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diff --git a/36696-h/36696-h.htm b/36696-h/36696-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ffc345 --- /dev/null +++ b/36696-h/36696-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13661 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Old Deccan Days, by M. 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Frere + +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: Old Deccan Days + or Hindoo Fairy Legends Current in Southern India + +Author: M. Frere + +Contributor: Sir Bartle Frere + +Release Date: July 11, 2011 [EBook #36696] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD DECCAN DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1 class="padtop">OLD<br /> +<span class="smcap lrgfont">Deccan Days</span><br /> + +<span class="vtinyfont">OR</span><br /> + +<span class="vsmlfont">HINDOO FAIRY LEGENDS</span><br /> + +<span class="xsmlfont"><i>CURRENT IN SOUTHERN INDIA.</i></span></h1> + + +<p class="center padtop"><span class="vsmlfont">COLLECTED FROM ORAL TRADITION,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap lrgfont">By M. FRERE.</span></p> + +<p class="center smlpadt"><span class="vsmlfont">WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap lrgfont">By SIR BARTLE FRERE.</span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/odd01.jpg" width="300" height="178" +alt="Two owls" /> +</div> + + +<p class="center smlpadt"><span class="smlfont">PHILADELPHIA</span><br /> +J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.<br /> +<span class="smlfont">1870.</span></p> + +<p class="center padtop padbase vsmlfont">———<br /> +<span class="smcap">Lippincott’s Press, Philadelphia.</span><br /> +———</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/odd02.jpg" width="400" height="600" +alt="Vicram hangs upside down from a rope" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">VICRAM MAHARAJAH—p. <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.</p> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>3]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">INTRODUCTION</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">THE COLLECTOR’S APOLOGY</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">THE NARRATOR’S NARRATIVE</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 1. PUNCHKIN</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 2. A FUNNY STORY</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 3. BRAVE SEVENTEE BAI</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 4. TRUTH’S TRIUMPH</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 5. RAMA AND LUXMAN; OR, THE LEARNED OWL</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 6. LITTLE SURYA BAI</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 7. THE WANDERINGS OF VICRAM MAHARAJAH</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 8. LESS INEQUALITY THAN MEN DEEM</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> 9. PANCH-PHUL RANEE</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">10. HOW THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE WIND WENT OUT TO DINNER</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">11. SINGH RAJAH AND THE CUNNING LITTLE JACKALS</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">12. THE JACKAL, THE BARBER AND THE BRAHMIN WHO HAD SEVEN DAUGHTERS</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">13. TIT FOR TAT</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">14. THE BRAHMIN, THE TIGER AND THE SIX JUDGES</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">15. THE SELFISH SPARROW AND THE HOUSELESS CROWS</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>4]</a></span>16. THE VALIANT CHATTEE-MAKER</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">17. THE RAKSHAS’ PALACE</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">18. THE BLIND MAN, THE DEAF MAN AND THE DONKEY</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">19. MUCHIE LAL</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_258">258</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">20. CHUNDUN RAJAH</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">21. SODEWA BAI</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">22. CHANDRA’S VENGEANCE</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">23. HOW THE THREE CLEVER MEN OUTWITTED THE DEMONS</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_314">314</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">24. THE ALLIGATOR AND THE JACKAL</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_326">326</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">NOTES</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>5]</a></span></p> + +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> FEW words seem necessary regarding the origin of +these stories, in addition to what the Narrator says for +herself in her Narrative, and what is stated in the Collector’s +“Apology.”</p> + +<p>With the exception of two or three, which will be recognized +as substantially identical with stories of Pilpay or other +well-known Hindoo fabulists, I never before heard any of +these tales among the Mahrattas, in that part of the Deccan +where the Narrator and her family have lived for the last two +generations; and it is probable that most of the stories were +brought from among the Lingaets of Southern India, the tribe, +or rather sect, to which Anna de Souza tells us her family +belonged before their conversion to Christianity.</p> + +<p>The Lingaets form one of the most strongly marked divisions +of the Hindoo races south of the river Kistna. They +are generally a well-favored, well-to-do people, noticeable for +their superior frugality, intelligence and industry, and for the +way in which they combine and act together as a separate +body apart from other Hindoos. They have many peculiarities +of costume, of social ceremony and of religion, which +strike even a casual observer; and though clearly not aboriginal, +they seem to have much ground for their claim to +belong to a more ancient race and an earlier wave of immigration +than most of the Hindoo nations with which they are +now intermingled.</p> + +<p>The country they inhabit is tolerably familiar to most +English readers on Indian subjects, for it is the theatre of +many of the events described in the great Duke’s earlier despatches, +and in the writings of Munro, of Wilkes, and of Buchanan. +The extraordinary beauty of some of the natural +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>6]</a></span> +features of the coast scenery, and the abundance of the architectural +and other remains of powerful and highly civilized +Hindoo dynasties, have attracted the attention of tourists and +antiquaries, though not to the extent their intrinsic merit +deserves. Some knowledge of the land tenures and agriculture +of the country is accessible to readers of Indian blue-books.</p> + +<p>But of all that relates to the ancient history and politics +of the former Hindoo sovereigns of these regions very little is +known to the general reader, though from their power, and +riches and long-sustained civilization, as proved by the monuments +these rulers have left behind them there are few parts +of India better worth the attention of the historian and +antiquary.</p> + +<p>Of the inner life of the people, past or present, of their +social peculiarities and popular beliefs, even less is known +or procurable in any published form. With the exception of +a few graphic and characteristic notices of shrewd observers +like Munro, little regarding them is to be found in the +writings of any author likely to come in the way of ordinary +readers.</p> + +<p>But this is not from want of materials: a good deal has +been published in India, though, with the common fate of +Indian publications, the books containing the information are +often rare in English collections, and difficult to meet with in +England, except in a few public libraries. Of unpublished +material there must be a vast amount, collected not only by +the government servants, but by missionaries, and others +residing in the country, who have peculiar opportunities for +observation, and for collecting information not readily to be +obtained by a stranger or an official. Collections of this kind +are specially desirable as regards the popular non-Brahminical +superstitions of the lower orders.</p> + +<p>Few, even of those who have lived many years in India +and made some inquiry regarding the external religion of its +inhabitants, are aware how little the popular belief of the +lower classes has in common with the Hindooism of the +Brahmins, and how much it differs in different provinces, and +in different races and classes in the same province.</p> + +<p>In the immediate vicinity of Poona, where Brahminism +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>7]</a></span> +seems so orthodox and powerful, a very little observation will +satisfy the inquirer that the favorite objects of popular worship +do not always belong to the regular Hindoo Pantheon. +No orthodox Hindoo deity is so popular in the Poona Deccan +as the deified sage Vithoba and his earlier expounders, +both sage and followers being purely local divinities. Wherever +a few of the pastoral tribes are settled, there Byroba, the +god of the herdsmen, or Kundoba, the deified hero of the +shepherds, supersedes all other popular idols. Byroba the +Terrible, and other remnants of Fetish or of Snake-worship, +everywhere divide the homage of the lower castes with the +recognized Hindoo divinities, while outside almost every village +the circle of large stones sacred to Vetal, the demon-god +of the outcast helot races, which reminds the traveler of the +Druid circles of the northern nations, has for ages held, and +still holds, its ground against all Brahminical innovations.</p> + +<p>Some of these local or tribal divinities, when their worshipers +are very numerous or powerful, have been adopted +into the Hindoo Olympus as incarnations or manifestations +of this or that orthodox divinity, and one or two have been +provided with elaborate written legends connecting them with +some known Puranic character or event; but, in general, the +true history of the local deity, if it survives at all, is to be +found only in popular tradition; and it thus becomes a matter +of some ethnological and historical importance to secure all +such fleeting remnants of ancient superstition before they are +forgotten as civilization advances.</p> + +<p>Some information of this kind is to be gleaned even from +the present series of legends, though the object of the collector +being simply amusement, and not antiquarian research, +any light which is thrown on the popular superstitions of the +country is only incidental.</p> + +<p>Of the superhuman personages who appear in them, the +“Rakshas” is the most prominent. This being has many +features in common with the demoniacal Ogre of other lands. +The giant bulk and terrible teeth of his usual form are the +universal attributes of his congener. His habit of feasting on +dead bodies will remind the reader of the Arabian Ghoul, +while the simplicity and stupidity which qualify the supernatural +powers of the Rakshas, and usually enable the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>8]</a></span> +quick-witted mortal to gain the victory over him, will recall many +humorous passages in which giants figure in our own Norse +and Teutonic legends.</p> + +<p>The English reader must bear in mind that in India beings +of this or of very similar nature are not mere traditions of the +past, but that they form an important part of the existing +practical belief of the lower orders. Grown men will sometimes +refuse every inducement to pass at night near the supposed +haunt of a Rakshas, and I have heard the cries of a +belated traveler calling for help attributed to a Rakshas luring +his prey.</p> + +<p>Nor is darkness always an element in this superstition: +I have known a bold and experienced tracker of game +gravely assert that some figures which he had been for some +time keenly scanning on the bare summit of a distant hill +were beings of this order, and he was very indignant at the +laugh which his observation provoked from his less-experienced +European disciple. “If your telescope could see as +far as my old eyes,” the veteran said, “or if you knew the +movements of all the animals of this hunting-ground as well +as I do, you would see that those must be demons and +nothing else. No men nor animals at this time of day would +collect on an open space and move about in that way. Besides, +that large rock close by them is a noted place for +demons; every child in the village knows that.”</p> + +<p>I have heard another man of the same class, when asked +why he looked so intently at a human footstep in the forest +pathway, gravely observed that the footmark looked as if the +foot which made it had been walking heel-foremost, and must +therefore have been made by a Rakshas, “for they always +walked so when in human form.”</p> + +<p>Another expressed particular dread of a human face, the +eyes of which were placed at an exaggerated angle to each +other, like those of a Chinese or Malay, “because that position +of the eyes was the only way in which you could recognize +a Rakshas in human shape.”</p> + +<p>In the more advanced and populous parts of the country +the Rakshas seems giving way to the “Bhoot,” which more +nearly resembles the mere ghost of modern European superstition; +but even in this diluted form such beings have an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>9]</a></span> +influence over Indian imaginations to which it is difficult in +these days to find any parallel in Europe.</p> + +<p>I found, quite lately, a traditionary order in existence at +Government House, Dapoorie, near Poona, which directed +the native sentry on guard “to present arms if a cat or dog, +jackal or goat, entered or left the house or crossed near his +beat” during certain hours of the night, “because it was the +ghost” of a former governor, who was still remembered as +one of the best and kindest of men.</p> + +<p>How or when the custom originated I could not learn, +but the order had been verbally handed on from one native +sergeant of the guard to another for many years, without +any doubts as to its propriety or authority, till it was accidentally +overheard by an European officer of the governor’s +staff.</p> + +<p>In the hills and deserts of Sind the belief in beings of this +order, as might be expected in a wild and desolate country, +is found strong and universal; there, however, the Rakshas +has changed his name to that of our old friend the “Gin” of +the Arabian Nights, and he has somewhat approximated in +character to the Pwcca or Puck of our own country. The +Gin of the Beelooch hills is wayward and often morose, but +not necessarily malignant. His usual form is that of a +dwarfish human being, with large eyes and covered with long +hair, and apt to breathe with a heavy snoring kind of noise. +From the circumstantial accounts I have heard of such “Gins” +being seen seated on rocks at the side of lonely passes, I +suspect that the great horned eagle-owl, which is not uncommon +in the hill-country of Sind, has to answer for many well-vouched +cases of Gin apparition.</p> + +<p>The Gin does not, however, always retain his own shape; +he frequently changes to the form of a camel, goat or other +animal. If a Gin be accidentally met, it is recommended +that the traveler should show no sign of fear, and, above all, +keep a civil tongue in his head, for the demon has a special +aversion to bad language. Every Beelooch has heard of instances +in which such chance acquaintanceships with Gins +have not only led to no mischief, but been the source of much +benefit to the fortunate mortal who had the courage and prudence +to turn them to account; for a Gin once attached to a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>10]</a></span> +man will work hard and faithfully for him, and sometimes +show him the entrance to those great subterranean caverns +under the hills, where there is perpetual spring, and trees +laden with fruits of gold and precious stones; but the mortal +once admitted to such a paradise is never allowed to leave it. +There are few neighborhoods in the Beelooch hills which +cannot show huge stones, apparently intended for building, +which have been, “as all the country-side knows,” moved by +such agency, and the entrance to the magic cavern is never +very far off, though the boldest Beelooch is seldom very willing +to show or to seek for the exact spot.</p> + +<p>Superstitions nearly identical were still current within the +last forty years, when I was a boy, on the borders of Wales. +In Cwm Pwcca (the Fairies’ Glen), in the valley of the +Clydach, between Abergavenny and Merthyr, the cave used +to be shown into which a belated miner was decoyed by the +Pwccas, and kept dancing for ten years; and a farm-house +on the banks of the Usk, not far off, was, in the last generation, +the abode of a farmer who had a friendly Pwcca in his +service. The goblin was called Pwcca Trwyn, as I was +assured from his occasionally being visible as a huge human +nose. He would help the mortal by carrying loads and +mending hedges, but usually worked only while the farmer +slept at noon, and always expected as his guerdon a portion +of the toast and ale which his friend had for dinner in the +field. If none was left for him, he would cease to work; and +he once roused the farmer from his noontide slumbers by +thrashing him soundly with his own hedging-stake.</p> + +<p>The Peris or Fairies of these stories have nothing distinctive +about them. Like the fairies of other lands, they +often fall in love with mortal men, and are visible to the pure +eyes of childhood when hidden from the grosser vision of +maturer years.</p> + +<p>Next to the Rakshas, the Cobra, or deadly hooded snake, +plays the most important part in these legends as a supernatural +personage. This is one only of the many traces +still extant of that serpent-worship formerly so general in +Western India. I have no doubt that Mr. Ferguson, in his +forthcoming work on Bhuddhist antiquities, will throw much +light on this curious subject. I will, therefore, only now +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>11]</a></span> +observe that this serpent-worship as it still exists is something +more active than a mere popular superstition. The +Cobra, unless disturbed, rarely goes far from home, and is +supposed to watch jealously over a hidden treasure. He is +always, in the estimation of the lower classes, invested with +supernatural powers, and according to the treatment he receives +he builds up or destroys the fortunes of the house to +which he belongs. No native will willingly kill him if he can +get rid of him in any other way; and the poorer classes +always, after he is killed, give him all the honors of a regular +cremation, assuring him, with many protestations, as the pile +burns, “that they are guiltless of his blood; that they slew +him by order of their master,” or “that they had no other +way to prevent his biting the children or the chickens.”</p> + +<p>A very interesting discussion on the subject of the Snake +Race of Ancient India, between Mr. Bayley and Baboo Rajendralal +Mitr, will be found in the <i>Proceedings of the Asiatic +Society of Bengal</i>, for February, 1867.</p> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>12]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE COLLECTOR’S APOLOGY.</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE collection of these legends was commenced with the +object of amusing a favorite young friend of mine. It +was continued, as they appeared in themselves curious illustrations +of Indian popular tradition, and in the hope that something +might thus be done to rescue them from the danger of +oral transmission.</p> + +<p>Though varied in their imagery, the changes between the +different legends are rung upon very few themes, as if purposely +confined to what was most familiar to the people. +The similarity between the incidents in some of these and in +favorite European stories, particularly modern German ones, +is curious; and the leading characteristics peculiar to all +orthodox fairy tales are here preserved intact. Step-mothers +are always cruel, and step-sisters, their willing instruments; +giants and ogres always stupid; youngest daughters more +clever than their elder sisters; and the Jackal (like his European +cousin the Fox) usually overcomes every difficulty, +and proves a bright moral example of the success of wit +against brute force—the triumph of mind over matter.</p> + +<p>It is remarkable that in the romances of a country where +women are generally supposed by us to be regarded as mere +slaves or intriguers, their influence (albeit most frequently +put to proof behind the scenes) should be made to appear so +great, and, as a rule, exerted wholly for good; and that, in a +land where despotism has such a firm hold on the hearts of +the people, the liberties of the subject should be so boldly +asserted as by the old Milkwoman to the Rajah in “Little +Surya Bai,” or the old Malee<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> to the Rajah in “Truth’s +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>13]</a></span> +Triumph;” and few, probably would have expected to find the +Hindoos owning such a romance as “Brave Seventee Bai;”<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +or to meet with such stories as “The Valiant Chattee-maker,” +and “The Blind Man, the Deaf Man and the Donkey,” +among a nation which, it has been constantly asserted, possesses +no humor, no sense of the ridiculous, and cannot +understand a joke.</p> + +<p>In “The Narrator’s Narrative” Anna Liberata de Souza’s +own story is related, as much as possible, in her own words +of expressive but broken English. She did not, however, +tell it in one continuous narrative: it is the sum of many +conversations I had with her during the eighteen months that +she was with us.</p> + +<p>The legends themselves are altered as little as possible: +half their charm, however, consisted in the Narrator’s eager, +flexible voice and graphic gestures.</p> + +<p>I often asked her if there were no stories of elephants +having done wonderful deeds (as from their strength and +sagacity one would have imagined them to possess all the +qualifications requisite to heroes of romance); but, strange +to say, she knew of none in which elephants played any part +whatsoever.</p> + +<p>As regards the Oriental names, they have generally been +written as Anna pronounced them. It was frequently not +possible to give the true orthography, and the correctly spelt +name does not always give a clue to the popular pronunciation. +So with the interpretations and geography. Where it +is possible to identify what is described, an attempt has been +made to do so; but for other explanations Anna’s is the sole +authority: she was quite sure that “Seventee Bai” meant +the “Daisy Lady,” though no botanist would acknowledge the +plant under that name; and she was satisfied that all gentlemen +who have traveled know where “Agra Brum” is, though +she had never been there, and no such province appears +in any ordinary Gazeteer or description of the city of +Akbar.</p> + +<p>These few legends, told by one old woman to her grandchildren, +can only be considered as representatives of a class. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>14]</a></span> +“That world,” to use her own words, “is gone;” and those +who can tell us about it in this critical and unimaginative age +are fast disappearing too before the onward march of civilization; +yet there must be in the country many a rich gold mine +unexplored. Will no one go to the diggings?</p> + +<p class="sig">M. F.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> +Gardener.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> +Was this narrative of feminine sagacity invented by some old woman, who felt +aggrieved at the general contempt entertained for her sex?</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>15]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE NARRATOR’S NARRATIVE.</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">M</span>Y grandfather’s family were of the Lingaet caste, and +lived in Calicut; but they went and settled near Goa at +the time the English were there. It was there my grandfather +became a Christian. He and his wife, and all the family, +became Christians at once, and when his father heard it he was +very angry, and turned them all out of the house. There were +very few Christians in those days. Now you see Christians +everywhere, but then we were very proud to see one anywhere. +My grandfather was Havildar<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> in the English army, and when +the English fought against Tippo Sahib, my grandmother followed +him all through the war. She was a very tall, fine, +handsome woman, and very strong; wherever the regiment +marched she went, on, on, on, on (great deal hard work that +old woman done). Plenty stories my granny used to tell about +Tippo and how Tippo was killed, and about Wellesley Sahib, +and Monro Sahib, and Malcolm Sahib, and Elphinstone Sahib.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> +Plenty things had that old woman heard and seen. Ah, he +was a good man, Elphinstone Sahib! My granny used often +to tell us how he would go down and say to the soldiers, +“Baba,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> Baba, fight well. Win the battles, and each man +shall have his cap full of money; and after the war is over I’ll +send every one of you to his own home.” (And he did do +it.) Then we children plenty proud, when we heard what +Elphinstone Sahib had said. In those days the soldiers were +not low-caste people like they are now. Many, very high-caste +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>16]</a></span> +men, and come from very far, from Goa, and Calicut, and +Malabar to join the English.</p> + +<p>My father was a tent lascar,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> and when the war was over +my grandfather had won five medals for all the good he had +done, and my father had three; and my father was given charge +of the Kirkee stores.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> My grandmother and mother, and all +the family, were in those woods behind Poona at time of the +battle at Kirkee.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> I’ve often heard my father say how full the +river was after the battle—baggage and bundles floating down, +and men trying to swim across—and horses and all such a +bustle. Many people got good things on that day. My father +got a large chattee,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> and two good ponies that were in the +river, and he took them home to camp; but when he got there +the guard took them away. So all his trouble did him no +good.</p> + +<p>We were poor people, but living was cheap, and we had +plenty comfort.</p> + +<p>In those days house rent did not cost more than half a +rupee<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> a month, and you could build a very comfortable house +for a hundred rupees. Not such good houses as people now +live in, but well enough for people like us. Then a whole +family could live as comfortably on six or seven rupees a month +as they can now on thirty. Grain, now a rupee a pound, was +then two annas a pound. Common sugar, then one anna a +pound, is now worth four annas a pound. Oil which then sold +for six pice a bottle, now costs four annas. Four annas’ worth +of salt, chillies, tamarinds, onions and garlic, would then last a +family a whole month; now the same money would not buy a +week’s supply. Such dungeree<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> as you now pay half rupee a +yard for, you could then buy from twenty to forty yards of, for +the rupee. You could not get such good calico then as now, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>17]</a></span> +but the dungeree did very well. Beef then was a pice a pound, +and the vegetables cost a pie a day. For half a rupee you +could fill the house with wood. Water also was much cheaper. +You could then get a man to bring you two large skins full, +morning and evening, for a pie; now he would not do it under +half a rupee or more. If the children came crying for fruit, a +pie would get them as many guavas as they liked in the bazaar. +Now you’d have to pay that for each guava. This shows how +much more money people need now than they did then.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p>The English fixed the rupee to the value of sixteen annas, +in those days there were some big annas, and some little ones, +and you could sometimes get twenty-two annas for a rupee.</p> + +<p>I had seven brothers and one sister. Things were very +different in those days to what they are now. There were no +schools then to send the children to; it was only the great people +who could read and write. If a man was known to be able +to write he was plenty proud, and hundreds and hundreds of +people would come to him to write their letters. Now you find +a pen and ink in every house! I don’t know what good all +this reading and writing does. My grandfather couldn’t write, +and my father couldn’t write, and they did very well; but all’s +changed now.</p> + +<p>My father used to be out all day at his work, and my +mother often went to do coolie-work,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> and she had to take my +father his dinner (my mother did plenty work in the world); +and when my granny was strong enough she used sometimes +to go into the bazaar, if we wanted money, and grind rice for +the shop-keepers, and they gave her half a rupee for her day’s +work, and used to let her have the bran and chaff besides. +But afterward she got too old to do that, and besides there +were so many of us children. So she used to stay at home +and look after us while my mother was at work. Plenty +bother ’tis to look after a lot of children. No sooner my +granny’s back turned than we all run out in the sun, and play +with the dust and stones on the road.</p> + +<p>Then my granny would call out to us, “Come here, children, +out of the sun, and I’ll tell you a story. Come in; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>18]</a></span> +you’ll all get headaches.” So she used to get us together +(there were nine of us, and great little fidgets, like all children), +into the house; and there she’d sit on the floor, and +tell us one of the stories I tell you. But then she used to +make them last much longer, the different people telling their +own stories from the beginning as often as possible; so that +by the time she’d got to the end, she had told the beginning +over five or six times. And so she went on, talk, talk, talk, +Mera Bap reh!<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> Such a long time she’d go on for, till all +the children got quite tired and fell asleep. Now there are +plenty schools to which to send the children, but there were +no schools when I was a young girl; and the old women, +who could do nothing else, used to tell them stories to keep +them out of mischief.</p> + +<p>We used sometimes to ask my grandmother, “Are those +stories you tell us really true? Were there ever such people +in the world?” She generally answered, “I don’t know, but +maybe there are somewhere.” I don’t believe there are any +of those people living; I dare say, however, they did once +live; but my granny believed more in those things than we +do now. She was a Christian, she worshiped God and believed +in our Saviour, but still she would always respect the +Hindoo temples. If she saw a red stone, or an image of +Gunputti<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> or any of the other Hindoo gods, she would kneel +down and say her prayers there, for she used to say, “Maybe +there’s something in it.”</p> + +<p>About all things she would tell us pretty stories—about +men, and animals, and trees, and flowers, and stars. There +was nothing she did not know some tale about. On the +bright cold-weather nights, when you can see more stars than +at any other time of the year, we used to like to watch the +sky, and she would show us the Hen and Chickens,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> and the +Key,<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> and the Scorpion, and the Snake, and the Three Thieves +climbing up to rob the Ranee’s silver bedstead, with their +mother (that twinkling star far away) watching for her sons’ +return. Pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, you can see how her heart beats, +for she is always frightened, thinking, “Perhaps they will be +caught and hanged!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>19]</a></span> +Then she would show us the Cross,<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> that reminds us of +our Saviour’s, and the great pathway of light<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> on which He +went up to heaven. It is what you call the Milky Way. +My granny usen’t to call it that: she used to say that when +our Lord returned up to heaven that was the way He went, +and that ever since it has shone in memory of His ascension, +so beautiful and bright.</p> + +<p>She always said a star with a smoky tail (comet) meant +war, and she never saw a falling star without saying, “There’s +a great man died;” but the fixed stars she used to think +were all really good people, burning like bright lamps before +God.</p> + +<p>As to the moon, my granny used to say she’s most useful +to debtors who can’t pay their debts. Thus: A man who +borrows money he knows he cannot pay, takes the full moon +for witness and surety. Then, if any man so silly as to lend +him money and go and ask him for it, he can say, “The +moon’s my surety; go catch hold of the moon!” Now, you +see, no man can do that; and what’s more, when the moon’s +once full, it grows every night less and less, and at last goes +out altogether.</p> + +<p>All the Cobras in my grandmother’s stories were seven-headed. +This puzzled us children, and we would say to her, +“Granny, are there any seven-headed Cobras now? For all +the Cobras we see that the conjurors bring round have only +one head each.” To which she used to answer, “No, of +course there are no seven-headed Cobras now. That world +is gone, but you see each Cobra has a hood of skin; that is +the remains of another head.” Then we would say, “Although +none of those old seven-headed Cobras are alive now, maybe +there are some of their children living somewhere.” But at +this my granny used to get vexed, and say, “Nonsense! you +are silly little chatter-boxes; get along with you!” And, +though we often looked for the seven-headed Cobras, we +never could find any of them.</p> + +<p>My old granny lived till she was nearly a hundred; when +she got very old she rather lost her memory, and often made +mistakes in the stories she told us, telling a bit of one story +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>20]</a></span> +and then joining on to it a bit of some other; for we children +bothered her too much about them, and sometimes she used +to get very tired of talking, and when we asked her for a +story, would answer, “You must ask your mother about it; +she can tell you.”</p> + +<p>Ah! those were happy days, and we had plenty ways to +amuse ourselves. I was very fond of pets; I had a little +dog that followed me everywhere, and played all sorts of +pretty tricks, and I and my youngest brother used to take +the little sparrows out of their nests on the roof of our +house and tame them. These little birds got so fond of me +they would always fly after me; as I was sweeping the floor +one would perch on my head, and two or three on my shoulders, +and the rest come fluttering after. But my poor father +and mother used to shake their heads at me when they saw +this, and say, “Ah, naughty girl, to take the little birds out +of their nests: that stealing will bring you no good.” All my +family were very fond of music. You know that Rosie (my +daughter) sings very nicely and plays upon the guitar, and +my son-in-law plays on the pianoforte and the fiddle (we’ve +got two fiddles in our house now), but Mera Bap reh! how +well my grandfather sang! Sometimes of an evening he +would drink a little toddy,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> and be quite cheerful, and sing +away; and all we children liked to hear him. I was very +fond of singing. I had a good voice when I was young, and +my father used to be so fond of making me sing, and I often +sang to him that Calicut song about the ships sailing on the +sea<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> and the little wife watching for her husband to come +back, and plenty more that I forget now; and my father and +brothers would be so pleased at my singing, and laugh and +say, “That girl can do anything.” But now my voice is +gone, and I didn’t care to sing any more since my son died, +and my heart been so sad.</p> + +<p>In those days there were much fewer houses in Poona than +there are now, and many more wandering gipsies, and such +like. They were very troublesome, doing nothing but begging +and stealing, but people gave them all they wanted, as it was +believed that to incur their ill-will was very dangerous. It +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>21]</a></span> +was not safe even to speak harshly of them. I remember +one day, when I was quite a little girl, running along by my +mother’s side, when she was on her way to the bazaar: we +happened to pass the huts of some of these people, and I +said to her “See, mother, what nasty, dirty people those are; +they live in such ugly little houses, and they look as if they +never combed their hair nor washed.” When I said this, my +mother turned round quite sharply and boxed my ears, saying, +“Because God has given you a comfortable home and +good parents, is that any reason for you to laugh at others +who are poorer and less happy?” “I meant no harm,” I +said; and when we got home I told my father what my mother +had done, and he said to her, “Why did you slap the +child?” She answered, “If you want to know, ask your +daughter why I punished her. You will then be able to judge +whether I was right or not.” So I told my father what I had +said about the gipsies, and when I told him, instead of pitying +me, he also boxed my ears very hard. So that was all I +got for telling tales against my mother!</p> + +<p>But they both did it, fearing if I spoke evil of the gipsies +and were not instantly punished, some dreadful evil would +befall me.</p> + +<p>It was after my granny that I was named “Anna Liberata.” +She died after my father, and when I was eleven years old. +Her eyes were quite bright, her hair black, and her teeth good +to the last. If I’d been older then, I should have been able +to remember more of her stories. Such a number as she +used to tell! I’m afraid my sister would not be able to +remember any of them. She has had much trouble; that +puts those sort of things out of people’s heads; besides, she +is a goose. She is younger than I am, although you would +think her so much older, for her hair turned gray when she +was very young, while mine is quite black still. She is +almost bald too, now, as she pulled out her hair because it +was gray. I always said to her, “Don’t do so; for you can’t +make yourself any younger, and it is better, when you are +getting old, to look old. Then people will do whatever you +ask them! But however old you may be, if you look young, +they’ll say to you, ‘You are young enough and strong enough +to do your own work yourself.’”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>22]</a></span> +My mother used to tell us stories too; but not so many +as my granny. A few years ago there might be found several +old people who knew those sorts of stories; but now children +go to school, and nobody thinks of remembering or telling +them—they’ll soon be all forgotten. It is true there are +books with some stories something like these, but they always +put them down wrong. Sometimes when I cannot remember +a bit of a story, I ask some one about it; then they say, +“There is a story of that name in my book. I don’t know +it, but I’ll read.” Then they read it to me, but it is all wrong, +so that I get quite cross, and make them shut up the book. +For in the books they cut the stories quite short, and leave +out the prettiest part, and they jumble up the beginning of +one story with the end of another—so that it is altogether +wrong.</p> + +<p>When I was young, old people used to be very fond of telling +these stories; but instead of that, it seems to me that now +the old people are fond of nothing but making money.</p> + +<p>Then I was married. I was twelve years old then. Our +native people have a very happy life till we marry. The girls +live with their father and mother and brothers and sisters, and +have got nothing to do but amuse themselves, and got father +and mother to take care of them; but after they’re married they +go to live at their husband’s house, and the husband’s mother +and sisters are often very unkind to them.</p> + +<p>You English people can’t understand that sort of thing. +When an Englishman marries, he goes to a new house, and his +wife is the mistress of it; but our native people are very different. +If the father is dead, the mother and unmarried sisters +live in the son’s house, and rule it; his wife is nothing in +the house. And the mother and sisters say to the son’s wife, +“This is not your house—you’ve not always lived in it; you +cannot be mistress here.” And if the wife complains to her +husband, and he speaks about it, they say, “Very well, if you +are such an unnatural son, you’d better turn your mother and +sisters out of doors; but while we live here, we’ll rule the +house.” So there is always plenty fighting. It’s not unkind +of the mother and sisters—it’s custom.</p> + +<p>My husband was a servant in Government House—that was +when Lord Clare was governor here. When I was twenty +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>23]</a></span> +years old, my husband died of a bad fever, and left me with +two children—the boy and the girl, Rosie.</p> + +<p>I had no money to keep them with, so I said, “I’ll go to +service,” and my mother-in-law said, “How can you go with +two children, and so young, and knowing nothing?” But I said, +“I can learn, and I’ll go;” and a kind lady took me into her +service. When I went to my first place, I hardly knew a word +of English (though I knew our Calicut language, and Portuguese, +and Hindostani, and Mahratti well enough), and I could +not hold a needle. I was so stupid, like a Coolie-woman;<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> +but my mistress was very kind to me, and I soon learnt; she +did not mind the trouble of teaching me. I often think, +“Where find such good Christian people in these days?” To +take a poor, stupid woman and her two children into the +house—for I had them both with me, Rosie and the boy. I +was a sharp girl in those days; I did my mistress’ work and I +looked after the children too. I never left them to any one +else. If she wanted me for a long time, I used to bring the +children into the room and set them down on the floor, so as +to have them under my own eye whilst I did her work. My +mistress was very fond of Rosie, and used to teach her to +work and read. After some time my mistress went home, +and since then I have been in eight places.