bones return, what shall I set before them, +if I give it to you now? You have played this trick every day, and +have put my companions to much trouble, but to-day we have met." So +they fought. Gumda overpowered the jugi raja, and killed him with the +stone he used to put upon the breast of those whom he vanquished. He +then espoused the jugi raja's wife, and took possession of his +kingdom. Gumda's companions held him in great awe, because each in +turn had been conquered by the jugi raja, but Gumda had experienced +little difficulty in putting him to death. + +Gumda became raja of that country, and when he had settled his affairs, +he sent for his mother to come and reside with him. The raja, whom +Gumda had previously served, sought his friendship, and withdrew his +command to Gumda to search for the elephant's bones until he found +them. The prowess of Gumda caused him to deprecate his anger. He said, +"If I offend him, he will kill me as he did the jugi raja, and take +my wife and kingdom, as he did his." + + + + + + +LIPI, AND LAPRA. + + +Once upon a time there were seven brothers. At first they were +very poor, but afterwards they became comparatively rich, and were +in position to lay out a little money at usury. The affairs of the +youngest prospered most, so that before long he became the wealthiest +of them all. + +Each of the seven brothers planted fruit trees, and every day after +they returned from their work, before they sat down to meat, they +watered them. In process of time all the trees flowered, but the +flowers on the eldest brother's trees withered and dropped off the day +they appeared. The trees of the other brothers failed to ripen their +fruit, but those of the youngest brother were laden with delicious +fruit which ripened to perfection. Five of the brothers said to him, +"You are very fortunate in having such a splendid crop;" but the +eldest brother was envious of his good fortune, and resolved to be +revenged upon him. + +The youngest brother brought up two puppies, whom he named Lipi and +Lapra. They turned out good hunting dogs, and by their aid their master +used to keep the family larder well supplied. The others were pleased +to see so much game brought to the house. One day they said to him, +"Take us also to where you get your large game." To this he agreed, +and they accompanied him to his usual hunting ground. Game was +plentiful, but they could kill nothing, although every time he shot +an arrow he brought down his animal. Five of his brothers praised +him for his skill, and accuracy of aim, but the eldest brother, not +having succeeded in bagging anything himself, envied him still more, +and was confirmed in his desire for revenge. + +It so happened that one day all the brothers, with the exception of the +eldest and the youngest, went out to their work. The eldest brother +finding himself alone with his youngest brother proposed that they +should go together to the hill for the purpose of procuring fibre to +make ropes. He said, "Come let us go to the hill to cut lar." [11] +His brother replied, "Come, let us set out." He, however, wished +to take his dogs with him, but his brother said, "Why should you +tire them by taking them so far? Leave them behind." But he replied, +"I shall not go, unless you allow me to take them with me. How shall +we be able to bring home venison if they do not accompany us? They +may kill some game on the way." As he insisted, he was permitted to +do as he desired, and they set out for the hill. + +As they went on their way they came to a spring, and the elder said, +"Tie up the two dogs here. I know all this forest, and there is no +game to be found in it." The younger was averse to leaving his dogs +behind him, but as his brother seemed determined he should do so, +he tied them with a stout rope to a tree. His brother said, "See that +you make them secure, so that they may not break loose and run away, +and be lost." + +A low hill lay between them, and the high one on which the trees +grew which yielded the lar. This they surmounted, and descending into +the valley that divided them began the ascent, and soon reached the +place where their work was to be. They soon cut and peeled sufficient +lar, and sitting down twisted it into strong ropes. Just as they had +prepared to return home, the elder brother seized the younger, and +bound him with the ropes they had made. He then grasped his sickle +with the intention of putting him to death. The helpless young man +thought of his dogs, and in a loud voice wailed as follows;-- + + + Come, come, Lipi and Lapra, + Cross the low hill + On to the slope of the high. + + +He called them again and again. The dogs heard the voice, and +struggled to get loose, and at length, by a great effort, they +succeeded in breaking the ropes with which they were bound, and +ran in the direction from which the sound proceeded. Now and again +the cries ceased, and they stood still until they again heard them, +when they ran as before. Having reached the valley that separated the +two hills, they could no longer hear the wailing as before, and they +were greatly perplexed. They ran hither and thither, hoping to catch +it again, but not doing so they directed their course to the large +hill, on reaching the foot of which it again became audible. They +now recognized the voice of their master, and ran rapidly forward. + +When the elder brother saw the dogs approaching, he quickly aimed a +blow with the sickle at his younger brother's head, but he, jerking +aside, escaped. Before there was time for him to strike again, the +dogs had arrived, and their master hounded them upon his assailant +and they quickly tore him to pieces. They then bit through the ropes +with which his brother had bound him, and set him at liberty. He +then returned home accompanied by his dogs, and when they enquired of +him where his brother was, he replied, "He left me to follow a deer, +I cannot say what direction he took. We did not meet again." He wept +as he related this, and they enquired, "Why do you weep?" He said, +"My two dogs lay down on the ground, and howled, and fear possesses +me that some wild beast has devoured my brother." + +The next day a party went in search of him, and found him as the dogs +had left him. When they saw him lying torn and bloody, they said, +"Some wild beast has done this." + +They brought the body home, and committed it to the flames of the +funeral pile, and sorrowfully performed all the ceremonies usual on +such occasions. + +After the death of the elder brother, they all lived together in +peace and harmony. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF LELHA. + + +I. + +There once lived a certain raja, who had three wives. The two elder had +two sons each, and the younger only one, whose name was Lelha. [12] +The four sons of the first two wives were very friendly with each +other, being seldom separate, but they despised Lelha, and never +permitted him to join them in any of their pastimes or sports. + +The raja had a plot of ground set apart for a flower garden, but +there was nothing in it. One day a certain Jugi came to him, and said, +"Oh! raja, if you fill your garden with all kinds of flowering plants, +your whole city will appear enchanting." Having said this, the Jugi +went to his home. The raja was greatly affected by what the Jugi had +said, and was immediately seized with a fit of the sulks. There was +an apartment in the palace set apart for the exclusive use of those +who happened to be in that state of mind. Such an one shut himself +up in this chamber until the fit wore off, or until he was persuaded +to be himself again. + +The raja refused his evening meal, and as was his wont, when in this +frame of mind, retired to the sulking apartment, and lay down. The +two elder ranis having been informed of what had occurred, hasted +to the raja, and said, "Oh! raja, why are you sulking?" He replied, +"This morning a Jugi came to me and said, that if I planted flowering +shrubs in my garden the whole city would appear enchanting. If any +one will do this work for me, I will rise, if not, I shall remain +here." The ranis then addressed him thus, "Oh! raja, rise up, and eat +and drink." The raja replied, "Let the young men come to me, I will do +as you desire." The two ranis then left, and calling their sons, sent +them to their father. Coming into the presence of the raja they said, +"Wherefore father are you sulking?" The raja replied, "If you plant +flowers in my flower garden I shall be comforted, and shall leave +my couch." They said, "Is it on this account you are distressed? We +shall cause the garden to be filled with flowers in a short time." On +receiving this assurance the raja left his bed, and partook of food, +and was refreshed. Lelha's mother now appeared on the scene, and +addressing the raja, said, "Wherefore, raja are you sulky?" He replied, +"Who told you I was sulky?" She replied, "A shopkeeper gave me the +information." Then the raja got angry, and ordered her to leave, +but she said, "If you do not tell me why you are sulking I will not +depart, am not I also your humble maidservant? Unless you tell me, +I will not go, I will die here rather than leave." The raja relented, +and related to her all the words of the Jugi. She then returned home. + +Her son Lelha entered the house soon after her arrival. He had been +engaged in some field sports, and being wearied and hungry, said to +his mother, "Give me some cooked rice." She was annoyed with him +and said, "Although the raja is ill, your first cry is for boiled +rice." Lelha on hearing this went to his father, and enquired what +was wrong. But the raja flying into a rage scolded him, saying, "Go +away Lelha. What do you want here? Never come near me again. Did not I +build a house for your mother and you at the extreme end of the street, +away from here? Be off, or I shall beat you." To which Lelha replied, +"Oh! father raja, am not I also a son of yours? Let me be foolish +or otherwise, still, I am your son, and unless you inform me of what +has grieved you, I shall die rather than leave this." Then the raja +told him also. He said, "It is because I do not see flowers in the +garden." "Oh!" said Lelha, "Is that what distresses you?" He then left. + +The raja's four elder sons caused all manner of flowering shrubs and +trees to be planted in the garden, and in a short time it was in a +blaze of colour, so much so, that the whole city was as if lighted +thereby. + +Just at this time, when every tree, shrub and plant was covered with +blossom another Jugi, named Koema Jugi, came to the city and said +to one and another, "You, the citizens of this city, are covering +yourselves with renown, but if you attach hiras [13] and manis [14] to +the branches, you will add renown to renown." The Jugi's words reached +the raja, and he was so much affected by them, that he immediately +began to sulk, and on being questioned by his two ranis, he replied, +"Do you not remember the words of the Koema Jugi?" They said, "Yes, +we remember. He said, 'if you place hiras and manis in this garden +the whole country will be resplendent'." "On that account then, I am +sulking, and if I do not see hiras and manis, I shall not partake of +any food." At the raja's words the two ranis returned sorrowfully to +their apartments. + +At that moment their four sons entered the house and asked for +food. The ranis were annoyed, and said, "The raja, your father, +is sulking, and you must have food and drink." On learning their +father's state the youths were distressed on his account, and went +to him weeping, and enquired why he was sulking. He related to them +the words of Koema Jugi, and added, "Unless I see hiras and manis +attached to the branches of the trees in my flower garden, I shall +not rise from my couch." His four sons replied, "Is it for this reason +you are grieving? We will search for, and bring them, and if we fail, +then sulk again, and refuse your food, and die of hunger, and we will +not prevent you, only listen to us this time and get up." The raja +was persuaded to rise, and having partaken of food he was refreshed. + + + + +II. + +The raja had planted flowering shrubs in his garden, but the Indarpuri +Sadoms [15] ate up all the flowers as they appeared, and so he again +began to sulk. He said, "I planted bushes, but I see no flowers. What +reason is there for my remaining alive?" And going to the sulking +chamber he lay down, and as usual refused to eat. Then there was +confusion in the household, and running hither and thither. The two +ranis went to him, but he was annoyed, and ordered them to leave, +saying, "I will not rise, by your telling me," so they returned +weeping, each to her own apartment. + +Just then their four sons returned from hunting, and demanded +food. Their mothers were annoyed, and said, "You young gentlemen +are hungry, and must have food, that the raja is sulking is nothing +to you, if you are fasting." On hearing this the sons went to their +father, and enquired, "Oh! father, wherefore are you sulking?" The +raja replied, "Oh! my sons, I am sulking because I see no flowers in +my garden. Unless I see flowers in my garden, I shall not remain in +this world." His sons replied, "Give us three days, and if at the end +of that time you see no flowers, then you may sulk." He was persuaded +to rise, and having bathed, and partaken of food, he was refreshed. + +Just then Lelha arrived, and addressing the raja said, "Oh! raja, +what ails you?" The raja on seeing Lelha was angry, and scolded him +severely. He said, "Has Lelha come here? Drive him away at once." Lelha +left without uttering another word. + +After three days the raja began again to sulk, because there were still +no flowers to be seen in his garden. The Indarpuri Sadoms came about +mid-night and ate up all the buds. The raja's four elder sons when +watching could not remain awake for one hour, and so the Indarpuri +Sadoms came nightly and devoured all the buds that should have burst +into flower in the morning, so that not one solitary blossom was to +be seen. For this reason the raja again began to sulk, and no one +dared to say anything to him. + +At this juncture Lelha's mother went from her own house to a shop +to buy rice. The shopkeeper refused to supply her. He said, "The +raja is sulking, and she comes here to buy rice. I will not weigh +it, so go." Lelha's mother went hastily home, and encountered Lelha +returning from a stroll. Lelha asked for food. He said, "Oh! mother, +give me cooked rice quickly." She rebuked him, and said, "The raja is +sulking. The shopkeeper refused to give me rice, how can I give you +food? I am a prey to grief, and here my young gentleman is hungry. Go +to the raja." + +Lelha did as his mother ordered him, and went to the apartment where +the raja was, and called several times, "Oh! father, get up." At +length the raja asked, "Who are you? Do not irritate me. Go away at +once." Lelha replied, "I am your humble slave and son, Lelha." His +father said, "Wherefore have you come here? Lelha, Go home, or else +I shall beat you. What do you want here? If you go, go at once, +if not, I shall have you chastised." Lelha replied, "Because you, +Oh! raja, are sulking. The shopkeeper in the bazaar refused to +sell to my mother rice, saying, 'something is amiss with the raja, +I cannot let you have it.'" The raja then said, "Go, and bring the +shopkeeper here." To which Lelha replied, "Why are you sulking? If +you do not tell me, it were better for me to die here. I cannot leave +you. I have come here fasting, not having eaten anything to-day." The +raja said, "Your four brothers have not been able to do anything, +and what can I hope from telling you about it, Lelha?" Lelha replied, +"It is still possible that I may accomplish something, but although I +should not, yet I am a son of yours. Do tell me. If you die, I shall +die also. We will depart this life together. I cannot return home." The +raja then thought within himself, I will tell him, and let him go. If +I do not do so, Lelha may die along with me. Then addressing Lelha, +he said, "It is nothing child, only I see no flowers in my garden, +and therefore I am sulking. Although your four brothers watched +three nights, still I see no flowers." Lelha then said, "If my +brothers watched three nights, see me watch one." The raja replied, +"Very good my son, let us leave this apartment." + +The raja went to bathe, and Lelha going to the shopkeeper bought +several kinds of grain, which he carried home and gave to his mother, +saying, "Roast a seer of each, and cook some rice for me. I have +succeeded in persuading my father to rise. He has bathed and dined, +and is refreshed. He was sulking because he can see no flowers in +his garden. It was with great difficulty that I prevailed upon him +to get up." His mother said, "What does my Lord want with roasted +grain?" Lelha replied, "Let me do with it as I chose, you prepare +it. I will take it with me at night when I go to watch in the flower +garden." His mother said, "Have you forgotten your brothers' threats +to beat you?" Lelha replied, "My brothers may beat me, but no other +person. What help is there for it?" + +At nightfall, Lelha, having supped, tied up in the four corners of +his plaid four kinds of roasted grain, and entering the garden climbed +up on a raised platform, and began his vigil. + +After a short time he untied one of his parcels of roasted grain, +and began leisurely to eat it, one grain at a time. Just as he had +consumed the last one, an Indarpuri Sadom descended from the East and +alighted in the garden to browse upon the flowers. Lelha seeing it, +crept noiselessly up, and laid hold of it, and at the same instant its +rider, an Indarpuri Kuri, [16] exclaimed, "Hands off! Lelha. Hands +off! Lelha. Touch me not." Lelha replied, to the Indarpuri Kuri, +"Besides touching you, I will bind and detain you till morning. You +have become bold. You have caused my father to fast; but I have +captured you to-night. Where will you go?" "Let me go," she said, +"I will bless you." Lelha rejoined, "You are deceiving me." The +Indarpuri Kuri made answer, "I am not deceiving you. I shall give +you whatever blessing you may desire. Place your hand upon my head, +Lelha." He did so, and a lock of hair adhered to his hand, when he +withdrew it. The Indarpuri Kuri then said, "When you desire anything, +take that lock of hair into your hand, and say, Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, +give me this or that, and instantly you shall receive it. Of a +truth it shall be so. I shall never fail you." Lelha then released +the Indarpuri Sadom, and it mounted up into the air, and he and his +Indarpuri Rider vanished into space. + +By the time Lelha had eaten all the roasted grain from another +corner of his plaid, another Indarpuri Sadom with his Indarpuri Kuri +rider descended from the West. Lelha caught these as he had done the +first. This Kuri was a younger sister of the other, and she gave a +like blessing to Lelha before he released her horse. + +Lelha now began to eat his third parcel of roasted grain, and just as +he had finished it he saw another Indarpuri Sadom with an Indarpuri +Kuri rider descend from the North, and alight in the garden. Lelha +also captured these. The rider was a younger sister of the last. She +also gave Lelha a blessing, and was allowed to go. + +At cockcrow, Lelha, having eaten the last grain of his fourth parcel, +looked up and beheld an Indarpuri Sadom with an Indarpuri Kuri rider +descend into the garden from the North. She was the youngest of the +sisters. Lelha crept stealthily up, and laid hold of the horse's +mane. The Indarpuri Kuri then exclaimed, "Hands off! Lelha. Hands +off! Lelha." Then Lelha replied, "You Lelha greatly this morning. It +is almost dawn, where can you go to escape punishment?" Then the +Indarpuri Kuri said, "Oh! Lelha, We are four sisters, daughters of one +mother, I will give you a blessing." Lelha replied, "In this way three +persons have fled. You also appear the same." The Indarpuri Kuri said, +"We four sisters have one blessing. Place your hand upon my head, and +release me." Lelha did so, and the Indarpuri Sadom on being liberated +sailed off into the sky with his Indarpuri rider. Lelha tied the four +locks of hair of the Indarpuri Kuris each in a corner of his plaid, +as he had before done with the roasted grain. When the day fully +dawned he returned to his home weeping, for his four brothers seeing +the bushes laden with blossom were envious of him, and had hurled him +headlong to the ground from off the raised platform on which he sat. + +On reaching home his mother said to him, "You see your brothers have +beaten you. I warned you against going." Lelha replied, "What help +is there for it? My brothers beat me. No one else did. I must bear +it." His mother said, "Then, why do you let others know?" + +In the morning the raja said, "Last night Lelha was watching. I will +go and take a look at the garden." He went and found a perfect sea +of blossom, the sight of which almost overcame him. + +It so happened that as the raja gazed upon the fairy scene around him, +Koema Jugi turned up, and addressing the raja said, "You are lost +in wonder, but if you hang hiras and manis on the branches the whole +country will be resplendent. Then your wonder and amazement will be +increased twentyfold." + + + + +III. + +The raja's garden was without an equal in the world, but the words of +Koema Jugi had caused him to become discontented with it, and because +there were neither hiras nor manis hanging from the branches he, as +before, began to sulk. They reasoned with him saying, "Do not grieve +over it. We will bring hiras and manis." So he rose, and having bathed +partook of some refreshment. + +About this time Lelha's mother went to a shop to purchase food. On +seeing her the shopkeeper said, "Something is amiss with the raja, +and she is hungry, and comes here giving annoyance. Go away. I will +not weigh anything for you." So she returned home empty-handed. As she +entered the house she encountered Lelha just returned from hunting, +who said, "Oh! mother, give me cooked rice." His mother replied, +"Something is wrong with the raja, and here my young lord is fasting, +and cries for food. He is greatly concerned about his own affairs." + +Lelha went at once to the raja, and enquired "What ails you, +father?" The raja replied, "Is there anything ailing me? Has Lelha +come here? I will beat him shortly." Lelha said, "Do with me what you +please. Why are you sulking? If you do not tell me, although it should +cost me my life, I will not leave, rather slay me here at once." The +raja thought within himself, "He annoys me, I will tell him to get +rid of him." So he said, "Your brothers have gone in search of hiras +and manis, and it is because I do not see the trees in my garden +adorned with these precious stones that I am sulking. Lelha said, +"I will also go." His father said, "Do not go child." But Lelha was +determined, and disregarded his father's command. + +Lelha went to the bazaar and purchased rice and dal, and his mother +when she saw him bringing them home with him, said, "What is wrong? You +are completely out of breath." Lelha replied, "My brothers have gone +to search for hiras and manis, and I also am busy preparing to follow +them." She tried to dissuade him saying, "Although the mean fellows +beat you, still you will not keep away from them." Lelha quickly +replied, "What help is there for it, mother? Let my brothers beat +me or not, what is that to me? I must bear it all." So his mother +prepared food, and Lelha, having partaken of it, set out. + +He went to the stable, and saddled the lame horse, as his brothers +had taken away the good ones, and mounting rode to the outskirts +of the city. He then dismounted, and turned the lame horse loose, +and went into the raja's flower garden, and said, "Oh! Indarpuri +Kuri, give me a horse instantly. My brothers have left me behind, +and gone I know not where. Give me such a horse as will enable me +to reach them at once." Immediately a horse was at his side, and +in a few seconds he was in sight of his brothers. He then alighted +from his horse, and said "Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, I return your horse," +and instantly it disappeared, and he overtook his brothers on foot. + +When his brothers saw him, they said, "He has overtaken us." Some of +them said, "Catch him and beat him," others said, "No, let him alone, +he will do our cooking. We can go in search of hiras and manis, +and leave him to guard our camp. Come let us push on, we have now +got a good guard for our camp." This pleased all, and they said, +"It is now evening, let us pitch our camp for the night." They did +so, and Lelha soon had supper ready, of which having partaken they +all retired to rest. + +In the morning Lelha again acted as cook, and while it was yet early +set breakfast before his brothers, and they having eaten, mounted +their horses, and went in search of hiras and manis. They were now +a month's journey distant from their own home, and the raja of the +country in which they were, had just opened a new bazaar. It was a +large and beautiful bazaar, and an Indarpuri Kuri had a stall it. This +Indarpuri Kuri had given out, that whoever would go and come twelve +kos seven times within an hour should be her husband. + +The four sons of the raja, who had come in search of hiras and manis +hearing this said, "Some one from amongst us four brothers must marry +this girl. Let us exercise our horses, it is possible that some one +of them may do the distance in the specified time." They had left +home in search of hiras and manis, and now were scheming to secure +the Indarpuri Kuri as the wife of one of them. So they returned +to camp, and sitting down began to discuss the subject. They said, +"If our horses are well exercised, no doubt, but that they will be +able to run the distance in the time. Therefore, let us diligently +train our horses, so that they may be able to accomplish the task." + +While they were thus engaged, Lelha said, "What is it, brothers, +that you are discussing?" His brothers rebuked him, saying, "Why are +you eavesdropping? We will beat you." They did not, however, beat him, +as they feared he would return home, and leave them without a cook. So +he cooked the supper and set it before them, and when they had eaten, +they retired to rest. + +In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his four brothers +having breakfasted, mounted and rode off to the bazaar, and there +exercised their horses. After they had left Lelha collected all the +brass vessels, and what other property there was, and carefully hid +them away. Then he called to the Indarpuri Kuri, "Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, +give me a horse," and instantly, just such a horse as he desired +stood beside him. He mounted and galloping away soon overtook his +brothers. He saluted them, but they did not recognize him. He said +to them, "Wherefore, brothers, have you brought your horses to +a standstill? Make them race." They replied, "We were waiting for +you. We are tired. It is your turn now." Lelha immediately switched +up his horse, and away it flew at such a pace, that it could scarcely +be seen. That day his horse ran twelve kos there and back three times +within an hour. At the end of the race soldiers tried to lay hold +of Lelha's horse, but he called out, "Do not touch him. He will not +allow you to lay a finger on me." The soldiers said, "The raja has +given orders, that the horse that ran three, or five, or seven times +is to be brought before him." Lelha replied, "Go, and tell the raja, +that the horse bites, so we could not stop him. The raja will not +be displeased with you." He then rode away to the camp, and having +returned the horse to the Indarpuri Kuri he began to prepare the +evening meal, which was ready by the time his four brothers arrived. + +After supper they began to talk over the events of the day, wondering +who owned the horse that had run so well. Lelha drew near, and said, +"What is it, brothers, that you are talking about?" Some said, "Beat +him, what has he got to do listening?" Others said, "Do not beat him, +he cooks for us." So the matter ended, and all lay down for the night. + +In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his brothers having +breakfasted, mounted their horses, and rode off to the bazaar, where +they raced as usual. After they had gone, Lelha gathered all their +property together, and hid it as he had done on the day previous. Then, +mounting an Indarpuri Sadom, he followed his brothers, and on coming +up with them saluted them, but they did not recognize him as their +brother. Then a conversation similar to that of the previous day +passed between Lelha and his brothers. This time Lelha's horse ran +the distance, there and back, five times within the hour. The raja's +soldiers again attempted to stop Lelha's horse, but he told them that +it was in the habit of biting, so they allowed him to pass, and he +galloped off to the camp, and returning the horse to the Indarpuri +Kuri began to prepare the evening meal. When his brothers arrived +Lelha set food before them, and they ate and drank. After they had +supped they sat and talked about the wonderful horse, and its feat +that day. Lelha again enquired what they were talking about, but they +rebuked him saying, "Do not listen. It is not necessary for you to +know what we are speaking about." They all then retired for the night. + +Early next morning Lelha set about preparing breakfast, and his +brothers, having partaken of it, set out for the bazaar. After their +departure Lelha gathered everything together, and hid them as before, +and then called upon Indarpuri Kuri for a horse. The horse came, and +Lelha mounted and galloped after his brothers. On overtaking them he +saluted, and then said, "Wherefore, brothers, do you stand still? Race +your horses." They replied, "It is your turn now. We have run, and our +horses are tired." Lelha then started his horse, and it ran twelve kos +there, and twelve kos back, seven times within the hour. The raja's +soldiers again attempted to capture Lelha's horse, but he prevented +them, and so returned to the camp. When he had returned the horse +to the Indarpuri Kuri he resumed his office of cook, and had supper +ready by the time his brothers returned. They sat down together, and +began to discuss the wonderful performance of the horse which had that +day done the distance seven times in one hour. Lelha again enquired, +"What is it that you are talking about, brothers?" Some one said, +"Beat him. He has no right to be listening," but another said, +"Do not beat him, he cooks our food." When the four brothers were +tired talking Lelha set supper before them, and having supped, they +lay down to sleep. + +Next morning Lelha cooked the breakfast as usual, and his brothers +having partaken of it, mounted their horses, and rode off to the +bazaar. After they had left Lelha put everything out of sight, as +usual. Then he desired the Indarpuri Kuri to give him a horse, and +having mounted, he followed his brothers, and on coming near saluted +them as before, but again they failed to recognize him. + + + + +IV. + +On the seventh day Lelha again followed his brothers to the +bazaar. He begged the Indarpuri Kuri to give him a horse that +would do the distance there and back seven times within the hour, +and at the end would fall down dead, and also to have another horse +ready for him to mount. The Indarpuri Kuri gave him his desire and +he rode off to the bazaar, and again saluted his brothers, and at +the same time pushed his horse close up to them. They called out, +"Keep your horse back, he will crush us." Lelha then enquired why +they were standing still. They replied, "We were waiting for you." So +Lelha put his horse to the gallop, and did the distance there and +back seven times within an hour. On his return the last time the +soldiers attempted to lay hold of the horse, but Lelha said, "Let +him alone, I will go myself." At the same instant his horse fell, +and he leapt from it, and having returned it to the Indarpuri Kuri, +he mounted the other, and rode from the race course to the bazaar, +and was united in wedlock to the Indarpuri Kuri. + +After the marriage he informed his bride that he was in search of +hiras and manis for his father's flower garden. She informed him, +that lying on the breast of her elder sister, who had been sleeping +for twelve years, was a large quantity of hiras. "To obtain them you +must first," she said, "buy two bundles of grass, two goats, and a +pair of shoes, and make two ropes each two hundred cubits long. My +sister is guarded by an elephant, a tiger, and a dog. On entering you +will first encounter the elephant, and you must throw him a bundle of +grass. A little farther on you will meet the tiger, you must give him +a goat. Then you will see the dog, and you must throw him a shoe. When +you are returning you must do the same. Throw a shoe to the dog, a goat +to the tiger, and a sheaf of grass to the elephant. You must lose no +time in possessing yourself of the hiras you will find on my sister's +breast. If you delay, her army may take you prisoner." She also said, +"My sister's house is situated on an island in a large lake, and you +can only reach it by hiring a boat. The door of her house is a large +heavy stone, which you must remove before gaining an entrance. On the +island there is a Sinjo tree, [17] with branches on the North side, +and on the South. On the branches of the South side there are the +young of hiras and manis, but on those of the North side there is +nothing. On the South side there are five branches, and within the +fruit there are manis. Do not forget this. The large hira, which +glitters on my sister's breast, is the mother hira." Just as she +concluded the foregoing instructions the cock crew, and she added, +"See that you remember all I have told you." + +Then Lelha left his bride to return to his brothers. As he went he +remembered that they would be sure to abuse him for having been +absent, so he collected a large number of shells, and stringing +them together, hung them round his neck, and went dancing to the +camp. When his brothers saw him, in the dress of a merryandrew they +rebuked him severely. + + + + +V. + +Lelha's excuse for his absence was as follows. He said, "You, +my brothers, always leave me here alone in the camp. Yesterday +several shepherds came, and forcibly carried me away. They kept me +awake all night. They tied these shells round my neck and made me +dance. They also made me drive cattle round and round. I had no rest +all night. They also shewed me hiras and manis." + +Lelha's brothers eagerly enquired, "Where did you see the hiras and +manis? Come, show us the place at once." Lelha replied, "We must first +buy food for the hiras and manis." So they went to the bazaar to buy +food for the hiras and manis. Lelha first bought two goats, and his +brothers abused him, and said, "Will hiras and manis eat these?" Some +one of them said, "Slap him." Another said, "Do not slap him, they +may perhaps eat them." Then he bought a pair of shoes, at which again +they reviled him. Then he bought two ropes, when they again reviled +him. Lastly he purchased two bundles of grass, and having provided +these necessary articles, they went and hired a boat. The horses of +the four brothers were dead, so they had to proceed on foot to where +the boat lay. + +After sailing for some time they reached an island, and landed. They +quickly found the house of the Indarpuri Kuri. It was closed by a large +stone lying over the entrance. Lelha ordered his brothers to remove +it, but they were displeased and said, "How do you expect to find +hiras and manis under this stone." Lelha said, "Truly, my brothers, +they are under the stone." He pressed them to attempt the removal +of the stone, so they, and others to the number of fifty tried their +strength but the stone seemed immovable. Then Lelha said, "Stand by, +and allow me to try." So putting to his hand, he easily removed it, +and revealed the entrance to the mansion of the Indarpuri Kuri. His +brothers were so astounded at the strength he displayed that they +lost the power of speech. + +Lelha then said to his brothers, "Take one of these ropes, and bind it +round me, and lower me down, and when you feel me shaking the rope, +then quickly pull me up. I go to find hiras." His brothers quickly +bound the rope round his body, and he, taking the goats, the pair of +shoes, and the bundles of grass, descended. + +A short distance from where he reached the ground, he found a door, +which was guarded by an elephant bound by the foot to a stake. To +him he threw a bundle of grass and passed on. At the next door he +found a tiger, likewise chained, and as he approached, it opened its +jaws as if to devour him. To it, he gave a goat, and was allowed to +pass. At the third door was a dog. He threw a shoe to it, and when +the dog was engaged biting it, he passed through. Then he saw the hira +sparkling upon the bosom of the sleeping Indarpuri Kuri. Going near, +he snatched it up, and fled. The dog, however, barred his exit but +he threw the other shoe to it, and passed on. The tiger had devoured +the goat he had given to it, and was now alert. To it he gave the +other goat, and hurried on. The elephant then opposed him, but the +remaining bundle of grass was sufficient to divert his attention, +and he passed through the last door. Then violently shaking the rope +his brothers speedily hauled him up. + +Then they went to their boat, and rowed to another part of the island, +where the Sinjo tree grew. They all climbed the tree, but Lelha plucked +the five fruits on the branch to the South, while his brothers plucked +a large number from the North side. + +They then returned to their boat and rowed back to the place from +which they had started. From there they went to the house of Lelha's +bride. When she heard of their arrival she ordered refreshments to be +prepared for them. Her servants also all came, and gave Lelha and his +brothers oil, and sent them to bathe. On their return from bathing, +their feet were washed by servants, and they were then taken into +the house. + +After they were seated Lelha's brothers began to whisper to each +other, saying, "We do not know of what caste these people are, to +whose house he has brought us to eat food. He will cause us to lose +caste." Lelha heard what they were saying, and in explanation said, +"Not so, brothers. This is my wife's house." They replied, "It is all +right then." So they ate and drank heartily, and afterwards prepared +to return home. + + + + +VI. + +The journey was to be by boat. Lelha sent his brothers on ahead in one +boat, and he and his wife followed in another. There was a distance +of two or three kos between the boats. + +Lelha's brothers as they sailed along came to a certain ghat at which +a raja was bathing. He was raja of the country through which they +were passing. He demanded from Lelha's brothers to know what they had +in their boat. They replied, "We have hiras and manis with us." Then +the raja said, "Shew them to me. You may be thieves." They replied, +"No, they are inside these Sinjo fruits." The raja said, "Break one, I +wish to see what they are like." So the brothers broke one, but nothing +was found in it. Then the raja called his soldiers, and ordered them +to bind the four brothers. So the soldiers seized and bound them, and +carried them off to prison. Just then Lelha's boat arrived. He was in +time to see his brothers pass within the prison doors. Having seen the +four brothers in safe custody the raja returned to the bathing ghat, +and seeing Lelha he demanded to know what he had in his boat. Lelha +answered, "We have hiras and manis as our cargo." The raja then said, +"Shew them to me, I would fain look upon them." Lelha said, "You wish +to see hiras and manis without any trouble to yourself. If I show +you them, what will you give me in return? There are hiras and manis +in this Sinjo fruit." The raja replied, "Those who came before you +deceived me. I have no doubt, but that you will do so also." Lelha +said, "What will you give me? Make an offer, and I shall shew you +them at once." The raja replied, "I have one daughter, her I will +give to you, and along with her an estate, if there are hiras and +manis in that Sinjo fruit, and if there are none in it, I will keep +you prisoner all your lifetime." Lelha immediately broke one of the +Sinjo fruits, and five hiras and manis rolled out. When the raja saw +it he was confounded, but what could he do? According to his promise, +he gave him his daughter and an estate. + +The marriage ceremony being over, Lelha was invited to partake of the +raja's hospitality, but he refused, saying, "If you set my brothers +at liberty I shall eat, but not unless you do so." So the brothers +were released, and taken to the bath. After they had bathed, their +feet were washed, and they were led into the palace to the feast. + +The brothers, after they were seated, began to whisper to each other, +saying, "Whose house is this? Of what caste are the people? Does he +wish to make us lose our caste?" But Lelha reassured them by saying, +"Not so, my brothers. I have espoused the raja's daughter." Hearing +this they were relieved, and all enjoyed the marriage feast. + + + + +VII. + +Then they made preparations to continue their journey. Lelha again +sent his four brothers first, and he followed with his two wives. + +After a sail of a few hours they entered the territory of another +raja, and came upon his bathing ghat. The raja was bathing there at +the time, and the boat passing, he enquired what her cargo was. The +brothers answered, "We have hiras and manis on board." The raja said, +"I would see them." They replied, "They are in the boat following +us." The raja was displeased with their answer, and ordered them to +be seized as vagrants. + +Lelha's boat came alongside the bathing ghat just as his four brothers +were led off to prison, and the raja seeing it, asked Lelha what +cargo he carried. Lelha replied, "Our cargo is hiras and manis." The +raja begged Lelha to shew them to him, but he refused saying, "What +will you give for a sight of them? Promise something, and you can +see them." The raja said, "Of a truth, if you can shew me hiras and +manis I will give you my daughter. I have one, a virgin, her I will +give you, and I will also confer upon you an estate." + +Then Lelha, seizing a Sinjo fruit, broke it, and out rolled five +hiras and manis, which when the raja saw he marvelled greatly. He +honourably fulfilled his engagement, and Lelha's marriage with his +daughter was celebrated forthwith. + +The wedding over Lelha was conducted to the bath, and afterwards +invited to a banquet; but he declined saying, "So long as you detain +my brothers in confinement, I cannot partake of your hospitality." So +they were brought to the palace, and their feet bathed, and then +ushered into the banqueting room. After they were seated they began +to whisper to each other, "What caste do these people belong to, +with whom he expects us to eat? Does he intend to make us break our +caste?" Lelha hearing them, said, "Not so, my brothers. This is my +father-in-law's house." Thus were their doubts removed, and they ate +and drank with much pleasure. + + + + +VIII. + +The journey homewards was resumed in the morning, the boats in the +same order as previously. + +Lelha's four brothers were envious of his good fortune, and on the way +they talked about him, and decided that he must be put to death. They +said, "How can we put him out of the way? If we do not make away with +him, on our return home, he will be sure to secure the succession to +our father's kingdom." Having come to this conclusion the next thing +was, how could it be accomplished, for Lelha was far more powerful than +they were. It was only by stratagem that they could hope to accomplish +their purpose, so they said, "We will invite him to a feast and when +he stands with a foot on either boat, before stepping into ours, +we will push the boats apart and he will fall into the river and +be drowned. We must get his wives to join in the plot, for without +their aid we cannot carry it into execution." During the day they +found means to communicate with Lelha's wives. They said to them, +"We will make a feast on our boat. Make him come on board first, +and when he has a foot on each boat you push yours back, and we +will do the same to ours, and he will fall into the water, and be +drowned. We are the sons of a raja, and our country is very large. We +will take you with us and make you ranis." Lelha's wives pretended to +agree to their proposal; but they afterwards told him all. They said, +"Do as they wish, but you will not be drowned. We will remain faithful +to you, and you will reach home before us." + +So the four brothers prepared a sumptuous feast, and the boats were +brought close to each other to enable Lelha and his wives to go on +board. One of Lelha's wives tied a knot on his waist cloth, as a +token that they would remain true to him. He then preceded them in +going into the other boat, and just as he had a foot on each gunwale, +the boats were pushed asunder, and Lelha fell into the water. Having +thus got rid, as they thought, of Lelha, the brothers made all possible +speed homewards. + + + + +IX. + +At the bottom of the river a bell sprang into existence, and Lelha was +found lying asleep in it. Then he awoke and sat up, and loosening the +knot which his wife had tied on his waist cloth, said, "Oh! Indarpuri +Kuri, give me at once food and drink, tobacco and fire," and on +the instant his wants were supplied. So he ate and drank, and was +refreshed. Then he prepared his pipe, and when he had lit it he said, +"Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, give me a fully equipped horse that will carry +me home before the tobacco in this pipe is consumed." The last word +had scarcely escaped his lips when a horse stood beside him. It was +a fierce animal, of a blue colour, and no fly could alight on its +skin. It was fully equipped, and impatient to start. Lelha, still +smoking his pipe, mounted, and his steed at one bound cleared the +river, although it was seven or eight kos broad, and flying like the +wind, landed him at home before the tobacco in his pipe was consumed. + +The hiras and manis were in the possession of Lelha's wives. His +brothers wheedled them into giving them up, saying they will be safer +with us. + +Lelha went to his mother's house and said to her, "Tell no one of my +being here." He had alighted from his horse on the outskirts of the +city, and returned it to the Indarpuri Kuri. + +A period of ten days elapsed before Lelha's brothers and his wives +arrived. The latter declined to accompany the former at once to the +raja's palace. They said, "Let your mothers come, and conduct us, +as is usual when a bride enters her husband's house." The two elder +ranis then came, and the four sons went to the raja's flower garden +and hung the hiras and manis on the branches of the trees, and the +whole countryside was instantly lighted up by the sheen of the precious +stones. The saying of the Koema Jugi was fulfilled to the letter. + +Lelha also sent his mother to welcome his wives, but when the elder +ranis saw her coming, they reviled her and drove her away. They would +not permit her to come near. She returned home weeping. "You told me," +she said, "to go and welcome your wives, and I have been abused. When +will you learn wisdom?" Lelha ran into the house, and brought a ring, +and giving it to his mother, said, "Take this ring, and place it +in the lap of one of them." She took the ring, and gave it to one +of Lelha's wives, and immediately they all rose, and followed her +laughing, to their new home. + +The elder ranis went and informed their sons of what had happened, +but they said, "They are Lelha's wives. What can we do?" + + + + +X. + +The Indarpuri Kuri whom Lelha had robbed of her hira now awoke, and +at once missed her precious jewel. She knew that Lelha had stolen it +from her, and summoning her army to her standard marched upon Lelha's +father's capital, to which she laid siege, and before many hours had +elapsed, the raja was a prisoner in her hands. + +This Indarpuri Kuri said to him, "Will you give up the hiras and manis, +or will you fight?" The raja sent the following message to his four +sons, "Will you fight to retain possession of the hiras and manis, +or will you deliver them up?" They were afraid, so they gave answer, +"We will not. Lelha knows all about the hiras and manis. We do not." + +The raja then sent and called Lelha, and enquired, "Will you shew +fight, Lelha, or will you give up the hiras and manis?" Lelha replied, +"I will fight. I will not part with the hiras and manis. I obtained +them only after much painful toil, so I cannot deliver them up. Ask +them to agree to delay hostilities for a short time, but inform them +that Lelha will fight." + +Lelha hurried to the further end of the garden, and taking the hair of +the first Indarpuri Kuri in his hand said, "Oh! Indarpuri Kuri. Give me +an army four times stronger than the one brought against me, so that +I may make short work of my enemies." Immediately an army of 44,000 +men stood in military array, awaiting his orders. The two armies +joined battle, and Lelha discomfited the host of the Indarpuri Kuri, +and she herself became his prize. She became his wife, and returned no +more to her cavernous home in the solitary island. Lelha thus became +the husband of four wives. + +Then the raja called his five sons together and said, "In my estimation +Lelha is the one best qualified to became raja of this kingdom. I +therefore resign all power and authority into his hands." Lelha +replied, "Yes, father, you have judged righteously. My brothers have +caused me much distress. First, they pushed off the raised platform +in your flower garden, but of that I did not inform you. Then they +caused me, who was the finder of the hiras and manis, to fall into +the river. You saw how they refused to fight, and threw all the +responsibility upon me. They have used me spitefully. They have tried +to make a cat's paw of me." + +So Lelha was raja of all the country, and his brothers were his +servants. One was in charge of Lelha's pipe and tobacco, another +ploughed his fields, and the other two had like menial offices assigned +to them. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF SINDURA GAND GARUR. + + +In a certain village there lived a mother and her son. The boy tended +goats in the forest. One day he found a spot of ground, where he +thought rice would grow well. So he went home, and asked his mother +to give him some seed to sow there. She said, "If you sow rice there +it will all be destroyed. The elephants, or the wild jungle cattle, +will eat it." But he begged so hard that at length she gave him some +seed rice, which he sowed on the small plot of ground in the jungle. It +sprang up and grew luxuriantly. Every day he drove his goats there, +and spent the long hours in driving the birds and insects away from +his little farm. + +When the rice had grown to a good height the raja's son with his +companion came and set up a mark near by at which they shot with +their bows and arrows. The orphan boy was asked to join them, which he +did, and so accurate was his aim, that he hit the mark every time he +shot. The raja's son and his companion were astonished to see such good +shooting, and they said, "The fatherless boy hits the mark every time." + +The boy ran home to his mother weeping, and said, "Oh! mother, where is +my father?" To keep him from grieving, she told a lie. "Your father," +she said, "has gone on a visit to his relations." + +The next day after he had again shown great skill with the bow and +arrow the raja's son and his companion said, "The fatherless boy hits +the mark every time." Hearing this he again went home weeping, and +said to his mother, "Oh! mother, where is my father?" She replied, +"He has gone to visit his friends." Every day the boy came crying to +his mother asking where his father was, so at last she told him. She +said, "Your father, child, was carried away on the horns of a Gand +Garur [18]." + +The boy then said to his mother, "Prepare me some flour. I will +go in search of him." His mother tried to dissuade him, saying, +"Where can you go in such a jungle as this?" He, however, insisted, +and she prepared flour for him, and he set out. + +After travelling many hours he entered the primeval forest, and +presently darkness came upon him. After a short time he came to +the dwelling of Huti [19] Budhi, and requested permission to pass +the night there. This was accorded to him, and he lay down and fell +asleep. During the night he was awakened by the Huti Budhi eating +his bow and arrows. He called out to her "Oh! old woman, What have +you been nibbling at since evening?" The Huti Budhi replied, "It is +only some roasted grain, which I brought a while ago from the house +of the Chief." + +In a short time the nibbling sound was again heard, and he again +enquired what she was eating. She returned the same answer as +before. "Oh! my son, it is only roasted grain which the chief's people +gave me." He did not know that all the time she was eating his bow +and arrows. + +When morning dawned he requested her to give him his weapons, and +on his attempting to string the bow it broke in his hands. The Huti +Budhi had eaten the heart out of the wood, and had left only the +outer shell. He left her house planning revenge. + +During the day he had an iron bow and iron arrows made. All was iron +like the arrow heads. In the evening he returned to sleep at the Huti +Budhi's house. + +During the night he heard the Huti Budhi trying to nibble his bow and +arrows. So he enquired what she was doing. The answer she gave was, +"Do you think the Huti Budhi can eat iron." + +When morning dawned he demanded his bow and arrows, and received +them uninjured, but the lower part of the Huti Budhi's face was all +swollen. She had been trying to eat the iron bow and arrows. Her +lodger strung his bow, and having saluted her, went his way. + +As he journeyed he entered another unexplored forest in the midst of +which he discovered a lake, to which all the birds and beasts resorted +to quench their thirst. He obtained this information by an examination +of its banks, on which he saw the footprints of the various beasts and +birds. He now took some flour from his bag, and having moistened it +with water made a hearty meal, and then sat down to wait for evening. + +As the sun went down the denizens of the forest began to come to the +lake to drink. They came in quick succession, and as each made its +appearance, he sang assurance to it, that he harboured no evil design +against it. + +The quail led the way, and to it he sang, + + + "Oh! quail, you need not fear to drink, + I'll not harm you, I you assure; + But I will slay on this lake's brink, + Cruel Sindura Gand Garur. + + +He sang in a similar strain to each bird as it came, naming it by +its name. + +At length the Gand Garur alighted on the edge of the lake to drink, +and he at once drew his bow, and sent an arrow to its heart, for he +had seen the dried and shrivelled corpse of his father still adhering +to its horns. The Gand Garur being dead, he detached what remained of +his parent's body from its horns, and taking it in his arms pressed +it to his bosom and wept bitterly. + + + +As he wept, Bidi and Bidhati descended from the sky and asked him +the reason of his sorrow. So he told them all. They spoke words +of comfort to him, and said, "Dip your gamcha cloth in the lake, +and cover the corpse with it. And don't you cry, rather bathe and +cook some food. And do not cook for one only, but prepare portions +for two. And when the food is ready, you partake of one portion, +and set the other aside. Then tap your father on the back and say, +'Rise father, here is your food.'" He did as his kind friends bade +him, and the dead came to life again. The father sat up and said, +"Oh! my son, what a lengthened sleep I have had." The son replied, +"A sleep? you must be demented, you were pierced through by the horns +of the Gand Garur, and your dried carcase was adhering to them. See +I have killed it. It is lying here. Bidi and Bidhati instructed me +how to proceed, and I have brought you to life again. + +So they returned joyfully home singing the praises of Bidi and Bidhati. + + + + + + +THE TIGER AND ULTA'S MOTHER. + + +A tiger cub was in the habit of playing under the shade of a certain +tree, in which was a crane's nest with a young one in it. The parent +cranes brought frogs and lizards to their young one, and what it could +not eat it used to throw down to the young tiger, and in this way the +two became greatly attached to each other. After a time the tigress +died, and left the cub alone in the world. The young crane felt much +pity for its afflicted friend, and could not bear the thought of +itself being in a better position. So one day it said to the tiger, +"Let us kill my mother." The tiger replied, "Just as you please. I +cannot say do it, nor can I say do not do it." When the mother crane +came to give its young one food, the latter set upon her and killed +her. The friendship between the two increased so that they could +not be separated from each other. Day and night they spent in each +other's society. + +After a time the two said, "Come let us make a garden, and plant in it +turmeric." So they prepared a piece of ground, and the crane brought +roots of turmeric from a distance. They then discussed the matter as to +which part of the crop each would take. The crane said to the tiger, +"You, my brother, choose first." The tiger said, "If I must speak +first, I will take the leaves." Then, said the crane, "I will take +the roots." Having settled this point to their satisfaction, they +began to plant. The tiger dug holes, and the crane put in the roots, +and covered them over with earth. + +A year passed, and they again said to each other, "Which of us will +take the roots, and which the leaves?" The tiger said, "I will take +the leaves." The crane replied, "I will take the roots." So they began +to dig up the plants, and cutting the leaves from the roots, placed +each by themselves. The tiger collected an immense bulk of leaves, +and the crane a large heap of roots. This done each surveyed the +other's portion. That of the crane was of a beautiful, reddish tinge, +and excited the envy of the tiger, who said to the crane, "Give me half +of yours, and I will give you half of mine." The crane refused, saying, +"I will not share with you. Why did you at first chose the leaves? I +gave you your choice." The tiger insisted, but the crane was obdurate, +and before long they were quarrelling as if they had been lifelong +enemies. The crane seeing it was being worsted in the wrangle, flew in +the face of the tiger, and pecked its eyes, so that it became blind. It +then flew away, and left the tiger lamenting its sad fate. Having lost +its sight it could not find its way about, so remained there weeping. + +One day, hearing the voice of a man near by, the tiger called out, +"Oh! man, are you a doctor?" The man stupefied with fear stared at +the tiger, and gave no reply. The tiger again said, "Oh! man, why +do you not reply to my question? Although you are a human being, +have you no pity?" The man then said, "Oh! renowned hero, what did +you ask me? I am terror stricken, so did not reply. You may devour +me." The tiger replied, "If I had wished to kill you, I could have +done so, but I mean you no harm." The tiger again asked the man if he +possessed a knowledge of medicine, but he replied, "I do not." The +tiger then asked, "Is there one amongst you who does know?" The +man replied, "Yes." The tiger enquired, "Who is he?" The man said, +"There is a certain widow with two sons, the name of one of whom is +Ulta, who possesses a knowledge of medicine, she will be able to cure +you." Having given the tiger this information the man went away. + +The tiger went to the house of Ulta's mother, and hid himself behind +a hedge. He said within himself, "When I hear any one call Ulta then I +will go forward." Shortly after the tiger arrived Ulta's mother called +Ulta, "Ulta, come to your supper." Then the tiger ran hastily forward, +and cried, "Oh! Ulta's mother, Oh! Ulta's mother." But she was afraid, +and exclaimed, "This tiger has done for us to-day." The tiger said +to the woman, "Do you know medicine?" She replied, "Yes, Wait till +I bring it." So hastily running out she said to her neighbours, +"A tiger has come to my house. He is blind, and wishes me to cure +his blindness." The neighbours said to her, "Give him some of the +juice of the Akauna [20] tree. It will increase his blindness." So +she quickly brought Akauna juice, and giving it to the tiger, said, +"Go to some dense jungle and apply it to your eyes. Do not apply it +here, or it will have no effect. Take it away. We are about to sit +down to supper, and then my children will go to sleep. The medicine +will cause you pain at first, but it will effect a complete cure." + +The tiger hurried away to the jungle, and poured the akauna juice +into his eyes. The pain it caused was as if his eyeballs were being +torn out. He tossed himself about in agony, and at last struck his +head against a tree. In a short time, his blindness was gone. He +could see everything plainly, and was delighted beyond expression. + +One day several traders were passing along a pathway through the jungle +in which the tiger hunted. He was lying concealed watching for prey, +and when the traders were passing he jumped out upon them. Seeing +the tiger they fled, and left behind them their silver, and gold, +and brass vessels. The tiger collected all and carried them to Ulta's +mother's house, and presenting them to her said, "All this I give to +you, for through you I have again seen the earth. Had it not been for +you, who knows whether I should ever have been cured or not." Ulta's +mother was delighted with the generosity of the tiger. He had made +her rich at once. But she was anxious to get rid of him, and said "Go +away. May you always find a living somewhere." So the tiger returned +to the jungle again. + +Sometime afterwards the tiger was minded to take a wife, and sought +his old friend Ulta's mother. On arriving at her house he called out, +"Oh! Ulta's mother, where are you? Are you in your house?" She replied, +"Who are you?" The tiger answered, "It is I, the forest hero. You +cured my blindness." So Ulta's mother came out of her house, and said, +"Wherefore, Sir, have you come here?" "I wish you," replied the tiger, +"to find a bride for me." Ulta's mother said, "Come to-morrow and I +will tell you. Do not stay to-day." So the tiger left. + +Ulta's mother then went to her neighbours and said, "The tiger has put +me in a great difficulty. He wishes me to find a bride for him." They +said to her, "Is he not blind?" She replied, "No. He sees now, and it +is that, which distresses me. What can I do?" They said, "Get a bag, +and order him to go into it, and then tie up the mouth tightly, and +tell him to remain still. Say to him, If you move, or make a noise, +I will not seek a bride for you. And when you have him tied securely +in the bag, call us." The next day the tiger appeared, and Ulta's +mother told him to get into the bag, and allow her to tie it. So he +went in, and she tied the bag's mouth, and said, "You must not move, +lie still, or I shall not be your go-between." Having secured him, +Ulta's mother called her neighbours, who came armed with clubs, +and began to beat the helpless animal. He called out, "Oh! Ulta's +mother, what are you doing?" She said, "Keep quiet. They are beating +the marriage drums. Lie still a little longer." The tiger remained +motionless, while they continued to beat him. At length they said, +"He must be dead now, let us throw him out." So they carried him to +a river, and having thrown him in, returned home. + +The current bore the tiger far down the river, but at length he +stranded in a cove. A short time afterwards a tigress came down to +the river to drink and seeing the bag, and thinking it might contain +something edible she seized it and dragged it up on to the bank. The +tigress then cut the bag open with her teeth, and the tiger sprang out, +exclaiming, "Of a truth she has given me a bride. Ulta's mother has +done me a good turn, and I shall remember her as long as I live." The +tiger and the tigress being of one mind on the subject agreed never +to separate. + +One day the two tigers said "Come let us go and pay a visit to Ulta's +mother, who has proved so helpful to us. As we cannot go empty handed, +let us rob some one to get money to take with us." So they went and +lay in wait near a path which passed through the forest in which they +lived. Presently a party of merchants came up, and the tigers with +a loud roar sprang from their ambush on to the road. The merchants +seeing them, fled, and left behind them all their property in money +and cloth. Those they carried to Ulta's mother. When she saw the +tigers approaching her throat became dry through terror. + +Before entering the court-yard they called out to Ulta's mother +announcing their approach. Ulta's mother addressed the tiger thus, +"Why do you come here frightening one in this way?" The tiger replied, +"There is no fear. It is I who am afraid of you. Why should you +dread my coming? It was you who found this partner for me. Do you +not yet know me?" Ulta's mother replied, "What can you do Sir? Do +you not remember that we give and receive gifts on the Karam festival +day? On the days for giving and receiving, we give and receive. Now, +that you are happily wedded, may you live in peace and comfort; +but do not come here again." + +The tiger then gave Ulta's mother a large amount of money and much +cloth, after which the two tigers took their leave, and Ulta's mother +entered her house loaded with rupees and clothing. + + + + + + +THE GREATEST CHEAT OF SEVEN. + + +A great cheat married the cheating sister of seven cheats. One day +his father-in-law and seven brothers-in-law came on a visit to his +house. After conversing with them for a little, he invited them to +accompany him to the river to bathe. He carried a fishing rod with +him, and on arriving at the river cast his line into a pool, saying, +"Now, fish, if you do not instantly repair to my house, I shall not +be able to speak well of you." This he said to deceive the others, +as before leaving home he had given a fish to his wife telling her +to prepare it for dinner. When seated at table he said to his guests, +"the fish we are now eating is the one I, in your presence, ordered to +proceed from the river to my house this forenoon." They were greatly +astonished at the wonderful properties possessed by the fishing rod, +and expressed a desire to purchase it, and offered to pay five rupees +for it. He accepted their offer, and they carried the wonderful +fishing rod home with them. + +Next day they arranged to go a-fishing. They cast the line into a +pool as they had seen the cheat do, and said, "Now fish, if you do +not repair at once to our home we shall not be able to speak well +of you." Having bathed they returned home, and asked to see the +fish. Their wives said, "What fish? You gave us no fish. We have +seen no fish. Where did you throw it down?" They now knew that their +sister's husband was a cheat, so they decided to go and charge him +with having deceived them. + +The cheat had notice of their coming, and quickly taking his dog with +him went to hunt. He caught a hare and bringing it home gave it to +his wife, and said, "When we reach the end of the street on our way +home from hunting, you make the dog stand near the house with the +dead hare in his mouth." + +He invited his visitors to accompany him for an hour's hunting, +saying, "Come, let us go and kill a hare for dinner." So they went +to the jungle, and presently started a hare. The cheat threw a stone +at his dog, and frightened it so that it ran home. He called after +it, "If you do not catch and take that hare home, it will not be +well for you." He then said to his friends, "Come, let us return, +we will find the dog there with the hare before us." They replied, +"We doubt it much." "There is no mistake about it," he said, "We are +certain to find both dog and hare." On reaching home they found the +dog standing waiting for them with a hare in his mouth. + +His brothers-in-law were astonished beyond measure at the sagacity +of the dog, and they said, "Sell this dog to us, we will pay a good +price for it." He demanded ten rupees, which they gladly paid. So +they returned home, and said nothing to him about his having cheated +them in the matter of the fishing rod. + +One day, taking the dog with them, they went to hunt. It caught five +hares, and its masters were greatly delighted with its performance. + +After this the cheat's house was accidentally burnt, and he gathering +the ashes together, set out for the bazaar, there to sell them. On the +way he fell in with a party of merchants who had a large bag full of +silver with them. They enquired what his bag contained, to which he +replied, "Gold." They agreed to pass the night in the same encampment, +so having partaken of their evening meal, they lay down to sleep. At +midnight the merchants rose, and exchanged the bags, and then lay +down again. The cheat saw them, and chuckled within himself. In the +morning the merchants made haste to leave, as they feared the cheat +might find out the theft of his bag. The cheat asked them before they +left to help him to lift his bag on to his bullock's back, saying, +"It was to receive assistance from you that I encamped here last +night." So having helped him to load his bullock they hurried away +lest they should be caught. The cheat carried his treasure home, +but being unable to count so much money borrowed a measure from his +father-in-law, and found he had four maunds of silver. + +On returning the measure he sent along with it five seers of silver, +saying, "For the ashes of my house I received four maunds of silver, +if you reduce your houses to ashes and sell them, you will obtain very +much more." So they foolishly burnt their houses, and collecting the +ashes went to the bazaar to dispose of them. The merchants to whom +they offered them directed them to go to the washermen, saying, "They +will possibly buy." But they also refused, and they were compelled +to return home without having effected a sale. They vowed vengeance +on the cheat, and set out to find him. + +When they reached his house the cheat was on the point of starting +on a journey. After mutual salutations he said, "I have just killed +my second wife. I go to receive eight maunds of silver for her +corpse. Dead bodies bring high prices." They said to him, "How about +the ashes? We could not sell them." He replied, "You did not go far +enough from home. Had you gone to a distance you would have made a +good bargain." + +The cheat's youngest wife having died he washed the body, and anointed +it with oil. He then put it in a large bag, and loaded it on the back +of a bullock, and set out. On the way he came to a field of wheat, into +which he drove the animal, and then hid himself near by. The owner of +the field finding the bullock eating his wheat, beat it unmercifully +with a cudgel. The cheat then came from his hiding place, and said, +"Have you not done wrong in beating my bullock? If you have killed my +wife, where will you flee to? I fell behind, and for that reason my +ox got into your field. My wife, whom I have newly married, is weak +and unable to go on foot, so I put her into a bag to carry her home +on my bullock." + +Having opened the bag the wife was found dead, and her assailant +stood self convicted of her murder. He gave her husband six maunds +of rupees as hush money, so the cheat burnt the corpse and returned +home laden with spoil. + +The cheat next sent for his brothers-in-law, and shewing them the +money, said, "I killed my second wife, and got all this money by +selling the corpse." They enquired, "Who are the people who buy dead +bodies?" He replied, "They reside in the Rakas country." + +Then the seven brothers killed each his youngest wife, and carried +the bodies to a distant country to dispose of them. When the +people of that country knew the object for which they had come they +said to them, "What sort of men are you hawking corpses about the +towns and villages? You must be the worst, or else most stupid of +men." Hearing this the brothers were dismayed, and began to take in +the situation. They perceived that the cheat had again deceived them, +and they retraced their steps homewards bitterly lamenting their +folly. On reaching their village they cremated the remains of their +wives, and from that day had no more dealings with the cheat. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF TWO PRINCESSES. + + +A certain raja had two daughters, who were in the habit of amusing +themselves out side of the palace walls. One day they saw a crow +flying towards them with a ripe Terel [21] fruit in his beak. They then +said to each other, "What fruit is it? It looks nice and sweet." The +crow let the fruit fall in front of them. They ran and picked it +up, and ate it. It tasted deliciously sweet. Then they said, "From +whence did the crow bring such a good fruit?" Then they remembered +the direction from which they had seen it coming, and said, "If we +go this way we shall find it." So they went, but it was only after +they had travelled a great distance from home that they found the +Terel tree with the ripe luscious fruit. + +The elder of the two girls climbed up into the tree, and shook down +a large quantity of the fruit. They then feasted to their heart's +content. Presently they began to feel thirsty, and the elder said to +the younger, "You remain here while I go to drink, and I will also +bring you water in a leaf cup." Having said this she went away to +the tank, and her sister remained under the Terel tree. The day was +extremely hot, and they were very thirsty. + +The elder having quenched her thirst was returning carrying water for +her sister in a cup made of the leaves of a Terel tree, when a bhut +came flying along, and fell into the cup of water. Presently she became +aware that there was a hole in the bottom of her cup through which +all the water had run out. What could she do now? There was no help +for it but to return to the tank, make another leaf cup, and filling +it with water return to her sister. As she was returning with the cup +full of water the bhut again came flying up, and entering the water +passed through the leaf, making a hole by which all the water escaped. + +Again she made a leaf cup, and having filled it with water was +returning when the bhut again came, and destroyed her cup, and caused +her to lose the water. In this way she was detained till very late. + +A raja who happened to be in the vicinity saw a beautiful girl carrying +water in a leaf cup, and a bhut come and make a hole in the cup, so +that it soon became empty. Having seen this several times repeated, +he drew near, and feasted his eyes on her beauty. Then he carried +her away to his palace, where they were joined in wedlock, and the +princess, now the rani, cooked the food for herself and her husband. + +The younger princess remained near the Terel tree, and although she +had given up hope of again meeting her sister, still she continued +to wait. At length a herd of Hanuman monkeys came to feed upon the +Terel fruit. When the girl saw them coming she was terrified and crept +into the hollow of the tree. The monkeys with the exception of an old +frail one, climbed into the tree and began to eat the fruit. The old +monkey remained below and picked up the fruit shells which the others +threw down. + +The old monkey having noticed the girl hiding in the hollow of the +tree called to the others, "Throw me down some. If you do not I shall +not share the Setke chopot I have found." The monkeys in the tree +said, "Do not give him any. He is deceiving us. When his hunger is +satisfied he will run and leave us." So no fruit was thrown down to +him, and he was forced to be content with the shells. The monkeys in +the tree having fared sumptuously, left. The old monkey waited till +they were out of sight, and then entered the hollow of the tree, +where the girl was, and ate her up. He then went to the tank to +drink, and afterwards went in the direction of the raja's garden, +on reaching which he lay down and died. One of the gardeners finding +him dead threw him on the dunghill. + +From the place where the monkey decayed a gourd sprang, and grew, and +bore a fruit which ripened. One day a jugi, when on his rounds begging, +saw this fruit and plucking it took it away with him. Out of the shell +he made a banjo, which when played upon emitted wonderful music. The +words which seemed to proceed from the banjo were as follows: + + + Ripe terels, ripe terels, Oh! Sister mine. + Went in search of water, Oh! Sister mine. + Raja and Rani they became. + Seven hundred monkeys old, + Ate me up, ate me up. Oh! Sister mine. + + +The jugi was greatly pleased with the music of his new banjo, and +determined to take it with him when he went a begging. So one day +he set out with his banjo the music of which so pleased the people +that they gave him large gifts of money and clothes. In course of +time he arrived at the palace where the elder sister was now rani, +and, being admitted, began to play on his banjo. The instrument again +produced most wonderful music. It seemed to wail as follows: + + + Ripe terels, ripe terels, Oh! Sister mine. + Went in search of water, Oh! Sister mine. + Raja and Rani they became. + Seven hundred monkeys old, + Ate me up, ate me up. Oh! Sister mine. + + +Having listened to the music the rani said, "It is wonderfully +sweet," and she fancied she heard her sister's voice in every +note. She thought it possible that it was she who sang in the banjo, +and she desired to obtain possession of it. So she invited the jugi +to pass the night in the palace, saying, I would hear more of this +entrancing music." The jugi listened to the words of the rani and +agreed to remain till morning. So the rani made much of him with the +intention of at length obtaining possession of his banjo. She caused +a goat to be killed, and she cooked a splendid supper for the jugi, +who finding the food so toothsome ate heartily. Wine was not withheld, +and the jugi being in a festive frame of mind drank deeply, so that he +soon lay as one dead. The rani took the banjo, and placed another in +its stead. She then threw filth over the unconscious jugi and retired +to her own apartment. + +The jugi on awaking before sunrise found himself in a pitiable +plight. He felt so thoroughly disgusted with himself that, hastily +picking up his staff, cloth, and banjo, he fled with the utmost +possible speed from the palace. When dawn broke he saw that the banjo +he had was not his own, and although he felt keenly its loss he was +too much ashamed of the condition he had been in to go back to seek it. + +The rani hid the jugi's banjo in her own room, because she knew her +sister to be in it. Whenever the raja and rani went out to walk the +girl left the banjo and having bathed and dressed her hair, cooked +the family meal, and then returned to the banjo. This happened so +often that at last, it came to the knowledge of the raja that a fairy +lived in the banjo, and when the way was clear used to come out and +prepare food for the rani and himself. So he determined to lie in wait +for the fairy cook. He then sent the rani somewhere on an errand, +and hid himself in a corner of the room from whence he could see +the banjo. In a short time the princess emerged from the banjo, and +began to dress her hair, and anoint herself with oil, after which she +cooked rice. She divided the food into three portions, one of which +she ate. As she was about to re-enter the banjo the raja sprang out +and caught hold of her. She exclaimed, "Chi! Chi! you may be a Hadi, +or you may be a Dom." The raja replied, "Chi! Chi! whether I be a Dom, +or a Hadi, from to-day you and I are one." + + + + + + +SEVEN BROTHERS AND THEIR SISTER. + + +In a certain village there lived seven brothers and a sister. Their +family was wealthy. Their father was dead. The brothers agreed to dig +a tank so that whatever happened their name would continue. So they +began the work, but although they dug deep they found no water. Then +they said to each other, "Why is there no water?" While they were +speaking thus among themselves a jugi gosae on his rounds, came to +the tank in the hope of finding water, but he was disappointed. The +seven brothers on seeing the jugi gosae went and sat down near him, +and said, "We have been working for many days, and have dug so deep, +still we have not reached water. You, who are a jugi gosae, tell us +why water does not come." He replied, "Unless you give a gift you +will never get water." They enquired, "What should we give." The jugi +gosae replied, "Not gold, or silver, or an elephant, or a horse, but +you have a sister?" They said, "Yes, we have one sister." He replied, +"Then make a gift of her to the spirit of the tank." The girl was +betrothed, and her family had received the amount that had been fixed +as her price. The brothers argued thus, "We have laboured so long +to make a name for ourselves, but have not found water, so where is +our name? If we do not sacrifice our sister we shall never obtain the +fulfilment of our wishes, let us all agree to it." So they all said, +"Agreed," but the youngest did not fully approve of their design. + +In the evening they said to their mother, "Let our sister wash her +clothes, dress her hair, and put on all her ornaments to-morrow when +she brings us our breakfast to the tank." They did not, however, +enlighten their mother as to why they desired their sister to be so +careful with her toilet. + +The following day the mother addressed her daughter as follows, +"Oh! my daughter, your brothers yesterday said to me, let the +daughter, when she brings us our breakfast come with clean clothes, +her hair dressed and all her ornaments on. So as it is nearly time, +go and dress, and put on all your ornaments, and take your brothers' +breakfast to where they are working." She complied with her mother's +order, and set out for the tank, dressed in her best with all her +ornaments on, carrying boiled rice in a new basket. + +When she arrived at the tank her brothers said to her, "Oh! daughter, +set down the basket under yonder tree." She did so, and the brothers +came to where she was. They then said to her, "Go bring us water from +the tank to drink." She took her water-pot under her arm, and went +into the tank, but did not at once find water. Presently, however, she +saw the sheen of water in the centre, and went to fill her pitcher, +but she could not do so, as the water rose so rapidly. The tank was +soon full to the brim, and the girl was drowned. + +The brothers having seen their sister perish, went home. Their +mother enquired, "Oh! my sons, where is the daughter?" They replied, +"We have given her to the tank. A certain jugi gosae said to us, +'Unless you offer up your sister you will never get water'." On +hearing this she loudly wailed the loss of her daughter. Her sons +strove to mitigate her grief by saying, "Look mother, we undertook +the excavation of the tank to perpetuate our name, and to gain the +fruit of a meritorious work. And unless there be water in the tank +for men and cattle to drink, where is the perpetuation of our name? By +our offering up the daughter the tank is full to overflowing. So the +cattle can now quench their thirst, and travellers, when they encamp +near by and drink the water, will say, 'The excavators of this tank +deserve the thanks of all. We, and others who pass by are recipients +of their bounty. Their merit is indeed great'." In this way with many +such like arguments they sought to allay their mother's grief. + +Right in the centre of the tank, where the girl was drowned, there +sprang up an Upel flower the purple, sheen of which filled the beholder +with delight. + +It has already been stated that the girl had been betrothed, and that +her family had received the money for her. The day appointed for the +marriage arrived, and the bridegroom's party with drums, elephants and +horses, set out for the bride's house. On arrival they were informed +that she had left her home, and that all efforts to trace her had +proved fruitless. So they returned home greatly disappointed. It so +happened that their way lay past the tank in which the girl had been +sacrificed, and the bridegroom, from his palki, saw the Upel flower +in the centre. As he wished to possess himself of it, he ordered his +bearers to set down the palki, and stepping out prepared to swim out +to pluck the flower. His companions tried to dissuade him, but as he +insisted he was permitted to enter the water. He swam to within a short +distance of the flower, but as he stretched out his hand to pluck it, +the Upel flower, moving away, said, "Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! You may be +either a Dom or a Hadi, do not touch me." The bridegroom replied, +"Not so. Are not we two one?" He made another effort to seize the +flower, but it again moved away, saying, "Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! you +may be a Dom or a Hadi, so do not touch me." To which he replied, +"Not so. You and I are one." He swam after it again, but the flower +eluded his grasp, and said, "Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! You may be a Dom, +or you may be a Hadi, so do not touch me." He said, "Not so. You and +I are bride and bridegroom for ever." Then the Upel flower allowed +itself to be plucked, and the bridegroom returned to his company +bearing it with him. + +He entered his palki and the cortege started. They had not proceeded +far before the bearers were convinced that the palki was increasing +in weight. They said, "How is it that it is now so heavy? A short +time ago it was light." So they pushed aside the panel, and beheld +the bride and bridegroom sitting side by side. The marriage party on +hearing the glad news rejoiced exceedingly. They beat drums, shouted, +danced, and fired off guns. Thus they proceeded on their homeward way. + +When the bridegroom's family heard the noise, they said, one to the +other "Sister, they have arrived." Then they went forth to meet the +bridegroom, and brought them in with great rejoicing. The bride was +she who had been the Upel flower, and was exceedingly beautiful. In +form she was both human and divine. The village people, as well as +the marriage guests, when they saw her, exclaimed, "What a beautiful +bride! She is the fairest bride that we have seen. She has no +peer." Thus they all praised her beauty. + +It so happened that in the meantime the mother and brothers of the +girl had become poor. They were reduced to such straits as to be +compelled to sell firewood for a living. So one day the brothers +went to the bridegroom's village with firewood for sale. They offered +it to one and another, but no one would buy. At last some one said, +"Take it to the house in which the marriage party is assembled. They +may require it." So the brothers went there, and asked, "Will you buy +firewood?" They replied, "Yes. We will take it." Some one informed the +bride, that some men from somewhere had brought firewood for sale. So +she went out, and at once recognised her brothers, and said to them, +"Put down your loads," and when they had done so she placed beds +for them to sit on, and brought them water; but they did not know +that she was their sister, as she was so greatly changed. Then she +gave them vessels of oil, and said, "Go bathe, for you will dine +here to-day." So they took the oil, and went to bathe, but they +were so hungry that they drank the oil on the way. So they bathed, +and returned to the house. She then brought them water to wash their +hands, and they sat down in a row to eat. The bride gave her youngest +brother food on a brass plate, because he had not approved of what +had been done to her, but to the others she gave it on leaf plates. + +They had only eaten one handful of rice when the girl placed herself +in front of them, and putting a hand upon her head, began to weep +bitterly. She exclaimed, "Oh! my brothers, you had no pity upon me. You +threw me away as an offering to the tank. You saw me lost, and then +went home." When the brothers heard this they felt as if their breasts +were torn open. If they looked up to heaven, heaven was high. Then +they saw an axe which they seized, and with it they struck the ground +with all their might. It opened like the mouth of a large tiger, +and the brothers plunged in. The girl caught the youngest brother by +the hair to pull him up, but it came away in her hand, and they all +disappeared into the bowels of the earth, which closed over them. + +The girl held the hair in her hand and wept over it. She then planted +it, and from it sprang the hair like Bachkom [22] grass, and from +that time Bachkom grass grows in the jungles. + +The sister had pity on her youngest brother because he did not join +heartily with the others in causing her death. So she tried to rescue +him from the fate which was about to overtake him, but in this she +failed, and he suffered for the sins of his brothers. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF JHORE. + + +There was a lad named Jhore, who herded goats, and every day while +with his flock he saw a tiger and a lizard fight. The lizard always +vanquished the tiger, and the latter after each encounter came to Jhore +and said, "Which of us won?" Jhore through fear every time replied, +"You won," and the tiger went away pleased. + +One day Jhore said to his mother, give me some roasted matkom in a +leaf, and put me into a bag and I will tell you something. So she +wrapped up some matkom in a leaf, and Jhore crept into the bag and +she tied its mouth. Then she said, "What is it, my son, which you +wish to tell me?" Jhore replied, "Every day when I am tending my +goats I see a tiger and a lizard fight, and the tiger is vanquished +by the lizard. The tiger then comes to me and asks, 'which of us +won?' Through fear I say, you won, then the tiger goes away satisfied." + +While Jhore was relating the foregoing to his mother the tiger was +listening at the door, and as he finished his story it rushed in, and +seizing the bag carried it off to a dense unexplored forest, on a hill +in the middle of which he placed it. Jhore was very uncomfortable, +and was considering how he could best free himself from the bag. As +he was hungry he was reminded of the matkom he had with him wrapped +in a leaf, so he began to open it, and the dried leaf crackled. The +tiger hearing the noise, asked what produced it. Jhore replied, +"It is yesterday's lizard." The tidings of the presence of his +mortal enemy so terrified the tiger that he exclaimed, "Stop, stop, +Jhore. Do not release him. Let me first escape." After the tiger left +Jhore rolled down the hill side, and away into a still denser forest, +in an open spot of which he came to a stop. The fastening of the bag +was loosed by this time, and Jhore crawled out. All round this open +glade in which our hero found himself was dense forest never trodden +by the foot of man, and tenanted by a herd of wild buffaloes. Jhore +took up his residence there, and subsisted on the roasted matkom as +long as it lasted. + +Jhore in his explorations found a number of buffaloe calves left +behind by their mothers who had gone to graze. He tended these daily, +cleaning the place where they lived, and taking them to the water, +where he washed them. In this way a bond of friendship was established +between him and the wild buffaloe calves. + +Before the buffaloe cows left for their grazing grounds in the +mornings the calves said, "You stay away till so late at night that, +we are almost famished before you return. Leave some milk with us, +so that when hungry we may drink it." So they left a supply of milk +with them, which they gave to Jhore. He took such care of his charges +that he soon became a great favourite with them. + +Matters went on thus for many days till at last the buffaloe cows +said among themselves, "We must watch for, and catch whoever it is +who keeps our calves so clean." So a very powerful wild buffaloe +was appointed to lie in wait, but he missed seeing Jhore when he led +the calves to the water and bathed them, and cleaned and swept out +their stall. The next day another took his place, but he succeeded +no better. The calves were taken to the water, bathed, brought back, +and their stall cleaned and swept as usual without his seeing who +did it. When the others returned in the evening he informed them +that he had failed to solve the mystery. So they said, "What shall +we do now? How shall we catch him? Who will watch to-morrow?" A old +buffaloe cow replied, "I will accept the responsibility." Hearing +her speak thus the others said, "What a good elephant and a good +horse could not do, will ten asses accomplish?" By this they meant, +that two of the strongest of their number having failed, this weak +old cow could not possibly succeed. However, she persisted, and in +the morning the others went to graze leaving her behind. + +In a short time she saw Jhore emerge from the dunghill, in which he +resided, and loose the calves, and take them to the water. When he +brought them back he cleaned and swept their stall, and then re-entered +the dunghill. In the evening the others enquired, "Well, did you see +him?" The old buffaloe cow replied, "Yes, I saw him, but I will not +tell you, for you will kill him." They pressed her, but she refused, +saying, "You will kill him." They said, "Why should we kill him who +takes so much care of our young ones?" The old buffaloe cow led them +to the dunghill, and said, "He is in here." So they called to him to +come out, which he did, and when they saw him they were all greatly +pleased, so much so that they there and then hired him to continue +to do the work he had been doing so well. They arranged also to give +him a regular daily supply of milk, so he was duly installed by the +herd of wild buffaloes as care-taker of their calves. + +Long after this, he one day took his calves to the river and after +he had bathed them he said to the buffaloe calves, "Wait for me till +I also bathe." They replied, "Bathe, we will graze close by." He +having performed his ablutions sat down on the river bank to comb and +dress his hair, which was twelve cubits long. In combing his tangled +tresses a quantity was wrenched out, this he wrapped up in a leaf and +threw into the stream. It was carried by the current a great distance +down to where a raja's daughter and her companions were bathing. The +raja's daughter saw the leaf floating towards her, and ordered one +of her attendants to bring it to her. When the leaf was opened it +was found to contain hair twelve cubits in length. Immediately after +measuring the hair the raja's daughter complained of fever, and hasted +home to her couch. The raja being informed of his daughter's illness +sent for the most skilled physicians, who prescribed all the remedies +their pharmacopoeia contained, but failed to afford the sufferer any +relief. The grief of the raja was therefore intense. + +Then his daughter said to him, "Oh! father, I have one word to say +to you. If you do as I wish, I shall recover." The raja replied, +"Tell me what it is, I shall do my best to please you." So she said, +"If you find me one with hair twelve cubits long and bring him to me, +I shall rally at once." The raja said, "It is well." + +The raja caused diligent search to be made for the person with +hair twelve cubits long. He said to a certain jugi, "You traverse +the country far and near, find me the man with hair twelve cubits +long." The jugi enquired everywhere, but could obtain no intelligence +concerning him. + +They then made up a parcel of flour and gave it to a crow, whom +they sent to try and find him. The crow flew caw cawing all over +the district, but returned at last and reported failure, saying, +"there is not such a man in the world." + +After this they again made up a small parcel of flour, and giving +it to a tame paroquet, said, "Find a man with hair twelve cubits +long." The paroquet, having received his orders, flew away screeching, +and mounting high up into the sky, directed his course straight for +the unexplored forest. In the meantime the dunghill in which Jhore +resided had become a palace. + +The paroquet alighted on a tree near Jhore's palace, and began to +whistle. On hearing the unusual sound Jhore came out and saw the +paroquet who was speaking and whistling. The paroquet also eyed him +narrowly, and was delighted to see his hair trailing on the ground. By +this he knew that he had found the object of his search, and with a +scream of delight, he flew away to communicate the tidings to the raja. + +The raja was overjoyed with his messenger's report, and ordered the +bariat to set out immediately. In a short time they were on their +way accompanied by elephants, horses, drums, and fifes. On reaching +Jhore's palace they were about to enter for the purpose of seizing +him, when he exclaimed, "Do not pass my threshold." They replied, +"We will carry you away with us." He said, "Do not come near." "We will +certainly carry you away," they replied. Jhore then ran into his house, +and seizing his flute mounted to the roof, and began to play. As the +notes of the flute resounded through the forest it seemed to say, + + + A staff of Pader [23] wood + A flute of Erandom [24] + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +The sound of the flute startled the wild buffaloes, and they said +one to another, "Sister. What has happened to Jhore?" Then he played +again the same as before; + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +As the echoes of Jhore's flute died away in the forest glades the wild +buffaloes sprang forward, and rushed to his assistance. On arrival they +found the house and courtyard full of people, and large numbers outside +who could not gain admittance. They immediately charged them with +all their force, goring many to death, and scattering the remainder, +who flung away their drums and fifes, and fled as for dear life. + +When the raja heard of their discomfiture he sent again for the +paroquet, and giving a small parcel of flour to him said, "Stay some +time with him until you gain his confidence, and watch your chance +to bring away his flute." Having received his orders he flew off +to Jhore's palace, and having gained access to where the flute was, +when Jhore was out of the way he brought it away, and gave it to the +raja. The raja was delighted at the sight of the flute, and again +ordered the bariat to go to fetch Jhore. A still more imposing array +than the former started with elephants, horses, drums, fifes, and +palkis, and in due course arrived at Jhore's residence. On seeing them +Jhore called out, "Do not approach, or you will rue it presently." They +replied, "You beat us off the first time, therefore you now crow, but +you will not now be able to balk us, we shall take you with us." Again +he warned them to stay where they were, saying, "Do not come near me, +or you will rue it presently." They replied, "We will take you with +us this time, we will not leave you behind." Jhore then ran into his +house, and searched for his flute, but as it had been carried away +by the paroquet he could not find it, so seizing another he mounted +to the roof, and began to play. The flute seemed to say; + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +The sound startled the wild buffaloes who said one to another +"Sister. What is it Jhore says?" Again the music of the flute reached +their ears, and the entire herd rushed off to Jhore's rescue. They +charged the crowd in and around the palace of their favourite with +such determination that in a few minutes many lay gored to death, +and those who were so fortunate as to escape threw down drums, +fifes, and palkis, and fled pell mell from the place. The raja, +being informed of the catastrophe that had befallen the bariat, +again called the paroquet, and after he had given him careful +instructions as to how he should proceed, dismissed him. He said, +"This time you must stay many days with him, and secure his entire +confidence and friendship. Then you must bring away all his flutes, +do not leave him one." So the paroquet flew swiftly, and alighted on +a tree near to Jhore's house, and began to whistle. Jhore seeing it +was a paroquet brought it food, and induced it to come down, and allow +him to take it in his hand. The two, it is said, lived together many +days, and greatly enjoyed each other's society. The paroquet when he +had informed himself as to where all Jhore's flutes were kept, one +day tied them all up in a bundle, and carried them to the raja. The +sight of the flutes revived the drooping spirits of his Majesty. He +gave orders a third time for the bariat to go and bring Jhore, so they +started with greater pomp and show than before. Elephants, horses, and +an immense number of men with drums and fifes, and palkis formed the +procession. On their arrival Jhore came out of his palace and said to +them, "Do not come near, or you will rue it." They replied, "This time +we will have you. We will take you with us." Again Jhore warning them +said, "Come no nearer. If you do, you will see something as good as a +show. Do you not remember how you fared the other day?" But they said, +"We will carry you away with us." Jhore ran inside to get his flute, +so that he might call the wild buffaloes to his assistance; but no +flute was to be found. Without the help of his powerful friends he +could offer no resistance, so they seized him, and bore him away in +triumph to the raja. + +When the raja's daughter heard of his arrival the fever suddenly +left her, and she was once more in excellent health. She and Jhore +were united in the bonds of marriage forthwith; but Jhore was kept +a close prisoner in the palace. + +In course of time a son blessed the union, and when the child was +able to walk Jhore's wife said to him, "Where is the large herd of +buffaloes which you boast so much about? If they were here "Sonny" +would have milk and curds daily." Jhore plucking up courage, replied, +"If you do not believe me order a stockade to be constructed thirty-two +miles long and thirty-two miles broad, and you shall soon behold my +buffaloes." So they made a pen thirty-two miles long and thirty-two +miles broad. Then Jhore said, "Give me my old flute, and you all remain +within doors." So they brought him his flute, and he went up on to the +roof of the palace, and played. The music seemed to call as follows: + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +The sound startled the wild buffaloes in their forest home, and they +said one to another, "Sister. What does Jhore say?" Again the music +seemed to say, + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +At Jhore's second call the herd of wild buffaloes dashed off at +their utmost speed, and never halted till they reached the raja's +palace. They came in such numbers that the pen could not contain them +all, many remained outside. + +Those that entered the pen are the domesticated buffaloes of to-day, +and those who were without are the wild buffaloes still found in the +forests of India. + + + + + + +THE GIRL WHO ALWAYS FOUND HELPERS. + + +There were once upon a time, six brothers and a sister. The brothers +were married. They were merchants, and their business often took them +to a distance from home. On such occasions the wives were left alone +with their sister-in-law. For some reason or other they hated the girl, +and took every opportunity to harass and worry her. + +One day when the brothers were away on a journey they said to her, +"Oh! girl, go to the forest and bring a load of firewood without +tying it." What could the girl do? She must obey her sisters-in-law, +or else they would beat her, and give her no food. So she went to the +forest with a heavy heart, bewailing her unhappy lot in the following +plaintive song, + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + Unbound a fagot on my head. + + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath led. + + +Seeing her grief a Jambro snake asked, "Why daughter, do you cry?" She +replied, "My brothers have gone away on business, and my sisters-in-law +persecute me. They have sent me to bring a bundle of firewood on +my head without tying it." The Jambro took pity on her and said, +"Gather firewood." Then the Jambro stretched himself full length upon +the ground and said to the girl, "Lay the sticks on me." When she +had done so the serpent twined itself round the fagot like a rope, +and said, "Now lift it on to your head, but when you reach home, +lay your burden down gently." + +When her sisters-in-law knew that she had done what they considered +impossible, they were still more angry with her, and ordered her to +go to the forest and get milk from a tigress. They gave her a small +earthen vessel, saying, "Go, bring us the milk of a tigress." What +could the girl do? She went to the forest with a heavy heart, bewailing +her unhappy lot in the following plaintive song, + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + A brimful cup of tigress' milk + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While you far hence by trade are lured. + + +She went to the tiger's den, but only found two cubs, who seeing +her sitting weeping at the entrance said, "What are you seeking?" She +replied, "My sisters-in-law have sent me to bring some of your mother's +milk." The cubs took pity on her and hid her in the cave. They +said to her, "Our mother will devour you, so you must not shew +yourself." In a short time the tigress returned, and entering the +den said, "I smell a human being. Where is he?" The cubs replied, +"There is no one here." The cubs milked a little of their mother's +milk into the girl's vessel, and when the way was clear they gave it +to her, and sent her home. + +Her sisters-in-law were greatly disappointed when she brought home +the milk, they had expected that the tiger would have devoured her, +on that she would return home empty handed, and so give them the +opportunity of abusing her for not carrying out their order. + +Another day when the brothers were absent they called her, and said, +"Go to the forest and bring us some bear's milk." What could the girl +do? If she did not do as she was bidden her sisters-in-law would beat +her, and give her nothing to eat. So taking the vessel in her hand, +she went to the forest, bewailing her unhappy lot in the following +plaintive strains; + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + A brimful cup of she bear's milk + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While you far hence by trade are lured. + + +Going to the bear's den she sat down and wept. The she-bear was not +in the den, only two cubs were there, who, when they saw the girl, +took pity upon her, and asked why she wept. She replied, "My brothers +have gone away on business, and my sisters-in-law, who hate me, have +sent me to procure bear's milk in order to harass and annoy me." The +bear cubs then said, "Our mother will eat you, if she finds you, +so we will hide you, and you must keep quiet while she is here." The +she-bear on entering the cave said, "I smell a human being." The cubs +replied, "There is no one here." The young ones succeeded in obtaining +a small quantity of their mother's milk in the girl's earthen vessel, +and after the mother bear had left, the cubs dismissed her with their +best wishes for her welfare. + +Her sisters-in-law were extremely annoyed when she presented the bear's +milk to them. They had expected that the bear would have torn her to +pieces, or that she would have returned empty handed, and thus give +them another chance to abuse and reproach her. + +The girl's sisters-in-law again took advantage of their husbands' +absence to send her to bring water from the spring in a water-pot with +a hole in it. They said, "Go bring water in this water-pot." What +could the girl do? She placed it on her head, and went towards the +spring bewailing her unhappy lot in the following plaintive song, + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + Spring water in a leaking jar + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath lured. + + +She seated herself near the well, and exclaimed, "How can I carry +water in this pot?" At that moment a frog raised his head above the +reeds, and said, "Why do you sit here lamenting?" The girl replied, +"My sisters-in-law, who hate me, have ordered me to bring water in this +pot which has a large hole in the bottom. How is it possible for me +to obey their order?" The frog replied, "Do not worry yourself over +it, I will help you." So he pressed himself tightly over the hole, +and she filled her pot, and carried it home on her head. + +Her sisters-in-law, when they saw her place the water-pot on the +ground, full to the brim, were intensely mortified. They had looked +for her returning with an empty pitcher, thus affording them an +ostensible reason for maliciously upbraiding her. + +Another time they scattered a large basketful of Mustard seed on +the ground, and ordered her to pick up every seed. They said to her, +"You must gather it all into the basket again." What could she do? If +she failed they would beat her, entreat her spitefully, and deprive +her of food. As she gazed upon the seeds scattered all around her, +she bewailed her unhappy condition as follows: + + + Woe is me! I must refill + This basket with these scattered seeds + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath lured. + + +The plaintive murmur of her song had scarcely died away when a +large flock of pigeons alighted near her. They said, "Why do you +weep?" She replied, "My sisters-in-law, who hate me, have scattered +all this mustard seed on the ground, and have ordered me to pick it +all up. One solitary seed must not be left." The pigeons said, "Do +not vex yourself, we will soon pick it up for you." As the pigeons +were very numerous they soon collected it all into the basket. They +did not leave one seed on the ground. + +When she called her sisters-in-law to come and see how efficiently the +work had been done, they were furious at being again balked by her, +and vowed vengeance. + +Once again, when the brothers were from home, her sisters-in-law +ordered her to go to the jungle, and bring a bale of leaves with +which to make the family cups and plates. They said to her, "Go to +the jungle and bring a large bale of leaves, but do so without in +anyway tying them." What could the girl do? She had been ordered to +perform an impossibility. If she refused, or failed to do it, her +sisters-in-law would beat her, and deprive her of food. So she went to +the forest bewailing her unhappy lot in the following plaintive song; + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + Of forest leaves an unbound bale + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath lured. + + +As she was sitting in the forest weeping a Horhorang serpent drew +near and said, "Wherefore daughter do you grieve?" She replied, +"My sisters-in-law hate me and have ordered me to bring leaves +without tying them into a bundle. I cannot do this, and I fear their +resentment, so I cannot help weeping." The Horhorang said, "Vex not +yourself. Go and pluck your leaves and bring them here." She did so, +and the Horhorang twined himself round them binding them into a sheaf, +which the girl placed upon her head, and carried home. + +When her sisters-in-law saw the leaves, and had looked to see that +none had fallen by the way they were greatly chagrined. They had +expected an opportunity to reproach her with disobedience, and a +reason for punishing her. + +Although her sisters-in-law had imposed so many impossibilities upon +her, yet they had been unable to defeat her. Just at the proper time +some one had appeared to help her. + +They had seen a bunch of flowers on the top of a high tree, and one +day when their husbands were away, they said to her, "Climb up into +the tree and pluck the flowers, we wish to dress our hair with them on +the occasion of your marriage." No sooner had she clambered up into +the tree than her sisters-in-law placed thorny bushes all round in +such a manner as to prevent her coming down again. They then went home. + +A few days afterwards, the brothers, when returning from a distant +market to which they had gone rested for a little under this tree. A +tear drop fell on the hand of one of them. Looking at it he said, +"Look brothers, this tear drop resembles those of the daughter." Then +they looked and saw her high up in the tree. They quickly brought +her down, and she related how in time past she had been persecuted +by her sisters-in-law whenever they were absent. The brothers were +wroth with their wives for having used her so cruelly. + +The brothers put their sister into a bag, and carried her home on a +bullock's back. When the wives came out to welcome them, they asked, +"Where is the daughter?" They gave no reply. + +Afterwards the brothers dug a deep well, and on the pretence of +propitiating the water spirit induced their wives to stand round the +well with offerings of rice, &c., in their hands. At a given signal +each hurled his wife head foremost into the well. They then placed +a cart over the opening. + +In return for the persecution she had endured at their hands, the +girl used to go to the well and looking in, say, "You treated me +cruelly once, but now, boo sisters boo." + + + + + + +A SIMPLE THIEF. + + +Once upon a time a man had some money given to him, and was told to +go and buy a foal with it. So he set out to search for one. After +a time he came to a village, and going to a house asked the people +if they had a foal to sell, as he wished to buy one. They replied, +"There are no foals here, but we have mare's eggs. If you will take +them we will give them to you." He said, "I will not take eggs, I +want a foal." He went to every house in the village asking if they +had a foal to sell, but none was to be had; but at each they offered +to sell to him mare's eggs. + +He then thought within himself, wherever I have gone they have told me +that they have not got a foal, but that they can let me have eggs. This +being so, why should I give myself any further trouble? I will buy +an egg. So he was given a large gourd, and told it was a mare's +egg. Having got, as he thought a mare's egg, he joyfully started +to return to his home. The man who sold him the gourd informed him, +that a foal was certain to be hatched on the way. He was still far +from home when the sun set, so he entered a village, and passed the +night there. In the morning he set out betimes, and about breakfast +time he came to a tank, on the embankment of which he laid down his +gourd. He then went into the water to clean his teeth, after which he +began to wash his face. While he was thus engaged a jackal came and +pushed the gourd down the embankment. The noise frightening the animal +it ran away, but the man having caught a glimpse of it called out, +"My foal has hatched, and is galloping off." He pursued the jackal, +which being terror stricken fled to the jungle, and took refuge in +his burrow. The man was pleased to see the creature enter his hole, +and he said, "He will soon come out again, and then I shall mount him, +and gallop him home." Having said this, he placed himself in such a +position that when the jackal came out he could sit down on its back. + +He continued standing thus until nightfall, but even then he had no +intention of relinquishing his chance of capturing his foal. Late at +night some thieves came that way, and seeing him alone in the jungle +asked him what he did there. He replied, "I was sent by my friends to +buy a foal, but as I could not get one, I bought a mare's egg. I was +informed that the egg would hatch on my way home. I spent last night +in a village on the way side, and resumed my homeward journey in the +morning. On arriving at a tank I laid down my egg on the embankment, +and went down into the water, and having cleaned my teeth was washing +my hands and face, when the egg hatched and the foal immediately ran +away. I followed it, and saw it enter this hole, and I am waiting +till it comes out, when I shall mount, and canter it home." + +The thieves said, "Leave it alone. Let it remain there. Will you kill +yourself for this foal? Come with us, and we will give you a strong, +beautiful horse. This one has through fear of you riding on his back +gone into this hole. Why should you wait for him? He will stay where +he is. Come with us, and we will supply you with a good one presently." + +After a little time spent in considering the offer the thieves had +made him, he decided to accompany them. The thieves were pleased +to receive him into their gang, and at once they proceeded towards +a certain village. Having arrived there they went to a rich man's +house, and dug a hole through the wall. They then said to our hero +of the mare's egg, "You creep in." He raised no objection, but went +willingly. They said to him, "Bring out all the heavy articles you +can find, they are sure to be the most valuable." When inside he +lifted up all he found to test the weight, but nothing seemed to be +sufficiently heavy to be worth stealing. He said, "everything is light, +what can I take out to them?" At length he came across a millstone, +which he pushed through the hole in the wall to his confederates out +side. Judging from its weight he expected they would be delighted to +receive it, but they said, "Not this, Not this. Bring something worth +stealing." So he went back, and finding a drum hanging from the roof he +took it down, and began to beat it. When the thieves heard the sound +of the drum they decamped, saying, "This fool is certain to betray +us to-night." When he brought out the drum to make it over to them, +they were nowhere to be seen, so he re-entered the house and placed +the drum again where he had found it. + +He then saw some milk near the fireplace, and being hungry he +determined to cook some food. So helping himself to some rice he began +to prepare it by boiling it in the milk. When it was nearly cooked, +one of the household turned over in his sleep, saying, "I will eat. I +will eat." So he filled a ladle with the boiling rice and milk, and +poured it into the sleeper's mouth. The hot food scalded him terribly, +and he sprang up howling with the pain. + +The other members of the family also jumped to their feet, and laid +hold of the intruder, and bound him hand and foot. + +When the day broke a large number of people came to see the thief, +and began to question him, as to who were his companions. So he +related all that had occurred. Then they said, "Of a truth, this +man has been the means of protecting us. Had he not acted as he did, +we would have been robbed of all we have." + +So they loosed his bonds, and set him free. They also allowed him to +eat the rice and milk he had cooked, which having done, he went home. + + + + + + +NOTES + + +[1] Jari is the Santali name for Crotalaria Juncea, a fibre yielding +plant the seeds of which when ripe, rattle in the pods when the plant +is shaken. + +[2] Bita is Santali for span, and Bitaram is span Ram, or span-long +Ram. + +[3] A small basket with a contracted opening. + +[4] Covering for the head and shoulders made of leaves pinned together, +worn as a protection from the rain by women, while planting rice. + +[5] Said to bullocks when ploughing to cause them to turn at the end +of a furrow. + +[6] Ghur pank is a phrase used by ploughmen when turning their bullocks +at the end of a furrow. + +[7] Mount the buffalo. + +[8] The spirit believed to preside over a certain class of rice land. + +[9] Semi-Hinduised aborigines, whose touch is considered polluting. + +[10] Ficus religiosa, Willd. one of the hugest of India's many +huge trees. + +[11] The fibre yielded by Bauhinia Vahlii, W. and A. goes under that +name among the Santals. + +[12] Lelha in Santali means foolish. + +[13] Diamonds. + +[14] A mythical gem, said to be found in the heads of certain snakes. + +[15] Celestial horses. + +[16] Celestial Maiden. + +[17] Ægle Marmelos, Correa. + +[18] A mythical bird which figures largely in Indian folk lore. + +[19] Huti is the name given by Santals to a certain timber boring +insect. Budhi is an old woman. + +[20] Calotropis gigantea, R. Br. + +[21] Diospyros tomentosa. + +[22] Ischoemum agustifolium, Hack. + +[23] Stereospermum suaveolens, D. C. + +[24] Recinus communis, Linn. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Santal Folk Tales, by A. 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Campbell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Santal Folk Tales + +Author: A. Campbell + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35060] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SANTAL FOLK TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This book was produced from scanned images of +public domain material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="front"> +<div class="titlePage"> +<div class="docTitle"> +<div class="mainTitle">Santal Folk Tales.</div> +</div> +<div class="byline">Translated from the Santali<br> +By<br> +<span class="docAuthor">A. Campbell,</span></div> +<div class="docImprint">Free Church of Scotland Santal Mission,<br> +Santal Mission Press,<br> +Pokhuria.</div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar xd20e105">Printed at the Santal Mission Press,<br> +Pokhuria.</p> +<p class="xd20e105">1891. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e111" href= +"#xd20e111" name="xd20e111">i</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Preface.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">Of late years the Folk tales of India have been the +subject of much study and research, and several interesting collections +of them have been published. But I am not aware that as yet the folk +lore of the Santals, has received the attention which it deserves. The +Santals as a people, have, to a remarkable degree, succeeded in +resisting the subtle Hinduising influences to which they have long been +exposed, and to which such a large number of aboriginal tribes have +succumbed. They have retained their language, institutions, tribal +organization, and religion almost intact. Their traditions show the +jealousy with which these have been guarded, and the suspicion and +distrust with which contact with their Aryan neighbours was regarded. +The point at which they have been most accessible to outward influence +and example, is in their relations with the aboriginal tribes, who in a +more or less degree have merged themselves in Hinduism. Hindu ideas, +customs and beliefs, filtering through these tribes, became +considerably modified before they reached the Santals, and were +therefore less potent in their effects than if they had been drawn from +the fountain head of Hinduism itself. Still, in respect to their +aboriginal neighbours they are always on their guard, ready to repel +any innovation on their customs or religion with which they may be +threatened. In the folk tales of such a people we may well expect to +find something, if not altogether new, still interesting and +instructive from an ethnological point of view, and this expectation, I +believe, would be abundantly gratified if they were only made +accessible to those who, by training and study, are competent to deal +with them.</p> +<p>Santal folk-tales may be divided into two classes—those +apparently purely Santal in their origin, and those obtained from other +sources. Those of the first class are by far the more numerous, and +besides showing the superstitious awe <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e119" href="#xd20e119" name="xd20e119">ii</a>]</span>with which +the Santals regard the creations of their own fancy, they throw a flood +of light upon the social customs and usages of this most interesting +people. The second class embraces a large number of the more popular +tales current among the Hindus and semi-Hinduised aborigines. These, +although adapted and modified by the Santals to suit their language, +modes of thought, and social usages, may generally be detected by the +presence of proper names, or untranslatable phrases which unmistakably +indicate the source <span class="corr" id="xd20e121" title= +"Source: form">from</span> which they have been derived.</p> +<p>These tales were taken down in Santali at first hand, and are +therefore genuine and redolent of the soil. In translating them I have +allowed myself considerable latitude without in any way diverging so +far from the original as to in any degree impair their value to the +student of Indian Folk-lore.</p> +<p>It was to be expected that in the popular tales of a simple, +unpolished people like the Santals, expressions and allusions unfitted +for ears polite would be found. In all such cases the changes which +have been made are in accord with Santal thought and usage, so that the +tales are, notwithstanding these alterations<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e128" title="Not in source">,</span> thoroughly Santali.</p> +<p>I have aimed at making these Santal Folk-tales, in their English +dress, true to the forests and hills of their nativity. I am not +without hope, that in this I have succeeded in some small degree.</p> +<p>A number of the tales included in this volume have already appeared +in the Indian Evangelical Review, but in this collected form they are +more likely to prove of service to those who take an interest in the +subject.</p> +<p>This volume of Santal Folk-Tales is offered as a humble contribution +to the Folk-lore of India. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e137" +href="#xd20e137" name="xd20e137">iii</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="toc" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Contents.</h2> +<ul> +<li> <span class="tocPagenum">Page.</span></li> +<li><a href="#t1">The Magic Lamp</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">1</span></li> +<li><a href="#t2">The Two Brothers, Jhorea and Jhore</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">6</span></li> +<li><a href="#t3">The Boy and his Stepmother</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">15</span></li> +<li><a href="#t4">The Story of Kara and Guja</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">18</span></li> +<li><a href="#t5">The King and his inquisitive Queen</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">22</span></li> +<li><a href="#t6">The Story of Bitaram</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">25</span></li> +<li><a href="#t7">The Story of Sit and Bosont</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">33</span></li> +<li><a href="#t8">The Story of a Tiger</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">40</span></li> +<li><a href="#t9">Story of a Lizard, a Tiger, and a lame Man</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">42</span></li> +<li><a href="#t10">The Story of a Simpleton</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">45</span></li> +<li><a href="#t11">A Thief and a Tiger</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">49</span></li> +<li><a href="#t12">The Magic Fiddle</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">52</span></li> +<li><a href="#t13">Gumda the Hero</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">57</span></li> +<li><a href="#t14">Lipi and Lapra</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">62</span></li> +<li><a href="#t15">The Story of Lelha</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">65</span></li> +<li><a href="#t16">The Story of Sindura Gand Garur</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">89</span></li> +<li><a href="#t17">The Tiger and Ulta’s Mother</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">93</span></li> +<li><a href="#t18">The Greatest Cheat of Seven</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">98</span></li> +<li><a href="#t19">The Story of Two Princesses</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">102</span></li> +<li><a href="#t20">Seven Brothers and their Sister</a> + <span class="tocPagenum"><span class="corr" +id="xd20e267" title="Source: I06">106</span></span></li> +<li><a href="#t21">The Story of Jhore</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">111</span></li> +<li><a href="#t22">The Girl who always found helpers</a> + <span class="tocPagenum">119</span></li> +<li><a href="#t23">A Simple Thief</a> +<span class="tocPagenum">125</span></li> +</ul> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb1" href="#pb1" name= +"pb1">1</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="body"> +<div id="t1" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="super">Santal Folk-Tales.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Magic Lamp.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">In the capital of a certain raja, there lived a +poor widow. She had an only son who was of comely form and handsome +countenance. One day a merchant from a far country came to her house, +and standing in front of the door called out, “<i>dada</i>, +<i>dada</i>,” (elder brother). The widow replied, “He is no +more, he died many years ago.” On hearing this the merchant wept +bitterly, mourning the loss of his younger brother. He remained some +days in his sister-in-law’s house, at the end of which he said to +her, “This lad and I will go in quest of the golden flowers, +prepare food for our journey.” Early next morning they set out +taking provisions with them for the way. After they had gone a +considerable distance, the boy being fatigued said, “Oh! uncle I +can go no further.” The merchant scolded him, and walked along as +fast as he could. After some time the boy again said, “I am so +tired I can go no further.” His uncle turned back and beat him, +and he, nerved by fear, walked rapidly along the road. At length they +reached a hill, to the summit of which they climbed, and gathered a +large pile of firewood. They had no fire with them, but the merchant +ordered his nephew to blow with his mouth as if he were kindling the +embers of a fire. He blew until he was exhausted, and then said, +“What use is there in blowing when there is no fire?” The +merchant replied “Blow, or I shall beat you.” He again blew +with all his might for a short time, and then stopping, said, +“There is no fire, how can it possibly burn?” on which the +merchant struck him. The lad then redoubled his efforts, and presently +the pile of firewood burst into a blaze. On the firewood being +consumed, an iron trap-door appeared underneath the ashes, and the +merchant ordered his nephew to pull it up. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb2" href="#pb2" name="pb2">2</a>]</span>He pulled, +but finding himself unable to open it, said, “It will not +open.” The merchant told him to pull with greater force, and he, +being afraid lest he should be again beaten, pulled with all his might, +but could not raise it. He again said, “It will not open,” +whereupon the merchant struck him, and ordered him to try again. +Applying himself with all his might, he at length succeeded. On the +door being raised, they saw a lamp burning, and beside it an immense +quantity of golden flowers.</p> +<p>The merchant then said to the boy, “As you enter do not touch +any of the gold flowers, but put out the lamp, and heap on the gold +tray as many of the gold flowers as you can, and bring them away with +you.” He did as he was ordered, and on reaching the door again +requested his uncle to relieve him of the gold flowers, but he refused, +saying, “Climb up as best as you can.” The boy replied, +“How can I do so, when my hands are full?” The merchant +then shut the iron trap door on him, and went away to a distant +country.</p> +<p>The boy being imprisoned in the dark vault, wept bitterly, and +having no food, in a few days he became very weak. Taking the lamp in +his hand, he sat down in a corner, and without knowing what he was +doing, began to rub the lamp with his hand. A ring, which he wore on +his finger, came into contact with the lamp, and immediately a fairy +issued from it, and asked, “What is it you want with me?” +He replied, “Open the door and let me out.” The fairy +opened the door, and the boy went home taking the lamp with him. Being +hungry, he asked for food, but his mother replied, “There is +nothing in the house that I can give you.” He then went for his +lamp, saying, “I will clean it, and then sell it, and with the +money buy food.” Taking the lamp in his hand he began to rub it, +and his ring again touching it, a fairy issued from it and said +“What do you wish for?” The boy said “Cooked rice and +uncooked rice.” The fairy immediately brought him an immense +quantity of both kinds of rice. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb3" +href="#pb3" name="pb3">3</a>]</span></p> +<p>Sometime after this, certain merchants brought horses for sale, and +the boy seeing them wished to buy one. Having no money, he remembered +his lamp, and taking it up, pressed his ring against it, and the fairy +instantly appeared, and asked him what he wanted. He said, “Bring +me a horse,” and immediately the fairy presented to him an +immense number of horses.</p> +<p>When the boy had become a young man, it so happened, that one day +the raja’s daughter was being carried to the ghat to bathe, and +he seeing her palki with the attendants passing, went to his mother and +said, “I am going to see the princess.” She tried to +dissuade him, but he insisted on her giving him permission, so at +length she gave him leave. He went secretly, and saw her as she was +bathing, and on returning home, said to his mother, “I have seen +the princess, and I am in love with her. Go, and inform the raja that +your son loves his daughter, and begs her hand in marriage.” His +mother said, “Do you think the raja will consider us as on an +equality with him?” He would not, however, be gainsaid, but kept +urging her daily to carry his message to the raja, until she being +wearied with his importunity went to the palace, and being admitted to +an audience, informed the raja that her son was enamoured of the +princess, his daughter, and begged that she might be given to him in +marriage. The raja made answer that on her son giving him a large sum +of money which he named, and which would have been beyond the means of +the raja himself, he would be prepared to give his daughter in marriage +to her son. The young man had recourse to his lamp and ring, and the +fairy supplied him with a much larger sum of money than the raja had +demanded. He took it all, and gave it to the raja, who was astonished +beyond measure at the sight of such immense wealth.</p> +<p>After a reasonable time the old mother was sent to the raja to +request him to fulfil his promise, but he, being reluctant to see his +daughter united to one so much her inferior in station, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb4" href="#pb4" name="pb4">4</a>]</span>in hope of +being relieved from the obligation to fulfil his promise, demanded that +a palace suited to her rank and station in life be prepared for her, +after which he would no longer delay the nuptials. The would-be +bridegroom applied to his never failing friends, his lamp and ring, and +on the fairy appearing begged him to build a large castle in one night, +and to furnish and adorn it as befitted the residence of a raja’s +daughter. The fairy complied with the request, and the whole city was +amazed next morning at the sight of a lordly castle, where the evening +before there had not been even a hut. The dewan tried to dissuade the +raja, but without effect, and in due time the marriage was celebrated +amid great rejoicings.</p> +<p>On a certain day, some time after the marriage, the raja and his +son-in-law went to the forest to hunt. During their absence, the +merchant to whom reference has already been made, arrived at the castle +gate, bearing in his hand a new lamp which he offered in exchange to +the princess for any old lamp she might possess. She thought it a good +opportunity to obtain a new lamp in place of her husband’s old +one, and without knowing what she did, gave the magic lamp to the +merchant, and received a new one in return. The merchant rubbed his +ring on the magic lamp, and the fairy obeyed the summons, and desired +to know what he wanted. He said, “Convey the castle as it stands +with the princess in it, to my own country,” and instantly his +wish was gratified.</p> +<p>When the raja and his son-in-law returned from the chase, they were +surprised and alarmed to find that the palace with its fair occupant +had vanished, and had not left a trace behind. The dewan reminded his +master that he had tried to dissuade him from rashly giving his +daughter in marriage to an unknown person, and had foretold that some +calamity was sure to follow. The raja being grieved and angry at the +loss of his daughter, sent for her husband, and said to him, “I +give you thirteen days during which to find my daughter. If you fail, +on the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb5" href="#pb5" name= +"pb5">5</a>]</span>morning of the fourteenth, I shall surely cause you +to be executed.” The thirteenth day arrived, and although her +husband had sought her every where, the princess had not been found. +Her unhappy husband resigned himself to his fate, saying, “I +shall go and rest, to-morrow morning I shall be killed.” So he +climbed to the top of a high hill, and lay down to sleep upon a rock. +At noon he accidentally rubbed his finger ring upon the rock on which +he lay, and a fairy issued from it, and awaking him, demanded what he +wanted. In reply he said, “I have lost my wife and my palace, if +you know where they are, take me to them.” The fairy immediately +transported him to the gate of his castle in the merchant’s +country, and then left him to his own devices. Assuming the form of a +dog, he entered the palace, and the princess at once recognized him. +The merchant had gone out on business, and had taken the lamp with him, +suspended by a chain round his neck. After consultation, it was +determined that the princess should put poison in the merchant’s +food that evening. When he returned, he called for his supper, and the +princess set before him the poisoned rice, after eating which he +quickly died. The rightful owner repossessed himself of the magic lamp, +and an application of the ring brought out the attendant fairy who +demanded to know why he had been summoned. “Transport my castle +with the princess and myself in it back to the king’s country, +and place it where it stood before,” said the young man; and +instantly the castle occupied its former position. So that before the +morning of the fourteenth day dawned, not only had the princess been +found, but her palace had been restored to its former place. The raja +was delighted at receiving his daughter back again. He divided his +kingdom with his son-in-law, giving him one-half, and they ruled the +country peacefully and prosperously for many years. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb6" href="#pb6" name="pb6">6</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t2" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Two Brothers, Jhorea, and Jhore.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There were two brothers, whose parents died, +leaving them orphans when very young. The name of the elder was Jhorea, +and of the younger Jhore. On the death of their parents, the two +brothers went to seek employment, which they found in a certain +village, far from where their home had been. The elder, Jhorea, was +engaged as a farm servant, and the younger, Jhore, as village +goat-herd.</p> +<p>After some time, it so happened that one day the brothers had no +rice for their dinner, and Jhorea said to his brother, “Go to the +owners of the goats you herd, and ask them for the hire they promised +you. One will give you a <i>pai</i>, another a <i>pawa</i>, and a third +a <i>paila</i>, and so on, according to the number of animals they have +in your charge; some will give you more and others less, bring what you +get, and cook some for dinner.” The boy went as he was ordered, +and entering the first house he came to, said, “Give me a +<i>pai</i>.” They said: “What do you want with a +<i>pai</i>?” “Never mind what I want with it, give +it,” he replied. So they gave him a <i>pai</i>. Then he went to +another house and said, “Give me a <i>pawa</i>.” +“What do you want with a <i>pawa</i>?” they said. +“Never you mind, give it to me,” and they gave him a +<i>pawa</i>. He then went to a third house and asked for a +<i>paila</i>. “What do you want with a <i>paila</i>?” they +enquired. “Never you mind, give it to me,” he replied. +Instead of bringing rice he brought the wooden measures, and breaking +them into small pieces, put them into the pot to cook. The elder +brother was ploughing, and being very hungry, he kept calling out, +“Cook the rice quickly, cook the rice quickly.” His brother +being impatient, he stirred the contents of the pot with all his might, +at the same time exclaiming, “What can be the matter brother? it +is very hard.” The elder brother came to see what was wrong, and +on looking into the pot saw only pieces of wood. He became very angry, +and said, “I sent you to bring rice, why <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb7" href="#pb7" name="pb7">7</a>]</span>did you +bring measures?” To which he replied, “You told me to ask a +<i>pai</i> from one, a <i>pawa</i> from another, and a <i>paila</i> +from a third, and I did so.”</p> +<p>The elder then said to the younger, “You go and plough, and if +the plough catch in a root on the right hand, cut the root on the left +hand, and if it catch in a root on the left side, cut the root on the +right side, and in the meantime I will cook.” He went and began +to plough, and in a short time the plough caught in a root on the +right, and not understanding the directions given to him, he struck the +left hand bullock a blow on the leg with his axe. The bullock limped +along a short distance. When the plough caught in a root on the left, +he smote the bullock on the right, wounding it as he had done the +other. Both of the bullocks then lay down, and although he beat them +they did not get up. He therefore called to his brother, “These +bullocks have lain down, and will not get up, what shall I do?” +“Beat them,” was the reply. Again he beat them, but with no +better result. The elder brother then came, and found that the oxen had +been maimed, and were unable to stand, at which he became greatly +alarmed, and said, “Why did you maim the oxen? The owners will +beat us to death to-day.” He then gave him some parched grain to +eat, and sent him to look after his goats. The sun being hot, the goats +were lying in the shade chewing their cud. He sat down near them, and +began to eat the parched grain. Seeing the goats moving their jaws as +if eating, he said, “These goats are eating nothing, they are +lying there mocking me,” and becoming enraged, he killed them all +with his axe. Then going to his brother, he said, “Oh! brother, I +have killed all the goats.” His brother asked, “Why did you +kill them?” He replied, “While I was watching them and +eating the parched grain which you gave me, I saw them chewing, and as +they were eating nothing I knew they were mocking me, and so I killed +them all.” The elder brother became greatly alarmed, and calling +to the younger to come, they quickly ate their dinner, and then went to +where the goats were <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb8" href="#pb8" +name="pb8">8</a>]</span>lying dead. From among them they chose the +fattest, and carried it off to the jungle, where they flayed, and cut +it into pieces.</p> +<p>Jhore then said, “I shall take the stomach as my share,” +but his brother said, “No, let us take the flesh.” Jhore, +however, would not agree to that, and at length his brother said, +“Well you take the stomach, I shall take the flesh.” So +each took what he fancied most, and they set off. After travelling a +long distance, they came to a large tree growing on the side of the +road, into which they climbed for safety. After they had been some time +on the tree, a raja on his way to be married, lay down to rest in its +shade, and when he and his attendants had fallen asleep, Jhore let the +goat’s stomach fall down on the raja. The raja having his rest +thus rudely disturbed, sprang to his feet, and calling out, awoke his +servants, who seeing the goat’s stomach, and not knowing what had +happened, thought the raja himself had burst. They fled in terror +followed by the raja, and did not halt till they were many miles away +from the scene of the raja’s discomfiture.</p> +<p>After waiting a little while, the brothers descended, and began to +help themselves to the raja’s property. Jhore said, “I +shall take the drum.” His brother said, “No, let us take +the brass vessels and the clothes.” Jhore, however, insisted, and +after considerable wrangling, his brother said, “Well, take the +drum if you will have it, I shall take the brass vessels and the +clothes.” So each took what pleased him best, and then they went +away and hid in the jungle.</p> +<p>While walking about in the jungle, they collected bees, wasps, and +other stinging insects, and put them into the drum. Having filled the +drum, they emerged from the forest at a place where a washerman was +washing clothes. Jhore tore all his clothes into strips, and scattered +them about. The washerman went and told the raja that two persons had +come out from the jungle, and had destroyed all his clothes. On hearing +this, the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb9" href="#pb9" name= +"pb9">9</a>]</span>raja said to his servants, “Come, and let us +fight with these two men.” So arming themselves with guns, they +went to the tank where Jhorea and Jhore were sitting, and began to +shoot at them, <span class="corr" id="xd20e390" title= +"Source: bnt">but</span> the bullets did them no harm. When their +ammunition was exhausted, they said, “Will you still +fight?” The brothers answered, “Yes, we will fight.” +So they began to fire their guns, and beat their drum, and the bees and +wasps issued from it like a rope, and began to sting the raja and his +soldiers, who to save themselves, lay down and rolled on the ground. +The raja, in anguish from the stings of the bees, exclaimed, “I +will give you my daughter, and half of my kingdom, if you will call off +the bees.” Hearing this they beat the drum, and calling to the +bees and wasps, <span class="corr" id="xd20e393" title= +"Source: orderd">ordered</span> them all to enter the drum again, and +the raja and his people went to their homes. The brothers however, +could not agree as to who should marry the princess. One said, +“You marry her.” The other said, “No, you marry +her.” The younger at length said to the elder, “You are the +elder, you should take her, as it is not fitting that you should beg. +If I were to marry her, I could no longer go about begging.” So +the elder brother married the princess, and became the raja’s +son-in-law.</p> +<p>The two settled down there, and cultivated all kinds of crops. One +day the elder brother sent his younger brother to bring a certain kind +of grain. Taking a sickle and a rope to tie his sheaves with, he went +to the field. Arrived there, he found that the grain was covered with +insects. So he set fire to it, and while it was burning he kept calling +out, “Whoever desires to feast on roasted insects, let him come +here.” When his brother knew what he had done, he reprimanded him +severely.</p> +<p>Some time afterwards, when the black rice was ripe, he again ordered +him to go and reap some, so getting a sickle, and rope to bind his +sheaves with, he went to the rice field. On looking about to see where +he would begin, he discovered that each stalk of rice was covered with +flies. “There is nothing here but flies. How can I reap +this?” Saying this, he set fire to the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb10" href="#pb10" name="pb10">10</a>]</span>growing +rice and burnt it all to the ground. His brother, when he knew what had +happened, was very much displeased and threatened to beat him.</p> +<p>On another day he was sent to cut <i>jari</i><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e406src" href="#xd20e406" name="xd20e406src">1</a> to make ropes, +so taking his sickle, he set off to the field of <i>jari</i>. As soon +as he began to cut the stalks, the seeds rattled in the pods, hearing +which he stopped and called out, “Who is calling me?” After +listening awhile and hearing nothing he began again, and the same noise +issuing from the plant he was cutting, he said, “These plants are +remonstrating with me for cutting them.” So being offended, he +set fire to and burnt down the whole crop of <i>jari</i>.</p> +<p>On being informed of his brother’s action, Jhorea seized a +stick, and ran after him to beat him, but could not overtake him. In +the direction Jhore was running, there were some men flaying an ox, and +Jhorea called to them to lay hold of his brother. They could not, +however, <span class="corr" id="xd20e425" title= +"Source: accomplished">accomplish</span> this, but as he passed, they +threw the stomach of the ox at him, which he caught in his arms and +carried away with him. Finding a drain that was open at both ends, he +crept in at one end, and passed out at the other, but left the +ox’s stomach behind him. His brother soon arrived at the drain, +and thinking he was still there, tried to drive him out by pushing in a +stick, the sharp point of which perforated the ox’s stomach. On +withdrawing the stick, and seeing the contents of the ox’s +stomach adhering to it, he thought he had pierced and killed his +brother, but he having passed out at the other end had run swiftly +home, and hid himself among the rafters of the house. Jhorea returned +home weeping, and immediately began to make the preparations necessary +for Jhore’s funeral ceremonies. He caused a sumptuous feast to be +got ready, and invited all his relations and friends. When they were +all assembled, he went into the house to offer Jhore his <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb11" href="#pb11" name="pb11">11</a>]</span>portion. +Presenting it, he said: “Oh! my brother Jhore, I offer this to +you, take it, and eat it.” Jhore, from among the rafters said, +“Give it to me brother, and I shall eat it.” His brother, +not expecting an answer, was alarmed, and fled to his friends without, +exclaiming, “Do the spirits of dead men speak? Jhore’s +speaks.”</p> +<p>It now being dark, Jhore descended from his perch, and taking up the +food which had been cooked for his funeral feast, left the house by +another door. Passing on to the high way, he kept calling out, +“Travellers by the road, or dwellers in the jungle, if you +require food, come here.” Some thieves hearing him, said, +“Come, let us go and ask some.” So going to him they said, +“Give us some too, Jhore.” But he replied, “It is for +me alone.” On their asking a second time, he give it to them. +After they had eaten it all, they said to him, “Come, let us go a +thieving.” So they went to a house, and while the thieves were +searching for money, Jhore went and picked up small pieces of pottery, +and tied them up in his cloth. When they met afterwards, seeing +Jhore’s bundle of what appeared like rupees, they said, +“You were not with us, where did you get the <span class="corr" +id="xd20e433" title="Source: meney">money</span>?” Opening his +parcel, he shewed them the pieces of pottery, seeing which they said, +“We will not have you as our comrade.” He replied, +“Then return the food which you ate.” As they could not +comply, they <span class="corr" id="xd20e436" title= +"Source: ageed">agreed</span> to take him with them. Jhore then said, +“Where shall we go now?” They replied, “To steal +cloth.” So they went to a house, and while the robbers were +searching for cloth, Jhore began to pull the clothes from off the +sleeping inmates. This awoke them, and starting up, they began to call +loudly for help. The thieves made off, and Jhore with them. Seeing +Jhore had spoiled their game, they said to him, “We will not +allow you to go with us again.” He said, “Then give me back +the food you ate.” Not being able to do so, they said, +“Well, we will allow you to accompany us this once.” Jhore +then said, “What shall we steal now?” The thieves answered, +“We shall now go to steal horses.” So they <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb12" href="#pb12" name="pb12">12</a>]</span>went to +a stable, and each of the thieves helped himself to a horse; but Jhore +going behind the house, found a large tiger which he saddled and +mounted. The thieves also mounted each on the horse he had stolen. As +they rode along, Jhore’s tiger sometimes went first, and +sometimes the thieves’ horses. When the thieves were in front, +Jhore’s tiger bit and scratched their horses, so they said to +him, “You ride first, we shall follow.” But Jhore said, +“No, my horse is a Hindu horse, he cannot run in front, your +horses are Santal horses, they run well and straight, so you ride +ahead.” When day began to dawn, Jhore’s tiger evinced a +tendency to leave the road and take to the jungle, but Jhore holding +him in, exclaimed, “Ha! ha! my Hindu steed, ha! ha! my Hindu +steed.” When it was fully light, the tiger ran into the jungle, +and Jhore got caught in the branch of a tree, and continued dangling +there for some days.</p> +<p>It so happened that one morning a demon passing that way spied Jhore +dangling from the tree, and seizing him, put him in a bag and carried +him away. Being thirsty, he laid the bag down, and went to a spring to +drink. While he was absent, Jhore got out of the bag, and putting a +stone in instead, ran away. The demon having quenched his thirst, +returned, and lifting the bag carried it home. His daughter came to +welcome him, and he said to her, “Jhore is in the bag, cook him, +and we shall have a feast.” He then went to invite his friends to +share it with him. When the demon’s daughter had opened the bag, +she found the stone, and was angry, because her father had deceived +her. In a short time her father returned, bringing a large number of +jackals with him. He said to her, “Have you cooked Jhore?” +She replied, “Tush! tush! you brought me a stone.”</p> +<p>The demon was highly incensed at having been outwitted, and +exclaimed, “I will track Jhore till I find him, and this time I +shall bring him home without laying him down.” He then left, and +before long found Jhore swinging in the same <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb13" href="#pb13" name="pb13">13</a>]</span>branch +as before. Catching hold of him, he put him into a bag, the mouth of +which he tied. This time he brought him home without once laying him +down. Calling to his daughter, he said, “Cook Jhore, while I go +to invite my friends.” She untied the bag, and took Jhore out, +and seeing his long hair, she said, “How is it that your hair has +grown so long?” “I pounded it in the dhenki,” he +replied, “Will you pound mine, so that it may become long like +yours,” said the demon’s daughter. Jhore replied, “I +shall do so with pleasure, put your head in the dhenki, and I shall +pound it.” So she put in her head, and he <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e447" title="Source: ponnded">pounded</span> it so that he killed +her. He then possessed himself of all her jewellery, and dressing in +her clothes, cooked her body.</p> +<p>When the demon returned, accompanied by his friends, he said, +“Well! daughter, have you cooked Jhore?” Jhore replied, +“Yes, I have cooked him.” On hearing this, the demon and +the jackals who had come with him, were delighted, and setting to, they +devoured the body of the demon’s daughter.</p> +<p>After some days, the demon went to visit a friend, and Jhore +divesting himself of the demon girl’s clothes, went to where the +demon had at first found him, and began to swing as before. Presently a +tigress approached him and said, “Oh! brother, the hair of my +cubs has grown very long, I wish you to shave them to-day.” Jhore +replied, “Oh! sister, boil some water, and then go to the spring +to bring more.” The tigress having boiled the water, went to the +spring. While she was away, Jhore poured the boiling water over the two +cubs, and scalded them to death. He made them grin by fixing the lips +apart, and propped them up at the door of the tigress’ house. On +her return as she drew near, she saw her cubs, as she fancied, +laughing, and said to herself. “They are delighted because their +uncle has shaved them.” Setting down her water pot, she went to +look at them, and found them dead. Just then the demon came up, and she +asked him, “Whom are you seeking to-day uncle?” He replied +“I am seeking Jhore, he has caused me to <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb14" href="#pb14" name="pb14">14</a>]</span>eat my +own daughter. Whom are you seeking?” The tigress replied, +“I also am seeking Jhore; he has scalded my cubs to +death.”</p> +<p>The two then went in search of Jhore. They found him in a lonely +part of the forest preparing birdlime, and said to him, “What are +you doing, Jhore?” He replied, “I look high up, and then I +look deep down.” They said, “Teach us to do it too.” +He answered, “Only I can do it.” They asked him a second +time, and received the same reply. On their begging him a third time to +teach them, he said, “Well, I shall do it.” He then put +some of the birdlime into their eyes, and fixed their eyelids together, +so that they could not open them. While they were washing their eyes, +he ran away. As soon as they had rid themselves of the birdlime, they +followed him and found him distilling oil from the fruit of the +marking-nut tree. They said to him, “What are you doing, +Jhore?” He replied, “I look deep down, and then high +up.” They said, “Teach us also.” He replied, +“Only I can do it.” They asked him again, and he said, +“Well I will do it.” He then poured some of the oil he had +distilled into their eyes. It burned them so, that they became +stone-blind.</p> +<p>Jhore was next seen seated in a fig-tree eating the fruit. Some +cattle merchants, passing under the tree with a large herd of cattle, +saw him eating the figs, and asked him what it was he was eating. He +replied, “Beat the bullock that is going last, and you shall find +it.” So they beat the bullock till it fell down. In the meantime, +the herd had gone on ahead, and Jhore running after them drove them to +his own house. His brother seeing the large herd of cattle, asked to +whom they belonged. Jhore replied, “They are Jhore’s +property.” Jhorea then said, “I killed my brother Jhore, +what Jhore is it?” He made answer, “Your brother Jhore whom +you thought you had killed.” Jhorea was delighted to find his +brother alive, and said to him, “Let us live together after +this.” So they lived peacefully together ever after. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb15" href="#pb15" name="pb15">15</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e406" href="#xd20e406src" name="xd20e406">1</a></span> <i>Jari</i> +is the Santali name for <i>Crotalaria Juncea</i>, a fibre yielding +plant <span class="corr" id="xd20e413" title="Source: tne">the</span> +seeds of which when ripe, rattle in the pods when the plant is +shaken.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t3" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Boy and his Stepmother.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">A certain boy had charge of a cow which he used to +tend while grazing. One day the cow said to him, “How is it that +you are becoming so emaciated?” The boy replied, “My +stepmother does not give me sufficient food.” The cow then said +to him, “Do not tell any one, and I will give you food. Go to the +jungle and get leaves with which to make a plate and cup.” The +boy did as he was ordered, and behold, the cow from one horn shook +boiled rice into the leaf plate, and from the other a relish for the +rice into the cup. This continued daily for a considerable time, until +the boy became sleek and fat.</p> +<p>The stepmother came to know of the relation which existed between +the cow and her herd-boy, and to be revenged upon them she feigned +illness. To her attendants she said, “I cannot possibly +live.” They asked, “What would make you live?” She +replied, “If you kill the cow, I will recover.” They said, +“If killing the cow will cure you, we will kill it.” The +boy hearing that the life of the cow which supplied him with food was +threatened, ran to her and said, “They are about to kill +you.” Hearing this the cow said, “You go and make a rope of +rice straw, make some parts thick, and some thin, and put it in such a +place as they can easily find it. When they are about to kill me, you +seize hold of my tail and pull.” The next day they proceeded to +make arrangements to kill the cow, and finding the rope prepared by the +boy the day before, they tied her with it to a stake. After she was +tied the boy laid hold of her tail, and pulled so that the rope by +which she was secured was made taut. A man now raised an axe, and +felled her by a blow on the forehead. As the cow staggered the rope +broke, and she and the boy were borne away on the wind, and alighted in +an unexplored jungle. From the one cow other cows sprang, in number +equal to a large herd, and from them another large herd was produced. +The boy then drove his two herds of cows to a <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb16" href="#pb16" name="pb16">16</a>]</span>place +where they could graze, and afterwards took them to the river to drink. +The cows having quenched their thirst, lay down to rest, and the boy +bathed, and afterwards combed and dressed his hair. During this latter +operation a hair from his head fell into the river, and was carried +away by the current.