</p> + +<p>My brother-in-law was valet at that time to Napier Sahib, +up in Sind. All the people and servants were very fond of +that Sahib. My brother-in-law was with him for ten years; +and he wanted me to go up there to get place as ayah, and +said, “You quick, sharp girl, and know English very well; +you easily get good place and make plenty money.” But I +such a foolish woman I would not go. I write and tell him, +“No, I can’t come, for Sind such a long way off, and I cannot +leave the children.” I plenty proud then. I give up all for +the children. But now what good? I know your language. +What use? To blow the fire? I only a miserable woman, +fit to go to cook-room and cook the dinner. So go down in +the world, a poor woman (not much good to have plenty in +head and empty pocket!) but if I’d been a man I might now +be a Fouzdar.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>24]</a></span> +I was at Kolapore<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> at the time of the mutiny, and we had +to run away in the middle of the night; but I’ve told you before +all about that. Then seven years ago my mother died +(she was ninety when she died), and we came back to live at +Poona, and my daughter was married, and I was so happy and +pleased.</p> + +<p>I gave a feast then to three hundred people, and we had +music and dancing, and my son, he so proud he dancing from +morning to night, and running here and there arranging everything; +and on that day I said, “Throw the doors open, and +any beggar, any poor person come here, give them what they +like to eat, for whoever comes shall have enough, since there’s +no more work for me in the world.” So, thinking I should +be able to leave service, and give up work, I spent all the +money I had left. That was not very much, for in sending my +son to school I’d spent a great deal. He was such a beauty +boy—tall, straight, handsome—and so clever. They used to +say he looked more like my brother than my son, and he said +to me, “Mammy, you’ve worked for us all your life; now I’m +grown up, I’ll get a clerk’s place and work for you. You shall +work no more, but live in my house.” But last year he was +drowned in the river. That was my great sad. Since then +I couldn’t lift up my head. I can’t remember things now as I +used to do, and all is muddled in my head, six and seven. It +makes me sad sometimes to hear you laughing and talking so +happy with your father and mother and all your family, when I +think of my father, and mother, and brothers, and husband, +and son, all dead and gone! No more happy home like that +for me. What should I care to live for? I would come to +England with you, for I know you would be good to me and +bury me when I die, but I cannot go so far from Rosie. My +one eye put out, my other eye left. I could not lose it too. +If it were not for Rosie and her children I should like to travel +about and see the world. There are four places I have always +wished to see—Calcutta, Madras, England and Jerusalem (my +poor mother always wished to see Jerusalem, too—that her +great hope); but I shall not see them now. Many ladies wanted +to take me to England with them, and if I had gone I should +have saved plenty money, but now it is too late to think of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>25]</a></span> +that. Besides, it would not be much use. What’s the good +of my saving money? Can I take it away with me when I +die? My father and grandfather did not do so, and they had +enough to live on till they died. I have enough for what I +want, and I’ve plenty poor relations. They all come to me, +asking for money, and I give it them. I thank our Saviour +there are enough good Christians here to give me a slice of +bread and cup of water when I can’t work for it. I do not +fear to come to want.</p> + +<p class="address smcap">Government House,<br /> +Parell, Bombay, 1866.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +Sergeant of native troops.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> +The Duke of Wellington, Sir Thomas Monro, Sir John Malcolm and Mr. +Mountstuart Elphinstone.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> +My children.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> +Tent-pitcher.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +The Field Arsenal at Kirkee (near Poona).</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<a name="backnote01" id="backnote01"></a> +<p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +The battle which decided the fate of the Deccan, and led to the downfall of +Bajee Row Peishwa, and extinction of Mahratta rule. Fought 13th November, +1817. See <a href="#notea">Note A</a>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> +A Jar.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> +The following shows the Narrator’s calculation of currency:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> 1 Pie = ¼ of a cent.<br /> + 3 Pie = 1 Pice.<br /> + 4 Pice = 1 Anna.<br /> +16 Annas = 1 Rupee = about 50 cents.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> +A coarse cotton cloth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<a name="backnote02" id="backnote02"></a> +<p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> +See <a href="#noteb">Note B</a>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> +Such work as is done by the Coolie caste, chiefly fetching and carrying heavy +loads.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> +Oh, my Father!</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> +The Hindoo God of Wisdom.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> +The Pleiades.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> +The Great Bear.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> +The Southern Cross.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> +The Milky Way. This is an ancient Christian legend.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> +An intoxicating drink made from the juice of the palm tree.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<a name="backnote03" id="backnote03"></a> +<p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> +See <a href="#notec">Note C</a>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> +A low caste—hewers of wood and drawers of water.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> +Chief Constable.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> +Capital of the Kolapore State, in the Southern Mahratta country.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>27]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh01.jpg" width="500" height="95" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<p class="center xlrgfont smcap">Old Deccan Days.</p> + +<h2>I.<br /> +<br /> +<i>PUNCHKIN.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a Rajah<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> who had +seven beautiful daughters. They were all good +girls; but the youngest, named Balna,<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> was more +clever than the rest. The Rajah’s wife died when +they were quite little children, so these seven poor +Princesses were left with no mother to take care of +them.</p> + +<p>The Rajah’s daughters took it by turns to cook their +father’s dinner every day,<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> whilst he was absent deliberating +with his ministers on the affairs of the nation.</p> + +<p>About this time the Purdan<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> died, leaving a widow +and one daughter; and every day, every day, when +the seven Princesses were preparing their father’s dinner, +the Purdan’s widow and daughter would come +and beg for a little fire from the hearth. Then Balna +used to say to her sisters, “Send that woman away; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>28]</a></span> +send her away. Let her get the fire at her own house. +What does she want with ours? If we allow her to +come here, we shall suffer for it some day.” But the +other sisters would answer, “Be quiet, Balna; why +must you always be quarreling with this poor woman? +Let her take some fire if she likes.” Then the Purdan’s +widow used to go to the hearth and take a few +sticks from it; and, whilst no one was looking, she +would quickly throw some mud into the midst of the +dishes which were being prepared for the Rajah’s +dinner.</p> + +<p>Now the Rajah was very fond of his daughters. +Ever since their mother’s death they had cooked his +dinner with their own hands, in order to avoid the +danger of his being poisoned by his enemies. So, +when he found the mud mixed up with his dinner, he +thought it must arise from their carelessness, as it appeared +improbable that any one should have put mud +there on purpose; but being very kind, he did not +like to reprove them for it, although this spoiling of +the currie was repeated many successive days.</p> + +<p>At last, one day, he determined to hide and watch +his daughters cooking, and see how it all happened; so +he went into the next room, and watched them through +a hole in the wall.</p> + +<p>There he saw his seven daughters carefully washing +the rice and preparing the currie, and as each dish +was completed, they put it by the fire ready to be +cooked. Next he noticed the Purdan’s widow come +to the door, and beg for a few sticks from the fire to +cook her dinner with. Balna turned to her, angrily, +and said, “Why don’t you keep fuel in your own +house, and not come here every day and take ours? +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>29]</a></span> +Sisters, don’t give this woman any more; let her buy +it for herself.”</p> + +<p>Then the eldest sister answered, “Balna, let the +poor woman take the wood and the fire; she does us +no harm.” But Balna replied, “If you let her come +here so often, maybe she will do us some harm, and +make us sorry for it, some day.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah then saw the Purdan’s widow go to the +place where all his dinner was nicely prepared, and, as +she took the wood, she threw a little mud into each of +the dishes.</p> + +<p>At this he was very angry, and sent to have the +woman seized and brought before him. But when the +widow came, she told him that she had played this +trick because she wanted to gain an audience with him; +and she spoke so cleverly, and pleased him so well +with her cunning words, that instead of punishing her, +the Rajah married her, and made her his Ranee,<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> and +she and her daughter came to live in the palace.</p> + +<p>The new Ranee hated the seven poor Princesses, and +wanted to get them, if possible, out of the way, in +order that her daughter might have all their riches and +live in the palace as Princess in their place; and instead +of being grateful to them for their kindness to her, +she did all she could to make them miserable. She +gave them nothing but bread to eat, and very little of +that, and very little water to drink; so these seven poor +little Princesses, who had been accustomed to have +everything comfortable about them, and good food and +good clothes all their lives long, were very miserable +and unhappy; and they used to go out every day and +sit by their dead mother’s tomb and cry; and used to say,</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>30]</a></span> +“Oh mother, mother, cannot you see your poor children, +how unhappy we are, and how we are starved +by our cruel step-mother?”</p> + +<p>One day, whilst they were sobbing and crying, lo and +behold! a beautiful pomelo tree<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> grew up out of the +grave, covered with fresh ripe pomeloes, and the children +satisfied their hunger by eating some of the fruit; +and every day after this, instead of trying to eat the +nasty dinner their step-mother provided for them, they +used to go out to their mother’s grave and eat the pomeloes +which grew there on the beautiful tree.</p> + +<p>Then the Ranee said to her daughter, “I cannot tell +how it is: every day those seven girls say they don’t want +any dinner, and won’t eat any; and yet they never grow +thin nor look ill; they look better than you do. I cannot +tell how it is;” and she bade her watch the seven +Princesses and see if any one gave them anything to +eat.</p> + +<p>So next day, when the Princesses went to their +mother’s grave, and were eating the beautiful pomeloes, +the Purdan’s daughter followed them and saw +them gathering the fruit.</p> + +<p>Then Balna said to her sisters, “Do you see that +girl watching us? Let us drive her away or hide the +pomeloes, else she will go and tell her mother all about +it, and that will be very bad for us.”</p> + +<p>But the other sisters said, “Oh no, do not be unkind, +Balna. The girl would never be so cruel as to tell her +mother. Let us rather invite her to come and have +some of the fruit;” and calling her to them, they gave +her one of the pomeloes.</p> + +<p>No sooner had she eaten it, however, than the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>31]</a></span> +Purdan’s daughter went home and said to her mother, “I +do not wonder the seven Princesses will not eat the +nasty dinner you prepare for them, for by their mother’s +grave there grows a beautiful pomelo tree, and they go +there every day and eat the pomeloes. I ate one, and +it was the nicest I have ever tasted.”</p> + +<p>The cruel Ranee was much vexed at hearing this, +and all next day she stayed in her room, and told the +Rajah that she had a very bad headache. The Rajah +at hearing this was deeply grieved, and said to his wife, +“What can I do for you?” She answered, “There is +only one thing that will make my headache well. By +your dead wife’s tomb there grows a fine pomelo tree; +you must bring that here, and boil it, root and branch, +and put a little of the water in which it has been +boiled on my forehead, and that will cure my headache.” +So the Rajah sent his servants, and had the +beautiful pomelo tree pulled up by the roots, and did +as the Ranee desired; and when some of the water +in which it had been boiled was put on her forehead, +she said her headache was gone and she felt quite +well.</p> + +<p>Next day, when the seven Princesses went as usual +to the grave of their mother, the pomelo tree had disappeared. +Then they all began to cry very bitterly.</p> + +<p>Now there was by the Ranee’s tomb a small tank,<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> +and as they were crying they saw that the tank was +filled with a rich cream-like substance, which quickly +hardened into a thick white cake. At seeing this all +the Princesses were very glad, and they ate some of the +cake, and liked it; and next day the same thing happened, +and so it went on for many days. Every morning +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>32]</a></span> +the Princesses went to their mother’s grave, and +found the little tank filled with the nourishing cream-like +cake. Then the cruel step-mother said to her +daughter: “I cannot tell how it is: I have had the pomelo +tree which used to grow by the Ranee’s grave +destroyed, and yet the Princesses grow no thinner nor +look more sad, though they never eat the dinner I give +them. I cannot tell how it is!”</p> + +<p>And her daughter said, “I will watch.”</p> + +<p>Next day, while the Princesses were eating the cream +cake, who should come by but their step-mother’s +daughter? Balna saw her first, and said, “See, sisters, +there comes that girl again. Let us sit round the +edge of the tank, and not allow her to see it; for if we +give her some of our cake, she will go and tell her +mother, and that will be very unfortunate for us.”</p> + +<p>The other sisters, however, thought Balna unnecessarily +suspicious, and instead of following her advice, +they gave the Purdan’s daughter some of the cake, and +she went home and told her mother all about it.</p> + +<p>The Ranee, on hearing how well the Princesses +fared, was exceedingly angry, and sent her servants to +pull down the dead Ranee’s tomb and fill the little +tank with the ruins. And not content with this, she +next day pretended to be very, very ill—in fact, at +the point of death; and when the Rajah was much +grieved, and asked her whether it was in his power to +procure her any remedy, she said to him: “Only one +thing can save my life, but I know you will not do it.” +He replied, “Yes, whatever it is, I will do it.” She +then said, “To save my life, you must kill the seven +daughters of your first wife, and put some of their +blood on my forehead and on the palms of my hands, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>33]</a></span> +and their death will be my life.” At these words the +Rajah was very sorrowful; but because he feared to +break his word, he went out with a heavy heart to find +his daughters.</p> + +<p>He found them crying by the ruins of their mother’s +grave.</p> + +<p>Then, feeling he could not kill them, the Rajah +spoke kindly to them, and told them to come out into +the jungle with him; and there he made a fire and +cooked some rice, and gave it to them. But in the +afternoon, it being very hot, the seven Princesses all +fell asleep, and when he saw they were fast asleep, the +Rajah, their father, stole away and left them (for he +feared his wife), saying to himself: “It is better my +poor daughters should die here than be killed by their +step-mother.”</p> + +<p>He then shot a deer, and returning home, put some +of the blood on the forehead and hands of the Ranee, +and she thought then that he had really killed the +Princesses, and said she felt quite well.</p> + +<p>Meantime the seven Princesses awoke, and when +they found themselves all alone in the thick jungle they +were much frightened, and began to call out as loud +as they could, in hopes of making their father hear; +but he was by that time far away, and would not have +been able to hear them, even had their voices been as +loud as thunder.</p> + +<p>It so happened that this very day the seven young +sons of a neighboring Rajah chanced to be hunting in +that same jungle, and as they were returning home +after the day’s sport was over, the youngest Prince said +to his brothers: “Stop, I think I hear some one crying +and calling out. Do you not hear voices? Let us go +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>34]</a></span> +in the direction of the sound, and try and find out what +it is.”</p> + +<p>So the seven Princes rode through the wood until +they came to the place where the seven Princesses sat +crying and wringing their hands. At the sight of them +the young Princes were very much astonished, and still +more so on learning their story; and they settled that +each should take one of these poor forlorn ladies home +with him and marry her.</p> + +<p>So the first and eldest Prince took the eldest Princess +home with him, and married her.</p> + +<p>And the second took the second;</p> + +<p>And the third took the third;</p> + +<p>And the fourth took the fourth;</p> + +<p>And the fifth took the fifth;</p> + +<p>And the sixth took the sixth;</p> + +<p>And the seventh, and handsomest of all, took the +beautiful Balna.</p> + +<p>And when they got to their own land, there was +great rejoicing throughout the kingdom at the marriage +of the seven young Princes to seven such beautiful +Princesses.</p> + +<p>About a year after this Balna had a little son, and +his uncles and aunts were all so fond of the boy that +it was as if he had seven fathers and seven mothers. +None of the other Princes or Princesses had any children, +so the son of the seventh Prince and Balna was +acknowledged their heir by all the rest.</p> + +<p>They had thus lived very happily for some time, +when one fine day the seventh Prince (Balna’s husband) +said he would go out hunting, and away he +went; and they waited long for him, but he never +came back.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>35]</a></span> +Then his six brothers said they would go and see +what had become of him; and they went away, but +they also did not return.</p> + +<p>And the seven Princesses grieved very much, for they +felt sure their kind husbands must have been killed.</p> + +<p>One day, not long after this had happened, as Balna +was rocking her baby’s cradle, and whilst her sisters +were working in the room below, there came to the +palace door a man in a long black dress, who said that +he was a Fakeer,<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> and came to beg. The servants +said to him, “You cannot go into the palace—the Rajah’s +sons have all gone away; we think they must be +dead, and their widows cannot be interrupted by your +begging.” But he said, “I am a holy man; you must +let me in.” Then the stupid servants let him walk +through the palace, but they did not know that this +man was no Fakeer, but a wicked Magician named +Punchkin.</p> + +<p>Punchkin Fakeer wandered through the palace, and +saw many beautiful things there, till at last he reached +the room where Balna sat singing beside her little boy’s +cradle. The Magician thought her more beautiful than +all the other beautiful things he had seen, insomuch +that he asked her to go home with him and to marry +him. But she said, “My husband, I fear, is dead, but +my little boy is still quite young; I will stay here and +teach him to grow up a clever man, and when he is +grown up he shall go out into the world, and try and +learn tidings of his father. Heaven forbid that I should +ever leave him or marry you.” At these words the +Magician was very angry, and turned her into a little +black dog, and led her away, saying, “Since you will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>36]</a></span> +not come with me of your own free will, I will make +you.” So the poor Princess was dragged away, without +any power of effecting an escape, or of letting her +sisters know what had become of her. As Punchkin +passed through the palace gate the servants said to him, +“Where did you get that pretty little dog?” And he +answered, “One of the Princesses gave it to me as a +present.” At hearing which they let him go without +further questioning.</p> + +<p>Soon after this the six elder Princesses heard the +little baby, their nephew, begin to cry, and when they +went up stairs they were much surprised to find him +all alone, and Balna nowhere to be seen. Then they +questioned the servants, and when they heard of the +Fakeer and the little black dog, they guessed what had +happened, and sent in every direction seeking them, +but neither the Fakeer nor the dog were to be found. +What could six poor women do? They had to give +up all hopes of ever seeing their kind husbands, and +their sister and her husband again, and they devoted +themselves thenceforward to teaching and taking care +of their little nephew.</p> + +<p>Thus time went on, till Balna’s son was fourteen +years old. Then one day his aunts told him the history +of the family; and no sooner did he hear it than +he was seized with a great desire to go in search of his +father and mother and uncles, and bring them home +again if he could find them alive. His aunts, on learning +his determination, were much alarmed and tried to +dissuade him, saying, “We have lost our husbands, +and our sister and her husband, and you are now our +sole hope; if you go away, what shall we do?” But +he replied, “I pray you not to be discouraged; I will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>37]</a></span> +return soon, and, if it is possible, bring my father and +mother and uncles with me.” So he sat out on his +travels, but for some months he could learn nothing to +help him in his search.</p> + +<p>At last, after he had journeyed many hundreds of weary +miles, and become almost hopeless of ever being able +to hear anything further of his parents, he one day came +to a country which seemed full of stones and rocks and +trees, and there he saw a large palace with a high +tower; hard by which was a Malee’s<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> little house.</p> + +<p>As he was looking about, the Malee’s wife saw him, +and ran out of the house and said, “My dear boy, who +are you that dare venture to this dangerous place?” +And he answered, “I am a Rajah’s son, and I come in +search of my father and my uncles, and my mother +whom a wicked enchanter bewitched.” Then the Malee’s +wife said, “This country and this palace belong to +a great Enchanter; he is all-powerful, and if any one +displeases him, he can turn them into stones and trees. +All the rocks and trees you see here were living people +once, and the Magician turned them to what they now +are. Some time ago a Rajah’s son came here, and +shortly afterward came his six brothers, and they were +all turned into stones and trees; and these are not the +only unfortunate ones, for up in that tower lives a beautiful +Princess, whom the Magician has kept prisoner +there for twelve years, because she hates him and will +not marry him.”</p> + +<p>Then the little Prince thought, “These must be my +parents and my uncles. I have found what I seek at +last.” So he told his story to the Malee’s wife, and +begged her to help him to remain in that place a while, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>38]</a></span> +and inquire further concerning the unhappy people she +mentioned; and she promised to befriend him, and advised +his disguising himself, lest the Magician should +see him, and turn him likewise into stone. To this the +Prince agreed. So the Malee’s wife dressed him up in +a saree,<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> and pretended that he was her daughter.</p> + +<p>One day, not long after this, as the Magician was +walking in his garden, he saw the little girl (as he +thought) playing about, and asked her who she was. +She told him she was the Malee’s daughter, and the +Magician said, “You are a pretty little girl, and to-morrow +you shall take a present of flowers from me to +the beautiful lady who lives in the tower.”</p> + +<p>The young Prince was much delighted at hearing +this, and after some consultation with the Malee’s wife, +he settled that it would be more safe for him to retain +his disguise, and trust to the chance of a favorable opportunity +for establishing some communication with his +mother, if it were indeed she.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that at Balna’s marriage her husband +had given her a small gold ring, on which her name +was engraved, and she put it on her little son’s finger +when he was a baby, and afterward, when he was older, +his aunts had had it enlarged for him, so that he was +still able to wear it. The Malee’s wife advised him to +fasten the well-known treasure to one of the bouquets +he presented to his mother, and trust to her recognizing +it. This was not to be done without difficulty, as such +a strict watch was kept over the poor Princess (for fear +of her ever establishing communication with her friends) +that though the supposed Malee’s daughter was permitted +to take her flowers every day, the Magician or one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>39]</a></span> +of his slaves was always in the room at the time. At +last one day, however, opportunity favored him, and +when no one was looking the boy tied the ring to a +nosegay and threw it at Balna’s feet. The ring fell +with a clang on the floor, and Balna, looking to see what +made the strange sound, found the little ring tied to the +flowers. On recognizing it, she at once believed the +story her son told her of his long search, and begged +him to advise her as to what she had better do; at the +same time entreating him on no account to endanger +his life by trying to rescue her. She told him that for +twelve long years the Magician had kept her shut up in +the tower because she refused to marry him, and she +was so closely guarded that she saw no hope of release.</p> + +<p>Now Balna’s son was a bright, clever boy; so he +said, “Do not fear, dear mother; the first thing to do is +to discover how far the Magician’s power extends, in +order that we may be able to liberate my father and +uncles, whom he has imprisoned in the form of rocks +and trees. You have spoken to him angrily for twelve +long years; do you now rather speak kindly. Tell him +you have given up all hopes of again seeing the husband +you have so long mourned, and say you are willing +to marry him. Then endeavor to find out what his +power consists in, and whether he is immortal or can +be put to death.”</p> + +<p>Balna determined to take her son’s advice; and the +next day sent for Punchkin and spoke to him as had +been suggested.</p> + +<p>The Magician, greatly delighted, begged her to allow +the wedding to take place as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>But she told him that before she married him he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>40]</a></span> +must allow her a little more time, in which she might +make his acquaintance, and, that, after being enemies +so long, their friendship could but strengthen by degrees. +“And do tell me,” she said, “are you quite immortal? +Can death never touch you? And are you +too great an enchanter ever to feel human suffering?”</p> + +<p>“Why do you ask?” said he.</p> + +<p>“Because,” she replied, “if I am to be your wife, I +would fain know all about you, in order, if any calamity +threatens you, to overcome, or, if possible, to avert +it.”</p> + +<p>“It is true,” he said, “that I am not as others. Far, +far away, hundreds of thousands of miles from this, +there lies a desolate country covered with thick jungle. +In the midst of the jungle grows a circle of palm trees, +and in the centre of the circle stand six chattees full of +water, piled one above another; below the sixth chattee +is a small cage which contains a little green parrot: on +the life of the parrot depends my life, and if the parrot +is killed I must die. It is, however,” he added, “impossible +that the parrot should sustain any injury, both +on account of the inaccessibility of the country, and because, +by my appointment, many thousand evil genii +surround the palm trees, and kill all who approach the +place.”</p> + +<p>Balna told her son what Punchkin had said, but, at +the same time, implored him to give up all idea of getting +the parrot.</p> + +<p>The prince, however, replied, “Mother, unless I can +get hold of that parrot, you and my father and uncles +cannot be liberated: be not afraid, I will shortly return. +Do you, meantime, keep the Magician in good humor—still +putting off your marriage with him on various +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>41]</a></span> +pretexts; and before he finds out the cause of delay I will +return.” So saying, he went away.</p> + +<p>Many, many weary miles did he travel, till at last he +came to a thick jungle, and being very tired, sat down +under a tree and fell asleep. He was awakened by a +soft rustling sound, and looking about him, saw a large +serpent which was making its way to an eagle’s nest +built in the tree under which he lay, and in the nest +were two young eagles. The Prince, seeing the danger +of the young birds, drew his sword and killed the +serpent; at the same moment a rushing sound was +heard in the air, and the two old eagles, who had been +out hunting for food for their young ones, returned. +They quickly saw the dead serpent and the young +Prince standing over it; and the old mother eagle said +to him, “Dear boy, for many years all our young have +been devoured by that cruel serpent: you have now +saved the lives of our children; whenever you are in +need, therefore, send to us and we will help you; and +as for these little eagles, take them, and let them be +your servants.”</p> + +<p>At this the Prince was very glad, and the two eaglets +crossed their wings, on which he mounted; and they +carried him far, far away over the thick jungles, until +he came to the place where grew the circle of palm +trees, in the midst of which stood the six chattees full +of water. It was the middle of the day. All round +the trees were the genii fast asleep: nevertheless, there +were such countless thousands of them that it would +have been quite impossible for any one to walk through +their ranks to the place. Down swooped the strong-winged +eaglets—down jumped the prince: in an instant +he had overthrown the six chattees full of water, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>42]</a></span> +seized the little green parrot, which he rolled up in his +cloak; while, as he mounted again into the air, all the +genii below awoke, and, finding their treasure gone, +set up a wild and melancholy howl.</p> + +<p>Away, away flew the little eagles till they came to +their home in the great tree; then the Prince said to +the old eagles, “Take back your little ones; they have +done me good service; if ever again I stand in need +of help, I will not fail to come to you.” He then continued +his journey on foot till he arrived once more at +the Magician’s palace, where he sat down at the door +and began playing with the parrot. The Magician +saw him, and came to him quickly, and said, “My boy, +where did you get that parrot? Give it to me, I pray +you.” But the Prince answered, “Oh no, I cannot +give away my parrot; it is a great pet of mine; I have +had it many years.” Then the Magician said, “If it is +an old favorite, I can understand your not caring to +give it away; but come, what will you sell it for?” +“Sir,” replied the Prince, “I will not sell my parrot.”</p> + +<p>Then the Magician got frightened, and said, “Anything, +anything; name what price you will, and it +shall be yours.” “Then,” the Prince answered, “I +will that you liberate the Rajah’s seven sons who you +turned into rocks and trees.” “It is done as you desire,” +said the Magician, “only give me my parrot.” +(And with that, by a stroke of his wand, Balna’s husband +and his brothers resumed their natural shapes.) +“Now give me my parrot,” repeated Punchkin. “Not +so fast, my master,” rejoined the Prince; “I must first +beg that you will restore to life all whom you have +thus imprisoned.”</p> + +<p>The Magician immediately waved his wand again; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>43]</a></span> +and whilst he cried in an imploring voice, “Give me +my parrot!” the whole garden became suddenly alive: +where rock and stones and trees had been before, stood +Rajahs and Punts<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> and Sirdars,<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> and mighty men on +prancing horses, and jeweled pages and troops of +armed attendants.</p> + +<p>“Give me my parrot!” cried Punchkin. Then the +boy took hold of the parrot, and tore off one of his +wings; and as he did so the Magician’s right arm fell +off.</p> + +<p>Punchkin then stretched out his left arm, crying, +“Give me my parrot!” The Prince pulled off the +parrot’s second wing, and the Magician’s left arm tumbled +off.</p> + +<p>“Give me my parrot!” cried he, and fell on his +knees. The Prince pulled off the parrot’s right leg—the +Magician’s right leg fell off: the Prince pulled off +the parrot’s left leg—down fell the Magician’s left.</p> + +<p>Nothing remained of him save the limbless body and +the head; but still he rolled his eyes, and cried, “Give +me my parrot!” “Take your parrot, then,” cried the +boy, and with that he wrung the bird’s neck and threw +it at the Magician; and as he did so, Punchkin’s head +twisted round, and with a fearful groan he died!</p> + +<p>Then they let Balna out of the tower; and she, her +son and the seven Princes went to their own country, +and lived very happily ever afterward. And as to +the rest of the world, every one went to his own house.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> +King.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> +The Little One.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> +See <a href="#note01">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> +Or, more correctly, <i>Prudhan</i>, Prime Minister.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> +Queen.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> +<i>Citrus decumana</i>—the Shaddock of the West Indies.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> +Reservoir for water.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> +Holy beggar.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> +Gardener’s.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> +A woman’s dress.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> +Principal ministers.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> +Nobles or chiefs.</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>44]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh02.jpg" width="500" height="91" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>II.<br /> +<br /> +<i>A FUNNY STORY.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there were a Rajah and Ranee +who were much grieved because they had no +children, and the little dog in the palace had also no +little puppies. At last the Rajah and Ranee had some +children, and it also happened that the pet dog in the +palace had some little puppies; but, unfortunately, the +Ranee’s two children were two little puppies! and the +dog’s two little puppies were two pretty little girls! +This vexed her majesty very much; and sometimes +when the dog had gone away to its dinner, the Ranee +used to put the two little puppies (her children) into +the kennel, and carry away the dog’s two little girls to +the palace. Then the poor dog grew very unhappy, and +said, “They never will leave my two little children +alone. I must take them away into the jungle, or +their lives will be worried out.” So one night she took +the little girls in her mouth and ran with them to the +jungle, and there made them a home in a pretty cave +in the rock, beside a clear stream; and every day she +would go into the towns and carry away some nice +currie and rice to give her little daughters; and if she +found any pretty clothes or jewels that she could bring +away in her mouth, she used to take them also for the +children.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>45]</a></span> +Now it happened some time after this, one day, when +the dog had gone to fetch her daughters’ dinner, two +young Princes (a Rajah and his brother) came to hunt +in the jungle, and they hunted all day and found nothing. +It had been very hot, and they were thirsty; so +they went to a tree which grew on a little piece of high +ground, and sent their attendants to search all round +for water; but no one could find any. At last one of +the hunting dogs came to the foot of the tree quite +muddy, and the Rajah said, “Look, the dog is muddy: +he must have found water: follow him, and see where +he goes.” The attendants followed the dog, and saw +him go to the stream at the mouth of the cave where +the two children were; and the two children also saw +them, and were very much frightened and ran inside +the cave. Then the attendants returned to the two +Princes, and said, “We have found clear, sparkling +water flowing past a cave, and, what is more, within +the cave are two of the most lovely young ladies that +eye ever beheld, clothed in fine dresses and covered +with jewels; but when they saw us they were frightened +and ran away.” On hearing this the Princes +bade their servants lead them to the place; and when +they saw the two young girls, they were quite charmed +with them, and asked them to go to their kingdom and +become their wives. The maidens were frightened; +but at last the Rajah and his brother persuaded them, +and they went, and the Rajah married the eldest sister, +and his brother married the youngest.</p> + +<p>When the dog returned, she was grieved to find her +children gone, and for twelve long years the poor thing +ran many, many miles to find them, but in vain. At +last one day she came to the place where the two +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>46]</a></span> +Princesses lived. Now it chanced that the eldest, the wife +of the Rajah, was looking out of the window, and seeing +the dog run down the street, she said, “That +must be my dear long-lost mother.” So she ran into +the street as fast as possible, and took the tired dog in +her arms, and brought her into her own room, and +made her a nice comfortable bed on the floor, and +bathed her feet, and was very kind to her. Then the +dog said to her, “My daughter, you are good and +kind, and it is a great joy to me to see you again; but +I must not stay; I will first go and see your younger +sister, and then return.” The Ranee answered, “Do +not do so, dear mother; rest here to-day; to-morrow I +will send and let my sister know, and she, too, will +come and see you.” But the poor, silly dog would +not stay, but ran to the house of her second daughter. +Now the second daughter was looking out of the window +when the unfortunate creature came to the door, +and seeing the dog she said to herself, “That must +be my mother. What will my husband think if he +learns that this wretched, ugly, miserable-looking dog +is my mother?” So she ordered her servants to go and +throw stones at it, and drive it away, and they did so; +and one large stone hit the dog’s head, and she ran +back, very much hurt, to her eldest daughter’s house. +The Ranee saw her coming, and ran out into the street +and brought her in in her arms, and did all she could +to make her well, saying, “Ah, mother, mother! why +did you ever leave my house?” But all her care was +in vain: the poor dog died. Then the Ranee thought +her husband might be vexed if he found a dead dog +(an unclean animal) in the palace; so she put the body +in a small room into which the Rajah hardly ever went, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>47]</a></span> +intending to have it reverently buried; and over it she +placed a basket turned topsy-turvy.</p> + +<p>It so happened, however, that when the Rajah came +to visit his wife, as chance would have it, he went +through this very room: and tripping over the upturned +basket, called for a light to see what it was. +Then, lo and behold! there lay the statue of a dog, life +size, composed entirely of diamonds, emeralds, and +other precious stones, set in gold! So he called out to +his wife, and said, “Where did you get this beautiful +dog?” And when the Ranee saw the golden dog, she +was very much frightened, and, I’m sorry to say, instead +of telling her husband the truth, she told a story, +and said, “Oh, it is only a present my parents sent +me.”</p> + +<p>Now see what trouble she got into for not telling the +truth.</p> + +<p>“<em>Only!</em>” said the Rajah; “why this is valuable +enough to buy the whole of my kingdom. Your parents +must be very rich people to be able to send you +such presents as this. How is it you never told me of +them? Where do they live?” (Now she had to tell +another story to cover the first.) She said, “In the +jungle.” He replied, “I will go and see them; you +must take me and show where they live.” Then the +Ranee thought, “What will the Rajah say when he +finds I have been telling him such stories? He will +order my head to be cut off.” So she said, “You +must first give me a palanquin, and I will go into the +jungle and tell them you are coming;” but really she +determined to kill herself, and so get out of her difficulties. +Away she went; and when she had gone some +distance in her palanquin, she saw a large white ants’ +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>48]</a></span> +nest, over which hung a cobra, with its mouth wide +open; then the Ranee thought, “I will go to that +cobra and put my finger in his mouth, that he may bite +me, and so I shall die.” So she ordered the palkee-bearers +to wait, and said she would be back in a while, +and got out, and ran to the ants’ nest, and put her +finger in the cobra’s mouth. Now a large thorn had +run, a short time before, into the cobra’s throat, and +hurt him very much; and the Ranee, by putting her +finger into his mouth, pushed out this thorn; then the +cobra, feeling much better, turned to her, and said, +“My dear daughter, you have done me a great kindness; +what return can I make you?” The Ranee told +him all her story, and begged him to bite her, that she +might die. But the cobra said, “You did certainly +very wrong to tell the Rajah that story; nevertheless, +you have been very kind to me. I will help you in +your difficulty. Send your husband here. I will provide +you with a father and mother of whom you need +not be ashamed.” So the Ranee returned joyfully to +the palace, and invited her husband to come and see +her parents.</p> + +<p>When they reached the spot near where the cobra +was, what a wonderful sight awaited them! There, in +the place which had before been thick jungle, stood a +splendid palace, twenty-four miles long and twenty-four +miles broad, with gardens and trees and fountains +all round; and the light shining from it was to be seen +a hundred miles off. The walls were made of gold and +precious stones, and the carpets cloth of gold. Hundreds +of servants, in rich dresses, stood waiting in the +long, lofty rooms; and in the last room of all, upon +golden thrones, sat a magnificent old Rajah and Ranee, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>49]</a></span> +who introduced themselves to the young Rajah as his +papa and mamma-in-law. The Rajah and Ranee +stayed at the palace six months, and were entertained +the whole of that time with feasting and music; and +they left for their own home loaded with presents. Before +they started, however, the Ranee went to her friend, +the cobra, and said, “You have conjured up all these +beautiful things to get me out of my difficulties, but my +husband, the Rajah, has enjoyed his visit so much that +he will certainly want to come here again. Then, if he +returns and finds nothing at all, he will be very angry +with me.” The friendly cobra answered, “Do not +fear. When you have gone twenty-four miles on your +journey, look back, and see what you will see.” So +they started; and on looking back at the end of twenty-four +miles, saw the whole of the splendid palace in +flames, the fire reaching up to heaven. The Rajah returned +to see if he could help anybody to escape, or +invite them in their distress to his court; but he found +that all was burnt down—not a stone nor a living creature +remained!</p> + +<p>Then he grieved much over the sad fate of his parents-in-law.</p> + +<p>When the party returned home, the Rajah’s brother +said to him, “Where did you get these magnificent +presents?” He replied, “They are gifts from my +father and mother-in-law.” At this news the Rajah’s +brother went home to his wife very discontented, and +asked her why she had never told him of her parents, +and taken him to see them, whereby he might have received +rich gifts as well as his brother. His wife then +went to her sister, and asked how she had managed to +get all the things. But the Ranee said, “Go away, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>50]</a></span> +you wicked woman. I will not speak to you. You +killed the poor dog, our mother.”</p> + +<p>But afterward she told her all about it.</p> + +<p>The sister then said, “I shall go and see the cobra, +and get presents too.” The Ranee then answered,—“You +can go if you like.”</p> + +<p>So the sister ordered her palanquin, and told her husband +she was going to see her parents, and prepare them +for a visit from him. When she reached the ants’ nest, +she saw the cobra there, and she went and put her finger +in his mouth, and the cobra bit her, and she died.</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 185px;"> +<img src="images/oddt01.jpg" width="185" height="164" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>51]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh03.jpg" width="500" height="89" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>III.<br /> +<br /> +<i>BRAVE SEVENTEE BAI.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">S</span>IU RAJAH,<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> who reigned long years ago in the +country of Agrabrum, had an only son, to whom +he was passionately attached. The Prince, whose +name was Logedas, was young and handsome, and had +married the beautiful Princess, Parbuttee Bai.</p> + +<p>Now it came to pass that Siu Rajah’s Wuzeer<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> had +a daughter called Seventee Bai (the Daisy Lady), who +was as fair as the morning, and beloved by all for her +gentleness and goodness; and when Logedas Rajah +saw her, he fell in love with her, and determined to +marry her. But when Siu Rajah heard of this he was +very angry, and sent for his son, and said: “Of all +that is rich and costly in my kingdom I have withheld +nothing from you, and in Parbuttee Bai you have a wife +as fair as heart could wish; nevertheless, if you are +desirous of having a second wife, I freely give you +leave to do so; there are daughters of many neighboring +kings who would be proud to become your Queen, +but it is beneath your dignity to marry a Wuzeer’s +daughter; and, if you do, my love for you shall not +prevent my expelling you from the kingdom.” Logedas +did not heed his father’s threat, and he married +Seventee Bai; which the Rajah learning, ordered him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>52]</a></span> +immediately to quit the country; but yet, because he +loved him much, he gave Logedas many elephants, +camels, horses, palanquins and attendants, that he +might not need help on the journey, and that his rank +might be apparent to all.</p> + +<p>So Logedas Rajah and his two young wives set forth +on their travels. Before, however, they had gone very +far, the Prince dismissed the whole of his retinue, except +the elephant on which he himself rode, and the +palanquin, carried by two men, in which his wives +traveled. Thus, almost alone, he started through the +jungle in search of a new home; but, being wholly ignorant +of that part of the country, before they had gone +very far they lost their way. The poor Princesses +were reduced to a state of great misery; day after day +they wandered on, living on roots or wild berries and +the leaves of trees pounded down; and by night they +were terrified by the cries of wild beasts in search of +prey. Logedas Rajah became more melancholy and +desponding every day; until, one night, maddened by +the thought of his wives’ sad condition, and unable +longer to bear the sight of their distress, he got up, +and casting aside his royal robes, twisted a coarse handkerchief +about his head, after the manner of a fakeer’s +(holy beggar’s) turban, and throwing a woolen cloak +around him, ran away in disguise into the jungle.</p> + +<p>A little while after he had gone, the Wuzeer’s +daughter awoke and found Parbuttee Bai crying bitterly. +“Sister dear,” said she, “what is the matter?” “Ah, +sister,” answered Parbuttee Bai, “I am crying because +in my dreams I thought our husband had dressed himself +like a fakeer and run away into the jungle; and I +awoke, and found it was all true: he has gone, and left +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>53]</a></span> +us here alone. It would have been better we had died +than that such a misfortune should have befallen us.” +“Do not cry,” said Seventee Bai: “if we cry we are +lost, for the palkee-bearers<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> will think we are only two +weak women, and will run away, and leave us in the +jungle, out of which we can never get by ourselves. +Keep a cheerful mind, and all will be well; who +knows but we may yet find our husband? Meanwhile, +I will dress myself in his clothes, and take the name of +Seventee Rajah, and you shall be my wife; and the +palkee-bearers will think it is only I that have been +lost; and it will not seem very wonderful to them that in +such a place as this a wild beast should have devoured +me.”</p> + +<p>Then Parbuttee Bai smiled and said, “Sister, you +speak well; you have a brave heart. I will be your little +wife.”</p> + +<p>So Seventee Bai dressed herself in her husband’s +clothes, and next day she mounted the elephant as he +had done, and ordered the bearers to take up the palkee +in which Parbuttee Bai was, and again attempt to find +their way out of the jungle. The palkee-bearers wondered +much to themselves what had become of Seventee +Bai, and they said to one another, “How selfish +and how fickle are the rich! See now our young +Rajah, who married the Wuzeer’s daughter and brought +all this trouble on himself thereby (and in truth ’tis said +she was a beautiful lady), he seemed to love her as his +own soul; but now that she has been devoured by some +cruel animal in this wild jungle, he appears scarcely to +mourn her death.”</p> + +<p>After journeying for some days under the wise direction +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>54]</a></span> +of the Wuzeer’s daughter, the party found themselves +getting out of the jungle, and at last they came +to an open plain, in the middle of which was a large +city. When the citizens saw the elephant coming they +ran out to see who was on it, and returning, told their +Rajah that a very handsome Rajah, richly dressed, was +riding toward the city, and that he brought with him +his wife—a most lovely Princess. Whereupon the +Rajah of that country sent to Seventee Bai, and asked +her who she was, and why she had come? Seventee +Bai replied, “My name is Seventee Rajah. My father +was angry with me, and drove me from his kingdom; +and I and my wife have been wandering for many days +in the jungle, where we lost our way.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah and all his court thought they had never +seen so brave and royal-looking a Prince; and the Rajah +said that if Seventee Rajah would take service +under him, he would give him as much money as he +liked. To whom the Wuzeer’s daughter replied: “I +am not accustomed to take service under anybody; but +you are good to us in receiving us courteously and offering +us your protection; therefore, give me whatever +post you please, and I will be your faithful servant.” +So the Rajah gave Seventee Bai a salary of £24,000 a-year +and a beautiful house, and treated her with the +greatest confidence, consulting her in all matters of importance, +and entrusting her with many state affairs; +and from her gentleness and kindness, none felt envious +at her good fortune, but she was beloved and honored +by all; and thus these two Princesses lived for twelve +years in that city. No one suspected that Seventee +Bai was not the Rajah she pretended to be, and she +most strictly forbade Parbuttee Bai’s making a great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>55]</a></span> +friend of anybody, or admitting any one to her confidence; +for, she said, “Who knows, then, but some +day you may, unawares, reveal that I am only Seventee +Bai; and, though I love you as my very sister, if +that were told by you, I would kill you with my own +hands.”</p> + +<p>Now the King’s palace was on the side of the city +nearest to the jungle, and one night the Ranee was +awakened by loud and piercing shrieks coming from +that direction; so she woke her husband, and said, “I +am so frightened by that terrible noise that I cannot +sleep. Send some one to see what is the matter.” And +the Rajah called all his attendants, and said, “Go down +toward the jungle and see what that noise is about.” +But they were all afraid, for the night was very dark, +and the noise very dreadful, and they said to him: +“We are afraid to go. We dare not do so by ourselves. +Send for this young Rajah who is such a favorite of +yours, and tell him to go. He is brave. You pay him +more than you do us all. What is the good of your +paying him so much, unless he can be of use when he +is wanted?” So they all went to Seventee Bai’s house, +and when she heard what was the matter, she jumped +up, and said she would go down to the jungle and see +what the noise was.</p> + +<p>This noise had been made by a Rakshas,<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> who was +standing under a gallows on which a thief had been +hanged the day before. He had been trying to reach +the corpse with his cruel claws; but it was just too high +for him, and he was howling with rage and disappointment. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>56]</a></span> +When, however, the Wuzeer’s daughter reached +the place, no Rakshas was to be seen; but in his stead +a very old woman, in a wonderful glittering saree, sitting +wringing her withered hands under the gallows +tree, and above, the corpse, swaying about in the night +wind. “Old woman,” said Seventee Bai, “what is +the matter?” “Alas!” said the Rakshas (for it was +he), “my son hangs above on that gallows. He is +dead, he is dead! and I am too bent with age to be able +to reach the rope and cut his body down.” “Poor old +woman!” said Seventee Bai; “get upon my shoulders, +and you will then be tall enough to reach your son.” +So the Rakshas mounted on Seventee Bai’s shoulders, +who held him steady by his glittering saree. Now, as +she stood there, Seventee Bai began to think the old +woman was a very long time cutting the rope round the +dead man’s neck; and just at that moment the moon +shone out from behind a cloud, and Seventee Bai, looking +up, saw that instead of a feeble old woman, she was +supporting on her shoulders a Rakshas, who was tearing +down portions of the flesh and devouring it. Horror-stricken, +she sprang back, and with a shrill scream +the Rakshas fled away, leaving in her hands the shining +saree.</p> + +<p>Seventee Bai did not choose to say anything about +this adventure to the Ranee, not wishing to alarm her; +so she merely returned to the palace, and said that the +noise was made by an old woman whom she had found +crying under the gallows. She then returned home, +and gave the bright saree to Parbuttee Bai.</p> + +<p>One fine day, some time after this, two of the +Rajah’s little daughters thought they would go and see +Parbuttee Bai; and as it happened, Parbuttee Bai had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>57]</a></span> +on the Rakshas’ saree, and was standing by the half-closed +window shutters looking out, when the Princesses +arrived at her house. The little Princesses were +quite dazzled by the golden saree, and running home +said to their mother, “That young Rajah’s wife has the +most beautiful saree we ever saw. It shines like the +sun, and dazzles one’s eyes. We have no sarees half +so beautiful, and although you are Ranee, you have +none so rich as that. Why do you not get one too?”</p> + +<p>When the Ranee heard about Parbuttee Bai’s saree +she was very eager to have one like it; and she said to +the Rajah, “Your servant’s wife is dressed more richly +than your Ranee. I hear Parbuttee Bai has a saree +more costly than any of mine. Now, therefore, I beg +you to get me one like hers; for I cannot rest until I +have one equally costly.”</p> + +<p>Then the Rajah sent for Seventee Bai, and said, +“Tell me where your wife got her beautiful golden +saree; for the Ranee desires to have one like it.” +Seventee Bai answered, “Noble master, that saree came +from a very far country—even the country of the Rakshas. +It is impossible to get one like it here; but if +you give me leave I will go and search for their country, +and, if I succeed in finding it, bring you home +sarees of the same kind.” And the Rajah was very +much pleased, and ordered Seventee Bai to go. So +she returned to her house and bade good-bye to Parbuttee +Bai, and warned her to be discreet and cautious; +and then, mounting her horse, rode away in search of +the Rakshas’ country.</p> + +<p>Seventee Bai traveled for many days through the +jungle, going one hundred miles every day, and staying +to rest every now and then at little villages on her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>58]</a></span> +road. At last one day, after having gone several hundred +miles, she came to a fine city situated on the banks +of a beautiful river, and on the city walls a proclamation +was painted in large letters. Seventee Bai inquired +of the people what it meant, who told her that +it was to say the Rajah’s daughter would marry any +man who could tame a certain pony belonging to her +father, which was very vicious.</p> + +<p>“Has no one been able to manage it?” asked Seventee +Bai. “No one,” they said. “Many have tried, +but failed miserably. The pony was born on the same +day as the Princess. It is so fierce that no one can approach +it; but when the Princess heard how wild it +was, she vowed she would marry no one who could +not tame it. Every one who likes is free to try.” +Then Seventee Bai said, “Show me the pony to-morrow. +I think I shall be able to tame it.” They +answered, “You can try if you like, but it is very dangerous, +and you are but a youth.” She replied, “God +gives his strength to the weak. I do not fear.” So +she went to sleep, and early next morning they beat a +drum all round the town to let every one know that +another man was going to try and tame the Rajah’s +pony, and all the people flocked out of their houses to +see the sight. The pony was in a field near the river, +and Seventee Bai ran up to it, as it came running toward +her intending to trample her to death, and seized +it firmly by the mane, so that it could neither strike her +with its fore legs nor kick her. The pony tried to +shake her off, but Seventee Bai clung firmly on, and +finally jumped on its back; and when the pony found +that it was mastered, it became quite gentle and tame. +Then Seventee Bai, to show how completely she had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>59]</a></span> +conquered, put spurs to the pony to make it jump the +river, and the pony immediately sprang up in the air and +right across the river (which was a jump of three miles), +and this it did three times (for it was strong and agile, +and had never been ridden before); and when all the +people saw this they shouted for joy, and ran down to +the river bank and brought Seventee Bai, riding in triumph +on the pony, to see the Rajah. And the Rajah +said, “Oh, best of men, and worthy of all honor, you +have won my daughter.” So he took Seventee Bai to +the palace and paid her great honor, and gave her +jewels and rich clothes, and horses and camels innumerable. +The Princess also came to greet the winner +of her hand. Then they said, “To-morrow shall be the +wedding day.” But Seventee Bai replied, “Great +Rajah and beautiful Princess, I am going on an important +errand of my own Rajah’s; let me, I pray you, +first accomplish the duty on which I am bound, and on +my way home I will come through this city and claim +my bride.” At this they were both pleased, and the +Rajah said, “It is well spoken. Do not let us hinder +your keeping faith with your own Rajah. Go your +way. We shall eagerly await your return, when you +shall claim the Princess and all your possessions, and +we will have such a gay wedding as was not since the +world began.” And they went out with her to the +borders of their land, and showed her on her way.</p> + +<p>So the Wuzeer’s daughter traveled on in search of +the Rakshas’ country, until at last one day she came in +sight of another fine large town. Here she rested in +the house for travelers for some days. Now the Rajah +of this country had a very beautiful daughter, who was +his only child, and for her he had built a splendid bath. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>60]</a></span> +It was like a little sea, and had high marble walls all +around, with a hedge of spikes at the top of the walls, +so high that at a distance it looked like a great castle. +The young Princess was very fond of it, and she vowed +she would only marry a man who could jump across +her bath on horseback. This had happened some +years before, but no one had been able to do it, which +grieved the Rajah and Ranee very much; for they +wished to see their daughter happily married. And +they said to her, “We shall both be dead before you +get a husband. What folly is this, to expect that any +one should be able to jump over those high marble +walls, with the spikes at the top!” The Princess only +answered, “Then I will never marry. It matters not; +I will never have a husband who has not jumped +those walls.”</p> + +<p>So the Rajah caused it to be proclaimed throughout +the land that he would give his daughter in marriage, +and great riches, to whoever could jump, on horseback, +over the Princess’ bath.</p> + +<p>All this Seventee Bai learnt as soon as she arrived +in the town, and she said, “To-morrow I will try and +jump over the Princess’ bath.” The country people +said to her, “You speak foolishly: it is quite impossible.” +She replied, “Heaven, in which I trust, will +help me.” So next day she rose up, and saddled her +horse, and led him in front of the palace, and there she +sprang on his back, and going at full gallop, leapt over +the marble walls, over the spikes high up in the air, +and down on to the ground on the other side of the +bath; and this she did three times, which, when the +the Rajah saw, he was filled with joy, and sent for +Seventee Bai, and said, “Tell me your name, brave +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>61]</a></span> +Prince; for you are the only man in the world—you +have won my daughter.” Then the Wuzeer’s daughter +replied, “My name is Seventee Rajah. I come from +a far country on a mission from my Rajah to the country +of the Rakshas; let me therefore, I pray you, first +do my appointed work, and if I live to return, I will +come through this country and claim my bride.” To +which the Rajah consented, for he did not wish the +Princess, his daughter, to undertake so long and tiresome +a journey. It was therefore agreed that the +Princess should await Seventee Bai’s return at her +father’s court, and that Seventee Bai herself should +immediately proceed on her journey.</p> + +<p>From this place she went on for many, many days +without adventure, and traversed a dense jungle, for +her brave heart carried her through all difficulties. At +last she arrived at another large city, beautifully situated +by a lake, with blue hills rising behind it, and +sheltering it from the cutting winds; little gardens +filled with pomegranates, jasmine and other fragrant +and lovely flowers reached down from the city to the +water’s edge.</p> + +<p>Seventee Bai, tired with her long journey, rode up +to one of the Malees’ houses, where the hospitable +inmates, seeing she was a stranger and weary, offered +her food and shelter for the night, which she thankfully +accepted.</p> + +<p>As they all sat round the fire cooking their evening +meal, Seventee Bai asked the Malee’s wife about the +place and the people, and what was going on in the +town. “Much excitement,” she replied, “has of late +been caused by our Rajah’s dream, which no one can +interpret.” “What did he dream?” asked Seventee +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>62]</a></span> +Bai. “Ever since he was ten years old,” she replied, +“he has dreamed of a fair tree growing in a large garden. +The stem of the tree is made of silver, the leaves +are pure gold, and the fruit is bunches of pearls. The +Rajah has inquired of all his wise men and seers where +such a tree is to be found; but they all replied, ‘There +is no such tree in the world;’ wherefore he is dissatisfied +and melancholy. Moreover, the Princess, his +daughter, hearing of her father’s dream, has determined +to marry no man save the finder of this marvelous +tree.” “It is very odd,” said Seventee Bai; and, their +supper being over, she dragged her mattress outside +the little house (as a man would have done), and, +placing it in a sheltered nook near the lake, knelt down, +as her custom was, to say her prayers before going to +sleep.</p> + +<p>As she knelt there, with her eyes fixed on the dark +water, she saw, on a sudden, a glorious shining light +coming slowly toward her, and discovered, in a minute +or two more, that a very large cobra was crawling up +the steps from the water’s edge, having in his mouth +an enormous diamond, the size and shape of an egg, +that sparkled and shone like a little sun, or as if one +of the stars had suddenly dropped out of heaven. The +cobra laid the diamond down at the top of the steps, +and crawled away in search of food. Presently returning +when the night was far spent, he picked up the +diamond again, and slid down the steps with it into +the lake. Seventee Bai knew not what to make of +this, but she resolved to return to the same place next +night and watch for the cobra.</p> + +<p>Again she saw him bring the diamond in his mouth, +and take it away with him after his evening meal; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>63]</a></span> +again, a third night, the same thing. Then Seventee +Bai determined to kill the cobra, and if possible secure +the diamond. So early next morning she went into +the bazaar, and ordered a blacksmith to make her a +very strong iron trap, which should catch hold of anything +it was let down upon so firmly as to require the +strength of twelve men to get out of it. The blacksmith +did as he was ordered, and made a very strong +trap; the lower part of it was like knives, and when it +caught hold of anything it required the strength of +twelve men to break through it and escape.</p> + +<p>Seventee Bai had this trap hung up by a rope to a +tree close to the lake, and all around she scattered +flowers and sweet scents, such as cobras love; and at +nightfall she herself got into the tree just above the +trap, and waited for the cobra to come as he was +wont.</p> + +<p>About twelve o’clock the cobra came up the steps +from the lake in search of food. He had the diamond +in his mouth, and, attracted by the sweet scents and +flowers, instead of going into the jungle, he proceeded +toward the tree in which Seventee Bai was.</p> + +<p>When Seventee Bai saw him, she untied the rope +and let down the trap upon him; but for fear he might +not be quite dead, she waited till morning before going +to get the diamond.</p> + +<p>As soon as the sun was up, she went to look at her +prey. There he lay cold and dead, with the diamond, +which shone like a mountain of light, in his mouth. +Seventee Bai took it, and, tired by her night of watching, +thought she would bathe in the lake before returning +to the Malee’s cottage. So she ran and knelt down +by the brink, to dip her hands and face in the cool +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>64]</a></span> +water; but no sooner did she touch its surface with the +diamond, than it rolled back in a wall on either hand, +and she saw a pathway leading down below the lake, +on each side of which were beautiful houses and gardens +full of flowers, red, and white, and blue. Seventee +Bai resolved to see whither this might lead, so she +walked down the path until she came opposite a large +door. She opened it, and found herself in a more +lovely garden than she had ever seen on earth; tall +trees laden with rich fruit grew in it, and on the boughs +were bright birds singing melodiously, while the ground +was covered with flowers, among which flew many +gaudy butterflies.</p> + +<p>In the centre of the garden grew one tree more beautiful +than all the rest: <em>the stem was of silver, the leaves +were golden, and the fruit was clusters of pearls</em>. +Swinging amid the branches sat a young girl, more +fair than any earthly lady; she had a face like the +angels which men only see in dreams; her eyes were +like two stars, her golden hair fell in ripples to her +feet; she was singing to herself. When she saw the +stranger, she gave a little cry, and said, “Ah, my +lord, why do you come here?” Seventee Bai answered, +“May I not come to see you, beautiful lady?” +Then the lady said, “Oh, sir, you are welcome; but +if my father sees you here, he will kill you. I am the +great Cobra’s daughter, and he made this garden for +me to play in, and here I have played these many, +many years all alone, for he lets me see no one, not +even of our own subjects. I never saw any one before +you. Speak, beautiful Prince—tell me how you came +here, and who you are?” Seventee Bai answered, “I +am Seventee Rajah: have no fear—the stern Cobra is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>65]</a></span> +no more.” Then the lady was joyful, when she heard +that the Cobra who had tyrannized over her was dead, +and she said her name was Hera Bai (the Diamond +Lady), and that she was possessor of all the treasures +under the lake; and she said to Seventee Bai, “Stay +with me here; you shall be king of all this country, +and I will be your wife.” “That cannot be,” answered +Seventee Bai, “for I have been sent on a mission +by my Rajah, and I must continue my journey +until I have accomplished it; but if you love me as I +love you, come rather with me to my own land, and +you shall be my wife.” Hera Bai shook her head. +“Not so, dearest,” she said, “for if I go with you, all +the people will see how fair I am, and they will kill +you, and sell me for a slave; and so I shall bring evil +upon you, and not good. But take this flute, dear +husband (and saying this, she gave Seventee Bai a little +golden flute); whenever you wish to see me, or are in +need of my aid, go into the jungle and play upon it, +and before the sound ceases I will be there; but do not +play it in the towns, nor yet amid a crowd.” Then +Seventee Bai put the flute in the folds of her dress, and +she bade farewell to Hera Bai and went away.</p> + +<p>When she came back to the Malee’s cottage, the Malee’s +wife said to her, “We became alarmed about you, +sir; for two days we have seen nothing of you; and we +thought you must have gone away. Where have you +been so long?” Seventee Bai answered, “I had business +of my own in the bazaar” (for she did not choose to +tell the Malee’s wife that she had been under the lake); +“now go and inquire what time your Rajah’s Wuzeer +can give a stranger audience, for I must see him before +I leave this city.” So the Malee’s wife went; whilst +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>66]</a></span> +she was gone, Seventee Bai went down again to the +edge of the lake, and there reverently burnt the cobra’s +body, both for the sake of Hera Bai, and because the +cobra is a sacred animal. Next day (the Malee’s wife +having brought a favorable answer from the palace) +Seventee Bai went to see the Wuzeer. Now the +Wuzeer wondered much why she came to see him, and +he said, “Who are you, and what is your errand?” +Whereupon she answered, “I am Seventee Rajah. I +am going a long journey on my own Rajah’s account, +and happening to be passing through this city, I came +to pay you a friendly visit.” Then the Wuzeer became +quite cordial, and talked with Seventee Bai about the +country and the city, and the Rajah and his wonderful +dream. And Seventee Bai said, “What do you suppose +your Rajah would give to any one who could +show him the tree of which he has so often dreamed?” +The Wuzeer replied, “He would certainly give him +his daughter in marriage and the half of his kingdom.” +“Very well,” said Seventee Bai, “tell your master that, +upon these conditions, if he likes to send for me, I will +show him the tree; he may look at it for one night, but +he cannot have it for his own.”</p> + +<p>The Wuzeer took the message to the Rajah, and +next day the Wuzeer, the Sirdars, and all the great men +of the court, went in state by the Rajah’s order to the +Malee’s hut, to say that he was willing to grant all +Seventee Rajah’s demands, and would like to see the +tree that very night. Seventee Bai thereupon promised +the Wuzeer that if the Rajah would come with his +court, he should see the reality of his dream. Then +she went into the jungle and played on her little flute, +and Hera Bai immediately appeared as she had seen +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>67]</a></span> +her before, swinging in the silver tree; and when she +heard what Seventee Bai wanted, she bade her bring +the Rajah, who should see it without fail.</p> + +<p>When the Rajah came, he and all his court were +overcome with astonishment; for there, in the midst of +the desolate jungle, was a beautiful palace; fountains +played in every court, the rooms were richly decorated +with thousands and thousands of shining jewels; a +light as clear as day filled all the place, soft music was +played around by unseen hands, sweet odors filled the +air, and in the midst of the palace garden there grew +<em>a silver tree, with golden leaves and fruit of pearls</em>.</p> + +<p>The next morning all had disappeared; but the Rajah, +enchanted with what he had seen, remained true +to his promise, and agreed to give Seventee Bai the +half of his kingdom and his daughter in marriage; for, +said he to himself, “A man who can convert the jungle +into a paradise in one night must surely be rich +enough and clever enough to be my son-in-law.” But +Seventee Bai said, “I am now employed on an errand +of my Rajah’s; let me, I beg, first accomplish it, and +on my homeward journey I will remain a while in this +town, and will marry the Princess.” So they gave him +leave to go, and the Rajah and all the great men of his +kingdom accompanied Seventee Bai to the borders of +their land. Thence the Wuzeer’s daughter went on +journeying many days until she had left that country +far behind; but as yet she had gained no clue as to the +way to the Rakshas’ land. In this difficulty she bethought +her of Hera Bai, and played upon the little +golden flute. Hera Bai immediately appeared, saying, +“Husband, what can I do for you?” Seventee Bai +answered, “Kind Hera, I have now been wandering +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>68]</a></span> +in this jungle for many days, endeavoring in vain to +discover the Rakshas’ country, whither my Rajah has +ordered me to go. Can you help me to get there?” +She answered, “You cannot go there by yourself. +For a six months’ journey round their land there is +placed a Rakshas’ guard, and not a sparrow could find +his way into the country without their knowledge and +permission. No men are admitted there, and there are +more Rakshas employed in keeping guard than there +are trees on the face of the earth. They are invisible, +but they would see you, and instantly tear you to pieces. +Be, however, guided by me, and I will contrive a way +by which you may gain what you seek. Take this +ring (and so saying, she placed a glorious ring on Seventee +Bai’s finger); it was given me by my dearest +friend, the Rajah of the Rakshas’ daughter, and will +render you invisible. Look at that mountain, whose +blue head you can just see against the sky; you must +climb to the top of that, for it stands on the borders of +the Rakshas’ territory. When there, turn the stone on +the ring I have given you toward the palm of your +hand, and you will instantly fall through the earth into +the space below the mountain where the Rakshas’ +Rajah holds his court, and find yourself in his +daughter’s presence. Tell her you are my husband; +she will love and help you for my sake.” Hera Bai so +saying disappeared, and Seventee Bai continued her +journey until she reached the mountain top, where she +turned the ring round as she had been bidden, and immediately +found herself falling through the earth, down, +down, down, deeper and deeper, until at last she arrived +in a beautiful room, richly furnished, and hung round +with cloth of gold. In every direction, as far as the eye +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>69]</a></span> +could reach, were thousands and thousands of Rakshas, +and in the centre of the room was a gold and ivory +throne, on which sat the most beautiful Princess that +it is possible to imagine. She was tall and of a commanding +aspect; her black hair was bound by long +strings of pearl; her dress was of fine spun gold, and +round her waist was clasped a zone of restless, throbbing, +light-giving diamonds; her neck and her arms +were covered with a profusion of costly jewels; but +brighter than all shone her bright eyes, which looked +full of gentle majesty. She could see Seventee Bai, +although her attendants could not, because of the magic +ring; and as soon as she saw her she started and cried, +“Who are you? How came you here?” Seventee +Bai answered, “I am Seventee Rajah, the husband of +the Lady Hera, and I have come here by the power of +the magic ring you gave her.” The Rakshas’ Princess +then said, “You are welcome: but you must know that +your coming is attended with much danger; for, did +the guard placed around me by my father know of your +presence, they would instantly put you to death, and I +should be powerless to save you. Tell me why did +you come?” Seventee Bai answered, “I came to see +you, beautiful lady; tell me your name, and how it is +you are here all alone.” She replied, “I am the Rakshas’ +Rajah’s only daughter, and my name is Tara Bai +(the Star Lady), and because my father loves me very +much he has built this palace for me, and placed this +great guard of Rakshas all round for many thousand +miles, to prevent any one coming in or out without his +permission.</p> + +<p>“So great is the state they keep that I seldom see +my father and mother; indeed, I have not seen them +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>70]</a></span> +for several years. Nevertheless, I will go now in person +to implore their protection for you; for though I +never saw king nor prince before, I love you very +much.”</p> + +<p>So saying, she arose to go to her father’s court, bidding +Seventee Bai await her return.</p> + +<p>When the Rajah and Ranee of the Rakshas heard +that their daughter was coming to see them, they were +very much surprised, and said, “What can be the matter +with our daughter? Can she be ill? or can our +Tara Bai be unhappy in the beautiful house we have +given her?” And they said to her, “Daughter, why do +you come? what is the matter?” She answered, “Oh, +my father! I come to tell you I should like to be married. +Cannot you find some beautiful Prince to be my +husband?” Then the Rajah laughed, and said, “You +are but a child still, my daughter; nevertheless, if you +wish for a husband, certainly, if any Prince comes +here, and asks you in marriage, we will let you wed +him.” She said, “If some brave and beautiful Prince +were to come here, and get through the great guard +you have placed around the palace, would you indeed +protect him for my sake, and not allow them to tear +him in pieces?” The Rajah answered, “If such a +one come, he shall be safe.” Then Tara Bai was very +joyful, and ran and fetched Seventee Bai, and said to +her father and mother, “See here is Seventee Rajah, +the young Prince of whom I spoke.” And when the +Rajah and Ranee saw Seventee Bai they were greatly +astonished, and could not think how she had managed +to reach their land, and they thought she must be very +brave and wise to have done so. And because also +Seventee Bai looked a very noble Prince, they were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>71]</a></span> +the more willing that she should marry Tara Bai, and +said, “Seventee Rajah, we are willing you should be +our son-in-law, for you look good and true, and you +must be brave, to have come so long and dangerous a +journey for your wife; now, therefore, you shall be +married; the whole land is open to you, and all that we +have is yours; only take good care of our dear daughter, +and if ever she or you are unhappy, return here and +you shall find a home with us.” So the wedding took +place amidst great rejoicings. The wedding festivities +lasted twelve days, and to it came hundreds and hundreds +of thousands of Rakshas from every country +under heaven; from the north and the south and the +east and the west, from the depths of the earth and the +uttermost parts of the sea. Troop after troop they came +flocking in, an ever-increasing crowd, from all parts of +this wide world, to be present at the marriage of their +master’s daughter.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to count all the rich and +costly presents that the Rakshas’ Rajah and Ranee +gave Tara Bai. There were jewels enough to fill the +seas; diamonds and emeralds, rubies, sapphires and +pearls; gold and silver, costly hangings, carved ebony +and ivory, more than a man could count in a hundred +years; for the Rajah gave his daughter a guard of +100,000,000,000,000 Rakshas, and each Rakshas carried +a bundle of riches, and each bundle was as big as +a house! and so they took leave of the Rakshas’ Rajah +and Ranee, and left the Rakshas’ country.</p> + +<p>When they got to the country of the Rajah who had +dreamed about the silver tree, with leaves of gold and +fruit of pearl (because the number of their retinue was +so great that if they had come into a country they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>72]</a></span> +would have devoured all that was in it like a swarm of +locusts), Seventee Bai and Tara Bai determined that +Tara Bai should stay with the guard of Rakshas in the +jungle, on the borders of the Rajah’s dominions, and +that Seventee Bai should go to the city, as she had promised, +to marry the Rajah’s daughter. And there they +stayed a week, and the Rajah’s daughter was married +with great pomp and ceremony to Seventee Bai; and +when they left the city the Rajah gave Seventee Bai +and the bride, his daughter, horses and camels and elephants, +and rich robes and jewels innumerable; and he +and all his court accompanied them to the borders of +the land.</p> + +<p>Thence they went to the country where lived the +Princess whose great marble bath Seventee Bai had +jumped over; and there Seventee Bai was married to +her, amid great rejoicings, and the wedding was one of +surpassing splendor, and the wedding festivities lasted +for three whole days.</p> + +<p>And leaving that city, they traveled on until they +reached the city where Seventee Bai had tamed the +Rajah’s wild pony, and there they spent two days in +great honor and splendor, and Seventee Bai married +that Princess also; so with her five wives—that is to +say, Hera Bai the Rajah of the Cobras’ daughter, Tara +Bai the Rajah of the Rakshas’ daughter, and the three +other Princesses—and a great tribe of attendants and +elephants and camels and horses, she returned to the +city where she had left Parbuttee Bai.</p> + +<p>Now when news was brought to Seventee Bai’s master +(the friendly Rajah), of the great cavalcade that +was approaching his city, he became very much alarmed, +taking Seventee Bai for some strange Rajah who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>73]</a></span> +had come to make war upon him. When Seventee +Bai heard how alarmed he was, she sent a messenger +to him, on a swift horse, to say, “Be not alarmed; it is +only thy servant, Seventee Rajah, returning from the +errand on which thou didst send him.” Then the +Rajah’s heart was light, and he ordered a royal salute +to be fired, and went out with all his court to meet +Seventee Bai, and they all went together in a state +procession into the city. And Seventee Bai said to +the Rajah, “You sent your servant to the Rakshas’ +country to fetch a golden saree for the Ranee. Behold, +I have done as you wish.” And so saying, she gave to +the Rajah five Rakshas’ bundles of rich hangings and +garments covered with jewels (that is to say, five +housefuls of costly things; for each Rakshas carried as +much in the bundle on his shoulders as a house would +hold); and to the Wuzeer she gave two bundles.</p> + +<p>After this, Seventee Bai discharged almost all her +immense train of attendants (for fear they should +create a famine in the land), sending them to their own +houses with many valuable presents; and she took the +three Princesses, her wives, to live with her and Parbuttee +Bai; but Hera Bai and Tara Bai, on account +of their high rank and their surpassing beauty, had a +splendid palace of their own in the jungle, of which no +one knew but Seventee Bai.</p> + +<p>Now when she again saw Seventee Bai, the Rajah’s +little daughter said to her father, “Father, I do not +think there is such a brave and beautiful Prince in all +the world as this Seventee Rajah. I would rather have +him for my husband than any one else.” And the +Rajah said, “Daughter, I am very willing you should +marry him.” So it was settled Seventee Bai should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>74]</a></span> +marry the little Princess; but she said to the Rajah, +“I am willing to marry your daughter, but we must +have a very grand wedding; give me time, therefore, +to send into all the countries round, and invite all their +Rajahs to be present at the ceremony.” And to this +the Rajah agreed.