</p> +<p>Some distance lower down, a princess with her female companions and +attendants came to bathe. While the princess was in the water she +noticed the hair floating down stream, and ordered some one to take it +out, which when done they measured, and found it to be twelve cubits +long. The princess on returning home went to the king, her father, and +showing him the hair she had found in the river said, “I have +made up my mind to marry the man to whom this hair belonged.” The +king gave his consent, and commanded his servants to search for the +object of his daughter’s affection. They having received the +king’s command went to a certain barber and said to him, +“You dress the hair and beards of all the men in this part of the +country, tell us where the man with hair twelve cubits long is to be +found.” The barber, after many days, returned unsuccessful. The +king’s servants after a long consultation as to whom they should +next apply to, decided upon laying the matter before a tame parrot +belonging to the king. Going to the parrot they said, “Oh parrot, +can you find the man whose hair is twelve cubits long?” The +parrot replied, “Yes, I can find him.” After flying here +and there the parrot was fortunate enough to find the boy. It was +evening, and having driven his two herds of cattle into their pen, he +had sat down, and was employed in dressing his long hair. His flute was +hanging on a bush by his side.</p> +<p>The parrot sat awhile considering how she might take him to the +king’s palace. Seeing the flute the idea was suggested to her, +that by means of it she might contrive to lead him where she desired. +So taking it up in her beak, she flew forward a little and alighted in +a small bush. To regain possession <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb17" +href="#pb17" name="pb17">17</a>]</span>of his flute the boy followed, +but on his approach the bird flew away, and alighted on another bush a +short distance ahead. In this way she continued to lead him by flying +from bush to bush until at length she brought him to the king’s +palace. He was then brought before his majesty, and his hair measured, +and found to be twelve cubits in length. The king then ordered food to +be set before him, and after he was refreshed the betrothal ceremony +was performed.</p> +<p>As it was now late they prevailed upon him to pass the night as the +guest of the king. Early in the morning he set out, but, as he had a +long distance to go, the day was far advanced before he reached the +place where his cattle were. They were angry at having been kept penned +up to so late an hour, and as he removed the bars to let them out, they +knocked him down, and trampled upon his hair in such a way, as to pull +it all out leaving him bald. Nothing daunted, he collected his cows, +and started on his return journey, but us he drove them along, one +after another vanished, so that only a few remained when he reached the +king’s palace.</p> +<p>On his arrival they noticed that he had lost all his hair, and on +being questioned he related to the king all that had fallen him. His +hair being gone the princess refused to marry him, so instead of +becoming the king’s son-in-law, he became one of his hired +servants. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb18" href="#pb18" name= +"pb18">18</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t4" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of Kara and Guja.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There were two brothers named Kara and Guja. Guja, +who was the elder did the work at home, and Kara was ploughman.</p> +<p>One day the two went to the forest to dig edible roots. After they +had been thus engaged for some hours, Kara said to Guja, “Look up +and see the sun’s position in the heavens.” Looking up he +said, “Oh brother, one is rising and another is setting.” +They then said, “The day is not yet past, let us bestir +ourselves, and lose no time.” So they dug with all their +might.</p> +<p>After digging a long time Kara looked up and became aware that it +was night. He then exclaimed, “Oh brother, it is now night, what +shall we do? Come let us seek some place where we can remain until the +morning.” After they had wandered awhile in the forest they spied +a light in the distance, and on drawing near they found that a tiger +had kindled a fire, and was warming himself. Going up to the entrance +to the cave they called out to the tiger, “Oh uncle, give us a +place to sleep in.” He answered, “Come in.” So the +two went in, and being hungry began to roast and eat the roots they had +brought with them. The tiger hearing them eating, enquired what it was. +They replied, “Oh uncle, we are roasting and eating the roots +which we dug up in the forest.” He then said, “Oh my +nephews, I will also try how they taste.” So they handed him a +piece of charcoal, and as he munched it he said, “Oh my nephews, +how is it that I feel it grating between my teeth?” They replied, +“It is an old one that you have got, uncle.” He then said, +“Give me another, and I will try it.” So they gave him +another piece of charcoal, and after he had crunched it awhile he said, +“Oh my nephews, this is as bad as the other,” to which they +rejoined, “Oh uncle, your mouth is old, therefore <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb19" href="#pb19" name="pb19">19</a>]</span>what is +good to us, is the reverse to you.” The tiger did not wish to try +his grinders on another piece of charcoal, so the brothers were left to +enjoy their repast alone.</p> +<p>After they had eaten all the roots, Guja said to Kara, “What +shall we eat now? Come let us eat this old tiger’s tail.” +Kara replied, “Do not talk in that way, brother, the tiger will +devour us.” “Not so, brother,” said Guja, “I +have a great desire to eat flesh.” The old tiger understood their +conversation, and being afraid tried to get out of the cave, but the +brothers caught hold of him, and wrenched off his tail, which they +roasted in the ashes, and then ate.</p> +<p>The tiger after losing his tail summoned a council of all the tigers +inhabiting that part of the forest, at which they decided to kill and +eat the two brothers. So they went to the cave, but Kara and Guja had +fled, and had taken refuge in a palm tree which grew on the edge of a +large deep tank. Not finding them in the cave the tigers, headed by him +who had lost his tail, went in quest of them, and coming to the tank +saw them reflected in the water, and one after another they dived in, +thinking they would be able to seize them, but of course they could not +catch a shadow. One of the tigers, when in the act of yawning, looked +upwards, and seeing them in the tree exclaimed, “There they are. +There they are.” They then asked the brothers how they had +managed to climb up, to which they replied, “We stood on each +other’s shoulders.” The tigers then said, “Come, let +us do the same, and we shall soon reach them.” As the tailless +tiger was most interested in their capture, they made him stand lowest, +and a tiger climbed up and stood on his shoulders, and another on his, +and so on; but before they reached the brothers, Kara called out to +Guja, “Give me your sharp battle-axe, and I shall hamstring the +tailless tiger.” The tailless tiger forgetting himself jumped to +one side, and the whole pillar of tigers fell in a heap on the ground. +They now began <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb20" href="#pb20" name= +"pb20">20</a>]</span>to abuse the old tailless tiger, who fearing lest +they should tear him in pieces fled into the forest.</p> +<p>After the tigers had left, the two brothers descended from the palm +tree, and walked rapidly away as they dreaded that the tigers might yet +follow them. Towards evening they came to a village, and entering into +the house of an old woman lay down to sleep. The owner of the house +observing them said, “Oh my children, do not sleep to-night, for +there is a demon who visits in rotation each house in the village, and +each time he comes carries off some one and eats him; it is my turn to +receive a visit to-night.” They said, “Do not trouble us +now, let us sleep, as we are tired.” So they slept, but kept +their weather eye <span class="corr" id="xd20e500" title= +"Source: upon">open</span>. During the night the old woman came +quietly, and began to bite their arms, which they had laid aside before +retiring to rest. Hearing a sound as if some one were crunching iron +between his teeth, the brothers called out, “Old woman, what are +you eating?” She replied “Only a few roasted peas which I +brought from the chief’s house.” About midnight the demon +came, and as he was entering the house Kara and Guja shot at him with +their bows and arrows, and he fell down dead. Then they cut out his +claws and tongue, and placed them in a bag. Afterwards they threw out +the body of the demon into the garden behind the house.</p> +<p>Now it so happened that the king had promised to give his daughter +and half of his kingdom to the man who should slay the demon. Early in +the morning a Dome, who was passing, discovered the body of the demon, +and said within himself, “I will take it to the king and claim +the reward.” So running home he broke all the furniture in his +house and beat his old woman saying, “Get out of this. I am about +to bring the king’s daughter home as my bride.” He then +returned quickly, and taking up the body of the demon carried it to the +king, and said, “Oh sir king, I have slain the demon.” The +king replied, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb21" href="#pb21" name= +"pb21">21</a>]</span>“Very well, we will enquire into it.” +So he commanded some of his servants to examine the body, and on doing +so they found that the claws had been extracted and the tongue cut out. +They reported the condition of the body to the king, who ordered the +Dome to state the weapon with which he killed him. The Dome replied, +“I hit him with a club on the head.” On the head being +examined no mark whatever was seen, so in order to arrive at the truth +the king ordered all the inhabitants of the village to be brought +together to the palace. He then enquired of them as to who killed the +demon.</p> +<p>The old woman, in whose house Kara and Guja had passed the night, +stepped forward and said, “Oh sir king, two strangers came to my +house yesterday evening, and during the night they slew the +demon.” The king said, “Where are those two men?” The +old woman replied, “There they are, the two walking +together.” So the king sent and brought them back, and questioned +them as to the slaying of the demon. They pointed out the arrow-marks +on the body, and produced his claws and tongue from their bag. This +evidence convinced the king that they, and not the Dome, had slain the +demon. Kara and Guja were received with great favour by the king, and +received the promised reward.</p> +<p>The king sentenced the Dome to be beaten and driven from the +village. After receiving his stripes, the Dome returned home, and +gathered the shreds of his property together. He also went in search of +his Dome wife and children, but they mocked him saying, “You went +to marry the king’s daughter<span class="corr" id="xd20e511" +title="Not in source">,</span> why do you come again seeking +us.”</p> +<p>Thus Kara and Guja gained a kingdom. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb22" href="#pb22" name="pb22">22</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t5" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The King and his inquisitive Queen.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There was a certain king known by the name of +Huntsman, on account of his expertness in the chase. One day when +returning from the forest where he had been hunting he found a serpent +and a lizard fighting on the path along which he was moving. As they +were blocking the way he ordered them to stand aside and allow him to +pass, but they gave no heed to what he said. King Huntsman then began +to beat them with his staff. He killed the lizard, but the serpent +fled, and so escaped.</p> +<p>The serpent then went to Monsha, the king of the serpents, and +complained of the treatment the lizard and himself had received at the +hands of king Huntsman. The next day king Monsha went and met king +Huntsman on his way home from the forest, and blocked his way so that +he could not pass. King Huntsman being angry said, “Clear the +way, and allow me to pass, or else I shall send an arrow into you. Why +do you block my way?” King Monsha replied, “Why did you +assault the lizard and the serpent, with intent to kill them +both?” King Huntsman answered, “I ordered them to get out +of my way, but they would not, I therefore assaulted them, and killed +one. The other saved himself by flight.” King Monsha hearing this +explanation said, “Very good, the fault was theirs, not +yours.”</p> +<p>King Huntsman then petitioned the king of the serpents to bestow +upon him the gift of understanding the language of animals and insects. +King Monsha acceded to his request, and gave him the gift he +desired.</p> +<p>A few days after this event <span class="corr" id="xd20e528" title= +"Source: king">King</span> Huntsman went to the forest, and after +hunting all day returned home in the evening <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb23" href="#pb23" name="pb23">23</a>]</span>Having +washed his hands and feet, he sat down to his meal of boiled rice. When +the rice was being served to the king a few grains fell on the ground, +and a fly and an ant began to dispute as to who should carry them away. +The fly said, “I will take them to my children.” The ant +replied, “No, I will take them to mine.” Hearing the two +talk thus, the king was amused, and began to smile. The queen, who was +standing by, said to him, “Tell me what has made you +laugh.” On being thus addressed the king became greatly confused, +for at the time the gift of understanding the language of animals and +insects was bestowed upon him, <span class="corr" id="xd20e533" title= +"Source: king">King</span> Monsha had forbidden him to make it known to +any one. He had said, “If you tell this to any one, I shall eat +you.” Remembering this the king feared to answer the question put +to him by the queen. He tried to deceive her by saying, “I did +not laugh, you must have been mistaken.” She would not, however, +be thus put off, so the king was obliged to tell her that if he +answered her question his life would be forfeited. The queen was +inexorable, and said, “Whether you forfeit your life or not, you +must tell me.” The king then said, “Well, if it must be so, +let us make ready to go to the bank of the Ganges. There I shall tell +you, and when I have done so you must push me into the river, and then +return home.”</p> +<p>The king armed himself, and the two set out for the river. When they +had reached it, they sat down to rest under the shade of a +tree<span class="corr" id="xd20e538" title="Not in source">.</span> A +flock of goats was grazing near to where they were seated, and the +king’s attention was arrested by a conversation which was being +carried on between an old she-goat and a young he-goat. The former +addressed the latter thus, “There is an island in the middle of +the Ganges, and on that island there is a large quantity of good sweet +grass. Get the grass for me, and I shall give you my daughter in +marriage.” The he-goat was not thus to be imposed upon. He +angrily addressed his female friend as follows, “Do not think to +make <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb24" href="#pb24" name= +"pb24">24</a>]</span>me like this foolish king, who vainly tries to +please a woman. He has come here to lose his own life at the bidding of +one. You tell me to go and bring you grass out of such a flood as this. +I am no such fool. I do not care to die yet. There are many more quite +as good as your daughter.”</p> +<p>The king understood what passed between them, and admitted to +himself the truth of what the he-goat had said. After considering a +short time he arose, and having made a rude sacrificial altar, said to +the queen, “Kneel down, and do me obeisance, and I shall tell you +what made me laugh.” She knelt down, and the king struck off her +head and burnt her body upon the altar. Returning home he performed her +funeral ceremonies, after which he married another wife.</p> +<p>He reigned prosperously for many years, and decided all disputes +that were brought before him by animals or insects. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb25" href="#pb25" name="pb25">25</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t6" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of Bitaram.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">In a certain village there lived seven brothers. +The youngest of them planted a certain vegetable, and went every day to +examine it to see how it was growing. For a long time there were only +the stalk and leaves, but at length a flower appeared, and from it a +fruit. This fruit he measured daily to mark its growth. It grew +continuously until it became exactly a span long, after which it +remained stationary. One day he said to his sisters-in-law, “Do +not eat my fruit, for whoever does so will give birth to a child only +one span long.” He continued his daily visits to his plant as +usual, and was pleased to note that the fruit was evidently ripening. +One day, during his absence, one of his sisters-in-law plucked the +fruit and ate it. On returning from the field where he had been +ploughing, he went to look at and measure his fruit, but it was gone, +it had been stolen. Suspecting that some one of his sisters-in-law was +the thief, he accused each of them in turn, but they all denied having +touched it. When he found that no one would confess to having taken it, +he said to them, “Do not tell upon yourselves, the thief will be +caught before long.” And so it happened, for one of them gave +birth to a baby one span long. The first time he saw his sister-in-law +after the child was born he laughed, and said to her, “You denied +having stolen my fruit, now you see I have found you out.”</p> +<p>When the time came that the child should receive a name, +Bitaram<a class="noteref" id="xd20e555src" href="#xd20e555" name= +"xd20e555src">1</a> was given to him, because he was only a span in +height. Bitaram’s mother used to take food to the brothers to the +field when they were ploughing, and when Bitaram was able to walk so +far he accompanied her. One day he surprised his mother by saying, +“Let me take the food to my father and uncles to-day.” She +replied, “What a fancy! You, child, are only a span <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb26" href="#pb26" name="pb26">26</a>]</span>high, +how can you carry it?” But Bitaram insisted saying, “I can +carry it well enough, and carry it I will.” His mother being +unable to resist his pertinacity said, “Then, child, take it, and +be off.” So she placed the basket on his head and he set out. +Arrived at the field he went up a furrow, but the ground was so uneven +that before he reached his destination, he had lost nearly all the +rice, which had been shaken out of the basket. On his coming near, one +of his uncles called out, “Is that you Bitaram?” He +replied, “Yes, it is I, Bitaram.” Climbing up out of the +furrow, he put down the basket saying, “Help yourselves, and I +will take the oxen and buffaloes to the water.” So saying, he +drove off the cattle to the river. When they had quenched their thirst +he gathered them together, and began to drive them back again to where +he had left his father and uncles. While following them up the sandy +back of the river, he fell into a depression made by the hoof of a +buffalo, and was soon covered up by the loose sand sent rolling down by +the herd as they ascended.</p> +<p>When the cattle returned without Bitaram, his father and uncles +became alarmed for his safety, and immediately went in search of him. +They went here and there calling out “Bitaram, where are +you?” But failing to find him they concluded that he had been +devoured by some wild animal, and returned sorrowfully home. Rain fell +during the night, and washed the sand from off Bitaram, so that he was +able to get up, and climb out. On his way home he encountered some +thieves who were dividing their booty in a lonely part of the forest. +Bitaram hearing them disputing called out “<i>Kehe +kere</i>” at the pitch of his voice. The thieves hearing the +sound, looked round on all sides to see who was near, but the night +being dark, and they not directing their eyes near enough to the ground +to see Bitaram, they could discern no one. Then they said to each +other, “Let us seek safety in flight. A spirit has been +<span class="corr" id="xd20e565" title="Source: set">sent</span> to +watch us.” So they all made off leaving behind them the +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb27" href="#pb27" name= +"pb27">27</a>]</span>brass vessels they had stolen. Bitaram gathered +these up, and hid them among some prickly bushes, and then went +home.</p> +<p>It was now past midnight, and all had retired to rest, and as +Bitaram stood shivering with cold at the closed door, he called out, +“Open the door and let me in.” His father hearing him said, +“Is that you Bitaram?” He replied, “Yes, open the +door.” They then enquired where he had been, and he related all +that had happened to him after he had driven the cattle to the river. +Having warmed himself at the fire, he told his father of his adventure +with the thieves in the forest. He said, “I despoiled some +thieves, whom I met in the jungle, of the brass vessels they had +stolen.” His father replied, “Foolish child, do not tell +lies, you yourself are not the height of a brass <i>lota</i>” +(drinking-cup). “No father,” said Bitaram, “I am +telling the truth, come and I will shew you where they are.” His +father and uncles went with him, and he pointed out to them the vessels +hidden among the prickly bushes. They picked them all up and brought +them home.</p> +<p>Early next morning some sepoys, who were searching for the thieves, +happened to pass that way, and seeing the stolen property lying out +side of the house, recognized it, and apprehended Bitaram’s +father and uncles and dragged them off to prison. After this Bitaram +and his mother were obliged to beg their bread from house to house. She +often attributed to him the misery which had befallen them, saying, +“Had it not been for your pertinacity, your father and uncles +would not have been deprived of their liberty.”</p> +<p>One day, as they were following their usual avocation, they entered +a certain house, and Bitaram said to his mother, “Ask the people +of the house to give me a <i>tumki</i>.<a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e582src" href="#xd20e582" name="xd20e582src">2</a>” She did +not at first comply, but he kept urging her until being irritated she +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb28" href="#pb28" name= +"pb28">28</a>]</span>said, “It was through your pertinacity in +insisting upon being allowed to carry the food to your father and +uncles that they are now bound and in prison, and yet you will not give +up the bad habit.” Bitaram said, “No, mother, do ask it for +me.” As he would not be silenced she begged it for him, and the +people kindly gave it.</p> +<p>At the next house they came to, they saw a cat walking about, and +Bitaram said, “Oh mother, ask the people to give me the +cat.” As before, she at first refused, but he continued to press +her, and she becoming annoyed scolded him saying<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e589" title="Not in source">,</span> “The young gentleman +insists on obtaining this and that. It was your <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e592" title="Source: partinacity">pertinacity</span> that caused +your father and uncles to be dragged to prison in bonds.” Bitaram +replied, “Not so, mother, do ask them to give me the cat.” +As the only way to silence him she said to the people of the house, +“Give my boy your cat, he will hold it in his arms for a few +minutes, and then set it down, but he carried it away with +him.<span class="corr" id="xd20e595" title= +"Not in source">”</span> Bitaram then begged his mother to make +him a bag, and fill it with flour, saying, “I am going to obtain +the release of my father and uncles.” She mockingly replied, +“Much you can do.” She made him a bag, however, and filling +it with flour said, “Be off.”</p> +<p>Bitaram then strapped the bag of flour on the cat’s back as a +saddle, and mounted. Puss, however, refused to go in the direction +desired, and it was with great difficulty that he prevailed upon her to +take the road. As he rode along he observed a swarm of bees on an ant +hill, and dismounting he addressed them as follows, “Come bees, +go in, come bees, go in.” The bees swarmed into the <i>tumki</i>, +and Bitaram having covered them up with a leaf continued his journey. +Before he had gone far he came to a large tank, which belonged to the +raja who had imprisoned his father. A number of women had come to the +tank for water, and Bitaram taking his stand upon the <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e603" title="Source: enbankment">embankment</span> began +to shoot arrows at their waterpots. After he had broken <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb29" href="#pb29" name="pb29">29</a>]</span>several, +the women espied him mounted on his cat with his bow and arrows in his +hand, and believing him to be an elf from the forest fled in terror to +the city. Going to the raja they said “Oh raja, come and see. +Some one is on the tank embankment. We do not know who or what he is, +but he is only a span high.” The raja then summoned his soldiers, +and commanded them to take their bows and arrows, and go and shoot him +whoever he was. The soldiers went within range, but although they shot +away all their arrows, they failed to hit him. So returning to the raja +they said, “He cannot be shot.” Hearing this the raja +became angry, and calling for his bow and arrows, went to the tank and +began to shoot at Bitaram, but although he persevered until his right +side ached with drawing the bow, he could not hit him.</p> +<p>When he desisted, Bitaram called out “Are you +exhausted?” The raja answered “Yes.” Then said +Bitaram “It is my turn now,” and taking the leaf from off +the mouth of the basket called to the bees, “Go into the battle, +bees.” The bees issued from the basket like a black rope, and +stung the raja and those who were with him. No way of escape offering, +the raja called out to Bitaram, “Call off your bees, and I will +give you the half of my kingdom and my daughter, and I will also set at +liberty your father and uncles.” Bitaram gathered the bees into +the basket, and after his father and uncles had been released, took +them back to the ant hill from whence he had brought them. On his +return he wedded the princess and received half of her father’s +kingdom.</p> +<p>Bitaram and his wife lived happily together, and every thing they +took in hand prospered, so that before long they were richer than the +king himself. One great source of Bitaram’s wealth was a cow +which the princess had brought him as part of her dowry. Being envious +of their good fortune, the raja and his sons resolved to kill the cow, +and thus obtain possession <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb30" href= +"#pb30" name="pb30">30</a>]</span>of all the gold and silver. So they +put the cow to death, but when they had cut her up they were +disappointed as neither gold nor silver were found in her stomach.</p> +<p>Bitaram placed his cow’s hide in the sun, and when it was dry +carried it away to sell it. Darkness coming on he climbed into a tree +for safety, as wild beasts infested the forest through which he was +passing. During the night some thieves came under the tree in which he +was, and began to divide the money they had stolen. Bitaram +<span class="corr" id="xd20e617" title="Source: them">then</span> +relaxed his hold of the dry hide, which made such a noise as it fell +from branch to branch that the thieves fled <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e620" title="Source: terror-sticken">terror-stricken</span>, and +left all their booty behind them. In the morning Bitaram descended, and +collecting all the rupees carried them home. He then shewed the money +to his wife, and said “Go and ask the loan of your father’s +<i>paila</i>, that I may measure them.” So she went and brought +the measure, which had several cracks in it. Having measured his money +he sent back the raja’s <i>paila</i>, but he had not noticed that +one or two pieces were left sticking in the cracks. So they said to +him, “Where did you get the money?” He replied “By +the sale of my cow’s hide.” Hearing this they said, +“Will the merchant who bought yours, buy any more?” He +said, “Yes. I received all this money for my one hide, how much +more may not you receive seeing you have such large herds of cattle! If +you dispose of their hides at the same rate as I have done, you will +secure immense wealth.” So they killed all their cattle, but when +they offered the hides for sale they found they had been hoaxed. They +were ashamed and angry at having allowed themselves to be thus imposed +upon by Bitaram, and in revenge they set fire to his house at night, +but he crept into a rat’s hole and so escaped injury. In the +morning he emerged from his hiding place, and carefully gathering up +the ashes of his house tied them up in a cloth, and carried them away. +As he walked along he met a merchant, to whom he said, “What have +you in your bag?” He replied “Gold-pieces only.” The +merchant <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb31" href="#pb31" name= +"pb31">31</a>]</span>then enquired of Bitaram what he had tied up in +his cloth, to which he answered, “Gold-dust only.” Bitaram +then said, “Will you exchange?” The merchant said, +“Yes.” So they exchanged, and <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e632" title="Source: Bitatam">Bitaram</span> returned laden with +gold. Not being able to count it, he again sent his wife to borrow her +father’s <i>paila</i>, and having measured the gold-pieces +returned it to him. This time a few pieces of gold remained in the +cracks in the paila, and the raja, being informed of it, went and asked +Bitaram where he got the gold. He replied, “I sold the ashes of +my house which you burnt over my head, and received the gold in +return.” The raja and his sons then enquired if the merchant, who +bought the ashes from him, would buy any more. Bitaram replied, +“Yes, he will buy all he can get.” “Do you +think,” said they, “he will buy from us?” Bitaram +advised them to burn their houses, and like him, turn the ashes into +gold. “I had only one small house,” he said, “and I +obtained all this money. You have larger houses, and should therefore +receive a correspondingly large amount.” So they set fire to, and +burnt their houses, and gathering up the ashes took them to the bazar, +and there offered them for sale. After they had gone the whole length +of the bazar, and had met with no buyers, some one advised them to go +to where the washermen lived, saying, they might possibly take them. +The washermen, however, refused, and as they could not find a +purchaser, they threw away the ashes, and returned home determined to +be revenged upon Bitaram.</p> +<p>This time they decided upon drowning him, so one day they seized +him, and putting him into a bag they carried him to the river. Arrived +there they put him down, and went to some little distance to cook their +food. In the meantime a herd boy came up and asked Bitaram why he was +tied up in the bag. He replied, “They are taking me away to marry +me against my will.” The herd boy said, “I will go instead +of you. I wish to be married.” Bitaram replied, “Open the +bag and let me out, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb32" href="#pb32" +name="pb32">32</a>]</span>and you get in, and I will tie it up +again.” So Bitaram was released, and the herd boy took his place, +and was afterwards thrown into the river and drowned.</p> +<p>Bitaram on escaping collected all the herd boy’s cattle, and +drove them home. When the raja and his sons returned, they found +Bitaram with a large herd of cows and buffaloes. Going near, they +enquired where he had got them. He replied, “At some distance +below the spot where you threw me into the river, I found numerous +herds of cattle, so I brought away as many as one person could drive. +If you all go, you will be able to bring a very much larger +number.” So they said, “Very well, put us into bags, and +tie us up as we did you.” Bitaram replied, “It is +impossible for me to carry you as you did me. Walk to the river bank, +and there get into the bags, and I will push you into the river.” +They did as he suggested, and when all was in readiness, he pushed them +into the river, and they were all drowned.</p> +<p>Bitaram returned alone, and took possession of all that had belonged +to them. The whole kingdom became his, and he reigned peacefully as +long as he lived. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb33" href="#pb33" +name="pb33">33</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e555" href="#xd20e555src" name="xd20e555">1</a></span> Bita is +Santali for span, and Bitaram is span Ram, or span-long Ram.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e582" href="#xd20e582src" name="xd20e582">2</a></span> A small +basket with a contracted opening.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t7" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of Sit and Bosont.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There was a certain raja who had two sons named Sit +and Bosont. Their mother the rani had been long ill, and the raja was +greatly dejected on her account. From the bed on which she lay, the +rani could see two sparrows who had made their nest in a hole in the +wall of the palace, and she had remarked the great love and tenderness +which the hen-sparrow bore towards her young ones. One day she saw both +sparrows sitting in front of their nest, and the sight of them set her +a-thinking, and she came to the conclusion that the hen-sparrow was a +model mother. The raja also had his attention attracted daily by the +sparrows. One day, very suddenly, the hen-sparrow took ill, and died. +The next day the cock-sparrow appeared with another mate, and sat in +front of the nest with her, as he had done with the other. But the new +mother took no notice of the young ones in the nest, but left them to +die of hunger. The rani, who was greatly grieved to see such want of +compassion, said to the raja, “This is how it is, one has no pity +for those who belong to another. Remember what you have been a witness +of, and should I die take care of the two children.” Shortly +after this the rani died, and the raja mourned over her, and continued +most solicitous for the welfare of their two boys.</p> +<p>Some months after the rani’s death, the raja’s subjects +prayed him to take another wife, saying, “Without a rani your +kingdom is incomplete.” The raja refused to comply, saying, +“I shall never take another wife.” His subjects would not, +however, be silenced, but continued to press the matter upon him with +such persistency that eventually he had to accede to their wishes, and +take to himself another partner. He continued, however, to love and +cherish his two sons Sit and Bosont. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb34" href="#pb34" name="pb34">34</a>]</span></p> +<p>Some time after their marriage the rani took a dislike to the elder +son Sit, and was determined that he should no longer be allowed to +remain within the precincts of the palace. So she feigned sickness, and +the raja summoned physicians from all parts of his dominions, but +without avail, as none of them could tell what the disease was from +which the rani was suffering. One day when Sit and Bosont were out of +the way, and the raja and she were alone together, she said to him, +“Doctors and medicines will not save my life, but if you will +listen to me, and do what I tell you, I shall completely +recover.” The raja said, “Let me hear what it is, and I +shall try what effect it may have.” The rani said, “If you +will promise to do for me what I shall request, I will tell you, and +not otherwise.” The raja replied, “I shall certainly comply +with your wishes.” The rani again said, “Will you without +doubt, do what I wish?” The raja replied, “Yes, I +shall.” After she had made him promise a third time she said, +“Will you take oath that you will not seek to evade fulfilling my +desire?” The raja said, “I take my oath that I shall carry +out your wishes to the full extent of my ability.” Having thus +prevailed upon the raja to pledge his word of honour, she said, +“Do not allow your eldest son, Sit, to remain any longer in the +palace. Order him to leave, and go somewhere else, so that I may not +see his face, and never to return.”</p> +<p>On hearing this the raja was greatly distressed. But what could he +do? The rani had said, “If you permit him to remain, I shall die, +and if you fulfil my wishes I shall live,” and in his anxiety to +save the life of his rani, he had bound himself by an oath before he +knew what it was he would be required to do. After much consideration +as to how he could best communicate the order to leave the palace to +his son, he decided to write it on a sheet of paper and fix it, during +his absence, to the door of his room. When the brothers returned, they +found the paper placed there by the raja, and on reading it, were +greatly troubled. After some time, during which Sit had been +considering the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb35" href="#pb35" name= +"pb35">35</a>]</span>position in which he found himself, he said to his +brother, “You must remain, and I must go.” On hearing his +brother’s words, Bosont’s heart was filled with sorrow, and +he replied, “Not so, I cannot see you go away alone. You have +been guilty of no fault for which our parents could send you away. I +cannot remain here alone. I will accompany you. We are children of the +same mother, and we should not part.” His brother replied, +“Let us leave the house to-day. We can pass the night in some +place close at hand.” So they left their father’s house, +and concealed themselves in its vicinity. On the approach of evening +they began to feel the pangs of hunger, and the younger said to the +elder, “What shall we do? We have no food.” After a +minute’s thought, the elder replied, “Although we have been +sent adrift, we will take our elephants, and horses, and clothes, and +money along with us.” So when night had fallen, they entered the +palace and brought out all that belonged to them, and at cock-crow, set +forth on their journey. They travelled all day, and as the sun began to +decline, they reached a dense jungle, and passing through it they came +to a large city where they put up for the night. The city pleased them +much, and they hired quarters in the Sarai. After they had gained a +little acquaintance with their surroundings, Sit, attired in gorgeous +apparel, and mounted on a splendid horse, rode every evening through +the principal streets of the city. One evening the daughter of the raja +of that country, from the roof of the palace, saw him ride past, and +fell deeply in love with him. She immediately descended to her room, +and feigning sickness, threw herself upon her couch. Her parents, on +entering, found her weeping bitterly, and on enquiring the cause were +informed by her attendants that she had been suddenly seized with a +dangerous illness, the nature of which they did not know. The raja at +once summoned the most famed physicians that could be found, to cure +his daughter. One after another, however, failed to understand her +complaint, and she grew worse daily. She was <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb36" href="#pb36" name="pb36">36</a>]</span>heard +continually wailing, “I shall never recover; I shall die.” +After the doctors had retired baffled, she addressed her parents as +follows; “You, who gave me life, listen to my entreaty. There is +one expedient still, which if you will agree to put into execution, I +shall recover, and be as well as formerly, and should you refuse to do +as I say, and call it foolishness, then you shall never see my face +again, I shall depart this life at once.” On hearing these words, +her parents said, “Tell us, what it is, we will surely act +agreeably to your wishes.” She replied, “Oh! father, +promise me that you will carry them out without reserve.” Her +parents then promised with an oath, that they would do all she desired. +Then she told her story, “Of late we have daily seen a young man +in dazzling white apparel, riding and curveting his horse through the +city; if you betroth me to that young prince, I shall enjoy my +accustomed health again.”</p> +<p>On hearing this, her parents became greatly distressed, as they were +averse to betrothing their daughter to a stranger of whom they knew +nothing. After consulting together they said, “He comes this way +in the evening, let us look out for him, and see what he is +like.” About sunset, Sit, mounted on his horse, rode in the +direction of the palace. The raja had given orders to some of his +attendants to arrest the man who, every evening dressed in white, rode +past the palace. So, on his appearing, they laid hold of him and led +him into the presence of the raja, who being pleased with his +appearance, at once introduced him to his daughter’s room. She, +on beholding him, instantly became well, and that same evening the two +were married.</p> +<p>Bosont having charge of the property remained in the Sarai, while +his brother went out riding. Sit not returning at his usual time, +Bosont was alarmed and waited anxiously for his return. At length, +being wearied, he fell asleep. During the night a gang of thieves +entered his room, and began to carry off all his valuables. Bosont +slept so soundly that they had time <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb37" +href="#pb37" name="pb37">37</a>]</span>to take away everything save his +bed-clothes. To obtain possession of these they had to lift him, on +which he awoke and gave the alarm. The thieves beat him with their +clubs till he was half dead; then, senseless and with a broken leg, +they threw him into the dry bed of a river.</p> +<p>In the morning his servants became aware of the robbery, and also +that their master was missing. His groom found him some time after in +the river bed, and carried him to a doctor who bound up his limb, and +took care of him. He was soon well enough to move about, but doomed to +halt through life.</p> +<p>The raja of that country was very wealthy, and had ships on the sea. +Whenever a ship left the port on its outward voyage, it was customary +to carry a man on board, who, on the rising of a storm at sea, was cast +over board to appease to wrath of the Spirit of the mighty Deep. +Without such a victim on board, no ship could leave the harbour. Now, +it so happened that one of the raja’s vessels was about to sail +to a foreign port, but no man suitable for the sacrifice could be +obtained. At last the raja ordered them to take the lame man, whom he +had seen limping about the city. He, not knowing the purpose they had +in view in asking him to accompany them on their voyage, gladly +embraced the opportunity of seeing foreign lands. No sooner was he on +board than the ship began to move, and to obtain a better view he +climbed up the mast, and sat on the top of it. In twelve days they +reached a port. Bosont, however, did not decend from his elevated +station, but continued gazing on the country lying around.</p> +<p>The daughter of the raja of that city, while walking on the roof of +the palace, enjoying the cool of the evening, saw Bosont seated on the +ship’s mast. She at once fell violently in love with him, and +descending to her room, feigned sickness. Her parents called in the +most famed physicians, but their skill was of no avail, the young +lady’s illness increased in intensity. At <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb38" href="#pb38" name="pb38">38</a>]</span>last, +when her parents began to give up hope of saving her life, she said, +“The doctors cannot do me any good, but if you will do as I +direct you, I shall recover.” They said, “Tell us what it +is that we can do for you.” She replied, “Before I can make +it known to you, you must take oath that you will not seek to evade the +performance of it.” To this they agreed, and the princess said, +“If you will betroth me to the man sitting on the top of the mast +of the vessel in the harbour, I shall immediately regain my +health.” The raja despatched messengers to the ship, and had +Bosont brought to the palace, and solemnized their marriage that same +evening.</p> +<p>A few days after the above occurrence, the ship was ready to set +sail on her homeward voyage, so they took the lame man on board, his +wife also following. After they had been a few days at sea, the vessel +was in danger of foundering in a storm. The sailors searched for the +victim, but he could nowhere be found. At last one of the crew looking +up, spied him seated on the mast and climbing swiftly up, pushed him +into the sea. His wife had brought a <i>tumba</i> with her, and seeing +her husband in the sea, threw it to him. With this assistance he was +able to swim to the vessel, and laying hold of the stern, followed +swimming all the way<a id="xd20e682" name="xd20e682"></a> to port. When +the vessel was brought to anchor, he climbed up into it, and disguised +himself as a fakir. The people of the city noticed him daily walking on +the shore in front of the ship, and believed him to be in reality a +fakir.</p> +<p>One day the raja seeing Bosont’s wife took a fancy to her, and +caused her to be brought to his palace. She had apartments assigned to +her in the best part of it, and was treated with great distinction. On +the raja offering her marriage, she declined, saying, “Speak not +to me of it.” After several days the raja enquired, “Why do +you still refuse to become my wife.” She replied, “Ask the +fakir who is always to be seen pacing the shore in front of a vessel +lying in the harbour.” The raja gave <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb39" href="#pb39" name="pb39">39</a>]</span>orders +immediately to have the fakir brought to the palace. On his being +ushered into his presence, the raja said, “What do you know +regarding the woman, who on declining to be my wife, referred me to you +for an explanation?<span class="corr" id="xd20e689" title= +"Source: ’">”</span> In reply Bosont related in the form of +a fable, the history of Sit and himself, and also what <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e692" title="Source: befel">befell</span> him after they +were parted from each other. Sit, who was now raja recognized his +brother in the fakir before him, and falling on his neck, wept for joy. +The two brothers continued ever after to live together. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb40" href="#pb40" name="pb40">40</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t8" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of a Tiger.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">A certain man had charge of a number of cattle. One +day he took them to graze near a quagmire, and leaving them there went +in search of jungle fruits. It so happened that one of the bullocks was +browsing on the edge of the quagmire when a tiger came creeping +stealthily up, and sprang upon it, but somehow or other missed his +mark, and fell into the quagmire and there stuck fast. When the herd +come to drive his cattle home, he found the tiger fast in the mud, and +called a large number of people to come and see him. The tiger +addressed those who came to gaze upon him as follows, “Oh men, +pull me out. I am in great straits.” They replied, “We will +not pull you out even to save your life. You are a ravenous +animal.” The tiger said, “I will not eat you.” So +they pulled him out. When he was again on dry land, he said, “I +will devour you, for it is my nature to do so.” They replied, +“Will you really eat us?” “Yes, I will,” said +the tiger. “Well,” they rejoined, “if you will devour +us, what can we do to prevent you? But let us first ask the opinion of +some others as to whether it is right for you to eat us or not.” +So they requested the opinion of all the trees in the forest, and each +said, “Human beings are all bad.” On asking the Mohwa tree, +it replied, “Men are not good. Behold every year I give them my +flowers to eat, and my fruit from which to make oil. In the hot weather +I give them shade, and on leaving, when they have rested, they give me +a parting slash with their axes, therefore it is right to eat these +people, as they return evil for good.” So said all the trees.</p> +<p>From this forest they went to another in which they found a cow to +whom they said, “We are come to ask your opinion on a certain +matter about which we are at variance. This tiger was up to the neck in +a quagmire, and we pulled him out. Now he wishes to return evil for +good. Is it right for him to do so?” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb41" href="#pb41" name="pb41">41</a>]</span>The cow +replied, “Yes, yes, I have heard what you have got to say. You +human beings are not the correct thing. Behold me, how much I have +contributed to the health and comfort of my master, yet he does not +recognize my merit. Now that I am old, he has turned me out, and should +I improve a little in condition, he will say, ‘I will take this +cow to the market and sell it. I will at least get a few pence for +it.’ Behold, when a man is well to do, he has many friends, but +when he is poor, no one knows him. Verily, you are worthy to be +devoured.” The tiger then said to the men, “Well, have you +heard all this? Are you convinced?” They said, “Hold on, +let us ask one person more.” So as they walked along they saw a +jackal and called to him, “Oh uncle, stand still.” The +jackal said, “No I cannot wait, my companions, who are on their +way to see the swinging festival, are far ahead of me, and I am +hurrying to overtake them.” They said to him, “Wait a +little and settle this matter for us. We pulled this tiger out of a +quagmire, and now he wishes to devour us.” The jackal then said +to the tiger, “Is this true? I cannot believe that a famed +individual like yourself would be fool enough to jump into a quagmire. +Come, shew me the place, and how it happened.” So the tiger led +him to the quagmire, and said, “This is the place from which I +sprang, and this is how I did it,” and he leaped into the +quagmire. The jackal turning to the men, said, “What are you +staring at? Pelt him with stones.” So they all set to and stoned +the tiger to death. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb42" href="#pb42" +name="pb42">42</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t9" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Story of a Lizard, a Tiger, and a lame Man.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">Once upon a time in a certain jungle, a lizard and +a tiger were fighting, and a lame man<span class="corr" id="xd20e714" +title="Not in source">,</span> who was tending goats near by, saw them. +The tiger being beaten by the lizard was ashamed to own it, and coming +to the lame man said, “Tell me which of us won.” The lame +man being in great fear lest the tiger should eat him, said, “You +won.” On another occasion the lizard was compelled to flee, and +took refuge in an ant hill. The tiger pursued him, but not being able +to get him out, sat down to watch.</p> +<p>The lizard seeing his opportunity, crept stealthily up to his +inveterate enemy, and climbing up his tail, fixed his teeth into his +haunch, and held firmly on. The tiger felt the pain of the +lizard’s bite, but could not reach him to knock him off, so he +ran to the lame man, and said, “Release me from this +lizard.” When he had caused the lizard to let go his grip, the +tiger said, “Oh lame man, which of us won in the +encounter?” The poor man in great fear said, “You +won.”</p> +<p>The same scene was enacted daily for many days. The tiger always +came to the lame man and said, “Knock off this lizard,” and +after he had done so, would say, “Which of us won?” The +lame man invariably replied, “You won.” This had happened +so often that the lame man began to feel annoyed at having to tell a +lie every day to please the tiger. So one day after an ignominious +flight on the part of the tiger, he being, as usual, requested to give +his opinion as to who won, said, “The lizard had the best of +it.” On hearing this the tiger became angry, and said, “I +shall eat you, my fine fellow, because you say the lizard defeated me. +Tell me where you sleep.” The poor lame man on hearing the tiger +threaten him thus, trembled with fear, and was silent. But the tiger +pressed him. He said, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb43" href="#pb43" +name="pb43">43</a>]</span>“Tell at once, for I shall certainly +devour you.” The lame man replied, “I sleep in the wall +press.” When night fell, the tiger set off to eat the lame man, +but after searching in the wall press failed to find him. In the +morning the lame man led his goats out to graze, and again met the +tiger, who addressed him as follows, “You are a great cheat. I +did not find you in the wall press last night.” The lame man +replied, “How is it you did not find me? I was sleeping +there.” “No,” said the tiger, “you were not, +you have deceived me. Now, tell me truly where you sleep.” +“I sleep on a rafter,” said the lame man. About midnight +the tiger went again in search of him to eat him, but did not find him +on the rafter, so he returned home. In the morning the lame man as +usual led his goats out to graze, and again encountered the tiger, who +said to him, “How now! Where do you sleep? I could not find you +last night<span class="corr" id="xd20e723" title= +"Source: ,">.</span>” The lame man rejoined, “That is +strange, I was there all the same.” The tiger said, “You +are a consummate liar. Now tell me plainly where you sleep at night, +for I shall without doubt eat you.” The lame man replied, +“I sleep in the fire-place.” Again the tiger went at night, +but could not find him. Next morning he met the lame man, and said to +him, “No more tricks, tell me where you sleep.” He, thrown +off his guard, said, “In the <i>gongo</i>.”<a class= +"noteref" id="xd20e729src" href="#xd20e729" name= +"xd20e729src">1</a></p> +<p>The tiger then withdrew to his den to wait till night came on, and +the lame man, cursing his indiscretion, with a heavy heart, drove his +goats homewards. Having made his charge safe for the night, he sat down +feeling very miserable. He refused the food that was set before him, +and continued bewailing his hard lot. In the hope of inducing him to +eat, they gave him some mohwa wrapped in a sal leaf. This also failed +to tempt <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb44" href="#pb44" name= +"pb44">44</a>]</span>him to eat; but he carried it with him when he +crept into the <i>gongo</i> to sleep. At night the tiger came and +lifting up the <i>gongo</i> felt it heavy, and said, “Well, are +you inside?” He replied, “Yes, I am.” So the tiger +carried off the <i>gongo</i> with the lame man in it. By the time the +tiger had gone a considerable distance, the lame man became hungry and +said within himself, “I shall have to die in the end, but in the +meantime I will appease my hunger.” So he opened his small parcel +of mohwa, and the dry leaf crackled as he did so. The noise frightened +the tiger and he said, “What is it you are opening?” The +lame man replied, “It is yesterday’s lizard.” +“Hold! hold!” exclaimed the tiger, “Do not let him +out yet, let me get clear away first.” The lame man said, +“Not so, I will not wait, but will let him out at once.” +The tiger being terrified at the prospect of again meeting his mortal +enemy, the redoubtable lizard, threw down the <i>gongo</i> and fled, +calling out, “I will not eat you. You have got the lizard with +you.”</p> +<p>In <span class="corr" id="xd20e750" title="Source: the">this</span> +way the lame man by means of the lizard saved his life. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb45" href="#pb45" name="pb45">45</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e729" href="#xd20e729src" name="xd20e729">1</a></span> Covering +for the head and shoulders made of leaves pinned together, worn as a +protection from the rain by women, while planting rice.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t10" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of a Simpleton.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There was once a certain simpleton who had never +seen a horse, but had heard that there was such an animal, and that men +rode on his back. His curiosity was greatly excited, and he went here +and there searching for a horse, so that he might ride on its back. On +his way he fell in with a wag, and asked him, what horses were like, +where they could be found, and whence were they produced. The wag +replied, “They are very large, they are to be had at the weekly +market, and they are hatched from eggs.” He then asked, +“What is the price of the eggs?” The other replied, +“Price! They are cheap, one pice each.” So one day he went +to the market and bought four eggs which he saw exposed for sale, and +brought them home with him. He then made preparations for a lengthened +absence from his house, and started for the jungle, taking with him +rice, a cooking pot and fire, to get the eggs hatched. Having reached +the jungle, he placed the eggs to hatch in what turned out to be a +tiger’s den, and then went some distance off and sat down. After +a short time he went to have a look at the eggs, and found one was +missing. He was greatly distressed, at having as he fancied lost his +horse, and cried out, “It has hatched, and run away somewhere. +But what has happened, has happened<span class="corr" id="xd20e759" +title="Source: ,">.</span> What can I do? I’ll look out for the +next one when it hatches.” He then went to cook his rice, and +returning after some time missed another of the eggs. He was very much +grieved over the loss of the two eggs, and mourning his misfortune, +cried, “Where have the two gone, after they came out of the +shell? There still, however, remain two eggs.” So saying, he +returned to finish his cooking. After a few minutes’ interval, he +went to have a look at the eggs, and saw that another had disappeared; +only one remained. His grief at the loss of three horses, was intense. +He cried out, “Oh! where shall I find them? Three horses have +been hatched, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb46" href="#pb46" name= +"pb46">46</a>]</span>and they have all run away.” He then went to +where his cooking had been performed, and quickly ate his rice, and +returned in all haste to look at his egg. It too was gone. On seeing +this, his sorrow and disappointment were acute. He bemoaned his ill +luck as follows, “After all the trouble I was at to procure my +eggs, they have all hatched, and the horses are lost. But what is, must +be. I shall relieve my mind by taking a chew of tobacco.” After +putting the tobacco into his mouth he noticed the tiger’s den, +and said, “It is in here, the horses have gone.” So he went +and broke from a tree a long stick with which he tried to poke his +horses out. For some time his labours met with no reward, but at last +he succeeded in forcing the tiger out of his den. Just as he was coming +out, the simpleton by some chance or other got astride of his back, and +called out, “At last I have found a horse.” His delight was +boundless. But the tiger would not go in the direction of his +rider’s house, but kept going further into the jungle. The +simpleton then struck him about the head and ears saying, “<i>As +ghur ghur, as ghur ghur</i>;”<a class="noteref" id="xd20e767src" +href="#xd20e767" name="xd20e767src">1</a> nevertheless the tiger +plunged deeper into the jungle. At last he bolted into a thicket of +trailing plants, where he unseated the simpleton. The tiger having got +rid of his rider fled. Afterwards he met a jackal who said to him, +“Where away, in such hot haste?” <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e770" title="Not in source">“</span>Uh!” he said, +“how much of it can I tell you! I have been greatly harassed, and +distressed by <i>As ghur ghur</i>. It was with great difficulty I +succeeded in giving him the slip, and now I am fleeing for dear +life.” The jackal said, “Come along and shew him to me, and +I shall soon eat him up.” The tiger replied, “Oh dear! no. +I cannot go. If he finds me again he will do for me altogether.” +“Nonsense,” said the jackal, “lead me to where he is, +and I shall devour him.” The tiger was persuaded, and led the +way, and the jackal followed. After some little time they met a bear, +who said, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb47" href="#pb47" name= +"pb47">47</a>]</span>“Where are you two going?” The jackal +gave answer, “This person has somewhere seen <i>As ghur ghur</i> +and I am saying to him, ‘Take me to where he is, and I shall eat +him,’ but he will not push ahead.” Then the bear said, +“Come let us all go together, and I shall eat him up.” The +tiger said, “I will go no further.” The jackal then said, +“Listen to me, I will put you upon a plan. Let us hold on by each +other’s tails, in this way you will have no cause to fear any +evil.” This suggestion pleased them well, and they cried out, +“Yes, let us do that. You have hit upon a first rate +expedient.” Then the bear took hold of the tiger’s tail, +and the jackal that of the bear, and in this way they pursued their +journey. But just as they drew near the thicket in which the simpleton +had been left, the tiger exclaimed, “Look there, he is coming +towards us,” and being terribly frightened, fled at his utmost +speed dragging the bear and jackal after him tearing the skin from off +their bodies on the rough stones and gravel. At length the jackal cried +out, “Hold on uncle, hold on uncle, you have rubbed all the skin +off my body.” But he would not halt, but kept dashing on through +wood and brake, dragging them after him, until the bear’s tail +broke, and the jackal was released. His body by this time was all raw +flesh, and he was swollen into a round mass. However, he managed to +pick himself up, and run for his life.</p> +<p>Afterwards they met in with a pack of wild dogs who said, +“Hulloo! what’s up, that you are fleeing in such a +plight?” They replied, “We are fleeing from <i>As ghur +ghur</i>.” <span class="corr" id="xd20e787" title= +"Not in source">“</span>Where is he?” said they, “We +will eat him.” The tiger said, “There just in front of you, +where you see the dark spot in the forest.” So they went in the +direction indicated, and while they were yet some distance off, they +saw the simpleton standing in the shade of the trees. He also saw them, +and being afraid hid himself in a hollow tree. On coming up to the tree +in which he was, they surrounded it, and one of their number essayed to +poke him out of his hiding place with his tail. The simpleton, however, +taking <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb48" href="#pb48" name= +"pb48">48</a>]</span>hold of it twisted it round his hands, and pulled +with all his might. The pain caused by his tail being pulled, caused +the wild dog to grin. On seeing this, one of his companions said, +“Oh! Brother, wherefore do you grin.” He said, “I +have got hold of him, and I am smiling with pleasure.” The +simpleton from within the tree continued to pull, till the tail of the +wild dog broke, and he fell to the ground with a thud. The others on +looking at him noticed that he had lost his tail. So they all became +panic stricken, and fled from the place with all possible speed.</p> +<p>The simpleton took up his residence in that part of the jungle in +which the above occurred. He is said to be the ancestor of the Bir +hors, or jungle Santals. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb49" href= +"#pb49" name="pb49">49</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e767" href="#xd20e767src" name="xd20e767">1</a></span> Said to +bullocks when ploughing to cause them to turn at the end of a +furrow.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t11" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">A Thief and a Tiger.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">In a certain country there lived a very wealthy man +whose cattle grazed on a wide plain. One day a tiger noticed them, and +so did three thieves. At night the tiger came to where they were lying, +and so did the three thieves, but the tiger arrived first. The night +was pitch dark, and the cows getting frightened fled to their +owner’s premises, and all entered the cattle shed. When the tiger +saw the cattle flee he ran after them, and entered the shed along with +them. The thieves, coming to where they expected to find the cattle, +and not seeing them, also went to the cattle shed; but the people of +the house not having yet retired to rest, they hid themselves in the +vicinity. When all became still, they entered the cattle shed, and +began feeling for the largest and fattest oxen. Two of the thieves, +each finding one to his mind, drove them away. But one man being more +difficult to please than his neighbours continued to go from one to +another groping for a good fat one. In this way he laid his hands on +the tiger, it seemed a fat one, but lest there should be one still +fatter, he left him for a little. However, as he did not find one +better than the tiger he returned to him, and felt him all over again. +He was without doubt the fattest in the shed, so he drove him out. On +reaching the open field, the tiger went in the direction of the jungle, +and his driver had great difficulty in getting him to go the road he +wished. In this way,—the tiger going one direction, and the man +pulling him another,—they spent the night. At cock-crow the thief +became aware, that it was a tiger he had been contending with in the +dark, and not an ox. He then said to the tiger, “It is you then, +whom I have taken possession of.” He then released the tiger, who +fled to the jungle at full speed.</p> +<p>The thief having been awake all night felt tired, and lying down in +the shade of a ridge of a rice field to rest, fell asleep. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb50" href="#pb50" name="pb50">50</a>]</span></p> +<p>The tiger as he ran encountered a jackal who exclaimed, “Ho! +Ho! uncle, where are you off to, at such a break-neck pace?” The +tiger replied, “I am going in this direction. A mite kept me +awake all night, I am fleeing through fear of him.” The jackal +then said, “It is very strange, uncle, that you did not vanquish +him. We eat such as he. Tell me where he is, and I shall soon snap him +up.” The tiger said, “He is over in the direction of those +rice fields, asleep somewhere.” The jackal then went in search of +him, and soon found him asleep in the shade of a ridge of a rice field. +He then went all round him reconnoitring, and when he had completed the +circuit exclaimed, “The tiger said he was a mite, but he turns +out to be of immense size, I cannot eat him all myself. I will gather +my friends together to assist me, and then we shall devour him in no +time.” So he sat down with his back towards the sleeping thief, +so near that his tail touched his neck, and began to yell as only a +hungry jackal can. The noise awoke the sleeper, and seeing the jackal +sitting so near to him, he quietly caught him by the tail, and +springing on to his feet swung him round and round above his head, and +then flung him from him. The jackal was severely stunned, but picking +himself up, fled as fast as his legs could carry him. After he had gone +some little distance he met a bear, who said, “Where away in such +hot haste?” He made answer, “Uh! What can I tell you more +than that that barren tiger grossly deceived me. He told me he was a +mite, I went to see him and found he was a <i>ghur pank</i>,<a class= +"noteref" id="xd20e808src" href="#xd20e808" name="xd20e808src">1</a> +and without doubt he <i>ghur panked</i> me.” The bear then said, +“Oh! I’ll eat him. Tell me where he is.” The jackal +said, “You will find him over in these rice fields.” So the +bear went to find him and eat him. When still some distance off he +spied him laying asleep, and was greatly delighted, exclaiming, +“My belly will be swollen with eating him before long.” The +thief <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb51" href="#pb51" name= +"pb51">51</a>]</span>accidentally lifted his head, and saw the bear +coming straight for him, so he jumped up and ran to the nearest tree +into which he climbed. The bear saw him, and went up after him, and +tried to get hold of him, but he jumped from one branch to another as +the bear followed him. After this had gone on for some time, it so +happened that the bear missed his footing and fell heavily to the +ground. The thief immediately jumped on to his back. The bear was +frightened, and getting to his feet fled as fast as he could; the thief +clasped him tightly round the neck, saying, “If I let go my hold +he will eat me.” The bear of course ran to the jungle, where the +thief was caught by the branches of the trees, and dragged off his +back. He did not return to the rice fields to sleep, as he feared some +other animal might come to eat him, but went to his own home.</p> +<p>As the bear fled, he again met the jackal who asked him, +“Well! did you eat him?” The bear replied, “You Sir, +are a great cheat, you told me he was <i>ghur pank</i>. He is <i>kara +upar chap</i>.”<a class="noteref" id="xd20e826src" href= +"#xd20e826" name="xd20e826src">2</a> The two quarrelled over the +matter, and the bear tried to catch the jackal to eat him, but he +managed to escape. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb52" href="#pb52" +name="pb52">52</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e808" href="#xd20e808src" name="xd20e808">1</a></span> <i>Ghur +pank</i> is a phrase used by ploughmen when turning their bullocks at +the end of a furrow.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e826" href="#xd20e826src" name="xd20e826">2</a></span> Mount the +buffalo.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t12" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Magic Fiddle</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">Once upon a time there lived seven brothers and a +sister. The brothers were married, but their wives did not do the +cooking for the family. It was done by their sister. The wives for this +reason bore their sister-in-law much ill will, and at length they +combined together to oust her from the office of cook and general +provider, so that one of themselves might obtain it. They said, +“She does not go out to the fields to work, but remains quietly +at home, and yet she has not the meals ready at the proper time.” +They then called upon their <i>Bad Bonga</i>,<a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e839src" href="#xd20e839" name="xd20e839src">1</a> and vowing vows +unto him they secured his good will and assistance; then they said to +the <i>Bad Bonga</i>, “At mid-day when our sister-in-law goes to +bring water, cause it thus to happen, that on seeing her pitcher the +water shall vanish, and again slowly re-appear. In this way she will be +delayed. May the water not flow into her pitcher, and you keep the +maiden as your own.” At noon when she went to bring water, it +suddenly dried up before her, and she began to weep. Then after a while +the water began slowly to rise. When it reached her ankles she tried to +fill her pitcher, but it would not go under the water. Being frightened +she began to wail as follows;—</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +ankles,</p> +<p class="line">Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my ankles,</p> +<p class="line">Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip,</p> +<p class="line">Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +dip.”</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The water continued to rise until it reached her +knee, when she began to wail as follows;—</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +knee,</p> +<p class="line">Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my knee,</p> +<p class="line">Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip,</p> +<p class="line">Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +dip.”</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb53" href="#pb53" name= +"pb53">53</a>]</span></p> +<p>The water continued to rise, and when it reached her waist, she +wailed as follows;—</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +waist,</p> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +waist,</p> +<p class="line">“Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +dip,</p> +<p class="line">“Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +dip.”</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The water in the tank continued to rise, and when +it reached her breast, she wailed as follows;—</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +breast,</p> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +breast,</p> +<p class="line">“Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +fill,</p> +<p class="line">“Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +fill.”</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The water still rose, and when it reached her neck +she wailed as follows;—</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +neck,</p> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my +neck,</p> +<p class="line">“Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +dip,</p> +<p class="line">“Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not +dip.”</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">At length the water became so deep that she felt +herself to be drowning, then she wailed as follows;—</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water measures a man’s +height,</p> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the water measures a man’s +height,</p> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the pitcher begins to fill,</p> +<p class="line">“Oh! my brother, the pitcher begins to +fill.”</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The pitcher filled with water, and along with it +she sank and was drowned. The <i>bonga</i> then transformed her into a +<i>bonga</i> like himself, and carried her off.</p> +<p>After a time she re-appeared as a bamboo growing on the embankment +of the tank in which she had been drowned. When the bamboo had grown to +an immense size, a <i>Jugi</i>, who was in the habit of passing that +way, seeing it<span class="corr" id="xd20e924" title= +"Not in source">,</span> said to himself, this will <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb54" href="#pb54" name="pb54">54</a>]</span>make a +splendid fiddle. So one day he brought an axe to cut it down; but when +he was about to begin, the bamboo exclaimed, “Do not cut at the +root, cut higher up.” When he lifted his axe to cut high up the +stem, the bamboo cried out, “Do not cut near the top, cut at the +root.” When the <i>Jugi</i> again prepared himself to cut at the +root as requested, the bamboo said, “Do not cut at the root, cut +higher up;” and when he was about to cut higher up, it again +called out to him, “Do not cut high up, cut at the root.” +The <i>Jugi</i> by this time was aware that a <i>bonga</i> was trying +to frighten him, so becoming angry he cut down the bamboo at the root, +and taking it away made a fiddle out of it. The instrument had a +superior tone and delighted all who heard it. The <i>Jugi</i> carried +it with him when he went a-begging, and through the influence of its +sweet music he returned home every evening with a full wallet.</p> +<p>He now and again visited, when on his rounds, the house of the +<i>bonga</i> girl’s brothers, and the strains of the fiddle +affected them greatly. Some of them were moved even to tears, for the +fiddle seemed to wail as one in bitter anguish. The elder brother +wished to purchase it, and offered to support the <i>Jugi</i> for a +whole year, if he would consent to part with his magical instrument. +The <i>Jugi</i>, however, knew its value, and refused to sell it.</p> +<p>It so happened that the <i>Jugi</i> sometime after went to the house +of a village chief, and after playing a tune or two on his fiddle asked +something to eat. They offered to buy his fiddle and promised a high +price for it, but he rejected all such overtures, his fiddle being to +him his means of livelihood. When they saw that he was not to be +prevailed upon, they gave him food and a plentiful supply of liquor. Of +the latter he partook so freely that he presently became intoxicated. +While he was in this condition, they took away his fiddle, and +substituted their own old one for it. When the <i>Jugi</i> recovered, +he missed <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb55" href="#pb55" name= +"pb55">55</a>]</span>his instrument, and suspecting that it had been +stolen requested them to return it to him. They denied having taken it, +so he had to depart, leaving his fiddle behind him. The chief’s +son being a musician, used to play on the <i>Jugi’s</i> fiddle, +and in his hands the music it gave forth delighted the ears of all +within hearing.</p> +<p>When all the household were absent at their labours in the fields, +the <i>bonga</i> girl emerged from the bamboo fiddle, and prepared the +family meal. Having partaken of her own share, she placed that of the +chiefs son under his bed, and covering it up to keep off the dust, +re-entered the fiddle. This happening every day the other members of +the household were under the impression that some female neighbour of +theirs was in this manner showing her interest in the young man, so +they did not trouble themselves to find out how it came about. The +young chief, however, was <span class="corr" id="xd20e971" title= +"Source: determind">determined</span> to watch, and see which of his +lady friends was so attentive to his comfort. He said in his own mind, +“I will catch her to-day, and <span class="corr" id="xd20e974" +title="Source: gave">give</span> her a sound beating<span class="corr" +id="xd20e977" title="Source: , she">. She</span> is causing me to be +ashamed before the others.” So saying, he hid himself in a corner +in a pile of firewood. In a short time the girl came out of the bamboo +fiddle, and began to dress her hair. Having completed her toilet, she +cooked the meal of rice as usual, and having partaken herself, she +placed the young man’s portion under his bed, as she was wont, +and was about to enter the fiddle again, when he running out from his +hiding place caught her in his arms. The <i>bonga</i> girl exclaimed, +“Fie! Fie! you may be a Dom,<a class="pseudonoteref" href= +"#n60.a">2</a> or you may be a Hadi.”<a class="noteref" id= +"n60.asrc" href="#n60.a" name="n60.asrc">2</a> He said, “No. But +from to-day, you and I are one.” So they began lovingly to hold +converse with each other. When the others returned home in the evening, +they saw that she was both a human being and a <i>bonga</i>, and they +rejoiced exceedingly. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb56" href="#pb56" +name="pb56">56</a>]</span></p> +<p>Through course of time the <i>bonga</i> girl’s family became +very poor, and her brothers on one occasion came to the chief’s +house on a visit.</p> +<p>The <i>bonga</i> girl recognised them at once, but they did not know +who she was. She brought them water on their arrival, and afterwards +set cooked rice before them. Then sitting down near them, she began in +wailing tones to upbraid them on account of the treatment she had been +subjected to by their wives. She related all that had befallen her, and +wound up by saying, “It is probable that you knew it all, and yet +you did not interfere to save me.”</p> +<p>After a time she became reconciled to her sisters-in-law, and no +longer harboured enmity in her mind against them, for the injury they +had done her. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb57" href="#pb57" name= +"pb57">57</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e839" href="#xd20e839src" name="xd20e839">1</a></span> The spirit +believed to preside over a certain class of rice land.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id="n60.a" +href="#n60.asrc" name="n60.a">2</a></span> Semi-Hinduised aborigines, +whose touch is considered polluting<span class="corr" id="xd20e989" +title="Not in source">.</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t13" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Gumda, the Hero.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There was once a certain fatherless lad named +Gumda. His occupation was to tend the raja’s goats. He, and his +mother lived in a small house at the end of the street in which the +raja’s palace was situated. The raja’s mahout was in the +habit of taking his elephant along that street, and every time it +passed, it rubbed itself against the wall of Gumda’s house. One +day at noon it so happened that Gumda was at home when the elephant was +being taken to the tank to drink, and as usual he rubbed his side +against the house as he <span class="corr" id="xd20e1014" title= +"Source: passe d.Gumda">passed. Gumda</span> was incensed with the +elephant for thus destroying his house, and coming out quickly, said to +the mahout, “What although it is the raja’s elephant! I +could take hold of any person’s elephant by the trunk, and throw +it across seven seas.” The elephant understood what Gumda had +said, and he refused to go down into the water, and would not even +drink. On being brought home he would not eat his grain, nor would he +so much as look at water. He continued thus so long that he began to +grow lean and weak. The mahout knew that it was Gumda’s curse +that had so affected his charge. The raja one day noticing the altered +condition of his elephant, said to the mahout, “Why has the +elephant become so emaciated?” The mahout replied, “Oh! +raja, one day at noon Gumda abused him. He said, ‘If you were not +the raja’s elephant, I would take you by the trunk and throw you +across seven seas.<span class="corr" id="xd20e1017" title= +"Not in source">’</span> ‘Every day,’ he said, +‘he rubs himself against my house.’ Since then the elephant +has refused his food and water.” The raja, on hearing this, +commanded that Gumda be brought before him. The messenger found him at +home, and brought him into the presence of the raja who asked him, +“Is it true<span class="corr" id="xd20e1020" title= +"Not in source">,</span> Gumda, that you said you would throw the +elephant as you would a stone?” Gumda replied, “Yes, it is +quite true that I said so. The elephant every time it passes along +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb58" href="#pb58" name= +"pb58">58</a>]</span>the street rubs itself against the wall of my +house, and being angry, I said these words. Now, do with me whatsoever +you please.” The raja marvelled greatly on hearing Gumda’s +reply, and addressing him said, “Now my lad, prove your words, +for prove them you must. If you succeed in thus throwing an elephant, I +shall present you with a large estate.” The raja appointed the +tenth day following as that on which Gumda should wrestle with the +elephant; and he, after receiving permission from the raja, returned +home.</p> +<p>The raja in the interval caused proclamation to be made to all his +subjects, ordering them to be present on the day when Gumda was to meet +the elephant in mortal combat. On the morning of the appointed day +Gumda was found baking bread. As he did not appear punctually in the +arena, the raja sent a messenger to bring him. On arriving at +Gumda’s house, he found him baking bread. He said to +him<span class="corr" id="xd20e1027" title="Not in source">,</span> +“Come along, the raja has asked for you.” Gumda +said<span class="corr" id="xd20e1030" title="Not in source">,</span> +“Wait a little till I partake of some refreshment.” He +invited the messenger to be seated, and he also sat down as if to eat, +but instead of eating the bread, he began to throw it at the man, and +continued doing so until he had buried him under eight maunds of +loaves. The poor fellow cried out, “Oh Gumda, come and release +me, of a truth I am almost crushed to death under this heap of +bread.” He removed the bread from above him, and he <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e1033" title="Source: immedately">immediately</span> +returned to the raja. As he was leaving the house he saw 12 maunds of +cooked rice, evidently intended for Gumda’s dinner. Coming into +the presence of the raja he said, “Oh! raja, I saw in +Gumda’s house twelve maunds of cooked rice, and he threw a loaf +of bread weighing eight maunds at me, which almost crushed me to death. +It is quite possible that he may win.”</p> +<p>At length Gumda came bringing with him a sledge hammer weighing +twelve maunds, and a shield of the same weight. The contest was to take +place on a plain sufficiently large to accommodate an immense number of +spectators. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb59" href="#pb59" name= +"pb59">59</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then the fight began. The two combatants attacked each other so +furiously that they raised such a cloud of dust as to completely +conceal them from the onlookers. The elephant could not long sustain +the unequal combat, and when he was beaten, Gumda seized him by the +trunk, and threw him over the seas. Owing to the darkness caused by the +clouds of dust, none of the thousands present noticed the elephant as +he went, flying over their heads high up in the air.</p> +<p>When the dust subsided, Gumda was found sitting alone, the elephant +was nowhere to be seen. The raja called the victor to him, and said, +“What have you done with the elephant?” Gumda replied +“I flung him early in the forenoon over seven seas.” +Hearing his answer and not seeing the elephant, they all marvelled +greatly.</p> +<p>The raja then said to Gumda, “Well, you have thrown the +elephant somewhere. You must now go in search of its bones.” +Gumda went home and said to his mother, “Make up a parcel of food +for me, I am going to find the elephant’s bones.” She +complied with his request and he set out.</p> +<p>As he hurried along intent upon his quest, he found a man fishing +with a Palmyra palm tree as a rod, and a full grown elephant as a bait. +On seeing him Gumda exclaimed, “You are indeed a great +hero.” The man replied, “I am no hero, the widow’s +son Gumda is the great hero, for did not he fling the raja’s +elephant across seven seas?” Gumda said, “I am he.” +The fisherman said,” I will go with you.” Gumda replied, +“Come along<span class="corr" id="xd20e1047" title= +"Source: .!’">!”</span></p> +<p>As Gumda and his attendant went on their way, they came to a field +in which a number of men were hoeing, and their master, to shield them +from the heat of the sun, stood holding over them, as an umbrella, a +large Pepul tree.<a class="noteref" id="xd20e1052src" href="#xd20e1052" +name="xd20e1052src">1</a> Gumda seeing him <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb60" href="#pb60" name="pb60">60</a>]</span>said, +“You are a hero and no mistake.” The man replied, “No +indeed, I am no hero. Gumda, the widow’s son, threw the +raja’s elephant across seven seas. He is the hero.” Gumda +said<span class="corr" id="xd20e1057" title="Not in source">,</span> +“I am he.” “Then,” said the man, “I also +will go with you.” “Follow me<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1060" title="Not in source">,</span>” said Gumda, and the +three proceeded on their way.</p> +<p>As they journeyed they fell in with two men, who were raising water +from a tank for irrigating purposes by merely singing. When Gumda saw +them, he exclaimed, “You two are heroes indeed.” They +answered, “What do you see heroic in us? There is one hero, Gumda +by name, he threw a raja’s elephant across seven seas.” +Gumda said, “I am he.” The men exclaimed, “We also +will follow you.” Gumda said, “Follow.” And the five +men went forth to search for the elephant’s bones.</p> +<p>On and on they went until they reached the sea, which they crossed, +and entered the primeval forest beyond. Selecting a suitable place they +encamped, and began the search for the elephant’s bones. The +first day the fisherman was left in the camp to cook the food, while +the others went out into the forest. Near by a certain <i>jugi</i> raja +resided in a cave in a rock. He came to the camp just as the food was +cooked, and said to the fisherman, “Give me some rice to +eat.” He declined, and the <i>jugi</i> raja then said, +“Will you give me rice, or will you fight with me?” He +replied, “I have prepared this food with difficulty and prefer +fighting to giving it up.” So they fought, and the <i>jugi</i> +raja was victor. He laid a heavy stone on the breast of the cook, and +then devoured all the food. There had been twelve maunds of rice +prepared, and he left none. After a long time he released his victim, +and then went his way. Being released the fisherman set about preparing +more food, but before it was ready, his companions returned and seeing +the pot still on the fire, they enquired why he had not made haste with +his cooking. He replied<span class="corr" id="xd20e1076" title= +"Not in source">,</span> “I have not been idle, I have spent all +the time in cooking.<span class="corr" id="xd20e1079" title= +"Not in source">”</span> He did not tell them about the +<i>jugi</i> raja having been at the camp. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb61" href="#pb61" name="pb61">61</a>]</span></p> +<p>The next day another of the company remained as cook, while the +others went out to search in the forest for the elephant’s bones. +The <i>jugi</i> raja again visited the camp, and the scene of the +previous day was re-enacted. But he also did not speak of the visit of +the <i>jugi</i> raja to the others when they returned. In this way the +<i>jugi</i> raja encountered each in turn till only Gumda was left, and +he remained in the camp to cook. When he had got the rice cooked, the +<i>jugi</i> raja made his appearance and said, “Will you fight +with me, or will you give up the food?” Gumda replied, “I +will not give you the food. I have spent much time in cooking it, and +when those who have gone in search of the elephant’s bones +return, what shall I set before them, if I give it to you now? You have +played this trick every day, and have put my companions to much +trouble, but to-day we have met.” So they fought. Gumda +overpowered the <i>jugi</i> raja, and killed him with the stone he used +to put upon the breast of those whom he vanquished. He then espoused +the <i>jugi</i> raja’s wife, and took possession of his kingdom. +Gumda’s companions held him in great awe, because each in turn +had been conquered by the <i>jugi</i> raja, but Gumda had experienced +little difficulty in putting him to death.</p> +<p>Gumda became <a id="xd20e1114" name="xd20e1114"></a>raja of that +country, and when he had settled his affairs, he sent for his mother to +come and reside with him. The raja, whom Gumda had previously served, +sought his friendship, and withdrew his command to Gumda to search for +the elephant’s bones until he found them. The prowess of Gumda +caused him to deprecate his anger. He said, “If I offend him, he +will kill me as he did the <i>jugi</i> raja, and take my wife and +kingdom, as he did his.<span class="corr" id="xd20e1119" title= +"Not in source">”</span> <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb62" +href="#pb62" name="pb62">62</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1052" href="#xd20e1052src" name="xd20e1052">1</a></span> Ficus +religiosa, Willd. one of the hugest of India’s many huge +trees.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t14" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Lipi, and Lapra.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">Once upon a time there were seven brothers. At +first they were very poor, but afterwards they became comparatively +rich, and were in position to lay out a little money at usury. The +affairs of the youngest prospered most, so that before long he became +the wealthiest of them all.</p> +<p>Each of the seven brothers planted fruit trees, and every day after +they returned from their work, before they sat down to meat, they +watered them. In process of time all the trees flowered, but the +flowers on the eldest brother’s trees withered and <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e1130" title="Source: dropt">dropped</span> off the day +they appeared. The trees of the other brothers failed to ripen their +fruit, but those of the youngest brother were laden with delicious +fruit which ripened to perfection. Five of the brothers said to him, +“You are very fortunate in having such a splendid crop;” +but the eldest brother was envious of his good fortune, and resolved to +be revenged upon him.</p> +<p>The youngest brother brought up two puppies, whom he named Lipi and +Lapra. They turned out good hunting dogs, and by their aid their master +used to keep the family larder well supplied. The others were pleased +to see so much game brought to the house. One day they said to him, +“Take us also to where you get your large game.” To this he +agreed, and they accompanied him to his usual hunting ground. Game was +plentiful, but they could kill nothing, although every time he shot an +arrow <span class="corr" id="xd20e1135" title="Source: be">he</span> +brought down his animal. Five of his brothers praised him for his +skill, and accuracy of aim, but the eldest brother, not having +succeeded in bagging anything himself, envied him still more, and was +confirmed in his desire for revenge.</p> +<p>It so happened that one day all the brothers, with the exception of +the eldest and the youngest, went out to their work. The eldest brother +finding himself alone with his youngest <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb63" href="#pb63" name="pb63">63</a>]</span>brother proposed that +they should go together to the hill for the purpose of procuring fibre +to make ropes. He said, “Come let us go to the hill to cut +<i>lar</i>.”<a class="noteref" id="xd20e1145src" href= +"#xd20e1145" name="xd20e1145src">1</a> His brother replied, +“Come, let us set out.” He, however, wished to take his +dogs with him, but his brother said, “Why should you tire them by +taking them so far? Leave them behind.” But he replied, “I +shall not go, unless you allow me to take them with me. How shall we be +able to bring home venison if they do not accompany us? They may kill +some game on the way.” As he insisted, he was permitted to do as +he desired, and they set out for the hill.</p> +<p>As they went on their way they came to a spring, and the elder said, +“Tie up the two dogs here. I know all this forest, and there is +no game to be found in it.” The younger was averse to leaving his +dogs behind him, but as his brother seemed determined he should do so, +he tied them with a stout rope to a tree. His brother said, “See +that you make them secure, so that they may not break loose and run +away, and be lost.”</p> +<p>A low hill lay between them, and the high one on which the trees +grew which yielded the <i>lar</i>. This they surmounted, and descending +into the valley that divided them began the ascent, and soon reached +the place where their work was to be. They soon cut and <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e1155" title="Source: pealed">peeled</span> sufficient +<i>lar</i>, and sitting down twisted it into strong ropes. Just as they +had prepared to return home, the elder brother seized the younger, and +bound him with the ropes they had made. He then grasped his sickle with +the intention of putting him to death. The helpless young man thought +of his dogs, and in a loud voice wailed as follows;—</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Come, come, Lipi and Lapra,</p> +<p class="line">Cross the low hill</p> +<p class="line">On to the slope of the high.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">He called them again and again. The dogs heard the +voice, and struggled to get loose, and at length, by a great effort, +they succeeded in breaking the ropes with which they were <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb64" href="#pb64" name="pb64">64</a>]</span>bound, +and ran in the direction from which the sound proceeded. Now and again +the cries ceased, and they stood still until they again heard them, +when they ran as before. Having reached the valley that separated the +two hills, they could no longer hear the wailing as before, and they +were greatly perplexed. They ran hither and thither, hoping to catch it +again, but not doing so they directed their course to the large hill, +on reaching the foot of which it again became audible. They now +recognized the voice of their master, and ran rapidly forward.</p> +<p>When the elder brother saw the dogs approaching, he quickly aimed a +blow with the sickle at his younger brother’s head, but he, +jerking aside, escaped. Before there was time for him to strike again, +the dogs had arrived, and their master hounded them upon his assailant +and they quickly tore him to pieces. They then bit through the ropes +with which his brother had bound him, and set him at liberty. He then +returned home accompanied by his dogs, and when they enquired of him +where his brother was, he replied, “He left me to follow a deer, +I cannot say what direction he took<span class="corr" id="xd20e1174" +title="Source: ,">.</span> We did not meet again.” He wept as he +related this, and they enquired, “Why do you weep?<span class= +"corr" id="xd20e1177" title="Not in source">”</span> He said, +“My two dogs lay down on the ground, and howled, and fear +possesses me that some wild beast has devoured my brother.”</p> +<p>The next day a party went in search of him, and found him as the +dogs had left him. When they saw him lying torn and bloody, they said, +“Some wild beast has done this.”</p> +<p>They brought the body home, and committed it to the flames of the +funeral pile, and sorrowfully performed all the ceremonies usual on +such occasions.</p> +<p>After the death of the elder brother, they all lived together in +peace and harmony. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb65" href="#pb65" +name="pb65">65</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1145" href="#xd20e1145src" name="xd20e1145">1</a></span> The +fibre yielded by Bauhinia Vahlii, W. and A. goes under that name among +the Santals.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t15" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of Lelha.</h2> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">I.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There once lived a certain raja, who had three +wives. The two elder had two sons each, and the younger only one, whose +name was Lelha.<a class="noteref" id="xd20e1196src" href="#xd20e1196" +name="xd20e1196src">1</a> The four sons of the first two wives were +very friendly with each other, being seldom separate, but they despised +Lelha, and never permitted him to join them in any of their pastimes or +sports.</p> +<p>The raja had a plot of ground set apart for a flower garden, but +there was nothing in it. One day a certain <i>Jugi</i> came to him, and +said, “Oh! raja, if you fill your garden with all kinds of +flowering plants, your whole city will appear enchanting.” Having +said this, the <i>Jugi</i> went to his home. The raja was greatly +affected by what the <i>Jugi</i> had said, and was immediately seized +with a fit of the sulks. There was an apartment in the palace set apart +for the exclusive use of those who happened to be in that state of +mind. Such an one shut himself up in this chamber until the fit wore +off, or until he was persuaded to be himself again.</p> +<p>The raja refused his evening meal, and as was his wont, when in this +frame of mind, retired to the sulking apartment, and lay down. The two +elder ranis having been informed of what had occurred, hasted to the +raja, and said, “Oh! raja, why are you sulking?” He +replied, “This morning a <i>Jugi</i> came to me and said, that if +I planted flowering shrubs in my garden the whole city would appear +enchanting. If any one will do this work for me, I will rise, if not, I +shall remain here.” The ranis then addressed him thus, “Oh! +raja, rise up, and eat and drink.” The raja replied, “Let +the young men come to me, I will do as you desire.” The two ranis +then left, and calling <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb66" href="#pb66" +name="pb66">66</a>]</span>their sons, sent them to their father. Coming +into the presence of the raja they said, “Wherefore father are +you sulking?” The raja replied, “If you plant flowers in my +flower garden I shall be comforted, and shall leave my couch.” +They said, “Is it on this account you are distressed? We shall +cause the garden to be filled with flowers in a short time.” On +receiving this assurance the raja left his bed, and partook of food, +and was refreshed. Lelha’s mother now appeared on the scene, and +addressing the raja, said, “Wherefore, raja are you sulky?” +He replied, “Who told you I was sulky?” She replied, +“A shopkeeper gave me the information.” Then the raja got +angry, and ordered her to leave, but she said, “If you do not +tell me why you are sulking I will not depart, am not I also your +humble maidservant? Unless you tell me, I will not go, I will die here +rather than leave.” The raja relented, and related to her all the +words of the <i>Jugi</i>. She then returned home.</p> +<p>Her son Lelha entered the house soon after her arrival. He had been +engaged in some field sports, and being wearied and hungry, said to his +mother, “Give me some cooked rice.” She was annoyed with +him and said, “Although the raja is ill, your first cry is for +boiled rice.” Lelha on hearing this went to his father, and +enquired what was wrong. But the raja flying into a rage scolded him, +saying, “Go away Lelha. What do you want here? Never come near me +again. Did not I build a house for your mother and you at the extreme +end of the street, away from here? Be off, or I shall beat you.” +To which Lelha replied, “Oh! father raja, am not I also a son of +yours? Let me be foolish or otherwise, still, I am your son, and unless +you inform me of what has grieved you, I shall die rather than leave +this.” Then the raja told him also<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1222" title="Source: ,">.</span> He said, “It is because I +do not see flowers in the garden.” “Oh!” said Lelha, +“Is that what distresses you?” He then left.</p> +<p>The raja’s four elder sons caused all manner of flowering +shrubs and trees to be planted in the garden, and in a short +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb67" href="#pb67" name= +"pb67">67</a>]</span>time it was in a blaze of colour, so much so, that +the whole city was as if lighted thereby.</p> +<p>Just at this time, when every tree<span class="corr" id="xd20e1231" +title="Not in source">,</span> shrub and plant was covered with blossom +another <i>Jugi</i>, named Koema <i>Jugi</i>, came to the city and said +to one and another, “You, the citizens of this city, are covering +yourselves with renown, but if you attach <i>hiras</i><a class= +"noteref" id="xd20e1242src" href="#xd20e1242" name="xd20e1242src">2</a> +and <i>manis</i><a class="noteref" id="xd20e1248src" href="#xd20e1248" +name="xd20e1248src">3</a> to the branches, you will add renown to +renown.<span class="corr" id="xd20e1251" title= +"Not in source">”</span> The <i>Jugi’s</i> words reached +the raja, and he was so much affected by them, that he immediately +began to sulk, and on being questioned by his two ranis, he replied, +“Do you not remember the words of the Koema <i>Jugi</i>?” +They said, “Yes, we remember. He said, ‘if you place +<i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> in this garden the whole country will be +resplendent’.” “On that account then, I am sulking, +and if I do not see <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, I shall not partake +of any food.” At the raja’s words the two ranis returned +sorrowfully to their apartments.</p> +<p>At that moment their four sons entered the house and asked for food. +The ranis were annoyed, and said, “The raja, your father, is +sulking, and you must have food and drink.” On learning their +father’s state the youths were distressed on his account, and +went to him weeping, and enquired why he was sulking. He related to +them the words of Koema <i>Jugi</i>, and added, “Unless I see +<i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> attached to the branches of the trees in +my flower garden, I shall not rise from my couch.” His four sons +replied, “Is it for this reason you are grieving? We will search +for, and bring them, and if we fail, then sulk again, and refuse your +food, and die of hunger, and we will not prevent you, only listen to us +this time and get up.” The raja was persuaded to rise, and having +partaken of food he was refreshed. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb68" +href="#pb68" name="pb68">68</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">II.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">The raja had planted flowering shrubs in his +garden, but the <i>Indarpuri Sadoms</i><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1292src" href="#xd20e1292" name="xd20e1292src">4</a> ate up all +the flowers as they appeared, and so he again began to sulk. He said, +“I planted bushes, but I see no flowers. What reason is there for +my remaining alive?” And going to the sulking chamber he lay +down, and as usual refused to eat. Then there was confusion in the +household, and running hither and thither. The two ranis went to him, +but he was annoyed, and ordered them to leave, saying, “I will +not rise, by your telling me,” so they returned weeping, each to +her own apartment.</p> +<p>Just then their four sons returned from hunting, and demanded food. +Their mothers were annoyed, and said, “You young gentlemen are +hungry, and must have food, that the raja is sulking is nothing to you, +if you are fasting.” On hearing this the sons went to their +father, and enquired, “Oh! father, wherefore are you +sulking?” The raja replied, “Oh! my sons, I am sulking +because I see no flowers in my garden. Unless I see flowers in my +garden, I shall not remain in this world.” His sons replied, +“Give us three days, and if at the end of that time you see no +flowers, then you may sulk.” He was persuaded to rise, and having +bathed, and partaken of food, he was refreshed.</p> +<p>Just then Lelha arrived, and addressing the raja said, “Oh! +raja, what ails you?” The raja on seeing Lelha was angry, and +scolded him severely. He said, “Has Lelha come here? Drive him +away at once.” Lelha left without uttering another word.</p> +<p>After three days the raja began again to sulk, because there were +still no flowers to be seen in his garden. The <i>Indarpuri Sadoms</i> +came about mid-night and ate up all the buds. The raja’s four +elder sons when watching could not remain <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb69" href="#pb69" name="pb69">69</a>]</span>awake for one hour, and +so the <i>Indarpuri Sadoms</i> came nightly and devoured all the buds +that should have burst into flower in the morning, so that not one +solitary blossom was to be seen. For this reason the raja again began +to sulk, and no one dared to say anything to him.</p> +<p>At this juncture Lelha’s mother went from her own house to a +shop to buy rice. The shopkeeper refused to supply her. He said, +“The raja is sulking, and she comes here to buy rice. I will not +weigh it, so go.” Lelha’s mother went hastily home, and +encountered Lelha returning from a stroll. Lelha asked for food. He +said, “Oh! mother, give me cooked rice quickly.” She +rebuked him, and said, “The raja is sulking. The shopkeeper +refused to give me rice, how can I give you food? I am a prey to grief, +and here my young gentleman is hungry. Go to the raja.”</p> +<p>Lelha did as his mother ordered him, and went to the apartment where +the raja was, and called several times, “Oh! father, get +up.” At length the raja asked, “Who are you? Do not +irritate me. Go away at once.” Lelha replied, “I am your +humble slave and son, Lelha.” His father said, “Wherefore +have you come here? Lelha, Go home, or else I shall beat you. What do +you want here? If you go, go at once, if not, I shall have you +chastised.” Lelha replied, “Because you, Oh! raja, are +sulking. The shopkeeper in the bazaar refused to sell to my mother +rice, saying, ‘something is amiss with the raja, I cannot let you +have it.’” The raja then said, “Go, and bring the +shopkeeper here.” To which Lelha replied, “Why are you +sulking? If you do not tell me, it <span class="corr" id="xd20e1313" +title="Source: where">were</span> better for me to die here. I cannot +leave you. I have come here fasting, not having eaten anything +to-day.” The raja said, “Your four brothers have not been +able to do anything, and what can I hope from telling you about it, +Lelha?” Lelha replied, “It is still possible that I may +accomplish something, but although <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb70" +href="#pb70" name="pb70">70</a>]</span>I should not, yet I am a son of +yours. Do tell me. If you die, I shall die also. We will depart this +life together. I cannot return home.” The raja then thought +within himself, I will tell him, and let him go. If I do not do so, +Lelha may die along with me. Then addressing Lelha, he said, “It +is nothing child, only I see no flowers in my garden, and therefore I +am sulking. Although your four brothers watched three nights, still I +see no flowers.” Lelha then said, “If my brothers watched +three nights, see me watch one.” The raja replied, “Very +good my son, let us leave this apartment.”</p> +<p>The raja went to bathe, and Lelha going to the shopkeeper bought +several kinds of grain, which he carried home and gave to his mother, +saying, “Roast a seer of each, and cook some rice for me. I have +succeeded in persuading my father to rise. He has bathed and dined, and +is refreshed. He was sulking because he can see no flowers in his +garden. It was with great difficulty that I prevailed upon him to get +up.” His mother said, “What does my Lord want with roasted +grain?” Lelha replied, “Let me do with it as I chose, you +prepare it. I will take it with me at night when I go to watch in the +flower garden.” His mother said, “Have you forgotten your +brothers’ threats to beat you?” Lelha replied, “My +brothers may beat me, but no other person. What help is there for +it?”</p> +<p>At nightfall, Lelha, having supped, tied up in the four corners of +his plaid four kinds of roasted grain, and entering the garden climbed +up on a raised platform, and began his vigil.</p> +<p>After a short time he untied one of his parcels of roasted grain, +and began leisurely to eat it, one grain at a time. Just as he had +consumed the last one, an <i>Indarpuri Sadom</i> descended from the +East and alighted in the garden to browse upon the flowers. Lelha +seeing it, crept noiselessly up, and laid hold of it, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb71" href="#pb71" name="pb71">71</a>]</span>and at +the same instant its rider, an <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>,<a class="noteref" +id="xd20e1332src" href="#xd20e1332" name="xd20e1332src">5</a> +exclaimed, “Hands off! Lelha. Hands off! Lelha. Touch me +not.” Lelha replied, to the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, “Besides +touching you, I will bind and detain you till morning. You have become +bold. You have caused my father to fast; but I have captured you +to-night. Where will you go?” “Let me go,” she said, +“I will bless you.” Lelha rejoined, “You are +deceiving me.” The <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> made answer, “I am +not deceiving you. I shall give you whatever blessing you may desire. +Place your hand upon my head, Lelha.” He did so, and a lock of +hair adhered to his hand, when he withdrew it. The <i>Indarpuri +Kuri</i> then said, “When you desire anything, take that lock of +hair into your hand, and say, Oh! <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, give me this +or that, and instantly you shall receive it. Of a truth it shall be so. +I shall never fail you.” Lelha then released the <i>Indarpuri +Sadom</i>, and it mounted up into the air, and he and his +<i>Indarpuri</i> Rider vanished into space.</p> +<p>By the time Lelha had eaten all the roasted grain from another +corner of his plaid, another <i>Indarpuri Sadom</i> with his +<i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> rider descended from the West. Lelha caught these +as he had done the first. This Kuri was a younger sister of the other, +and she gave a like blessing to Lelha before he released her horse.</p> +<p>Lelha now began to eat his third parcel of roasted grain, and just +as he had finished it he saw another <i>Indarpuri Sadom</i> with an +<i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> rider descend from the North, and alight in the +garden. Lelha also captured these. The rider was a younger sister of +the last. She also gave Lelha a blessing, and was allowed to go.</p> +<p>At cockcrow, Lelha, having eaten the last grain of his fourth +parcel, looked up and beheld an <i>Indarpuri Sadom</i> with an +<i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> rider descend into the garden from the +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb72" href="#pb72" name= +"pb72">72</a>]</span>North. She was the youngest of the sisters. Lelha +crept stealthily up, and laid hold of the horse’s mane. The +<i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> then exclaimed, “Hands off! Lelha. Hands +off! Lelha.” Then Lelha replied, “You Lelha greatly this +morning. It is almost dawn, where can you go to escape +punishment?” Then the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> said, “Oh! +Lelha, We are four sisters, daughters of one mother, I will give you a +blessing.” Lelha replied, “In this way three persons have +fled. You also appear the same.” The <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> said, +“We four sisters have one blessing. Place your hand upon my head, +and release me.” Lelha did so, and the <i>Indarpuri Sadom</i> on +being liberated sailed off into the sky with his <i>Indarpuri</i> +rider. Lelha tied the four locks of hair of the <i>Indarpuri Kuris</i> +each in a corner of his plaid, as he had before done with the roasted +grain. When the day fully dawned he returned to his home weeping, for +his four brothers seeing the bushes laden with blossom were envious of +him, and had hurled him headlong to the ground from off the raised +platform on which he sat.</p> +<p>On reaching home his mother said to him, “You see your +brothers have beaten you. I warned you against going.” Lelha +replied, “What help is there for it? My brothers beat me. No one +else did. I must bear it.” His mother said, “Then, why do +you let others know?”</p> +<p>In the morning the raja said, “Last night Lelha was watching. +I will go and take a look at the garden.” He went and found a +perfect sea of blossom, the sight of which almost overcame him.</p> +<p>It so happened that as the raja gazed upon the fairy scene around +him, Koema <i>Jugi</i> turned up, and addressing the raja said, +“You are lost in wonder, but if you hang <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i> on the branches the whole country will be resplendent. +Then your wonder and amazement will be increased twentyfold.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb73" href="#pb73" name= +"pb73">73</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">III.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">The raja’s garden was without an equal in the +world, but the words of Koema <i>Jugi</i> had caused him to become +discontented with it, and because there were neither <i>hiras</i> +<span class="corr" id="xd20e1427" title="Source: not">nor</span> +<i>manis</i> hanging from the branches he, as before, began to sulk. +They reasoned with him saying, “Do not grieve over it. We will +bring <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>.” So he rose, and having +bathed partook of some refreshment.</p> +<p>About this time Lelha’s mother went to a shop to purchase +food. On seeing her the shopkeeper said, “Something is amiss with +the raja, and she is hungry, and comes here giving annoyance. Go away. +I will not weigh anything for you.” So she returned home +empty-handed. As she entered the house she encountered Lelha just +returned from hunting, who said, “Oh! mother, give me cooked +rice.” His mother replied, “Something is wrong with the +raja, and here my young lord is fasting, and cries for food. He is +greatly concerned about his own affairs.”</p> +<p>Lelha went at once to the raja, and enquired “What ails you, +father?” The raja replied, “Is there anything ailing me? +Has Lelha come here? I will beat him shortly.” Lelha said, +“Do with me what you please<span class="corr" id="xd20e1444" +title="Source: ,">.</span> Why are you sulking? If you do not tell me, +although it should cost me my life, I will not leave, rather slay me +here at once.” The raja thought within himself, “He annoys +me, I will tell him to get rid of him.” So he said, “Your +brothers have gone in search of <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, and it +is because I do not see the trees in my garden adorned with these +precious stones that I am sulking. <a id="xd20e1453" name= +"xd20e1453"></a>Lelha said<span class="corr" id="xd20e1455" title= +"Source: ">, “</span>I will also go.” His father said, +“Do not go child.” But Lelha was determined, and +disregarded his father’s command.</p> +<p>Lelha went to the bazaar and purchased rice and <i>dal</i>, and his +mother when she saw him bringing them home with him, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb74" href="#pb74" name="pb74">74</a>]</span>said, +“What is wrong? You are completely out of breath.<span class= +"corr" id="xd20e1465" title="Source: ’">”</span> Lelha +replied, “My brothers have gone to search for <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i>, and I also am busy preparing to follow them.” She +tried to dissuade him saying, “Although the mean fellows beat +you, still you will not keep away from them.” Lelha quickly +replied, “What help is there for it, mother? Let my brothers beat +me or not, what is that to me? I must bear it all.” So his mother +prepared food, and Lelha, having partaken of it, set out.</p> +<p>He went to the stable, and saddled the lame horse, as his brothers +had taken away the good ones, and mounting rode to the outskirts of the +city. He then dismounted, and turned the lame horse loose, and went +into the raja’s flower garden, and said, “Oh! <i>Indarpuri +Kuri</i>, give me a horse instantly. My brothers have left me behind, +and gone I know not where. Give me such a horse as will enable me to +reach them at once.” Immediately a horse was at his side, and in +a few seconds he was in sight of his brothers. He then alighted from +his horse, and said “Oh! <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, I return your +horse,” and instantly it disappeared, and he overtook his +brothers on foot.</p> +<p>When his brothers saw him, they said, “He has overtaken +us.” Some of them said, “Catch him and beat him,” +others said, “No, let him alone, he will do our cooking. We can +go in search of <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, and leave him to guard +our camp. Come let us push on, we have now got a good guard for our +camp.” This pleased all, and they said, “It is now evening, +let us pitch our camp for the night.” They did so, and Lelha soon +had supper ready, of which having partaken they all retired to +rest.</p> +<p>In the morning Lelha again acted as cook, and while it was yet early +set breakfast before his brothers, and they having eaten, mounted their +horses, and went in search of <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>. They were +now a month’s journey distant from their <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb75" href="#pb75" name="pb75">75</a>]</span>own +home, and the raja of the country in which they were, had just opened a +new bazaar. It was a large and beautiful bazaar, and an <i>Indarpuri +Kuri</i> had a stall it. This <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> had given out, that +whoever would go and come twelve kos seven times within an hour should +be her husband.</p> +<p>The four sons of the raja, who had come in search of <i>hiras</i> +and <i>manis</i> hearing this said, “Some one from amongst us +four brothers must marry this girl. Let us exercise our horses, it is +possible that some one of them may do the distance in the specified +time.” They had left home in search of <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i>, and now were scheming to secure the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> +as the wife of one of them. So they returned to camp, and sitting down +began to discuss the subject. They said, “If our horses are well +exercised, no doubt, but that they will be able to run the distance in +the time. Therefore, let us <span class="corr" id="xd20e1524" title= +"Source: dilligently">diligently</span> train our horses, so that they +may be able to accomplish the task.”</p> +<p>While they were thus engaged, Lelha said, “What is it, +brothers, that you are discussing?” His brothers rebuked him, +saying, “Why are you eavesdropping? We will beat you.” They +did not, however, beat him, as they feared he would return home, and +leave them without a cook. So he cooked the supper and set it before +them, and when they had eaten, they retired to rest.</p> +<p>In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his four brothers +having breakfasted, mounted and rode off to the bazaar, and there +exercised their horses. After they had left Lelha collected all the +brass vessels, and what other property there was, and carefully +<span class="corr" id="xd20e1531" title="Source: bid">hid</span> them +away. Then he called to the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, “Oh! +<i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, give me a horse,” and instantly, just such +a horse as he desired stood beside him. He mounted and galloping away +soon overtook his brothers. He saluted them, but they did not recognize +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb76" href="#pb76" name= +"pb76">76</a>]</span>him. He said to them, “Wherefore, brothers, +have you brought your horses to a standstill? Make them race.” +They replied, “We were waiting for you. We are tired. It is your +turn now.” Lelha immediately switched up his horse, and away it +flew at such a pace, that it could scarcely be seen. That day his horse +ran twelve kos there and back three times within an hour. At the end of +the race soldiers tried to lay hold of Lelha’s horse, but he +called out, “Do not touch him. He will not allow you to lay a +finger on me.” The soldiers said, “The raja has given +orders, that the horse that ran three, or five, or seven times is to be +brought before him.” Lelha replied, “Go, and tell the raja, +that the horse bites, so we could not stop him. The raja will not be +displeased with you.” He then rode away to the camp, and having +returned the horse to the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> he began to prepare the +evening meal, which was ready by the time his four brothers +arrived.</p> +<p>After supper they began to talk over the events of the day, +wondering who owned the horse that had run so well. Lelha drew near, +and said, “What is it, brothers, that you are talking +about?” Some said, “Beat him, what has he got to do +listening?” Others said, “Do not beat him, he cooks for +us.” So the matter ended, and all lay down for the night.</p> +<p>In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his brothers +having breakfasted, mounted their horses, and rode off to the bazaar, +where they raced as usual. After they had gone, Lelha gathered all +their property together, and hid it as he had done on the day previous. +Then, mounting an <i>Indarpuri Sadom</i>, he followed his brothers, and +on coming up with them saluted them, but they did not recognize him as +their brother. Then a conversation similar to that of the previous day +passed between Lelha and his brothers. This time Lelha’s horse +ran the distance, there and back, five times within the hour. The +raja’s soldiers again attempted to stop Lelha’s horse, but +he told them that it was in the habit of biting, so they <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb77" href="#pb77" name="pb77">77</a>]</span>allowed +him to pass, and he galloped off to the camp, and returning the horse +to the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> began to prepare the evening meal. When +his brothers arrived Lelha set food before them, and they ate and +drank. After they had supped they sat and talked about the wonderful +horse, and its feat that day. Lelha again enquired what they were +talking about, but they rebuked him saying, “Do not listen. It is +not necessary for you to know what we are speaking about.” They +all then retired for the night.</p> +<p>Early next morning Lelha set about preparing breakfast, and his +brothers, having partaken of it, set out for the bazaar. After their +departure Lelha gathered everything together, and hid them as before, +and then called upon <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> for a horse. The horse came, +and Lelha mounted and galloped after his brothers. On overtaking them +he saluted, and then said, “Wherefore, brothers, do you stand +still? Race your horses.” They replied<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1563" title="Not in source">,</span> <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1566" title="Source: ‘">“</span>It is your turn now. +We have run, and our horses are tired.” Lelha then started his +horse, and it ran twelve kos there, and twelve kos back, seven times +within the hour. The raja’s soldiers again attempted to capture +Lelha’s horse, but he prevented them, and so returned to the +camp. When he had returned the horse to the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> he +resumed his office of cook, and had supper ready by the time his +brothers returned. They sat down together, and began to discuss the +wonderful performance of the horse which had that day done the distance +seven times in one hour. Lelha again enquired, “What is it that +you are talking about, brothers?” Some one said, “Beat him. +He has no right to be listening,” but another said, “Do not +beat him, he cooks our food.” When the four brothers were tired +talking Lelha set supper before them, and having supped, they lay down +to sleep.</p> +<p>Next morning Lelha cooked the breakfast as usual, and his brothers +having partaken of it, mounted their horses, and rode off to the +bazaar. After they had left Lelha put everything <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb78" href="#pb78" name="pb78">78</a>]</span>out of +sight, as usual. Then he desired the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> to give him +a horse, and having mounted, he followed his brothers, and on coming +near saluted them as before, but again they failed to recognize +him.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">IV.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">On the seventh day Lelha again followed his +brothers to the bazaar. He begged the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> to give him +a horse that would do the distance there and back seven times within +the hour, and at the end would fall down dead, and also to have another +horse ready for him to mount<span class="corr" id="xd20e1587" title= +"Not in source">.</span> The <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> gave him his desire +and he rode off to the bazaar, and again saluted his brothers, and at +the same time pushed his horse close up to them. They called out, +“Keep your horse back, he will crush us.” Lelha then +enquired why they were standing still. They replied, “We were +waiting for you.” So Lelha put his horse to the gallop, and did +the distance there and back seven times within an hour. On his return +the last time the soldiers attempted to lay hold of the horse, but +Lelha said, “Let him alone, I will go myself.” At the same +instant his horse fell, and he leapt from it, and having returned it to +the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, he mounted the other, and rode from the race +course to the bazaar, and was united in wedlock to the <i>Indarpuri +Kuri</i>.</p> +<p>After the marriage he informed his bride that he was in search of +<i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> for his father’s flower garden. She +informed him, that lying on the breast of her elder sister, who had +been sleeping for twelve years, was a large quantity of <i>hiras</i>. +“To obtain them you must first,” she said, “buy two +bundles of grass, two goats, and a pair of shoes, and make two ropes +each two hundred cubits long. My sister is guarded by an elephant, a +tiger, and a dog. On entering you will first encounter the elephant, +and you must throw him a bundle of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb79" +href="#pb79" name="pb79">79</a>]</span>grass. A little <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e1612" title="Source: further">farther</span> on you +will meet the tiger, you must give him a goat. Then you will see the +dog, and you must throw him a shoe. When you are returning you must do +the same. Throw a shoe to the dog, a goat to the tiger, and a sheaf of +grass to the elephant. You must lose no time in possessing yourself of +the <i>hiras</i> you will find on my sister’s breast. If you +delay, her army may take you prisoner.” She also said, “My +sister’s house is situated on an island in a large lake, and you +can only reach it by hiring a boat. The door of her house is a large +heavy stone, which you must remove before gaining an entrance. On the +island there is a Sinjo tree,<a class="noteref" id="xd20e1619src" href= +"#xd20e1619" name="xd20e1619src">6</a> with branches on the North side, +and on the South. On the branches of the South side there are the young +of <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, but on those of the North side there +is nothing. On the South side there are five branches, and within the +fruit there are <i>manis</i>. Do not forget this. The large +<i>hira</i>, which glitters on my sister’s breast, is the mother +<i>hira</i>.” Just as she concluded the foregoing instructions +the cock crew, and she added, “See that you remember all I have +told you.”</p> +<p>Then Lelha left his bride to return to his brothers. As he went he +remembered that they would be sure to abuse him for having been absent, +so he collected a large number of shells, and stringing them together, +hung them round his neck, and went dancing to the camp. When his +brothers saw him, in the dress of a merryandrew they rebuked him +severely.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">V.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">Lelha’s excuse for his absence was as +follows<span class="corr" id="xd20e1645" title="Source: ,">.</span> He +said, “You, my brothers, always leave me here alone in the camp. +Yesterday several shepherds came, and forcibly carried me away. They +kept me awake all night. They tied these shells round my neck and made +me dance. They also made me drive cattle <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb80" href="#pb80" name="pb80">80</a>]</span>round and round. I had no +rest all night. They also shewed me <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i>.<span class="corr" id="xd20e1656" title= +"Not in source">”</span></p> +<p>Lelha’s brothers eagerly enquired, “Where did you see +the <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>? Come, show us the place at +once.” Lelha replied, “We must first buy food for the +<i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>.” So they went to the bazaar to buy +food for the <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>. Lelha first bought two +goats, and his brothers abused him, and said, “Will <i>hiras</i> +and <i>manis</i> eat these?” Some one of them said, “Slap +him.” Another said, “Do not slap him, they may perhaps eat +them.” Then he bought a pair of shoes, at which again they +reviled him. Then he bought two ropes, when they again reviled him. +Lastly he purchased two bundles of grass, and having provided these +necessary articles, they went and hired a boat. The horses of the four +brothers were dead, so they had to proceed on foot to where the boat +lay.</p> +<p>After sailing for <span class="corr" id="xd20e1688" title= +"Source: sometime">some time</span> they reached an island, and landed. +They quickly found the house of the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>. It was +closed by a large stone lying over the entrance. Lelha ordered his +brothers to remove it, but they were displeased and said, “How do +you expect to find <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> under this +stone.” Lelha said, “Truly, my brothers, they are under the +stone.” He pressed them to attempt the removal of the stone, so +they, and others to the number of fifty tried their strength but the +stone seemed immovable. Then Lelha said, “Stand <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e1700" title="Source: bye">by</span>, and allow +<span class="corr" id="xd20e1704" title="Source: am">me</span> to +try.” So putting to his hand, <span class="corr" id="xd20e1707" +title="Source: be">he</span> easily removed it, and revealed the +entrance to the mansion of the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>. His brothers were +so astounded at the strength he displayed that they lost the power of +speech.</p> +<p>Lelha then said to his brothers, “Take one of these ropes, and +bind it round me, and lower me down, and when you feel me shaking the +rope, then quickly pull me up. I go to find <i>hiras</i>.” His +brothers quickly bound the rope round his body, and he, taking the +goats, the pair of shoes, and the bundles of grass, descended. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb81" href="#pb81" name= +"pb81">81</a>]</span></p> +<p>A short distance from where he reached the ground, he found a door, +which was guarded by an elephant bound by the foot to a stake. To him +he threw a bundle of grass and passed on. At the next door he found a +tiger, likewise chained, and as he approached, it opened its jaws as if +to devour him. To it, he gave a goat, and was allowed to pass. At the +third door was a dog. He threw a shoe to it, and when the dog was +engaged biting it, he passed through. Then he saw the <i>hira</i> +sparkling upon the bosom of the sleeping <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>. Going +near, he snatched it up, and fled. The dog, however, barred his exit +but he threw the other shoe to it, and passed on. The tiger had +devoured the goat he had given to it, and was now alert. To it he gave +the other goat, and hurried on. The elephant then opposed him, but the +remaining bundle of grass was sufficient to divert his attention, and +he passed through the last door. Then violently shaking the rope his +brothers speedily hauled him up.</p> +<p>Then they went to their boat, and rowed to another part of the +island, where the Sinjo tree grew. They all climbed the tree, but Lelha +plucked the five fruits on the branch to the South, while his brothers +plucked a large number from the North side.</p> +<p>They then returned to their boat and rowed back to the place from +which they had started. From there they went to the house of +Lelha’s bride. When she heard of their arrival she ordered +refreshments to be prepared for them. Her servants also all came, and +gave Lelha and his brothers oil, and sent them to bathe. On their +return from bathing, their feet were washed by servants, and they were +then taken into the house.</p> +<p>After they were seated Lelha’s brothers began to whisper to +each other, saying, “We do not know of what caste these people +are, to whose house he has brought us to eat food. He will cause us to +lose caste.” Lelha heard what they were saying, and in +explanation said, “Not so, brothers. This is my wife’s +house.” They replied, “It is all right then.” So they +ate and drank heartily, and afterwards prepared to return home. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb82" href="#pb82" name= +"pb82">82</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">VI.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">The journey was to be by boat. Lelha sent his +brothers on ahead in one boat, and he and his wife followed in another. +There was a distance of two or three kos between the boats.</p> +<p>Lelha’s brothers as they sailed along came to a certain ghat +at which a raja was bathing. He was raja of the country through which +they were passing. He demanded from Lelha’s brothers to know what +they had in their boat. They replied, “We have <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i> with us.” Then the raja said, “Shew them to +me. You may be thieves.” They replied<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1750" title="Not in source">,</span> “No, they are inside +these Sinjo fruits.” The raja said, “Break one, I wish to +see what they are like.” So the brothers broke one, but nothing +was found in it. Then the raja called his soldiers, and ordered them to +bind the four brothers. So the soldiers seized and bound them, and +carried them off to prison. Just then Lelha’s boat arrived. He +was in time to see his brothers pass within the prison doors. Having +seen the four brothers in safe custody the raja returned to the bathing +ghat, and seeing Lelha he demanded to know what he had in his boat. +Lelha answered, “We have <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> as our +cargo.” The raja then said, “Shew them to me, I would fain +look upon them.” Lelha said<span class="corr" id="xd20e1760" +title="Not in source">,</span> “You wish to see <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i> without any trouble to yourself. If I show you them, what +will you give me in return? There are <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> in +this Sinjo fruit.” The raja replied, “Those who came before +you deceived me. I have no doubt, but that you will do so also.” +Lelha said, “What will you give me? Make an offer, and I shall +shew you them at once.” The raja replied, “I have one +daughter, her I will give to you, and along with her an estate, if +there are <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> in that Sinjo fruit, and if +there are none in it, I will keep you prisoner all your +lifetime.” Lelha immediately broke one of the Sinjo fruits, and +five <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> rolled out. When the raja saw it he +was confounded, but what could he do? According to his promise, he gave +him his daughter and an estate. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb83" +href="#pb83" name="pb83">83</a>]</span></p> +<p>The marriage ceremony being over, Lelha was invited to partake of +the raja’s hospitality, but he refused, saying, “If you set +my brothers at liberty I shall eat, but not unless you do +so.<span class="corr" id="xd20e1791" title= +"Not in source">”</span> So the brothers were released, and taken +to the bath. After they had bathed, their feet were washed, and they +were led into the palace to the feast.</p> +<p>The brothers, after they were seated, began to whisper to each +other, saying, “Whose house is this? Of what caste are the +people? Does he wish to make us lose our caste?” But Lelha +reassured them by saying, “Not so, my brothers. I have espoused +the raja’s daughter.” Hearing this they were relieved, and +all enjoyed the marriage feast.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">VII.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">Then they made preparations to continue their +journey. Lelha again sent his four brothers first, and he followed with +his two wives.</p> +<p>After a sail of a few hours they entered the territory of another +raja, and came upon his bathing ghat. The raja was bathing there at the +time, and the boat passing, he enquired what her cargo was. The +brothers answered, “We have <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> on +board.” The raja said, “I would see them.” They +replied, “They are in the boat following us.” The raja was +displeased with their answer, and ordered them to be seized as +vagrants.</p> +<p>Lelha’s boat came alongside the bathing ghat just as his four +brothers were led off to prison, and the raja seeing it, asked Lelha +what cargo he carried. Lelha replied, “Our cargo is <i>hiras</i> +and <i>manis</i>.” The raja begged Lelha to shew them to him, but +he refused saying, “What will you give for a sight of them? +Promise something, and you can see them.” The raja said, +“Of a truth, if you can shew me <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb84" href="#pb84" name= +"pb84">84</a>]</span>I will give you my daughter. I have one, a virgin, +her I will give you, and I will also confer upon you an +estate.”</p> +<p>Then Lelha, seizing a Sinjo fruit, broke it, and out rolled five +<i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, which when the raja saw he marvelled +greatly. He honourably fulfilled his engagement, and Lelha’s +marriage with his daughter was celebrated forthwith.</p> +<p>The wedding over Lelha was conducted to the bath, and afterwards +invited to a banquet; but he declined saying, “So long as you +detain my brothers in confinement, I cannot partake of your +hospitality.” So they were brought to the palace, and their feet +bathed, and then ushered into the banqueting room. After they were +seated they began to whisper to each other, “What caste do these +people belong to, with whom he expects us to eat? Does he intend to +make us break our caste?” Lelha hearing them, said, “Not +so, my brothers. This is my father-in-law’s house.” Thus +were their doubts removed, and they ate and drank with much +pleasure.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">VIII.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">The journey homewards was resumed in the morning, +the boats in the same order as previously.</p> +<p>Lelha’s four brothers were envious of his good fortune, and on +the way they talked about him, and decided that he must be put to +death. They said, “How can we put him out of the way? If we do +not make away with him, on our return home, he will be sure to secure +the succession to our father’s kingdom.” Having come to +this conclusion the next thing was, how could it be accomplished, for +Lelha was far more powerful than they were. It was only by stratagem +that they could hope to accomplish their purpose, so they said, +“We will invite him to a feast and when he stands with a foot on +either boat, before stepping into ours, we will push the boats apart +and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb85" href="#pb85" name= +"pb85">85</a>]</span>he will fall into the river and be drowned. We +must get his wives to join in the plot, for without their aid we cannot +carry it into execution.” During the day they found means to +communicate with Lelha’s wives. They said to them, “We will +make a feast on our boat. Make him come on board first, and when he has +a foot on each boat you push yours back, and we will do the same to +ours, and he will fall into the water, and be drowned. We are the sons +of a raja, and our country is very large. We will take you with us and +make you ranis.” Lelha’s wives pretended to agree to their +proposal; but they afterwards told him all. They said, “Do as +they wish, but you will not be drowned. We will remain faithful to you, +and you will reach home before us.”</p> +<p>So the four brothers prepared a sumptuous feast, and the boats were +brought close to each other to enable Lelha and his wives to go on +board. One of Lelha’s wives tied a knot on his waist cloth, as a +token that they would remain true to him. He then <span class="corr" +id="xd20e1846" title="Source: preceeded">preceded</span> them in going +into the other boat, and just as he had a foot on each gunwale, the +boats were pushed asunder, and Lelha fell into the water. Having thus +got rid, as they thought, of Lelha, the brothers made all possible +speed homewards.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">IX.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">At the bottom of the river a bell sprang into +existence, and Lelha was found lying asleep in it. Then he awoke and +sat up, and loosening the knot which his wife had tied on his waist +cloth, said, “Oh! <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, give me at once food and +drink, tobacco and fire,” and on the instant his wants were +supplied. So he ate and drank, and was refreshed. Then he prepared his +pipe, and when he had lit it he said, “Oh! <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, +give me a fully equipped horse that will carry me home before the +tobacco in this pipe is consumed.” The last <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb86" href="#pb86" name="pb86">86</a>]</span>word had +scarcely escaped his lips when a horse stood beside him. It was a +fierce animal, of a blue colour, and no fly could alight on its skin. +It was fully equipped, and impatient to start. Lelha, still smoking his +pipe, mounted, and his steed at one bound cleared the river, although +it was seven or eight kos broad, and flying like the wind, landed him +at home before the tobacco in his pipe was consumed.</p> +<p>The <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i> were in the possession of +Lelha’s wives. His brothers wheedled them into giving them up, +saying they will be safer with us.</p> +<p>Lelha went to his mother’s house and said to her, “Tell +no one of my being here.” He had alighted from his horse on the +outskirts of the city, and returned it to the <i>Indarpuri +Kuri</i>.</p> +<p>A period of ten days elapsed before Lelha’s brothers and his +wives arrived. The latter declined to accompany the former at once to +the raja’s palace. They said, “Let your mothers come, and +conduct us, as is usual when a bride enters her husband’s +house.” The two elder ranis then came, and the four sons went to +the raja’s flower garden and hung the <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i> on the branches of the trees, and the whole countryside +was instantly lighted up by the sheen of the precious stones. The +saying of the Koema <i>Jugi</i> was fulfilled to the letter.</p> +<p>Lelha also sent his mother to welcome his wives, but when the elder +ranis saw her coming, they reviled her and drove her away. They would +not permit her to come near. She returned home weeping. “You told +me,” she said, “to go and welcome your wives, and I have +been abused<span class="corr" id="xd20e1888" title="Source: ,">.</span> +When will you learn wisdom?” Lelha ran into the house, and +brought a ring, and giving it to his mother, said, “Take this +ring, and place it in the lap of one of them.” She took the ring, +and gave it to one of Lelha’s wives, and immediately they all +rose, and followed her laughing, to their new home. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb87" href="#pb87" name="pb87">87</a>]</span></p> +<p>The elder ranis went and informed their sons of what had happened, +but they said, “They are Lelha’s wives. What can we +do?”</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div2"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h3 class="main">X.</h3> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">The <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> whom Lelha had robbed of +her <i>hira</i> now awoke, and at once missed her precious jewel. She +knew that Lelha had stolen it from her, and summoning her army to her +standard marched upon Lelha’s father’s capital, to which +she laid siege, and before many hours had elapsed, the raja was a +prisoner in her hands.</p> +<p>This <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> said to him, “Will you give up the +<i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, or will you fight?” The raja sent +the following message to his four sons, “Will you fight to retain +possession of the <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, or will you deliver +them up?” They were afraid, so they gave answer, “We will +not. Lelha knows all about the <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>. We do +not.”</p> +<p>The raja then sent and called Lelha, and enquired, “Will you +shew fight, Lelha, or will you give up the <i>hiras</i> and +<i>manis</i>?” Lelha replied, “I will fight. I will not +part with the <i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>. I obtained them only after +much painful toil, so I cannot deliver them up. Ask them to agree to +delay hostilities for a short time, but inform them that Lelha will +fight.”</p> +<p>Lelha hurried to the further end of the garden, and taking the hair +of the first <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i> in his hand said, “Oh! +<i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>. Give me an army four times stronger than the one +brought against me, so that I may make short work of my enemies.” +Immediately an army of 44,000 men stood in military array, awaiting his +orders. The two armies joined battle, and Lelha discomfited the host of +the <i>Indarpuri Kuri</i>, and she herself became his prize. She became +his wife, and returned no more to her cavernous home in the solitary +island. Lelha thus became the husband of four wives. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb88" href="#pb88" name="pb88">88</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then the raja called his five sons together and said, “In my +estimation Lelha is the one best qualified to became raja of this +kingdom. I therefore resign all power and authority into his +hands.” Lelha replied, “Yes, father, you have judged +righteously. My brothers have caused me much distress. First, they +pushed off the raised platform in your flower garden, but of that I did +not inform you. Then they caused me, who was the finder of the +<i>hiras</i> and <i>manis</i>, to fall into the river. You saw how they +refused to fight, and threw all the responsibility upon me. They have +used me spitefully. They have tried to make a cat’s paw of +me.”</p> +<p>So Lelha was raja of all the country, and his brothers were his +servants. One was in charge of Lelha’s pipe and tobacco, another +ploughed his fields, and the other two had like menial offices assigned +to them. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb89" href="#pb89" name= +"pb89">89</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1196" href="#xd20e1196src" name="xd20e1196">1</a></span> Lelha in +Santali means foolish.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1242" href="#xd20e1242src" name="xd20e1242">2</a></span> +Diamonds.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1248" href="#xd20e1248src" name="xd20e1248">3</a></span> A +mythical gem, said to be found in the heads of certain snakes.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1292" href="#xd20e1292src" name="xd20e1292">4</a></span> +Celestial horses.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1332" href="#xd20e1332src" name="xd20e1332">5</a></span> +Celestial Maiden.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1619" href="#xd20e1619src" name="xd20e1619">6</a></span> +Ægle Marmelos, Correa.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t16" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of Sindura Gand Garur.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">In a certain village there lived a mother and her +son. The boy tended goats in the forest. One day he found a spot of +ground, where he thought rice would grow well. So he went home, and +asked his mother to give him some seed to sow there. She said, +“If you sow rice there it will all be destroyed. The elephants, +or the wild jungle cattle, will eat it.” But he begged so hard +that at length she gave him some seed rice, which he sowed on the small +plot of ground in the jungle. It sprang up and grew luxuriantly. Every +day he drove his goats there, and spent the long hours in driving the +birds and insects away from his little farm.</p> +<p>When the rice had grown to a good height the raja’s son with +his companion came and set up a mark near by at which they shot with +their bows and arrows. The orphan boy was asked to join them, which he +did, and so accurate was his aim, that he hit the mark every time he +shot. The raja’s son and his companion were astonished to see +such good shooting, and they said, “The fatherless boy hits the +mark every time.”</p> +<p>The boy ran home to his mother weeping, and said, “Oh! mother, +where is my father?” To keep him from grieving, she told a lie. +“Your father,” she said, “has gone on a visit to his +relations.”</p> +<p>The next day after he had again shown great skill with the bow and +arrow the raja’s son and his companion said, “The +fatherless boy hits the mark every time.” Hearing this he again +went home weeping, and said to his mother, “Oh! mother, where is +my father?” She replied, “He has gone to visit his +friends.” Every day the boy came crying to his mother asking +where his father was, so at last she told him. She said, “Your +father, child, was carried away on the horns of a <i>Gand +Garur</i><a class="noteref" id="xd20e1982src" href="#xd20e1982" name= +"xd20e1982src">1</a>.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb90" href= +"#pb90" name="pb90">90</a>]</span></p> +<p>The boy then said to his mother, “Prepare me some flour. I +will go in search of him.” His mother tried to dissuade him, +saying, “Where can you go in such a jungle as this?” He, +however, insisted, and she prepared flour for him, and he set out.</p> +<p>After travelling many hours he entered the primeval forest, and +presently darkness came upon him. After a short time he came to the +dwelling of <i>Huti<a class="noteref" id="xd20e1992src" href= +"#xd20e1992" name="xd20e1992src">2</a> Budhi</i>, and requested +permission to pass the night there. This was accorded to him, and he +lay down and fell asleep. During the night he was awakened by the +<i>Huti Budhi</i> eating his bow and arrows. He called out to her +“Oh! old woman, What have you been nibbling at since +evening?” The <i>Huti Budhi</i> replied, “It is only some +roasted grain, which I brought a while ago from the house of the +Chief.”</p> +<p>In a short time the nibbling sound was again heard, and he again +enquired what she was eating. She returned the same answer as before. +“Oh! my son, it is only roasted grain which the chief’s +people gave me.” He did not know that all the time she was eating +his bow and arrows.</p> +<p>When morning dawned he requested her to give him his weapons, and on +his attempting to string the bow it broke in his hands. The <i>Huti +Budhi</i> had eaten the heart out of the wood, and had left only the +outer shell. He left her house planning revenge.</p> +<p>During the day he had an iron bow and iron arrows made. All was iron +like the arrow heads. In the evening he returned to sleep at the +<i>Huti Budhi’s</i> house.</p> +<p>During the night he heard the <i>Huti Budhi</i> trying to nibble his +bow and arrows<span class="corr" id="xd20e2019" title= +"Not in source">.</span> So he enquired what she was doing. The answer +she gave was, “Do you think the <i>Huti Budhi</i> can eat +iron.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb91" href="#pb91" name= +"pb91">91</a>]</span></p> +<p>When morning dawned he demanded his bow and arrows, and received +them uninjured, but the lower part of the <i>Huti Budhi’s</i> +face was all swollen. She had been trying to eat the iron bow and +arrows. Her lodger strung his bow, and having saluted her, went his +way.</p> +<p>As he journeyed he entered another unexplored forest in the midst of +which he discovered a lake, to which all the birds and beasts resorted +to quench their thirst. He obtained this information by an examination +of its banks, on which he saw the footprints of the various beasts and +birds. He now took some flour from his bag, and having moistened it +with water made a hearty meal, and then sat down to wait for +evening.</p> +<p>As the sun went down the denizens of the forest began to come to the +lake to drink. They came in quick succession, and as each made its +appearance, he sang assurance to it, that he harboured no evil design +against it.</p> +<p>The quail led the way, and to it he sang,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh! quail, you need not fear to drink,</p> +<p class="line">I’ll not harm you, I you assure;</p> +<p class="line">But I will slay on this lake’s brink,</p> +<p class="line">Cruel Sindura Gand Garur.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">He sang in a similar strain to each bird as it +came, naming it by its name.</p> +<p>At length the <i>Gand Garur</i> alighted on the edge of the lake to +drink, and he at once drew his bow, and sent an arrow to its heart, for +he had seen the dried and shrivelled corpse of his father still +adhering to its horns. The <i>Gand Garur</i> being dead, he detached +what remained of his parent’s body from its horns, and taking it +in his arms pressed it to his bosom and wept bitterly.</p> +<hr class="tb"> +<p>As he wept, <i>Bidi</i> and <i>Bidhati</i> descended from the sky +and asked him the reason of his sorrow. So he told them all. They +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb92" href="#pb92" name= +"pb92">92</a>]</span>spoke words of comfort to him, and said, +“Dip your gamcha cloth in the lake, and cover the corpse with it. +And don’t you cry, rather bathe and cook some food. And do not +cook for one only, but prepare portions for two. And when the food is +ready, you partake of one portion, and set the other aside. Then tap +your father on the back and say, <span class="corr" id="xd20e2069" +title="Not in source">‘</span>Rise father, <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e2072" title="Source: Here">here</span> is your food.<span class= +"corr" id="xd20e2076" title="Not in source">’</span>” He +did as his kind friends bade him, and the dead came to life again. The +father sat up and said, “Oh! my son, what a lengthened sleep I +have had.” The son replied, “A sleep? you must be demented, +you were pierced through by the horns of the <i>Gand Garur</i>, and +your dried carcase was adhering to them. See I have killed it. It is +lying here. <i>Bidi</i> and <i>Bidhati</i> instructed me how to +proceed, and I have brought you to life again.</p> +<p>So they returned joyfully home singing the praises of <i>Bidi</i> +and <i>Bidhati</i>. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb93" href="#pb93" +name="pb93">93</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1982" href="#xd20e1982src" name="xd20e1982">1</a></span> A +mythical bird which figures largely in Indian folk lore.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e1992" href="#xd20e1992src" name="xd20e1992">2</a></span> Huti is +the name given by Santals to a certain timber boring insect. Budhi is +an old woman.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t17" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Tiger and Ulta’s Mother.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">A tiger cub was in the habit of playing under the +shade of a certain tree, in which was a crane’s nest with a young +one in it. The parent cranes brought frogs and lizards to their young +one, and what it could not eat it used to throw down to the young +tiger, and in this way the two became greatly attached to each other. +After a time the tigress died, and left the cub alone in the world. The +young crane felt much pity for its afflicted friend, and could not bear +the thought of itself being in a better position. So one day it said to +the tiger, “Let us kill my mother.” The tiger replied, +“Just as you please. I cannot say do it, nor can I say do not do +it.” When the mother crane came to give its young one food, the +latter set upon her and killed her. The friendship between the two +increased so that they could not be separated from each other. Day and +night they spent in each other’s society.