</p> + +<p>Now, about this time, Seventee Bai one day found +Parbuttee Bai crying, and said to her, “Little sister, +why are you unhappy?” And Parbuttee Bai answered, +“Oh sister, you have brought us out of all our +difficulties, and won us honor and great riches, but yet +I do not feel merry; for I cannot help thinking of our +poor husband, who is now, maybe, wandering about a +wretched beggar, and I long with my whole heart to +see him again.” Then Seventee Bai said, “Well, +cheer up, do not cry; mind those women do not find +out I am not Seventee Rajah. Keep a good heart, and +I will try and find your husband for you.” So Seventee +Bai went into the jungle palace to see Hera Bai, +and said to her, “I have a friend whom I have not +seen since he became mad twelve years ago, and ran +away into the jungle disguised as a Fakeer. I should +like very much to find out if he is still alive. How can +I learn?” Now Hera Bai was a very wise Princess, +and she answered, “Your best plan will be to provide +a great feast for the poor, and cause it to be proclaimed +in all lands, far and near, that you are about to give it +as a thank-offering for all the blessings God has bestowed +on you. The poor will flock from all countries +to come to it, and perhaps among the rest you may +find your friend.”</p> + +<p>Seventee Bai did as Hera Bai had advised, causing +two long tables to be spread in the jungle, whereat +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>75]</a></span> +hundreds of poor from all parts of the world were daily +entertained; and every day, for six months, Seventee +Bai and Parbuttee Bai walked down the long rows of +people, apparently to see how they were all getting on, +but in reality to look for Logedas Rajah; but they +found him not.</p> + +<p>At last one day, as Seventee Bai was going her accustomed +round, she saw a wretched wild-looking man, +black as pitch, with tangled hair, a thin wrinkled face, +and in his hand a wooden bowl, such as Fakeers carry +about to collect broken meat and scraps of bread in, +and touching Parbuttee Bai, she said to her, “See, +Parbuttee, there is your husband.” When Parbuttee +Bai saw this pitiful sight (for it was, indeed, Logedas, +but so changed and altered that even his wives hardly +recognized him), she began to cry. Then Seventee +Bai said, “Do not cry; go home quickly. I will take +care of him.” And when Parbuttee Bai was gone, she +called one of the guard and said to him, “Catch hold +of that man and put him in prison.” Then Logedas +Rajah said, “Why do you seize me? I have done no +harm to any one.” But Seventee Bai ordered the +guard not to heed his remonstrances, but to take him +to prison instantly, for she did not wish the people +around to discover how interested she was in him. So +the guard took Logedas Rajah away to lock him up. +Poor Logedas Rajah said to them, “Why has this +wicked Rajah had me taken prisoner? I have harmed +no one. I have not fought, nor robbed; but for twelve +years I have been a wretched beggar, living on the +bread of charity.” For he did not tell them he was a +Rajah’s son, for he knew they would only laugh at +him. They replied. “You must not call our Rajah +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>76]</a></span> +wicked; it is you that are wicked, and not he, and +doubtless he will have your head cut off.”</p> + +<p>When they put him in prison he begged them again +to say what was to be done to him. “Oh!” said they, +“you will certainly be hanged to-morrow morning, or +perhaps, if you like it better, beheaded, in front of the +palace.”</p> + +<p>Now as soon as Seventee Bai got home, she sent for +her head servants, and said to them, “Go at once to +the prison, and order the guard to give you up the +Fakeer I gave into their charge, and bring him here in +a palanquin, but see that he does not escape.” Then +Seventee Bai ordered them to lock up Logedas in a +distant part of the palace, and commanded that he +should be washed, and dressed in new clothes, and +given food, and that a barber should be sent for, to cut +his hair and trim his beard. Then Logedas said to his +keepers, “See how good the Rajah is to me! He will +not surely hang me after this.” “Oh, never fear,” +they answered; “when you are dressed up and made +very smart, it will be a much finer sight to see you +hanged than before.” Thus they tried to frighten the +poor man. After this Seventee Bai sent for all the +greatest doctors in the kingdom, and said to them, “If +a Rajah wanders about for twelve years in the jungle, +until all trace of his princely beauty is lost, how long +will it take you to restore him to his original likeness?” +They answered, “With care and attention it may be +done in six months.” “Very well,” said Seventee Bai, +“there is a friend of mine now in my palace of whom +this is the case. Take him and treat him well, and at +the end of six months I shall expect to see him restored +to his original health and strength.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>77]</a></span> +So Logedas was placed under the doctors’ care; but +all this time he had no idea who Seventee Bai was, nor +why he was thus treated. Every day Seventee Bai +came to see him and talk to him. Then he said to his +keepers, “See, good people, how kind this great Rajah +is, coming to see me every day; he can intend for me +nothing but good.” To which they would answer, +“Don’t you be in a hurry; none can fathom the hearts +of kings. Most probably, for all this delay, he will in +the end have you taken and hanged.” Thus they +amused themselves by alarming him.</p> + +<p>Then, some day, when Seventee Bai had been more +than usually kind, Logedas Rajah would say again, “I +do not fear the Rajah’s intentions toward me. Did +you not notice how very kind he was to-day!” And to +this his keepers would reply—</p> + +<p>“Doubtless it is amusing for him, but hardly, we +should think, for you. He will play with you probably +for some time (as a cat does with a mouse); but in +three months is the Rajah’s birthday; most likely he is +keeping you to kill you then.” And so the time wore +on.</p> + +<p>Seventee Bai’s birthday was fixed for the day also of +her wedding with the Rajah’s daughter. For this great +event immense preparations were made all over the +plain outside the city walls. Tents made of cloth of +gold were pitched in a great square, twelve miles long +and twelve miles broad, for the accommodation of the +neighboring Rajahs, and in the centre was a larger +tent than all the rest, covered with jewels and shining +like a great golden temple, in which they were to assemble.</p> + +<p>Then Seventee Bai said to Parbuttee Bai, “On my +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>78]</a></span> +birthday I will restore you to your husband.” But Parbuttee +Bai was vexed and said, “I cannot bear the +thought of him; it is such a terrible thing to think of +our once handsome husband as none other than that +miserable Fakeer.”</p> + +<p>Seventee Bai smiled. “In truth,” she said, “I think +you will find him again altered, and for the better. +You cannot think what a change rest and care have +made in him; but he does not know who we are, and +as you value my happiness, tell no one now that I am +not the Rajah.” “Indeed I will not, dearest sister,” +answered Parbuttee Bai. “I should in truth be loath +to vex you, after all you have done for me; for owing +to you here have we lived happily for twelve years like +sisters, and I do not think as clever a woman as you +was ever before born in this world.”</p> + +<p>Among other guests invited to the wedding were Siu +Rajah and his wife, and the Wuzeer, Seventee Bai’s +father, and her mother. Seventee Bai arranged thrones +for them all, made of gold and emeralds, and diamonds, +and rubies, and ivory. And she ordered that +in the seat of honor on her left-hand side should be +placed the Wuzeer, her father, and next to him her +mother, and next to them Siu Rajah and his wife, +and after them all the other Rajahs and Ranees, according +to their rank; and all the Rajahs and Ranees wondered +much that the place of honor should have been +given to the stranger Wuzeer. Then Seventee Bai +took her most costly Rajah dress, and ordered that Logedas +Rajah should be clothed in it, and escorted to the +tent; and she took off the man’s clothes which she had +worn, and dressed herself in a saree. When she was +dressed in it she looked a more lovely woman than she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>79]</a></span> +had before looked a handsome man. And she went to +the tent leading Parbuttee Bai, while with her came +Hera Bai and Tara Bai of more than mortal beauty, +and the three other Princesses clothed in the most costly +robes. Then before all the Rajahs and Ranees, Seventee +Bai knelt down at Logedas Rajah’s feet, and said to +him, “I am your true wife. O husband, have you forgotten +her whom you left in the jungle with Parbuttee +Bai twelve years ago? See here she also is; and behold +these rich jewels, these tents of gold, these hangings +of priceless worth, these elephants, camels, horses, +attendants and all this wealth. It is all yours, as I am +yours; for I have collected all for you.”</p> + +<p>Then Logedas Rajah wept for joy, and Siu Rajah +arose and kissed Seventee Bai, and said to her, “My +noble daughter, you have rescued my son from misery, +and done more wisely and well than woman ever did +before. May all honor and blessing attend you henceforth +and for ever.”</p> + +<p>And the assembled Rajahs and Ranees were surprised +beyond measure, saying, “Did any one ever +hear of a woman doing so much?” But more than any +was the good Rajah astonished, whom Seventee Bai had +served so well for twelve years, and whose daughter +she was to have married that day, when he learnt that +she was a woman! It was then agreed by all that +Logedas Rajah should on that day be newly married to +his two wives, Parbuttee Bai and Seventee Bai; and +should also marry the six other beautiful Princesses—the +Princess Hera Bai, the Princess Tara Bai, the Rajah’s +little daughter, and the three other Princesses; and +that he should return with his father to his own kingdom. +And the weddings took place amid great splendor +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>80]</a></span> +and rejoicings unheard of; and of all the fine things +that were seen and done on that day it is impossible to +tell. And afterward Logedas Rajah and his eight +wives, and his father and mother, and the Wuzeer and +his wife, and all their attendants, returned to their own +land, where they all lived very happily ever after. +And so may all who read this story live happily too.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> +Or Singh Rajah, the Lion King.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> +Or Vizier.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> +<i>I.e.</i>, palanquin-bearers.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> +Gigantic demoniacal ogres, who can at will assume any +shape. Their chief terrestrial delight is said to be digging dead +bodies out of their graves and devouring them.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/oddt02.jpg" width="350" height="116" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>81]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh04.jpg" width="500" height="92" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>IV.<br /> +<br /> +<i>TRUTH’S TRIUMPH.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">S</span>EVERAL hundred years ago there was a certain +Rajah who had twelve wives, but no children, +and though he caused many prayers to be said, and +presents made in temples far and near, never a son nor +a daughter had he. Now this Rajah had a Wuzeer +who was a very, very wise old man, and it came to +pass that one day, when he was traveling in a distant +part of his kingdom, accompanied by this Wuzeer and +the rest of his court, he came upon a large garden, in +walking round which he was particularly struck by a +little tree which grew there. It was a bringal<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> tree, +not above two feet in height. It had no leaves, but on +it grew a hundred and one bringals. The Rajah +stopped to count them, and then turning to the Wuzeer +in great astonishment, said, “It is to me a most unaccountable +thing, that this little tree should have no +leaves, but a hundred and one bringals growing on it. +You are a wise man—can you guess what this means?” +The Wuzeer replied, “I can interpret this marvel to +you, but if I do, you will most likely not believe me; +promise therefore that if I tell you, you will not cause +me to be killed as having told (as you imagine) a lie.” +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>82]</a></span> +The Rajah promised, and the Wuzeer continued: +“The meaning of this little bringal tree, with the hundred +and one bringals growing on it, is this. Whoever +marries the daughter of the Malee in charge of this +garden will have a hundred and one children—a hundred +sons and one daughter.” The Rajah said, +“Where is the maiden to be seen?” The Wuzeer answered, +“When a number of great people like you +and all your court come into a little village like this, +the poor people, and especially the children, are frightened +and run away and hide themselves; therefore, as +long as you stay here as Rajah you cannot hope to see +her. Your only means will be to send away your +suite, and cause it be announced that you have left the +place. Then, if you walk daily in this garden, you +may some morning meet the pretty Guzra Bai,<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> of +whom I speak.”</p> + +<p>Upon this advice the Rajah acted; and one day +whilst walking in the garden he saw the Malee’s young +daughter, a girl of twelve years old, busy gathering +flowers. He went forward to accost her, but she, seeing +that he was not one of the villagers, but a stranger, +was shy, and ran home to her father’s house.</p> + +<p>The Rajah followed, for he was very much struck +with her grace and beauty; in fact, he fell in love with +her as soon as he saw her, and thought he had never +seen a king’s daughter half so charming.</p> + +<p>When he got to the Malee’s house the door was shut; +so he called out, “Let me in, good Malee; I am the +Rajah, and I wish to marry your daughter.” The +Malee only laughed, and answered, “A pretty tale to +tell a simple man, indeed! You a Rajah! why the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>83]</a></span> +Rajah is miles away. You had better go home, my +good fellow, for there’s no welcome for you here!” +But the Rajah continued calling till the Malee opened +the door; who then was indeed surprised, seeing it was +truly no other than the Rajah, and he asked what he +could do for him.</p> + +<p>The Rajah said, “I wish to marry your beautiful +daughter, Guzra Bai.” “No, no,” said the Malee, +“this joke won’t do. None of your Princes in disguise +for me. You may think you are a great Rajah and I +only a poor Malee, but I tell you that makes no difference +at all to me. Though you were king of all the +earth, I would not permit you to come here and amuse +yourself chattering to my girl, only to fill her head with +nonsense, and to break her heart.”</p> + +<p>“In truth, good man, you do me wrong,” answered +the Rajah, humbly: “I mean what I say; I wish to +marry your daughter.”</p> + +<p>“Do not think,” retorted the Malee, “that I’ll make +a fool of myself because I’m only a Malee, and believe +what you’ve got to say, because you’re a great Rajah. +Rajah or no Rajah is all one to me. If you mean +what you say, if you care for my daughter and wish to +be married to her, come and be married; but I’ll have +none of your new-fangled forms and court ceremonies +hard to be understood; let the girl be married by her +father’s hearth and under her father’s roof, and let us +invite to the wedding our old friends and acquaintance +whom we’ve known all our lives, and before we ever +thought of you.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah was not angry, but amused, and rather +pleased than otherwise at the old man’s frankness, and +he consented to all that was desired.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>84]</a></span> +The village beauty, Guzra Bai, was therefore married +with as much pomp as they could muster, but in +village fashion, to the great Rajah, who took her home +with him, followed by the tears and blessings of her +parents and playmates.</p> + +<p>The twelve kings’ daughters were by no means +pleased at this addition to the number of the Ranees; +and they agreed amongst themselves that it would be +highly derogatory to their dignity to permit Guzra Bai +to associate with them, and that the Rajah, their husband, +had offered them an unpardonable insult in +marrying a Malee’s daughter, which was to be revenged +upon her the very first opportunity.</p> + +<p>Having made this league, they tormented poor +Guzra Bai so much that to save her from their persecutions, +the Rajah built her a little house of her +own, where she lived very, very happily for a short +time.</p> + +<p>At last one day he had occasion to go and visit a +distant part of his dominions, but fearing his high-born +wives might ill-use Guzra Bai in his absence, at parting +he gave her a little golden bell,<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> saying, “If while +I am away you are in any trouble, or any one should +be unkind to you, ring this little bell, and wherever I +am I shall instantly hear it, and will return to your +aid.”</p> + +<p>No sooner had the Rajah gone, than Guzra Bai +thought she would try the power of the bell. So she +rang it. The Rajah instantly appeared. “What do +you want?” he said. “Oh, nothing,” she replied. “I +was foolish. I could hardly believe what you told me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>85]</a></span> +could be true, and thought I would try.” “Now you +will believe, I hope,” he said, and went away. A +second time she rang the bell. Again the Rajah returned. +“Oh, pardon me, husband,” she said; “it +was wrong of me not to trust you, but I hardly thought +you could return again from so far.” “Never mind,” +he said, “only do not try the experiment again.” And +again he went away. A third time she rang the golden +bell. “Why do you ring again, Guzra Bai?” asked +the Rajah sternly, as for a third time he returned. “I +don’t know, indeed; indeed I beg your pardon,” she +said; “but I know not why, I felt so frightened.” +“Have any of the Ranees been unkind to you?” he +asked. “No, none,” she answered; “in fact, I have +seen none of them.” “You are a silly child,” said he, +stroking her hair. “Affairs of the state call me away. +You must try and keep a good heart till my return;” +and for the fourth time he disappeared.</p> + +<p>A little while after this, wonderful to relate, Guzra +Bai had a hundred and one children!—a hundred boys +and one girl. When the Ranees heard this, they said +to each other, “Guzra Bai, the Malee’s daughter, will +rank higher than us; she will have great power and influence +as mother to the heir to the Raj;<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> let us kill +these children, and tell our husband that she is a sorceress; +then will he love her no longer, and his old +affection for us will return.” So these twelve wicked +Ranees all went over to Guzra Bai’s house. When +Guzra Bai saw them coming, she feared they meant to +do her some harm, so she seized her little golden bell, +and rang, and rang, and rang—but no Rajah came. +She had called him back so often that he did not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>86]</a></span> +believe she really needed his help. And thus the poor +woman was left to the mercy of her implacable enemies.</p> + +<p>Now the nurse who had charge of the hundred and +one babies was an old servant of the twelve Ranees, +and moreover a very wicked woman, able and willing +to do whatever her twelve wicked old mistresses ordered. +So when they said to her, “Can you kill these +children?” she answered, “Nothing is easier; I will +throw them out upon the dust-heap behind the palace, +where the rats and hawks and vultures will have left +none of them remaining by to-morrow morning.” “So +be it,” said the Ranees. Then the nurse took the hundred +and one little innocent children—the hundred little +boys and the one little girl—and threw them behind +the palace on the dust-heap, close to some large rat-holes; +and after that, she and the twelve Ranees placed +a very large stone in each of the babies’ cradles, and +said to Guzra Bai, “Oh, you evil witch in disguise, do +not hope any longer to impose by your arts on the Rajah’s +credulity. See, your children have all turned into +stones. See these, your pretty babies!”—and with that +they tumbled the hundred and one stones down in a +great heap on the floor. Then Guzra Bai began to +cry, for she knew it was not true; but what could one +poor woman do against thirteen? At the Rajah’s return +the twelve Ranees accused Guzra Bai of being a +witch, and the nurse testified that the hundred and one +children she had charge of had turned into stones, and +the Rajah believed them rather than Guzra Bai, and +he ordered her to be imprisoned for life.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a Bandicote<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> had heard the pitiful cries +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>87]</a></span> +of the children, and taking pity on them, dragged them +all, one by one, into her hole, out of the way of kites +and vultures. She then assembled all the Bandicotes +from far and near, and told them what she had done, +begging them to assist in finding food for the children. +Then every day a hundred and one Bandicotes would +come, each bringing a little bit of food in his mouth, +and give it to one of the children; and so day by day +they grew stronger and stronger, until they were able +to run about, and then they used to play of a morning +at the mouth of the Bandicote’s hole, running in there +to sleep every night. But one fine day who should +come by but the wicked old nurse! Fortunately, all +the boys were in the hole, and the little girl, who was +playing outside, on seeing her ran in there too, but not +before the nurse had seen her. She immediately went +to the twelve Ranees and related this, saying, “I cannot +help thinking some of the children may still be living +in those rat-holes. You had better send and have +them dug out and killed.” “We dare not do that,” +answered they, “for fear of causing suspicion; but we +will order some laborers to dig up that ground and +make it into a field, and that will effectually smother +any of the children who may still be alive.” This +plan was approved and forthwith carried into execution; +but the good Bandicote, who happened that day +to be out on a foraging expedition in the palace, heard +all about it there, and immediately running home, took +all the children from her hole to a large well some distance +off, where she hid them in the hollows behind +the steps leading down to the well, laying one child +under each step.</p> + +<p>Here they would have been quite safe, had not the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>88]</a></span> +Dhobee<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> happened to go down to the well that day to +wash some clothes, taking with him his little girl. +While her father was drawing up water, the child +amused herself running up and down the steps of the +well. Now each time her weight pressed down a step +it gave the child hidden underneath a little squeeze. +All the hundred boys bore this without uttering a +sound; but when the Dhobee’s child trod on the step +under which the little girl was hidden, she cried out, +“How can you be so cruel to me, trampling on me in +this way? Have pity on me, for I am a little girl as +well as you.”</p> + +<p>When the child heard these words proceeding from +the stone, she ran in great alarm to her father, saying, +“Father, I don’t know what’s the matter, but something +alive is certainly under those stones. I heard it speak; +but whether it is a Rakshas or an angel or a human +being I cannot tell.” Then the Dhobee went to the +twelve Ranees to tell them the wonderful news about +the voice in the well; and they said to each other, +“Maybe it’s some of Guzra Bai’s children; let us send +and have this inquired into.” So they sent some people +to pull down the well and see if some evil spirits +were not there.</p> + +<p>Then laborers went to pull down the well. Now +close to the well was a little temple dedicated to Gunputti, +containing a small shrine and a little clay image +of the god. When the children felt the well being +pulled down they called out for help and protection to +Gunputti, who took pity on them and changed them +into trees growing by his temple—a hundred little +mango trees all round in a circle (which were the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>89]</a></span> +hundred little boys), and a little rose bush in the middle, +covered with red and white roses, which was the little +girl.</p> + +<p>The laborers pulled down the well, but they found +nothing there but a poor old Bandicote, which they +killed. Then, by order of the twelve wicked Ranees, +they sacrilegiously destroyed the little temple. But they +found no children there either. However, the Dhobee’s +mischievous little daughter had gone with her father to +witness the work of destruction, and as they were looking +on, she said, “Father, do look at all those funny +little trees; I never remember noticing them here before.” +And being very inquisitive, she started off to +have a nearer look at them. There in a circle grew +the hundred little mango trees, and in the centre of all +the little rose bush, bearing the red and white roses.</p> + +<p>The girl rushed by the mango trees, who uttered no +words, and running up to the rose bush, began gathering +some of the flowers. At this the rose bush trembled +very much, and sighed and said, “I am a little +girl as well as you; how can you be so cruel? You +are breaking all my ribs.” Then the child ran back to +her father and said, “Come and listen to what the +rose bush says.” And the father repeated the news to +the twelve Ranees, who ordered that a great fire should +be made, and the hundred and one little trees be burnt +in it, root and branch, till not a stick remained.</p> + +<p>The fire was made, and the hundred and one little +trees were dug up and just going to be put into it, +when Gunputti, taking pity on them, caused a tremendous +storm to come on, which put out the fire and +flooded the country and swept the hundred and one +trees into the river, where they were carried down a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>90]</a></span> +long, long way by the torrent, until at last the children +were landed, restored to their own shapes, on the river +bank, in the midst of a wild jungle, very far from any +human habitation.</p> + +<p>Here these children lived for ten years, happy in +their mutual love and affection. Generally every day +fifty of the boys would go out to collect roots and berries +for their food, leaving fifty at home to take care of +their little sister: but sometimes they put her in some +safe place, and all would go out together for the day; +nor were they ever molested in their excursions by +bear, panther, snake, scorpion, or other noxious creature. +One day all the brothers put their little sister +safely up in a fine shady tree, and went out together to +hunt. After rambling on for some time, they came to +the hut of a savage Rakshas, who in the disguise of an +old woman had lived for many years in the jungle. +The Rakshas, angry at this invasion of her domain, no +sooner saw them than she changed them all into crows. +Night came on, and their little sister was anxiously +awaiting her brothers’ return, when on a sudden she +heard a loud whirring sound in the air, and round the +tree flocked a hundred black crows, cawing and offering +her berries and roots which they had dug up with +their sharp bills. Then the little sister guessed too +truly what must have happened—that some malignant +spirit had metamorphosed her brothers into this hideous +shape; and at the sad sight she began to cry.</p> + +<p>Time wore on; every morning the crows flew away +to collect food for her and for themselves, and every +evening they returned to roost in the branches of the +high tree where she sat the livelong day, crying as if +her heart would break.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>91]</a></span> +At last so many bitter tears had she shed that they +made a little stream which flowed from the foot of the +tree right down through the jungle.</p> + +<p>Some months after this, one fine day, a young Rajah +from a neighboring country happened to be hunting +in this very jungle; but he had not been very successful. +Toward the close of the day he found himself +faint and weary, having missed his way and lost his +comrades, with no companion save his dogs, who, +being thirsty, ran hurriedly hither and thither in search +of water. After some time, they saw in the distance +what looked like a clear stream: the dogs rushed there +and the tired prince, following them, flung himself +down on the grass by the water’s brink, thinking to sleep +there for the night; and, with his hands under his +head, stared up into the leafy branches of the tree above +him. Great was his astonishment to see high up in +the air an immense number of crows, and above them all +a most lovely young girl, who was feeding them with +berries and wild fruits. Quick as thought, he climbed +the tree, and bringing her carefully and gently down, +seated her on the grass beside him, saying, “Tell me, +pretty lady, who you are, and how you come to be living +in this dreary palace?” So she told him all her +adventures, except that she did not say the hundred +crows were her hundred brothers. Then the Rajah +said, “Do not cry any more, fair Princess; you shall +come home with me and be my Ranee, and my father +and mother shall be yours.” At this she smiled and +dried her eyes, but quickly added, “You will let me +take these crows with me, will you not? for I love +them dearly, and I cannot go away unless they may +come too.” “To be sure,” he answered. “You may +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>92]</a></span> +bring all the animals in the jungle with you, if you like, +so you will only come.”</p> + +<p>So he took her home to his father’s house, and the +old Rajah and Ranee wondered much at this jungle +Lady, when they saw her rare beauty, her modest +gentle ways and her queenly grace. Then the young +Rajah told them how she was a persecuted Princess, +and asked their leave to marry her; and because her +loving goodness had won all hearts, they gave their +consent as joyfully as if she had been daughter of the +greatest of Rajahs, and brought with her a splendid +dower; and they called her Draupadi Bai.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> + +<p>Draupadi had some beautiful trees planted in front +of her palace, in which the crows, her brothers, used +to live, and she daily with her own hands boiled a +quantity of rice, which she would scatter for them to +eat as they flocked around her. Now some time after +this, Draupadi Bai had a son, who was called Ramchundra. +He was a very good boy, and his mother +Draupadi Bai used to take him to school every morning, +and go and fetch him home in the evening. But +one day, when Ramchundra was about fourteen years +old, it happened that Draupadi Bai did not go to fetch +him home from school as she was wont; and on his +return he found her sitting under the trees in front of +her palace, stroking the glossy black crows that flocked +around her, and weeping.</p> + +<p>Then Ramchundra threw down his bundle of books, +and said to his mother, putting his elbows on her knees, +and looking up in her face, “Mammy, dear, tell me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>93]</a></span> +why you are now crying, and what it is that makes you +so often sad.” “Oh, nothing, nothing,” she answered. +“Yes, dear mother,” said he, “do tell me. Can I help +you? If I can, I will.” Draupadi Bai shook her head. +“Alas, no, my son,” she said; “you are too young to +help me; and as for my grief, I have never told it to +any one. I cannot tell it to you now.” But Ramchundra +continued begging and praying her to tell him, +until at last she did; relating to him all her own and +his uncles’ sad history; and lastly, how they had been +changed by a Rakshas into the black crows he saw +around him. Then the boy sprang up and said, +“Which way did your brothers take when they met +the Rakshas?” “How can I tell?” she asked. “Why,” +he answered, “I thought perhaps you might remember +on which side they returned that first night to you, +after being bewitched?” “Oh,” she said, “they came +toward the tree from that part of the jungle which lies +in a straight line behind the palace.” “Very well,” +cried Ramchundra, joyfully, “I also will go there, +and find out this wicked old Rakshas, and learn by +what means they may be disenchanted.” “No, no, my +son,” she answered, “I cannot let you go: see, I have +lost father and mother, and these my hundred brothers; +and now, if you fall into the Rakshas’ clutches as well +as they, and are lost to me, what will life have worth +living for?” To this he replied, “Do not fear for me, +mother; I will be wary and discreet.” And going to +his father, he said, “Father, it is time I should see +something of the world. I beg you to permit me to +travel and see other lands.” The Rajah answered, +“You shall go. Tell me what attendants you would +like to accompany you?” “Give me,” said Ramchundra, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>94]</a></span> +“a horse to ride, and a groom to take care of it.” +The Rajah consented, and Ramchundra set off riding +toward the jungle; but as soon as he got there, he sent +his horse back by the groom with a message to his +parents, and proceeded alone, on foot.</p> + +<p>After wandering about for some time he came upon +a small hut, in which lay an ugly old woman fast +asleep. She had long claws instead of hands, and her +hair hung down all around her in a thick black tangle. +Ramchundra knew, by the whole appearance of the +place, that he must have reached the Rakshas’ abode +of which he was in search; so, stealing softly in, he sat +down and began shampooing her head. At last the +Rakshas woke up. “You dear little boy,” she said, +“do not be afraid; I am only a poor old woman, and +will not hurt you. Stay with me, and you shall be my +servant.” This she said not from any feeling of kindness +or pity for Ramchundra, but merely because she +thought he might be helpful to her. So the young +Rajah remained in her service, determining to stay +there till he should have learnt from her all that he +wished to know.</p> + +<p>Thus one day he said to her, “Good mother, what +is the use of all those little jars of water you have arranged +round your house?” She answered, “That +water possesses certain magical attributes: if any of it +is sprinkled on people enchanted by me, they instantly +resume their former shape.” “And what,” he continued, +“is the use of your wand?” “That,” she replied, +“has many supernatural powers: for instance, +by simply uttering your wish and waving it in the air, +you can conjure up a mountain, a river or a forest in +a moment of time.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>95]</a></span> +Another day Ramchundra said to her, “Your hair, +good mother, is dreadfully tangled; pray let me comb +it.” “No,” she said, “you must not touch my hair; it +would be dangerous; for every hair has power to set +the jungle on fire.” “How is that?” he asked. She +replied, “The least fragment of my hair thrown in the +direction of the jungle would instantly set it in a blaze.” +Having learnt all this, one day when it was very hot, +and the old Rakshas was drowsy, Ramchundra begged +leave to shampoo her head, which speedily sent her to +sleep; then, gently pulling out two or three of her +hairs, he got up, and taking in one hand her wand, and +in the other two jars of the magic water, he stealthily +left the hut; but he had not gone far before she woke +up, and instantly divining what he had done, pursued +him with great rapidity. Ramchundra, looking back +and perceiving that she was gaining upon him, waved +the enchanted wand and created a great river, which +suddenly rolled its tumultuous waves between them; +but, quick as thought, the Rakshas swam the river.</p> + +<p>Then he turned, and waving the wand again, caused +a high mountain to rise between them; but the Rakshas +climbed the mountain. Nearer she came, and yet +nearer; each time he turned to use the wand and put +obstacles in her way, the delay gave her a few minutes’ +advantage, so that he lost almost as much as he gained. +Then, as a last resource, he scattered the hairs he had +stolen to the winds, and instantly the jungle on the +hill side, through which the Rakshas was coming, was +set in a blaze; the fire rose higher and higher, the +wicked old Rakshas was consumed by the flames, and +Ramchundra pursued his journey in safety until he +reached his father’s palace. Draupadi Bai was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>96]</a></span> +overjoyed to see her son again, and he led her out into the +garden, and scattered the magic water on the hundred +black crows, which instantly recovered their human +forms, and stood up one hundred fine, handsome young +men.</p> + +<p>Then were there rejoicings throughout the country, +because the Ranee’s brothers had been disenchanted; +and the Rajah sent out into all neighboring lands to invite +their Rajahs and Ranees to a great feast in honor +of his brothers-in-law.</p> + +<p>Among others who came to the feast was the Rajah +Draupadi Bai’s father, and the twelve wicked Ranees +his wives.</p> + +<p>When they were all assembled, Draupadi arose, and +said to him, “Noble sir, we had looked to see your +wife Guzra Bai with you. Pray you tell us wherefore +she has not accompanied you.” The Rajah was +much surprised to learn that Draupadi Bai knew anything +about Guzra Bai, and he said, “Speak not of +her: she is a wicked woman; it is fit that she should +end her days in prison.” But Draupadi Bai and her +husband, and her hundred brothers, rose and said, +“We require, O Rajah, that you send home instantly +and fetch hither that much injured lady, which, if you +refuse to do, your wives shall be imprisoned, and you +ignominiously expelled this kingdom.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah could not guess what the meaning of this +was, and thought they merely wished to pick a quarrel +with him: but not much caring whether Guzra Bai +came or not, he sent for her as was desired. When +she arrived, her daughter Draupadi Bai, and her hundred +sons, with Draupadi Bai’s husband and the young +Ramchundra, went out to the gate to meet her, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>97]</a></span> +conducted her into the palace with all honor. Then, +standing around her, they turned to the Rajah her husband, +and related to him the story of their lives; how +that they were his children, and Guzra Bai their mother; +how she had been cruelly calumniated by the +twelve wicked Ranees, and they in constant peril of +their lives; but having miraculously escaped many terrible +dangers, still lived to pay him duteous service +and to cheer and support his old age.</p> + +<p>At this news the whole company was very much astonished. +The Rajah, overjoyed, embraced his wife +Guzra Bai, and it was agreed that she and their hundred +sons should return with him to his own land, +which accordingly was done. Ramchundra lived very +happily with his father and mother to the day of their +death, when he ascended the throne, and became a +very popular Rajah; and the twelve wicked old Ranees, +who had conspired against Guzra Bai and her +children, were, by order of the Rajah, burnt to death. +Thus truth triumphed in the end; but so unequally is +human justice meted out that the old nurse, who +worked their evil will, and was in fact the most guilty +wretch of all, is said to have lived unpunished, to have +died in the bosom of her family, and to have had as +big a funeral pile as any virtuous Hindoo.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> +<i>Solanum molengena</i>—the egg-shaped fruit of which is a +favorite vegetable all over India.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> +Flower Girl.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> +“It must have been a kind of telegraph to go so quick,” +my Narrator said.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> +Kingdom.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> +A species of large rat.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> +Washerman.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> +Doubtless after the beautiful Princess Draupadi, daughter +of the Rajah of Panchala, and a famous character in the great +Hindoo epic, the “Maha Bharata.”</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 260px;"> +<img src="images/oddt03.jpg" width="260" height="56" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>98]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh05.jpg" width="500" height="90" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>V.<br /> +<br /> +<i>RAMA AND LUXMAN; OR, THE LEARNED OWL.</i></h2> + +<div class="cpoem"> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“With a lengthened loud halloo,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tuwhoo, tuwhit, tuwhit, tuwhoo.”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> +</div> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a Rajah whose name +was Chandra Rajah,<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> and he had a learned +Wuzeer or Minister, named Butti. Their mutual love +was so great that they were more like brothers than +master and servant. Neither the Rajah nor the Wuzeer +had any children, and both were equally anxious +to have a son. At last, in one day and one hour, the +wife of the Rajah and the wife of the Wuzeer had each +a little baby boy. They named the Rajah’s son Rama, +and the son of the Wuzeer was called Luxman, and +there were great rejoicings at the birth of both. The +boys grew up and loved each other tenderly: they were +never happy unless together; together they went to +daily school, together bathed and played, and they +would not eat except from off one plate. One day, +when Rama Rajah was fifteen years old, his mother, +the Ranee, said to Chandra Rajah: “Husband, our +son associates too much with low people; for instance, +he is always at play with the Wuzeer’s son, Luxman, +which is not befitting his rank. I wish you would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>99]</a></span> +endeavor to put an end to their friendship, and find +him better playmates.”