</p> +<p>After a time the two said, “Come let us make a garden, and +plant in it turmeric.” So they prepared a piece of ground, and +the crane brought roots of turmeric from a distance. They then +discussed the matter as to which part of the crop each would take. The +crane said to the tiger, “You, my brother, choose first.” +The tiger said, “If I must speak first, I will take the +leaves.” Then, said the crane, “I will take the +roots.” Having settled this point to their satisfaction, they +began to plant. The tiger dug holes, and the crane put in the roots, +and covered them over with earth.</p> +<p>A year passed, and they again said to each other, “Which of us +will take the roots, and which the leaves?” The tiger said, +“I will take the leaves.” The crane replied, “I will +take the roots.” So they began to dig up the plants, and cutting +the leaves from the roots, placed each by themselves. The tiger +collected an immense bulk of leaves, and the crane <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb94" href="#pb94" name="pb94">94</a>]</span>a large +heap of roots. This done each surveyed the other’s portion. That +of the crane was of a beautiful, reddish tinge, and excited the envy of +the tiger, who said to the crane, “Give me half of yours, and I +will give you half of mine.” The crane refused, saying, “I +will not share with you. Why did you at first chose the leaves? I gave +you your choice.” The tiger insisted, but the crane was obdurate, +and before long they were quarrelling as if they had been lifelong +enemies. The crane seeing it was being worsted in the wrangle, flew in +the face of the tiger, and pecked its eyes, so that it became blind. It +then flew away, and left the tiger lamenting its sad fate. Having lost +its sight it could not find its way about, so remained there +weeping.</p> +<p>One day, hearing the voice of a man near by, the tiger<a id= +"xd20e2110" name="xd20e2110"></a> called out, “Oh! man, are you a +doctor?” The man <span class="corr" id="xd20e2112" title= +"Source: stupified">stupefied</span> with fear stared at the tiger, and +gave no reply. The tiger again said, “Oh! man, why do you not +reply to my question? Although you are a human being, have you no +pity?” The man then said, “Oh! renowned hero, what did you +ask me? I am terror stricken, so did not reply. You may devour +me.” The tiger replied, “If I had wished to kill you, I +could have done so, but I mean you no harm.” The tiger again +asked the man if he possessed a knowledge of medicine, but he replied, +“I do not.” The tiger then asked, “Is there one +amongst you who does know?” The man replied, “Yes.” +The tiger enquired, “Who is he?” The man said, “There +is a certain widow with two sons, the name of one of whom is Ulta, who +possesses a knowledge of medicine, she will be able to cure you.” +Having given the tiger this information the man went away.</p> +<p>The tiger went to the house of Ulta’s mother, and hid himself +behind a hedge. He said within himself, “When I hear any one call +Ulta then I will go forward.” Shortly after the tiger arrived +Ulta’s mother called Ulta, <span class="corr" id="xd20e2117" +title="Not in source">“</span>Ulta, come to your <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb95" href="#pb95" name= +"pb95">95</a>]</span>supper.” Then the tiger ran hastily forward, +and cried, “Oh! Ulta’s mother, Oh! Ulta’s +mother.” But she was afraid, and exclaimed, “This tiger has +done for us to-day.” The tiger said to the woman, “Do you +know medicine?” She replied, “Yes, Wait till I bring +it.” So hastily running out she said to her neighbours, “A +tiger has come to my house. He is blind, and wishes me to cure his +blindness.” The neighbours said to her, “Give him some of +the juice of the Akauna<a class="noteref" id="xd20e2122src" href= +"#xd20e2122" name="xd20e2122src">1</a> tree. It will increase his +blindness.” So she quickly brought Akauna juice, and giving it to +the tiger, said, “Go to some dense jungle and apply it to your +eyes. Do not apply it here, or it will have no effect. Take it away. We +are about to sit down to supper, and then my children will go to sleep. +The medicine will cause you pain at first, but it will effect a +complete cure.”</p> +<p>The tiger hurried away to the jungle, and poured the akauna juice +into his eyes. The pain it caused was as if his eyeballs were being +torn out. He tossed himself about in agony, and at last struck his head +against a tree. In a short time, his blindness was gone. He could see +everything plainly, and was delighted beyond expression.</p> +<p>One day several traders were passing along a pathway through the +jungle in which the tiger hunted. He was lying concealed watching for +prey, and when the traders were passing he jumped out upon them. Seeing +the tiger they fled, and left behind them their silver, and gold, and +brass vessels. The tiger collected all and carried them to Ulta’s +mother’s house, and presenting them to her said, “All this +I give to you, for through you I have again seen the earth. Had it not +been for you, who knows whether I should ever have been cured or +not.” Ulta’s mother was delighted with the generosity of +the tiger. He had made her rich at once. But she was anxious to +<span class="corr" id="xd20e2129" title="Source: ged">get</span> rid of +him, and said “Go away. May you always find a living +somewhere.” So the tiger returned to the jungle again. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb96" href="#pb96" name= +"pb96">96</a>]</span></p> +<p>Sometime afterwards the tiger was minded to take a wife, and sought +his old friend Ulta’s mother. On arriving at her house he called +out, “Oh! Ulta’s mother, where are you? Are you in your +house?” She replied, “Who are you?” The tiger +answered, “It is I, the forest hero. You cured my +blindness.” So Ulta’s mother came out of her house, and +said, “Wherefore, Sir, have you come here?” “I wish +you,” replied the tiger, “to find a bride for me.” +Ulta’s mother said, “Come to-morrow and I will tell you. Do +not stay to-day.” So the tiger left.</p> +<p>Ulta’s mother then went to her neighbours and said, “The +tiger has put me in a great difficulty. He wishes me to find a bride +for him.” They said to her<span class="corr" id="xd20e2137" +title="Not in source">,</span> “Is he not blind?” She +replied, “No. He sees now, and it is that, which distresses me. +What can I do?” They said, “Get a bag, and order him to go +into it, and then tie up the mouth tightly, and tell him to remain +still. Say to him, If you move, or make a noise, I will not seek a +bride for you. And when you have him tied securely in the bag, call +us.” The next day the tiger appeared, and Ulta’s mother +told him to get into the bag, and allow her to tie it. So he went in, +and she tied the bag’s mouth, and said, “You must not move, +lie still, or I shall not be your go-between.” Having secured +him, Ulta’s mother called her neighbours, who came armed with +clubs, and began to beat the helpless animal. He called out, “Oh! +Ulta’s mother, what are you doing?” She said, “Keep +quiet. They are beating the marriage drums. Lie still a little +longer.” The tiger remained motionless, while they continued to +beat him. At length they said, “He must be dead now, let us throw +him out.” So they carried him to a river, and having thrown him +in, returned home.</p> +<p>The current bore the tiger far down the river, but at length he +stranded in a cove. A short time afterwards a tigress came down to the +river to drink and seeing the bag, and thinking it might contain +something edible she seized it and dragged <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb97" href="#pb97" name="pb97">97</a>]</span>it up on +to the bank. The tigress then cut the bag open with her teeth, and the +tiger sprang out, exclaiming, “Of a truth she has given me a +bride. Ulta’s mother has done me a good turn, and I shall +remember her as long as I live.” The tiger and the tigress being +of one mind on the subject agreed never to separate.</p> +<p>One day the two tigers said “Come let us go and pay a visit to +Ulta’s mother, who has proved so helpful to us. As we cannot go +empty handed, let us rob some one to get money to take with us.” +So they went and lay in wait near a path which passed through the +forest in which they lived. Presently a party of merchants came up, and +the tigers with a loud roar sprang from their ambush on to the road. +The merchants seeing them, fled, and left behind them all their +property in money and cloth. Those they carried to Ulta’s mother. +When she saw the tigers approaching her throat became dry through +terror.</p> +<p>Before entering the court-yard they called out to Ulta’s +mother announcing their approach. Ulta’s mother addressed the +tiger thus, “Why do you come here frightening one in this +way?” The tiger replied, “There is no fear. It is I who am +afraid of you. Why should you dread my coming? It was you who found +this partner for me. Do you not yet know me?” Ulta’s mother +replied, “What can you do Sir? Do you not remember that we give +and receive gifts on the Karam festival day? On the days for giving and +receiving, we give and receive. Now, that you are happily wedded, may +you live in peace and comfort; but do not come here again.”</p> +<p>The tiger then gave Ulta’s mother a large amount of money and +much cloth, after which the two tigers took their leave, and +Ulta’s mother entered her house loaded with rupees and clothing. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb98" href="#pb98" name= +"pb98">98</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e2122" href="#xd20e2122src" name="xd20e2122">1</a></span> +Calotropis gigantea, R. Br.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t18" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Greatest Cheat of Seven.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">A great cheat married the cheating sister of seven +cheats. One day his father-in-law and seven brothers-in-law came on a +visit to his house. After conversing with them for a little, he invited +them to accompany him to the river to bathe. He carried a fishing rod +with him, and on arriving at the river cast his line into a pool, +saying, “Now, fish, if you do not instantly repair to my house, I +shall not be able to speak well of you.” This he said to deceive +the others, as before leaving home he had given a fish to his wife +telling her to prepare it for dinner. When seated at table he said to +his guests, <span class="corr" id="xd20e2157" title= +"Not in source">“</span>the fish we are now eating is the one I, +in your presence, ordered to proceed from the river to my house this +forenoon.” They were greatly astonished at the wonderful +properties possessed by the fishing rod, and expressed a desire to +purchase it, and offered to pay five rupees for it. He accepted their +offer, and they carried the wonderful fishing rod home with them.</p> +<p>Next day they arranged to go <span class="corr" id="xd20e2162" +title="Source: a fishing">a-fishing</span>. They cast the line into a +pool as they had seen the cheat do, and said, “Now fish, if you +do not repair at once to our home we shall not be able to speak well of +you.” Having bathed they returned home, and asked to see the +fish. Their wives said, “What fish? You gave us no fish. We have +seen no fish. Where did you throw it down?” They now knew that +their sister’s husband was a cheat, so they decided to go and +charge him with having deceived them.</p> +<p>The cheat had notice of their coming, and quickly taking his dog +with him went to hunt. He caught a hare and bringing it home gave it to +his wife, and said, “When we reach the end of the street on our +way home from hunting, you make the dog stand near the house with the +dead hare in his mouth.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb99" +href="#pb99" name="pb99">99</a>]</span></p> +<p>He invited his visitors to accompany him for an hour’s +hunting, saying, “Come, let us go and kill a hare for +dinner.” So they went to the jungle, and presently started a +hare. The cheat threw a stone at his dog, and frightened it so that it +ran home. He called after it, “If you do not catch and take that +hare home, it will not be well for you.” He then said to his +friends, “Come, let us return, we will find the dog there with +the hare before us.” They replied, “We doubt it +much.” “There is no mistake about it,” he said, +“We are certain to find both dog and hare.” On reaching +home they found the dog standing waiting for them with a hare in his +mouth.</p> +<p>His brothers-in-law were astonished beyond measure at the sagacity +of the dog, and they said, “Sell this dog to us, we will pay a +good price for it.” He demanded ten rupees, which they gladly +paid. So they returned home, and said nothing to him about his having +cheated them in the matter of the fishing rod.</p> +<p>One day, taking the dog with them, they went to hunt. It caught five +hares, and its masters were greatly delighted with its performance.</p> +<p>After this the cheat’s house was accidentally burnt, and he +gathering the ashes together, set out for the bazaar, there to sell +them. On the way <span class="corr" id="xd20e2176" title= +"Source: be">he</span> fell in with a party of merchants who had a +large bag full of silver with them. They enquired what his bag +contained, to which he replied, “Gold.” They agreed to pass +the night in the same encampment, so having partaken of their evening +meal, they lay down to sleep. At midnight the merchants rose, and +exchanged the bags, and then lay down again. The cheat saw them, and +chuckled within himself. In the morning the merchants made haste to +leave, as they feared the cheat might find out the theft of his bag. +The cheat asked them before they left to help him to lift his bag on to +his bullock’s back, saying, “It was to receive assistance +from <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb100" href="#pb100" name= +"pb100">100</a>]</span>you that I encamped here last night.” So +having helped him to load his bullock they hurried away lest they +should be caught. The cheat carried his treasure home, but being unable +to count so much money borrowed a measure from his father-in-law, and +found he had four maunds of silver.</p> +<p>On returning the measure he sent along with it five seers of silver, +saying, “For the ashes of my house I received four maunds of +silver, if you reduce your houses to ashes and sell them, you will +obtain very much more.” So they foolishly burnt their houses, and +collecting the ashes went to the bazaar to dispose of them. The +merchants to whom they offered them directed them to go to the +washermen, saying, “They will possibly buy.” But they also +refused, and they were compelled to return home without having effected +a sale. They vowed vengeance on the cheat, and set out to find him.</p> +<p>When they reached his house the cheat was on the point of starting +on a journey. After mutual salutations he said, “I have just +killed my second wife. I go to receive eight maunds of silver for her +corpse. Dead bodies bring high prices.” They said to him, +“How about the ashes? We could not sell them.” He replied, +“You did not go far enough from home. Had you gone to a distance +you would have made a good bargain.”</p> +<p>The cheat’s youngest wife having died he washed the body, and +anointed it with oil. He then put it in a large bag, and loaded it on +the back of a bullock, and set out. On the way he came to a field of +wheat, into which he drove the animal, and then hid himself near by. +The owner of the field finding the bullock eating his wheat, beat it +unmercifully with a cudgel. The cheat then came from his hiding place, +and said, “Have you not done wrong in beating my bullock? If you +have killed my wife, where will you flee to? I fell <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb101" href="#pb101" name= +"pb101">101</a>]</span>behind, and for that reason my ox got into your +field. My wife, whom I have newly married, is weak and unable to go on +foot, so I put her into a bag to carry her home on my +bullock.”</p> +<p>Having opened the bag the wife was found dead, and her assailant +stood self convicted of her murder. He gave her husband six maunds of +rupees as hush money, so the cheat burnt the corpse and returned home +laden with spoil.</p> +<p>The cheat next sent for his brothers-in-law, and shewing them the +money, said, “I killed my second wife, and got all this money by +selling the corpse.” They enquired, “Who are the people who +buy dead bodies?” He replied, “They reside in the Rakas +country.”</p> +<p>Then the seven brothers killed each his youngest wife, and carried +the bodies to a distant country to dispose of them. When the people of +that country knew the object for which they had come they said to them, +“What sort of men are you hawking corpses about the towns and +villages? You must be the worst, or else most stupid of men.” +Hearing this the brothers were dismayed, and began to take in the +situation. They perceived that the cheat had again deceived them, and +they retraced their steps homewards bitterly lamenting their folly. On +reaching their village they cremated the remains of their wives, and +from that day had no more dealings with the cheat. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb102" href="#pb102" name="pb102">102</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t19" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main"><span class="corr" id="xd20e2199" title= +"Source: Tht">The</span> Story of Two Princesses.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">A certain raja had two daughters, who were in the +habit of amusing themselves out side of the palace walls. One day they +saw a crow flying towards them with a ripe Terel<a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e2204src" href="#xd20e2204" name="xd20e2204src">1</a> fruit in his +beak. They then said to each other, “What fruit is it? It looks +nice and sweet.” The crow let the fruit fall in front of them. +They ran and picked it up, and ate it. It tasted deliciously sweet. +Then they said, “From whence did the crow bring such a good +fruit?” Then they remembered the direction from which they had +seen it coming, and said, “If we go this way we shall find +it.” So they went, but it was only after they had travelled a +great distance from home that they found the Terel tree with the ripe +<span class="corr" id="xd20e2207" title= +"Source: lucious">luscious</span> fruit.</p> +<p>The elder of the two girls climbed up into the tree, and shook down +a large quantity of the fruit. They then feasted to their heart’s +content. Presently they began to feel thirsty, and the elder said to +the younger, “You remain here while I go to drink, and I will +also bring you water in a leaf cup.” Having said this she went +away to the tank, and her sister remained under the Terel tree. The day +was extremely hot, and they were very thirsty.</p> +<p>The elder having quenched her thirst was returning carrying water +for her sister in a cup made of the leaves of a Terel tree, when a bhut +came flying along, and fell into the cup of water. Presently she became +aware that there was a hole in the bottom of her cup through which all +the water had run out. What could she do now? There was no help for it +but to return to the tank, make another leaf cup, and filling it with +water return to her sister. As she was returning with the cup full of +water the bhut again came flying up, and <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb103" href="#pb103" name="pb103">103</a>]</span>entering the water +passed through the leaf, making a hole by which all the water +escaped.</p> +<p>Again she made a leaf cup, and having filled it with water was +returning when the bhut again came, and destroyed her cup, and caused +her to lose the water. In this way she was detained till very late.</p> +<p>A raja who happened to be in the vicinity saw a beautiful girl +carrying water in a leaf cup, and a bhut come and make a hole in the +cup, so that it soon became empty. Having seen this several times +repeated, he drew near, and feasted his eyes on her beauty. Then he +carried her away to his palace, where they were joined in wedlock, and +the princess, now the rani, cooked the food for herself and her +husband.</p> +<p>The younger princess remained near the Terel tree, and although she +had given up hope of again meeting her sister, still she continued to +wait. At length a herd of Hanuman monkeys came to feed upon the Terel +fruit. When the girl saw them coming she was terrified and crept into +the hollow of the tree. The monkeys with the exception of an old frail +one, climbed into the tree and began to eat the fruit. The old monkey +remained below and picked up the fruit shells which the others threw +down.</p> +<p>The old monkey having noticed the girl hiding in the hollow of the +tree called to the others, “Throw me down some. If you do not I +shall not share the <i>Setke chopot</i> I have found.” The +monkeys in the tree said, “Do not give him any. He is deceiving +us. When his hunger is satisfied he will run and leave us.” So no +fruit was thrown down to him, and he was forced to be content with the +shells. The monkeys in the tree having fared sumptuously, left. The old +monkey waited till they were out of sight, and then entered the hollow +of the tree, where the girl was, and ate her up. He then went to the +tank <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb104" href="#pb104" name= +"pb104">104</a>]</span>to drink, and afterwards went in the direction +of the raja’s garden, on reaching which he lay down and died. One +of the gardeners finding him dead threw him on the dunghill.</p> +<p>From the place where the monkey decayed a gourd sprang, and grew, +and bore a fruit which ripened. One day a jugi, when on his rounds +begging, saw this fruit and plucking it took it away with him. Out of +the shell he made a banjo, which when played upon emitted wonderful +music. The words which seemed to proceed from the banjo were as +follows:</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Ripe terels, ripe terels, Oh! Sister mine.</p> +<p class="line">Went in search of water, Oh! Sister mine.</p> +<p class="line">Raja and Rani they became.</p> +<p class="line">Seven hundred monkeys old,</p> +<p class="line">Ate me up, ate me up. Oh! Sister mine.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The jugi was greatly pleased with the music of his +new banjo, and determined to take it with him when he went a begging. +So one day he set out with his banjo the music of which so pleased the +people that they gave him large gifts of money and clothes. In course +of time he arrived at the palace where the elder sister was now rani, +and, being admitted, began to play on his banjo. The instrument again +produced most wonderful music. It seemed to wail as follows:</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Ripe terels, ripe terels, Oh! Sister mine.</p> +<p class="line">Went in search of water, Oh! Sister mine.</p> +<p class="line">Raja and Rani they became.</p> +<p class="line">Seven hundred monkeys old,</p> +<p class="line">Ate me up, ate me up. Oh! Sister mine.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">Having listened to the music the rani said, +“It is wonderfully sweet,” and she fancied she heard her +sister’s voice in every note. She thought it possible that it was +she who sang in the banjo, and she desired to obtain possession of it. +So she invited the jugi to pass the night in the palace, saying, +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb105" href="#pb105" name= +"pb105">105</a>]</span>I would hear more of this entrancing +music.” The jugi listened to the words of the rani and agreed to +remain till morning. So the rani made much of him with the intention of +at length obtaining possession of his banjo. She caused a goat to be +killed, and she cooked a splendid supper for the jugi, who finding the +food so toothsome ate heartily. Wine was not <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e2260" title="Source: with held">withheld</span>, and the jugi +being in a festive frame of mind drank deeply, so that he soon lay as +one dead. The rani took the banjo, and placed another in its stead. She +then threw filth over the unconscious jugi and retired to her own +apartment.</p> +<p>The jugi on awaking before sunrise found himself in a pitiable +plight. He felt so thoroughly disgusted with himself that, hastily +picking up his staff, cloth, and banjo, he fled with the utmost +possible speed from the palace. When dawn broke he saw that the banjo +he had was not his own, and although he felt keenly its loss he was too +much ashamed of the condition he had been in to go back to seek it.</p> +<p>The rani hid the jugi’s banjo in her own room, because she +knew her sister to be in it. Whenever the raja and rani went out to +walk the girl left the banjo and having bathed and dressed her hair, +cooked the family meal, and then returned to the banjo. This happened +so often that at last, it came to the knowledge of the raja that a +fairy lived in the banjo, and when the way was clear used to come out +and prepare food for the rani and himself. So he determined to lie in +wait for the fairy cook. He then sent the rani somewhere on an errand, +and hid himself in a corner of the room from whence he could see the +banjo. In a short time the princess emerged from the banjo, and began +to dress her hair, and anoint herself with oil, after which she cooked +rice. She divided the food into three portions, one of which she ate. +As she was about to re-enter the banjo the raja sprang out and caught +hold of her. She exclaimed, “Chi! Chi! you may be a Hadi, or you +may be a Dom.” The raja replied, “Chi! Chi! whether I be a +Dom, or a Hadi, from to-day you and I are one.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb106" href="#pb106" name="pb106">106</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e2204" href="#xd20e2204src" name="xd20e2204">1</a></span> +Diospyros tomentosa.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t20" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Seven Brothers and their Sister.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">In a certain village there lived seven brothers and +a sister. Their family was wealthy. Their father was dead. The brothers +agreed to dig a tank so that whatever happened their name would +continue. So they began the work, but although they dug deep they found +no water. Then they said to each other, “Why is there no +water?” While they were speaking thus among themselves a jugi +gosae on his rounds, came to the tank in the hope of finding water, but +he was disappointed. The seven brothers on seeing the jugi gosae went +and sat down near him, and said, “We have been working for many +days, and have dug so deep, still we have not reached water. You, who +are a jugi gosae, tell us why water does not come.” He replied, +“Unless you give a gift you will never get water.” They +enquired, “What should we give.” The jugi gosae replied, +“Not gold, or silver, or an elephant, or a horse, but you have a +sister?” They said, “Yes, we have one sister.” He +replied, “Then make a gift of her to the spirit of the +tank.” The girl was betrothed, and her family had received the +amount that had been fixed as her price. The brothers argued thus, +“We have laboured so long to make a name for ourselves, but have +not found water, so where is our name? If we do not sacrifice our +sister we shall never obtain the fulfilment of our wishes, let us all +agree to it.” So they all said, “Agreed,” but the +youngest did not fully approve of their design.</p> +<p>In the evening they said to their mother, “Let our sister wash +her clothes, dress her hair, and put on all her ornaments to-morrow +when she brings us our breakfast to the tank.” They did not, +however, enlighten their mother as to why they desired their sister to +be so careful with her toilet.</p> +<p>The following day the mother addressed her daughter as follows, +“Oh! my daughter, your brothers yesterday said to me, +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb107" href="#pb107" name= +"pb107">107</a>]</span>let the daughter, when she brings us our +breakfast come with clean clothes, her hair dressed and all her +ornaments on. So as it is nearly time, go and dress, and put on all +your ornaments, and take your brothers’ breakfast to where they +are working.” She complied with her mother’s order, and set +out for the tank, dressed in her best with all her ornaments on, +carrying boiled rice in a new basket.</p> +<p>When she arrived at the tank her brothers said to her, “Oh! +daughter, set down the basket under yonder tree.” She did so, and +the brothers came to where she was. They then said to her, “Go +bring us water from the tank to drink.” She took her water-pot +under her arm, and went into the tank, but did not at once find water. +Presently, however, she saw the sheen of water in the centre, and went +to fill her pitcher, but she could not do so, as the water rose so +rapidly. The tank was soon full to the brim, and the girl was +drowned.</p> +<p>The brothers having seen their sister perish, went home. Their +mother enquired, “Oh! my sons, where is the daughter?” They +replied, “We have given her to the tank. A certain jugi gosae +said to us, ‘Unless you offer up your sister you will never get +water’.” On hearing this she loudly wailed the loss of her +daughter. Her sons strove to mitigate her grief by saying, “Look +mother, we undertook the excavation of the tank to perpetuate our name, +and to gain the fruit of a meritorious work. And unless there be water +in the tank for men and cattle to drink, where is the perpetuation of +our name? By our offering up the daughter the tank is full to +overflowing. So the cattle can now quench their thirst, and travellers, +when they encamp near by and drink the water, will say, ‘The +excavators of this tank deserve the thanks of all. We, and others who +pass by are recipients of their bounty. Their merit is indeed +great’.” In this way with many such like arguments they +sought to allay their mother’s grief. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb108" href="#pb108" name="pb108">108</a>]</span></p> +<p>Right in the centre of the tank, where the girl was drowned, there +sprang up an Upel flower the purple, sheen of which filled the beholder +with delight.</p> +<p>It has already been stated that the girl had been betrothed, and +that her family had received the money for her. The day appointed for +the marriage arrived, and the bridegroom’s party with drums, +elephants and horses, set out for the bride’s house. On arrival +they were informed that she had left her home, and that all efforts to +trace her had proved fruitless. So they returned home greatly +disappointed. It so happened that their way lay past the tank in which +the girl had been sacrificed, and the bridegroom, from his palki, saw +the Upel flower in the centre. As he wished to possess himself of it, +he ordered his bearers to set down the palki, and stepping out prepared +to swim out to pluck the flower. His companions tried to dissuade him, +but as he insisted he was permitted to enter the water. He swam to +within a short distance of the flower, but as he stretched out his hand +to pluck it, the Upel flower, moving away, said, “Chi! Chi! Chi! +Chi! You may be either a Dom or a Hadi, do not touch me.” The +bridegroom replied, “Not so. Are not we two one?” He made +another effort to seize the flower, but it again moved away, saying, +“Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! you may be a Dom or a Hadi, so do not touch +me.” To which he replied, “Not so. You and I are +one.” He swam after it again, but the flower eluded his grasp, +and said, “Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! You may be a Dom, or you may be a +Hadi, so do not touch me.” He said, “Not so. You and I are +bride and bridegroom for ever.” Then the Upel flower allowed +itself to be plucked, and the bridegroom returned to his company +bearing it with him.</p> +<p>He entered his palki and the cortege started. They had not proceeded +far before the bearers were convinced that the palki was increasing in +weight. They said, “How is it that it is now so heavy? A short +time ago it was light.” So they <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb109" href="#pb109" name="pb109">109</a>]</span>pushed aside the +panel, and beheld the bride and bridegroom sitting side by side. The +marriage party on hearing the glad news rejoiced exceedingly. They beat +drums, shouted, danced, and fired off guns. Thus they proceeded on +their homeward way.</p> +<p>When the bridegroom’s family heard the noise, they said, one +to the other “Sister, they have arrived.” Then they went +forth to meet the bridegroom, and brought them in with great rejoicing. +The bride was she who had been the Upel flower, and was exceedingly +beautiful. In form she was both human and divine. The village people, +as well as the marriage guests, when they saw her, exclaimed, +“What a beautiful bride! She is the fairest bride that we have +seen. She has no peer.” Thus they all praised her beauty.</p> +<p>It so happened that in the meantime the mother and brothers of the +girl had become poor. They were reduced to such straits as to be +compelled to sell firewood for a living. So one day the brothers went +to the bridegroom’s village with firewood for sale. They offered +it to one and another, but no one would buy. At last some one said, +“Take it to the house in which the marriage party is assembled. +They may require it.” So the brothers went there, and asked, +“Will you buy firewood?” They replied, “Yes. We will +take it.” Some one informed the bride, that some men from +somewhere had brought firewood for sale. So she went out, and at once +recognised her brothers, and said to them, “Put down your +loads,” and when they had done so she placed beds for them to sit +on, and brought them water; but they did not know that she was their +sister, as she was so greatly changed. Then she gave them vessels of +oil, and said, “Go bathe, for you will dine here to-day.” +So they took the oil, and went to bathe, but they were so hungry that +they drank the oil on the way. So they bathed, and returned to the +house. She then brought them water to wash their hands, and they sat +down in a row to eat. The bride gave her <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb110" href="#pb110" name="pb110">110</a>]</span>youngest brother food +on a brass plate, because he had not approved of what had been done to +her, but to the others she gave it on leaf plates.</p> +<p>They had only eaten one handful of rice when the girl placed herself +in front of them, and putting a hand upon her head, began to weep +bitterly. She exclaimed, “Oh! my brothers, you had no pity upon +me. You threw me away as an offering to the tank. You saw me lost, and +then went home.” When the brothers heard this they felt as if +their breasts were torn open. If they looked up to heaven, heaven was +high. Then they saw an axe which they seized, and with it they struck +the ground with all their might. It opened like the mouth of a large +tiger, and the brothers plunged in. The girl caught the youngest +brother by the hair to pull him up, but it came away in her hand, and +they all disappeared into the bowels of the earth, which closed over +them.</p> +<p>The girl held the hair in her hand and wept over it. She then +planted it, and from it sprang the hair like Bachkom<a class="noteref" +id="xd20e2303src" href="#xd20e2303" name="xd20e2303src">1</a> grass, +and from that time Bachkom grass grows in the jungles.</p> +<p>The sister had pity on her youngest brother because he did not join +heartily with the others in causing her death. So she tried to rescue +him from the fate which was about to overtake him, but in this she +failed, and he suffered for the sins of his brothers. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb111" href="#pb111" name="pb111">111</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e2303" href="#xd20e2303src" name="xd20e2303">1</a></span> +Ischœmum agustifolium, Hack.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t21" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Story of Jhore.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There was a lad named Jhore, who herded goats, and +every day while with his flock he saw a tiger and a lizard fight. The +lizard always vanquished the tiger, and the latter after each encounter +came to Jhore and said, “Which of us won?” Jhore through +fear every time replied, “You won,” and the tiger went away +pleased.</p> +<p>One day Jhore said to his mother, give me some roasted matkom in a +leaf, and put me into a bag and I will tell you something. So she +wrapped up some matkom in a leaf, and Jhore crept into the bag and she +tied its mouth. Then she said, “What is it, my son, which you +wish to tell me?” Jhore replied, “Every day when I am +tending my goats I see a tiger and a lizard fight, and the tiger is +vanquished by the lizard. The tiger then comes to me and asks, +‘which of us won<span class="corr" id="xd20e2316" title= +"Source: ’?">?’</span> Through fear I say, you won, then +the tiger goes away satisfied.”</p> +<p>While Jhore was relating the foregoing to his mother the tiger was +listening at the door, and as he finished his story it rushed in, and +seizing the bag carried it off to a dense unexplored forest, on a hill +in the middle of which he placed it. Jhore was very uncomfortable, and +was considering how he could best free himself from the bag. As he was +hungry he was reminded of the matkom he had with him wrapped in a leaf, +so he began to open it, and the dried leaf crackled. The tiger hearing +the noise, asked what produced it. Jhore replied, “It is +yesterday’s lizard.” The tidings of the presence of his +mortal enemy so terrified the tiger that he exclaimed, “Stop, +stop, Jhore. Do not release him. Let me first escape.” After the +tiger left Jhore rolled down the hill side, and away into a still +denser forest, in an open spot of which he came to a stop. The +fastening of the bag was loosed by this time, and Jhore crawled out. +All round this open glade in which our hero <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb112" href="#pb112" name= +"pb112">112</a>]</span>found himself was dense forest never trodden by +the foot of man, and <span class="corr" id="xd20e2323" title= +"Source: tennanted">tenanted</span> by a herd of wild buffaloes. Jhore +took up his residence there, and subsisted on the roasted matkom as +long as it lasted.</p> +<p>Jhore in his explorations found a number of buffaloe calves left +behind by their mothers who had gone to graze. He tended these daily, +cleaning the place where they lived, and taking them to the water, +where he washed them. In this way a bond of friendship was established +between him and the wild buffaloe calves.</p> +<p>Before the buffaloe cows left for their grazing grounds in the +mornings the calves said, “You stay away till so late at night +that, we are almost famished before you return. Leave some milk with +us, so that when hungry we may drink it.” So they left a supply +of milk with them, which they gave to Jhore. He took such care of his +charges that he soon became a great favourite with them.</p> +<p>Matters went on thus for many days till at last the buffaloe cows +said among themselves, “We must watch for, and catch whoever it +is who keeps our calves so clean.” So a very powerful wild +buffaloe was appointed to lie in wait, but he missed seeing Jhore when +he led the calves to the water and bathed them, and cleaned and swept +out their stall. The next day another took his place, but he succeeded +no better. The calves were taken to the water, bathed, brought back, +and their stall cleaned and swept as usual without his seeing who did +it. When the others returned in the evening he informed them that he +had failed to solve the mystery. So they said, “What shall we do +now? How shall we catch him? Who will watch to-morrow?” A old +buffaloe cow replied, “I will accept the responsibility.” +Hearing her speak thus the others said, “What a good elephant and +a good horse could not do, will ten asses accomplish?” By this +they meant, that two of the strongest <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb113" href="#pb113" name="pb113">113</a>]</span>of their number +having failed, this weak old cow could not possibly succeed. However, +she persisted, and in the morning the others went to graze leaving her +behind.</p> +<p>In a short time she saw Jhore emerge from the dunghill, in which he +resided, and loose the calves, and take them to the water. When he +brought them back he cleaned and swept their stall, and then re-entered +the dunghill. In the evening the others enquired, “Well, did you +see him?” The old buffaloe cow replied, “Yes, I saw him, +but I will not tell you, for you will kill him.” They pressed +her, but she refused, saying, “You will kill him.” They +said, “Why should we kill him who takes so much care of our young +ones?” The old buffaloe cow led them to the dunghill, and said, +“He is in here.” So they called to him to come out, which +he did, and when they saw him they were all greatly pleased, so much so +that they there and then hired him to continue to do the work he had +been doing so well. They arranged also to give him a regular daily +supply of milk, so he was duly installed by the herd of wild buffaloes +as care-taker of their calves.</p> +<p>Long after this, he one day took his calves to the river and after +he had bathed them he said to the buffaloe calves<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e2338" title="Not in source">,</span> “Wait for me till I +also bathe.” They replied, “Bathe, we will graze close +by.” He having performed his ablutions sat down on the river bank +to comb and dress his hair, which was twelve cubits long. In combing +his tangled tresses a quantity was wrenched out, this he wrapped up in +a leaf and threw into the stream. It was carried by the current a great +distance down to where a raja’s daughter and her companions were +bathing. The raja’s daughter saw the leaf floating towards her, +and ordered one of her attendants to bring it to her. When the leaf was +opened it was found to contain hair twelve cubits in length. +Immediately after measuring the hair the raja’s daughter +complained of fever, and hasted home to her couch. The raja being +informed of his daughter’s illness sent for the most <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb114" href="#pb114" name= +"pb114">114</a>]</span>skilled physicians, who prescribed all the +remedies their pharmacopœia contained, but failed to afford the +sufferer any relief. The grief of the raja was therefore intense.</p> +<p>Then his daughter said to him, <span class="corr" id="xd20e2345" +title="Not in source">“</span>Oh! father, I have one word to say +to you. <a id="xd20e2348" name="xd20e2348"></a>If you do as I wish, I +shall recover.” The raja replied, “Tell me what it is, I +shall do my best to please you.” So she said, “If you find +me one with hair twelve cubits long and bring him to me, I shall rally +at once.” The raja said, “It is well.”</p> +<p>The raja caused <span class="corr" id="xd20e2352" title= +"Source: dilligent">diligent</span> search to be made for the person +with hair twelve cubits long. He said to a certain jugi, “You +traverse the country far and near, find me the man with hair twelve +cubits long.” The jugi enquired everywhere, but could obtain no +intelligence concerning him.</p> +<p>They then made up a parcel of flour and gave it to a crow, whom they +sent to try and find him. The crow flew caw cawing all over the +district, but returned at last and reported failure, saying, +“there is not such a man in the world.”</p> +<p>After this they again made up a small parcel of flour, and giving it +to a tame paroquet, said, “Find a man with hair twelve cubits +long.” The paroquet, having received his orders, flew away +screeching, and mounting high up into the sky, directed his course +straight for the unexplored forest. In the meantime the dunghill in +which Jhore resided had become a palace.</p> +<p>The paroquet alighted on a tree near Jhore’s palace, and began +to whistle. On hearing the unusual sound Jhore came out and saw the +paroquet who was speaking and whistling. The paroquet also eyed him +narrowly, and was delighted to see his hair trailing on the ground. By +this he knew that he had found the object of his search, and with a +scream of delight, he flew away to communicate the tidings to the raja. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb115" href="#pb115" name= +"pb115">115</a>]</span></p> +<p>The raja was overjoyed with his messenger’s report, and +ordered the <i>bariat</i> to set out immediately. In a short time they +were on their way accompanied by elephants, horses, drums, and fifes. +On reaching Jhore’s palace they were about to enter for the +purpose of seizing him, when he exclaimed, “Do not pass my +threshold.” They replied, “We will carry you away with +us.” He said, “Do not come near.” “We will +certainly carry you away,” they replied. Jhore then ran into his +house, and seizing his flute mounted to the roof, and began to play. As +the notes of the flute resounded through the forest it seemed to +say,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">A staff of Pader<a class="noteref" id="xd20e2371src" +href="#xd20e2371" name="xd20e2371src">1</a> wood</p> +<p class="line">A flute of Erandom<a class="noteref" id="xd20e2376src" +href="#xd20e2376" name="xd20e2376src">2</a></p> +<p class="line">Return, return, return,</p> +<p class="line">Oh! wild buffaloe cows.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The sound of the flute startled the wild buffaloes, +and they said one to another, “Sister. What has happened to +Jhore?” Then he played again the same as before;</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">A staff of Pader wood</p> +<p class="line">A flute of Erandom</p> +<p class="line">Return, return, return,</p> +<p class="line">Oh! wild buffaloe cows.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">As the echoes of Jhore’s flute died away in +the forest glades the wild buffaloes sprang forward, and rushed to his +assistance. On arrival they found the house and courtyard full of +people, and large numbers outside who could not gain admittance. They +immediately charged them with all their force, goring many to death, +and scattering the remainder, who flung away their drums and fifes, and +fled as for dear life.</p> +<p>When the raja heard of their discomfiture he sent again for the +paroquet, and giving a small parcel of flour to him said, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb116" href="#pb116" name= +"pb116">116</a>]</span>“Stay some time with him until you gain +his confidence, and watch your chance to bring away his flute.” +Having received his orders he flew off to Jhore’s palace, and +having gained access to where the flute was, when Jhore was out of the +way he brought it away, and gave it to the raja. The raja was delighted +at the sight of the flute, and again ordered the <i>bariat</i> to go to +fetch Jhore. A still more imposing array than the former started with +elephants, horses, drums, fifes, and palkis, and in due course arrived +at Jhore’s residence. On seeing them Jhore called out, “Do +not approach, or you will rue it presently.” They replied, +“You beat us off the first time, therefore you now crow, but you +will not now be able to balk us, we shall take you with us.” +Again he warned them to stay where they were, saying, “Do not +come near <span class="corr" id="xd20e2402" title= +"Source: him">me</span>, or you will rue it presently.” They +replied, “We will take you with us this time, we will not leave +you behind.<span class="corr" id="xd20e2405" title= +"Source: ’">”</span> Jhore then ran into his house, and +searched for his flute, but as it had been carried away by the paroquet +he could not find it, so seizing another he mounted to the roof, and +began to play. The flute seemed to say;</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">A staff of Pader wood</p> +<p class="line">A flute of Erandom</p> +<p class="line">Return, return, return,</p> +<p class="line">Oh! wild buffaloe cows.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The sound startled the wild buffaloes who said one +to another “Sister. What is it Jhore says?” Again the music +of the flute reached their ears, and the entire herd rushed off to +Jhore’s rescue. They charged the crowd in<a id="xd20e2419" name= +"xd20e2419"></a> and around the palace of their favourite with such +determination that in a few minutes many lay gored to death, and those +who were so fortunate as to escape threw down drums, fifes, and palkis, +and fled pell mell from the place. The raja, being informed of the +catastrophe that had befallen the <i>bariat</i>, again called the +paroquet, and after he had given him careful instructions as to how he +should proceed, dismissed him. He said, “This time <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb117" href="#pb117" name="pb117">117</a>]</span>you +must stay many days with him, and secure his entire confidence and +friendship. Then you must bring away all his flutes, do not leave him +one.” So the paroquet flew swiftly, and alighted on a tree near +to Jhore’s house, and began to whistle. Jhore seeing it was a +paroquet brought it food, and induced it to come down, and allow him to +take it in his hand. The two, it is said, lived together many days, and +greatly enjoyed each other’s society. The paroquet when he had +informed himself as to where all Jhore’s flutes were kept, one +day tied them all up in a bundle, and carried them to the raja. The +sight of the flutes revived the drooping spirits of his Majesty. He +gave orders a third time for the <i>bariat</i> to go and bring Jhore, +so they started with greater pomp and show than before. Elephants, +horses, and an immense number of men with drums and fifes, and palkis +formed the procession. On their arrival Jhore came out of his palace +and said to them, “Do not come near, or you will rue it.” +They replied, “This time we will have you. We will take you with +us.” Again Jhore warning them said, “Come no nearer. If you +do, you will see something as good as a show<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e2429" title="Source: ?">.</span> Do you not remember how you +fared the other day?” But they said, “We will carry you +away with us.” Jhore ran inside to get his flute, so that he +might call the wild buffaloes to his assistance; but no flute was to be +found. Without the help of his powerful friends he could offer no +resistance, so they seized him, and bore him away in triumph to the +raja.</p> +<p>When the raja’s daughter heard of his arrival the fever +suddenly left her, and she was once more in excellent health. She and +Jhore were united in the bonds of marriage forthwith; but Jhore was +kept a close prisoner in the palace.</p> +<p>In course of time a son blessed the union, and when the child was +able to walk Jhore’s wife said to him, “Where is the large +herd of buffaloes which you boast so much about? If they were here +“Sonny” would have milk and curds daily.” Jhore +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb118" href="#pb118" name= +"pb118">118</a>]</span>plucking up courage, replied, “If you do +not believe me order a stockade to be constructed thirty-two miles long +and thirty-two miles broad, and you shall soon behold my +buffaloes.” So they made a pen thirty-two miles long and +thirty-two miles broad. Then Jhore said, “Give me my old flute, +and you all remain within doors.” So they brought him his flute, +and he went up on to the roof of the palace, and played. The music +seemed to call as follows<span class="corr" id="xd20e2439" title= +"Source: ;">:</span></p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">A staff of Pader wood</p> +<p class="line">A flute of Erandom</p> +<p class="line">Return, return, return,</p> +<p class="line">Oh! wild buffaloe cows.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The sound startled the wild buffaloes in their +forest home, and they said one to another, “Sister. What does +Jhore say?” Again the music seemed to say,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">A staff of Pader wood</p> +<p class="line">A flute of Erandom</p> +<p class="line">Return, return, return,</p> +<p class="line">Oh! wild buffaloe cows.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">At Jhore’s second call the herd of wild +buffaloes dashed off at their utmost speed, and never halted till they +reached the raja’s palace. They came in such numbers that the pen +could not contain them all, many remained outside.</p> +<p>Those that entered the pen are the domesticated buffaloes of to-day, +and those who were without are the wild buffaloes still found in the +forests of India. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb119" href="#pb119" +name="pb119">119</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"> +<hr class="fnsep"> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e2371" href="#xd20e2371src" name="xd20e2371">1</a></span> +Stereospermum suaveolens, D. C.</p> +<p class="footnote"><span class="label"><a class="noteref" id= +"xd20e2376" href="#xd20e2376src" name="xd20e2376">2</a></span> Recinus +communis, Linn.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t22" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Girl who always found helpers.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">There were once upon a time, six brothers and a +sister. The brothers were married. They were merchants, and their +business often took them to a distance from home. On such occasions the +wives were left alone with their sister-in-law. For some reason or +other they hated the girl, and took every opportunity to harass and +worry her.</p> +<p>One day when the brothers were away on a journey they said to her, +“Oh! girl, go to the forest and bring a load of firewood without +tying it.” What could the girl do? She must obey her +sisters-in-law, or else they would beat her, and give her no food. So +she went to the forest with a heavy heart, bewailing her unhappy lot in +the following plaintive song,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<div class="lg"> +<p class="line">Woe is me! For I must bring</p> +<p class="line">Unbound a fagot on my head.</p> +</div> +<div class="lg"> +<p class="line">Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing</p> +<p class="line">While business you far hence hath led.</p> +</div> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">Seeing her grief a Jambro snake asked, “Why +daughter, do you cry?” She replied, “My brothers have gone +away on business, and my sisters-in-law persecute me. They have sent me +to bring a bundle of <span class="corr" id="xd20e2487" title= +"Source: fire-wood">firewood</span> on my head without tying it.” +The Jambro took pity on her and said, “Gather firewood.” +Then the Jambro stretched himself full length upon the ground and said +to the girl, “Lay the sticks on me.” When she had done so +the serpent twined itself round the fagot like a rope, and said, +“Now lift it on to your head, but when you reach home, lay your +burden down gently.”</p> +<p>When her sisters-in-law knew that she had done what they considered +impossible, they were still more angry with her, and ordered her to go +to the forest and get milk from a tigress. They gave her a small +earthen vessel, saying, “Go, bring us <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb120" href="#pb120" name="pb120">120</a>]</span>the +milk of a tigress.” What could the girl do? She went to the +forest with a heavy heart, bewailing her unhappy lot in the following +plaintive song,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Woe is me! For I must bring</p> +<p class="line">A brimful cup of tigress’ milk</p> +<p class="line">Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing</p> +<p class="line">While you far hence by trade are lured.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">She went to the tiger’s den, but only found +two cubs, who seeing her sitting weeping at the entrance said, +“What are you seeking?” She replied, “My +sisters-in-law have sent me to bring some of your mother’s +milk.” The cubs took pity on her and hid her in the cave. They +said to her, “Our mother will devour you, so you must not shew +yourself.” In a short time the tigress returned, and entering the +den said, “I smell a human being. Where is he?” The cubs +replied, “There is no one here.” The cubs milked a little +of their mother’s milk into the girl’s vessel, and when the +way was clear they gave it to her, and sent her home.</p> +<p>Her sisters-in-law were greatly disappointed when she brought home +the milk, they had expected that the tiger would have devoured her, on +that she would return home empty handed, and so give them the +opportunity of abusing her for not carrying out their order.</p> +<p>Another day when the brothers were absent they called her, and said, +“Go to the forest and bring us some bear’s milk.” +What could the girl do? If she did not do as she was bidden her +sisters-in-law would beat her, and give her nothing to eat. So taking +the vessel in her hand, she went to the forest, bewailing her unhappy +lot in the following plaintive strains;</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Woe is me! For I must bring</p> +<p class="line">A brimful cup of she bear’s milk</p> +<p class="line">Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing</p> +<p class="line">While you far hence by trade are lured.</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb121" href="#pb121" name= +"pb121">121</a>]</span></p> +<p>Going to the bear’s den she sat down and wept. The she-bear +was not in the den, only two cubs were there, who, when they saw the +girl, took pity upon her, and asked why she wept. She replied, +<span class="corr" id="xd20e2525" title= +"Not in source">“</span>My brothers have gone away on business, +and my sisters-in-law, who hate me, have sent me to procure +bear’s milk in order to harass and annoy me.<span class="corr" +id="xd20e2528" title="Not in source">”</span> The bear cubs then +said, “Our mother will eat you, if she finds you, so we will hide +you, and you must keep quiet while she is here.” The she-bear on +entering the cave said, “I smell a human being.” The cubs +replied, “There is no one here.” The young ones succeeded +in obtaining a small quantity of their mother’s milk in the +girl’s earthen vessel, and after the mother bear had left, the +cubs dismissed her with their best wishes for her welfare.</p> +<p>Her sisters-in-law were extremely annoyed when she presented the +bear’s milk to them. They had expected that the bear would have +torn her to pieces, or that she would have returned empty handed, and +thus give them another chance to abuse and reproach her.</p> +<p>The girl’s sisters-in-law again took advantage of their +husbands’ absence to send her to bring water from the spring in a +water-pot with a hole in it. <a id="xd20e2535" name= +"xd20e2535"></a>They said, <span class="corr" id="xd20e2537" title= +"Not in source">“</span>Go bring water in this water-pot.” +<a id="xd20e2540" name="xd20e2540"></a>What could the girl do?<a id= +"xd20e2542" name="xd20e2542"></a> She placed it on her head, and went +towards the spring bewailing her unhappy lot in the following plaintive +song,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Woe is me! For I must bring</p> +<p class="line">Spring water in a leaking jar</p> +<p class="line">Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing</p> +<p class="line">While business you far hence hath lured.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">She seated herself near the well, and exclaimed, +“How can I carry water in this pot?” At that moment a frog +raised his head above the reeds, and said, “Why do you sit here +lamenting?” The girl replied, “My sisters-in-law, who hate +me, have <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb122" href="#pb122" name= +"pb122">122</a>]</span>ordered me to bring water in this pot which has +a large hole in the bottom. How is it possible for me to obey their +order?” The frog replied, “Do not worry yourself over it, I +will help you.” So he pressed himself tightly over the hole, and +she filled her pot, and carried it home on her head.</p> +<p>Her sisters-in-law, when they saw her place the water-pot on the +ground, full to the brim, were intensely mortified. They had looked for +her returning with an empty pitcher, thus affording them an ostensible +reason for maliciously upbraiding her.</p> +<p>Another time they scattered a large basketful of Mustard seed on the +ground, and ordered her to pick up every seed. They said to her, +“You must gather it all into the basket again.” What could +she do? If she failed they would beat her, entreat her spitefully, and +deprive her of food. As she gazed upon the seeds scattered all around +her, she bewailed her unhappy condition as follows:</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Woe is me! I must refill</p> +<p class="line">This basket with these scattered seeds</p> +<p class="line">Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing</p> +<p class="line">While business you far hence hath lured.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">The plaintive murmur of her song had scarcely died +away when a large flock of pigeons alighted near her. They said, +“Why do you weep?” She replied, “My sisters-in-law, +who hate me, have scattered all this mustard seed on the ground, and +have ordered me to pick it all up. One solitary seed must not be +left.” The pigeons said, “Do not vex yourself, we will soon +pick it up for you.” As the pigeons were very numerous they soon +collected it all into the basket. They did not leave one seed on the +ground.</p> +<p>When she called her sisters-in-law to come and see how efficiently +the work had been done, they were furious at being again balked by her, +and vowed vengeance. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb123" href="#pb123" +name="pb123">123</a>]</span></p> +<p>Once again, when the brothers were from home, her sisters-in-law +ordered her to go to the jungle, and bring a bale of leaves with which +to make the family cups and plates. They said to her, “Go to the +jungle and bring a large bale of leaves, but do so without in anyway +tying them.” What could the girl do? She had been ordered to +perform an impossibility. If she refused, or failed to do it, her +sisters-in-law would beat her, and deprive her of food. So she went to +the forest bewailing her unhappy lot in the following plaintive +song;</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">Woe is me! For I must bring</p> +<p class="line">Of forest leaves an unbound bale</p> +<p class="line">Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing</p> +<p class="line">While business you far hence hath lured.</p> +</div> +<p class="firstpar">As she was sitting in the forest weeping a +Horhorang serpent drew near and said, “Wherefore daughter do you +grieve?” She replied, “My sisters-in-law hate me and have +ordered me to bring leaves without tying them into a bundle. I cannot +do this, and I fear their resentment, so I cannot help weeping.” +The Horhorang said, “Vex not yourself. Go and pluck your leaves +and bring them here.” She did so, and the Horhorang twined +himself round them binding them into a sheaf, which the girl placed +upon her head, and carried home.</p> +<p>When her sisters-in-law saw the leaves, and had looked to see that +none had fallen by the way they were greatly chagrined. They had +expected an opportunity to reproach her with disobedience, and a reason +for punishing her.</p> +<p>Although her sisters-in-law had imposed so many impossibilities upon +her, yet they had been unable to defeat her. Just at the proper time +some one had appeared to help her.</p> +<p>They had seen a bunch of flowers on the top of a high tree, and one +day when their husbands were away, they said to her, “Climb up +into the tree and pluck the flowers, we wish to <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb124" href="#pb124" name= +"pb124">124</a>]</span>dress our hair with them on the occasion of your +marriage.” No sooner had she clambered up into the tree than her +sisters-in-law placed thorny bushes all round in such a manner as to +prevent her coming down again. They then went home.</p> +<p>A few days afterwards, the brothers, when returning from a distant +market to which they had gone rested for a little under this tree. A +tear drop fell on the hand of one of them. Looking at it he said, +“Look brothers, this tear drop resembles those of the +daughter.” Then they looked and saw her high up in the tree. They +quickly brought her down, and she related how in time past she had been +persecuted by her sisters-in-law whenever they were absent. The +brothers were wroth with their wives for having used her so +cruelly.</p> +<p>The brothers put their sister into a bag, and carried her home on a +bullock’s back. When the wives came out to welcome them, they +asked, “Where is the daughter?” They gave no reply.</p> +<p>Afterwards the brothers dug a deep well, and on the pretence of +propitiating the water spirit induced their wives to stand round the +well with offerings of rice, &c., in their hands. At a given signal +each hurled his wife head foremost into the well. They then placed a +cart over the opening.</p> +<p>In return for the persecution she had endured at their hands, the +girl used to go to the well and looking in, say, “You treated me +cruelly once, but now, boo sisters boo.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb125" href="#pb125" name="pb125">125</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="t23" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">A Simple Thief.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="firstpar">Once upon a time a man had some money given to him, +and was told to go and buy a foal with it. So he set out to search for +one. After a time he came to a village, and going to a house asked the +people if they had a foal to sell, as he wished to buy one. They +replied, “There are no foals here, but we have mare’s eggs. +If you will take them we will give them to you.” He said, +“I will not take eggs, I want a foal.” He went to every +house in the village asking if they had a foal to sell, but none was to +be had; but at each they offered to sell to him mare’s eggs.</p> +<p>He then thought within himself, wherever I have gone they have told +me that they have not got a foal, but that they can let me have eggs. +This being so, why should I give myself any further trouble? I will buy +an egg. So he was given a large gourd, and told it was a mare’s +egg. Having got, as he thought a mare’s egg, he joyfully started +to return to his home. The man who sold him the gourd informed him, +that a foal was certain to be hatched on the way. He was still far from +home when the sun set, so he entered a village, and passed the night +there. In the morning he set out betimes, and about breakfast time he +came to a tank, on the embankment of which he laid down his gourd. He +then went into the water to clean his teeth, after which he began to +wash his face. While he was thus engaged a jackal came and pushed the +gourd down the embankment. The noise frightening the animal it ran +away, but the man having caught a glimpse of it called out, “My +foal has hatched, and is galloping off.” He pursued the jackal, +which being terror stricken fled to the jungle, and took refuge in his +burrow. The man was pleased to see the creature enter his hole, and he +said, “He will soon come out again, and then I shall mount him, +and gallop him home.<span class="corr" id="xd20e2614" title= +"Not in source">”</span> <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb126" +href="#pb126" name="pb126">126</a>]</span>Having said this, he placed +himself in such a position that when the jackal came out he could sit +down on its back.</p> +<p>He continued standing thus until nightfall, but even then he had no +intention of relinquishing his chance of capturing his foal. Late at +night some thieves came that way, and seeing him alone in the jungle +asked him what he did there. He replied, “I was sent by my +friends to buy a foal, but as I could not get one, I bought a +mare’s egg. I was informed that the egg would hatch on my way +home. I spent last night in a village on the way side, and resumed my +homeward journey in the morning. On arriving at a tank I laid down my +egg on the embankment, and went down into the water, and having cleaned +my teeth was washing my hands and face, when the egg hatched and the +foal immediately ran away. I followed it, and saw it enter this hole, +and I am waiting till it comes out, when I shall mount, and canter it +home.”</p> +<p>The thieves said, “Leave it alone. Let it remain there. Will +you kill yourself for this foal? Come with us, and we will give you a +strong, beautiful horse. This one has through fear of you riding on his +back gone into this hole. Why should you wait for him? He will stay +where he is. Come with us, and we will supply you with a good one +presently.”</p> +<p>After a little time spent in considering the offer the thieves had +made him, he decided to accompany them. The thieves were pleased to +receive him into their gang, and at once they proceeded towards a +certain village. Having arrived there they went to a rich man’s +house, and dug a hole through the wall. They then said to our hero of +the mare’s egg, “You creep in.” He raised no +objection, but went willingly. They said to him, “Bring out all +the heavy articles you can find, they are sure to be the most +valuable.” When inside he lifted up all he found to test the +weight, but nothing seemed to be sufficiently heavy to be worth +stealing. <a id="xd20e2625" name="xd20e2625"></a>He said, <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e2627" title="Not in source">“</span>everything +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb127" href="#pb127" name= +"pb127">127</a>]</span>is light, what can I take out to them?” At +length he came <span class="corr" id="xd20e2632" title= +"Source: accross">across</span> a millstone, which he pushed through +the hole in the wall to his confederates out side. Judging from its +weight he expected they would be delighted to receive it, but they +said, “Not this, Not this. Bring something worth stealing.” +So he went back, and finding a drum hanging from the roof he took it +down, and began to beat it. When the thieves heard the sound of the +drum they decamped, saying, “This fool is certain to betray us +to-night.” When he brought out the drum to make it over to them, +they were nowhere to be seen, so he re-entered the house and placed the +drum again where he had found it.</p> +<p>He then saw some milk near the fireplace, and being hungry he +<span class="corr" id="xd20e2637" title= +"Source: determind">determined</span> to cook some food. So helping +himself to some rice he began to prepare it by boiling it in the milk. +When it was nearly cooked, one of the household turned over in his +sleep, saying, “I will eat. I will eat.” So he filled a +ladle with the boiling rice and milk, and poured it into the +sleeper’s mouth. The hot food scalded him terribly, and he sprang +up howling with the pain.</p> +<p>The other members of the family also jumped to their feet, and laid +hold of the intruder, and bound him hand and foot.</p> +<p>When the day broke a large number of people came to see the thief, +and began to question him, as to who were his companions. So he related +all that had occurred. Then they said, “Of a truth, this man has +been the means of protecting us. Had he not acted as he did, we would +have been robbed of all we have.”</p> +<p>So they loosed his bonds, and set him free. They also allowed him to +eat the rice and milk he had cooked, which having done, he went +home.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="back"> +<div class="transcribernote"> +<h2 class="main">Colophon</h2> +<h3 class="main">Availability</h3> +<p class="firstpar">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no +cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give +it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License +included with this eBook or online at <a class="exlink" title= +"External link" href= +"http://www.gutenberg.org/">www.gutenberg.org</a>.</p> +<p>This eBook is produced by the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at <a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.pgdp.net/">www.pgdp.net</a>.</p> +<p>Scans for this book are available from the Internet Archive. +(<a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/santalfolktales00campgoog">1</a>, +<a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024159489">2</a>).</p> +<h3 class="main">Encoding</h3> +<p class="firstpar"></p> +<h3 class="main">Revision History</h3> +<ul> +<li>2011-01-11 Started.</li> +</ul> +<h3 class="main">External References</h3> +<p>This Project Gutenberg eBook contains external references. These +links may not work for you.</p> +<h3 class="main">Corrections</h3> +<p>The following corrections have been applied to the text:</p> +<table width="75%" summary= +"Overview of corrections applied to the text."> +<tr> +<th>Page</th> +<th>Source</th> +<th>Correction</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e121">ii</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">form</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">from</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e128">ii</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e511">21</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e589">28</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e714">42</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e924">53</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1020">57</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1027">58</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1030">58</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1057">60</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1060">60</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1076">60</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1231">67</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1563">77</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1750">82</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1760">82</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2137">96</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2338">113</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">,</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e267">iii</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">I06</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">106</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e390">9</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">bnt</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">but</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e393">9</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">orderd</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">ordered</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e413">10</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">tne</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">the</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e425">10</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">accomplished</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">accomplish</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e433">11</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">meney</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">money</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e436">11</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">ageed</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">agreed</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e447">13</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">ponnded</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">pounded</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e500">20</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">upon</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">open</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e528">22</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e533">23</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">king</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">King</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e538">23</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e989">55</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1587">78</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2019">90</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e565">26</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">set</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">sent</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e592">28</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">partinacity</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">pertinacity</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e595">28</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1079">60</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1119">61</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1177">64</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1251">67</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1656">80</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1791">83</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2528">121</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2614">125</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e603">28</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">enbankment</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">embankment</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e617">30</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">them</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">then</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e620">30</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">terror-sticken</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">terror-stricken</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e632">31</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Bitatam</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Bitaram</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e682">38</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2110">94</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2419">116</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">,</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Deleted</i>]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e689">39</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1465">74</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2405">116</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">’</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e692">39</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">befel</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">befell</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e723">43</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e759">45</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1174">64</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1222">66</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1444">73</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1645">79</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1888">86</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">,</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e750">44</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">the</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">this</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e770">46</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e787">47</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2117">94</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2157">98</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2345">114</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2525">121</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2537">121</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2627">126</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">“</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e971">55</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2637">127</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">determind</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">determined</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e974">55</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">gave</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">give</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e977">55</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">, she</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">. She</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1014">57</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">passe d.Gumda</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">passed. Gumda</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1017">57</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2076">92</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">’</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1033">58</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">immedately</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">immediately</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1047">59</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">.!’