</p> + +<p>Chandra Rajah replied, “I cannot do it: Luxman’s +father is my very good friend and Wuzeer, as his +father’s father was to my father; let the sons be the +same.” This answer annoyed the Ranee, but she said +no more to her husband; she sent, however, for all the +wise people, and seers, and conjurors in the land, and +inquired of them whether there existed no means of +dissolving the children’s affection for each other; they +answered they knew of none. At last one old Nautch<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> +woman came to the Ranee and said, “I can do this +thing you wish, but for it you must give me a great +reward.” Then the Ranee gave the old woman an +enormous bag full of gold mohurs,<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> and said, “This I +give you now, and if you succeed in the undertaking I +will give you as much again.” So this wicked old +woman disguised herself in a very rich dress, and went +to a garden-house which Chandra Rajah had built for +his son, and where Rama Rajah and Luxman, the +young Wuzeer, used to spend the greater part of their +playtime. Outside the house was a large well and a +fine garden. When the old woman arrived, the two +boys were playing cards together in the garden close +to the well. She drew near, and began drawing water +from it. Rama Rajah looking up, saw her, and said +to Luxman, “Go, see who that richly-dressed woman +is, and bring me word.” The Wuzeer’s son did as he +was bidden, and asked the woman what she wanted. +She answered, “Nothing, oh nothing,” and nodding +her head went away; then, returning to the Ranee, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>100]</a></span> +she said, “I have done as you wished; give me the +promised reward,” and the Ranee gave her the second +bag of gold. On Luxman’s return, the young Rajah +said to him, “What did the woman want?” Luxman +answered, “She told me she wanted nothing.” “It is +not true,” replied the other, angrily; “I feel certain +she must have told you something. Why should she +come here for no purpose? It is some secret which +you are concealing from me; I insist on knowing it.” +Luxman vainly protesting his innocence, they quarreled +and then fought, and the young Rajah ran home +very angry to his father. “What is the matter, my +son?” said he. “Father,” he answered, “I am angry +with the Wuzeer’s son. I hate that boy; kill him, and +let his eyes be brought to me in proof of his death, or +I will not eat my dinner.” Chandra Rajah was very +much grieved at this, but the young Rajah would eat +no dinner, and at last his father said to the Wuzeer, +“Take your son away and hide him, for the boys have +had a quarrel.” Then he went out and shot a deer, and +showing its eyes to Rama, said to him, “See, my +son, the good Wuzeer’s son has by your order been +deprived of life,” and Rama Rajah was merry, and ate +his dinner. But a while after he began to miss his kind +playmate; there was nobody he cared for to tell him +stories and amuse him. Then for four nights running +he dreamed of a beautiful Glass Palace, in which dwelt +a Princess white as marble, and he sent for all the wise +people in the kingdom to interpret his dream, but none +could do it; and, thinking upon this fair princess and +his lost friend, he got more and more sad, and said to +himself: “There is nobody to help me in this matter. +Ah! if my Wuzeer’s son were here now, how quickly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>101]</a></span> +would he interpret the dream! Oh, my friend, my +friend, my dear lost friend!” and when Chandra Rajah, +his father, came in, he said to him: “Show me the +grave of Luxman, son of the Wuzeer, that I also may +die there.” His father replied, “What a foolish boy +you are! You first begged that the Wuzeer’s son might +be killed, and now you want to die on his grave. What +is all this about?” Rama Rajah replied, “Oh, why did +you give the order for him to be put to death? In him +I have lost my friend and all my joy in life; show me +now his grave, for thereon, I swear, will I kill myself.” +When the Rajah saw that his son really grieved for the +loss of Luxman, he said to him, “You have to thank +me for not regarding your foolish wishes; your old +playmate is living, therefore be friends again, for what +you thought were his eyes were but the eyes of a deer.” +So the friendship of Rama and Luxman was resumed +on its former footing. Then Rama said to Luxman, +“Four nights ago I dreamed a strange dream. I +thought that for miles and miles I wandered through a +dense jungle, after which I came upon a grove of +Cocoa-nut trees, passing through which I reached one +compound entirely of Guava trees, then one of Soparee<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> +trees, and lastly one of Copal trees: beyond this lay a +garden of flowers, of which the Malee’s wife gave me +a bunch; round the garden ran a large river, and on +the other side of this I saw a fair palace composed of +transparent glass, and in the centre of it sat the most +lovely Princess I ever saw, white as marble and covered +with rich jewels; at the sight of her beauty I fainted—and +so awoke. This has happened now four times, +and as yet I have found no one capable of throwing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>102]</a></span> +any light on the vision.” Luxman answered, “I can +tell you. There exists a Princess exactly like her you +saw in your dreams, and, if you like, you can go and +marry her.” “How can I?” said Rama; “and what +is your interpretation of the dream?” The Wuzeer’s +son replied, “Listen to me, and I will tell you. In a +country very far away from this, in the centre of a great +Rajah’s kingdom, there dwells his daughter, a most +fair Princess; she lives in a glass palace. Round this +palace runs a large river, and round the river is a garden +of flowers. Round the garden are four thick groves of +trees—one of Copal trees, one of Soparee trees, one of +Guava trees, and one of Cocoa-nut trees. The Princess +is twenty-four years old, but she is not married, for she +has determined only to marry whoever can jump this +river and greet her in her crystal palace, and though +many thousand kings have essayed to do so, they have +all perished miserably in the attempt, having either +been drowned in the river, or broken their necks by +falling; thus all that you dreamed of is perfectly true.” +“Can we go to this country?” asked the young Rajah. +“Oh, yes,” his friend replied. “This is what you must +do. Go tell your father you wish to see the world. +Ask him for neither elephants nor attendants, but beg +him to lend you for the journey his old war-horse.”</p> + +<p>Upon this Rama went to his father, and said, +“Father, I pray you give me leave to go and travel +with the Wuzeer’s son. I desire to see the world.” +“What would you have for the journey, my son?” said +Chandra Rajah; “will you have elephants and how +many?—attendants, how many?” “Neither, father,” +he answered, “give me rather, I pray you, your old +war-horse, that I may ride him during the journey.” +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>103]</a></span> +“So be it, my son,” he answered, and with that Rama +Rajah and Luxman set forth on their travels. After +going many, many thousands of miles, to their joy one +day they came upon a dense grove of Cocoa-nut trees, +and beyond that to a grove of Guava trees, then to one +of Soparee trees, and lastly to one of Copal trees; after +which they entered a beautiful garden, where the +Malee’s wife presented them with a large bunch of +flowers. Then they knew that they had nearly reached +the place where the fair Princess dwelt. Now it happened +that, because many kings and great people had +been drowned in trying to jump over the river that ran +round the Glass Palace where the Princess lived, the +Rajah, her father, had made a law that, in future, no +aspirants to her hand were to attempt the jump, except +at stated times and with his knowledge and permission, +and that any Rajahs or Princes found wandering there, +contrary to this law, were to be imprisoned. Of this +the young Rajah and the Wuzeer’s son knew nothing, +and having reached the centre of the garden they found +themselves on the banks of a large river, exactly opposite +the wondrous Glass Palace, and were just debating +what further steps to take, when they were seized by +the Rajah’s guard, and hurried off to prison.</p> + +<p>“This is a hard fate,” said Luxman. “Yes,” sighed +Rama Rajah; “a dismal end, in truth, to all our fine +schemes. Would it be possible, think you, to escape?” +“I think so,” answered Luxman; “at all events, I will +try.” With that he turned to the sentry who was +guarding them, and said, “We are shut in here and +can’t get out: here is money for you if you will only +have the goodness to call out that the Malee’s Cow has +strayed away.” The sentry thought this a very easy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>104]</a></span> +way of making a fortune; so he called out as he was +bidden, and took the money. The result answered +Luxman’s anticipations. The Malee’s wife, hearing +the sentry calling out, thought to herself, “What, +sentries round the guard-room again! then there must +be prisoners; doubtless they are those two young +Rajahs I met in the garden this morning; at least, I +will endeavor to release them.” So she asked two old +beggars to accompany her, and taking with her offerings +of flowers and sweetmeats, started as if to go to a +little temple which was built within the quadrangle +where the prisoners were kept. The sentries, thinking +she was only going with two old friends to visit the +temple, allowed her to pass without opposition. As +soon as she got within the quadrangle she unfastened +the prison door, and told the two young men (Rama +Rajah and Luxman) to change clothes with the two +old beggars, which they instantly did. Then, leaving +the beggars in the cell, she conducted Rama and Luxman +safely to her house. When they had reached it +she said to them, “Young Princes, you must know that +you did very wrong in going down to the river before +having made a salaam to our Rajah, and gained his +consent; and so strict is the law on the subject that had +I not assisted your escape, you might have remained a +long time in prison; though, as I felt certain you only +erred through ignorance, I was the more willing to +help you; but to-morrow morning early you must go +and pay your respects at court.”</p> + +<p>Next day the guards brought their two prisoners to +the Rajah, saying, “See, O King, here are two young +Rajahs whom we caught last night wandering near the +river contrary to your law and commandment.” But +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>105]</a></span> +when they came to look at the prisoners, lo and behold! +they were only two old beggars whom everybody +knew and had often seen at the palace gate.</p> + +<p>Then the Rajah laughed and said, “You stupid fellows, +you have been over vigilant for once; see here +your fine young Rajahs. Don’t you yet know the looks +of these old beggars?” Whereupon the guards went +away much ashamed of themselves.</p> + +<p>Having learnt discretion from the advice of the +Malee’s wife, Rama and Luxman went betimes that +morning to call at the Rajah’s palace. The Rajah received +them very graciously, but when he heard the +object of the journey he shook his head, and said, “My +pretty fellows, far be it from me to thwart your intentions, +if you are really determined to strive to win my +daughter, the Princess Bargaruttee;<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> but as a friend I +would counsel you to desist from the attempt. You can +find a hundred Princesses elsewhere willing to marry +you; why, therefore, come here, where already a thousand +Princes as fair as you have lost there lives? Cease +to think of my daughter—she is a headstrong girl.” +But Rama Rajah still declared himself anxious to try +and jump the dangerous river, whereupon the Rajah +unwillingly consented to his attempting to do so, and +caused it to be solemnly proclaimed around the town +that another Prince was going to risk his life, begging +all good men and true to pray for his success. Then +Rama, having dressed gorgeously, and mounted his +father’s stout war-horse, put spurs to it and galloped to +the river. Up, up in the air, like a bird, jumped the +good war-horse, right across the river and into the very +centre courtyard of the Glass Palace of the Princess +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>106]</a></span> +Bargaruttee; and, as if ashamed of so poor an exploit, +this feat he accomplished three times. At this the +heart of the Rajah was glad, and he ran and patted +the brave horse, and kissed Rama Rajah, and said, +“Welcome, my son-in-law.” The wedding took place +amid great rejoicings, with feasts, illuminations and +much giving of presents, and there Rama Rajah and +his wife, the Ranee Bargaruttee, lived happily for some +time. At last, one day Rama Rajah said to his father-in-law, +“Sire, I have been very happy here, but I +have a great desire to see my father and my mother, +and my own land again.” To which the Rajah replied, +“My son, you are free to go; but I have no son +but you, nor daughter but your wife: therefore, as it +grieves me to lose sight of you, come back now and +then to see me and rejoice my heart. My doors are +ever open to you; you will be always welcome.”</p> + +<p>Rama Rajah promised to return occasionally; and +then, being given many rich gifts by the old Rajah, and +supplied with all things needful for the journey, he, +with his beautiful wife Bargaruttee, his friend the +young Wuzeer, and a great retinue, set out to return +home. Before going, Rama Rajah and Luxman richly +rewarded the kind Malee’s wife, who had helped them +so ably. On the first evening of their march the travelers +reached the borders of the Cocoa-nut grove, on the +outskirts of the jungle; here they determined to halt +and rest for the night. Rama Rajah and the Ranee +Bargaruttee went to their tent; but Luxman (whose +tender love for them was so great that he usually +watched all night through at their door), was sitting +under a large tree close by, when two little owls flew +over his head, and perching on one of the highest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>107]</a></span> +branches, began chattering to each other.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> The +Wuzeer’s son, who was in many ways wiser than most +men, could understand their language. To his surprise +he heard the little lady owl say to her husband, +“I wish you would tell me a story, my dear, it is such +a long time since I have heard one.” To which her +husband, the other little owl, answered, “A story! +what story can I tell you? Do you see these people +encamped under our tree? Would you like to hear +their story?” She assented; and he began: “See first +this poor Wuzeer; he is a good and faithful man, and +has done much for this young Rajah, but neither has +that been to his advantage heretofore, nor will it be +hereafter.” At this Luxman listened more attentively, +and taking out his writing tablets determined to note +down all he heard. The little owl commenced with +the story of the birth of Rama and Luxman, of their +friendship, their quarrel, the young Rajah’s dream, and +their reconciliation, and then told of their subsequent +adventures in search of the Princess Bargaruttee, down +to that very day on which they were journeying home. +“And what more has Fate in store for this poor +Wuzeer?” asked the lady owl. “From this place,” +replied her husband, “he will journey on with the +young Rajah and Ranee, until they get very near +Chandra Rajah’s dominions; there, as the whole cavalcade +is about to pass under a large Banyan tree, this +Wuzeer Luxman will notice some of the topmost +branches swaying about in a dangerous manner; he +will hurry the Rajah and Ranee away from it, and the +tree (which would otherwise have inevitably killed +them,) will fall to the ground with a tremendous crash; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>108]</a></span> +but even his having thus saved the Rajah’s life shall +not avert his fate.” (All this the Wuzeer noted down.) +“And what next?” said the wife, “what next?” +“Next,” continued the wise little story-teller, “next, +just as the Rajah Rama and the Ranee Bargaruttee +and all their suite are passing under the palace door-way, +the Wuzeer will notice that the arch is insecure, +and by dragging them quickly through, prevent their +being crushed in its fall.” “And what will he do after +that, dear husband?” she asked. “After that,” he +went on, “when the Rajah and Ranee are asleep, and +the Wuzeer Luxman keeping guard over them, he will +perceive a large cobra slowly crawling down the wall +and drawing nearer and nearer to the Ranee. He +will kill it with his sword, but a drop of the cobra’s +blood shall fall on the Ranee’s white forehead. The +Wuzeer will not dare to wipe the blood off her forehead +with his hand, but shall instead cover his face +with a cloth that he may lick it off with his tongue; +but for this the Rajah will be angry with him, and +his reproaches will turn this poor Wuzeer into +stone.”</p> + +<p>“Will he always remain stone?” asked the lady owl. +“Not for ever,” answered the husband, “but for eight +long years he will remain so.” “And what then?” +demanded she. “Then,” answered the other, “when +the young Rajah and Ranee have a baby, it shall come +to pass that one day the child shall be playing on the +floor, and to help itself along shall clasp hold of the +stony figure, and at that baby’s touch the Wuzeer will +come to life again. But I have told you enough for +one night; come, let’s catch mice—tuwhit, tuwhoo, +tuwhoo,” and away flew the owls. Luxman had written +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>109]</a></span> +down all he heard, and it made him heavy-hearted, +but he thought, “Perhaps, after all, this may not be +true.” So he said nothing about it to any living soul. +Next day they continued their journey, and as the owl +had prophesied, so events fell out. For, as the whole +party were passing under a large Banyan tree, the +Wuzeer noticed that it looked unsafe. “The owl +spake truly,” he thought to himself, and, seizing the +Rajah and Ranee, he hurried them from under it, +just as a huge limb of the tree fell prone with a fearful +crash.</p> + +<p>A little while after, having reached Chandra Rajah’s +dominions, they were just going under the great arch +of the palace courtyard, when the Wuzeer noticed some +of the stones tottering. “The owl was a true prophet,” +thought he again, and catching hold of the hands of +Rama Rajah and Bargaruttee Ranee, he pulled them +rapidly through, just in time to save their lives. “Pardon +me,” he said to the Rajah, “that unbidden I dared +thus to touch your hand and that of the Ranee, but I +saw the danger imminent.” So they reached home, +where they were joyfully welcomed by Chandra Rajah, +the Ranee, the Wuzeer (Luxman’s father), and all the +court.</p> + +<p>A few nights afterward, when the Rajah and Ranee +were asleep, and the young Wuzeer keeping guard +over them as he was wont, he saw a large black cobra +stealthily creeping down the wall just above the Ranee’s +head. “Alas!” he thought, “then such is my fate, +and so it must be; nevertheless, I will do my duty,” +and, taking from the folds of his dress the history of +his and the young Rajah’s life, from their boyhood +down to that very time (as he had written it from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>110]</a></span> +owl’s narrative), he laid it beside the sleeping Rama, +and drawing his sword, killed the cobra. A few drops +of the serpent’s blood fell on the Ranee’s forehead: +the Wuzeer did not dare to touch it with his hand, but, +that her sacred brow might not be defiled with the vile +cobra’s blood, he reverently covered his face and mouth +with a cloth to lick the drops of blood away. At this +moment the Rajah started up, and seeing him, said: +“O Wuzeer, Wuzeer, is this well done of you? O +Luxman, who have been to me as a brother, who have +saved me from so many difficulties, why do you treat +me thus, to kiss her holy forehead? If indeed you +loved her (as who could help it?), could you not have +told me when we first saw her in that Glass Palace, +and I would have exiled myself that she might be your +wife? O my brother, my brother, why did you mock +me thus?” The Rajah had buried his face in his hands; +he looked up, he turned to the Wuzeer, but from him +came neither answer nor reply. He had become a +senseless stone. Then Rama for the first time perceived +the roll of paper which Luxman had laid beside +him, and when he read in it of what Luxman had been +to him from boyhood, and of the end, his bitter grief +broke through all bounds; and, falling at the feet of +the statue, he clasped its stony knees and wept aloud. +When daylight dawned, Chandra Rajah and the Ranee +found Rama still weeping and hugging the stone, asking +its forgiveness with penitent cries and tears. Then +they said to him, “What is this you have done?” +When he told them, the Rajah his father was very +angry, and said: “Was it not enough that you should +have once before unjustly desired the death of this good +man, but that now by your rash reproaches you should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>111]</a></span> +have turned him into stone? Go to; you do but continually +what is evil.”</p> + +<p>Now eight long years rolled by without the Wuzeer +returning to his original form, although every day +Rama Rajah and Bargaruttee Ranee would watch beside +him, kissing his cold hands, and adjuring him by +all endearing names to forgive them and return to them +again. When eight years had expired, Rama and +Bargaruttee had a child; and from the time it was +nine months old and first began to try and crawl about, +the father and mother would sit and watch beside it, +placing it near the Wuzeer’s statue, in hopes that the +baby would some day touch it as the owl had foretold.</p> + +<p>But for three months they watched in vain. At last, +one day when the child was a year old, and was trying +to walk, it chanced to be close to the statue, and tottering +on its unsteady feet, stretched out its tiny hands +and caught hold of the foot of the statue. The Wuzeer +instantly came back to life, and stooping down seized +the little baby who had rescued him in his arms, and +kissed it. It is impossible to describe the delight of +Rama Rajah and his wife at regaining their long-lost +friend. The old Rajah and Ranee rejoiced also, with +the Wuzeer (Luxman Wuzeer’s father), and his mother.</p> + +<p>Then Chandra Rajah said to the Wuzeer: “Here is +my boy happy with his wife and child, while your son +has neither; go fetch him a wife, and we will have a +right merry wedding.”</p> + +<p>So the Wuzeer of the Rajah fetched for his son +a kind and beautiful wife, and Chandra Rajah and +Rama Rajah caused the wedding of Luxman to be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>112]</a></span> +grander than that of any great Rajah before or since, +even as if he had been a son of the royal house; and +they all lived very happy ever after, as all good +fathers, and mothers, and husbands, and wives, and +children do.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> +Moon-King.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> +The caste to which conjurors belong.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> +Gold pieces, worth about $7.50.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> +<i>Areca catechu</i>—the betel-nut palm.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> +A name of the Ganges.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> +See <a href="#note02">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 260px;"> +<img src="images/oddt04.jpg" width="260" height="142" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>113]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh06.jpg" width="500" height="90" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>VI.<br /> +<br /> +<i>LITTLE SURYA BAI.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> POOR Milkwoman was once going into the town +with cans full of milk to sell. She took with her +her little daughter (a baby of about a year old), having +no one in whose charge to leave her at home. Being +tired, she sat down by the road-side, placing the child +and the cans full of milk beside her; when, on a sudden, +two large eagles flew overhead; and one, swooping +down, seized the child, and flew away with her out +of the mother’s sight.</p> + +<p>Very far, far away the eagles carried the little baby, +even beyond the borders of her native land, until they +reached their home in a lofty tree. There the old +eagles had built a great nest; it was made of iron and +wood, and was as big as a little house; there was iron +all round, and to get in and out you had to go through +seven iron doors.</p> + +<p>In this stronghold they placed the little baby, and +because she was like a young eaglet they called her +Surya Bai (the Sun Lady). The eagles both loved +the child; and daily they flew into distant countries to +bring her rich and precious things—clothes that had +been made for princesses, precious jewels, wonderful +playthings, all that was most costly and rare.</p> + +<p>One day, when Surya Bai was twelve years old, the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>114]</a></span> +old husband Eagle said to his wife, “Wife, our daughter +has no diamond ring on her little finger, such as +princesses wear; let us go and fetch her one.” “Yes,” +said the other old Eagle; “but to fetch it we must go +very far.” “True,” rejoined he, “such a ring is not to +be got nearer than the Red Sea, and that is a twelvemonth’s +journey from here; nevertheless we will go.” +So the Eagles started off, leaving Surya Bai in the +strong nest, with twelve months’ provisions (that she +might not be hungry whilst they were away), and a +little dog and cat to take care of her.</p> + +<p>Not long after they were gone, one day the naughty +little cat stole some food from the store, for doing +which Surya Bai punished her. The cat did not like +being whipped, and she was still more annoyed at +having been caught stealing; so, in revenge, she ran to +the fireplace (they were obliged to keep a fire always +burning in the Eagle’s nest, as Surya Bai never went +down from the tree, and would not otherwise have +been able to cook her dinner), and put out the fire. +When the little girl saw this she was much vexed, for +the cat had eaten their last cooked provisions, and she +did not know what they were to do for food. For +three whole days Surya Bai puzzled over the difficulty, +and for three whole days she and the dog and the cat +had nothing to eat. At last she thought she would +climb to the edge of the nest, and see if she could see +any fire in the country below; and, if so, she would go +down and ask the people who lighted it to give her a +little with which to cook her dinner. So she climbed +to the edge of the nest. Then, very far away on the +horizon, she saw a thin curl of blue smoke. So she let +herself down from the tree, and all day long she walked +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>115]</a></span> +in the direction whence the smoke came. Toward +evening she reached the place, and found it rose from +a small hut in which sat an old woman warming her +hands over a fire. Now, though Surya Bai did not +know it, she had reached the Rakshas’ country, and +this old woman was none other than a wicked old +Rakshas, who lived with her son in the little hut. The +young Rakshas, however, had gone out for the day. +When the old Rakshas saw Surya Bai, she was much +astonished, for the girl was beautiful as the sun, and +her rich dress was resplendent with jewels; and she +said to herself, “How lovely this child is; what a +dainty morsel she would be! Oh, if my son were only +here we would kill her, and boil her, and eat her. I +will try and detain her till his return.” Then, turning +to Surya Bai, she said, “Who are you, and what do +you want?” Surya Bai answered, “I am the daughter +of the great Eagles, but they have gone a far journey, +to fetch me a diamond ring, and the fire has died out +in the nest. Give me, I pray you, a little from your +hearth.” The Rakshas replied, “You shall certainly +have some, only first pound this rice for me, for I am +old, and have no daughter to help me.” Then Surya +Bai pounded the rice, but the young Rakshas had not +returned by the time she had finished; so the old Rakshas +said to her, “If you are kind, grind this corn for +me, for it is hard work for my old hands.” Then she +ground the corn, but still the young Rakshas came not; +and the old Rakshas said to her, “Sweep the house for +me first, and then I will give you the fire.” So Surya +Bai swept the house; but still the young Rakshas did +not come.</p> + +<p>Then his mother said to Surya Bai, “Why should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>116]</a></span> +you be in such a hurry to go home? fetch me some +water from the well, and then you shall have the fire.” +And she fetched the water. When she had done so, +Surya Bai said, “I have done all your bidding, now +give me the fire, or I will go elsewhere and seek it.”</p> + +<p>The old Rakshas was grieved because her son had +not returned home; but she saw she could detain Surya +Bai no longer, so she said, “Take the fire and go in +peace; take also some parched corn, and scatter it +along the road as you go, so as to make a pretty little +pathway from our house to yours,”—and so saying, she +gave Surya Bai several handsful of parched corn. The +girl took them, fearing no evil, and as she went she +scattered the grains on the road. Then she climbed +back into the nest and shut the seven iron doors, and +lighted the fire, and cooked the food, and gave the dog +and the cat some dinner, and took some herself, and +went to sleep.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Surya Bai left the Rakshas’ hut, than +the young Rakshas returned, and his mother said to +him, “Alas, alas, my son, why did not you come +sooner? Such a sweet little lamb has been here, and +now we have lost her.” Then she told him all about +Surya Bai. “Which way did she go?” asked the +young Rakshas; “only tell me that, and I’ll have her +before morning.”</p> + +<p>His mother told him how she had given Surya Bai +the parched corn to scatter on the road; and when he +heard that, he followed up the track, and ran, and ran, +and ran, till he came to the foot of the tree.</p> + +<p>There, looking up, he saw the nest high in the +branches above them.</p> + +<p>Quick as thought, up he climbed, and reached the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>117]</a></span> +great outer door; and he shook it, and shook it, but +he could not get in, for Surya Bai had bolted it. Then +he said, “Let me in, my child, let me in; I’m the +great Eagle, and I have come from very far, and +brought you many beautiful jewels; and here is a +splendid diamond ring to fit your little finger.” But +Surya Bai did not hear him—she was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>He next tried to force open the door again, but it was +too strong for him. In his efforts, however, he had +broken off one of his finger nails (now the nail of a +Rakshas is most poisonous), which he left sticking in +the crack of the door when he went away.</p> + +<p>Next morning Surya Bai opened all the doors, in order +to look down on the world below; but when she came to +the seventh door a sharp thing, which was sticking in it, +ran into her hand, and immediately she fell down dead.</p> + +<p>At that same moment the two poor old Eagles returned +from their long twelvemonth’s journey, bringing +a beautiful diamond ring, which they had fetched for +their little favorite from the Red Sea.</p> + +<p>There she lay on the threshold of the nest, beautiful +as ever, but cold and dead.</p> + +<p>The Eagles could not bear the sight; so they placed +the ring on her finger, and then, with loud cries, flew +off to return no more.</p> + +<p>But a little while after there chanced to come by a +great Rajah, who was out on a hunting expedition. He +came with hawks, and hounds, and attendants, and +horses, and pitched his camp under the tree in which +the Eagles’ nest was built. Then looking up, he saw, +amongst the topmost branches, what appeared like a +queer little house; and he sent some of his attendants +to see what it was. They soon returned, and told the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>118]</a></span> +Rajah that up in the tree was a curious thing like a +cage, having seven iron doors, and that on the threshold +of the first door lay a fair maiden, richly dressed; that +she was dead, and that beside her stood a little dog and +a little cat.</p> + +<p>At this the Rajah commanded that they should be +fetched down, and when he saw Surya Bai he felt very +sad to think that she was dead. And he took her hand +to feel if it were already stiff; but all her limbs were +supple, nor had she become cold, as the dead are cold; +and, looking again at her hand, the Rajah saw that a +sharp thing, like a long thorn, had run into the tender +palm, almost far enough to pierce through to the back +of her hand.</p> + +<p>He pulled it out, and no sooner had he done so than +Surya Bai opened her eyes, and stood up, crying, +“Where am I? and who are you? Is it a dream, or +true?”</p> + +<p>The Rajah answered, “It is all true, beautiful lady. +I am the Rajah of a neighboring land; pray tell me +who are you?”</p> + +<p>She replied, “I am the Eagles’ child.” But he +laughed. “Nay,” he said, “that cannot be; you are +some great Princess.” “No,” she answered, “I am no +royal lady; what I say is true. I have lived all my life +in this tree. I am only the Eagles’ child.”</p> + +<p>Then the Rajah said, “If you are not a Princess born, +I will make you one, say only you will be my Queen.”</p> + +<p>Surya Bai consented, and the Rajah took her to his +kingdom and made her his Queen. But Surya Bai +was not his only wife, and the first Ranee, his other +wife, was both envious and jealous of her.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>119]</a></span> +The Rajah gave Surya Bai many trustworthy attendants +to guard her and be with her; and one old woman +loved Surya Bai more than all the rest, and used to say +to her, “Don’t be too intimate with the first Ranee, +dear lady, for she wishes you no good, and she has +power to do you harm. Some day she may poison or +otherwise injure you;” but Surya Bai would answer +her, “Nonsense! what is there to be alarmed about? +Why cannot we both live happily together like two sisters?” +Then the old woman would rejoin, “Ah, dear +lady, may you never live to rue your confidence! I +pray my fears may prove folly.” So Surya Bai went +often to see the first Ranee, and the first Ranee also +came often to see her.</p> + +<p>One day they were standing in the palace courtyard, +near a tank, where the Rajah’s people used to bathe, +and the first Ranee said to Surya Bai, “What pretty +jewels you have, sister! let me try them on for a minute, +and see how I look in them.”</p> + +<p>The old woman was standing beside Surya Bai, and +she whispered to her, “Do not lend her your jewels.” +“Hush, you silly old woman,” answered she. “What +harm will it do?” and she gave the Ranee her jewels. +Then the Ranee said, “How pretty all your things are! +Do you not think they look well even on me? Let us +come down to the tank; it is as clear as glass, and we +can see ourselves reflected in it, and how these jewels +will shine in the clear water!”</p> + +<p>The old woman, hearing this, was much alarmed, +and begged Surya Bai not to venture near the tank, but +she said, “I bid you be silent; I will not distrust my sister,” +and she went down to the tank. Then, when no +one was near, and they were both leaning over, looking +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>120]</a></span> +at their reflections in the water, the first Ranee pushed +Surya Bai into the tank, who, sinking under water, was +drowned; and from the place where her body fell there +sprang up a bright golden sunflower.</p> + +<p>The Rajah shortly afterward inquired where Surya +Bai was, but nowhere could she be found. Then, +very angry, he came to the first Ranee and said, “Tell +me where the child is? You have made away with +her.” But she answered, “You do me wrong; I know +nothing of her. Doubtless that old woman, whom you +allowed to be always with her, has done her some +harm.” So the Rajah ordered the poor old woman to +be thrown into prison.</p> + +<p>He tried to forget Surya Bai and all her pretty ways, +but it was no good. Wherever he went he saw her +face. Whatever he heard, he still listened for her voice. +Every day he grew more miserable; he would not eat +or drink; and as for the other Ranee, he could not bear +to speak to her. All his people said, “He will surely +die.”</p> + +<p>When matters were in this state, the Rajah one day +wandered to the edge of the tank, and bending over the +parapet, looked into the water. Then he was surprised +to see, growing out of the tank close beside him, a +stately golden flower; and as he watched it, the sunflower +gently bent its head and leaned down toward +him. The Rajah’s heart was softened, and he kissed +its leaves and murmured, “This flower reminds me of +my lost wife. I love it, it is fair and gentle as she used +to be.” And every day he would go down to the tank; +and sit and watch the flower. When the Ranee heard +this, she ordered her servants to go and dig the sunflower +up, and to take it far into the jungle and burn it. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>121]</a></span> +Next time the Rajah went to the tank he found his +flower gone, and he was much grieved, but none dare +say who had done it.</p> + +<p>Then, in the jungle, from the place where the ashes +of the sunflower had been thrown, there sprang up a +young mango tree, tall and straight, that grew so +quickly, and became such a beautiful tree, that it was +the wonder of all the country round. At last, on its +topmost bough, came one fair blossom; and the blossom +fell, and the little mango grew rosier and rosier, +and larger and larger, till so wonderful was it both for +size and shape that people flocked from far and near +only to look at it.</p> + +<p>But none ventured to gather it, for it was to be kept +for the Rajah himself.</p> + +<p>Now one day, the poor Milkwoman, Surya Bai’s +mother, was returning homeward after her day’s work +with the empty milk cans, and being very tired with +her long walk to the bazaar, she lay down under the +mango tree and fell asleep. Then, right into her +largest milk can, fell the wonderful mango! When +the poor woman awoke and saw what had happened, +she was dreadfully frightened, and thought to herself, +“If any one sees me with this wonderful fruit, that all +the Rajah’s great people have been watching for so +many, many weeks, they will never believe that I did +not steal it, and I shall be put in prison. Yet it is no +good leaving it here; besides, it fell off of itself into my +milk can. I will therefore take it home as secretly as +possible, and share it with my children.”</p> + +<p>So the Milkwoman covered up the can in which the +mango was, and took it quickly to her home, where +she placed it in the corner of the room, and put over it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>122]</a></span> +a dozen other milk cans, piled one above another. +Then, as soon as it was dark, she called her husband +and eldest son (for she had six or seven children), and +said to them, “What good fortune do you think has +befallen me to-day?”</p> + +<p>“We cannot guess,” they said. “Nothing less,” +she went on, “than the wonderful, wonderful mango +falling into one of my milk cans while I slept! I have +brought it home with me; it is in that lowest can. Go, +husband, call all the children to have a slice; and you, +my son, take down that pile of cans and fetch me the +mango.” “Mother,” he said, when he got to the +lowest can, “you were joking, I suppose, when you +told us there was a mango here.”</p> + +<p>“No, not at all,” she answered; “there is a mango +there. I put it there myself an hour ago.”</p> + +<p>“Well, there’s something quite different now,” replied +the son. “Come and see.”</p> + +<p>The Milkwoman ran to the place, and there, in the +lowest can, she saw, not the mango, but a little tiny +wee lady, richly dressed in red and gold, and no bigger +than a mango! On her head shone a bright jewel +like a little sun.</p> + +<p>“This is very odd,” said the mother. “I never +heard of such a thing in my life! But since she has +been sent to us, I will take care of her, as if she were +my own child.”</p> + +<p>Every day the little lady grew taller and taller, until +she was the size of an ordinary woman; she was gentle +and lovable, but always sad and quiet, and she +said her name was “Surya Bai.”</p> + +<p>The children were all very curious to know her history, +but the Milkwoman and her husband would not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>123]</a></span> +let her be teased to tell who she was, and said to the +children, “Let us wait. By and by, when she knows +us better, she will most likely tell us her story of her +own accord.”</p> + +<p>Now it came to pass that once, when Surya Bai was +taking water from the well for the old Milkwoman, the +Rajah rode by, and as he saw her walking along, he +cried, “That is my wife,” and rode after her as fast as +possible. Surya Bai hearing a great clatter of horses’ +hoofs, was frightened, and ran home as fast as possible, +and hid herself; and when the Rajah reached the place +there was only the old Milkwoman to be seen standing +at the door of her hut.</p> + +<p>Then the Rajah said to her, “Give her up, old +woman, you have no right to keep her; she is mine, +she is mine!” But the old woman answered, “Are +you mad? I don’t know what you mean.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah replied, “Do not attempt to deceive me. +I saw my wife go in at your door; she must be in the +house.”</p> + +<p>“Your wife?” screamed the old woman—“your +wife? you mean my daughter, who lately returned +from the well! Do you think I am going to give my +child up at your command? You are Rajah in your +palace, but I am Rajah in my own house; and I won’t +give up my little daughter for any bidding of yours. +Be off with you, or I’ll pull out your beard.” And +so saying, she seized a long stick and attacked the +Rajah, calling out loudly to her husband and sons, +who came running to her aid.</p> + +<p>The Rajah, seeing matters were against him, and +having outridden his attendants (and not being quite +certain moreover whether he had seen Surya Bai, or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>124]</a></span> +whether she might not have been really the poor Milkwoman’s +daughter), rode off and returned to his +palace.</p> + +<p>However, he determined to sift the matter. As a +first step he went to see Surya Bai’s old attendant, who +was still in prison. From her he learnt enough to make +him believe she was not only entirely innocent of +Surya Bai’s death, but gravely to suspect the first +Ranee of having caused it. He therefore ordered the +old woman to be set at liberty, still keeping a watchful +eye on her, and bade her prove her devotion to her +long-lost mistress by going to the Milkwoman’s house, +and bringing him as much information as possible +about the family, and more particularly about the girl +he had seen returning from the well.</p> + +<p>So the attendant went to the Milkwoman’s house, +and made friends with her, and bought some milk, and +afterward she stayed and talked to her.</p> + +<p>After a few days the Milkwoman ceased to be suspicious +of her, and became quite cordial.</p> + +<p>Surya Bai’s attendant then told how she had been +the late Ranee’s waiting-woman, and how the Rajah +had thrown her into prison on her mistress’s death; in +return for which intelligence the old Milkwoman imparted +to her how the wonderful mango had tumbled +into her can as she slept under the tree, and how it +had miraculously changed in the course of an hour +into a beautiful little lady. “I wonder why she should +have chosen my poor house to live in, instead of any +one else’s,” said the old woman.</p> + +<p>Then Surya Bai’s attendant said, “Have you ever +asked her her history? Perhaps she would not mind +telling it to you now.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>125]</a></span> +So the Milkwoman called the girl, and as soon as +the old attendant saw her, she knew it was none other +than Surya Bai, and her heart jumped for joy; but she +remained silent, wondering much, for she knew her +mistress had been drowned in the tank.</p> + +<p>The old Milkwoman turned to Surya Bai and said, +“My child, you have lived long with us, and been a +good daughter to me; but I have never asked you your +history, because I thought it must be a sad one; but +if you do not fear to tell it to me now, I should like to +hear it.”</p> + +<p>Surya Bai answered, “Mother, you speak true; my +story is sad. I believe my real mother was a poor +Milkwoman like you, and that she took me with her +one day when I was quite a little baby, as she was +going to sell milk in the bazaar. But being tired with +the long walk, she sat down to rest, and placed me +also on the ground, when suddenly a great Eagle flew +down and carried me away. But all the father and +mother I ever knew were the two great Eagles.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, my child! my child!” cried the Milkwoman, +“I was that poor woman; the Eagles flew away with +my eldest girl when she was only a year old. Have I +found you after these many years?”</p> + +<p>And she ran and called all her children, and her +husband, to tell them the wonderful news.</p> + +<p>Then was there great rejoicing among them all.</p> + +<p>When they were a little calmer, her mother said to +Surya Bai, “Tell us, dear daughter, how your life has +been spent since first we lost you.” And Surya Bai +went on:</p> + +<p>“The old Eagles took me away to their home, and +there I lived happily many years. They loved to bring +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>126]</a></span> +me all the beautiful things they could find, and at last +one day they both went to fetch me a diamond ring +from the Red Sea; but while they were gone the fire +went out in the nest: so I went to an old woman’s hut, +and got her to give me some fire; and next day (I +don’t know how it was), as I was opening the outer +door of the cage, a sharp thing, that was sticking in it, +ran into my hand and I fell down senseless.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know how long I lay there, but when I +came to myself, I found the Eagles must have come +back, and thought me dead, and gone away, for the +diamond ring was on my little finger; a great many +people were watching over me, and amongst them was +a Rajah, who asked me to go home with him and be +his wife, and he brought me to this place, and I was +his Ranee.</p> + +<p>“But his other wife, the first Ranee, hated me (for +she was jealous), and desired to kill me; and one day +she accomplished her purpose by pushing me into the +tank, for I was young and foolish, and disregarded the +warnings of my faithful old attendant, who begged me +not to go near the place. Ah! if I had only listened +to her words I might have been happy still.”</p> + +<p>At these words the old attendant, who had been sitting +in the back ground, rushed forward and kissed +Surya Bai’s feet, crying, “Ah, my lady! my lady! +have I found you at last!” and, without staying to hear +more, she ran back to the palace to tell the Rajah the +glad news.</p> + +<p>Then Surya Bai told her parents how she had not +wholly died in the tank, but became a sunflower; and +how the first Ranee, seeing how fond the Rajah was +of the plant, had caused it to be thrown away; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>127]</a></span> +then how she had risen from the ashes of the sunflower, +in the form of a mango tree; and how when the tree +blossomed all her spirit went into the little mango +flower, and she ended by saying: “And when the +flower became fruit, I know not by what irresistible +impulse I was induced to throw myself into your milk +can. Mother, it was my destiny, and as soon as you +took me into your house, I began to recover my human +form.”</p> + +<p>“Why, then,” asked her brothers and sisters, “why +do you not tell the Rajah that you are living, and that +you are the Ranee Surya Bai?”</p> + +<p>“Alas,” she answered, “I could not do that. Who +knows but that he may be influenced by the first Ranee, +and also desire my death. Let me rather be poor like +you, but safe from danger.”</p> + +<p>Then her mother cried, “Oh, what a stupid woman +I am! The Rajah one day came seeking you here, but +I and your father and brothers drove him away, for we +did not know you were indeed the lost Ranee.”</p> + +<p>As she spoke these words a sound of horses’ hoofs +was heard in the distance, and the Rajah himself appeared, +having heard the good news of Surya Bai’s +being alive from her old attendant.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to tell the joy of the Rajah at finding +his long-lost wife, but it was not greater than Surya +Bai’s at being restored to her husband.</p> + +<p>Then the Rajah turned to the old Milkwoman and +said, “Old woman, you did not tell me true, for it was +indeed my wife who was in your hut.” “Yes, Protector +of the Poor,” answered the old Milkwoman, +“but it was also my daughter.” Then they told him +how Surya Bai was the Milkwoman’s child.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>128]</a></span> +At hearing this the Rajah commanded them all to +return with him to the palace. He gave Surya Bai’s +father a village, and ennobled the family; and he said +to Surya Bai’s old attendant, “For the good service +you have done you shall be palace housekeeper,” and +he gave her great riches; adding, “I can never repay +the debt I owe you, nor make you sufficient recompense +for having caused you to be unjustly cast into +prison.” But she replied, “Sire, even in your anger +you were temperate; if you had caused me to be put +to death, as some would have done, none of this good +might have come upon you; it is yourself you have to +thank.”</p> + +<p>The wicked first Ranee was cast, for the rest of her +life, into the prison in which the old attendant had been +thrown; but Surya Bai lived happily with her husband +the rest of her days; and in memory of her adventures, +he planted round their palace a hedge of sunflowers +and a grove of mango trees.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> +See <a href="#note03">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 260px;"> +<img src="images/oddt05.jpg" width="260" height="59" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>129]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh07.jpg" width="500" height="89" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>VII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE WANDERINGS OF VICRAM MAHARAJAH.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once upon a time a Rajah named +Vicram Maharajah,<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> who had a Wuzeer named +Butti.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> Both the Rajah and his minister were left orphans +when very young, and ever since their parents’ +death they had lived together: they were educated together, +and they loved each other tenderly—like brothers.</p> + +<p>Both were good and kind—no poor man coming to +the Rajah was ever known to have been sent away disappointed, +for it was his delight to give food and clothes +to those in need. But whilst the Wuzeer had much +judgment and discretion, as well as a brilliant fancy, the +Rajah was too apt to allow his imagination to run away +with his reason.</p> + +<p>Under their united rule, however, the kingdom prospered +greatly. The Rajah was the spur of every noble +work, and the Wuzeer the curb to every rash or impracticable +project.</p> + +<p>In a country some way from Rajah Vicram’s there +lived a little Queen, called Anar Ranee (the Pomegranate +Queen). Her father and mother reigned over +the Pomegranate country, and for her they had made +a beautiful garden. In the middle of the garden +was a lovely pomegranate tree, bearing three large +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>130]</a></span> +pomegranates. They opened in the centre, and in each +was a little bed. In one of them Anar Ranee used to +sleep, and in the pomegranates on either side slept two +of her maids.</p> + +<p>Every morning early the pomegranate tree would +gently bend its branches to the ground, and the fruit +would open, and Anar Ranee and her attendants creep +out to play under the shadow of the cool tree until the +evening; and each evening the tree again bent down to +enable them to get into their tiny, snug bed-rooms.</p> + +<p>Many princes wished to marry Anar Ranee, for she +was said to be the fairest lady upon earth: her hair was +black as a raven’s wing, her eyes like the eyes of a gazelle, +her teeth two rows of exquisite pearls, and her +cheeks the color of the rosy pomegranate. But her +father and mother had caused her garden to be hedged +around with seven hedges made of bayonets, so that +none could go in or out; and they had published a +decree that none should marry her but he who could +enter the garden and gather the three pomegranates, in +which she and her two maids slept. To do this, kings, +princes and nobles innumerable had striven, but striven +in vain.</p> + +<p>Some never got past the first sharp hedge of bayonets; +others, more fortunate, surmounted the second, +the third, the fourth, the fifth, or even the sixth; but +there perished miserably, being unable to climb the +seventh. None had ever succeeded in entering the +garden.</p> + +<p>Before Vicram Maharajah’s father and mother died, +they had built, some way from their palace, a very +beautiful temple. It was of marble, and in the centre +stood an idol made of pure gold. But in course of time +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>131]</a></span> +the jungle had grown up round it, and thick straggling +plants of prickly pear had covered it, so that it was difficult +even to find out whereabouts it was.</p> + +<p>Then, one day, the Wuzeer Butti said to Vicram +Maharajah, “The temple your father and mother built +at so much pains and cost is almost lost in the jungle, +and will probably ere long be in ruins. It would be a +pious work to find it out and restore it.” Vicram Maharajah +agreed, and immediately sent for many workmen, +and caused the jungle to be cut down and the +temple restored. All were much astonished to find +what a beautiful place it was! The floor was white +marble, the walls exquisitely carved in bas-reliefs and +gorgeously colored, while all over the ceiling was +painted Vicram Maharajah’s father’s name, and in the +centre was a golden image of Gunputti, to whom it was +dedicated.</p> + +<p>The Rajah Vicram was so pleased with the beauty +of the place that on that account, as well as because of +its sanctity, he and Butti used to go and sleep there +every night.</p> + +<p>One night Vicram had a wonderful dream. He +dreamed his father appeared to him and said, “Arise, +Vicram, go to the tower for lights<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> which is in front +of this temple.”</p> + +<p>(For there was in front of the temple a beautiful tower +or pyramid for lights, and all the way up it were projections +on which to place candles on days dedicated to +the idol; so that when the whole was lighted it looked +like a gigantic candlestick, and to guard it there were +around it seven hedges made of bayonets.)</p> + +<p>“Arise, Vicram, therefore,” said the vision; “go to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>132]</a></span> +the tower for lights; below it is a vast amount of +treasure, but you can only get it in one way without incurring +the anger of Gunputti. You must first do in his +honor an act of very great devotion, which if he graciously +approve, and consent to preserve your life +therein, you may with safety remove the treasure.”</p> + +<p>“And what is this act of devotion?” asked Vicram +Maharajah.</p> + +<p>“It is this,” (he thought his father answered): “You +must fasten a rope to the top of the tower, and to the +other end of the rope attach a basket, into which you +must get head downward, then twist the rope by which +the basket is hung three times, and as it is untwisting, +cut it, when you will fall head downward to the +earth.</p> + +<p>“If you fall on either of the hedges of bayonets, you +will be instantly killed; but Gunputti is merciful—do +not fear that he will allow you to be slain. If you escape +unhurt, you will know that he has accepted your +pious act, and may without danger take the treasure.”<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a></p> + +<p>The vision faded; Vicram saw no more, and shortly +afterward he awoke.</p> + +<p>Then, turning to the Wuzeer, he said, “Butti, I had +a strange dream. I dreamed my father counseled me +to do an act of great devotion; nothing less than fastening +a basket by a rope to the top of the tower for lights, +and getting into it head downward, then cutting the +rope and allowing myself to fall; by which having propitiated +the divinity, he promised me a vast treasure, to +be found by digging under the tower! What do you +think I had better do?”</p> + +<p>“My advice,” answered the Wuzeer, “is, if you care +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>133]</a></span> +to seek the treasure, to do entirely as your father commanded, +trusting in the mercy of Gunputti.”</p> + +<p>So the Rajah caused a basket to be fastened by a +rope to the top of the tower, and got into it head downward; +then he called out to Butti, “How can I cut +the rope?” “Nothing is easier,” answered he; “take +this sword in your hand. I will twist the rope three +times, and as it untwists for the first time let the sword +fall upon it.” Vicram Maharajah took the sword, and +Butti twisted the rope, and as it first began to untwist, +the Rajah cut it, and the basket immediately fell. It +would have certainly gone down among the bayonets, +and he been instantly killed, had not Gunputti, seeing +the danger of his devotee, rushed out of the temple at +that moment in the form of an old woman, who, catching +the basket in her arms before it touched the bayonets, +brought it gently and safely to the ground; having +done which she instantly returned into the temple. +None of the spectators knew she was Gunputti himself +in disguise; they only thought “What a clever old +woman!”</p> + +<p>Vicram Maharajah then caused excavations to be +made below the tower, under which he found an immense +amount of treasure. There were mountains of +gold, there were diamonds, and rubies, and sapphires, +and emeralds, and turquoises, and pearls; but he took +none of them, causing all to be sold and the money +given to the poor, so little did he care for the riches for +which some men sell their bodies and souls.</p> + +<p>Another day, the Rajah, when in the temple, dreamed +again. Again his father appeared to him, and this time +he said, “Vicram, come daily to this temple and Gunputti +will teach you wisdom, and you shall get +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>134]</a></span> +understanding. You may get learning in the world, but +wisdom is the fruit of much learning and much experience, +and much love to God and man; wherefore, +come, acquire wisdom, for learning perishes, but wisdom +never dies.” When the Rajah awoke, he told his +dream to the Wuzeer, and Butti recommended him to +obey his father’s counsel, which he accordingly did.</p> + +<p>Daily he resorted to the temple and was instructed +by Gunputti; and when he had learnt much, one day +Gunputti said to him, “I have given you as much wisdom +as is in keeping with man’s finite comprehension; +now, as a parting gift, ask of me what you will and it +shall be yours—or riches, or power, or beauty, or long +life, or health, or happiness—choose what you will +have?” The Rajah was very much puzzled, and he +begged leave to be allowed a day to think over the +matter, and decide what he would choose, to which +Gunputti assented.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that near the palace there lived the +son of a Carpenter, who was very cunning, and when +he heard that the Rajah went to the temple to learn +wisdom, he also determined to go and see if he could +not learn it also; and each day, when Gunputti gave +Vicram Maharajah instruction, the Carpenter’s son +would hide close behind the temple, and overhear all +their conversation; so that he also became very wise. +No sooner, therefore, did he hear Gunputti’s offer to +Vicram than he determined to return again when the +Rajah did, and find out in what way he was to procure +the promised gift, whatever it was.</p> + +<p>The Rajah consulted Butti as to what he should ask +for, saying, “I have riches more than enough; I have +also sufficient power, and for the rest I had sooner +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>135]</a></span> +take my chance with other men, which makes me +much at a loss to know what to choose.”</p> + +<p>The Wuzeer answered, “Is there any supernatural +power you at all desire to possess? If so, ask for that.” +“Yes,” replied the Rajah, “it has always been a great +desire of mine to have power to leave my own body +when I will, and translate my soul and sense into some +other body, either of man or animal. I would rather +be able to do that than anything else.” “Then,” said +the Wuzeer, “ask Gunputti to give you the power.”</p> + +<p>Next morning the Rajah, having bathed and prayed, +went in great state to the temple to have his final interview +with the idol. And the Carpenter’s son went too, +in order to overhear it.</p> + +<p>Then Gunputti said to the Rajah, “Vicram, what +gift do you choose?” “Oh, divine Power,” answered +the Rajah, “you have already given me a sufficiency +of wealth and power, in making me Rajah; neither +care I for more of beauty than I now possess; and of +long life, health and happiness I had rather take my +share with other men. But there is a power which I +would rather own than all that you have offered.”</p> + +<p>“Name it, O good son of a good father,” said +Gunputti.</p> + +<p>“Most Wise,” replied Vicram, “give me the power +to leave my own body when I will, and translate my +soul, and sense, and thinking powers into any other +body that I may choose, either of man, or bird, or +beast—whether for a day, or a year, or for twelve +years, or as long as I like; grant also, that however +long the term of my absence, my body may not decay, +but that, when I please to return to it again, I may find +it still as when I left it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>136]</a></span> +“Vicram,” answered Gunputti, “your prayer is +heard,” and he instructed Vicram Maharajah by what +means he should translate his soul into another body, +and also gave him something which, being placed +within his own body when he left it, would preserve it +from decay until his return.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></p> + +<p>The Carpenter’s son, who had been all this time +listening outside the temple, heard and learnt the spell +whereby Gunputti gave Vicram Maharajah power to +enter into any other body; but he could not see nor find +out what was given to the Rajah to place within his +own body when he left it, to preserve it; so that he +was only master of half the secret.</p> + +<p>Vicram Maharajah returned home, and told the +Wuzeer that he was possessed of the much-desired +secret. “Then,” said Butti, “the best use you can +put it to is to fly to the Pomegranate country, and +bring Anar Ranee here.”</p> + +<p>“How can that be done?” asked the Rajah. “Thus,” +replied Butti; “transport yourself into the body of a +parrot, in which shape you will be able to fly over the +seven hedges of bayonets that surround her garden. +Go to the tree in the centre of it, bite off the stalks +of the pomegranates and bring them home in your +beak.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said the Rajah, and he picked up a +parrot which lay dead on the ground, and placing +within his own body the beauty-preserving charm, transported +his soul into the parrot, and flew off.</p> + +<p>On, on, on he went, over the hills and far away, until +he came to the garden. Then he flew over the seven +hedges of bayonets, and with his beak broke off the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>137]</a></span> +three pomegranates (in which were Anar Ranee and her +two ladies), and holding them by the stalks brought +them safely home. He then immediately left the parrot’s +body and re-entered his own body.</p> + +<p>When Butti saw how well he had accomplished the +feat, he said, “Thank heaven! there’s some good done +already.” All who saw Anar Ranee were astonished +at her beauty, for she was fair as a lotus flower, and the +color on her cheeks was like the deep rich color of a +pomegranate, and all thought the Rajah very wise to +have chosen such a wife.</p> + +<p>They had a magnificent wedding, and were for a +short time as happy as the day is long.</p> + +<p>But within a little while Vicram Maharajah said to +Butti, “I have again a great desire to see the world.” +“What!” said Butti, “so soon again to leave your +home! So soon to care to go away from your young +wife!”</p> + +<p>“I love her and my people dearly,” answered the +Rajah; “but I cannot but feel that I have this supernatural +power of taking any form I please, and longing +to use it.” “Where and how will you go?” asked the +Wuzeer. “Let it be the day after to-morrow,” answered +Vicram Maharajah. “I shall again take the +form of a parrot, and see as much of the world as possible.”</p> + +<p>So it was settled that the Rajah should go. He left +his kingdom in the Wuzeer’s sole charge, and also his +wife, saying to her, “I don’t know for how long I may +be away; perhaps a day, perhaps a year, perhaps more. +But if, while I am gone, you should be in any difficulty, +apply to the Wuzeer. He has ever been like an elder +brother or a father to me; do you therefore also regard +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>138]</a></span> +him as a father. I have charged him to take care of +you as he would of his own child.”</p> + +<p>Having said these words, the Rajah caused a beautiful +parrot to be shot (it was a very handsome bird, with +a tuft of bright feathers on its head and a ring about +its neck). He then cut a small incision in his arm and +rubbed into it some of the magic preservative given +him by Gunputti to keep his body from decaying, and +transporting his soul into the parrot’s body, he flew +away.</p> + +<p>No sooner did the Carpenter’s son hear that the Rajah +was as dead, than, knowing the power of which +Vicram Maharajah and he were alike possessed, he felt +certain that the former had made use of it, and determined +himself likewise to turn it to account. Therefore, +directly the Rajah entered the parrot’s body, the +Carpenter’s son entered the Rajah’s body, and the world +at large imagined that the Rajah had only swooned +and recovered. But the Wuzeer was wiser than they, +and immediately thought to himself, “Some one beside +Vicram Maharajah must have become acquainted with +this spell, and be now making use of it, thinking it +would be very amusing to play the part of Rajah for a +while; but I’ll soon discover if this be the case or no.”</p> + +<p>So he called Anar Ranee and said to her, “You are +as well assured as I am that your husband left us but +now, in the form of a parrot; but scarcely had he gone +before his deserted body arose, and he now appears +walking about, and talking, and as much alive as ever; +nevertheless, my opinion is, that the spirit animating +the body is not the spirit of the Rajah, but that some +one else is possessed of the power given to him by Gunputti, +and has taken advantage of it to personate him. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>139]</a></span> +But this it would be better to put to the proof. Do, +therefore, as I tell you, that you may be assured of the +truth of my words. Make to-day for your husband’s +dinner some very coarse and common currie, and give +it to him. If he complains that it is not as good as +usual, I am making a mistake; but if, on the contrary, +he says nothing about it, you will know that my words +are true, and that he is not Vicram Maharajah.”</p> + +<p>Anar Ranee did as the Wuzeer advised, and afterward +came to him and said, “Father” (for so she +always called him), “I have been much astonished at +the result of the trial. I made the currie very carelessly, +and it was as coarse and common as possible; +but the Rajah did not even complain. I feel convinced +it is as you say; but what can we do?”</p> + +<p>“We will not,” answered the Wuzeer, “cast him +into prison, since he inhabits your husband’s body; but +neither you, nor any of the Rajah’s relations, must have +any friendship with, or so much as speak to him; and +if he speak to any of you, let whoever it be, immediately +begin to quarrel with him, whereby he will find +the life of a rajah not so agreeable as he anticipated, +and may be induced the sooner to return to his proper +form.”</p> + +<p>Anar Ranee instructed all her husband’s relations and +friends as Butti had advised, and the Carpenter’s son began +to think the life of a rajah not at all as pleasant as +he had fancied, and would, if he could, have gladly returned +to his own body again; but, having no power to +preserve it, his spirit had no sooner left it than it began +to decay, and at the end of three days it was quite destroyed; +so that the unhappy man had no alternative but +to remain where he was.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>140]</a></span> +Meantime, the real Vicram Maharajah had flown, in +the form of a parrot, very far, far away, until he reached +a large banyan tree, where there were a thousand other +pretty pollies, whom he joined, making their number a +thousand and one. Every day the parrots flew away to +get food, and every night they returned to roost in the +great banyan tree.</p> + +<p>Now it chanced that a hunter had often gone through +that part of the jungle, and noticed the banyan tree and +the parrots, and he said to himself, “If I could only +catch the thousand and one parrots that nightly roost in +that tree, I should not be so often hungry as I am now, +for they would make plenty of very nice currie.” But +he could not do it, though he often tried; for the trunks +of the tree were tall and straight, and very slippery, so +that he no sooner climbed up a little way than he slid +down again: however, he did not cease to look and +long.</p> + +<p>One day, a heavy shower of rain drove all the parrots +back earlier than usual to their tree, and when they +got there they found a thousand crows who had come +on their homeward flight to shelter themselves there +till the storm was over.</p> + +<p>Then Vicram Maharajah Parrot said to the other +parrots, “Do you not see these crows have all sorts of +seeds and fruits in their beaks, which they are carrying +home to their little ones? Let us quickly drive them +away, lest some of these fall down under our tree, +which, being sown there, will spring up strong plants +and twine round the trunks, and enable our enemy the +hunter to climb up with ease and kill us all.”</p> + +<p>But the other parrots answered, “That is a very far-fetched +idea! Do not let us hunt the poor birds away +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>141]</a></span> +from shelter in this pouring rain, they will get so wet.” +So the crows were not molested. It turned out, however, +just as Vicram Maharajah had foretold; for some +of the fruits and seeds they were taking home to their +young ones fell under the tree, and the seeds took root +and sprang up, strong creeping plants, which twined +all round the straight trunks of the banyan tree, and +made it very easy to climb.</p> + +<p>Next time the hunter came by he noticed this, and +saying, “Ah, my fine friends, I’ve got you at last,” he, +by the help of the creepers, climbed the tree, and set +one thousand and one snares of fine thread among the +branches; having done which he went away.</p> + +<p>That night, when the parrots flew down on the +branches as usual, they found themselves all caught +fast prisoners by the feet.</p> + +<p>“Crick! crick! crick!” cried they, “crick! crick! +crick! Oh dear! oh dear! what shall we do? what +can we do? Oh, Vicram Maharajah, you were right +and we were wrong. Oh dear! oh dear! crick! crick! +crick!”</p> + +<p>Then Vicram said, “Did I not tell you how it would +be? But do as I bid you, and we may yet be saved. +So soon as the hunter comes to take us away, let every +one hang his head down on one side, as if he were +dead; then, thinking us dead, he will not trouble himself +to wring our necks, or stick the heads of those he +wishes to keep alive through his belt, as he otherwise +would; but will merely release us, and throw us on +the ground. Let each one when there, remain perfectly +still, till the whole thousand and one are set free, +and the hunter begins to descend the tree; then we +will all fly up over his head and far out of sight.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>142]</a></span> +The parrots agreed to do as Vicram Maharajah +Parrot proposed, and when the hunter came next +morning to take them away, every one had his eyes +shut and his head hanging down on one side, as if he +were dead. Then the hunter said, “All dead, indeed! +Then I shall have plenty of nice currie.” And so saying, +he cut the noose that held the first, and threw him +down. The parrot fell like a stone to the ground, so +did the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, +the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, and so +on—up to the thousandth parrot. Now the thousandth +and first chanced to be none other than Vicram; all +were released but he. But, just as the hunter was +going to cut the noose round his feet, he let his knife +fall, and had to go down and pick it up again. When +the thousand parrots who were on the ground, heard +him coming down, they thought, “The thousand and +one are all released, and here comes the hunter; it is +time for us to be off.” And with one accord they flew +up into the air and far out of sight, leaving poor Vicram +Maharajah still a prisoner.</p> + +<p>The hunter, seeing what had happened, was very +angry, and seizing Vicram, said to him, “You wretched +bird! it’s you that have worked all this mischief. I +know it must be, for you are a stranger here, and different +to the other parrots. I’ll strangle you, at all +events—that I will.” But to his surprise, the parrot +answered him, “Do not kill me. What good will that +do you? Rather sell me in the next town. I am very +handsome. You will get a thousand gold mohurs<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> +for me.”</p> + +<p>“A thousand gold mohurs!” answered the hunter, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>143]</a></span> +much astonished. “You silly bird, who’d be so foolish +as to give a thousand gold mohurs for a parrot?” +“Never mind,” said Vicram, “only take me and +try.”</p> + +<p>So the hunter took him into the town, crying “Who’ll +buy? who’ll buy? Come buy this pretty polly that can +talk so nicely. See how handsome he is—see what a +great red ring he has round his neck. Who’ll buy? +who’ll buy?”</p> + +<p>Then several people asked how much he would take +for the parrot; but when he said a thousand gold mohurs, +they all laughed and went away, saying “None +but a fool would give so much for a bird.”</p> + +<p>At last the hunter got angry, and he said to Vicram, +“I told you how it would be. I shall never be able to +sell you.” But he answered, “Oh yes, you will. See +here comes a merchant down this way; I dare say he +will buy me.” So the hunter went to the merchant +and said to him, “Pray, sir, buy my pretty parrot.” +“How much do you want for him?” asked the merchant—“two +rupees?”<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> “No, sir,” answered the +hunter; “I cannot part with him for less than a thousand +gold mohurs.” “A thousand gold mohurs!” +cried the merchant, “a thousand gold mohurs! I never +heard of such a thing in my life! A thousand gold +mohurs for one little wee polly! Why, with that sum +you might buy a house, or gardens, or horses, or ten +thousand yards of the best cloth. Who’s going to give +you such a sum for a parrot? Not I, indeed. I’ll give +you two rupees and no more.” But Vicram called +out, “Merchant, merchant, do not fear to buy me. I +am Vicram Maharajah Parrot. Pay what the hunter +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>144]</a></span> +asks, and I will repay it to you—buy me only, and I +will keep your shop.”</p> + +<p>“Polly,” answered the merchant, “what nonsense +you talk!” But he took a fancy to the bird, and paid +the hunter a thousand gold mohurs, and taking Vicram +Maharajah home, hung him up in his shop.</p> + +<p>Then the Parrot took on him the duties of shopman, +and talked so much and so wisely that every one in +the town soon heard of the merchant’s wonderful bird. +Nobody cared to go to any other shop—all came to his +shop, only to hear the Parrot talk; and he sold them +what they wanted, and they did not care how much he +charged for what he sold, but gave him whatever he +asked; insomuch, that in one week the merchant had +made a thousand gold mohurs over and above his usual +weekly profits; and there Vicram Maharajah Parrot +lived for a long time, made much of by everybody, and +very happy.</p> + +<p>It happened in the town where the merchant lived +there was a very accomplished Nautch girl,<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> named +Champa Ranee.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> She danced so beautifully that the +people of the town used always to send for her to dance +on the occasion of any great festival.</p> + +<p>There also lived in the town a poor wood-cutter, +who earned his living by going out far into the jungle +to cut wood, and bringing it in every day, into the +bazaar to sell.</p> + +<p>One day he went out as usual into the jungle to cut +wood, and being tired, he fell asleep under a tree and +began to dream; and he dreamed that he was a very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>145]</a></span> +rich man, and that he married the beautiful Nautch +girl, and that he took her home to his house, and gave +his wife, as a wedding present, a thousand gold +mohurs!</p> + +<p>When he went into the bazaar that evening as usual +to sell wood, he began telling his dream to his friends, +saying, “While I was in the jungle I had such an absurd +dream; I dreamed that I was a rich man, and +that I married the Champa Ranee, and gave her as a +wedding present a thousand gold mohurs!” “What +a funny dream!” they cried, and thought no more of +it.</p> + +<p>But it happened that the house under which he was +standing whilst talking to his friends was Champa +Ranee’s house, and Champa Ranee herself was near +the window, and heard what he said, and thought to +herself, “For all that man looks so poor, he has then +a thousand gold mohurs, or he would not have dreamed +of giving them to his wife; if that is all, I’ll go to law +about it, and see if I can’t get the money.”</p> + +<p>So she sent out her servants and ordered them to +catch the poor wood-cutter; and when they caught +him, she began crying out, “Oh husband! husband! +here have I been waiting ever so long, wondering +what has become of you; where have you been all this +time?” He answered, “I’m sure I don’t know what +you mean. You’re a great lady and I’m a poor wood-cutter; +you must mistake me for somebody else.”</p> + +<p>But she answered, “Oh no! don’t you remember we +were married on such and such a day! Have you forgotten +what a grand wedding it was, and you took me +home to your palace, and promised to give me as a +wedding present a thousand gold mohurs? But you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>146]</a></span> +quite forgot to give me the money, and you went away, +and I returned to my father’s house till I could learn +tidings of you; how can you be so cruel?”</p> + +<p>The poor wood-cutter thought he must be dreaming, +but all Champa Ranee’s friends and relations declared +that what she said was true. Then, after much quarreling, +they said they would go to law about it; but +the judge could not settle the matter, and referred it to +the Rajah himself. The Rajah was no less puzzled +than the judge. The wood-cutter protested that he +was only a poor wood-cutter; but Champa Ranee and +her friends asserted that he was, on the contrary, a rich +man, her husband, and had had much money, which +he must have squandered. She offered, however, to +give up all claim to that, if he would only give her a +thousand gold mohurs, which he had promised; and so +suggested a compromise. The wood-cutter replied +that he would gladly give the gold mohurs if he had +them; but that (as he brought witnesses to prove) he +was really and truly what he professed to be—only a +poor wood-cutter, who earned two annas<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> a day cutting +wood, and had neither palace nor riches nor wife +in the world! The whole city was interested in this +curious case, and all wondered how it would end; +some being sure one side was right, and some equally +certain of the other.</p> + +<p>The Rajah could make nothing of the matter, and +at last he said: “I hear there is a merchant in this town +who has a very wise parrot, wiser than most men are; +let him be sent for to decide this business, for it is beyond +me; we will abide by his decision.”</p> + +<p>So Vicram Maharajah Parrot was sent for, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>147]</a></span> +placed in the court of justice, to hear and judge the +case.</p> + +<p>First he said to the wood-cutter, “Tell me your version +of the story.” And the wood-cutter answered, +“Polly, Sahib, what I tell is true. I am a poor man. +I live in the jungle, and earn my living by cutting +wood and selling it in the bazaar. I never get more +than two annas a day. One day I fell asleep and +dreamed a silly dream—how I had become rich and +married the Champa Ranee, and had given her as a +wedding present a thousand gold mohurs; but it is no +more true that I owed her a thousand gold mohurs, or +have them to pay, than that I married her.”</p> + +<p>“That is enough,” said Vicram Maharajah. “Now, +dancing girl, tell us your story.” And Champa +Ranee gave her version of the matter. Then the Parrot +said to her, “Tell me now where was the house of +this husband of yours, to which he took you?” “Oh!” +she answered; “very far away, I don’t know how far, +in the jungles.” “How long ago was it?” asked he. +“At such and such a time,” she replied. Then he +called credible and trustworthy witnesses, who proved +that Champa Ranee had never left the city at the time +she mentioned. After hearing whom, the Parrot said +to her, “Is it possible that you can have the folly to +think any one would believe that you would leave your +rich and costly home to go a long journey into the +jungle? It is now satisfactorily proved that you did +not do it; you had better give up all claim to the +thousand gold mohurs.”</p> + +<p>But this the Nautch girl would not do. The Parrot +then called for a money-lender, and begged of him +the loan of a thousand gold mohurs, which he placed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>148]</a></span> +in a great bottle, putting the stopper in, and sealing it +securely down; he then gave it to the Nautch girl, and +said, “Get this money if you can, without breaking the +seal or breaking the bottle.” She answered, “It cannot +be done.” “No more,” replied Vicram Maharajah, +“can what you desire be done. You cannot force +a poor man, who has no money in the world, to pay +you a thousand gold mohurs.</p> + +<p>“Let the prisoner go free! Begone, Champa Ranee. +Dancing girl! you are a liar and a thief; go rob the +rich if you will, but meddle no more with the poor.”</p> + +<p>All applauded Vicram Maharajah Parrot’s decision, +and said, “Was ever such a wonderful bird!” But +Champa Ranee was extremely angry, and said to him, +“Very well, nasty polly; nasty, stupid polly! be assured +before long I will get you in my power, and +when I do, I will bite off your head!”</p> + +<p>“Try your worst, madam,” answered Vicram; “but +in return, I tell you this—I will live to make you a +beggar. Your house shall be, by your own order, laid +even with the ground, and you for grief and rage shall +kill yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Agreed,” said Champa Ranee; “we will soon see +whose words come true—mine or yours;” and so saying, +she returned home.</p> + +<p>The merchant took Vicram Maharajah back to his +shop, and a week passed without adventure; a fortnight +passed, but still nothing particular happened. +At the end of this time the merchant’s eldest son was +married, and in honor of the occasion, the merchant +ordered that a clever dancing-girl should be sent for, to +dance before the guests. Champa Ranee came, and +danced so beautifully that every one was delighted; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>149]</a></span> +and the merchant was much pleased, and said to her, +“You have done your work very well, and in payment +you may choose what you like out of my shop or +house, and it shall be yours—whether jewels or rich +cloth, or whatever it is.”</p> + +<p>She replied, “I desire nothing of the kind: of jewels +and rich stuffs I have more than enough, but you shall +give me your pretty little parrot; I like it much, and +that is the only payment I will take.”</p> + +<p>The merchant felt very much vexed, for he had +never thought the Nautch girl would ask for the parrot +which he was so fond of, and which had been so profitable +to him; he felt he would rather have parted with +anything he possessed than that; nevertheless, having +promised, he was bound to keep his word, so, with +many tears, he went to fetch his favorite. But Polly +cried, “Don’t be vexed, master; give me to the girl; I +can take good care of myself.”</p> + +<p>So Champa Ranee took Vicram Maharajah Parrot +home with her; and no sooner did she get there than +she sent for one of her maids, and said, “Quick, take +this parrot and boil him for my supper; but first cut +off his head and bring it to me on a plate, grilled; for +I will eat it before tasting any other dish.”</p> + +<p>“What nonsensical idea is this of our mistress,” said +the maid to another, as she took the parrot into the +kitchen; “to think of eating a grilled parrot’s head!” +“Never mind,” said the other; “you’d better prepare +it as she bids you, or she’ll be very cross.” Then the +maid who had received the order began plucking the +long feathers out of Vicram Maharajah’s wings, he all +the time hanging down his head, so that she thought he +was dead. Then, going to fetch some water in which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>150]</a></span> +to boil him, she laid him down close to the place where +they washed the dishes. Now, the kitchen was on the +ground floor, and there was a hole right through the +wall, into which the water used in washing the dishes +ran, and through which all the scraps, bones, peelings +and parings were washed away after the daily cooking; +and in this hole Vicram Maharajah hid himself, quick +as thought.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear! oh dear!” cried the maid when she returned. +“What can I do? what will my mistress say? +I only turned my back for one moment, and the parrot’s +gone.” “Very likely,” answered the other maid, +“some cat has taken it away. It could not have been +alive, and flown or run away, or I should have seen +it go; but never fear, a chicken will do very well for +her instead.”</p> + +<p>Then they took a chicken and boiled it, and grilled +the head and took it to their mistress; and she ate it, +little bit by little bit, saying as she did so—</p> + +<p>“Ah, pretty polly! so here’s the end of you! This +is the brain that thought so cunningly and devised my +overthrow! this is the tongue that spoke against me! +this is the throat through which came the threatening +words! Aha! who is right now, I wonder?”