</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">!”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1114">61</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">of</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Deleted</i>]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1130">62</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">dropt</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">dropped</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1135">62</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1707">80</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2176">99</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">be</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">he</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1155">63</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">pealed</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">peeled</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1313">69</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">where</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">were</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1427">73</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">not</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">nor</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1453">73</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2348">114</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2535">121</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2540">121</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2542">121</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e2625">126</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">“</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Deleted</i>]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1455">73</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom"></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">, “</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1524">75</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">dilligently</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">diligently</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1531">75</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">bid</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">hid</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1566">77</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">‘</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">“</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1612">79</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">further</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">farther</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1688">80</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">sometime</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">some time</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1700">80</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">bye</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">by</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1704">80</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">am</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">me</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1846">85</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">preceeded</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">preceded</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2069">92</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">‘</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2072">92</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Here</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">here</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2112">94</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">stupified</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">stupefied</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2129">95</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">ged</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">get</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2162">98</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">a fishing</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">a-fishing</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2199">102</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Tht</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">The</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2207">102</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">lucious</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">luscious</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2260">105</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">with held</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">withheld</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2316">111</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">’?</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">?’</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2323">112</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">tennanted</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">tenanted</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2352">114</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">dilligent</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">diligent</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2402">116</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">him</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">me</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2429">117</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">?</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2439">118</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">;</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">:</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2487">119</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">fire-wood</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">firewood</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2632">127</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">accross</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">across</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Santal Folk Tales, by A. 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Campbell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Santal Folk Tales + +Author: A. Campbell + +Release Date: January 24, 2011 [EBook #35060] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SANTAL FOLK TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This book was produced from scanned images of +public domain material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + SANTAL FOLK TALES. + + + Translated from the Santali + By + + A. CAMPBELL, + + + Free Church of Scotland Santal Mission, + + Santal Mission Press, + + Pokhuria. + + + + + + + Printed at the Santal Mission Press, + Pokhuria. + + 1891. + + + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Of late years the Folk tales of India have been the subject of much +study and research, and several interesting collections of them have +been published. But I am not aware that as yet the folk lore of the +Santals, has received the attention which it deserves. The Santals +as a people, have, to a remarkable degree, succeeded in resisting the +subtle Hinduising influences to which they have long been exposed, and +to which such a large number of aboriginal tribes have succumbed. They +have retained their language, institutions, tribal organization, and +religion almost intact. Their traditions show the jealousy with which +these have been guarded, and the suspicion and distrust with which +contact with their Aryan neighbours was regarded. The point at which +they have been most accessible to outward influence and example, is +in their relations with the aboriginal tribes, who in a more or less +degree have merged themselves in Hinduism. Hindu ideas, customs and +beliefs, filtering through these tribes, became considerably modified +before they reached the Santals, and were therefore less potent in +their effects than if they had been drawn from the fountain head of +Hinduism itself. Still, in respect to their aboriginal neighbours +they are always on their guard, ready to repel any innovation on +their customs or religion with which they may be threatened. In the +folk tales of such a people we may well expect to find something, +if not altogether new, still interesting and instructive from an +ethnological point of view, and this expectation, I believe, would be +abundantly gratified if they were only made accessible to those who, +by training and study, are competent to deal with them. + +Santal folk-tales may be divided into two classes--those apparently +purely Santal in their origin, and those obtained from other +sources. Those of the first class are by far the more numerous, +and besides showing the superstitious awe with which the Santals +regard the creations of their own fancy, they throw a flood of +light upon the social customs and usages of this most interesting +people. The second class embraces a large number of the more popular +tales current among the Hindus and semi-Hinduised aborigines. These, +although adapted and modified by the Santals to suit their language, +modes of thought, and social usages, may generally be detected by the +presence of proper names, or untranslatable phrases which unmistakably +indicate the source from which they have been derived. + +These tales were taken down in Santali at first hand, and are therefore +genuine and redolent of the soil. In translating them I have allowed +myself considerable latitude without in any way diverging so far from +the original as to in any degree impair their value to the student +of Indian Folk-lore. + +It was to be expected that in the popular tales of a simple, unpolished +people like the Santals, expressions and allusions unfitted for ears +polite would be found. In all such cases the changes which have been +made are in accord with Santal thought and usage, so that the tales +are, notwithstanding these alterations, thoroughly Santali. + +I have aimed at making these Santal Folk-tales, in their English dress, +true to the forests and hills of their nativity. I am not without hope, +that in this I have succeeded in some small degree. + +A number of the tales included in this volume have already appeared +in the Indian Evangelical Review, but in this collected form they +are more likely to prove of service to those who take an interest in +the subject. + +This volume of Santal Folk-Tales is offered as a humble contribution +to the Folk-lore of India. + + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Page. + + The Magic Lamp 1 + The Two Brothers, Jhorea and Jhore 6 + The Boy and his Stepmother 15 + The Story of Kara and Guja 18 + The King and his inquisitive Queen 22 + The Story of Bitaram 25 + The Story of Sit and Bosont 33 + The Story of a Tiger 40 + Story of a Lizard, a Tiger, and a lame Man 42 + The Story of a Simpleton 45 + A Thief and a Tiger 49 + The Magic Fiddle 52 + Gumda the Hero 57 + Lipi and Lapra 62 + The Story of Lelha 65 + The Story of Sindura Gand Garur 89 + The Tiger and Ulta's Mother 93 + The Greatest Cheat of Seven 98 + The Story of Two Princesses 102 + Seven Brothers and their Sister 106 + The Story of Jhore 111 + The Girl who always found helpers 119 + A Simple Thief 125 + + + + + + +SANTAL FOLK-TALES. + +THE MAGIC LAMP. + + +In the capital of a certain raja, there lived a poor widow. She had +an only son who was of comely form and handsome countenance. One +day a merchant from a far country came to her house, and standing +in front of the door called out, "dada, dada," (elder brother). The +widow replied, "He is no more, he died many years ago." On hearing +this the merchant wept bitterly, mourning the loss of his younger +brother. He remained some days in his sister-in-law's house, at the +end of which he said to her, "This lad and I will go in quest of the +golden flowers, prepare food for our journey." Early next morning they +set out taking provisions with them for the way. After they had gone +a considerable distance, the boy being fatigued said, "Oh! uncle I can +go no further." The merchant scolded him, and walked along as fast as +he could. After some time the boy again said, "I am so tired I can go +no further." His uncle turned back and beat him, and he, nerved by +fear, walked rapidly along the road. At length they reached a hill, +to the summit of which they climbed, and gathered a large pile of +firewood. They had no fire with them, but the merchant ordered his +nephew to blow with his mouth as if he were kindling the embers of +a fire. He blew until he was exhausted, and then said, "What use is +there in blowing when there is no fire?" The merchant replied "Blow, +or I shall beat you." He again blew with all his might for a short +time, and then stopping, said, "There is no fire, how can it possibly +burn?" on which the merchant struck him. The lad then redoubled his +efforts, and presently the pile of firewood burst into a blaze. On +the firewood being consumed, an iron trap-door appeared underneath the +ashes, and the merchant ordered his nephew to pull it up. He pulled, +but finding himself unable to open it, said, "It will not open." The +merchant told him to pull with greater force, and he, being afraid lest +he should be again beaten, pulled with all his might, but could not +raise it. He again said, "It will not open," whereupon the merchant +struck him, and ordered him to try again. Applying himself with all +his might, he at length succeeded. On the door being raised, they saw +a lamp burning, and beside it an immense quantity of golden flowers. + +The merchant then said to the boy, "As you enter do not touch any of +the gold flowers, but put out the lamp, and heap on the gold tray as +many of the gold flowers as you can, and bring them away with you." He +did as he was ordered, and on reaching the door again requested his +uncle to relieve him of the gold flowers, but he refused, saying, +"Climb up as best as you can." The boy replied, "How can I do so, +when my hands are full?" The merchant then shut the iron trap door +on him, and went away to a distant country. + +The boy being imprisoned in the dark vault, wept bitterly, and having +no food, in a few days he became very weak. Taking the lamp in his +hand, he sat down in a corner, and without knowing what he was doing, +began to rub the lamp with his hand. A ring, which he wore on his +finger, came into contact with the lamp, and immediately a fairy +issued from it, and asked, "What is it you want with me?" He replied, +"Open the door and let me out." The fairy opened the door, and the +boy went home taking the lamp with him. Being hungry, he asked for +food, but his mother replied, "There is nothing in the house that I +can give you." He then went for his lamp, saying, "I will clean it, +and then sell it, and with the money buy food." Taking the lamp +in his hand he began to rub it, and his ring again touching it, a +fairy issued from it and said "What do you wish for?" The boy said +"Cooked rice and uncooked rice." The fairy immediately brought him +an immense quantity of both kinds of rice. + +Sometime after this, certain merchants brought horses for sale, and +the boy seeing them wished to buy one. Having no money, he remembered +his lamp, and taking it up, pressed his ring against it, and the +fairy instantly appeared, and asked him what he wanted. He said, +"Bring me a horse," and immediately the fairy presented to him an +immense number of horses. + +When the boy had become a young man, it so happened, that one day +the raja's daughter was being carried to the ghat to bathe, and he +seeing her palki with the attendants passing, went to his mother and +said, "I am going to see the princess." She tried to dissuade him, +but he insisted on her giving him permission, so at length she gave +him leave. He went secretly, and saw her as she was bathing, and +on returning home, said to his mother, "I have seen the princess, +and I am in love with her. Go, and inform the raja that your son +loves his daughter, and begs her hand in marriage." His mother said, +"Do you think the raja will consider us as on an equality with him?" He +would not, however, be gainsaid, but kept urging her daily to carry his +message to the raja, until she being wearied with his importunity went +to the palace, and being admitted to an audience, informed the raja +that her son was enamoured of the princess, his daughter, and begged +that she might be given to him in marriage. The raja made answer that +on her son giving him a large sum of money which he named, and which +would have been beyond the means of the raja himself, he would be +prepared to give his daughter in marriage to her son. The young man +had recourse to his lamp and ring, and the fairy supplied him with a +much larger sum of money than the raja had demanded. He took it all, +and gave it to the raja, who was astonished beyond measure at the +sight of such immense wealth. + +After a reasonable time the old mother was sent to the raja to +request him to fulfil his promise, but he, being reluctant to see +his daughter united to one so much her inferior in station, in hope +of being relieved from the obligation to fulfil his promise, demanded +that a palace suited to her rank and station in life be prepared for +her, after which he would no longer delay the nuptials. The would-be +bridegroom applied to his never failing friends, his lamp and ring, +and on the fairy appearing begged him to build a large castle in +one night, and to furnish and adorn it as befitted the residence +of a raja's daughter. The fairy complied with the request, and the +whole city was amazed next morning at the sight of a lordly castle, +where the evening before there had not been even a hut. The dewan +tried to dissuade the raja, but without effect, and in due time the +marriage was celebrated amid great rejoicings. + +On a certain day, some time after the marriage, the raja and his +son-in-law went to the forest to hunt. During their absence, the +merchant to whom reference has already been made, arrived at the castle +gate, bearing in his hand a new lamp which he offered in exchange to +the princess for any old lamp she might possess. She thought it a good +opportunity to obtain a new lamp in place of her husband's old one, +and without knowing what she did, gave the magic lamp to the merchant, +and received a new one in return. The merchant rubbed his ring on the +magic lamp, and the fairy obeyed the summons, and desired to know what +he wanted. He said, "Convey the castle as it stands with the princess +in it, to my own country," and instantly his wish was gratified. + +When the raja and his son-in-law returned from the chase, they were +surprised and alarmed to find that the palace with its fair occupant +had vanished, and had not left a trace behind. The dewan reminded +his master that he had tried to dissuade him from rashly giving his +daughter in marriage to an unknown person, and had foretold that +some calamity was sure to follow. The raja being grieved and angry +at the loss of his daughter, sent for her husband, and said to him, +"I give you thirteen days during which to find my daughter. If you +fail, on the morning of the fourteenth, I shall surely cause you to +be executed." The thirteenth day arrived, and although her husband +had sought her every where, the princess had not been found. Her +unhappy husband resigned himself to his fate, saying, "I shall go +and rest, to-morrow morning I shall be killed." So he climbed to +the top of a high hill, and lay down to sleep upon a rock. At noon +he accidentally rubbed his finger ring upon the rock on which he +lay, and a fairy issued from it, and awaking him, demanded what +he wanted. In reply he said, "I have lost my wife and my palace, +if you know where they are, take me to them." The fairy immediately +transported him to the gate of his castle in the merchant's country, +and then left him to his own devices. Assuming the form of a dog, +he entered the palace, and the princess at once recognized him. The +merchant had gone out on business, and had taken the lamp with him, +suspended by a chain round his neck. After consultation, it was +determined that the princess should put poison in the merchant's +food that evening. When he returned, he called for his supper, and +the princess set before him the poisoned rice, after eating which +he quickly died. The rightful owner repossessed himself of the magic +lamp, and an application of the ring brought out the attendant fairy +who demanded to know why he had been summoned. "Transport my castle +with the princess and myself in it back to the king's country, and +place it where it stood before," said the young man; and instantly +the castle occupied its former position. So that before the morning +of the fourteenth day dawned, not only had the princess been found, +but her palace had been restored to its former place. The raja was +delighted at receiving his daughter back again. He divided his kingdom +with his son-in-law, giving him one-half, and they ruled the country +peacefully and prosperously for many years. + + + + + + +THE TWO BROTHERS, JHOREA, AND JHORE. + + +There were two brothers, whose parents died, leaving them orphans +when very young. The name of the elder was Jhorea, and of the younger +Jhore. On the death of their parents, the two brothers went to seek +employment, which they found in a certain village, far from where +their home had been. The elder, Jhorea, was engaged as a farm servant, +and the younger, Jhore, as village goat-herd. + +After some time, it so happened that one day the brothers had no rice +for their dinner, and Jhorea said to his brother, "Go to the owners of +the goats you herd, and ask them for the hire they promised you. One +will give you a pai, another a pawa, and a third a paila, and so +on, according to the number of animals they have in your charge; +some will give you more and others less, bring what you get, and +cook some for dinner." The boy went as he was ordered, and entering +the first house he came to, said, "Give me a pai." They said: "What +do you want with a pai?" "Never mind what I want with it, give it," +he replied. So they gave him a pai. Then he went to another house +and said, "Give me a pawa." "What do you want with a pawa?" they +said. "Never you mind, give it to me," and they gave him a pawa. He +then went to a third house and asked for a paila. "What do you want +with a paila?" they enquired. "Never you mind, give it to me," he +replied. Instead of bringing rice he brought the wooden measures, and +breaking them into small pieces, put them into the pot to cook. The +elder brother was ploughing, and being very hungry, he kept calling +out, "Cook the rice quickly, cook the rice quickly." His brother being +impatient, he stirred the contents of the pot with all his might, at +the same time exclaiming, "What can be the matter brother? it is very +hard." The elder brother came to see what was wrong, and on looking +into the pot saw only pieces of wood. He became very angry, and said, +"I sent you to bring rice, why did you bring measures?" To which he +replied, "You told me to ask a pai from one, a pawa from another, +and a paila from a third, and I did so." + +The elder then said to the younger, "You go and plough, and if the +plough catch in a root on the right hand, cut the root on the left +hand, and if it catch in a root on the left side, cut the root on +the right side, and in the meantime I will cook." He went and began +to plough, and in a short time the plough caught in a root on the +right, and not understanding the directions given to him, he struck +the left hand bullock a blow on the leg with his axe. The bullock +limped along a short distance. When the plough caught in a root on +the left, he smote the bullock on the right, wounding it as he had +done the other. Both of the bullocks then lay down, and although he +beat them they did not get up. He therefore called to his brother, +"These bullocks have lain down, and will not get up, what shall I +do?" "Beat them," was the reply. Again he beat them, but with no +better result. The elder brother then came, and found that the oxen +had been maimed, and were unable to stand, at which he became greatly +alarmed, and said, "Why did you maim the oxen? The owners will beat +us to death to-day." He then gave him some parched grain to eat, +and sent him to look after his goats. The sun being hot, the goats +were lying in the shade chewing their cud. He sat down near them, +and began to eat the parched grain. Seeing the goats moving their +jaws as if eating, he said, "These goats are eating nothing, they +are lying there mocking me," and becoming enraged, he killed them +all with his axe. Then going to his brother, he said, "Oh! brother, +I have killed all the goats." His brother asked, "Why did you kill +them?" He replied, "While I was watching them and eating the parched +grain which you gave me, I saw them chewing, and as they were eating +nothing I knew they were mocking me, and so I killed them all." The +elder brother became greatly alarmed, and calling to the younger to +come, they quickly ate their dinner, and then went to where the goats +were lying dead. From among them they chose the fattest, and carried +it off to the jungle, where they flayed, and cut it into pieces. + +Jhore then said, "I shall take the stomach as my share," but his +brother said, "No, let us take the flesh." Jhore, however, would not +agree to that, and at length his brother said, "Well you take the +stomach, I shall take the flesh." So each took what he fancied most, +and they set off. After travelling a long distance, they came to a +large tree growing on the side of the road, into which they climbed +for safety. After they had been some time on the tree, a raja on his +way to be married, lay down to rest in its shade, and when he and +his attendants had fallen asleep, Jhore let the goat's stomach fall +down on the raja. The raja having his rest thus rudely disturbed, +sprang to his feet, and calling out, awoke his servants, who seeing +the goat's stomach, and not knowing what had happened, thought the +raja himself had burst. They fled in terror followed by the raja, +and did not halt till they were many miles away from the scene of +the raja's discomfiture. + +After waiting a little while, the brothers descended, and began to +help themselves to the raja's property. Jhore said, "I shall take the +drum." His brother said, "No, let us take the brass vessels and the +clothes." Jhore, however, insisted, and after considerable wrangling, +his brother said, "Well, take the drum if you will have it, I shall +take the brass vessels and the clothes." So each took what pleased +him best, and then they went away and hid in the jungle. + +While walking about in the jungle, they collected bees, wasps, and +other stinging insects, and put them into the drum. Having filled the +drum, they emerged from the forest at a place where a washerman was +washing clothes. Jhore tore all his clothes into strips, and scattered +them about. The washerman went and told the raja that two persons +had come out from the jungle, and had destroyed all his clothes. On +hearing this, the raja said to his servants, "Come, and let us fight +with these two men." So arming themselves with guns, they went to the +tank where Jhorea and Jhore were sitting, and began to shoot at them, +but the bullets did them no harm. When their ammunition was exhausted, +they said, "Will you still fight?" The brothers answered, "Yes, we +will fight." So they began to fire their guns, and beat their drum, +and the bees and wasps issued from it like a rope, and began to sting +the raja and his soldiers, who to save themselves, lay down and rolled +on the ground. The raja, in anguish from the stings of the bees, +exclaimed, "I will give you my daughter, and half of my kingdom, +if you will call off the bees." Hearing this they beat the drum, +and calling to the bees and wasps, ordered them all to enter the drum +again, and the raja and his people went to their homes. The brothers +however, could not agree as to who should marry the princess. One said, +"You marry her." The other said, "No, you marry her." The younger at +length said to the elder, "You are the elder, you should take her, +as it is not fitting that you should beg. If I were to marry her, +I could no longer go about begging." So the elder brother married +the princess, and became the raja's son-in-law. + +The two settled down there, and cultivated all kinds of crops. One +day the elder brother sent his younger brother to bring a certain +kind of grain. Taking a sickle and a rope to tie his sheaves with, he +went to the field. Arrived there, he found that the grain was covered +with insects. So he set fire to it, and while it was burning he kept +calling out, "Whoever desires to feast on roasted insects, let him +come here." When his brother knew what he had done, he reprimanded +him severely. + +Some time afterwards, when the black rice was ripe, he again +ordered him to go and reap some, so getting a sickle, and rope to +bind his sheaves with, he went to the rice field. On looking about +to see where he would begin, he discovered that each stalk of rice +was covered with flies. "There is nothing here but flies. How can I +reap this?" Saying this, he set fire to the growing rice and burnt +it all to the ground. His brother, when he knew what had happened, +was very much displeased and threatened to beat him. + +On another day he was sent to cut jari [1] to make ropes, so taking +his sickle, he set off to the field of jari. As soon as he began +to cut the stalks, the seeds rattled in the pods, hearing which he +stopped and called out, "Who is calling me?" After listening awhile +and hearing nothing he began again, and the same noise issuing from +the plant he was cutting, he said, "These plants are remonstrating +with me for cutting them." So being offended, he set fire to and +burnt down the whole crop of jari. + +On being informed of his brother's action, Jhorea seized a stick, +and ran after him to beat him, but could not overtake him. In the +direction Jhore was running, there were some men flaying an ox, and +Jhorea called to them to lay hold of his brother. They could not, +however, accomplish this, but as he passed, they threw the stomach +of the ox at him, which he caught in his arms and carried away with +him. Finding a drain that was open at both ends, he crept in at one +end, and passed out at the other, but left the ox's stomach behind +him. His brother soon arrived at the drain, and thinking he was still +there, tried to drive him out by pushing in a stick, the sharp point +of which perforated the ox's stomach. On withdrawing the stick, and +seeing the contents of the ox's stomach adhering to it, he thought he +had pierced and killed his brother, but he having passed out at the +other end had run swiftly home, and hid himself among the rafters of +the house. Jhorea returned home weeping, and immediately began to make +the preparations necessary for Jhore's funeral ceremonies. He caused +a sumptuous feast to be got ready, and invited all his relations and +friends. When they were all assembled, he went into the house to offer +Jhore his portion. Presenting it, he said: "Oh! my brother Jhore, I +offer this to you, take it, and eat it." Jhore, from among the rafters +said, "Give it to me brother, and I shall eat it." His brother, not +expecting an answer, was alarmed, and fled to his friends without, +exclaiming, "Do the spirits of dead men speak? Jhore's speaks." + +It now being dark, Jhore descended from his perch, and taking up the +food which had been cooked for his funeral feast, left the house +by another door. Passing on to the high way, he kept calling out, +"Travellers by the road, or dwellers in the jungle, if you require +food, come here." Some thieves hearing him, said, "Come, let us go and +ask some." So going to him they said, "Give us some too, Jhore." But +he replied, "It is for me alone." On their asking a second time, +he give it to them. After they had eaten it all, they said to him, +"Come, let us go a thieving." So they went to a house, and while the +thieves were searching for money, Jhore went and picked up small pieces +of pottery, and tied them up in his cloth. When they met afterwards, +seeing Jhore's bundle of what appeared like rupees, they said, +"You were not with us, where did you get the money?" Opening his +parcel, he shewed them the pieces of pottery, seeing which they said, +"We will not have you as our comrade." He replied, "Then return the +food which you ate." As they could not comply, they agreed to take +him with them. Jhore then said, "Where shall we go now?" They replied, +"To steal cloth." So they went to a house, and while the robbers were +searching for cloth, Jhore began to pull the clothes from off the +sleeping inmates. This awoke them, and starting up, they began to call +loudly for help. The thieves made off, and Jhore with them. Seeing +Jhore had spoiled their game, they said to him, "We will not allow +you to go with us again." He said, "Then give me back the food you +ate." Not being able to do so, they said, "Well, we will allow you +to accompany us this once." Jhore then said, "What shall we steal +now?" The thieves answered, "We shall now go to steal horses." So +they went to a stable, and each of the thieves helped himself to a +horse; but Jhore going behind the house, found a large tiger which he +saddled and mounted. The thieves also mounted each on the horse he +had stolen. As they rode along, Jhore's tiger sometimes went first, +and sometimes the thieves' horses. When the thieves were in front, +Jhore's tiger bit and scratched their horses, so they said to him, +"You ride first, we shall follow." But Jhore said, "No, my horse is a +Hindu horse, he cannot run in front, your horses are Santal horses, +they run well and straight, so you ride ahead." When day began to +dawn, Jhore's tiger evinced a tendency to leave the road and take to +the jungle, but Jhore holding him in, exclaimed, "Ha! ha! my Hindu +steed, ha! ha! my Hindu steed." When it was fully light, the tiger +ran into the jungle, and Jhore got caught in the branch of a tree, +and continued dangling there for some days. + +It so happened that one morning a demon passing that way spied Jhore +dangling from the tree, and seizing him, put him in a bag and carried +him away. Being thirsty, he laid the bag down, and went to a spring +to drink. While he was absent, Jhore got out of the bag, and putting +a stone in instead, ran away. The demon having quenched his thirst, +returned, and lifting the bag carried it home. His daughter came to +welcome him, and he said to her, "Jhore is in the bag, cook him, +and we shall have a feast." He then went to invite his friends to +share it with him. When the demon's daughter had opened the bag, +she found the stone, and was angry, because her father had deceived +her. In a short time her father returned, bringing a large number of +jackals with him. He said to her, "Have you cooked Jhore?" She replied, +"Tush! tush! you brought me a stone." + +The demon was highly incensed at having been outwitted, and exclaimed, +"I will track Jhore till I find him, and this time I shall bring him +home without laying him down." He then left, and before long found +Jhore swinging in the same branch as before. Catching hold of him, he +put him into a bag, the mouth of which he tied. This time he brought +him home without once laying him down. Calling to his daughter, +he said, "Cook Jhore, while I go to invite my friends." She untied +the bag, and took Jhore out, and seeing his long hair, she said, +"How is it that your hair has grown so long?" "I pounded it in the +dhenki," he replied, "Will you pound mine, so that it may become long +like yours," said the demon's daughter. Jhore replied, "I shall do so +with pleasure, put your head in the dhenki, and I shall pound it." So +she put in her head, and he pounded it so that he killed her. He then +possessed himself of all her jewellery, and dressing in her clothes, +cooked her body. + +When the demon returned, accompanied by his friends, he said, +"Well! daughter, have you cooked Jhore?" Jhore replied, "Yes, I have +cooked him." On hearing this, the demon and the jackals who had come +with him, were delighted, and setting to, they devoured the body of +the demon's daughter. + +After some days, the demon went to visit a friend, and Jhore divesting +himself of the demon girl's clothes, went to where the demon had at +first found him, and began to swing as before. Presently a tigress +approached him and said, "Oh! brother, the hair of my cubs has +grown very long, I wish you to shave them to-day." Jhore replied, +"Oh! sister, boil some water, and then go to the spring to bring +more." The tigress having boiled the water, went to the spring. While +she was away, Jhore poured the boiling water over the two cubs, +and scalded them to death. He made them grin by fixing the lips +apart, and propped them up at the door of the tigress' house. On her +return as she drew near, she saw her cubs, as she fancied, laughing, +and said to herself. "They are delighted because their uncle has +shaved them." Setting down her water pot, she went to look at them, +and found them dead. Just then the demon came up, and she asked him, +"Whom are you seeking to-day uncle?" He replied "I am seeking Jhore, +he has caused me to eat my own daughter. Whom are you seeking?" The +tigress replied, "I also am seeking Jhore; he has scalded my cubs +to death." + +The two then went in search of Jhore. They found him in a lonely part +of the forest preparing birdlime, and said to him, "What are you doing, +Jhore?" He replied, "I look high up, and then I look deep down." They +said, "Teach us to do it too." He answered, "Only I can do it." They +asked him a second time, and received the same reply. On their begging +him a third time to teach them, he said, "Well, I shall do it." He +then put some of the birdlime into their eyes, and fixed their eyelids +together, so that they could not open them. While they were washing +their eyes, he ran away. As soon as they had rid themselves of the +birdlime, they followed him and found him distilling oil from the +fruit of the marking-nut tree. They said to him, "What are you doing, +Jhore?" He replied, "I look deep down, and then high up." They said, +"Teach us also." He replied, "Only I can do it." They asked him again, +and he said, "Well I will do it." He then poured some of the oil he +had distilled into their eyes. It burned them so, that they became +stone-blind. + +Jhore was next seen seated in a fig-tree eating the fruit. Some cattle +merchants, passing under the tree with a large herd of cattle, saw him +eating the figs, and asked him what it was he was eating. He replied, +"Beat the bullock that is going last, and you shall find it." So +they beat the bullock till it fell down. In the meantime, the herd +had gone on ahead, and Jhore running after them drove them to his +own house. His brother seeing the large herd of cattle, asked to whom +they belonged. Jhore replied, "They are Jhore's property." Jhorea then +said, "I killed my brother Jhore, what Jhore is it?" He made answer, +"Your brother Jhore whom you thought you had killed." Jhorea was +delighted to find his brother alive, and said to him, "Let us live +together after this." So they lived peacefully together ever after. + + + + + + +THE BOY AND HIS STEPMOTHER. + + +A certain boy had charge of a cow which he used to tend while +grazing. One day the cow said to him, "How is it that you are becoming +so emaciated?" The boy replied, "My stepmother does not give me +sufficient food." The cow then said to him, "Do not tell any one, +and I will give you food. Go to the jungle and get leaves with which +to make a plate and cup." The boy did as he was ordered, and behold, +the cow from one horn shook boiled rice into the leaf plate, and from +the other a relish for the rice into the cup. This continued daily +for a considerable time, until the boy became sleek and fat. + +The stepmother came to know of the relation which existed between +the cow and her herd-boy, and to be revenged upon them she feigned +illness. To her attendants she said, "I cannot possibly live." They +asked, "What would make you live?" She replied, "If you kill the cow, +I will recover." They said, "If killing the cow will cure you, we will +kill it." The boy hearing that the life of the cow which supplied +him with food was threatened, ran to her and said, "They are about +to kill you." Hearing this the cow said, "You go and make a rope of +rice straw, make some parts thick, and some thin, and put it in such a +place as they can easily find it. When they are about to kill me, you +seize hold of my tail and pull." The next day they proceeded to make +arrangements to kill the cow, and finding the rope prepared by the boy +the day before, they tied her with it to a stake. After she was tied +the boy laid hold of her tail, and pulled so that the rope by which +she was secured was made taut. A man now raised an axe, and felled +her by a blow on the forehead. As the cow staggered the rope broke, +and she and the boy were borne away on the wind, and alighted in an +unexplored jungle. From the one cow other cows sprang, in number equal +to a large herd, and from them another large herd was produced. The boy +then drove his two herds of cows to a place where they could graze, and +afterwards took them to the river to drink. The cows having quenched +their thirst, lay down to rest, and the boy bathed, and afterwards +combed and dressed his hair. During this latter operation a hair from +his head fell into the river, and was carried away by the current. + +Some distance lower down, a princess with her female companions and +attendants came to bathe. While the princess was in the water she +noticed the hair floating down stream, and ordered some one to take it +out, which when done they measured, and found it to be twelve cubits +long. The princess on returning home went to the king, her father, +and showing him the hair she had found in the river said, "I have made +up my mind to marry the man to whom this hair belonged." The king gave +his consent, and commanded his servants to search for the object of his +daughter's affection. They having received the king's command went to +a certain barber and said to him, "You dress the hair and beards of +all the men in this part of the country, tell us where the man with +hair twelve cubits long is to be found." The barber, after many days, +returned unsuccessful. The king's servants after a long consultation +as to whom they should next apply to, decided upon laying the matter +before a tame parrot belonging to the king. Going to the parrot they +said, "Oh parrot, can you find the man whose hair is twelve cubits +long?" The parrot replied, "Yes, I can find him." After flying here +and there the parrot was fortunate enough to find the boy. It was +evening, and having driven his two herds of cattle into their pen, +he had sat down, and was employed in dressing his long hair. His +flute was hanging on a bush by his side. + +The parrot sat awhile considering how she might take him to the king's +palace. Seeing the flute the idea was suggested to her, that by means +of it she might contrive to lead him where she desired. So taking it up +in her beak, she flew forward a little and alighted in a small bush. To +regain possession of his flute the boy followed, but on his approach +the bird flew away, and alighted on another bush a short distance +ahead. In this way she continued to lead him by flying from bush to +bush until at length she brought him to the king's palace. He was then +brought before his majesty, and his hair measured, and found to be +twelve cubits in length. The king then ordered food to be set before +him, and after he was refreshed the betrothal ceremony was performed. + +As it was now late they prevailed upon him to pass the night as the +guest of the king. Early in the morning he set out, but, as he had +a long distance to go, the day was far advanced before he reached +the place where his cattle were. They were angry at having been kept +penned up to so late an hour, and as he removed the bars to let them +out, they knocked him down, and trampled upon his hair in such a way, +as to pull it all out leaving him bald. Nothing daunted, he collected +his cows, and started on his return journey, but us he drove them +along, one after another vanished, so that only a few remained when +he reached the king's palace. + +On his arrival they noticed that he had lost all his hair, and on being +questioned he related to the king all that had fallen him. His hair +being gone the princess refused to marry him, so instead of becoming +the king's son-in-law, he became one of his hired servants. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF KARA AND GUJA. + + +There were two brothers named Kara and Guja. Guja, who was the elder +did the work at home, and Kara was ploughman. + +One day the two went to the forest to dig edible roots. After they +had been thus engaged for some hours, Kara said to Guja, "Look up +and see the sun's position in the heavens." Looking up he said, +"Oh brother, one is rising and another is setting." They then said, +"The day is not yet past, let us bestir ourselves, and lose no +time." So they dug with all their might. + +After digging a long time Kara looked up and became aware that it was +night. He then exclaimed, "Oh brother, it is now night, what shall +we do? Come let us seek some place where we can remain until the +morning." After they had wandered awhile in the forest they spied a +light in the distance, and on drawing near they found that a tiger had +kindled a fire, and was warming himself. Going up to the entrance to +the cave they called out to the tiger, "Oh uncle, give us a place to +sleep in." He answered, "Come in." So the two went in, and being hungry +began to roast and eat the roots they had brought with them. The tiger +hearing them eating, enquired what it was. They replied, "Oh uncle, we +are roasting and eating the roots which we dug up in the forest." He +then said, "Oh my nephews, I will also try how they taste." So they +handed him a piece of charcoal, and as he munched it he said, "Oh +my nephews, how is it that I feel it grating between my teeth?" They +replied, "It is an old one that you have got, uncle." He then said, +"Give me another, and I will try it." So they gave him another piece of +charcoal, and after he had crunched it awhile he said, "Oh my nephews, +this is as bad as the other," to which they rejoined, "Oh uncle, +your mouth is old, therefore what is good to us, is the reverse to +you." The tiger did not wish to try his grinders on another piece of +charcoal, so the brothers were left to enjoy their repast alone. + +After they had eaten all the roots, Guja said to Kara, "What shall +we eat now? Come let us eat this old tiger's tail." Kara replied, +"Do not talk in that way, brother, the tiger will devour us." "Not so, +brother," said Guja, "I have a great desire to eat flesh." The old +tiger understood their conversation, and being afraid tried to get +out of the cave, but the brothers caught hold of him, and wrenched +off his tail, which they roasted in the ashes, and then ate. + +The tiger after losing his tail summoned a council of all the tigers +inhabiting that part of the forest, at which they decided to kill and +eat the two brothers. So they went to the cave, but Kara and Guja had +fled, and had taken refuge in a palm tree which grew on the edge of +a large deep tank. Not finding them in the cave the tigers, headed +by him who had lost his tail, went in quest of them, and coming to +the tank saw them reflected in the water, and one after another they +dived in, thinking they would be able to seize them, but of course +they could not catch a shadow. One of the tigers, when in the act +of yawning, looked upwards, and seeing them in the tree exclaimed, +"There they are. There they are." They then asked the brothers how +they had managed to climb up, to which they replied, "We stood on +each other's shoulders." The tigers then said, "Come, let us do the +same, and we shall soon reach them." As the tailless tiger was most +interested in their capture, they made him stand lowest, and a tiger +climbed up and stood on his shoulders, and another on his, and so +on; but before they reached the brothers, Kara called out to Guja, +"Give me your sharp battle-axe, and I shall hamstring the tailless +tiger." The tailless tiger forgetting himself jumped to one side, +and the whole pillar of tigers fell in a heap on the ground. They now +began to abuse the old tailless tiger, who fearing lest they should +tear him in pieces fled into the forest. + +After the tigers had left, the two brothers descended from the palm +tree, and walked rapidly away as they dreaded that the tigers might +yet follow them. Towards evening they came to a village, and entering +into the house of an old woman lay down to sleep. The owner of the +house observing them said, "Oh my children, do not sleep to-night, +for there is a demon who visits in rotation each house in the village, +and each time he comes carries off some one and eats him; it is my +turn to receive a visit to-night." They said, "Do not trouble us now, +let us sleep, as we are tired." So they slept, but kept their weather +eye open. During the night the old woman came quietly, and began +to bite their arms, which they had laid aside before retiring to +rest. Hearing a sound as if some one were crunching iron between his +teeth, the brothers called out, "Old woman, what are you eating?" She +replied "Only a few roasted peas which I brought from the chief's +house." About midnight the demon came, and as he was entering the +house Kara and Guja shot at him with their bows and arrows, and he +fell down dead. Then they cut out his claws and tongue, and placed +them in a bag. Afterwards they threw out the body of the demon into +the garden behind the house. + +Now it so happened that the king had promised to give his daughter +and half of his kingdom to the man who should slay the demon. Early +in the morning a Dome, who was passing, discovered the body of the +demon, and said within himself, "I will take it to the king and claim +the reward." So running home he broke all the furniture in his house +and beat his old woman saying, "Get out of this. I am about to bring +the king's daughter home as my bride." He then returned quickly, +and taking up the body of the demon carried it to the king, and said, +"Oh sir king, I have slain the demon." The king replied, "Very well, +we will enquire into it." So he commanded some of his servants to +examine the body, and on doing so they found that the claws had been +extracted and the tongue cut out. They reported the condition of +the body to the king, who ordered the Dome to state the weapon with +which he killed him. The Dome replied, "I hit him with a club on the +head." On the head being examined no mark whatever was seen, so in +order to arrive at the truth the king ordered all the inhabitants of +the village to be brought together to the palace. He then enquired +of them as to who killed the demon. + +The old woman, in whose house Kara and Guja had passed the night, +stepped forward and said, "Oh sir king, two strangers came to my house +yesterday evening, and during the night they slew the demon." The +king said, "Where are those two men?" The old woman replied, "There +they are, the two walking together." So the king sent and brought +them back, and questioned them as to the slaying of the demon. They +pointed out the arrow-marks on the body, and produced his claws and +tongue from their bag. This evidence convinced the king that they, +and not the Dome, had slain the demon. Kara and Guja were received +with great favour by the king, and received the promised reward. + +The king sentenced the Dome to be beaten and driven from the +village. After receiving his stripes, the Dome returned home, and +gathered the shreds of his property together. He also went in search +of his Dome wife and children, but they mocked him saying, "You went +to marry the king's daughter, why do you come again seeking us." + +Thus Kara and Guja gained a kingdom. + + + + + + +THE KING AND HIS INQUISITIVE QUEEN. + + +There was a certain king known by the name of Huntsman, on account of +his expertness in the chase. One day when returning from the forest +where he had been hunting he found a serpent and a lizard fighting +on the path along which he was moving. As they were blocking the way +he ordered them to stand aside and allow him to pass, but they gave +no heed to what he said. King Huntsman then began to beat them with +his staff. He killed the lizard, but the serpent fled, and so escaped. + +The serpent then went to Monsha, the king of the serpents, and +complained of the treatment the lizard and himself had received at +the hands of king Huntsman. The next day king Monsha went and met king +Huntsman on his way home from the forest, and blocked his way so that +he could not pass. King Huntsman being angry said, "Clear the way, +and allow me to pass, or else I shall send an arrow into you. Why +do you block my way?" King Monsha replied, "Why did you assault the +lizard and the serpent, with intent to kill them both?" King Huntsman +answered, "I ordered them to get out of my way, but they would not, +I therefore assaulted them, and killed one. The other saved himself +by flight." King Monsha hearing this explanation said, "Very good, +the fault was theirs, not yours." + +King Huntsman then petitioned the king of the serpents to bestow upon +him the gift of understanding the language of animals and insects. King +Monsha acceded to his request, and gave him the gift he desired. + +A few days after this event King Huntsman went to the forest, and after +hunting all day returned home in the evening Having washed his hands +and feet, he sat down to his meal of boiled rice. When the rice was +being served to the king a few grains fell on the ground, and a fly +and an ant began to dispute as to who should carry them away. The fly +said, "I will take them to my children." The ant replied, "No, I will +take them to mine." Hearing the two talk thus, the king was amused, +and began to smile. The queen, who was standing by, said to him, +"Tell me what has made you laugh." On being thus addressed the king +became greatly confused, for at the time the gift of understanding the +language of animals and insects was bestowed upon him, King Monsha had +forbidden him to make it known to any one. He had said, "If you tell +this to any one, I shall eat you." Remembering this the king feared +to answer the question put to him by the queen. He tried to deceive +her by saying, "I did not laugh, you must have been mistaken." She +would not, however, be thus put off, so the king was obliged to tell +her that if he answered her question his life would be forfeited. The +queen was inexorable, and said, "Whether you forfeit your life or +not, you must tell me." The king then said, "Well, if it must be so, +let us make ready to go to the bank of the Ganges. There I shall +tell you, and when I have done so you must push me into the river, +and then return home." + +The king armed himself, and the two set out for the river. When they +had reached it, they sat down to rest under the shade of a tree. A +flock of goats was grazing near to where they were seated, and the +king's attention was arrested by a conversation which was being carried +on between an old she-goat and a young he-goat. The former addressed +the latter thus, "There is an island in the middle of the Ganges, +and on that island there is a large quantity of good sweet grass. Get +the grass for me, and I shall give you my daughter in marriage." The +he-goat was not thus to be imposed upon. He angrily addressed his +female friend as follows, "Do not think to make me like this foolish +king, who vainly tries to please a woman. He has come here to lose +his own life at the bidding of one. You tell me to go and bring you +grass out of such a flood as this. I am no such fool. I do not care +to die yet. There are many more quite as good as your daughter." + +The king understood what passed between them, and admitted to himself +the truth of what the he-goat had said. After considering a short time +he arose, and having made a rude sacrificial altar, said to the queen, +"Kneel down, and do me obeisance, and I shall tell you what made me +laugh." She knelt down, and the king struck off her head and burnt +her body upon the altar. Returning home he performed her funeral +ceremonies, after which he married another wife. + +He reigned prosperously for many years, and decided all disputes that +were brought before him by animals or insects. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF BITARAM. + + +In a certain village there lived seven brothers. The youngest of +them planted a certain vegetable, and went every day to examine +it to see how it was growing. For a long time there were only the +stalk and leaves, but at length a flower appeared, and from it a +fruit. This fruit he measured daily to mark its growth. It grew +continuously until it became exactly a span long, after which it +remained stationary. One day he said to his sisters-in-law, "Do not +eat my fruit, for whoever does so will give birth to a child only one +span long." He continued his daily visits to his plant as usual, and +was pleased to note that the fruit was evidently ripening. One day, +during his absence, one of his sisters-in-law plucked the fruit and +ate it. On returning from the field where he had been ploughing, he +went to look at and measure his fruit, but it was gone, it had been +stolen. Suspecting that some one of his sisters-in-law was the thief, +he accused each of them in turn, but they all denied having touched +it. When he found that no one would confess to having taken it, he +said to them, "Do not tell upon yourselves, the thief will be caught +before long." And so it happened, for one of them gave birth to a +baby one span long. The first time he saw his sister-in-law after +the child was born he laughed, and said to her, "You denied having +stolen my fruit, now you see I have found you out." + +When the time came that the child should receive a name, Bitaram [2] +was given to him, because he was only a span in height. Bitaram's +mother used to take food to the brothers to the field when they were +ploughing, and when Bitaram was able to walk so far he accompanied +her. One day he surprised his mother by saying, "Let me take the food +to my father and uncles to-day." She replied, "What a fancy! You, +child, are only a span high, how can you carry it?" But Bitaram +insisted saying, "I can carry it well enough, and carry it I will." His +mother being unable to resist his pertinacity said, "Then, child, +take it, and be off." So she placed the basket on his head and he +set out. Arrived at the field he went up a furrow, but the ground was +so uneven that before he reached his destination, he had lost nearly +all the rice, which had been shaken out of the basket. On his coming +near, one of his uncles called out, "Is that you Bitaram?" He replied, +"Yes, it is I, Bitaram." Climbing up out of the furrow, he put down +the basket saying, "Help yourselves, and I will take the oxen and +buffaloes to the water." So saying, he drove off the cattle to the +river. When they had quenched their thirst he gathered them together, +and began to drive them back again to where he had left his father and +uncles. While following them up the sandy back of the river, he fell +into a depression made by the hoof of a buffalo, and was soon covered +up by the loose sand sent rolling down by the herd as they ascended. + +When the cattle returned without Bitaram, his father and uncles became +alarmed for his safety, and immediately went in search of him. They +went here and there calling out "Bitaram, where are you?" But failing +to find him they concluded that he had been devoured by some wild +animal, and returned sorrowfully home. Rain fell during the night, +and washed the sand from off Bitaram, so that he was able to get up, +and climb out. On his way home he encountered some thieves who were +dividing their booty in a lonely part of the forest. Bitaram hearing +them disputing called out "Kehe kere" at the pitch of his voice. The +thieves hearing the sound, looked round on all sides to see who was +near, but the night being dark, and they not directing their eyes near +enough to the ground to see Bitaram, they could discern no one. Then +they said to each other, "Let us seek safety in flight. A spirit has +been sent to watch us." So they all made off leaving behind them the +brass vessels they had stolen. Bitaram gathered these up, and hid +them among some prickly bushes, and then went home. + +It was now past midnight, and all had retired to rest, and as Bitaram +stood shivering with cold at the closed door, he called out, "Open +the door and let me in." His father hearing him said, "Is that you +Bitaram?" He replied, "Yes, open the door." They then enquired where +he had been, and he related all that had happened to him after he had +driven the cattle to the river. Having warmed himself at the fire, he +told his father of his adventure with the thieves in the forest. He +said, "I despoiled some thieves, whom I met in the jungle, of the +brass vessels they had stolen." His father replied, "Foolish child, +do not tell lies, you yourself are not the height of a brass lota" +(drinking-cup). "No father," said Bitaram, "I am telling the truth, +come and I will shew you where they are." His father and uncles went +with him, and he pointed out to them the vessels hidden among the +prickly bushes. They picked them all up and brought them home. + +Early next morning some sepoys, who were searching for the thieves, +happened to pass that way, and seeing the stolen property lying out +side of the house, recognized it, and apprehended Bitaram's father +and uncles and dragged them off to prison. After this Bitaram and +his mother were obliged to beg their bread from house to house. She +often attributed to him the misery which had befallen them, saying, +"Had it not been for your pertinacity, your father and uncles would +not have been deprived of their liberty." + +One day, as they were following their usual avocation, they entered +a certain house, and Bitaram said to his mother, "Ask the people of +the house to give me a tumki. [3]" She did not at first comply, but +he kept urging her until being irritated she said, "It was through +your pertinacity in insisting upon being allowed to carry the food +to your father and uncles that they are now bound and in prison, and +yet you will not give up the bad habit." Bitaram said, "No, mother, +do ask it for me." As he would not be silenced she begged it for him, +and the people kindly gave it. + +At the next house they came to, they saw a cat walking about, and +Bitaram said, "Oh mother, ask the people to give me the cat." As +before, she at first refused, but he continued to press her, and she +becoming annoyed scolded him saying, "The young gentleman insists on +obtaining this and that. It was your pertinacity that caused your +father and uncles to be dragged to prison in bonds." Bitaram replied, +"Not so, mother, do ask them to give me the cat." As the only way to +silence him she said to the people of the house, "Give my boy your cat, +he will hold it in his arms for a few minutes, and then set it down, +but he carried it away with him." Bitaram then begged his mother to +make him a bag, and fill it with flour, saying, "I am going to obtain +the release of my father and uncles." She mockingly replied, "Much you +can do." She made him a bag, however, and filling it with flour said, +"Be off." + +Bitaram then strapped the bag of flour on the cat's back as a saddle, +and mounted. Puss, however, refused to go in the direction desired, +and it was with great difficulty that he prevailed upon her to take +the road. As he rode along he observed a swarm of bees on an ant +hill, and dismounting he addressed them as follows, "Come bees, go +in, come bees, go in." The bees swarmed into the tumki, and Bitaram +having covered them up with a leaf continued his journey. Before he +had gone far he came to a large tank, which belonged to the raja who +had imprisoned his father. A number of women had come to the tank for +water, and Bitaram taking his stand upon the embankment began to shoot +arrows at their waterpots. After he had broken several, the women +espied him mounted on his cat with his bow and arrows in his hand, +and believing him to be an elf from the forest fled in terror to +the city. Going to the raja they said "Oh raja, come and see. Some +one is on the tank embankment. We do not know who or what he is, +but he is only a span high." The raja then summoned his soldiers, +and commanded them to take their bows and arrows, and go and shoot +him whoever he was. The soldiers went within range, but although they +shot away all their arrows, they failed to hit him. So returning to +the raja they said, "He cannot be shot." Hearing this the raja became +angry, and calling for his bow and arrows, went to the tank and began +to shoot at Bitaram, but although he persevered until his right side +ached with drawing the bow, he could not hit him. + +When he desisted, Bitaram called out "Are you exhausted?" The raja +answered "Yes." Then said Bitaram "It is my turn now," and taking the +leaf from off the mouth of the basket called to the bees, "Go into the +battle, bees." The bees issued from the basket like a black rope, and +stung the raja and those who were with him. No way of escape offering, +the raja called out to Bitaram, "Call off your bees, and I will give +you the half of my kingdom and my daughter, and I will also set at +liberty your father and uncles." Bitaram gathered the bees into the +basket, and after his father and uncles had been released, took them +back to the ant hill from whence he had brought them. On his return +he wedded the princess and received half of her father's kingdom. + +Bitaram and his wife lived happily together, and every thing they +took in hand prospered, so that before long they were richer than the +king himself. One great source of Bitaram's wealth was a cow which +the princess had brought him as part of her dowry. Being envious of +their good fortune, the raja and his sons resolved to kill the cow, +and thus obtain possession of all the gold and silver. So they put +the cow to death, but when they had cut her up they were disappointed +as neither gold nor silver were found in her stomach. + +Bitaram placed his cow's hide in the sun, and when it was dry carried +it away to sell it. Darkness coming on he climbed into a tree for +safety, as wild beasts infested the forest through which he was +passing. During the night some thieves came under the tree in which +he was, and began to divide the money they had stolen. Bitaram then +relaxed his hold of the dry hide, which made such a noise as it fell +from branch to branch that the thieves fled terror-stricken, and +left all their booty behind them. In the morning Bitaram descended, +and collecting all the rupees carried them home. He then shewed the +money to his wife, and said "Go and ask the loan of your father's +paila, that I may measure them." So she went and brought the +measure, which had several cracks in it. Having measured his money +he sent back the raja's paila, but he had not noticed that one or +two pieces were left sticking in the cracks. So they said to him, +"Where did you get the money?" He replied "By the sale of my cow's +hide." Hearing this they said, "Will the merchant who bought yours, +buy any more?" He said, "Yes. I received all this money for my one +hide, how much more may not you receive seeing you have such large +herds of cattle! If you dispose of their hides at the same rate as +I have done, you will secure immense wealth." So they killed all +their cattle, but when they offered the hides for sale they found +they had been hoaxed. They were ashamed and angry at having allowed +themselves to be thus imposed upon by Bitaram, and in revenge they +set fire to his house at night, but he crept into a rat's hole and +so escaped injury. In the morning he emerged from his hiding place, +and carefully gathering up the ashes of his house tied them up in a +cloth, and carried them away. As he walked along he met a merchant, +to whom he said, "What have you in your bag?" He replied "Gold-pieces +only." The merchant then enquired of Bitaram what he had tied up in +his cloth, to which he answered, "Gold-dust only." Bitaram then said, +"Will you exchange?" The merchant said, "Yes." So they exchanged, +and Bitaram returned laden with gold. Not being able to count it, he +again sent his wife to borrow her father's paila, and having measured +the gold-pieces returned it to him. This time a few pieces of gold +remained in the cracks in the paila, and the raja, being informed of +it, went and asked Bitaram where he got the gold. He replied, "I sold +the ashes of my house which you burnt over my head, and received the +gold in return." The raja and his sons then enquired if the merchant, +who bought the ashes from him, would buy any more. Bitaram replied, +"Yes, he will buy all he can get." "Do you think," said they, "he +will buy from us?" Bitaram advised them to burn their houses, and +like him, turn the ashes into gold. "I had only one small house," +he said, "and I obtained all this money. You have larger houses, +and should therefore receive a correspondingly large amount." So +they set fire to, and burnt their houses, and gathering up the ashes +took them to the bazar, and there offered them for sale. After they +had gone the whole length of the bazar, and had met with no buyers, +some one advised them to go to where the washermen lived, saying, +they might possibly take them. The washermen, however, refused, +and as they could not find a purchaser, they threw away the ashes, +and returned home determined to be revenged upon Bitaram. + +This time they decided upon drowning him, so one day they seized him, +and putting him into a bag they carried him to the river. Arrived +there they put him down, and went to some little distance to cook +their food. In the meantime a herd boy came up and asked Bitaram why he +was tied up in the bag. He replied, "They are taking me away to marry +me against my will." The herd boy said, "I will go instead of you. I +wish to be married." Bitaram replied, "Open the bag and let me out, +and you get in, and I will tie it up again." So Bitaram was released, +and the herd boy took his place, and was afterwards thrown into the +river and drowned. + +Bitaram on escaping collected all the herd boy's cattle, and drove +them home. When the raja and his sons returned, they found Bitaram +with a large herd of cows and buffaloes. Going near, they enquired +where he had got them. He replied, "At some distance below the spot +where you threw me into the river, I found numerous herds of cattle, +so I brought away as many as one person could drive. If you all go, +you will be able to bring a very much larger number." So they said, +"Very well, put us into bags, and tie us up as we did you." Bitaram +replied, "It is impossible for me to carry you as you did me. Walk to +the river bank, and there get into the bags, and I will push you into +the river." They did as he suggested, and when all was in readiness, +he pushed them into the river, and they were all drowned. + +Bitaram returned alone, and took possession of all that had belonged +to them. The whole kingdom became his, and he reigned peacefully as +long as he lived. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF SIT AND BOSONT. + + +There was a certain raja who had two sons named Sit and Bosont. Their +mother the rani had been long ill, and the raja was greatly dejected +on her account. From the bed on which she lay, the rani could see +two sparrows who had made their nest in a hole in the wall of the +palace, and she had remarked the great love and tenderness which +the hen-sparrow bore towards her young ones. One day she saw both +sparrows sitting in front of their nest, and the sight of them set her +a-thinking, and she came to the conclusion that the hen-sparrow was +a model mother. The raja also had his attention attracted daily by +the sparrows. One day, very suddenly, the hen-sparrow took ill, and +died. The next day the cock-sparrow appeared with another mate, and +sat in front of the nest with her, as he had done with the other. But +the new mother took no notice of the young ones in the nest, but left +them to die of hunger. The rani, who was greatly grieved to see such +want of compassion, said to the raja, "This is how it is, one has no +pity for those who belong to another. Remember what you have been a +witness of, and should I die take care of the two children." Shortly +after this the rani died, and the raja mourned over her, and continued +most solicitous for the welfare of their two boys. + +Some months after the rani's death, the raja's subjects prayed +him to take another wife, saying, "Without a rani your kingdom is +incomplete." The raja refused to comply, saying, "I shall never +take another wife." His subjects would not, however, be silenced, +but continued to press the matter upon him with such persistency +that eventually he had to accede to their wishes, and take to himself +another partner. He continued, however, to love and cherish his two +sons Sit and Bosont. + +Some time after their marriage the rani took a dislike to the elder +son Sit, and was determined that he should no longer be allowed to +remain within the precincts of the palace. So she feigned sickness, +and the raja summoned physicians from all parts of his dominions, but +without avail, as none of them could tell what the disease was from +which the rani was suffering. One day when Sit and Bosont were out of +the way, and the raja and she were alone together, she said to him, +"Doctors and medicines will not save my life, but if you will listen +to me, and do what I tell you, I shall completely recover." The +raja said, "Let me hear what it is, and I shall try what effect it +may have." The rani said, "If you will promise to do for me what I +shall request, I will tell you, and not otherwise." The raja replied, +"I shall certainly comply with your wishes." The rani again said, +"Will you without doubt, do what I wish?" The raja replied, "Yes, I +shall." After she had made him promise a third time she said, "Will you +take oath that you will not seek to evade fulfilling my desire?" The +raja said, "I take my oath that I shall carry out your wishes to the +full extent of my ability." Having thus prevailed upon the raja to +pledge his word of honour, she said, "Do not allow your eldest son, +Sit, to remain any longer in the palace. Order him to leave, and go +somewhere else, so that I may not see his face, and never to return." + +On hearing this the raja was greatly distressed. But what could he +do? The rani had said, "If you permit him to remain, I shall die, +and if you fulfil my wishes I shall live," and in his anxiety to save +the life of his rani, he had bound himself by an oath before he knew +what it was he would be required to do. After much consideration as +to how he could best communicate the order to leave the palace to his +son, he decided to write it on a sheet of paper and fix it, during +his absence, to the door of his room. When the brothers returned, +they found the paper placed there by the raja, and on reading it, +were greatly troubled. After some time, during which Sit had been +considering the position in which he found himself, he said to his +brother, "You must remain, and I must go." On hearing his brother's +words, Bosont's heart was filled with sorrow, and he replied, "Not so, +I cannot see you go away alone. You have been guilty of no fault for +which our parents could send you away. I cannot remain here alone. I +will accompany you. We are children of the same mother, and we should +not part." His brother replied, "Let us leave the house to-day. We +can pass the night in some place close at hand." So they left their +father's house, and concealed themselves in its vicinity. On the +approach of evening they began to feel the pangs of hunger, and the +younger said to the elder, "What shall we do? We have no food." After +a minute's thought, the elder replied, "Although we have been sent +adrift, we will take our elephants, and horses, and clothes, and +money along with us." So when night had fallen, they entered the +palace and brought out all that belonged to them, and at cock-crow, +set forth on their journey. They travelled all day, and as the sun +began to decline, they reached a dense jungle, and passing through +it they came to a large city where they put up for the night. The +city pleased them much, and they hired quarters in the Sarai. After +they had gained a little acquaintance with their surroundings, Sit, +attired in gorgeous apparel, and mounted on a splendid horse, rode +every evening through the principal streets of the city. One evening +the daughter of the raja of that country, from the roof of the palace, +saw him ride past, and fell deeply in love with him. She immediately +descended to her room, and feigning sickness, threw herself upon +her couch. Her parents, on entering, found her weeping bitterly, +and on enquiring the cause were informed by her attendants that she +had been suddenly seized with a dangerous illness, the nature of which +they did not know. The raja at once summoned the most famed physicians +that could be found, to cure his daughter. One after another, however, +failed to understand her complaint, and she grew worse daily. She was +heard continually wailing, "I shall never recover; I shall die." After +the doctors had retired baffled, she addressed her parents as follows; +"You, who gave me life, listen to my entreaty. There is one expedient +still, which if you will agree to put into execution, I shall recover, +and be as well as formerly, and should you refuse to do as I say, +and call it foolishness, then you shall never see my face again, +I shall depart this life at once." On hearing these words, her +parents said, "Tell us, what it is, we will surely act agreeably +to your wishes." She replied, "Oh! father, promise me that you will +carry them out without reserve." Her parents then promised with an +oath, that they would do all she desired. Then she told her story, +"Of late we have daily seen a young man in dazzling white apparel, +riding and curveting his horse through the city; if you betroth me +to that young prince, I shall enjoy my accustomed health again." + +On hearing this, her parents became greatly distressed, as they +were averse to betrothing their daughter to a stranger of whom +they knew nothing. After consulting together they said, "He comes +this way in the evening, let us look out for him, and see what he is +like." About sunset, Sit, mounted on his horse, rode in the direction +of the palace. The raja had given orders to some of his attendants +to arrest the man who, every evening dressed in white, rode past the +palace. So, on his appearing, they laid hold of him and led him into +the presence of the raja, who being pleased with his appearance, at +once introduced him to his daughter's room. She, on beholding him, +instantly became well, and that same evening the two were married. + +Bosont having charge of the property remained in the Sarai, while +his brother went out riding. Sit not returning at his usual time, +Bosont was alarmed and waited anxiously for his return. At length, +being wearied, he fell asleep. During the night a gang of thieves +entered his room, and began to carry off all his valuables. Bosont +slept so soundly that they had time to take away everything save his +bed-clothes. To obtain possession of these they had to lift him, on +which he awoke and gave the alarm. The thieves beat him with their +clubs till he was half dead; then, senseless and with a broken leg, +they threw him into the dry bed of a river. + +In the morning his servants became aware of the robbery, and also +that their master was missing. His groom found him some time after +in the river bed, and carried him to a doctor who bound up his limb, +and took care of him. He was soon well enough to move about, but +doomed to halt through life. + +The raja of that country was very wealthy, and had ships on the +sea. Whenever a ship left the port on its outward voyage, it was +customary to carry a man on board, who, on the rising of a storm at +sea, was cast over board to appease to wrath of the Spirit of the +mighty Deep. Without such a victim on board, no ship could leave +the harbour. Now, it so happened that one of the raja's vessels was +about to sail to a foreign port, but no man suitable for the sacrifice +could be obtained. At last the raja ordered them to take the lame man, +whom he had seen limping about the city. He, not knowing the purpose +they had in view in asking him to accompany them on their voyage, +gladly embraced the opportunity of seeing foreign lands. No sooner +was he on board than the ship began to move, and to obtain a better +view he climbed up the mast, and sat on the top of it. In twelve +days they reached a port. Bosont, however, did not decend from his +elevated station, but continued gazing on the country lying around. + +The daughter of the raja of that city, while walking on the roof +of the palace, enjoying the cool of the evening, saw Bosont seated +on the ship's mast. She at once fell violently in love with him, +and descending to her room, feigned sickness. Her parents called in +the most famed physicians, but their skill was of no avail, the young +lady's illness increased in intensity. At last, when her parents began +to give up hope of saving her life, she said, "The doctors cannot do me +any good, but if you will do as I direct you, I shall recover." They +said, "Tell us what it is that we can do for you." She replied, +"Before I can make it known to you, you must take oath that you will +not seek to evade the performance of it." To this they agreed, and the +princess said, "If you will betroth me to the man sitting on the top +of the mast of the vessel in the harbour, I shall immediately regain +my health." The raja despatched messengers to the ship, and had Bosont +brought to the palace, and solemnized their marriage that same evening. + +A few days after the above occurrence, the ship was ready to set sail +on her homeward voyage, so they took the lame man on board, his wife +also following. After they had been a few days at sea, the vessel +was in danger of foundering in a storm. The sailors searched for +the victim, but he could nowhere be found. At last one of the crew +looking up, spied him seated on the mast and climbing swiftly up, +pushed him into the sea. His wife had brought a tumba with her, and +seeing her husband in the sea, threw it to him. With this assistance he +was able to swim to the vessel, and laying hold of the stern, followed +swimming all the way to port. When the vessel was brought to anchor, +he climbed up into it, and disguised himself as a fakir. The people of +the city noticed him daily walking on the shore in front of the ship, +and believed him to be in reality a fakir. + +One day the raja seeing Bosont's wife took a fancy to her, and caused +her to be brought to his palace. She had apartments assigned to her +in the best part of it, and was treated with great distinction. On the +raja offering her marriage, she declined, saying, "Speak not to me of +it." After several days the raja enquired, "Why do you still refuse to +become my wife." She replied, "Ask the fakir who is always to be seen +pacing the shore in front of a vessel lying in the harbour." The raja +gave orders immediately to have the fakir brought to the palace. On +his being ushered into his presence, the raja said, "What do you know +regarding the woman, who on declining to be my wife, referred me to you +for an explanation?" In reply Bosont related in the form of a fable, +the history of Sit and himself, and also what befell him after they +were parted from each other. Sit, who was now raja recognized his +brother in the fakir before him, and falling on his neck, wept for +joy. The two brothers continued ever after to live together. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF A TIGER. + + +A certain man had charge of a number of cattle. One day he took them +to graze near a quagmire, and leaving them there went in search of +jungle fruits. It so happened that one of the bullocks was browsing +on the edge of the quagmire when a tiger came creeping stealthily up, +and sprang upon it, but somehow or other missed his mark, and fell +into the quagmire and there stuck fast. When the herd come to drive +his cattle home, he found the tiger fast in the mud, and called a +large number of people to come and see him. The tiger addressed those +who came to gaze upon him as follows, "Oh men, pull me out. I am in +great straits." They replied, "We will not pull you out even to save +your life. You are a ravenous animal." The tiger said, "I will not eat +you." So they pulled him out. When he was again on dry land, he said, +"I will devour you, for it is my nature to do so." They replied, +"Will you really eat us?" "Yes, I will," said the tiger. "Well," +they rejoined, "if you will devour us, what can we do to prevent +you? But let us first ask the opinion of some others as to whether +it is right for you to eat us or not." So they requested the opinion +of all the trees in the forest, and each said, "Human beings are all +bad." On asking the Mohwa tree, it replied, "Men are not good. Behold +every year I give them my flowers to eat, and my fruit from which +to make oil. In the hot weather I give them shade, and on leaving, +when they have rested, they give me a parting slash with their axes, +therefore it is right to eat these people, as they return evil for +good." So said all the trees. + +From this forest they went to another in which they found a cow to whom +they said, "We are come to ask your opinion on a certain matter about +which we are at variance. This tiger was up to the neck in a quagmire, +and we pulled him out. Now he wishes to return evil for good. Is it +right for him to do so?" The cow replied, "Yes, yes, I have heard what +you have got to say. You human beings are not the correct thing. Behold +me, how much I have contributed to the health and comfort of my master, +yet he does not recognize my merit. Now that I am old, he has turned +me out, and should I improve a little in condition, he will say, 'I +will take this cow to the market and sell it. I will at least get a few +pence for it.' Behold, when a man is well to do, he has many friends, +but when he is poor, no one knows him. Verily, you are worthy to be +devoured." The tiger then said to the men, "Well, have you heard all +this? Are you convinced?" They said, "Hold on, let us ask one person +more." So as they walked along they saw a jackal and called to him, "Oh +uncle, stand still." The jackal said, "No I cannot wait, my companions, +who are on their way to see the swinging festival, are far ahead of me, +and I am hurrying to overtake them." They said to him, "Wait a little +and settle this matter for us. We pulled this tiger out of a quagmire, +and now he wishes to devour us." The jackal then said to the tiger, +"Is this true? I cannot believe that a famed individual like yourself +would be fool enough to jump into a quagmire. Come, shew me the place, +and how it happened." So the tiger led him to the quagmire, and said, +"This is the place from which I sprang, and this is how I did it," +and he leaped into the quagmire. The jackal turning to the men, said, +"What are you staring at? Pelt him with stones." So they all set to +and stoned the tiger to death. + + + + + + +STORY OF A LIZARD, A TIGER, AND A LAME MAN. + + +Once upon a time in a certain jungle, a lizard and a tiger were +fighting, and a lame man, who was tending goats near by, saw them. The +tiger being beaten by the lizard was ashamed to own it, and coming to +the lame man said, "Tell me which of us won." The lame man being in +great fear lest the tiger should eat him, said, "You won." On another +occasion the lizard was compelled to flee, and took refuge in an +ant hill. The tiger pursued him, but not being able to get him out, +sat down to watch. + +The lizard seeing his opportunity, crept stealthily up to his +inveterate enemy, and climbing up his tail, fixed his teeth into his +haunch, and held firmly on. The tiger felt the pain of the lizard's +bite, but could not reach him to knock him off, so he ran to the lame +man, and said, "Release me from this lizard." When he had caused the +lizard to let go his grip, the tiger said, "Oh lame man, which of us +won in the encounter?" The poor man in great fear said, "You won." + +The same scene was enacted daily for many days. The tiger always came +to the lame man and said, "Knock off this lizard," and after he had +done so, would say, "Which of us won?" The lame man invariably replied, +"You won." This had happened so often that the lame man began to feel +annoyed at having to tell a lie every day to please the tiger. So one +day after an ignominious flight on the part of the tiger, he being, +as usual, requested to give his opinion as to who won, said, "The +lizard had the best of it." On hearing this the tiger became angry, +and said, "I shall eat you, my fine fellow, because you say the lizard +defeated me. Tell me where you sleep." The poor lame man on hearing +the tiger threaten him thus, trembled with fear, and was silent. But +the tiger pressed him. He said, "Tell at once, for I shall certainly +devour you." The lame man replied, "I sleep in the wall press." When +night fell, the tiger set off to eat the lame man, but after searching +in the wall press failed to find him. In the morning the lame man +led his goats out to graze, and again met the tiger, who addressed +him as follows, "You are a great cheat. I did not find you in the +wall press last night." The lame man replied, "How is it you did not +find me? I was sleeping there." "No," said the tiger, "you were not, +you have deceived me. Now, tell me truly where you sleep." "I sleep +on a rafter," said the lame man. About midnight the tiger went again +in search of him to eat him, but did not find him on the rafter, so +he returned home. In the morning the lame man as usual led his goats +out to graze, and again encountered the tiger, who said to him, "How +now! Where do you sleep? I could not find you last night." The lame +man rejoined, "That is strange, I was there all the same." The tiger +said, "You are a consummate liar. Now tell me plainly where you sleep +at night, for I shall without doubt eat you." The lame man replied, +"I sleep in the fire-place." Again the tiger went at night, but could +not find him. Next morning he met the lame man, and said to him, +"No more tricks, tell me where you sleep." He, thrown off his guard, +said, "In the gongo." [4] + +The tiger then withdrew to his den to wait till night came on, and +the lame man, cursing his indiscretion, with a heavy heart, drove his +goats homewards. Having made his charge safe for the night, he sat down +feeling very miserable. He refused the food that was set before him, +and continued bewailing his hard lot. In the hope of inducing him to +eat, they gave him some mohwa wrapped in a sal leaf. This also failed +to tempt him to eat; but he carried it with him when he crept into the +gongo to sleep. At night the tiger came and lifting up the gongo felt +it heavy, and said, "Well, are you inside?" He replied, "Yes, I am." So +the tiger carried off the gongo with the lame man in it. By the time +the tiger had gone a considerable distance, the lame man became hungry +and said within himself, "I shall have to die in the end, but in the +meantime I will appease my hunger." So he opened his small parcel of +mohwa, and the dry leaf crackled as he did so. The noise frightened the +tiger and he said, "What is it you are opening?" The lame man replied, +"It is yesterday's lizard." "Hold! hold!" exclaimed the tiger, "Do +not let him out yet, let me get clear away first." The lame man said, +"Not so, I will not wait, but will let him out at once." The tiger +being terrified at the prospect of again meeting his mortal enemy, +the redoubtable lizard, threw down the gongo and fled, calling out, +"I will not eat you. You have got the lizard with you." + +In this way the lame man by means of the lizard saved his life. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF A SIMPLETON. + + +There was once a certain simpleton who had never seen a horse, but +had heard that there was such an animal, and that men rode on his +back. His curiosity was greatly excited, and he went here and there +searching for a horse, so that he might ride on its back. On his way +he fell in with a wag, and asked him, what horses were like, where +they could be found, and whence were they produced. The wag replied, +"They are very large, they are to be had at the weekly market, +and they are hatched from eggs." He then asked, "What is the price +of the eggs?" The other replied, "Price! They are cheap, one pice +each." So one day he went to the market and bought four eggs which he +saw exposed for sale, and brought them home with him. He then made +preparations for a lengthened absence from his house, and started +for the jungle, taking with him rice, a cooking pot and fire, to +get the eggs hatched. Having reached the jungle, he placed the eggs +to hatch in what turned out to be a tiger's den, and then went some +distance off and sat down. After a short time he went to have a look +at the eggs, and found one was missing. He was greatly distressed, at +having as he fancied lost his horse, and cried out, "It has hatched, +and run away somewhere. But what has happened, has happened. What +can I do? I'll look out for the next one when it hatches." He then +went to cook his rice, and returning after some time missed another +of the eggs. He was very much grieved over the loss of the two eggs, +and mourning his misfortune, cried, "Where have the two gone, after +they came out of the shell? There still, however, remain two eggs." So +saying, he returned to finish his cooking. After a few minutes' +interval, he went to have a look at the eggs, and saw that another had +disappeared; only one remained. His grief at the loss of three horses, +was intense. He cried out, "Oh! where shall I find them? Three horses +have been hatched, and they have all run away." He then went to where +his cooking had been performed, and quickly ate his rice, and returned +in all haste to look at his egg. It too was gone. On seeing this, +his sorrow and disappointment were acute. He bemoaned his ill luck +as follows, "After all the trouble I was at to procure my eggs, they +have all hatched, and the horses are lost. But what is, must be. I +shall relieve my mind by taking a chew of tobacco." After putting the +tobacco into his mouth he noticed the tiger's den, and said, "It is +in here, the horses have gone." So he went and broke from a tree a +long stick with which he tried to poke his horses out. For some time +his labours met with no reward, but at last he succeeded in forcing +the tiger out of his den. Just as he was coming out, the simpleton +by some chance or other got astride of his back, and called out, +"At last I have found a horse." His delight was boundless. But the +tiger would not go in the direction of his rider's house, but kept +going further into the jungle. The simpleton then struck him about the +head and ears saying, "As ghur ghur, as ghur ghur;" [5] nevertheless +the tiger plunged deeper into the jungle. At last he bolted into a +thicket of trailing plants, where he unseated the simpleton. The tiger +having got rid of his rider fled. Afterwards he met a jackal who said +to him, "Where away, in such hot haste?" "Uh!" he said, "how much +of it can I tell you! I have been greatly harassed, and distressed +by As ghur ghur. It was with great difficulty I succeeded in giving +him the slip, and now I am fleeing for dear life." The jackal said, +"Come along and shew him to me, and I shall soon eat him up." The +tiger replied, "Oh dear! no. I cannot go. If he finds me again he +will do for me altogether." "Nonsense," said the jackal, "lead me to +where he is, and I shall devour him." The tiger was persuaded, and +led the way, and the jackal followed. After some little time they met +a bear, who said, "Where are you two going?" The jackal gave answer, +"This person has somewhere seen As ghur ghur and I am saying to him, +'Take me to where he is, and I shall eat him,' but he will not push +ahead." Then the bear said, "Come let us all go together, and I shall +eat him up." The tiger said, "I will go no further." The jackal then +said, "Listen to me, I will put you upon a plan. Let us hold on by +each other's tails, in this way you will have no cause to fear any +evil." This suggestion pleased them well, and they cried out, "Yes, +let us do that. You have hit upon a first rate expedient." Then the +bear took hold of the tiger's tail, and the jackal that of the bear, +and in this way they pursued their journey. But just as they drew near +the thicket in which the simpleton had been left, the tiger exclaimed, +"Look there, he is coming towards us," and being terribly frightened, +fled at his utmost speed dragging the bear and jackal after him tearing +the skin from off their bodies on the rough stones and gravel. At +length the jackal cried out, "Hold on uncle, hold on uncle, you have +rubbed all the skin off my body." But he would not halt, but kept +dashing on through wood and brake, dragging them after him, until the +bear's tail broke, and the jackal was released. His body by this time +was all raw flesh, and he was swollen into a round mass. However, +he managed to pick himself up, and run for his life. + +Afterwards they met in with a pack of wild dogs who said, +"Hulloo! what's up, that you are fleeing in such a plight?" They +replied, "We are fleeing from As ghur ghur." "Where is he?" said they, +"We will eat him." The tiger said, "There just in front of you, where +you see the dark spot in the forest." So they went in the direction +indicated, and while they were yet some distance off, they saw the +simpleton standing in the shade of the trees. He also saw them, and +being afraid hid himself in a hollow tree. On coming up to the tree +in which he was, they surrounded it, and one of their number essayed +to poke him out of his hiding place with his tail. The simpleton, +however, taking hold of it twisted it round his hands, and pulled +with all his might. The pain caused by his tail being pulled, caused +the wild dog to grin. On seeing this, one of his companions said, +"Oh! Brother, wherefore do you grin." He said, "I have got hold of +him, and I am smiling with pleasure." The simpleton from within +the tree continued to pull, till the tail of the wild dog broke, +and he fell to the ground with a thud. The others on looking at him +noticed that he had lost his tail. So they all became panic stricken, +and fled from the place with all possible speed. + +The simpleton took up his residence in that part of the jungle in +which the above occurred. He is said to be the ancestor of the Bir +hors, or jungle Santals. + + + + + + +A THIEF AND A TIGER. + + +In a certain country there lived a very wealthy man whose cattle +grazed on a wide plain. One day a tiger noticed them, and so did three +thieves. At night the tiger came to where they were lying, and so did +the three thieves, but the tiger arrived first. The night was pitch +dark, and the cows getting frightened fled to their owner's premises, +and all entered the cattle shed. When the tiger saw the cattle flee +he ran after them, and entered the shed along with them. The thieves, +coming to where they expected to find the cattle, and not seeing them, +also went to the cattle shed; but the people of the house not having +yet retired to rest, they hid themselves in the vicinity. When all +became still, they entered the cattle shed, and began feeling for +the largest and fattest oxen. Two of the thieves, each finding one to +his mind, drove them away. But one man being more difficult to please +than his neighbours continued to go from one to another groping for a +good fat one. In this way he laid his hands on the tiger, it seemed a +fat one, but lest there should be one still fatter, he left him for +a little. However, as he did not find one better than the tiger he +returned to him, and felt him all over again. He was without doubt the +fattest in the shed, so he drove him out. On reaching the open field, +the tiger went in the direction of the jungle, and his driver had great +difficulty in getting him to go the road he wished. In this way,--the +tiger going one direction, and the man pulling him another,--they +spent the night. At cock-crow the thief became aware, that it was +a tiger he had been contending with in the dark, and not an ox. He +then said to the tiger, "It is you then, whom I have taken possession +of." He then released the tiger, who fled to the jungle at full speed. + +The thief having been awake all night felt tired, and lying down in +the shade of a ridge of a rice field to rest, fell asleep. + +The tiger as he ran encountered a jackal who exclaimed, "Ho! Ho! uncle, +where are you off to, at such a break-neck pace?" The tiger replied, +"I am going in this direction. A mite kept me awake all night, I +am fleeing through fear of him." The jackal then said, "It is very +strange, uncle, that you did not vanquish him. We eat such as he. Tell +me where he is, and I shall soon snap him up." The tiger said, "He is +over in the direction of those rice fields, asleep somewhere." The +jackal then went in search of him, and soon found him asleep in +the shade of a ridge of a rice field. He then went all round him +reconnoitring, and when he had completed the circuit exclaimed, +"The tiger said he was a mite, but he turns out to be of immense +size, I cannot eat him all myself. I will gather my friends together +to assist me, and then we shall devour him in no time." So he sat +down with his back towards the sleeping thief, so near that his tail +touched his neck, and began to yell as only a hungry jackal can. The +noise awoke the sleeper, and seeing the jackal sitting so near to him, +he quietly caught him by the tail, and springing on to his feet swung +him round and round above his head, and then flung him from him. The +jackal was severely stunned, but picking himself up, fled as fast as +his legs could carry him. After he had gone some little distance he +met a bear, who said, "Where away in such hot haste?" He made answer, +"Uh! What can I tell you more than that that barren tiger grossly +deceived me. He told me he was a mite, I went to see him and found he +was a ghur pank, [6] and without doubt he ghur panked me." The bear +then said, "Oh! I'll eat him. Tell me where he is." The jackal said, +"You will find him over in these rice fields." So the bear went +to find him and eat him. When still some distance off he spied him +laying asleep, and was greatly delighted, exclaiming, "My belly will +be swollen with eating him before long." The thief accidentally lifted +his head, and saw the bear coming straight for him, so he jumped up +and ran to the nearest tree into which he climbed. The bear saw him, +and went up after him, and tried to get hold of him, but he jumped +from one branch to another as the bear followed him. After this had +gone on for some time, it so happened that the bear missed his footing +and fell heavily to the ground. The thief immediately jumped on to his +back. The bear was frightened, and getting to his feet fled as fast +as he could; the thief clasped him tightly round the neck, saying, +"If I let go my hold he will eat me." The bear of course ran to the +jungle, where the thief was caught by the branches of the trees, and +dragged off his back. He did not return to the rice fields to sleep, +as he feared some other animal might come to eat him, but went to +his own home. + +As the bear fled, he again met the jackal who asked him, "Well! did +you eat him?" The bear replied, "You Sir, are a great cheat, you told +me he was ghur pank. He is kara upar chap." [7] The two quarrelled +over the matter, and the bear tried to catch the jackal to eat him, +but he managed to escape. + + + + + + +THE MAGIC FIDDLE + + +Once upon a time there lived seven brothers and a sister. The +brothers were married, but their wives did not do the cooking for +the family. It was done by their sister. The wives for this reason +bore their sister-in-law much ill will, and at length they combined +together to oust her from the office of cook and general provider, +so that one of themselves might obtain it. They said, "She does not +go out to the fields to work, but remains quietly at home, and yet +she has not the meals ready at the proper time." They then called +upon their Bad Bonga, [8] and vowing vows unto him they secured his +good will and assistance; then they said to the Bad Bonga, "At mid-day +when our sister-in-law goes to bring water, cause it thus to happen, +that on seeing her pitcher the water shall vanish, and again slowly +re-appear. In this way she will be delayed. May the water not flow into +her pitcher, and you keep the maiden as your own." At noon when she +went to bring water, it suddenly dried up before her, and she began +to weep. Then after a while the water began slowly to rise. When it +reached her ankles she tried to fill her pitcher, but it would not +go under the water. Being frightened she began to wail as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my ankles, + Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my ankles, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +The water continued to rise until it reached her knee, when she began +to wail as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my knee, + Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my knee, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +The water continued to rise, and when it reached her waist, she wailed +as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my waist, + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my waist, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +The water in the tank continued to rise, and when it reached her +breast, she wailed as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my breast, + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my breast, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not fill, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not fill." + + +The water still rose, and when it reached her neck she wailed as +follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my neck, + "Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my neck, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, + "Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip." + + +At length the water became so deep that she felt herself to be +drowning, then she wailed as follows;-- + + + "Oh! my brother, the water measures a man's height, + "Oh! my brother, the water measures a man's height, + "Oh! my brother, the pitcher begins to fill, + "Oh! my brother, the pitcher begins to fill." + + +The pitcher filled with water, and along with it she sank and was +drowned. The bonga then transformed her into a bonga like himself, +and carried her off. + +After a time she re-appeared as a bamboo growing on the embankment +of the tank in which she had been drowned. When the bamboo had grown +to an immense size, a Jugi, who was in the habit of passing that way, +seeing it, said to himself, this will make a splendid fiddle. So one +day he brought an axe to cut it down; but when he was about to begin, +the bamboo exclaimed, "Do not cut at the root, cut higher up." When +he lifted his axe to cut high up the stem, the bamboo cried out, +"Do not cut near the top, cut at the root." When the Jugi again +prepared himself to cut at the root as requested, the bamboo said, +"Do not cut at the root, cut higher up;" and when he was about to +cut higher up, it again called out to him, "Do not cut high up, +cut at the root." The Jugi by this time was aware that a bonga was +trying to frighten him, so becoming angry he cut down the bamboo at +the root, and taking it away made a fiddle out of it. The instrument +had a superior tone and delighted all who heard it. The Jugi carried +it with him when he went a-begging, and through the influence of its +sweet music he returned home every evening with a full wallet. + +He now and again visited, when on his rounds, the house of the +bonga girl's brothers, and the strains of the fiddle affected them +greatly. Some of them were moved even to tears, for the fiddle +seemed to wail as one in bitter anguish. The elder brother wished +to purchase it, and offered to support the Jugi for a whole year, +if he would consent to part with his magical instrument. The Jugi, +however, knew its value, and refused to sell it. + +It so happened that the Jugi sometime after went to the house of a +village chief, and after playing a tune or two on his fiddle asked +something to eat. They offered to buy his fiddle and promised a +high price for it, but he rejected all such overtures, his fiddle +being to him his means of livelihood. When they saw that he was not +to be prevailed upon, they gave him food and a plentiful supply of +liquor. Of the latter he partook so freely that he presently became +intoxicated. While he was in this condition, they took away his fiddle, +and substituted their own old one for it. When the Jugi recovered, +he missed his instrument, and suspecting that it had been stolen +requested them to return it to him. They denied having taken it, +so he had to depart, leaving his fiddle behind him. The chief's son +being a musician, used to play on the Jugi's fiddle, and in his hands +the music it gave forth delighted the ears of all within hearing. + +When all the household were absent at their labours in the fields, +the bonga girl emerged from the bamboo fiddle, and prepared the family +meal. Having partaken of her own share, she placed that of the chiefs +son under his bed, and covering it up to keep off the dust, re-entered +the fiddle. This happening every day the other members of the household +were under the impression that some female neighbour of theirs was in +this manner showing her interest in the young man, so they did not +trouble themselves to find out how it came about. The young chief, +however, was determined to watch, and see which of his lady friends was +so attentive to his comfort. He said in his own mind, "I will catch +her to-day, and give her a sound beating. She is causing me to be +ashamed before the others." So saying, he hid himself in a corner in +a pile of firewood. In a short time the girl came out of the bamboo +fiddle, and began to dress her hair. Having completed her toilet, +she cooked the meal of rice as usual, and having partaken herself, +she placed the young man's portion under his bed, as she was wont, +and was about to enter the fiddle again, when he running out from +his hiding place caught her in his arms. The bonga girl exclaimed, +"Fie! Fie! you may be a Dom, or you may be a Hadi." [9] He said, +"No. But from to-day, you and I are one." So they began lovingly +to hold converse with each other. When the others returned home in +the evening, they saw that she was both a human being and a bonga, +and they rejoiced exceedingly. + +Through course of time the bonga girl's family became very poor, +and her brothers on one occasion came to the chief's house on a visit. + +The bonga girl recognised them at once, but they did not know who +she was. She brought them water on their arrival, and afterwards set +cooked rice before them. Then sitting down near them, she began in +wailing tones to upbraid them on account of the treatment she had +been subjected to by their wives. She related all that had befallen +her, and wound up by saying, "It is probable that you knew it all, +and yet you did not interfere to save me." + +After a time she became reconciled to her sisters-in-law, and no +longer harboured enmity in her mind against them, for the injury they +had done her. + + + + + + +GUMDA, THE HERO. + + +There was once a certain fatherless lad named Gumda. His occupation +was to tend the raja's goats. He, and his mother lived in a small house +at the end of the street in which the raja's palace was situated. The +raja's mahout was in the habit of taking his elephant along that +street, and every time it passed, it rubbed itself against the wall +of Gumda's house. One day at noon it so happened that Gumda was at +home when the elephant was being taken to the tank to drink, and as +usual he rubbed his side against the house as he passed. Gumda was +incensed with the elephant for thus destroying his house, and coming +out quickly, said to the mahout, "What although it is the raja's +elephant! I could take hold of any person's elephant by the trunk, +and throw it across seven seas." The elephant understood what Gumda +had said, and he refused to go down into the water, and would not even +drink. On being brought home he would not eat his grain, nor would he +so much as look at water. He continued thus so long that he began to +grow lean and weak. The mahout knew that it was Gumda's curse that had +so affected his charge. The raja one day noticing the altered condition +of his elephant, said to the mahout, "Why has the elephant become +so emaciated?" The mahout replied, "Oh! raja, one day at noon Gumda +abused him. He said, 'If you were not the raja's elephant, I would +take you by the trunk and throw you across seven seas.' 'Every day,' +he said, 'he rubs himself against my house.' Since then the elephant +has refused his food and water." The raja, on hearing this, commanded +that Gumda be brought before him. The messenger found him at home, +and brought him into the presence of the raja who asked him, "Is it +true, Gumda, that you said you would throw the elephant as you would +a stone?" Gumda replied, "Yes, it is quite true that I said so. The +elephant every time it passes along the street rubs itself against +the wall of my house, and being angry, I said these words. Now, do +with me whatsoever you please." The raja marvelled greatly on hearing +Gumda's reply, and addressing him said, "Now my lad, prove your words, +for prove them you must. If you succeed in thus throwing an elephant, +I shall present you with a large estate." The raja appointed the tenth +day following as that on which Gumda should wrestle with the elephant; +and he, after receiving permission from the raja, returned home. + +The raja in the interval caused proclamation to be made to all his +subjects, ordering them to be present on the day when Gumda was to +meet the elephant in mortal combat. On the morning of the appointed +day Gumda was found baking bread. As he did not appear punctually +in the arena, the raja sent a messenger to bring him. On arriving +at Gumda's house, he found him baking bread. He said to him, "Come +along, the raja has asked for you." Gumda said, "Wait a little till I +partake of some refreshment." He invited the messenger to be seated, +and he also sat down as if to eat, but instead of eating the bread, +he began to throw it at the man, and continued doing so until he had +buried him under eight maunds of loaves. The poor fellow cried out, +"Oh Gumda, come and release me, of a truth I am almost crushed to +death under this heap of bread." He removed the bread from above him, +and he immediately returned to the raja. As he was leaving the house +he saw 12 maunds of cooked rice, evidently intended for Gumda's +dinner. Coming into the presence of the raja he said, "Oh! raja, +I saw in Gumda's house twelve maunds of cooked rice, and he threw a +loaf of bread weighing eight maunds at me, which almost crushed me +to death. It is quite possible that he may win." + +At length Gumda came bringing with him a sledge hammer weighing +twelve maunds, and a shield of the same weight. The contest was to +take place on a plain sufficiently large to accommodate an immense +number of spectators. + +Then the fight began. The two combatants attacked each other so +furiously that they raised such a cloud of dust as to completely +conceal them from the onlookers. The elephant could not long sustain +the unequal combat, and when he was beaten, Gumda seized him by the +trunk, and threw him over the seas. Owing to the darkness caused by +the clouds of dust, none of the thousands present noticed the elephant +as he went, flying over their heads high up in the air. + +When the dust subsided, Gumda was found sitting alone, the elephant +was nowhere to be seen. The raja called the victor to him, and said, +"What have you done with the elephant?" Gumda replied "I flung him +early in the forenoon over seven seas." Hearing his answer and not +seeing the elephant, they all marvelled greatly. + +The raja then said to Gumda, "Well, you have thrown the elephant +somewhere. You must now go in search of its bones." Gumda went home +and said to his mother, "Make up a parcel of food for me, I am going +to find the elephant's bones." She complied with his request and he +set out. + +As he hurried along intent upon his quest, he found a man fishing with +a Palmyra palm tree as a rod, and a full grown elephant as a bait. On +seeing him Gumda exclaimed, "You are indeed a great hero." The man +replied, "I am no hero, the widow's son Gumda is the great hero, for +did not he fling the raja's elephant across seven seas?" Gumda said, +"I am he." The fisherman said," I will go with you." Gumda replied, +"Come along!" + +As Gumda and his attendant went on their way, they came to a field in +which a number of men were hoeing, and their master, to shield them +from the heat of the sun, stood holding over them, as an umbrella, +a large Pepul tree. [10] Gumda seeing him said, "You are a hero +and no mistake." The man replied, "No indeed, I am no hero. Gumda, +the widow's son, threw the raja's elephant across seven seas. He is +the hero." Gumda said, "I am he." "Then," said the man, "I also will +go with you." "Follow me," said Gumda, and the three proceeded on +their way. + +As they journeyed they fell in with two men, who were raising water +from a tank for irrigating purposes by merely singing. When Gumda +saw them, he exclaimed, "You two are heroes indeed." They answered, +"What do you see heroic in us? There is one hero, Gumda by name, he +threw a raja's elephant across seven seas." Gumda said, "I am he." The +men exclaimed, "We also will follow you." Gumda said, "Follow." And +the five men went forth to search for the elephant's bones. + +On and on they went until they reached the sea, which they crossed, +and entered the primeval forest beyond. Selecting a suitable place +they encamped, and began the search for the elephant's bones. The +first day the fisherman was left in the camp to cook the food, +while the others went out into the forest. Near by a certain jugi +raja resided in a cave in a rock. He came to the camp just as the +food was cooked, and said to the fisherman, "Give me some rice to +eat." He declined, and the jugi raja then said, "Will you give me +rice, or will you fight with me?" He replied, "I have prepared this +food with difficulty and prefer fighting to giving it up." So they +fought, and the jugi raja was victor. He laid a heavy stone on the +breast of the cook, and then devoured all the food. There had been +twelve maunds of rice prepared, and he left none. After a long time +he released his victim, and then went his way. Being released the +fisherman set about preparing more food, but before it was ready, +his companions returned and seeing the pot still on the fire, they +enquired why he had not made haste with his cooking. He replied, +"I have not been idle, I have spent all the time in cooking." He did +not tell them about the jugi raja having been at the camp. + +The next day another of the company remained as cook, while the +others went out to search in the forest for the elephant's bones. The +jugi raja again visited the camp, and the scene of the previous day +was re-enacted. But he also did not speak of the visit of the jugi +raja to the others when they returned. In this way the jugi raja +encountered each in turn till only Gumda was left, and he remained +in the camp to cook. When he had got the rice cooked, the jugi raja +made his appearance and said, "Will you fight with me, or will you +give up the food?" Gumda replied, "I will not give you the food. I +have spent much time in cooking it, and when those who have gone in +search of the elephant's bones return, what shall I set before them, +if I give it to you now? You have played this trick every day, and +have put my companions to much trouble, but to-day we have met." So +they fought. Gumda overpowered the jugi raja, and killed him with the +stone he used to put upon the breast of those whom he vanquished. He +then espoused the jugi raja's wife, and took possession of his +kingdom. Gumda's companions held him in great awe, because each in +turn had been conquered by the jugi raja, but Gumda had experienced +little difficulty in putting him to death. + +Gumda became raja of that country, and when he had settled his affairs, +he sent for his mother to come and reside with him. The raja, whom +Gumda had previously served, sought his friendship, and withdrew his +command to Gumda to search for the elephant's bones until he found +them. The prowess of Gumda caused him to deprecate his anger. He said, +"If I offend him, he will kill me as he did the jugi raja, and take +my wife and kingdom, as he did his." + + + + + + +LIPI, AND LAPRA. + + +Once upon a time there were seven brothers. At first they were +very poor, but afterwards they became comparatively rich, and were +in position to lay out a little money at usury. The affairs of the +youngest prospered most, so that before long he became the wealthiest +of them all. + +Each of the seven brothers planted fruit trees, and every day after +they returned from their work, before they sat down to meat, they +watered them. In process of time all the trees flowered, but the +flowers on the eldest brother's trees withered and dropped off the day +they appeared. The trees of the other brothers failed to ripen their +fruit, but those of the youngest brother were laden with delicious +fruit which ripened to perfection. Five of the brothers said to him, +"You are very fortunate in having such a splendid crop;" but the +eldest brother was envious of his good fortune, and resolved to be +revenged upon him. + +The youngest brother brought up two puppies, whom he named Lipi and +Lapra. They turned out good hunting dogs, and by their aid their master +used to keep the family larder well supplied. The others were pleased +to see so much game brought to the house. One day they said to him, +"Take us also to where you get your large game." To this he agreed, +and they accompanied him to his usual hunting ground. Game was +plentiful, but they could kill nothing, although every time he shot +an arrow he brought down his animal. Five of his brothers praised +him for his skill, and accuracy of aim, but the eldest brother, not +having succeeded in bagging anything himself, envied him still more, +and was confirmed in his desire for revenge. + +It so happened that one day all the brothers, with the exception of the +eldest and the youngest, went out to their work. The eldest brother +finding himself alone with his youngest brother proposed that they +should go together to the hill for the purpose of procuring fibre to +make ropes. He said, "Come let us go to the hill to cut lar." [11] +His brother replied, "Come, let us set out." He, however, wished +to take his dogs with him, but his brother said, "Why should you +tire them by taking them so far? Leave them behind." But he replied, +"I shall not go, unless you allow me to take them with me. How shall +we be able to bring home venison if they do not accompany us? They +may kill some game on the way." As he insisted, he was permitted to +do as he desired, and they set out for the hill. + +As they went on their way they came to a spring, and the elder said, +"Tie up the two dogs here. I know all this forest, and there is no +game to be found in it." The younger was averse to leaving his dogs +behind him, but as his brother seemed determined he should do so, +he tied them with a stout rope to a tree. His brother said, "See that +you make them secure, so that they may not break loose and run away, +and be lost." + +A low hill lay between them, and the high one on which the trees +grew which yielded the lar. This they surmounted, and descending into +the valley that divided them began the ascent, and soon reached the +place where their work was to be. They soon cut and peeled sufficient +lar, and sitting down twisted it into strong ropes. Just as they had +prepared to return home, the elder brother seized the younger, and +bound him with the ropes they had made. He then grasped his sickle +with the intention of putting him to death. The helpless young man +thought of his dogs, and in a loud voice wailed as follows;-- + + + Come, come, Lipi and Lapra, + Cross the low hill + On to the slope of the high. + + +He called them again and again. The dogs heard the voice, and +struggled to get loose, and at length, by a great effort, they +succeeded in breaking the ropes with which they were bound, and +ran in the direction from which the sound proceeded. Now and again +the cries ceased, and they stood still until they again heard them, +when they ran as before. Having reached the valley that separated the +two hills, they could no longer hear the wailing as before, and they +were greatly perplexed. They ran hither and thither, hoping to catch +it again, but not doing so they directed their course to the large +hill, on reaching the foot of which it again became audible. They +now recognized the voice of their master, and ran rapidly forward. + +When the elder brother saw the dogs approaching, he quickly aimed a +blow with the sickle at his younger brother's head, but he, jerking +aside, escaped. Before there was time for him to strike again, the +dogs had arrived, and their master hounded them upon his assailant +and they quickly tore him to pieces. They then bit through the ropes +with which his brother had bound him, and set him at liberty. He +then returned home accompanied by his dogs, and when they enquired of +him where his brother was, he replied, "He left me to follow a deer, +I cannot say what direction he took. We did not meet again." He wept +as he related this, and they enquired, "Why do you weep?" He said, +"My two dogs lay down on the ground, and howled, and fear possesses +me that some wild beast has devoured my brother." + +The next day a party went in search of him, and found him as the dogs +had left him. When they saw him lying torn and bloody, they said, +"Some wild beast has done this." + +They brought the body home, and committed it to the flames of the +funeral pile, and sorrowfully performed all the ceremonies usual on +such occasions. + +After the death of the elder brother, they all lived together in +peace and harmony. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF LELHA. + + +I. + +There once lived a certain raja, who had three wives. The two elder had +two sons each, and the younger only one, whose name was Lelha. [12] +The four sons of the first two wives were very friendly with each +other, being seldom separate, but they despised Lelha, and never +permitted him to join them in any of their pastimes or sports. + +The raja had a plot of ground set apart for a flower garden, but +there was nothing in it. One day a certain Jugi came to him, and said, +"Oh! raja, if you fill your garden with all kinds of flowering plants, +your whole city will appear enchanting." Having said this, the Jugi +went to his home. The raja was greatly affected by what the Jugi had +said, and was immediately seized with a fit of the sulks. There was +an apartment in the palace set apart for the exclusive use of those +who happened to be in that state of mind. Such an one shut himself +up in this chamber until the fit wore off, or until he was persuaded +to be himself again. + +The raja refused his evening meal, and as was his wont, when in this +frame of mind, retired to the sulking apartment, and lay down. The +two elder ranis having been informed of what had occurred, hasted +to the raja, and said, "Oh! raja, why are you sulking?" He replied, +"This morning a Jugi came to me and said, that if I planted flowering +shrubs in my garden the whole city would appear enchanting. If any +one will do this work for me, I will rise, if not, I shall remain +here." The ranis then addressed him thus, "Oh! raja, rise up, and eat +and drink." The raja replied, "Let the young men come to me, I will do +as you desire." The two ranis then left, and calling their sons, sent +them to their father. Coming into the presence of the raja they said, +"Wherefore father are you sulking?" The raja replied, "If you plant +flowers in my flower garden I shall be comforted, and shall leave +my couch." They said, "Is it on this account you are distressed? We +shall cause the garden to be filled with flowers in a short time." On +receiving this assurance the raja left his bed, and partook of food, +and was refreshed. Lelha's mother now appeared on the scene, and +addressing the raja, said, "Wherefore, raja are you sulky?" He replied, +"Who told you I was sulky?" She replied, "A shopkeeper gave me the +information." Then the raja got angry, and ordered her to leave, +but she said, "If you do not tell me why you are sulking I will not +depart, am not I also your humble maidservant? Unless you tell me, +I will not go, I will die here rather than leave." The raja relented, +and related to her all the words of the Jugi. She then returned home. + +Her son Lelha entered the house soon after her arrival. He had been +engaged in some field sports, and being wearied and hungry, said to +his mother, "Give me some cooked rice." She was annoyed with him +and said, "Although the raja is ill, your first cry is for boiled +rice." Lelha on hearing this went to his father, and enquired what +was wrong. But the raja flying into a rage scolded him, saying, "Go +away Lelha. What do you want here? Never come near me again. Did not I +build a house for your mother and you at the extreme end of the street, +away from here? Be off, or I shall beat you." To which Lelha replied, +"Oh! father raja, am not I also a son of yours? Let me be foolish +or otherwise, still, I am your son, and unless you inform me of what +has grieved you, I shall die rather than leave this." Then the raja +told him also. He said, "It is because I do not see flowers in the +garden." "Oh!" said Lelha, "Is that what distresses you?" He then left. + +The raja's four elder sons caused all manner of flowering shrubs and +trees to be planted in the garden, and in a short time it was in a +blaze of colour, so much so, that the whole city was as if lighted +thereby. + +Just at this time, when every tree, shrub and plant was covered with +blossom another Jugi, named Koema Jugi, came to the city and said +to one and another, "You, the citizens of this city, are covering +yourselves with renown, but if you attach hiras [13] and manis [14] to +the branches, you will add renown to renown." The Jugi's words reached +the raja, and he was so much affected by them, that he immediately +began to sulk, and on being questioned by his two ranis, he replied, +"Do you not remember the words of the Koema Jugi?" They said, "Yes, +we remember. He said, 'if you place hiras and manis in this garden +the whole country will be resplendent'." "On that account then, I am +sulking, and if I do not see hiras and manis, I shall not partake of +any food." At the raja's words the two ranis returned sorrowfully to +their apartments. + +At that moment their four sons entered the house and asked for +food. The ranis were annoyed, and said, "The raja, your father, +is sulking, and you must have food and drink." On learning their +father's state the youths were distressed on his account, and went +to him weeping, and enquired why he was sulking. He related to them +the words of Koema Jugi, and added, "Unless I see hiras and manis +attached to the branches of the trees in my flower garden, I shall +not rise from my couch." His four sons replied, "Is it for this reason +you are grieving? We will search for, and bring them, and if we fail, +then sulk again, and refuse your food, and die of hunger, and we will +not prevent you, only listen to us this time and get up." The raja +was persuaded to rise, and having partaken of food he was refreshed. + + + + +II. + +The raja had planted flowering shrubs in his garden, but the Indarpuri +Sadoms [15] ate up all the flowers as they appeared, and so he again +began to sulk. He said, "I planted bushes, but I see no flowers. What +reason is there for my remaining alive?" And going to the sulking +chamber he lay down, and as usual refused to eat. Then there was +confusion in the household, and running hither and thither. The two +ranis went to him, but he was annoyed, and ordered them to leave, +saying, "I will not rise, by your telling me," so they returned +weeping, each to her own apartment. + +Just then their four sons returned from hunting, and demanded +food. Their mothers were annoyed, and said, "You young gentlemen +are hungry, and must have food, that the raja is sulking is nothing +to you, if you are fasting." On hearing this the sons went to their +father, and enquired, "Oh! father, wherefore are you sulking?" The +raja replied, "Oh! my sons, I am sulking because I see no flowers in +my garden. Unless I see flowers in my garden, I shall not remain in +this world." His sons replied, "Give us three days, and if at the end +of that time you see no flowers, then you may sulk." He was persuaded +to rise, and having bathed, and partaken of food, he was refreshed. + +Just then Lelha arrived, and addressing the raja said, "Oh! raja, +what ails you?" The raja on seeing Lelha was angry, and scolded him +severely. He said, "Has Lelha come here? Drive him away at once." Lelha +left without uttering another word. + +After three days the raja began again to sulk, because there were still +no flowers to be seen in his garden. The Indarpuri Sadoms came about +mid-night and ate up all the buds. The raja's four elder sons when +watching could not remain awake for one hour, and so the Indarpuri +Sadoms came nightly and devoured all the buds that should have burst +into flower in the morning, so that not one solitary blossom was to +be seen. For this reason the raja again began to sulk, and no one +dared to say anything to him. + +At this juncture Lelha's mother went from her own house to a shop +to buy rice. The shopkeeper refused to supply her. He said, "The +raja is sulking, and she comes here to buy rice. I will not weigh +it, so go." Lelha's mother went hastily home, and encountered Lelha +returning from a stroll. Lelha asked for food. He said, "Oh! mother, +give me cooked rice quickly." She rebuked him, and said, "The raja is +sulking. The shopkeeper refused to give me rice, how can I give you +food? I am a prey to grief, and here my young gentleman is hungry. Go +to the raja." + +Lelha did as his mother ordered him, and went to the apartment where +the raja was, and called several times, "Oh! father, get up." At +length the raja asked, "Who are you? Do not irritate me. Go away at +once." Lelha replied, "I am your humble slave and son, Lelha." His +father said, "Wherefore have you come here? Lelha, Go home, or else +I shall beat you. What do you want here? If you go, go at once, +if not, I shall have you chastised." Lelha replied, "Because you, +Oh! raja, are sulking. The shopkeeper in the bazaar refused to +sell to my mother rice, saying, 'something is amiss with the raja, +I cannot let you have it.'" The raja then said, "Go, and bring the +shopkeeper here." To which Lelha replied, "Why are you sulking? If +you do not tell me, it were better for me to die here. I cannot leave +you. I have come here fasting, not having eaten anything to-day." The +raja said, "Your four brothers have not been able to do anything, +and what can I hope from telling you about it, Lelha?" Lelha replied, +"It is still possible that I may accomplish something, but although I +should not, yet I am a son of yours. Do tell me. If you die, I shall +die also. We will depart this life together. I cannot return home." The +raja then thought within himself, I will tell him, and let him go. If +I do not do so, Lelha may die along with me. Then addressing Lelha, +he said, "It is nothing child, only I see no flowers in my garden, +and therefore I am sulking. Although your four brothers watched +three nights, still I see no flowers." Lelha then said, "If my +brothers watched three nights, see me watch one." The raja replied, +"Very good my son, let us leave this apartment." + +The raja went to bathe, and Lelha going to the shopkeeper bought +several kinds of grain, which he carried home and gave to his mother, +saying, "Roast a seer of each, and cook some rice for me. I have +succeeded in persuading my father to rise. He has bathed and dined, +and is refreshed. He was sulking because he can see no flowers in +his garden. It was with great difficulty that I prevailed upon him +to get up." His mother said, "What does my Lord want with roasted +grain?" Lelha replied, "Let me do with it as I chose, you prepare +it. I will take it with me at night when I go to watch in the flower +garden." His mother said, "Have you forgotten your brothers' threats +to beat you?" Lelha replied, "My brothers may beat me, but no other +person. What help is there for it?" + +At nightfall, Lelha, having supped, tied up in the four corners of +his plaid four kinds of roasted grain, and entering the garden climbed +up on a raised platform, and began his vigil. + +After a short time he untied one of his parcels of roasted grain, +and began leisurely to eat it, one grain at a time. Just as he had +consumed the last one, an Indarpuri Sadom descended from the East and +alighted in the garden to browse upon the flowers. Lelha seeing it, +crept noiselessly up, and laid hold of it, and at the same instant its +rider, an Indarpuri Kuri, [16] exclaimed, "Hands off! Lelha. Hands +off! Lelha. Touch me not." Lelha replied, to the Indarpuri Kuri, +"Besides touching you, I will bind and detain you till morning. You +have become bold. You have caused my father to fast; but I have +captured you to-night. Where will you go?" "Let me go," she said, +"I will bless you." Lelha rejoined, "You are deceiving me." The +Indarpuri Kuri made answer, "I am not deceiving you. I shall give +you whatever blessing you may desire. Place your hand upon my head, +Lelha." He did so, and a lock of hair adhered to his hand, when he +withdrew it. The Indarpuri Kuri then said, "When you desire anything, +take that lock of hair into your hand, and say, Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, +give me this or that, and instantly you shall receive it. Of a +truth it shall be so. I shall never fail you." Lelha then released +the Indarpuri Sadom, and it mounted up into the air, and he and his +Indarpuri Rider vanished into space. + +By the time Lelha had eaten all the roasted grain from another +corner of his plaid, another Indarpuri Sadom with his Indarpuri Kuri +rider descended from the West. Lelha caught these as he had done the +first. This Kuri was a younger sister of the other, and she gave a +like blessing to Lelha before he released her horse. + +Lelha now began to eat his third parcel of roasted grain, and just as +he had finished it he saw another Indarpuri Sadom with an Indarpuri +Kuri rider descend from the North, and alight in the garden. Lelha +also captured these. The rider was a younger sister of the last. She +also gave Lelha a blessing, and was allowed to go. + +At cockcrow, Lelha, having eaten the last grain of his fourth parcel, +looked up and beheld an Indarpuri Sadom with an Indarpuri Kuri rider +descend into the garden from the North. She was the youngest of the +sisters. Lelha crept stealthily up, and laid hold of the horse's +mane. The Indarpuri Kuri then exclaimed, "Hands off! Lelha. Hands +off! Lelha." Then Lelha replied, "You Lelha greatly this morning. It +is almost dawn, where can you go to escape punishment?" Then the +Indarpuri Kuri said, "Oh! Lelha, We are four sisters, daughters of one +mother, I will give you a blessing." Lelha replied, "In this way three +persons have fled. You also appear the same." The Indarpuri Kuri said, +"We four sisters have one blessing. Place your hand upon my head, and +release me." Lelha did so, and the Indarpuri Sadom on being liberated +sailed off into the sky with his Indarpuri rider. Lelha tied the four +locks of hair of the Indarpuri Kuris each in a corner of his plaid, +as he had before done with the roasted grain. When the day fully +dawned he returned to his home weeping, for his four brothers seeing +the bushes laden with blossom were envious of him, and had hurled him +headlong to the ground from off the raised platform on which he sat. + +On reaching home his mother said to him, "You see your brothers have +beaten you. I warned you against going." Lelha replied, "What help +is there for it? My brothers beat me. No one else did. I must bear +it." His mother said, "Then, why do you let others know?" + +In the morning the raja said, "Last night Lelha was watching. I will +go and take a look at the garden." He went and found a perfect sea +of blossom, the sight of which almost overcame him. + +It so happened that as the raja gazed upon the fairy scene around him, +Koema Jugi turned up, and addressing the raja said, "You are lost +in wonder, but if you hang hiras and manis on the branches the whole +country will be resplendent. Then your wonder and amazement will be +increased twentyfold." + + + + +III. + +The raja's garden was without an equal in the world, but the words of +Koema Jugi had caused him to become discontented with it, and because +there were neither hiras nor manis hanging from the branches he, as +before, began to sulk. They reasoned with him saying, "Do not grieve +over it. We will bring hiras and manis." So he rose, and having bathed +partook of some refreshment. + +About this time Lelha's mother went to a shop to purchase food. On +seeing her the shopkeeper said, "Something is amiss with the raja, +and she is hungry, and comes here giving annoyance. Go away. I will +not weigh anything for you." So she returned home empty-handed. As she +entered the house she encountered Lelha just returned from hunting, +who said, "Oh! mother, give me cooked rice." His mother replied, +"Something is wrong with the raja, and here my young lord is fasting, +and cries for food. He is greatly concerned about his own affairs." + +Lelha went at once to the raja, and enquired "What ails you, +father?" The raja replied, "Is there anything ailing me? Has Lelha +come here? I will beat him shortly." Lelha said, "Do with me what you +please. Why are you sulking? If you do not tell me, although it should +cost me my life, I will not leave, rather slay me here at once." The +raja thought within himself, "He annoys me, I will tell him to get +rid of him." So he said, "Your brothers have gone in search of hiras +and manis, and it is because I do not see the trees in my garden +adorned with these precious stones that I am sulking. Lelha said, +"I will also go." His father said, "Do not go child." But Lelha was +determined, and disregarded his father's command. + +Lelha went to the bazaar and purchased rice and dal, and his mother +when she saw him bringing them home with him, said, "What is wrong? You +are completely out of breath." Lelha replied, "My brothers have gone +to search for hiras and manis, and I also am busy preparing to follow +them." She tried to dissuade him saying, "Although the mean fellows +beat you, still you will not keep away from them." Lelha quickly +replied, "What help is there for it, mother? Let my brothers beat +me or not, what is that to me? I must bear it all." So his mother +prepared food, and Lelha, having partaken of it, set out. + +He went to the stable, and saddled the lame horse, as his brothers +had taken away the good ones, and mounting rode to the outskirts +of the city. He then dismounted, and turned the lame horse loose, +and went into the raja's flower garden, and said, "Oh! Indarpuri +Kuri, give me a horse instantly. My brothers have left me behind, +and gone I know not where. Give me such a horse as will enable me +to reach them at once." Immediately a horse was at his side, and +in a few seconds he was in sight of his brothers. He then alighted +from his horse, and said "Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, I return your horse," +and instantly it disappeared, and he overtook his brothers on foot. + +When his brothers saw him, they said, "He has overtaken us." Some of +them said, "Catch him and beat him," others said, "No, let him alone, +he will do our cooking. We can go in search of hiras and manis, +and leave him to guard our camp. Come let us push on, we have now +got a good guard for our camp." This pleased all, and they said, +"It is now evening, let us pitch our camp for the night." They did +so, and Lelha soon had supper ready, of which having partaken they +all retired to rest. + +In the morning Lelha again acted as cook, and while it was yet early +set breakfast before his brothers, and they having eaten, mounted +their horses, and went in search of hiras and manis. They were now +a month's journey distant from their own home, and the raja of the +country in which they were, had just opened a new bazaar. It was a +large and beautiful bazaar, and an Indarpuri Kuri had a stall it. This +Indarpuri Kuri had given out, that whoever would go and come twelve +kos seven times within an hour should be her husband. + +The four sons of the raja, who had come in search of hiras and manis +hearing this said, "Some one from amongst us four brothers must marry +this girl. Let us exercise our horses, it is possible that some one +of them may do the distance in the specified time." They had left +home in search of hiras and manis, and now were scheming to secure +the Indarpuri Kuri as the wife of one of them. So they returned +to camp, and sitting down began to discuss the subject. They said, +"If our horses are well exercised, no doubt, but that they will be +able to run the distance in the time. Therefore, let us diligently +train our horses, so that they may be able to accomplish the task." + +While they were thus engaged, Lelha said, "What is it, brothers, +that you are discussing?" His brothers rebuked him, saying, "Why are +you eavesdropping? We will beat you." They did not, however, beat him, +as they feared he would return home, and leave them without a cook. So +he cooked the supper and set it before them, and when they had eaten, +they retired to rest. + +In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his four brothers +having breakfasted, mounted and rode off to the bazaar, and there +exercised their horses. After they had left Lelha collected all the +brass vessels, and what other property there was, and carefully hid +them away. Then he called to the Indarpuri Kuri, "Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, +give me a horse," and instantly, just such a horse as he desired +stood beside him. He mounted and galloping away soon overtook his +brothers. He saluted them, but they did not recognize him. He said +to them, "Wherefore, brothers, have you brought your horses to +a standstill? Make them race." They replied, "We were waiting for +you. We are tired. It is your turn now." Lelha immediately switched +up his horse, and away it flew at such a pace, that it could scarcely +be seen. That day his horse ran twelve kos there and back three times +within an hour. At the end of the race soldiers tried to lay hold +of Lelha's horse, but he called out, "Do not touch him. He will not +allow you to lay a finger on me." The soldiers said, "The raja has +given orders, that the horse that ran three, or five, or seven times +is to be brought before him." Lelha replied, "Go, and tell the raja, +that the horse bites, so we could not stop him. The raja will not +be displeased with you." He then rode away to the camp, and having +returned the horse to the Indarpuri Kuri he began to prepare the +evening meal, which was ready by the time his four brothers arrived. + +After supper they began to talk over the events of the day, wondering +who owned the horse that had run so well. Lelha drew near, and said, +"What is it, brothers, that you are talking about?" Some said, "Beat +him, what has he got to do listening?" Others said, "Do not beat him, +he cooks for us." So the matter ended, and all lay down for the night. + +In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his brothers having +breakfasted, mounted their horses, and rode off to the bazaar, where +they raced as usual. After they had gone, Lelha gathered all their +property together, and hid it as he had done on the day previous. Then, +mounting an Indarpuri Sadom, he followed his brothers, and on coming +up with them saluted them, but they did not recognize him as their +brother. Then a conversation similar to that of the previous day +passed between Lelha and his brothers. This time Lelha's horse ran +the distance, there and back, five times within the hour. The raja's +soldiers again attempted to stop Lelha's horse, but he told them that +it was in the habit of biting, so they allowed him to pass, and he +galloped off to the camp, and returning the horse to the Indarpuri +Kuri began to prepare the evening meal. When his brothers arrived +Lelha set food before them, and they ate and drank. After they had +supped they sat and talked about the wonderful horse, and its feat +that day. Lelha again enquired what they were talking about, but they +rebuked him saying, "Do not listen. It is not necessary for you to +know what we are speaking about." They all then retired for the night. + +Early next morning Lelha set about preparing breakfast, and his +brothers, having partaken of it, set out for the bazaar. After their +departure Lelha gathered everything together, and hid them as before, +and then called upon Indarpuri Kuri for a horse. The horse came, and +Lelha mounted and galloped after his brothers. On overtaking them he +saluted, and then said, "Wherefore, brothers, do you stand still? Race +your horses." They replied, "It is your turn now. We have run, and our +horses are tired." Lelha then started his horse, and it ran twelve kos +there, and twelve kos back, seven times within the hour. The raja's +soldiers again attempted to capture Lelha's horse, but he prevented +them, and so returned to the camp. When he had returned the horse +to the Indarpuri Kuri he resumed his office of cook, and had supper +ready by the time his brothers returned. They sat down together, and +began to discuss the wonderful performance of the horse which had that +day done the distance seven times in one hour. Lelha again enquired, +"What is it that you are talking about, brothers?" Some one said, +"Beat him. He has no right to be listening," but another said, +"Do not beat him, he cooks our food." When the four brothers were +tired talking Lelha set supper before them, and having supped, they +lay down to sleep. + +Next morning Lelha cooked the breakfast as usual, and his brothers +having partaken of it, mounted their horses, and rode off to the +bazaar. After they had left Lelha put everything out of sight, as +usual. Then he desired the Indarpuri Kuri to give him a horse, and +having mounted, he followed his brothers, and on coming near saluted +them as before, but again they failed to recognize him. + + + + +IV. + +On the seventh day Lelha again followed his brothers to the +bazaar. He begged the Indarpuri Kuri to give him a horse that +would do the distance there and back seven times within the hour, +and at the end would fall down dead, and also to have another horse +ready for him to mount. The Indarpuri Kuri gave him his desire and +he rode off to the bazaar, and again saluted his brothers, and at +the same time pushed his horse close up to them. They called out, +"Keep your horse back, he will crush us." Lelha then enquired why +they were standing still. They replied, "We were waiting for you." So +Lelha put his horse to the gallop, and did the distance there and +back seven times within an hour. On his return the last time the +soldiers attempted to lay hold of the horse, but Lelha said, "Let +him alone, I will go myself." At the same instant his horse fell, +and he leapt from it, and having returned it to the Indarpuri Kuri, +he mounted the other, and rode from the race course to the bazaar, +and was united in wedlock to the Indarpuri Kuri. + +After the marriage he informed his bride that he was in search of +hiras and manis for his father's flower garden. She informed him, +that lying on the breast of her elder sister, who had been sleeping +for twelve years, was a large quantity of hiras. "To obtain them you +must first," she said, "buy two bundles of grass, two goats, and a +pair of shoes, and make two ropes each two hundred cubits long. My +sister is guarded by an elephant, a tiger, and a dog. On entering you +will first encounter the elephant, and you must throw him a bundle of +grass. A little farther on you will meet the tiger, you must give him +a goat. Then you will see the dog, and you must throw him a shoe. When +you are returning you must do the same. Throw a shoe to the dog, a goat +to the tiger, and a sheaf of grass to the elephant. You must lose no +time in possessing yourself of the hiras you will find on my sister's +breast. If you delay, her army may take you prisoner." She also said, +"My sister's house is situated on an island in a large lake, and you +can only reach it by hiring a boat. The door of her house is a large +heavy stone, which you must remove before gaining an entrance. On the +island there is a Sinjo tree, [17] with branches on the North side, +and on the South. On the branches of the South side there are the +young of hiras and manis, but on those of the North side there is +nothing. On the South side there are five branches, and within the +fruit there are manis. Do not forget this. The large hira, which +glitters on my sister's breast, is the mother hira." Just as she +concluded the foregoing instructions the cock crew, and she added, +"See that you remember all I have told you." + +Then Lelha left his bride to return to his brothers. As he went he +remembered that they would be sure to abuse him for having been +absent, so he collected a large number of shells, and stringing +them together, hung them round his neck, and went dancing to the +camp. When his brothers saw him, in the dress of a merryandrew they +rebuked him severely. + + + + +V. + +Lelha's excuse for his absence was as follows. He said, "You, +my brothers, always leave me here alone in the camp. Yesterday +several shepherds came, and forcibly carried me away. They kept me +awake all night. They tied these shells round my neck and made me +dance. They also made me drive cattle round and round. I had no rest +all night. They also shewed me hiras and manis." + +Lelha's brothers eagerly enquired, "Where did you see the hiras and +manis? Come, show us the place at once." Lelha replied, "We must first +buy food for the hiras and manis." So they went to the bazaar to buy +food for the hiras and manis. Lelha first bought two goats, and his +brothers abused him, and said, "Will hiras and manis eat these?" Some +one of them said, "Slap him." Another said, "Do not slap him, they +may perhaps eat them." Then he bought a pair of shoes, at which again +they reviled him. Then he bought two ropes, when they again reviled +him. Lastly he purchased two bundles of grass, and having provided +these necessary articles, they went and hired a boat. The horses of +the four brothers were dead, so they had to proceed on foot to where +the boat lay. + +After sailing for some time they reached an island, and landed. They +quickly found the house of the Indarpuri Kuri. It was closed by a large +stone lying over the entrance. Lelha ordered his brothers to remove +it, but they were displeased and said, "How do you expect to find +hiras and manis under this stone." Lelha said, "Truly, my brothers, +they are under the stone." He pressed them to attempt the removal +of the stone, so they, and others to the number of fifty tried their +strength but the stone seemed immovable. Then Lelha said, "Stand by, +and allow me to try." So putting to his hand, he easily removed it, +and revealed the entrance to the mansion of the Indarpuri Kuri. His +brothers were so astounded at the strength he displayed that they +lost the power of speech. + +Lelha then said to his brothers, "Take one of these ropes, and bind it +round me, and lower me down, and when you feel me shaking the rope, +then quickly pull me up. I go to find hiras." His brothers quickly +bound the rope round his body, and he, taking the goats, the pair of +shoes, and the bundles of grass, descended. + +A short distance from where he reached the ground, he found a door, +which was guarded by an elephant bound by the foot to a stake. To +him he threw a bundle of grass and passed on. At the next door he +found a tiger, likewise chained, and as he approached, it opened its +jaws as if to devour him. To it, he gave a goat, and was allowed to +pass. At the third door was a dog. He threw a shoe to it, and when +the dog was engaged biting it, he passed through. Then he saw the hira +sparkling upon the bosom of the sleeping Indarpuri Kuri. Going near, +he snatched it up, and fled. The dog, however, barred his exit but +he threw the other shoe to it, and passed on. The tiger had devoured +the goat he had given to it, and was now alert. To it he gave the +other goat, and hurried on. The elephant then opposed him, but the +remaining bundle of grass was sufficient to divert his attention, +and he passed through the last door. Then violently shaking the rope +his brothers speedily hauled him up. + +Then they went to their boat, and rowed to another part of the island, +where the Sinjo tree grew. They all climbed the tree, but Lelha plucked +the five fruits on the branch to the South, while his brothers plucked +a large number from the North side. + +They then returned to their boat and rowed back to the place from +which they had started. From there they went to the house of Lelha's +bride. When she heard of their arrival she ordered refreshments to be +prepared for them. Her servants also all came, and gave Lelha and his +brothers oil, and sent them to bathe. On their return from bathing, +their feet were washed by servants, and they were then taken into +the house. + +After they were seated Lelha's brothers began to whisper to each +other, saying, "We do not know of what caste these people are, to +whose house he has brought us to eat food. He will cause us to lose +caste." Lelha heard what they were saying, and in explanation said, +"Not so, brothers. This is my wife's house." They replied, "It is all +right then." So they ate and drank heartily, and afterwards prepared +to return home. + + + + +VI. + +The journey was to be by boat. Lelha sent his brothers on ahead in one +boat, and he and his wife followed in another. There was a distance +of two or three kos between the boats. + +Lelha's brothers as they sailed along came to a certain ghat at which +a raja was bathing. He was raja of the country through which they +were passing. He demanded from Lelha's brothers to know what they had +in their boat. They replied, "We have hiras and manis with us." Then +the raja said, "Shew them to me. You may be thieves." They replied, +"No, they are inside these Sinjo fruits." The raja said, "Break one, I +wish to see what they are like." So the brothers broke one, but nothing +was found in it. Then the raja called his soldiers, and ordered them +to bind the four brothers. So the soldiers seized and bound them, and +carried them off to prison. Just then Lelha's boat arrived. He was in +time to see his brothers pass within the prison doors. Having seen the +four brothers in safe custody the raja returned to the bathing ghat, +and seeing Lelha he demanded to know what he had in his boat. Lelha +answered, "We have hiras and manis as our cargo." The raja then said, +"Shew them to me, I would fain look upon them." Lelha said, "You wish +to see hiras and manis without any trouble to yourself. If I show +you them, what will you give me in return? There are hiras and manis +in this Sinjo fruit." The raja replied, "Those who came before you +deceived me. I have no doubt, but that you will do so also." Lelha +said, "What will you give me? Make an offer, and I shall shew you +them at once." The raja replied, "I have one daughter, her I will +give to you, and along with her an estate, if there are hiras and +manis in that Sinjo fruit, and if there are none in it, I will keep +you prisoner all your lifetime." Lelha immediately broke one of the +Sinjo fruits, and five hiras and manis rolled out. When the raja saw +it he was confounded, but what could he do? According to his promise, +he gave him his daughter and an estate. + +The marriage ceremony being over, Lelha was invited to partake of the +raja's hospitality, but he refused, saying, "If you set my brothers +at liberty I shall eat, but not unless you do so." So the brothers +were released, and taken to the bath. After they had bathed, their +feet were washed, and they were led into the palace to the feast. + +The brothers, after they were seated, began to whisper to each other, +saying, "Whose house is this? Of what caste are the people? Does he +wish to make us lose our caste?" But Lelha reassured them by saying, +"Not so, my brothers. I have espoused the raja's daughter." Hearing +this they were relieved, and all enjoyed the marriage feast. + + + + +VII. + +Then they made preparations to continue their journey. Lelha again +sent his four brothers first, and he followed with his two wives. + +After a sail of a few hours they entered the territory of another +raja, and came upon his bathing ghat. The raja was bathing there at +the time, and the boat passing, he enquired what her cargo was. The +brothers answered, "We have hiras and manis on board." The raja said, +"I would see them." They replied, "They are in the boat following +us." The raja was displeased with their answer, and ordered them to +be seized as vagrants. + +Lelha's boat came alongside the bathing ghat just as his four brothers +were led off to prison, and the raja seeing it, asked Lelha what +cargo he carried. Lelha replied, "Our cargo is hiras and manis." The +raja begged Lelha to shew them to him, but he refused saying, "What +will you give for a sight of them? Promise something, and you can +see them." The raja said, "Of a truth, if you can shew me hiras and +manis I will give you my daughter. I have one, a virgin, her I will +give you, and I will also confer upon you an estate." + +Then Lelha, seizing a Sinjo fruit, broke it, and out rolled five +hiras and manis, which when the raja saw he marvelled greatly. He +honourably fulfilled his engagement, and Lelha's marriage with his +daughter was celebrated forthwith. + +The wedding over Lelha was conducted to the bath, and afterwards +invited to a banquet; but he declined saying, "So long as you detain +my brothers in confinement, I cannot partake of your hospitality." So +they were brought to the palace, and their feet bathed, and then +ushered into the banqueting room. After they were seated they began +to whisper to each other, "What caste do these people belong to, +with whom he expects us to eat? Does he intend to make us break our +caste?" Lelha hearing them, said, "Not so, my brothers. This is my +father-in-law's house." Thus were their doubts removed, and they ate +and drank with much pleasure. + + + + +VIII. + +The journey homewards was resumed in the morning, the boats in the +same order as previously. + +Lelha's four brothers were envious of his good fortune, and on the way +they talked about him, and decided that he must be put to death. They +said, "How can we put him out of the way? If we do not make away with +him, on our return home, he will be sure to secure the succession to +our father's kingdom." Having come to this conclusion the next thing +was, how could it be accomplished, for Lelha was far more powerful than +they were. It was only by stratagem that they could hope to accomplish +their purpose, so they said, "We will invite him to a feast and when +he stands with a foot on either boat, before stepping into ours, +we will push the boats apart and he will fall into the river and +be drowned. We must get his wives to join in the plot, for without +their aid we cannot carry it into execution." During the day they +found means to communicate with Lelha's wives. They said to them, +"We will make a feast on our boat. Make him come on board first, +and when he has a foot on each boat you push yours back, and we +will do the same to ours, and he will fall into the water, and be +drowned. We are the sons of a raja, and our country is very large. We +will take you with us and make you ranis." Lelha's wives pretended to +agree to their proposal; but they afterwards told him all. They said, +"Do as they wish, but you will not be drowned. We will remain faithful +to you, and you will reach home before us." + +So the four brothers prepared a sumptuous feast, and the boats were +brought close to each other to enable Lelha and his wives to go on +board. One of Lelha's wives tied a knot on his waist cloth, as a +token that they would remain true to him. He then preceded them in +going into the other boat, and just as he had a foot on each gunwale, +the boats were pushed asunder, and Lelha fell into the water. Having +thus got rid, as they thought, of Lelha, the brothers made all possible +speed homewards. + + + + +IX. + +At the bottom of the river a bell sprang into existence, and Lelha was +found lying asleep in it. Then he awoke and sat up, and loosening the +knot which his wife had tied on his waist cloth, said, "Oh! Indarpuri +Kuri, give me at once food and drink, tobacco and fire," and on +the instant his wants were supplied. So he ate and drank, and was +refreshed. Then he prepared his pipe, and when he had lit it he said, +"Oh! Indarpuri Kuri, give me a fully equipped horse that will carry +me home before the tobacco in this pipe is consumed." The last word +had scarcely escaped his lips when a horse stood beside him. It was +a fierce animal, of a blue colour, and no fly could alight on its +skin. It was fully equipped, and impatient to start. Lelha, still +smoking his pipe, mounted, and his steed at one bound cleared the +river, although it was seven or eight kos broad, and flying like the +wind, landed him at home before the tobacco in his pipe was consumed. + +The hiras and manis were in the possession of Lelha's wives. His +brothers wheedled them into giving them up, saying they will be safer +with us. + +Lelha went to his mother's house and said to her, "Tell no one of my +being here." He had alighted from his horse on the outskirts of the +city, and returned it to the Indarpuri Kuri. + +A period of ten days elapsed before Lelha's brothers and his wives +arrived. The latter declined to accompany the former at once to the +raja's palace. They said, "Let your mothers come, and conduct us, +as is usual when a bride enters her husband's house." The two elder +ranis then came, and the four sons went to the raja's flower garden +and hung the hiras and manis on the branches of the trees, and the +whole countryside was instantly lighted up by the sheen of the precious +stones. The saying of the Koema Jugi was fulfilled to the letter. + +Lelha also sent his mother to welcome his wives, but when the elder +ranis saw her coming, they reviled her and drove her away. They would +not permit her to come near. She returned home weeping. "You told me," +she said, "to go and welcome your wives, and I have been abused. When +will you learn wisdom?" Lelha ran into the house, and brought a ring, +and giving it to his mother, said, "Take this ring, and place it +in the lap of one of them." She took the ring, and gave it to one +of Lelha's wives, and immediately they all rose, and followed her +laughing, to their new home. + +The elder ranis went and informed their sons of what had happened, +but they said, "They are Lelha's wives. What can we do?" + + + + +X. + +The Indarpuri Kuri whom Lelha had robbed of her hira now awoke, and +at once missed her precious jewel. She knew that Lelha had stolen it +from her, and summoning her army to her standard marched upon Lelha's +father's capital, to which she laid siege, and before many hours had +elapsed, the raja was a prisoner in her hands. + +This Indarpuri Kuri said to him, "Will you give up the hiras and manis, +or will you fight?" The raja sent the following message to his four +sons, "Will you fight to retain possession of the hiras and manis, +or will you deliver them up?" They were afraid, so they gave answer, +"We will not. Lelha knows all about the hiras and manis. We do not." + +The raja then sent and called Lelha, and enquired, "Will you shew +fight, Lelha, or will you give up the hiras and manis?" Lelha replied, +"I will fight. I will not part with the hiras and manis. I obtained +them only after much painful toil, so I cannot deliver them up. Ask +them to agree to delay hostilities for a short time, but inform them +that Lelha will fight." + +Lelha hurried to the further end of the garden, and taking the hair of +the first Indarpuri Kuri in his hand said, "Oh! Indarpuri Kuri. Give me +an army four times stronger than the one brought against me, so that +I may make short work of my enemies." Immediately an army of 44,000 +men stood in military array, awaiting his orders. The two armies +joined battle, and Lelha discomfited the host of the Indarpuri Kuri, +and she herself became his prize. She became his wife, and returned no +more to her cavernous home in the solitary island. Lelha thus became +the husband of four wives. + +Then the raja called his five sons together and said, "In my estimation +Lelha is the one best qualified to became raja of this kingdom. I +therefore resign all power and authority into his hands." Lelha +replied, "Yes, father, you have judged righteously. My brothers have +caused me much distress. First, they pushed off the raised platform +in your flower garden, but of that I did not inform you. Then they +caused me, who was the finder of the hiras and manis, to fall into +the river. You saw how they refused to fight, and threw all the +responsibility upon me. They have used me spitefully. They have tried +to make a cat's paw of me." + +So Lelha was raja of all the country, and his brothers were his +servants. One was in charge of Lelha's pipe and tobacco, another +ploughed his fields, and the other two had like menial offices assigned +to them. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF SINDURA GAND GARUR. + + +In a certain village there lived a mother and her son. The boy tended +goats in the forest. One day he found a spot of ground, where he +thought rice would grow well. So he went home, and asked his mother +to give him some seed to sow there. She said, "If you sow rice there +it will all be destroyed. The elephants, or the wild jungle cattle, +will eat it." But he begged so hard that at length she gave him some +seed rice, which he sowed on the small plot of ground in the jungle. It +sprang up and grew luxuriantly. Every day he drove his goats there, +and spent the long hours in driving the birds and insects away from +his little farm. + +When the rice had grown to a good height the raja's son with his +companion came and set up a mark near by at which they shot with +their bows and arrows. The orphan boy was asked to join them, which he +did, and so accurate was his aim, that he hit the mark every time he +shot. The raja's son and his companion were astonished to see such good +shooting, and they said, "The fatherless boy hits the mark every time." + +The boy ran home to his mother weeping, and said, "Oh! mother, where is +my father?" To keep him from grieving, she told a lie. "Your father," +she said, "has gone on a visit to his relations." + +The next day after he had again shown great skill with the bow and +arrow the raja's son and his companion said, "The fatherless boy hits +the mark every time." Hearing this he again went home weeping, and +said to his mother, "Oh! mother, where is my father?" She replied, +"He has gone to visit his friends." Every day the boy came crying to +his mother asking where his father was, so at last she told him. She +said, "Your father, child, was carried away on the horns of a Gand +Garur [18]." + +The boy then said to his mother, "Prepare me some flour. I will +go in search of him." His mother tried to dissuade him, saying, +"Where can you go in such a jungle as this?" He, however, insisted, +and she prepared flour for him, and he set out. + +After travelling many hours he entered the primeval forest, and +presently darkness came upon him. After a short time he came to +the dwelling of Huti [19] Budhi, and requested permission to pass +the night there. This was accorded to him, and he lay down and fell +asleep. During the night he was awakened by the Huti Budhi eating +his bow and arrows. He called out to her "Oh! old woman, What have +you been nibbling at since evening?" The Huti Budhi replied, "It is +only some roasted grain, which I brought a while ago from the house +of the Chief." + +In a short time the nibbling sound was again heard, and he again +enquired what she was eating. She returned the same answer as +before. "Oh! my son, it is only roasted grain which the chief's people +gave me." He did not know that all the time she was eating his bow +and arrows. + +When morning dawned he requested her to give him his weapons, and +on his attempting to string the bow it broke in his hands. The Huti +Budhi had eaten the heart out of the wood, and had left only the +outer shell. He left her house planning revenge. + +During the day he had an iron bow and iron arrows made. All was iron +like the arrow heads. In the evening he returned to sleep at the Huti +Budhi's house. + +During the night he heard the Huti Budhi trying to nibble his bow and +arrows. So he enquired what she was doing. The answer she gave was, +"Do you think the Huti Budhi can eat iron." + +When morning dawned he demanded his bow and arrows, and received +them uninjured, but the lower part of the Huti Budhi's face was all +swollen. She had been trying to eat the iron bow and arrows. Her +lodger strung his bow, and having saluted her, went his way. + +As he journeyed he entered another unexplored forest in the midst of +which he discovered a lake, to which all the birds and beasts resorted +to quench their thirst. He obtained this information by an examination +of its banks, on which he saw the footprints of the various beasts and +birds. He now took some flour from his bag, and having moistened it +with water made a hearty meal, and then sat down to wait for evening. + +As the sun went down the denizens of the forest began to come to the +lake to drink. They came in quick succession, and as each made its +appearance, he sang assurance to it, that he harboured no evil design +against it. + +The quail led the way, and to it he sang, + + + "Oh! quail, you need not fear to drink, + I'll not harm you, I you assure; + But I will slay on this lake's brink, + Cruel Sindura Gand Garur. + + +He sang in a similar strain to each bird as it came, naming it by +its name. + +At length the Gand Garur alighted on the edge of the lake to drink, +and he at once drew his bow, and sent an arrow to its heart, for he +had seen the dried and shrivelled corpse of his father still adhering +to its horns. The Gand Garur being dead, he detached what remained of +his parent's body from its horns, and taking it in his arms pressed +it to his bosom and wept bitterly. + + + +As he wept, Bidi and Bidhati descended from the sky and asked him +the reason of his sorrow. So he told them all. They spoke words +of comfort to him, and said, "Dip your gamcha cloth in the lake, +and cover the corpse with it. And don't you cry, rather bathe and +cook some food. And do not cook for one only, but prepare portions +for two. And when the food is ready, you partake of one portion, +and set the other aside. Then tap your father on the back and say, +'Rise father, here is your food.'" He did as his kind friends bade +him, and the dead came to life again. The father sat up and said, +"Oh! my son, what a lengthened sleep I have had." The son replied, +"A sleep? you must be demented, you were pierced through by the horns +of the Gand Garur, and your dried carcase was adhering to them. See +I have killed it. It is lying here. Bidi and Bidhati instructed me +how to proceed, and I have brought you to life again. + +So they returned joyfully home singing the praises of Bidi and Bidhati. + + + + + + +THE TIGER AND ULTA'S MOTHER. + + +A tiger cub was in the habit of playing under the shade of a certain +tree, in which was a crane's nest with a young one in it. The parent +cranes brought frogs and lizards to their young one, and what it could +not eat it used to throw down to the young tiger, and in this way the +two became greatly attached to each other. After a time the tigress +died, and left the cub alone in the world. The young crane felt much +pity for its afflicted friend, and could not bear the thought of +itself being in a better position. So one day it said to the tiger, +"Let us kill my mother." The tiger replied, "Just as you please. I +cannot say do it, nor can I say do not do it." When the mother crane +came to give its young one food, the latter set upon her and killed +her. The friendship between the two increased so that they could +not be separated from each other. Day and night they spent in each +other's society. + +After a time the two said, "Come let us make a garden, and plant in it +turmeric." So they prepared a piece of ground, and the crane brought +roots of turmeric from a distance. They then discussed the matter as to +which part of the crop each would take. The crane said to the tiger, +"You, my brother, choose first." The tiger said, "If I must speak +first, I will take the leaves." Then, said the crane, "I will take +the roots." Having settled this point to their satisfaction, they +began to plant. The tiger dug holes, and the crane put in the roots, +and covered them over with earth. + +A year passed, and they again said to each other, "Which of us will +take the roots, and which the leaves?" The tiger said, "I will take +the leaves." The crane replied, "I will take the roots." So they began +to dig up the plants, and cutting the leaves from the roots, placed +each by themselves. The tiger collected an immense bulk of leaves, +and the crane a large heap of roots. This done each surveyed the +other's portion. That of the crane was of a beautiful, reddish tinge, +and excited the envy of the tiger, who said to the crane, "Give me half +of yours, and I will give you half of mine." The crane refused, saying, +"I will not share with you. Why did you at first chose the leaves? I +gave you your choice." The tiger insisted, but the crane was obdurate, +and before long they were quarrelling as if they had been lifelong +enemies. The crane seeing it was being worsted in the wrangle, flew in +the face of the tiger, and pecked its eyes, so that it became blind. It +then flew away, and left the tiger lamenting its sad fate. Having lost +its sight it could not find its way about, so remained there weeping. + +One day, hearing the voice of a man near by, the tiger called out, +"Oh! man, are you a doctor?" The man stupefied with fear stared at +the tiger, and gave no reply. The tiger again said, "Oh! man, why +do you not reply to my question? Although you are a human being, +have you no pity?" The man then said, "Oh! renowned hero, what did +you ask me? I am terror stricken, so did not reply. You may devour +me." The tiger replied, "If I had wished to kill you, I could have +done so, but I mean you no harm." The tiger again asked the man if he +possessed a knowledge of medicine, but he replied, "I do not." The +tiger then asked, "Is there one amongst you who does know?" The +man replied, "Yes." The tiger enquired, "Who is he?" The man said, +"There is a certain widow with two sons, the name of one of whom is +Ulta, who possesses a knowledge of medicine, she will be able to cure +you." Having given the tiger this information the man went away. + +The tiger went to the house of Ulta's mother, and hid himself behind +a hedge. He said within himself, "When I hear any one call Ulta then I +will go forward." Shortly after the tiger arrived Ulta's mother called +Ulta, "Ulta, come to your supper." Then the tiger ran hastily forward, +and cried, "Oh! Ulta's mother, Oh! Ulta's mother." But she was afraid, +and exclaimed, "This tiger has done for us to-day." The tiger said +to the woman, "Do you know medicine?" She replied, "Yes, Wait till +I bring it." So hastily running out she said to her neighbours, +"A tiger has come to my house. He is blind, and wishes me to cure +his blindness." The neighbours said to her, "Give him some of the +juice of the Akauna [20] tree. It will increase his blindness." So +she quickly brought Akauna juice, and giving it to the tiger, said, +"Go to some dense jungle and apply it to your eyes. Do not apply it +here, or it will have no effect. Take it away. We are about to sit +down to supper, and then my children will go to sleep. The medicine +will cause you pain at first, but it will effect a complete cure." + +The tiger hurried away to the jungle, and poured the akauna juice +into his eyes. The pain it caused was as if his eyeballs were being +torn out. He tossed himself about in agony, and at last struck his +head against a tree. In a short time, his blindness was gone. He +could see everything plainly, and was delighted beyond expression. + +One day several traders were passing along a pathway through the jungle +in which the tiger hunted. He was lying concealed watching for prey, +and when the traders were passing he jumped out upon them. Seeing +the tiger they fled, and left behind them their silver, and gold, +and brass vessels. The tiger collected all and carried them to Ulta's +mother's house, and presenting them to her said, "All this I give to +you, for through you I have again seen the earth. Had it not been for +you, who knows whether I should ever have been cured or not." Ulta's +mother was delighted with the generosity of the tiger. He had made +her rich at once. But she was anxious to get rid of him, and said "Go +away. May you always find a living somewhere." So the tiger returned +to the jungle again. + +Sometime afterwards the tiger was minded to take a wife, and sought +his old friend Ulta's mother. On arriving at her house he called out, +"Oh! Ulta's mother, where are you? Are you in your house?" She replied, +"Who are you?" The tiger answered, "It is I, the forest hero. You +cured my blindness." So Ulta's mother came out of her house, and said, +"Wherefore, Sir, have you come here?" "I wish you," replied the tiger, +"to find a bride for me." Ulta's mother said, "Come to-morrow and I +will tell you. Do not stay to-day." So the tiger left. + +Ulta's mother then went to her neighbours and said, "The tiger has put +me in a great difficulty. He wishes me to find a bride for him." They +said to her, "Is he not blind?" She replied, "No. He sees now, and it +is that, which distresses me. What can I do?" They said, "Get a bag, +and order him to go into it, and then tie up the mouth tightly, and +tell him to remain still. Say to him, If you move, or make a noise, +I will not seek a bride for you. And when you have him tied securely +in the bag, call us." The next day the tiger appeared, and Ulta's +mother told him to get into the bag, and allow her to tie it. So he +went in, and she tied the bag's mouth, and said, "You must not move, +lie still, or I shall not be your go-between." Having secured him, +Ulta's mother called her neighbours, who came armed with clubs, +and began to beat the helpless animal. He called out, "Oh! Ulta's +mother, what are you doing?" She said, "Keep quiet. They are beating +the marriage drums. Lie still a little longer." The tiger remained +motionless, while they continued to beat him. At length they said, +"He must be dead now, let us throw him out." So they carried him to +a river, and having thrown him in, returned home. + +The current bore the tiger far down the river, but at length he +stranded in a cove. A short time afterwards a tigress came down to +the river to drink and seeing the bag, and thinking it might contain +something edible she seized it and dragged it up on to the bank. The +tigress then cut the bag open with her teeth, and the tiger sprang out, +exclaiming, "Of a truth she has given me a bride. Ulta's mother has +done me a good turn, and I shall remember her as long as I live." The +tiger and the tigress being of one mind on the subject agreed never +to separate. + +One day the two tigers said "Come let us go and pay a visit to Ulta's +mother, who has proved so helpful to us. As we cannot go empty handed, +let us rob some one to get money to take with us." So they went and +lay in wait near a path which passed through the forest in which they +lived. Presently a party of merchants came up, and the tigers with +a loud roar sprang from their ambush on to the road. The merchants +seeing them, fled, and left behind them all their property in money +and cloth. Those they carried to Ulta's mother. When she saw the +tigers approaching her throat became dry through terror. + +Before entering the court-yard they called out to Ulta's mother +announcing their approach. Ulta's mother addressed the tiger thus, +"Why do you come here frightening one in this way?" The tiger replied, +"There is no fear. It is I who am afraid of you. Why should you +dread my coming? It was you who found this partner for me. Do you +not yet know me?" Ulta's mother replied, "What can you do Sir? Do +you not remember that we give and receive gifts on the Karam festival +day? On the days for giving and receiving, we give and receive. Now, +that you are happily wedded, may you live in peace and comfort; +but do not come here again." + +The tiger then gave Ulta's mother a large amount of money and much +cloth, after which the two tigers took their leave, and Ulta's mother +entered her house loaded with rupees and clothing. + + + + + + +THE GREATEST CHEAT OF SEVEN. + + +A great cheat married the cheating sister of seven cheats. One day +his father-in-law and seven brothers-in-law came on a visit to his +house. After conversing with them for a little, he invited them to +accompany him to the river to bathe. He carried a fishing rod with +him, and on arriving at the river cast his line into a pool, saying, +"Now, fish, if you do not instantly repair to my house, I shall not +be able to speak well of you." This he said to deceive the others, +as before leaving home he had given a fish to his wife telling her +to prepare it for dinner. When seated at table he said to his guests, +"the fish we are now eating is the one I, in your presence, ordered to +proceed from the river to my house this forenoon." They were greatly +astonished at the wonderful properties possessed by the fishing rod, +and expressed a desire to purchase it, and offered to pay five rupees +for it. He accepted their offer, and they carried the wonderful +fishing rod home with them. + +Next day they arranged to go a-fishing. They cast the line into a +pool as they had seen the cheat do, and said, "Now fish, if you do +not repair at once to our home we shall not be able to speak well +of you." Having bathed they returned home, and asked to see the +fish. Their wives said, "What fish? You gave us no fish. We have +seen no fish. Where did you throw it down?" They now knew that their +sister's husband was a cheat, so they decided to go and charge him +with having deceived them. + +The cheat had notice of their coming, and quickly taking his dog with +him went to hunt. He caught a hare and bringing it home gave it to +his wife, and said, "When we reach the end of the street on our way +home from hunting, you make the dog stand near the house with the +dead hare in his mouth." + +He invited his visitors to accompany him for an hour's hunting, +saying, "Come, let us go and kill a hare for dinner." So they went +to the jungle, and presently started a hare. The cheat threw a stone +at his dog, and frightened it so that it ran home. He called after +it, "If you do not catch and take that hare home, it will not be +well for you." He then said to his friends, "Come, let us return, +we will find the dog there with the hare before us." They replied, +"We doubt it much." "There is no mistake about it," he said, "We are +certain to find both dog and hare." On reaching home they found the +dog standing waiting for them with a hare in his mouth. + +His brothers-in-law were astonished beyond measure at the sagacity +of the dog, and they said, "Sell this dog to us, we will pay a good +price for it." He demanded ten rupees, which they gladly paid. So +they returned home, and said nothing to him about his having cheated +them in the matter of the fishing rod. + +One day, taking the dog with them, they went to hunt. It caught five +hares, and its masters were greatly delighted with its performance. + +After this the cheat's house was accidentally burnt, and he gathering +the ashes together, set out for the bazaar, there to sell them. On the +way he fell in with a party of merchants who had a large bag full of +silver with them. They enquired what his bag contained, to which he +replied, "Gold." They agreed to pass the night in the same encampment, +so having partaken of their evening meal, they lay down to sleep. At +midnight the merchants rose, and exchanged the bags, and then lay +down again. The cheat saw them, and chuckled within himself. In the +morning the merchants made haste to leave, as they feared the cheat +might find out the theft of his bag. The cheat asked them before they +left to help him to lift his bag on to his bullock's back, saying, +"It was to receive assistance from you that I encamped here last +night." So having helped him to load his bullock they hurried away +lest they should be caught. The cheat carried his treasure home, +but being unable to count so much money borrowed a measure from his +father-in-law, and found he had four maunds of silver. + +On returning the measure he sent along with it five seers of silver, +saying, "For the ashes of my house I received four maunds of silver, +if you reduce your houses to ashes and sell them, you will obtain very +much more." So they foolishly burnt their houses, and collecting the +ashes went to the bazaar to dispose of them. The merchants to whom +they offered them directed them to go to the washermen, saying, "They +will possibly buy." But they also refused, and they were compelled +to return home without having effected a sale. They vowed vengeance +on the cheat, and set out to find him. + +When they reached his house the cheat was on the point of starting +on a journey. After mutual salutations he said, "I have just killed +my second wife. I go to receive eight maunds of silver for her +corpse. Dead bodies bring high prices." They said to him, "How about +the ashes? We could not sell them." He replied, "You did not go far +enough from home. Had you gone to a distance you would have made a +good bargain." + +The cheat's youngest wife having died he washed the body, and anointed +it with oil. He then put it in a large bag, and loaded it on the back +of a bullock, and set out. On the way he came to a field of wheat, into +which he drove the animal, and then hid himself near by. The owner of +the field finding the bullock eating his wheat, beat it unmercifully +with a cudgel. The cheat then came from his hiding place, and said, +"Have you not done wrong in beating my bullock? If you have killed my +wife, where will you flee to? I fell behind, and for that reason my +ox got into your field. My wife, whom I have newly married, is weak +and unable to go on foot, so I put her into a bag to carry her home +on my bullock." + +Having opened the bag the wife was found dead, and her assailant +stood self convicted of her murder. He gave her husband six maunds +of rupees as hush money, so the cheat burnt the corpse and returned +home laden with spoil. + +The cheat next sent for his brothers-in-law, and shewing them the +money, said, "I killed my second wife, and got all this money by +selling the corpse." They enquired, "Who are the people who buy dead +bodies?" He replied, "They reside in the Rakas country." + +Then the seven brothers killed each his youngest wife, and carried +the bodies to a distant country to dispose of them. When the +people of that country knew the object for which they had come they +said to them, "What sort of men are you hawking corpses about the +towns and villages? You must be the worst, or else most stupid of +men." Hearing this the brothers were dismayed, and began to take in +the situation. They perceived that the cheat had again deceived them, +and they retraced their steps homewards bitterly lamenting their +folly. On reaching their village they cremated the remains of their +wives, and from that day had no more dealings with the cheat. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF TWO PRINCESSES. + + +A certain raja had two daughters, who were in the habit of amusing +themselves out side of the palace walls. One day they saw a crow +flying towards them with a ripe Terel [21] fruit in his beak. They then +said to each other, "What fruit is it? It looks nice and sweet." The +crow let the fruit fall in front of them. They ran and picked it +up, and ate it. It tasted deliciously sweet. Then they said, "From +whence did the crow bring such a good fruit?" Then they remembered +the direction from which they had seen it coming, and said, "If we +go this way we shall find it." So they went, but it was only after +they had travelled a great distance from home that they found the +Terel tree with the ripe luscious fruit. + +The elder of the two girls climbed up into the tree, and shook down +a large quantity of the fruit. They then feasted to their heart's +content. Presently they began to feel thirsty, and the elder said to +the younger, "You remain here while I go to drink, and I will also +bring you water in a leaf cup." Having said this she went away to +the tank, and her sister remained under the Terel tree. The day was +extremely hot, and they were very thirsty. + +The elder having quenched her thirst was returning carrying water for +her sister in a cup made of the leaves of a Terel tree, when a bhut +came flying along, and fell into the cup of water. Presently she became +aware that there was a hole in the bottom of her cup through which +all the water had run out. What could she do now? There was no help +for it but to return to the tank, make another leaf cup, and filling +it with water return to her sister. As she was returning with the cup +full of water the bhut again came flying up, and entering the water +passed through the leaf, making a hole by which all the water escaped. + +Again she made a leaf cup, and having filled it with water was +returning when the bhut again came, and destroyed her cup, and caused +her to lose the water. In this way she was detained till very late. + +A raja who happened to be in the vicinity saw a beautiful girl carrying +water in a leaf cup, and a bhut come and make a hole in the cup, so +that it soon became empty. Having seen this several times repeated, +he drew near, and feasted his eyes on her beauty. Then he carried +her away to his palace, where they were joined in wedlock, and the +princess, now the rani, cooked the food for herself and her husband. + +The younger princess remained near the Terel tree, and although she +had given up hope of again meeting her sister, still she continued +to wait. At length a herd of Hanuman monkeys came to feed upon the +Terel fruit. When the girl saw them coming she was terrified and crept +into the hollow of the tree. The monkeys with the exception of an old +frail one, climbed into the tree and began to eat the fruit. The old +monkey remained below and picked up the fruit shells which the others +threw down. + +The old monkey having noticed the girl hiding in the hollow of the +tree called to the others, "Throw me down some. If you do not I shall +not share the Setke chopot I have found." The monkeys in the tree +said, "Do not give him any. He is deceiving us. When his hunger is +satisfied he will run and leave us." So no fruit was thrown down to +him, and he was forced to be content with the shells. The monkeys in +the tree having fared sumptuously, left. The old monkey waited till +they were out of sight, and then entered the hollow of the tree, +where the girl was, and ate her up. He then went to the tank to +drink, and afterwards went in the direction of the raja's garden, +on reaching which he lay down and died. One of the gardeners finding +him dead threw him on the dunghill. + +From the place where the monkey decayed a gourd sprang, and grew, and +bore a fruit which ripened. One day a jugi, when on his rounds begging, +saw this fruit and plucking it took it away with him. Out of the shell +he made a banjo, which when played upon emitted wonderful music. The +words which seemed to proceed from the banjo were as follows: + + + Ripe terels, ripe terels, Oh! Sister mine. + Went in search of water, Oh! Sister mine. + Raja and Rani they became. + Seven hundred monkeys old, + Ate me up, ate me up. Oh! Sister mine. + + +The jugi was greatly pleased with the music of his new banjo, and +determined to take it with him when he went a begging. So one day +he set out with his banjo the music of which so pleased the people +that they gave him large gifts of money and clothes. In course of +time he arrived at the palace where the elder sister was now rani, +and, being admitted, began to play on his banjo. The instrument again +produced most wonderful music. It seemed to wail as follows: + + + Ripe terels, ripe terels, Oh! Sister mine. + Went in search of water, Oh! Sister mine. + Raja and Rani they became. + Seven hundred monkeys old, + Ate me up, ate me up. Oh! Sister mine. + + +Having listened to the music the rani said, "It is wonderfully +sweet," and she fancied she heard her sister's voice in every +note. She thought it possible that it was she who sang in the banjo, +and she desired to obtain possession of it. So she invited the jugi +to pass the night in the palace, saying, I would hear more of this +entrancing music." The jugi listened to the words of the rani and +agreed to remain till morning. So the rani made much of him with the +intention of at length obtaining possession of his banjo. She caused +a goat to be killed, and she cooked a splendid supper for the jugi, +who finding the food so toothsome ate heartily. Wine was not withheld, +and the jugi being in a festive frame of mind drank deeply, so that he +soon lay as one dead. The rani took the banjo, and placed another in +its stead. She then threw filth over the unconscious jugi and retired +to her own apartment. + +The jugi on awaking before sunrise found himself in a pitiable +plight. He felt so thoroughly disgusted with himself that, hastily +picking up his staff, cloth, and banjo, he fled with the utmost +possible speed from the palace. When dawn broke he saw that the banjo +he had was not his own, and although he felt keenly its loss he was +too much ashamed of the condition he had been in to go back to seek it. + +The rani hid the jugi's banjo in her own room, because she knew her +sister to be in it. Whenever the raja and rani went out to walk the +girl left the banjo and having bathed and dressed her hair, cooked +the family meal, and then returned to the banjo. This happened so +often that at last, it came to the knowledge of the raja that a fairy +lived in the banjo, and when the way was clear used to come out and +prepare food for the rani and himself. So he determined to lie in wait +for the fairy cook. He then sent the rani somewhere on an errand, +and hid himself in a corner of the room from whence he could see +the banjo. In a short time the princess emerged from the banjo, and +began to dress her hair, and anoint herself with oil, after which she +cooked rice. She divided the food into three portions, one of which +she ate. As she was about to re-enter the banjo the raja sprang out +and caught hold of her. She exclaimed, "Chi! Chi! you may be a Hadi, +or you may be a Dom." The raja replied, "Chi! Chi! whether I be a Dom, +or a Hadi, from to-day you and I are one." + + + + + + +SEVEN BROTHERS AND THEIR SISTER. + + +In a certain village there lived seven brothers and a sister. Their +family was wealthy. Their father was dead. The brothers agreed to dig +a tank so that whatever happened their name would continue. So they +began the work, but although they dug deep they found no water. Then +they said to each other, "Why is there no water?" While they were +speaking thus among themselves a jugi gosae on his rounds, came to +the tank in the hope of finding water, but he was disappointed. The +seven brothers on seeing the jugi gosae went and sat down near him, +and said, "We have been working for many days, and have dug so deep, +still we have not reached water. You, who are a jugi gosae, tell us +why water does not come." He replied, "Unless you give a gift you +will never get water." They enquired, "What should we give." The jugi +gosae replied, "Not gold, or silver, or an elephant, or a horse, but +you have a sister?" They said, "Yes, we have one sister." He replied, +"Then make a gift of her to the spirit of the tank." The girl was +betrothed, and her family had received the amount that had been fixed +as her price. The brothers argued thus, "We have laboured so long +to make a name for ourselves, but have not found water, so where is +our name? If we do not sacrifice our sister we shall never obtain the +fulfilment of our wishes, let us all agree to it." So they all said, +"Agreed," but the youngest did not fully approve of their design. + +In the evening they said to their mother, "Let our sister wash her +clothes, dress her hair, and put on all her ornaments to-morrow when +she brings us our breakfast to the tank." They did not, however, +enlighten their mother as to why they desired their sister to be so +careful with her toilet. + +The following day the mother addressed her daughter as follows, +"Oh! my daughter, your brothers yesterday said to me, let the +daughter, when she brings us our breakfast come with clean clothes, +her hair dressed and all her ornaments on. So as it is nearly time, +go and dress, and put on all your ornaments, and take your brothers' +breakfast to where they are working." She complied with her mother's +order, and set out for the tank, dressed in her best with all her +ornaments on, carrying boiled rice in a new basket. + +When she arrived at the tank her brothers said to her, "Oh! daughter, +set down the basket under yonder tree." She did so, and the brothers +came to where she was. They then said to her, "Go bring us water from +the tank to drink." She took her water-pot under her arm, and went +into the tank, but did not at once find water. Presently, however, she +saw the sheen of water in the centre, and went to fill her pitcher, +but she could not do so, as the water rose so rapidly. The tank was +soon full to the brim, and the girl was drowned. + +The brothers having seen their sister perish, went home. Their +mother enquired, "Oh! my sons, where is the daughter?" They replied, +"We have given her to the tank. A certain jugi gosae said to us, +'Unless you offer up your sister you will never get water'." On +hearing this she loudly wailed the loss of her daughter. Her sons +strove to mitigate her grief by saying, "Look mother, we undertook +the excavation of the tank to perpetuate our name, and to gain the +fruit of a meritorious work. And unless there be water in the tank +for men and cattle to drink, where is the perpetuation of our name? By +our offering up the daughter the tank is full to overflowing. So the +cattle can now quench their thirst, and travellers, when they encamp +near by and drink the water, will say, 'The excavators of this tank +deserve the thanks of all. We, and others who pass by are recipients +of their bounty. Their merit is indeed great'." In this way with many +such like arguments they sought to allay their mother's grief. + +Right in the centre of the tank, where the girl was drowned, there +sprang up an Upel flower the purple, sheen of which filled the beholder +with delight. + +It has already been stated that the girl had been betrothed, and that +her family had received the money for her. The day appointed for the +marriage arrived, and the bridegroom's party with drums, elephants and +horses, set out for the bride's house. On arrival they were informed +that she had left her home, and that all efforts to trace her had +proved fruitless. So they returned home greatly disappointed. It so +happened that their way lay past the tank in which the girl had been +sacrificed, and the bridegroom, from his palki, saw the Upel flower +in the centre. As he wished to possess himself of it, he ordered his +bearers to set down the palki, and stepping out prepared to swim out +to pluck the flower. His companions tried to dissuade him, but as he +insisted he was permitted to enter the water. He swam to within a short +distance of the flower, but as he stretched out his hand to pluck it, +the Upel flower, moving away, said, "Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! You may be +either a Dom or a Hadi, do not touch me." The bridegroom replied, +"Not so. Are not we two one?" He made another effort to seize the +flower, but it again moved away, saying, "Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! you +may be a Dom or a Hadi, so do not touch me." To which he replied, +"Not so. You and I are one." He swam after it again, but the flower +eluded his grasp, and said, "Chi! Chi! Chi! Chi! You may be a Dom, +or you may be a Hadi, so do not touch me." He said, "Not so. You and +I are bride and bridegroom for ever." Then the Upel flower allowed +itself to be plucked, and the bridegroom returned to his company +bearing it with him. + +He entered his palki and the cortege started. They had not proceeded +far before the bearers were convinced that the palki was increasing +in weight. They said, "How is it that it is now so heavy? A short +time ago it was light." So they pushed aside the panel, and beheld +the bride and bridegroom sitting side by side. The marriage party on +hearing the glad news rejoiced exceedingly. They beat drums, shouted, +danced, and fired off guns. Thus they proceeded on their homeward way. + +When the bridegroom's family heard the noise, they said, one to the +other "Sister, they have arrived." Then they went forth to meet the +bridegroom, and brought them in with great rejoicing. The bride was +she who had been the Upel flower, and was exceedingly beautiful. In +form she was both human and divine. The village people, as well as +the marriage guests, when they saw her, exclaimed, "What a beautiful +bride! She is the fairest bride that we have seen. She has no +peer." Thus they all praised her beauty. + +It so happened that in the meantime the mother and brothers of the +girl had become poor. They were reduced to such straits as to be +compelled to sell firewood for a living. So one day the brothers +went to the bridegroom's village with firewood for sale. They offered +it to one and another, but no one would buy. At last some one said, +"Take it to the house in which the marriage party is assembled. They +may require it." So the brothers went there, and asked, "Will you buy +firewood?" They replied, "Yes. We will take it." Some one informed the +bride, that some men from somewhere had brought firewood for sale. So +she went out, and at once recognised her brothers, and said to them, +"Put down your loads," and when they had done so she placed beds +for them to sit on, and brought them water; but they did not know +that she was their sister, as she was so greatly changed. Then she +gave them vessels of oil, and said, "Go bathe, for you will dine +here to-day." So they took the oil, and went to bathe, but they +were so hungry that they drank the oil on the way. So they bathed, +and returned to the house. She then brought them water to wash their +hands, and they sat down in a row to eat. The bride gave her youngest +brother food on a brass plate, because he had not approved of what +had been done to her, but to the others she gave it on leaf plates. + +They had only eaten one handful of rice when the girl placed herself +in front of them, and putting a hand upon her head, began to weep +bitterly. She exclaimed, "Oh! my brothers, you had no pity upon me. You +threw me away as an offering to the tank. You saw me lost, and then +went home." When the brothers heard this they felt as if their breasts +were torn open. If they looked up to heaven, heaven was high. Then +they saw an axe which they seized, and with it they struck the ground +with all their might. It opened like the mouth of a large tiger, +and the brothers plunged in. The girl caught the youngest brother by +the hair to pull him up, but it came away in her hand, and they all +disappeared into the bowels of the earth, which closed over them. + +The girl held the hair in her hand and wept over it. She then planted +it, and from it sprang the hair like Bachkom [22] grass, and from +that time Bachkom grass grows in the jungles. + +The sister had pity on her youngest brother because he did not join +heartily with the others in causing her death. So she tried to rescue +him from the fate which was about to overtake him, but in this she +failed, and he suffered for the sins of his brothers. + + + + + + +THE STORY OF JHORE. + + +There was a lad named Jhore, who herded goats, and every day while +with his flock he saw a tiger and a lizard fight. The lizard always +vanquished the tiger, and the latter after each encounter came to Jhore +and said, "Which of us won?" Jhore through fear every time replied, +"You won," and the tiger went away pleased. + +One day Jhore said to his mother, give me some roasted matkom in a +leaf, and put me into a bag and I will tell you something. So she +wrapped up some matkom in a leaf, and Jhore crept into the bag and +she tied its mouth. Then she said, "What is it, my son, which you +wish to tell me?" Jhore replied, "Every day when I am tending my +goats I see a tiger and a lizard fight, and the tiger is vanquished +by the lizard. The tiger then comes to me and asks, 'which of us +won?' Through fear I say, you won, then the tiger goes away satisfied." + +While Jhore was relating the foregoing to his mother the tiger was +listening at the door, and as he finished his story it rushed in, and +seizing the bag carried it off to a dense unexplored forest, on a hill +in the middle of which he placed it. Jhore was very uncomfortable, +and was considering how he could best free himself from the bag. As +he was hungry he was reminded of the matkom he had with him wrapped +in a leaf, so he began to open it, and the dried leaf crackled. The +tiger hearing the noise, asked what produced it. Jhore replied, +"It is yesterday's lizard." The tidings of the presence of his +mortal enemy so terrified the tiger that he exclaimed, "Stop, stop, +Jhore. Do not release him. Let me first escape." After the tiger left +Jhore rolled down the hill side, and away into a still denser forest, +in an open spot of which he came to a stop. The fastening of the bag +was loosed by this time, and Jhore crawled out. All round this open +glade in which our hero found himself was dense forest never trodden +by the foot of man, and tenanted by a herd of wild buffaloes. Jhore +took up his residence there, and subsisted on the roasted matkom as +long as it lasted. + +Jhore in his explorations found a number of buffaloe calves left +behind by their mothers who had gone to graze. He tended these daily, +cleaning the place where they lived, and taking them to the water, +where he washed them. In this way a bond of friendship was established +between him and the wild buffaloe calves. + +Before the buffaloe cows left for their grazing grounds in the +mornings the calves said, "You stay away till so late at night that, +we are almost famished before you return. Leave some milk with us, +so that when hungry we may drink it." So they left a supply of milk +with them, which they gave to Jhore. He took such care of his charges +that he soon became a great favourite with them. + +Matters went on thus for many days till at last the buffaloe cows +said among themselves, "We must watch for, and catch whoever it is +who keeps our calves so clean." So a very powerful wild buffaloe +was appointed to lie in wait, but he missed seeing Jhore when he led +the calves to the water and bathed them, and cleaned and swept out +their stall. The next day another took his place, but he succeeded +no better. The calves were taken to the water, bathed, brought back, +and their stall cleaned and swept as usual without his seeing who +did it. When the others returned in the evening he informed them +that he had failed to solve the mystery. So they said, "What shall +we do now? How shall we catch him? Who will watch to-morrow?" A old +buffaloe cow replied, "I will accept the responsibility." Hearing +her speak thus the others said, "What a good elephant and a good +horse could not do, will ten asses accomplish?" By this they meant, +that two of the strongest of their number having failed, this weak +old cow could not possibly succeed. However, she persisted, and in +the morning the others went to graze leaving her behind. + +In a short time she saw Jhore emerge from the dunghill, in which he +resided, and loose the calves, and take them to the water. When he +brought them back he cleaned and swept their stall, and then re-entered +the dunghill. In the evening the others enquired, "Well, did you see +him?" The old buffaloe cow replied, "Yes, I saw him, but I will not +tell you, for you will kill him." They pressed her, but she refused, +saying, "You will kill him." They said, "Why should we kill him who +takes so much care of our young ones?" The old buffaloe cow led them +to the dunghill, and said, "He is in here." So they called to him to +come out, which he did, and when they saw him they were all greatly +pleased, so much so that they there and then hired him to continue +to do the work he had been doing so well. They arranged also to give +him a regular daily supply of milk, so he was duly installed by the +herd of wild buffaloes as care-taker of their calves. + +Long after this, he one day took his calves to the river and after +he had bathed them he said to the buffaloe calves, "Wait for me till +I also bathe." They replied, "Bathe, we will graze close by." He +having performed his ablutions sat down on the river bank to comb and +dress his hair, which was twelve cubits long. In combing his tangled +tresses a quantity was wrenched out, this he wrapped up in a leaf and +threw into the stream. It was carried by the current a great distance +down to where a raja's daughter and her companions were bathing. The +raja's daughter saw the leaf floating towards her, and ordered one +of her attendants to bring it to her. When the leaf was opened it +was found to contain hair twelve cubits in length. Immediately after +measuring the hair the raja's daughter complained of fever, and hasted +home to her couch. The raja being informed of his daughter's illness +sent for the most skilled physicians, who prescribed all the remedies +their pharmacopoeia contained, but failed to afford the sufferer any +relief. The grief of the raja was therefore intense. + +Then his daughter said to him, "Oh! father, I have one word to say +to you. If you do as I wish, I shall recover." The raja replied, +"Tell me what it is, I shall do my best to please you." So she said, +"If you find me one with hair twelve cubits long and bring him to me, +I shall rally at once." The raja said, "It is well." + +The raja caused diligent search to be made for the person with +hair twelve cubits long. He said to a certain jugi, "You traverse +the country far and near, find me the man with hair twelve cubits +long." The jugi enquired everywhere, but could obtain no intelligence +concerning him. + +They then made up a parcel of flour and gave it to a crow, whom +they sent to try and find him. The crow flew caw cawing all over +the district, but returned at last and reported failure, saying, +"there is not such a man in the world." + +After this they again made up a small parcel of flour, and giving +it to a tame paroquet, said, "Find a man with hair twelve cubits +long." The paroquet, having received his orders, flew away screeching, +and mounting high up into the sky, directed his course straight for +the unexplored forest. In the meantime the dunghill in which Jhore +resided had become a palace. + +The paroquet alighted on a tree near Jhore's palace, and began to +whistle. On hearing the unusual sound Jhore came out and saw the +paroquet who was speaking and whistling. The paroquet also eyed him +narrowly, and was delighted to see his hair trailing on the ground. By +this he knew that he had found the object of his search, and with a +scream of delight, he flew away to communicate the tidings to the raja. + +The raja was overjoyed with his messenger's report, and ordered the +bariat to set out immediately. In a short time they were on their +way accompanied by elephants, horses, drums, and fifes. On reaching +Jhore's palace they were about to enter for the purpose of seizing +him, when he exclaimed, "Do not pass my threshold." They replied, +"We will carry you away with us." He said, "Do not come near." "We will +certainly carry you away," they replied. Jhore then ran into his house, +and seizing his flute mounted to the roof, and began to play. As the +notes of the flute resounded through the forest it seemed to say, + + + A staff of Pader [23] wood + A flute of Erandom [24] + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +The sound of the flute startled the wild buffaloes, and they said +one to another, "Sister. What has happened to Jhore?" Then he played +again the same as before; + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +As the echoes of Jhore's flute died away in the forest glades the wild +buffaloes sprang forward, and rushed to his assistance. On arrival they +found the house and courtyard full of people, and large numbers outside +who could not gain admittance. They immediately charged them with +all their force, goring many to death, and scattering the remainder, +who flung away their drums and fifes, and fled as for dear life. + +When the raja heard of their discomfiture he sent again for the +paroquet, and giving a small parcel of flour to him said, "Stay some +time with him until you gain his confidence, and watch your chance +to bring away his flute." Having received his orders he flew off +to Jhore's palace, and having gained access to where the flute was, +when Jhore was out of the way he brought it away, and gave it to the +raja. The raja was delighted at the sight of the flute, and again +ordered the bariat to go to fetch Jhore. A still more imposing array +than the former started with elephants, horses, drums, fifes, and +palkis, and in due course arrived at Jhore's residence. On seeing them +Jhore called out, "Do not approach, or you will rue it presently." They +replied, "You beat us off the first time, therefore you now crow, but +you will not now be able to balk us, we shall take you with us." Again +he warned them to stay where they were, saying, "Do not come near me, +or you will rue it presently." They replied, "We will take you with +us this time, we will not leave you behind." Jhore then ran into his +house, and searched for his flute, but as it had been carried away +by the paroquet he could not find it, so seizing another he mounted +to the roof, and began to play. The flute seemed to say; + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +The sound startled the wild buffaloes who said one to another +"Sister. What is it Jhore says?" Again the music of the flute reached +their ears, and the entire herd rushed off to Jhore's rescue. They +charged the crowd in and around the palace of their favourite with +such determination that in a few minutes many lay gored to death, +and those who were so fortunate as to escape threw down drums, +fifes, and palkis, and fled pell mell from the place. The raja, +being informed of the catastrophe that had befallen the bariat, +again called the paroquet, and after he had given him careful +instructions as to how he should proceed, dismissed him. He said, +"This time you must stay many days with him, and secure his entire +confidence and friendship. Then you must bring away all his flutes, +do not leave him one." So the paroquet flew swiftly, and alighted on +a tree near to Jhore's house, and began to whistle. Jhore seeing it +was a paroquet brought it food, and induced it to come down, and allow +him to take it in his hand. The two, it is said, lived together many +days, and greatly enjoyed each other's society. The paroquet when he +had informed himself as to where all Jhore's flutes were kept, one +day tied them all up in a bundle, and carried them to the raja. The +sight of the flutes revived the drooping spirits of his Majesty. He +gave orders a third time for the bariat to go and bring Jhore, so they +started with greater pomp and show than before. Elephants, horses, and +an immense number of men with drums and fifes, and palkis formed the +procession. On their arrival Jhore came out of his palace and said to +them, "Do not come near, or you will rue it." They replied, "This time +we will have you. We will take you with us." Again Jhore warning them +said, "Come no nearer. If you do, you will see something as good as a +show. Do you not remember how you fared the other day?" But they said, +"We will carry you away with us." Jhore ran inside to get his flute, +so that he might call the wild buffaloes to his assistance; but no +flute was to be found. Without the help of his powerful friends he +could offer no resistance, so they seized him, and bore him away in +triumph to the raja. + +When the raja's daughter heard of his arrival the fever suddenly +left her, and she was once more in excellent health. She and Jhore +were united in the bonds of marriage forthwith; but Jhore was kept +a close prisoner in the palace. + +In course of time a son blessed the union, and when the child was +able to walk Jhore's wife said to him, "Where is the large herd of +buffaloes which you boast so much about? If they were here "Sonny" +would have milk and curds daily." Jhore plucking up courage, replied, +"If you do not believe me order a stockade to be constructed thirty-two +miles long and thirty-two miles broad, and you shall soon behold my +buffaloes." So they made a pen thirty-two miles long and thirty-two +miles broad. Then Jhore said, "Give me my old flute, and you all remain +within doors." So they brought him his flute, and he went up on to the +roof of the palace, and played. The music seemed to call as follows: + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +The sound startled the wild buffaloes in their forest home, and they +said one to another, "Sister. What does Jhore say?" Again the music +seemed to say, + + + A staff of Pader wood + A flute of Erandom + Return, return, return, + Oh! wild buffaloe cows. + + +At Jhore's second call the herd of wild buffaloes dashed off at +their utmost speed, and never halted till they reached the raja's +palace. They came in such numbers that the pen could not contain them +all, many remained outside. + +Those that entered the pen are the domesticated buffaloes of to-day, +and those who were without are the wild buffaloes still found in the +forests of India. + + + + + + +THE GIRL WHO ALWAYS FOUND HELPERS. + + +There were once upon a time, six brothers and a sister. The brothers +were married. They were merchants, and their business often took them +to a distance from home. On such occasions the wives were left alone +with their sister-in-law. For some reason or other they hated the girl, +and took every opportunity to harass and worry her. + +One day when the brothers were away on a journey they said to her, +"Oh! girl, go to the forest and bring a load of firewood without +tying it." What could the girl do? She must obey her sisters-in-law, +or else they would beat her, and give her no food. So she went to the +forest with a heavy heart, bewailing her unhappy lot in the following +plaintive song, + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + Unbound a fagot on my head. + + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath led. + + +Seeing her grief a Jambro snake asked, "Why daughter, do you cry?" She +replied, "My brothers have gone away on business, and my sisters-in-law +persecute me. They have sent me to bring a bundle of firewood on +my head without tying it." The Jambro took pity on her and said, +"Gather firewood." Then the Jambro stretched himself full length upon +the ground and said to the girl, "Lay the sticks on me." When she +had done so the serpent twined itself round the fagot like a rope, +and said, "Now lift it on to your head, but when you reach home, +lay your burden down gently." + +When her sisters-in-law knew that she had done what they considered +impossible, they were still more angry with her, and ordered her to +go to the forest and get milk from a tigress. They gave her a small +earthen vessel, saying, "Go, bring us the milk of a tigress." What +could the girl do? She went to the forest with a heavy heart, bewailing +her unhappy lot in the following plaintive song, + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + A brimful cup of tigress' milk + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While you far hence by trade are lured. + + +She went to the tiger's den, but only found two cubs, who seeing +her sitting weeping at the entrance said, "What are you seeking?" She +replied, "My sisters-in-law have sent me to bring some of your mother's +milk." The cubs took pity on her and hid her in the cave. They +said to her, "Our mother will devour you, so you must not shew +yourself." In a short time the tigress returned, and entering the +den said, "I smell a human being. Where is he?" The cubs replied, +"There is no one here." The cubs milked a little of their mother's +milk into the girl's vessel, and when the way was clear they gave it +to her, and sent her home. + +Her sisters-in-law were greatly disappointed when she brought home +the milk, they had expected that the tiger would have devoured her, +on that she would return home empty handed, and so give them the +opportunity of abusing her for not carrying out their order. + +Another day when the brothers were absent they called her, and said, +"Go to the forest and bring us some bear's milk." What could the girl +do? If she did not do as she was bidden her sisters-in-law would beat +her, and give her nothing to eat. So taking the vessel in her hand, +she went to the forest, bewailing her unhappy lot in the following +plaintive strains; + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + A brimful cup of she bear's milk + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While you far hence by trade are lured. + + +Going to the bear's den she sat down and wept. The she-bear was not +in the den, only two cubs were there, who, when they saw the girl, +took pity upon her, and asked why she wept. She replied, "My brothers +have gone away on business, and my sisters-in-law, who hate me, have +sent me to procure bear's milk in order to harass and annoy me." The +bear cubs then said, "Our mother will eat you, if she finds you, +so we will hide you, and you must keep quiet while she is here." The +she-bear on entering the cave said, "I smell a human being." The cubs +replied, "There is no one here." The young ones succeeded in obtaining +a small quantity of their mother's milk in the girl's earthen vessel, +and after the mother bear had left, the cubs dismissed her with their +best wishes for her welfare. + +Her sisters-in-law were extremely annoyed when she presented the bear's +milk to them. They had expected that the bear would have torn her to +pieces, or that she would have returned empty handed, and thus give +them another chance to abuse and reproach her. + +The girl's sisters-in-law again took advantage of their husbands' +absence to send her to bring water from the spring in a water-pot with +a hole in it. They said, "Go bring water in this water-pot." What +could the girl do? She placed it on her head, and went towards the +spring bewailing her unhappy lot in the following plaintive song, + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + Spring water in a leaking jar + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath lured. + + +She seated herself near the well, and exclaimed, "How can I carry +water in this pot?" At that moment a frog raised his head above the +reeds, and said, "Why do you sit here lamenting?" The girl replied, +"My sisters-in-law, who hate me, have ordered me to bring water in this +pot which has a large hole in the bottom. How is it possible for me +to obey their order?" The frog replied, "Do not worry yourself over +it, I will help you." So he pressed himself tightly over the hole, +and she filled her pot, and carried it home on her head. + +Her sisters-in-law, when they saw her place the water-pot on the +ground, full to the brim, were intensely mortified. They had looked +for her returning with an empty pitcher, thus affording them an +ostensible reason for maliciously upbraiding her. + +Another time they scattered a large basketful of Mustard seed on +the ground, and ordered her to pick up every seed. They said to her, +"You must gather it all into the basket again." What could she do? If +she failed they would beat her, entreat her spitefully, and deprive +her of food. As she gazed upon the seeds scattered all around her, +she bewailed her unhappy condition as follows: + + + Woe is me! I must refill + This basket with these scattered seeds + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath lured. + + +The plaintive murmur of her song had scarcely died away when a +large flock of pigeons alighted near her. They said, "Why do you +weep?" She replied, "My sisters-in-law, who hate me, have scattered +all this mustard seed on the ground, and have ordered me to pick it +all up. One solitary seed must not be left." The pigeons said, "Do +not vex yourself, we will soon pick it up for you." As the pigeons +were very numerous they soon collected it all into the basket. They +did not leave one seed on the ground. + +When she called her sisters-in-law to come and see how efficiently the +work had been done, they were furious at being again balked by her, +and vowed vengeance. + +Once again, when the brothers were from home, her sisters-in-law +ordered her to go to the jungle, and bring a bale of leaves with +which to make the family cups and plates. They said to her, "Go to +the jungle and bring a large bale of leaves, but do so without in +anyway tying them." What could the girl do? She had been ordered to +perform an impossibility. If she refused, or failed to do it, her +sisters-in-law would beat her, and deprive her of food. So she went to +the forest bewailing her unhappy lot in the following plaintive song; + + + Woe is me! For I must bring + Of forest leaves an unbound bale + Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing + While business you far hence hath lured. + + +As she was sitting in the forest weeping a Horhorang serpent drew +near and said, "Wherefore daughter do you grieve?" She replied, +"My sisters-in-law hate me and have ordered me to bring leaves +without tying them into a bundle. I cannot do this, and I fear their +resentment, so I cannot help weeping." The Horhorang said, "Vex not +yourself. Go and pluck your leaves and bring them here." She did so, +and the Horhorang twined himself round them binding them into a sheaf, +which the girl placed upon her head, and carried home. + +When her sisters-in-law saw the leaves, and had looked to see that +none had fallen by the way they were greatly chagrined. They had +expected an opportunity to reproach her with disobedience, and a +reason for punishing her. + +Although her sisters-in-law had imposed so many impossibilities upon +her, yet they had been unable to defeat her. Just at the proper time +some one had appeared to help her. + +They had seen a bunch of flowers on the top of a high tree, and one +day when their husbands were away, they said to her, "Climb up into +the tree and pluck the flowers, we wish to dress our hair with them on +the occasion of your marriage." No sooner had she clambered up into +the tree than her sisters-in-law placed thorny bushes all round in +such a manner as to prevent her coming down again. They then went home. + +A few days afterwards, the brothers, when returning from a distant +market to which they had gone rested for a little under this tree. A +tear drop fell on the hand of one of them. Looking at it he said, +"Look brothers, this tear drop resembles those of the daughter." Then +they looked and saw her high up in the tree. They quickly brought +her down, and she related how in time past she had been persecuted +by her sisters-in-law whenever they were absent. The brothers were +wroth with their wives for having used her so cruelly. + +The brothers put their sister into a bag, and carried her home on a +bullock's back. When the wives came out to welcome them, they asked, +"Where is the daughter?" They gave no reply. + +Afterwards the brothers dug a deep well, and on the pretence of +propitiating the water spirit induced their wives to stand round the +well with offerings of rice, &c., in their hands. At a given signal +each hurled his wife head foremost into the well. They then placed +a cart over the opening. + +In return for the persecution she had endured at their hands, the +girl used to go to the well and looking in, say, "You treated me +cruelly once, but now, boo sisters boo." + + + + + + +A SIMPLE THIEF. + + +Once upon a time a man had some money given to him, and was told to +go and buy a foal with it. So he set out to search for one. After +a time he came to a village, and going to a house asked the people +if they had a foal to sell, as he wished to buy one. They replied, +"There are no foals here, but we have mare's eggs. If you will take +them we will give them to you." He said, "I will not take eggs, I +want a foal." He went to every house in the village asking if they +had a foal to sell, but none was to be had; but at each they offered +to sell to him mare's eggs. + +He then thought within himself, wherever I have gone they have told me +that they have not got a foal, but that they can let me have eggs. This +being so, why should I give myself any further trouble? I will buy +an egg. So he was given a large gourd, and told it was a mare's +egg. Having got, as he thought a mare's egg, he joyfully started +to return to his home. The man who sold him the gourd informed him, +that a foal was certain to be hatched on the way. He was still far +from home when the sun set, so he entered a village, and passed the +night there. In the morning he set out betimes, and about breakfast +time he came to a tank, on the embankment of which he laid down his +gourd. He then went into the water to clean his teeth, after which he +began to wash his face. While he was thus engaged a jackal came and +pushed the gourd down the embankment. The noise frightening the animal +it ran away, but the man having caught a glimpse of it called out, +"My foal has hatched, and is galloping off." He pursued the jackal, +which being terror stricken fled to the jungle, and took refuge in +his burrow. The man was pleased to see the creature enter his hole, +and he said, "He will soon come out again, and then I shall mount him, +and gallop him home." Having said this, he placed himself in such a +position that when the jackal came out he could sit down on its back. + +He continued standing thus until nightfall, but even then he had no +intention of relinquishing his chance of capturing his foal. Late at +night some thieves came that way, and seeing him alone in the jungle +asked him what he did there. He replied, "I was sent by my friends to +buy a foal, but as I could not get one, I bought a mare's egg. I was +informed that the egg would hatch on my way home. I spent last night +in a village on the way side, and resumed my homeward journey in the +morning. On arriving at a tank I laid down my egg on the embankment, +and went down into the water, and having cleaned my teeth was washing +my hands and face, when the egg hatched and the foal immediately ran +away. I followed it, and saw it enter this hole, and I am waiting +till it comes out, when I shall mount, and canter it home." + +The thieves said, "Leave it alone. Let it remain there. Will you kill +yourself for this foal? Come with us, and we will give you a strong, +beautiful horse. This one has through fear of you riding on his back +gone into this hole. Why should you wait for him? He will stay where +he is. Come with us, and we will supply you with a good one presently." + +After a little time spent in considering the offer the thieves had +made him, he decided to accompany them. The thieves were pleased +to receive him into their gang, and at once they proceeded towards +a certain village. Having arrived there they went to a rich man's +house, and dug a hole through the wall. They then said to our hero +of the mare's egg, "You creep in." He raised no objection, but went +willingly. They said to him, "Bring out all the heavy articles you +can find, they are sure to be the most valuable." When inside he +lifted up all he found to test the weight, but nothing seemed to be +sufficiently heavy to be worth stealing. He said, "everything is light, +what can I take out to them?" At length he came across a millstone, +which he pushed through the hole in the wall to his confederates out +side. Judging from its weight he expected they would be delighted to +receive it, but they said, "Not this, Not this. Bring something worth +stealing." So he went back, and finding a drum hanging from the roof he +took it down, and began to beat it. When the thieves heard the sound +of the drum they decamped, saying, "This fool is certain to betray +us to-night." When he brought out the drum to make it over to them, +they were nowhere to be seen, so he re-entered the house and placed +the drum again where he had found it. + +He then saw some milk near the fireplace, and being hungry he +determined to cook some food. So helping himself to some rice he began +to prepare it by boiling it in the milk. When it was nearly cooked, +one of the household turned over in his sleep, saying, "I will eat. I +will eat." So he filled a ladle with the boiling rice and milk, and +poured it into the sleeper's mouth. The hot food scalded him terribly, +and he sprang up howling with the pain. + +The other members of the family also jumped to their feet, and laid +hold of the intruder, and bound him hand and foot. + +When the day broke a large number of people came to see the thief, +and began to question him, as to who were his companions. So he +related all that had occurred. Then they said, "Of a truth, this +man has been the means of protecting us. Had he not acted as he did, +we would have been robbed of all we have." + +So they loosed his bonds, and set him free. They also allowed him to +eat the rice and milk he had cooked, which having done, he went home. + + + + + + +NOTES + + +[1] Jari is the Santali name for Crotalaria Juncea, a fibre yielding +plant the seeds of which when ripe, rattle in the pods when the plant +is shaken. + +[2] Bita is Santali for span, and Bitaram is span Ram, or span-long +Ram. + +[3] A small basket with a contracted opening. + +[4] Covering for the head and shoulders made of leaves pinned together, +worn as a protection from the rain by women, while planting rice. + +[5] Said to bullocks when ploughing to cause them to turn at the end +of a furrow. + +[6] Ghur pank is a phrase used by ploughmen when turning their bullocks +at the end of a furrow. + +[7] Mount the buffalo. + +[8] The spirit believed to preside over a certain class of rice land. + +[9] Semi-Hinduised aborigines, whose touch is considered polluting. + +[10] Ficus religiosa, Willd. one of the hugest of India's many +huge trees. + +[11] The fibre yielded by Bauhinia Vahlii, W. and A. goes under that +name among the Santals. + +[12] Lelha in Santali means foolish. + +[13] Diamonds. + +[14] A mythical gem, said to be found in the heads of certain snakes. + +[15] Celestial horses. + +[16] Celestial Maiden. + +[17] AEgle Marmelos, Correa. + +[18] A mythical bird which figures largely in Indian folk lore. + +[19] Huti is the name given by Santals to a certain timber boring +insect. Budhi is an old woman. + +[20] Calotropis gigantea, R. Br. + +[21] Diospyros tomentosa. + +[22] Ischoemum agustifolium, Hack. + +[23] Stereospermum suaveolens, D. C. + +[24] Recinus communis, Linn. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Santal Folk Tales, by A. 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