</p> + +<p>Vicram, in the hole close by, heard her and felt very +much alarmed; for he thought, “If she should catch +me after all!” He could not fly away, for all his wing +feathers had been pulled out; so there he had to stay +some time, living on the scraps that were washed into +the hole in the washing of the plates, and perpetually +exposed to danger of being drowned in the streams of +water that were poured through it. At last, however, +his new feathers were sufficiently grown to bear him, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>151]</a></span> +and he flew away to a little temple in the jungle some +way off, where he perched behind the idol.</p> + +<p>It happened that Champa Ranee used to go to that +temple, and he had not been there long before she came +there to worship her idol.</p> + +<p>She fell on her knees before the image, and began to +pray. Her prayer was that the god would transport +her body and soul to heaven (for she had a horror of +dying), and she cried, “Only grant my prayer—only +let this be so, and I will do anything you wish—anything—anything.”</p> + +<p>Vicram Maharajah was hidden behind the image and +heard her, and said—</p> + +<p>“Champa Ranee Nautch girl, your prayer is heard!” +(She thought the idol himself was speaking to her, and +listened attentively.) “This is what you must do: sell +all you possess, and give the money to the poor; you +must also give money to all your servants and dismiss +them. Level also your house to the ground, that you +may be wholly separated from earth. Then you will +be fit for heaven. Come, having done all I command +you, on this day week to this place, and you shall be +transported thither body and soul.”</p> + +<p>Champa Ranee believed what she heard, and forgetful +of Vicram Maharajah Parrot’s threat, hastened +to do as she was bidden. She sold her possessions, +and gave all the money to the poor; razed her house +to the ground, and dismissed her servants; which being +accomplished, on the day appointed she went to the +temple, and sat on the edge of a well outside it, explaining +to the assembled people how the idol himself +had spoken to her, and how they would shortly see her +caught up to heaven, and thus her departure from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>152]</a></span> +world would be even more celebrated than her doings +whilst in it. All the people listened eagerly to her +words, for they believed her inspired, and to see her +ascension the whole city had come out, with hundreds +and hundreds of strangers and travelers, princes, merchants +and nobles, from far and near, all full of expectation +and curiosity.</p> + +<p>Then, as they waited, a fluttering of little wings was +heard, and a parrot flew over Champa Ranee’s head, +calling out, “Nautch girl! Nautch girl! what have +you done?” Champa Ranee recognized the voice as +Vicram’s; he went on: “Will you go body and soul +to heaven? have you forgotten polly’s words?”</p> + +<p>Champa Ranee rushed into the temple, and, falling +on her knees before the idol, cried out, “Gracious +Power, I have done all as you commanded; let your +words come true; save me; take me to heaven.”</p> + +<p>But the Parrot above her cried, “Good-bye, Champa +Ranee, good-bye; you ate a chicken’s head, not mine. +Where is your house now? where your servants and +all your possessions? Have my words come true, +think you, or yours?”</p> + +<p>Then the woman saw all, and in her rage and despair, +cursing her own folly, she fell violently down on +the floor of the temple, and dashing her head against +the stone, killed herself.</p> + +<p>It was now two years since the Rajah Vicram left +his kingdom; and about six months before, Butti, in +despair of his ever returning, had set out to seek for +him. Up and down through many countries had he +gone, searching for his master, but without success. +As good fortune would have it, however, he chanced +to be one of those strangers who had come to witness +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>153]</a></span> +the Nautch girl’s translation, and no sooner did he see +the Parrot which spoke to her than in him he recognized +Vicram. The Rajah also saw him, and flew on +to his shoulder, upon which Butti caught him, put him +in a cage and took him home.</p> + +<p>Now was a puzzling problem to be solved. The +Rajah’s soul was in the Parrot’s body, and the Carpenter’s +son’s soul in the Rajah’s body. How was the +latter to be expelled to make way for the former? +He could not return to his own body, for that had +perished long before. The Wuzeer knew not how to +manage the matter, and determined therefore to await +the course of events.</p> + +<p>It happened that the pretended Rajah and Butti each +had a fighting ram, and one day the Rajah said to the +Wuzeer, “Let us set our rams to fight to-day, and try +the strength of mine against yours.” “Agreed,” answered +the Wuzeer; and they set them to fight. But +there was much difference in the two rams; for when +Butti’s ram was but a lamb, and his horns were growing, +Butti had tied him to a lime tree, and his horns +had got very strong indeed by constantly rubbing +against its tender stem and butting against it; but the +Carpenter’s son had tied his ram, when a lamb, to a +young teak tree, the trunk of which was so stout and +strong that the little creature, butting against it, could +make no impression on it, but only damaged and +loosened his own horns.</p> + +<p>The pretended Rajah soon saw, to his vexation, that +his favorite’s horns being less strong than its opponent’s, +he was getting tired, and beginning to lose +courage, would certainly be worsted in the fight; so, +quick as thought, he left his own body and transported +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>154]</a></span> +his soul into the ram’s body, in order to give it an +increase of courage and resolution, and enable it to +win.</p> + +<p>No sooner did Vicram Maharajah, who was hanging +up in a cage, see what had taken place, than he left the +parrot’s body and re-entered his own body. Then +Butti’s ram pushed the other down on its knees and +the Wuzeer ran and fetched a sword, and cut off its +head; thus putting an end, with the life of the ram, to +the life of the Carpenter’s son.</p> + +<p>Great was the joy of Anar Ranee and all the household +at recovering the Rajah after his long absence; +and Anar Ranee prayed him to fly away no more as a +parrot, which he promised her he would not do.</p> + +<p>But the taste for wandering and love of an unsettled +life did not leave him on his resuming his proper form; +and one of the things in which he most delighted was +to roam about the jungles near the palace by himself, +without attendant or guide. One very sultry day, +when he was thus out by himself, he wandered over a +rocky part of the country, which was flat and arid, +without a tree upon it to offer shelter from the burning +sun. Vicram, tired with his walk, threw himself down +by the largest piece of rock he could find to rest. As +he lay there, half asleep, a little Cobra came out of a +hole in the ground, and seeing his mouth wide open +(which looked like some shady cranny in a rock), crept +in and curled himself up in the Rajah’s throat.</p> + +<p>Vicram Maharajah called out to the Cobra, “Get +out of my throat.” But the Cobra said, “No, I won’t +go; I like being here better then under ground;” and +there he stayed. Vicram didn’t know what to do, for +the Cobra lived in his throat and could not be got out. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>155]</a></span> +At times it would peep out of his mouth, but the moment +the Rajah tried to catch it, it ran back again.</p> + +<p>“Who ever heard of a Rajah in such a miserable +plight?” sighed he to Butti—“to think of having this +Cobra in my throat!”</p> + +<p>“Ah, my dear friend,” Butti would answer, “why +will you go roaming about the country by yourself? +Will you never be cured of it?”</p> + +<p>“If one could only catch this Cobra, I’d be content +to wander no more,” said the Rajah, “for my wandering +has not brought me much good of late.” But to +catch the Cobra was more than any man could do. At +last, one day, Vicram, driven nearly mad in this perplexity, +ran away into the jungle. Tidings of this were +soon brought to Butti, who was much grieved to hear +it, and sighed, saying, “Alas! alas! of what avail to +Vicram Maharajah is his more than human wisdom, +when the one unlucky self-chosen gift neutralizes all the +good he might do with it! It has given him a love of +wandering hither and thither, minding everybody’s +business but his own; his kingdom is neglected, his +people uncared for, and he, that used to be the pride of +all Rajahs, the best, the noblest, has finally slunk out +of his country, like a thief escaping from jail.”</p> + +<p>Butti sent messengers far and wide seeking Vicram +Maharajah, but they could not find him; he then determined +to go himself in search of his lost friend; and +having made proper arrangements for the government +of the country during his absence, he set off on his travels.</p> + +<p>Meantime Vicram wandered on and on until at last, +one day, he came to the palace of a certain Rajah, who +reigned over a country very far from his own, and he +sat down with the beggars at the palace gate.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>156]</a></span> +Now, the Rajah at whose gate Vicram Maharajah +sat had a good and lovely daughter, named Buccoulee.<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> +Many Princes wished to marry this Princess, but she +would marry none of them. Her father and mother +said to her, “Why will you not choose a husband? +Among all these Princes who ask you in marriage +there are many rich and powerful—many handsome +and brave—many wise and good; why will you refuse +them all?” The Princess replied, “It is not my destiny +to marry any of them; continually in my dreams I see +my destined husband, and I wait for him.” “Who is +he?” they asked. “His name,” she answered, “is the +Rajah Vicram; he will come from a very far country; +he has not come yet.” They replied, “There is no +Rajah, far or near, that we know of, of this name; +give over this fancy of yours and marry some one +else.”</p> + +<p>But she constantly refused, saying, “No, I will wait +for the Rajah Vicram.” Her parents thought, “It may +be even as she says. Who knows but perhaps some +day a great King, greater than any we know, may come +to this country and wish to marry the girl; we shall +then be glad that we had not obliged her to marry any +of her present suitors?”</p> + +<p>No sooner had Vicram Maharajah come to the +palace gate, and sat down there with the beggars, than +the Princess Buccoulee, looking out of the window, +saw him and cried, “There is the husband I saw in my +dreams; there is the Rajah Vicram.” “Where, child, +where?” said her mother; “there’s no Rajah there; +only a parcel of beggars.”</p> + +<p>But the Princess persisted that one of them was the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>157]</a></span> +Rajah Vicram. Then the Ranee sent for Vicram Maharajah +and questioned him.</p> + +<p>He said his name was “Rajah Vicram.” But the +Rajah and Ranee did not believe him; and they were +very angry with the Princess because she persisted in +saying that he, and no other, would she marry. At last +they got so enraged with her that they said, “Well, +marry your beggar husband, if you will, but don’t think +to remain any longer our daughter after becoming his +wife; if you marry him it shall be to follow his fortunes +in the jungle; we shall soon see you repent your obstinacy.”</p> + +<p>“I will marry him and follow him wherever he goes,” +said the Princess.</p> + +<p>So Vicram Maharajah and the Princess Buccoulee +were married, and her parents turned her out of the +house; nevertheless, they allowed her a little money. +“For,” they said, “she will fast enough find the difference +between a king’s daughter and a beggar’s wife, +without wanting food.”</p> + +<p>Vicram built a little hut in the jungle, and there they +lived; but the poor Princess had a sad time of it, for +she was neither accustomed to cook nor wash, and the +hard work tired her very much. Her chief grief, however, +was that Vicram should have such a hideous tormentor +as the Cobra in his throat; and often and often +of a night she sat awake, trying to devise some means +for catching it, but all in vain.</p> + +<p>At last, one night, when she was thinking about it, +she saw close by two Cobras come out of their holes, +and as they began to talk, she listened to hear what +they would say.</p> + +<p>“Who are these people?” said the first Cobra. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>158]</a></span> +“These,” said the second, “are the Rajah Vicram, and +his wife the Princess Buccoulee.” “What are they doing +here? why is the Rajah so far from his kingdom?” asked +the first Cobra.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he ran away because he was so miserable; he +has a Cobra that lives in his throat,” answered the +second.</p> + +<p>“Can no one get it out?” said the first.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied the other; “because they do not +know the secret.” “What secret?” asked the first +Cobra. “Don’t you know?” said the second; “why, +if his wife only took a few marking nuts,<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> and +pounded them well, and mixed them in cocoa-nut oil, +and set the whole on fire, and hung the Rajah, her +husband, head downward up in a tree above it, the +smoke, rising upward, would instantly kill the Cobra +in his mouth, which would tumble down dead.”</p> + +<p>“I never heard of that before,” said the first Cobra.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you?” exclaimed the second. “Why, if +they did the same thing at the mouth of your hole, +they’d kill you in no time; and then, perhaps, they +might find all the fine treasure you have there!” +“Don’t joke in that way,” said the first Cobra; “I +don’t like it;” and he crawled away quite offended, and +the second Cobra followed him.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the Princess heard this than she determined +to try the experiment. So next morning she +sent for all the villagers living near (who all knew and +loved her, and would do anything she told them, because +she was the Rajah’s daughter), and bade them +take a great cauldron and fill it with cocoa-nut oil, and +pound down an immense number of marking nuts and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>159]</a></span> +throw them into it, and then bring the cauldron to her. +They did so, and she set the whole on fire, and caused +Vicram to be hung up in a tree overhead; and as soon +as the smoke from the cauldron rose in the air it suffocated +the Cobra in Vicram Maharajah’s throat, which +fell down quite dead. Then the Rajah Vicram said to +his wife, “O worthy Buccoulee! what a noble woman +you are! You have delivered me from this torment, +which was more than all the wise men in my kingdom +could do.”</p> + +<p>Buccoulee then caused the cauldron of oil to be +placed close to the hole of the first Cobra, which she +had heard speaking the night before, and he was suffocated.</p> + +<p>She then ordered the people to dig him out of his +hole, and in it they found a vast amount of treasure—gold, +silver and jewels. Then Buccoulee sent for royal +robes for herself and her husband, and bade him cut +his hair and shave him; and when they were all ready, +she took the remainder of the treasure and returned +with it to her father’s house; and her father and mother, +who had repented of their harshness, gladly welcomed +her back, and were both surprised and delighted to see +all the vast treasures she had, and what a handsome, +princely-looking man her husband was.</p> + +<p>Then one day news was brought to Vicram that a +stranger Wuzeer had arrived in the palace as the +Rajah’s guest, and that this Wuzeer had for twelve +years been wandering round the world in search of his +master, but, not having found him, was returning to his +own home. Vicram thought to himself, “Can this +possibly be Butti?” and he ran to see.</p> + +<p>It was indeed Butti, who cried for joy to see him, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>160]</a></span> +saying, “Oh Vicram, Vicram! do you know it is +twelve years since you left us all?”</p> + +<p>Then Vicram Maharajah told Butti how the good +Princess Buccoulee had married him and succeeded in +killing the Cobra, and how he was then on the point of +returning to his own country. So they all set out together, +being given many rich presents by Buccoulee’s +father and mother. At last after a long, long journey, +they reached home. Anar Ranee was overjoyed to see +them again, for she had long mourned her husband as +dead. When Buccoulee Ranee was told who Anar +Ranee was and taken to see her, she felt very much frightened, +for she thought, “Perhaps she will be jealous of +me and hate me.” But with a gentle smile Anar Ranee +came to meet her, saying, “Sister, I hear it is to you we +owe the preservation of the Rajah, and that it was you +who killed the Cobra; I can never be sufficiently +grateful to you, nor love you enough, as long as I +live.”</p> + +<p>From that day Vicram Maharajah stayed in his own +kingdom, ruling it wisely and well, and beloved by all. +He and Butti lived to a good old age, and their affection +for each other lasted as long as they lived. So +that it became a proverb in that country, and instead of +saying, “So-and-so love each other like brothers” +(when speaking of two who were much attached), the +people would say, “So-and-so love each other like the +Rajah and the Wuzeer.”</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> +The great King Vicram.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> +Light.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> +See <a href="#note04">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> +See <a href="#note04">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> +See <a href="#note04">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> +About $7,500.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> +About $1.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> +Dancing girl.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> +The Champa Queen. “The Champa” (<i>Michelia champaca</i>) +is a beautiful, sweet-scented yellow flower.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> +Six cents.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> +Said to mean some sort of water-plant.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> +<i>Semecarpus anacardium.</i></p> +</div> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>161]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh04.jpg" width="500" height="92" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>VIII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>LESS INEQUALITY THAN MEN DEEM.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> YOUNG Rajah once said to his Wuzeer, “How +is it that I am so often ill? I take care of myself; +I never go out in the rain; I wear warm clothes; +I eat good food. Yet I am always catching cold or +getting fever, in spite of all precautions.”</p> + +<p>“Overmuch care is worse than none at all,” answered +the Wuzeer, “which I will soon prove to you.”</p> + +<p>So he invited the Rajah to accompany him for a +walk in the fields. Before they had gone very far they +met a poor Shepherd. The Shepherd was accustomed +to be out all day long, tending his flock; he had only a +coarse cloak on, which served but insufficiently to protect +him from the rain and the cold—from the dews by +night and the sun by day; his food was parched corn, +his drink water; and he lived out in the fields in a +small hut made of plaited palm branches. The Wuzeer +said to the Rajah, “You know perfectly well +what hard lives these poor shepherds lead. Accost +this one, and ask him if he often suffers from the exposure +which he is obliged to undergo.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah did as the Wuzeer told him, and asked +the Shepherd whether he did not often suffer from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>162]</a></span> +rheumatism, cold and fever. The Shepherd answered, +“Perhaps it will surprise you, sire, to hear that I never +suffer from either the one or the other. From childhood +I have been accustomed to endure the extremes +of heat and cold, and I suppose that is why they never +affect me.”</p> + +<p>At this the Rajah was very much astonished, and he +said to the Wuzeer, “I own I am surprised; but +doubtless this Shepherd is an extraordinarily strong +man, whom nothing would ever affect.” “We shall +see,” said the Wuzeer; and he invited the Shepherd to +the palace. There, for a long time, the Shepherd was +taken great care of; he was never permitted to go out +in the sun or rain, he had good food and good clothes, +and he was not allowed to sit in a draught or get his +feet wet. At the end of some months the Wuzeer sent +for him into a marble courtyard, the floor of which he +caused to be sprinkled with water.</p> + +<p>The Shepherd had been for some time so little used +to exposure of any kind that wetting his feet caused +him to take cold; the place felt to him chilly and damp +after the palace; he rapidly became worse, and in a +short time, in spite of all the doctors’ care, he died. +“Where is our friend the Shepherd?” asked the Rajah, +a few days afterward; “he surely could not have +caught cold merely by treading on the marble floor you +had caused to be sprinkled with water?”</p> + +<p>“Alas!” answered the Wuzeer, “the result was +more disastrous than I had anticipated; the poor Shepherd +caught cold and is dead. Having been lately +accustomed to overmuch care, the sudden change of +temperature killed him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>163]</a></span> +“You see now to what dangers we are exposed from +which the poor are exempt. It is thus that Nature +equalizes her best gifts; wealth and opulence tend too +frequently to destroy health and shorten life, though +they may give much enjoyment to it whilst it lasts.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/oddt06.jpg" width="250" height="143" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>164]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh01.jpg" width="500" height="95" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>IX.<br /> +<br /> +<i>PANCH-PHUL RANEE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> CERTAIN Rajah had two wives, of whom he +preferred the second to the first; the first Ranee +had a son, but, because he was not the child of the +second Ranee, his father took a great dislike to him, +and treated him so harshly that the poor boy was very +unhappy.</p> + +<p>One day, therefore, he said to his mother: “Mother, +my father does not care for me, and my presence is +only a vexation to him. I should be happier anywhere +than here; let me therefore go and seek my fortune in +other lands.”</p> + +<p>So the Ranee asked her husband if he would allow +their son to travel. He said, “The boy is free to go, +but I don’t see how he is to live in any other part of +the world, for he is too stupid to earn his living, and I +will give him no money to squander on senseless pleasures.” +Then the Ranee told her son that he had his +father’s permission to travel, and said to him, “You +are going out into the world now to try your luck; take +with you the food and clothes I have provided for your +journey.” And she gave him a bundle of clothes and +several small loaves, and in each loaf she placed a +gold mohur, that on opening it, he might find money +as well as food inside; and he started on his journey.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>165]</a></span> +When the young Rajah had traveled a long way, +and left his father’s kingdom far behind, he one day +came upon the outskirts of a great city, where (instead +of taking the position due to his rank, and sending to +inform the Rajah of his arrival) he went to a poor +Carpenter’s house, and begged of him a lodging for the +night. The Carpenter was busy making wooden clogs +in the porch of his house, but he looked up and nodded, +saying, “Young man, you are welcome to any assistance +a stranger may need and we can give. If you are +in want of food, you will find my wife and daughter in +the house: they will be happy to cook for you.” The +Rajah went inside and said to the Carpenter’s daughter, +“I am a stranger, and have traveled a long way; I am +both tired and hungry: cook me some dinner as fast as +you can, and I will pay you for your trouble.” She +answered, “I would willingly cook you some dinner at +once, but I have no wood to light the fire, and the +jungle is some way off.” “It matters not,” said the +Rajah; “this will do to light the fire, and I’ll make +the loss good to your father;” and taking a pair of new +clogs which the Carpenter had just finished making, he +broke them up and lighted the fire with them.</p> + +<p>Next morning he went into the jungle, cut wood, +and, having made a pair of new clogs—better than +those with which he had lighted the fire the evening +before—placed them with the rest of the goods for sale +in the Carpenter’s shop. Shortly afterward, one of the +servants of the Rajah of that country came to buy a +pair of clogs for his master, and seeing these new ones, +said to the Carpenter, “Why, man, these clogs are +better than all the rest put together. I will take none +other to the Rajah. I wish you would always make +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>166]</a></span> +such clogs as these.” And throwing down ten gold +mohurs on the floor of the hut, he took up the clogs +and went away.</p> + +<p>The Carpenter was much surprised at the whole +business. In the first place, he usually received only +two or three rupees for each pair of clogs; and in the +second, he knew that these which the Rajah’s servant +had judged worth ten gold mohurs had not been made +by him; and how they had come there he could not +think, for he felt certain they were not with the rest of +the clogs the night before. He thought and thought, +but the more he thought about the matter the more puzzled +he got, and he went to talk about it to his wife and +daughter. Then his daughter said, “Oh, those must +have been the clogs the stranger made!” And she told +her father how he had lighted the fire the night before +with two of the clogs which were for sale, and had +afterward fetched wood from the jungle and made another +pair to replace them.</p> + +<p>The Carpenter at this news was more astonished than +ever, and he thought to himself, “Since this stranger +seems a quiet, peaceable sort of man, and can make +clogs so well, it is a great pity he should leave this +place: he would make a good husband for my daughter;” +and, catching hold of the young Rajah, he propounded +his scheme to him. (But all this time he had +no idea that his guest was a Rajah.)</p> + +<p>Now the Carpenter’s daughter was a very pretty girl—as +pretty as any Ranee you ever saw; she was also +good-tempered, clever, and could cook extremely well. +So when the Carpenter asked the Rajah to be his son-in-law, +he looked at the father, the mother and the girl, +and thinking to himself that many a better man had a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>167]</a></span> +worse fate, he said, “Yes, I will marry your daughter, +and stay here and make clogs.” So the Rajah married +the Carpenter’s daughter.</p> + +<p>This Rajah was very clever at making all sorts of +things in wood. When he had made all the clogs he +wished to sell next day, he would amuse himself in +making toys; and in this way he made a thousand +wooden parrots. They were as like real parrots as +possible. They had each two wings, two legs, two +eyes and a sharp beak. And when the Rajah had +finished them all, he painted and varnished them and +put them one afternoon outside the house to dry.</p> + +<p>Night came on, and with it came Parbuttee and +Mahdeo,<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> flying round the world to see the different +races of men. Amongst the many places they visited +was the city where the Carpenter lived; and in the +garden in front of the house they saw the thousand +wooden parrots which the Rajah had made and painted +and varnished, all placed out to dry. Then Parbuttee +turned to Mahdeo, and said, “These parrots are very +well made—they need nothing but life. Why should +not we give them life?” Mahdeo answered, “What +would be the use of that? It would be a strange freak, +indeed!” “Oh,” said Parbuttee, “I only meant you to +do it as an amusement. It would be so funny to see the +wooden parrots flying about! But do not do it if you +don’t like.” “You would like it then?” answered +Mahdeo. “Very well, I will do it.” And he endowed +the thousand parrots with life.</p> + +<p>Parbuttee and Mahdeo then flew away.</p> + +<p>Next morning the Rajah got up early to see if the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>168]</a></span> +varnish he had put on the wooden parrots was dry; but +no sooner did he open the door than—marvel of marvels!—the +thousand wooden parrots all came walking +into the house, flapping their wings and chattering to +each other.</p> + +<p>Hearing the noise, the Carpenter and the Carpenter’s +wife and daughter came running out to see what was +the matter, and were not less astonished than the Rajah +himself at the miracle which had taken place. Then +the Carpenter’s wife turned to her son-in-law, and said, +“It is all very well that you should have made these +wooden parrots; but I don’t know where we are to find +food for them! Great, strong parrots like these will eat +not less than a pound of rice a-piece every day. Your +father-in-law and I cannot afford to procure as much as +that for them in this poor house. If you wish to keep +them, you must live elsewhere, for we cannot provide +for you all.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said the Rajah; “you shall not have +cause to accuse me of ruining you, for from henceforth +I will have a house of my own.” So he and his wife +went to live in a house of their own, and he took the +thousand parrots with him, and his mother-in-law gave +her daughter some corn and rice and money to begin +housekeeping with. Moreover, he found that the parrots, +that instead of being an expense, were the means +of increasing his fortune; for they flew away every +morning early to get food, and spent the whole day out +in the fields; and every evening, when they returned +home, each parrot brought in his beak a stalk of corn +or rice, or whatever it had found good to eat. So that +their master was regularly supplied with more food +than enough; and what with selling what he did not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>169]</a></span> +require, and working at his trade, he soon became quite +a rich carpenter.</p> + +<p>After he had been living in this way very happily +for some time, one night, when he fell asleep, the +Rajah dreamed a wonderful dream, and this was the +dream:</p> + +<p>He thought that very, very far away beyond the Red +Sea was a beautiful kingdom surrounded by seven +other seas; and that it belonged to a Rajah and Ranee +who had one lovely daughter, named Panch-Phul Ranee +(the Five Flower Queen), after whom the whole kingdom +was called Panch-Phul Ranee’s country; and that +this Princess lived in the centre of her father’s kingdom, +in a little house round which were seven wide ditches, +and seven great hedges made of spears; and that she +was called Panch-Phul Ranee because she was so light +and delicate that she weighed no more than five white +lotus flowers! Moreover, he dreamed that this Princess +had vowed to marry no one who could not cross +the seven seas, and jump the seven ditches, and seven +hedges made of spears.</p> + +<p>After dreaming this the young Rajah awoke, and +feeling much puzzled, got up, and sitting with his head +in his hands, tried to think the matter over and discover +if he had ever heard anything like his dream before; +but he could make nothing of it.</p> + +<p>Whilst he was thus thinking, his wife awoke and +asked him what was the matter. He told her, and she +said, “That is a strange dream. If I were you, I’d +ask the old parrot about it; he is a wise bird, and perhaps +he knows.” This parrot of which she spoke was +the most wise of all the thousand wooden parrots. The +Rajah took his wife’s advice, and when all the birds +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>170]</a></span> +came home that evening, he called the old parrot and +told him his dream, saying, “Can this be true?” To +which the parrot replied, “It is all true. The Panch-Phul +Ranee’s country lies beyond the Red Sea, and is +surrounded by seven seas, and she dwells in a house +built in the centre of her father’s kingdom. Round her +house are seven ditches, and seven hedges made of +spears, and she has vowed not to marry any man who +cannot jump these seven ditches and seven hedges; +and because she is very beautiful many great and noble +men have tried to do this, but in vain.</p> + +<p>“The Rajah and Ranee, her father and mother, are +very fond of her and proud of her. Every day she goes +to the palace to see them, and they weigh her in a pair +of scales. They put her in one scale and five lotus flowers +in the other, and she’s so delicate and fragile she weighs +no heavier than the five little flowers, so they call her the +Panch-Phul Ranee. Her father and mother are very +proud of this.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to go to that country and see the Panch-Phul +Ranee,” said the Rajah; “but I don’t know how +I could cross the seven seas.” “I will show you how +to manage that,” replied the old parrot. “I and another +parrot will fly close together, I crossing my left over his +right wing; so that we will move along as if we were one +bird (using only our outside wings to fly with), and on +the chair made of our interlaced wings you shall sit, and +we will carry you safely across the seven seas. On the +way we will every evening alight in some high tree and +rest, and every morning we can go on again.” “That +sounds a good plan; I have a great desire to try it,” said +the Rajah. “Wife, what should you think of my going +to the Panch-Phul Ranee’s country, and seeing if I can +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>171]</a></span> +jump the seven ditches, and seven hedges made of spears? +Will you let me try?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she answered. “If you like to go and marry +her, go; only take care that you do not kill yourself; +and mind you come back some day.” And she prepared +food for him to take with him, and took off her gold and +silver bangles, which she placed in a bundle of warm +things, that he might be in need neither of money nor +clothes on the journey. He then charged the nine hundred +and ninety-eight parrots he left behind him to bring +her plenty of corn and rice daily (that she might never +need food while he was away), and took her to the house +of her father, in whose care she was to remain during +his absence; and he wished her good-bye, saying, “Do +not fear but that I will come back to you, even if I do +win the Panch-Phul Ranee, for you will always be my +first wife, though you are the Carpenter’s daughter.”</p> + +<p>The old parrot and another parrot then spread their +wings, on which the Rajah seated himself as on a chair, +and rising up in the air, they flew away with him out +of sight.</p> + +<p>Far, far, far they flew, as fast as parrots can fly, over +hills, over forests, over rivers, over valleys, on, on, on, +hour after hour, day after day, week after week, only +staying to rest every night when it got too dark to see +where they were going. At last they reached the seven +seas which surrounded the Panch-Phul Ranee’s country. +When once they began crossing the seas they could not +rest (for there was neither rock nor island on which to +alight), so they were obliged to fly straight across them, +night and day, until they gained the shore.</p> + +<p>By reason of this the parrots were too exhausted on +their arrival to go as far as the city where the Rajah, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>172]</a></span> +Panch-Phul Ranee’s father, lived, but they flew down to +rest on a beautiful banyan tree, which grew not far from +the sea, close to a small village. The Rajah determined +to go into the village and get food and shelter there. +He told the parrots to stay in the banyan tree till his +return; then, leaving his bundle of clothes and most of +his money in their charge, he set off on foot toward +the nearest house.</p> + +<p>After a little while he reached a Malee’s cottage, and +giving a gold mohur to the Malee’s wife, got her to +provide him with food and shelter for the night.</p> + +<p>Next morning he rose early, and said to his hostess, +“I am a stranger here, and know nothing of the place. +What is the name of your country?” “This,” she said, +“is Panch-Phul Ranee’s country.”</p> + +<p>“And what is the last news in your town?” he asked. +“Very bad news indeed,” she replied. “You must +know our Rajah has one only daughter—a most beautiful +Princess—and her name is Panch-Phul Ranee, for +she is so light and delicate that she weighs no heavier +than five lotus flowers. After her this whole country is +called Panch-Phul Ranee’s country. She lives in a small +bungalow<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> in the centre of the city you see yonder; +but, unluckily for us, she has vowed to marry no man +who cannot jump on foot over the seven hedges made +of spears, and across the seven great ditches that surround +her house. This cannot be done, Babamah!<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> +I don’t know how many hundreds of thousands of +Rajahs have tried to do it and died in the attempt! +Yet the Princess will not break her vow. Daily, worse +and worse tidings come from the city of fresh people +having been killed in trying to jump the seven hedges +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>173]</a></span> +and seven ditches, and I see no end to the misfortunes +that will arise from it. Not only are so many brave +men lost to the world, but, since the Princess will marry +no one who does not succeed in this, she stands a chance +of not marrying at all; and if that be so, when the +Rajah dies there will be no one to protect her and claim +the right to succeed to the throne. All the nobles will +probably fight for the Raj, and the whole kingdom be +turned topsy-turvy.”</p> + +<p>“Mahi,”<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> said the Rajah, “if that is all there is to +do, I will try and win your Princess, for I can jump +right well.”</p> + +<p>“Baba,”<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> answered the Malee’s wife, “do not think +of such a thing; are you mad? I tell you, hundreds +of thousands of men have said these words before, and +been killed for their rashness. What power do you +think you possess to succeed where all before you have +failed? Give up all thought of this, for it is utter +folly.”</p> + +<p>“I will not do it,” answered the Rajah, “before going +to consult some of my friends.”</p> + +<p>So he left the Malee’s cottage, and returned to the +banyan tree to talk over the matter with the parrots; +for he thought they would be able to carry him on their +wings across the seven ditches and seven hedges made +of spears. When he reached the tree the old parrot +said to him, “It is two days since you left us; what +news have you brought from the village?” The Rajah +answered, “The Panch-Phul Ranee still lives in the +house surrounded by the seven ditches, and seven hedges +made of spears, and has vowed to marry no man who +cannot jump over them; but cannot you parrots, who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>174]</a></span> +brought me all the way over the seven seas, carry me +on your wings across these great barriers?”</p> + +<p>“You stupid man!” answered the old parrot; “of +course we could; but what would be the good of doing +so? If we carried you across, it would not be at all +the same thing as your jumping across, and the Princess +would no more consent to marry you than she +would now; for she has vowed to marry no one who +has not jumped across <em>on foot</em>. If you want to do the +thing, why not do it yourself, instead of talking nonsense. +Have you forgotten how, when you were a little +boy, you were taught to jump by conjurors and +tumblers (for the parrot knew all the Rajah’s history)? +Now is the time to put their lessons in practice. If +you can jump the seven ditches, and seven hedges +made of spears, you will have done a good work, and +be able to marry the Panch-Phul Ranee; but if not, +this is a thing in which we cannot help you.”</p> + +<p>“You reason justly,” replied the Rajah. “I will +try to put in practice the lessons I learnt when a boy; +meantime, do you stay here till my return.”</p> + +<p>So saying, he went away to the city, which he +reached by nightfall. Next morning early he went to +where the Princess’ bungalow stood, to try and jump +the fourteen great barriers. He was strong and agile, +and he jumped the seven great ditches, and six of the +seven hedges made of spears; but in running to jump +the seventh hedge he hurt his foot, and, stumbling, fell +upon the spears and died—run through and through +with the cruel iron spikes.</p> + +<p>When Panch-Phul Ranee’s father and mother got up +that morning and looked out, as their custom was, toward +their daughter’s bungalow, they saw something +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>175]</a></span> +transfixed upon the seventh hedge of spears, but what it +was they could not make out, for it dazzled their eyes. +So the Rajah called his Wuzeer and said to him, “For +some days I have seen no one attempt to jump the +seven hedges and seven ditches round Panch-Phul +Ranee’s bungalow; but what is that which I now see +upon the seventh hedge of spears?” The Wuzeer answered, +“That is a Rajah’s son, who has failed like all +who have gone before him.” “But how is it,” asked +the Rajah, “that he thus dazzles our eyes?”</p> + +<p>“It is,” replied the Wuzeer, “because he is so beautiful. +Of all that have died for the sake of Panch-Phul +Ranee, this youth is, beyond doubt, the handsomest.” +“Alas!” cried the Rajah, “how many and +how many brave men has my daughter killed? I will +have no more die for her. Let us send her and the +dead man together away into the jungle.”</p> + +<p>Then he ordered the servants to fetch the young +Rajah’s body. There he lay, still and beautiful, with +a glory shining round him as the moonlight shines +round the clear bright moon, but without a spark of life.</p> + +<p>When the Rajah saw him, he said, “Oh pity, pity, +that so brave and handsome a boy should have come +dying after this girl! Yet he is but one of the thousands +of thousands who have died thus to no purpose. +Pull up the spears and cast them into the seven ditches, +for they shall remain no longer.”</p> + +<p>Then he commanded two palanquins to be prepared +and men in readiness to carry them, and said, “Let +the girl be married to the young Rajah, and let both be +taken far away into the jungle, that we may never see +them more. Then there will be quiet in the land +again.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>176]</a></span> +The Ranee, Panch-Phul Ranee’s mother, cried bitterly +at this, for she was very fond of her daughter, and +she begged her husband not to send her away so +cruelly—the living with the dead; but the Rajah was +inexorable. “That poor boy died,” he said: “let my +daughter die too. I’ll have no more men killed here.”</p> + +<p>So the two palanquins were prepared. Then he +placed his daughter in the one, and her dead husband +in the other, and said to the palkee-bearers, “Take +these palkees and go out into the jungle until you have +reached a place so desolate that not so much as a sparrow +is to be seen, and there leave them both.”</p> + +<p>And so they did. Deep down in the jungle, where +no bright sun could pierce the darkness, nor human +voice be heard, far from any habitation of man or +means of supporting life, on the edge of a dank, stagnant +morass that was shunned by all but noisome reptiles +and wandering beasts of prey, they set them down +and left them, the dead husband and the living wife, +alone to meet the horrors of the coming night—alone, +without a chance of rescue.</p> + +<p>Panch-Phul Ranee heard the bearers’ retreating footsteps, +and their voices getting fainter and fainter in the +distance, and felt that she had nothing to hope for +but death.</p> + +<p>Night seemed coming on apace, for though the sun +had not set, the jungle was so dark that but little light +pierced the gloom; and she thought she would take a +last look at the husband her vow had killed, and sitting +beside him wait till starvation should make her as he +was, or some wild animal put a more speedy end to +her sufferings.</p> + +<p>She left her palkee and went toward his. There +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>177]</a></span> +he lay with closed eyes and close-shut lips: black curling +hair, which escaped from under his turban, concealed +a ghastly wound on his temple. There was no +look of pain on the face, and the long, sweeping eyelashes +gave it such a tender, softened expression she +could hardly believe that he was dead. He was, in +truth, very beautiful; and watching him she said to +herself, “Alas, what a noble being is here lost to the +world! what an earth’s joy is extinguished! Was it +for this that I was cold, and proud, and stern—to break +the cup of my own happiness and to be the death of +such as you? Must you now never know that you won +your wife? Must you never hear her ask your pardon +for the past, nor know her cruel punishment? Ah, if +you had but lived, how dearly I would have loved you! +Oh my husband! my husband!” And sinking down +on the ground, she buried her face in her hands and +cried bitterly.</p> + +<p>While she was sitting thus night closed over the +jungle, and brought with it wild beasts that had left +their dens and lairs in search of prey—to roam about, +as the heat of the day was over. Tigers, lions, elephants +and bison, all came by turns crushing through +the underwood which surrounded the place where the +palkees were, but they did no harm to Panch-Phul +Ranee, for she was so fair that not even the cruel +beasts of the forest would injure her. At last, about +four o’clock in the morning, all the wild animals had +gone, except two little jackals, who had been very busy +watching the rest and picking the bones left by the +tigers. Tired with running about, they lay down to +rest close to the palkees. Then one little jackal said +to the other, who was her husband, “Do tell me a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>178]</a></span> +little story.” “Dear me!” he exclaimed, “what people +you women are for stories! Well, look just in front +of you; do you see those two?” “Yes,” she answered; +“what of them?” “That woman you see sitting on +the ground,” he said, “is the Panch-Phul Ranee.” +“And what son of a Rajah is the man in the palkee?” +asked she. “That,” he replied, “is a very sorrowful +son. His father was so unkind to him that he left his +own home, and went to live in another country very far +from this; and there he dreamed about the Panch-Phul +Ranee, and came to our land in order to marry her, +but he was killed in jumping the seventh hedge of +spears, and all he gained was to die for her sake.”</p> + +<p>“That is very sad,” said the first little jackal; “but +could he never by any chance come to life again?” +“Yes,” answered the other; “may be he could, if only +some one knew how to apply the proper remedies.” +“What are the proper remedies, and how could he be +cured?” asked the lady jackal. (Now all this conversation +had been heard by Panch-Phul Ranee, and when +this question was asked she listened very eagerly and +attentively for the answer.)</p> + +<p>“Do you see this tree?” replied her husband. “Well, +if some of its leaves were crushed, and a little of the +juice put into the Rajah’s two ears and upon his upper +lip, and some upon his temples also, and some upon +the spear-wounds in his side, he would come to life +again and be as well as ever.”</p> + +<p>At this moment day dawned, and the two little +jackals ran away. Panch-Phul Ranee did not forget +their words. She, a Princess born, who had never put +her foot to the ground before (so delicately and tenderly +had she been reared), walked over the rough +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>179]</a></span> +clods of earth and the sharp stones till she reached the +place where the tree grew of which the jackals had +spoken. She gathered a number of its leaves, and, +with hands and feet that had never before done coarse +or common work, beat and crushed them down. They +were so stiff and strong that it took her a long time. +At last, after tearing them, and stamping on them, and +pounding them between two stones, and biting the +hardest parts, she thought they were sufficiently +crushed; and rolling them up in a corner of her saree, +she squeezed the juice through it on to her husband’s +temples, and put a little on his upper lip and into his +ears, and some also on the spear-wound in his side. +And when she had done this, he awoke as if he had +been only sleeping, and sat up, wondering where he +was. Before him stood Panch-Phul Ranee shining +like a glorious star, and all around them was the dark +jungle.</p> + +<p>It would be hard to say which of them was the most +astonished—the Rajah or the Princess. She was surprised +that the remedy should have taken such speedy +effect, and could hardly believe her eyes when she saw +her husband get up. And if he looked beautiful when +dead, much more handsome did he seem to her now, +so full of life and animation and power—the picture of +health and strength. And he in his turn was lost in +amazement at the exquisite loveliness of the lady who +stood before him. He did not know who she could be, +for he had never seen her like except in a dream. +Could she be really the world-renowned Panch-Phul +Ranee, or was he dreaming still? He feared to move +lest he should break the spell. But as he sat there +wondering, she spoke, saying, “You marvel at what +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>180]</a></span> +has taken place. You do not know me—I am Panch-Phul +Ranee, your wife.”</p> + +<p>Then he said, “Ah, Princess, is it indeed you? You +have been very hard to me.” “I know, I know,” she +answered; “I caused your death, but I brought you to +life again. Let the past be forgotten; come home +with me, and my father and mother will welcome you +as a son.”</p> + +<p>He replied, “No, I must first return to my own +home a while. Do you rather return there now with +me, for it is a long time since I left it, and afterward +we will come again to your father’s kingdom.”</p> + +<p>To this Panch-Phul Ranee agreed. It took them, +however, a long time to find their way out of the +jungle. At last they succeeded in doing so, for none +of the wild animals in it attempted to injure them, so +beautiful and royal did they both look.</p> + +<p>When they reached the banyan tree, where the +Rajah had left the two parrots, the old parrot called +out to him, “So you have come back at last! We +thought you never would, you were such a long time +away! There you went, leaving us here all the time, +and after all doing no good, but only getting yourself +killed. Why didn’t you do as we advised you, and +jump up nicely?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m sure,” said the Rajah, “yours is a hard +case; but I beg your pardon for keeping you waiting +so long, and now I hope you’ll take me and my wife +home.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we will do that,” answered the parrots; “but +you had better get some dinner first, for it’s a long +journey over the seven seas.”</p> + +<p>So the Rajah went to the village close by and bought +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>181]</a></span> +food for himself and the Panch-Phul Ranee. When +he returned with it, he said to her, “I fear the long +journey before us for you: had you not better let me +make it alone, and return here for you when it is over?” +But she answered, “No! what could I, a poor, weak +woman, do here alone? and I will not return to my +father’s house till you can come too. Take me with +you, however far you go; only promise me you will +never leave me.” So he promised her, and they both, +mounting the parrots, were carried up in the air across +the seven seas, across the Red Sea, on, on, on, a whole +year’s journey, until they reached his father’s kingdom, +and alighted to rest at the foot of the palace garden. +The Rajah, however, did not know where he was, for +all had much changed since he left it some years +before.</p> + +<p>Then a little son was born to the Rajah and Panch-Phul +Ranee. He was a beautiful child, but his father +was grieved to think that in that bleak place there was +no shelter for the mother or the baby. So he said to +his wife, “I will go to fetch food for us both, and fire +to cook it with, and inquire what this country is, and +seek out a place of rest for you. Do not be afraid; I +shall soon return.” Now, far off in the distance smoke +was to be seen rising from tents which belonged to +some conjurors and dancing-people, and thither the +Rajah bent his steps, feeling certain he should be able +to get fire, and perhaps food also, from the inhabitants. +When he got there, he found the place was much +larger than he had expected—quite a good-sized village +in fact—the abode of Nautch-people and conjurors. +In all the houses the people were busy, some dancing, +some singing, others trying various conjuring tricks or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>182]</a></span> +practising beating the drum, and all seemed happy and +joyful.</p> + +<p>When the conjurors saw him, they were so much +struck with his appearance (for he was very handsome) +that they determined to make him, if possible, stay +among them and join their band. And they said one +to another, “How well he would look beating the +drum for the dancers! All the world would come to +see us dance, if we had such a handsome man as that +to beat the drum.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah, unconscious of their intentions, went into +the largest hut he saw, and said to a woman who was +grinding corn, “Bai,<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> give me a little rice, and some +fire from your hearth.” She immediately consented, +and got up to fetch the burning sticks he asked for; +but before she gave them to him, she and her companions +threw upon them a certain powder, containing +a very potent charm; and no sooner did the Rajah receive +them than he forgot about his wife and little child, +his journey, and all that had ever happened to him in +his life before; such was the peculiar property of the +powder. And when the conjurors said to him, “Why +should you go away? stay with us, and be one of us,” +he willingly consented to do so.</p> + +<p>All this time Panch-Phul Ranee waited and waited +for her husband, but he never came. Night approached +without his having brought her any food or news of +having found a place of shelter for her and the baby. +At last, faint and weary, she swooned away.</p> + +<p>It happened that that very day the Ranee (Panch-Phul +Ranee’s husband’s mother) lost her youngest child, +a fine little boy of only a day old; and her servants +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>183]</a></span> +took its body to the bottom of the garden to bury it. +Just as they were going to do so, they heard a low cry, +and, looking round, saw close by a beautiful woman +lying on the ground, dead, or apparently so, and beside +her a fine little baby boy. The idea immediately +entered their heads of leaving the dead baby beside the +dead woman, and taking her living baby back with +them to the palace; and so they did.</p> + +<p>When they returned, they said to their mistress, “Your +child did not die; see here it is—it got well again,” and +showed her Panch-Phul Ranee’s baby; but after a time, +when the Ranee questioned them about it, they told her +the whole truth, but she had become meanwhile very +fond of the little boy, and so he continued in the palace +and was brought up as her son; being, in truth, her +grandson, though she did not know it.</p> + +<p>Meantime the palace Malee’s wife went out, as her +custom was every morning, and evening, to gather +flowers. In search of them she wandered as far as the +jungle at the bottom of the garden, and there she found +the Panch-Phul Ranee lying as dead, and the dead +baby beside her.</p> + +<p>The good woman felt very sorry, and rubbed the +Ranee’s cold hands and gave her sweet flowers to smell, +in hopes that she might revive. At last she opened her +eyes, and seeing the Malee’s wife, said, “Where am I? +has not my husband come back? and who are you?”</p> + +<p>“My poor lady,” answered the Malee’s wife, “I do +not know where your husband is. I am the Malee’s +wife, and coming here to gather flowers, I found you +lying on the ground, and this your little baby, which is +dead; but come home with me, I will take care of you.”</p> + +<p>Panch-Phul Ranee answered, “Kind friend, this is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>184]</a></span> +not my baby; he did not die; he was the image of his +father, and fairer than this child. Some one must have +taken him away, for but a little while ago I held him +in my arms, and he was strong and well, while this +one could never have been more than a puny, weakly +infant. Take me away; I will go home with you.”</p> + +<p>So the Malee’s wife buried the dead child and took +the Panch-Phul Ranee to her house, where she lived +for fourteen years; but all that time she could learn no +tidings of her husband or her lost little boy. The child, +meanwhile, grew up in the palace, and became a very +handsome youth. One day he was wandering round +the garden and chanced to pass the Malee’s house. +The Panch-Phul Ranee was sitting within, watching +the Malee’s wife cook their dinner.</p> + +<p>The young Prince saw her, and calling the Malee’s +wife, said to her, “What beautiful lady is that in your +house? and how did she come there?” She answered, +“Little Prince, what nonsense you talk! there is no +lady here.” He said again, “I know there is a beautiful +lady here, for I saw her as I passed the open door.” +She replied, “If you come telling such tales about my +house, I’ll pull your tongue out.” For she thought to +herself, “Unless I scold him well, the boy’ll go talking +about what he’s seen in the palace, and then perhaps +some of the people from there will come and take the +poor Panch-Phul Ranee away from my care.” But +whilst the Malee’s wife was talking to the young Prince, +the Panch-Phul Ranee came from the inner room to +watch and listen to him unobserved; and no sooner did +she see him than she could not forbear crying out, “Oh, +how like he is to my husband! The same eyes, the +same shaped face and the same king-like bearing! Can +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>185]</a></span> +he be my son? He is just the age my son would have +been had he lived.”</p> + +<p>The young Prince heard her speaking and asked +what she said, to which the Malee’s wife replied, “The +woman you saw, and who just now spoke, lost her +child fourteen years ago, and she was saying to herself +how like you were to that child, and thinking you must +be the same; but she is wrong, for we know you are the +Ranee’s son.” Then Panch-Phul Ranee herself came +out of the house, and said to him, “Young Prince, I +could not, when I saw you, help exclaiming how like +you are to what my lost husband was, and to what my +son might have been; for it is now fourteen years since +I lost them both.” And she told him how she had been +a great Princess, and was returning with her husband +to his own home (to which they had got halfway in +reaching that place), and how her little baby had been +born in the jungle, and her husband had gone away to +seek shelter for her and the child, and fire and food, +and had never returned; and also how, when she had +fainted away, some one had certainly stolen her baby +and left a dead child in its place; and how the good +Malee’s wife had befriended her, and taken her ever +since to live in her house. And when she had ended +her story she began to cry.</p> + +<p>But the Prince said to her, “Be of good cheer; I will +endeavor to recover your husband and child for you: +who knows but I may indeed be your son, beautiful +lady?” And running home to the Ranee (his adopted +mother), he said to her, “Are you really my mother? +Tell me truly; for this I must know before the sun goes +down.” “Why do you ask foolish questions?” she +replied; “have I not always treated you as a son?” +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>186]</a></span> +“Yes,” he said; “but tell me the very truth, am I your +own child, or the child of some one else, adopted as +yours? If you do not tell me, I will kill myself.” And +so saying, he drew his sword. She replied, “Stay, stay, +and I will tell you the whole truth: the day before you +were born I had a little baby, but it died; and my servants +took it to the bottom of the garden to bury it, and +there they found a beautiful woman lying as dead, and +beside her a living infant. You were that child. They +brought you to the palace, and I adopted you as my son, +and left my baby in your stead.” “What became of +my mother?” he asked. “I cannot tell,” answered the +Ranee; “for, two days afterward, when I sent to the +same place, she and the baby had both disappeared, and +I have never since heard of her.”</p> + +<p>The young Prince, on hearing this, said, “There is +in the head Malee’s house a beautiful lady, whom the +Malee’s wife found in the jungle, fourteen years ago; +that must be my mother. Let her be received here this +very day with all honor, for that is the only reparation +that can now be made to her.”</p> + +<p>The Ranee consented, and the young Prince went +down to the Malee’s house himself to fetch his mother +to the palace.</p> + +<p>With him he took a great retinue of people, and a +beautiful palanquin for her to go in, covered with rich +trappings; also costly things for her to wear, and many +jewels and presents for the good Malee’s wife.</p> + +<p>When Panch-Phul Ranee had put on her son’s gifts, +and come out of the Malee’s poor cottage to meet him, +all the people said there had never been so royal-looking +a queen. As gold and clear crystal are lovely, as +mother-of-pearl is exquisitely fair and delicate-looking, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>187]</a></span> +so beautiful, so fair, so delicate appeared Panch-Phul +Ranee.</p> + +<p>Her son conducted her with much pomp and state to +the palace, and did all in his power to honor her; and +there she lived long very happily, and beloved by all.</p> + +<p>One day the young Prince begged her to tell him +again, from the beginning, the story of her life, and as +much as she knew of his father’s life; and so she did. +And after that, he said to her, “Be no longer sad, dear +mother, regarding my father’s fate; for I will send into +all lands to gather tidings of him, and maybe in the +end we shall find him.” And he sent people out to +hunt for the Rajah all over the kingdom, and in all +neighboring countries—to the north, to the south, to the +east and to the west—but they found him not.</p> + +<p>At last (after four years of unsuccessful search), when +there seemed no hope of ever learning what had become +of him, Panch-Phul Ranee’s son came to see her, and +said, “Mother, I have sent into all lands seeking my +father, but can hear no news of him. If there were +only the slightest clue as to the direction in which he +went, there would still be some chance of tracing him, +but that, I fear, cannot be got. Do you not remember +his having said anything of the way which he intended +to go when he left you?” She answered, “When your +father went away, his words to me were, ‘I will go to +fetch food for us both, and fire to cook it with, and +inquire what this country is, and seek out a place of +shelter for you. Do not be afraid—I shall soon return.’ +That was all he said, and then he went away, and I +never saw him more.”</p> + +<p>“In what direction did he go from the foot of the +garden?” asked the Prince. “He went,” answered the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>188]</a></span> +Panch-Phul Ranee, “toward that village of conjurors +close by. I thought he was intending to ask some of +them to give us food. But had he done so, he would +certainly have returned in a very short time.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think you should know my father, mother +darling, if you were to see him again?” asked the +Prince. “Yes,” answered she, “I should know him +again.” “What!” he said, “even though eighteen +years have gone by since you saw him last? Even +though age and sickness and want had done their +utmost to change him?” “Yes!” she replied; “his +every feature is so impressed on my heart that I should +know him again anywhere or in any disguise.”</p> + +<p>“Then let us,” he said, “send for all those people +in the direction of whose houses he went away. Maybe +they have detained him among them to this day. It is +but a chance, but we can hope for nothing more certain.”</p> + +<p>So the Panch-Phul Ranee and her son sent down +orders to the conjurors’ village that every one of the +whole band should come up to the palace that afternoon—not +a soul was to stay behind. And the dancers +were to dance and the conjurors to play all their tricks +for the amusement of the palace inmates.</p> + +<p>The people came. The nautch girls began to dance—running, +jumping and flying here, there and everywhere, +some up, some down, some round and round. The conjurors +conjured and all began in different ways to amuse +the company. Among the rest was one wild, ragged-looking +man, whose business was to beat the drum. +No sooner did the Panch-Phul Ranee set eyes on him +than she said to her son, “Boy, that is your father!” +“What, mother!” he said, “that wretched-looking man +who is beating the drum?” “The same,” she answered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>189]</a></span> +The Prince said to his servants, “Fetch that man +here.” And the Rajah came toward them, so changed +that not even his own mother knew him—no one recognized +him but his wife. For eighteen years he had +been among the nautch people; his hair was rough, his +beard untrimmed, his face thin and worn, sunburnt and +wrinkled; he wore a nose-ring and heavy ear-rings, +such as the nautch people have; and his dress was a +rough, common cumlee.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> All traces of his former self +seemed to have disappeared. They asked him if he +did not remember he had been a Rajah once, and about +his journey to Panch-Phul Ranee’s country. But he +said, No, he remembered nothing but how to beat the +drum—Rub-a-dub! tat-tat! tom-tum! tom-tum! He +thought he must have beaten it all his life.</p> + +<p>Then the young Prince gave orders that all the +nautch people should be put into jail until it could be +discovered what part they had taken in reducing his +father to so pitiable a state. And sending for the +wisest doctors in the kingdom, he said to them, “Do +your best and restore the health of this Rajah, who has +to all appearance lost both memory and reason; and +discover, if possible, what has caused these misfortunes +to befall him.” The doctors said, “He has certainly +had some potent charm given to him, which has destroyed +both his memory and reason, but we will do +our best to counteract its influence.”</p> + +<p>And so they did. And their treatment succeeded so +well that, after a time, the Rajah entirely recovered his +former senses. And they took such good care of him +that in a little while he regained his health and strength +also, and looked almost as well as ever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>190]</a></span> +He then found to his surprise that he, Panch-Phul +Ranee, and their son, had all this time been living in +his father’s kingdom. His father was so delighted to +see him again that he was no longer unkind to him, +but treated him as a dearly beloved, long-lost son. His +mother also was overjoyed at his return, and they said +to him, “Since you have been restored to us again, +why should you wander any more? Your wife and +son are here; do you also remain here, and live among +us for the rest of your days.” But he replied, “I have +another wife—the Carpenter’s daughter—who first was +kind to me in my adopted country. I also have there +nine hundred and ninety-eight talking wooden parrots, +which I greatly prize. Let me first go and fetch +them.”</p> + +<p>They said, “Very well; go quickly and then return.” +So he mounted the two wooden parrots which +had brought him from the Panch-Phul Ranee’s country +(and which had for eighteen years lived in the jungle +close to the palace), and returned to the land where +his first wife lived, and fetched her and the nine hundred +and ninety-eight remaining wooden parrots to his +father’s kingdom. Then his father said to him, “Don’t +have any quarreling with your half-brother after I am +dead” (for his half-brother was son of the old Rajah’s +favorite wife). “I love you both dearly, and will give +each of you half of my kingdom.” So he divided the +kingdom into two halves, and gave the one half to the +Panch-Phul Ranee’s husband, who was the son of his +first wife, and the other half to the eldest son of his +second but favorite wife.</p> + +<p>A short time after this arrangement was made, +Panch-Phul Ranee said to her husband, “I wish to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>191]</a></span> +see my father and mother again before I die; let me go +and see them.” He answered, “You shall go, and I +and our son will also go.” So he called four of the +wooden parrots—two to carry himself and the Ranee, +and two to carry their son. Each pair of parrots +crossed their wings; the young Prince sat upon the +two wings of one pair, and on the wings of the other +pair sat his father and mother. Then they all rose up +in the air, and the parrots carried them (as they had +before carried the Rajah alone), up, up, up, on, on, +on, over the Red Sea, and across the seven seas, until +they reached the Panch-Phul Ranee’s country.</p> + +<p>Panch-Phul Ranee’s father saw them come flying +through the air as quickly as shooting stars, and much +wondering who they were, he sent out many of his nobles +and chief officers to inquire.</p> + +<p>The nobles went out to meet them, and called out, +“What great Rajah is this who is dressed so royally, +and comes flying through the air so fast? Tell us, that +we may tell our Rajah.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah answered, “Go and tell your master that +this is Panch-Phul Ranee’s husband, come to visit his +father-in-law.” So they took that answer back to the +palace, but when the Rajah heard it, he said, “I cannot +tell what this means, for the Panch-Phul Ranee’s +husband died long ago. It is twenty years since he +fell upon the iron spears and died; let us, however, all +go and discover who this great Rajah really is.” And +he and all his court went out to meet the new-comers, +just as the parrots had alighted close to the palace +gate. The Panch-Phul Ranee took her son by the one +hand and her husband by the other, and walking to +meet her father, said, “Father, I have come to see you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>192]</a></span> +again. This is my husband who died, and this boy is +my son.” Then all the land was glad to see the +Panch-Phul Ranee back, and the people said, “Our +Princess is the most beautiful Princess in the world, +and her husband is as handsome as she is, and her son +is a fair boy; we will that they should always live +among us and reign over us.”</p> + +<p>When they had rested a little, the Panch-Phul +Ranee told her father and mother the story of all her +adventures from the time she and her husband were +left in the palkees in the jungle. And when they had +heard it, her father said to the Rajah, her husband, +“You must never go away again; for see, I have no +son but you. You and your son must reign here after +me. And behold all this great kingdom will I now +give you, if you will only stay with us; for I am old +and weary of governing the land.”</p> + +<p>But the Rajah answered, “I must return once again +to my own country, and then I will stay with you as +long as I live.”</p> + +<p>So, leaving the Panch-Phul Ranee and her son with +the old Rajah and Ranee, he mounted his parrots and +once more returned to his father’s land. And when he +had reached it, he said to his mother, “Mother, my +father-in-law has given me a kingdom ten thousand +times larger than this. So I have but returned to bid +you farewell and fetch my first wife, and then I must +go back to live in that other land.” She answered, +“Very well; so you are happy anywhere, I am happy +too.”</p> + +<p>He then said to his half-brother, “Brother, my +father-in-law has given me all the Panch-Phul Ranee’s +country, which is very far away; therefore I give up to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>193]</a></span> +you the half of this kingdom that my father gave to +me.” Then, bidding his father farewell, he took the +Carpenter’s daughter back with him (riding through +the air on two of the wooden parrots, and followed by +the rest) to the Panch-Phul Ranee’s country, and +there he and his two wives and his son lived very +happily all their mortal days.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> +The god Mahdeo is an incarnation of Siva the Destroyer. +The goddess Parbuttee is his wife.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> +House.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> +Oh, my child.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> +Woman or mother.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> +Child.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> +Woman.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> +A coarse woolen blanket.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/oddt07.jpg" width="250" height="127" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>194]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh06.jpg" width="500" height="90" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>X.<br /> +<br /> +<i>HOW THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE WIND +WENT OUT TO DINNER.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NE day the Sun, the Moon and the Wind went +out to dine with their uncle and aunt, the Thunder +and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most +distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone +for her children’s return.</p> + +<p>Now both the Sun and the Wind were greedy and +selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been +prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of +it to take home to their mother; but the gentle Moon +did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was +brought round she placed a small portion under one of +her beautiful long finger-nails, that the Star might also +have a share in the treat.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p> + +<p>On their return, their mother, who had kept watch +for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, +“Well, children, what have you brought home for +me?” Then the Sun (who was eldest) said, “I have +brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy +myself with my friends, not to fetch a dinner for my +mother!” And the Wind said, “Neither have I brought +anything home for you, mother. You could hardly +expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>195]</a></span> +when I merely went out for my own pleasure.” But +the Moon said, “Mother, fetch a plate; see what I have +brought you.” And shaking her hands she showered +down such a choice dinner as never was seen before.</p> + +<p>Then the Star turned to the Sun and spoke thus: +“Because you went out to amuse yourself with your +friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself without any +thought of your mother at home, you shall be cursed. +Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, +and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall +hate you and cover their heads when you appear.”</p> + +<p>(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.)</p> + +<p>Then she turned to the Wind and said: “You also, +who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish +pleasures, hear your doom. You shall always blow in +the hot, dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all +living things. And men shall detest and avoid you +from this very time.”</p> + +<p>(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is +still so disagreeable.)</p> + +<p>But to the Moon she said: “Daughter, because you +remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in +your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be +ever cool and calm and bright. No noxious glare shall +accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call +you ‘blessed.’”</p> + +<p>(And that is why the Moon’s light is so soft and cool +and beautiful even to this day.)</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> +See <a href="#note05">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 230px;"> +<img src="images/oddt08.jpg" width="230" height="60" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>196]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh02.jpg" width="500" height="91" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XI.<br /> +<br /> +<i>SINGH RAJAH AND THE CUNNING LITTLE +JACKALS.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time, in a great jungle, there lived +a great Lion. He was Rajah of all the country +round; and every day he used to leave his den, in the +deepest shadow of the rocks, and roar with a loud, +angry voice; and when he roared, the other animals +in the jungle, who were all his subjects, got very much +frightened and ran here and there; and Singh Rajah +would pounce upon them and kill them, and gobble +them up for his dinner.</p> + +<p>This went on for a long, long time, until, at last, +there were no living creatures left in the jungle but two +little Jackals—a Rajah Jackal and a Ranee Jackal—husband +and wife.</p> + +<p>A very hard time of it the poor little Jackals had, +running this way and that to escape the terrible Singh +Rajah; and every day the little Ranee Jackal would +say to her husband, “I am afraid he will catch us to-day; +do you hear how he is roaring? Oh dear! oh +dear!” And he would answer her, “Never fear; I +will take care of you. Let us run on a mile or two. +Come, come quick, quick, quick.” And they would +both run away as fast as they could.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>197]</a></span> +After some time spent in this way, they found, however, +one fine day, that the Lion was so close upon them +that they could not escape. Then the little Ranee +Jackal said, “Husband, husband, I feel much frightened. +The Singh Rajah is so angry he will certainly +kill us at once. What can we do?” But he answered, +“Cheer up; we can save ourselves yet. Come, and +I’ll show you how we may manage it.”</p> + +<p>So what did these cunning little Jackals do but they +went to the great Lion’s den; and when he saw them +coming, he began to roar and shake his mane, and he +said, “You little wretches, come and be eaten at once! +I have had no dinner for three whole days, and all that +time I have been running over hill and dale to find +you. Ro-a-ar! Ro-a-ar! Come and be eaten, I say!” +and he lashed his tail and gnashed his teeth, and looked +very terrible indeed. Then the Jackal Rajah, creeping +quite close up to him, said, “Oh, great Singh Rajah, +we all know you are our master, and we would have +come at your bidding long ago; but indeed, sir, there +is a much bigger Rajah even than you in this jungle, +and he tried to catch hold of us and eat us up, and +frightened us so much that we were obliged to run +away.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” growled Singh Rajah. +“There is no king in this jungle but me!” “Ah, +sire,” answered the Jackal, “in truth one would think +so, for you are very dreadful. Your very voice is +death. But it is as we say, for we, with our own eyes, +have seen one with whom you could not compete—whose +equal you can no more be than we are yours—whose +face is as flaming fire, his step as thunder, and +his power supreme.” “It is impossible!” interrupted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>198]</a></span> +the old Lion; “but show me this Rajah of whom you +speak so much, that I may destroy him instantly!”</p> + +<p>Then the little Jackals ran on before him until they +reached a great well, and pointing down to his own +reflection in the water, they said, “See, sire, there +lives the terrible king of whom we spoke.” When +Singh Rajah looked down the well, he became very +angry, for he thought he saw another Lion there. He +roared and shook his great mane, and the shadow Lion +shook his and looked terribly defiant. At last, beside +himself with rage at the violence of his opponent, Singh +Rajah sprang down to kill him at once, but no other +Lion was there—only the treacherous reflection—and +the sides of the well were so steep that he could not +get out again to punish the two Jackals, who peeped +over the top. After struggling for some time in the +deep water, he sank to rise no more. And the little +Jackals threw stones down upon him from above, and +danced round and round the well, singing, “Ao! Ao! +Ao! Ao! The King of the Forest is dead, is dead! +We have killed the great Lion who would have killed +us! Ao! Ao! Ao! Ao! Ring-a-ting—ding-a-ting! +Ring-a-ting—ding-a-ting! Ao! Ao! Ao!”<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> +See <a href="#note06">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/oddt09.jpg" width="310" height="68" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>199]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh08.jpg" width="500" height="79" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE JACKAL, THE BARBER AND THE BRAHMIN +WHO HAD SEVEN DAUGHTERS.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> BARBER and a Jackal once struck up a great +friendship, which might have continued to this +day, had not the Jackal been so clever that the Barber +never felt quite on equal terms with him, and suspected +his friend of playing him many tricks. But this he +was not able to prove.</p> + +<p>One day the Jackal said to the Barber, “It would be +a nice thing for us to have a garden of our own, in +which we might grow as many cucumbers, pumpkins +and melons as we like. Why should we not buy +one?”</p> + +<p>The Barber answered, “Very well; here is money. +Do you go and buy us a garden.” So the Jackal took +the Barber’s money, and with it bought a fine garden, +in which were cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, figs, and +many other good fruits and vegetables. And he used +to go there every day and feast to his heart’s content. +When, however, the Barber said to him, “What is the +garden like which you bought with the money I gave +you?” he answered, “There are very fine plants in it, +but there is no fruit upon them; when the fruit is ripe +I will let you know.” This reply satisfied the Barber, +who inquired no further at that time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>200]</a></span> +A little while afterward, the Barber again asked the +Jackal about the garden, saying, “I see you go down +to that garden every day; is the fruit getting ripe?” +“Oh dear no, not yet,” answered the Jackal; “why, +the plants are only just coming into blossom.”</p> + +<p>But all this time there was a great deal of fruit in +the garden, and the Jackal went there every day and +ate as much as he could.</p> + +<p>Again, a third time, when some weeks had passed, +the Barber said to him, “Is there no ripe fruit in our +garden yet?” “No,” said the Jackal; “the blossoms +have only just fallen, but the fruit is forming. In time +we shall have a fine show of melons and figs there.”</p> + +<p>Then the Barber began to think the Jackal was deceiving +him, and determined to see and judge for himself. +So next day, without saying anything about it, +he followed him down to the garden.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that very day the Jackal had invited +all his friends to come and feast there. All the +animals in the neighboring jungle had accepted the +invitation; there they came trooping by hundreds and +dozens, and were very merry indeed—running here +and there, and eating all the melons and cucumbers +and figs and pumpkins in the place.</p> + +<p>The Barber peeped over the hedge, and saw the +assembled wild beasts, and his friend the Jackal entertaining +them—talking to this one, laughing with that, +and eating with all. The good man did not dare to +attack the intruders, as they were many and powerful. +But he went home at once, very angry, muttering to +himself, “I’ll be the death of that young jackanapes; +he shall play no more pranks in my garden.” And, +watching his opportunity, he returned there when the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>201]</a></span> +Jackal and all his friends had left, and tied a long +knife to the largest of the cucumbers that still remained; +then he went home and said nothing of what +he had seen.</p> + +<p>Early next morning the Jackal thought to himself, +“I’ll just run down to the garden and see if there are +no cucumbers or melons left.” So he went there, and, +picking out the largest of the cucumbers, began to eat +it. Quick as thought, the long knife, that was concealed +by the cucumber leaves, ran into him, cutting +his muzzle, his neck and his side.</p> + +<p>“Ah, that nasty Barber!” he cried; “this must be +his doing!” And instead of going home, he ran as +fast as he could, very far, far, away into the jungle, and +stretching himself out on a great flat rock, prepared +to die.</p> + +<p>But he did not die. Only for three whole days the +pain in his neck and side was so great that he could +not move; moreover, he felt very weak from loss of +blood.</p> + +<p>At the end of the third day he tried to get up, but +his own blood had sealed him to the stone! He endeavored +to move it by his struggles, but could not succeed. +“Oh dear! oh dear!” he murmured; “to think +that I should recover from my wound, only to die such +a horrible death as this! Ah me! here is the punishment +of dishonesty!” And, having said this, he began +to weep. It chanced, however, that the god of Rain +heard his lamentations, and taking pity on the unfortunate +animal, he sent a kindly shower, which, wetting +the stone, effected his release.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the Jackal set free than he began to +think what he could do to earn a livelihood, since he did +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>202]</a></span> +not dare return to the Barber’s house. It was not long +before a feasible plan struck him: all around was the +mud made by the recent rain; he placed a quantity of +it in a small chattee, covered the top over carefully +with leaves (as people do jars of fresh butter), and took +it into a neighboring village to sell.</p> + +<p>At the door of one of the first houses to which he +came stood a woman, to whom the Jackal said, “Mahi, +here is butter—beautiful fresh butter! won’t you buy +some fresh butter?” She answered, “Are you sure it +is quite fresh? Let me see it.” But he replied, “It is +perfectly fresh; but if you open the chattee now, it +will be all spoilt by the time you want it. If you like +to buy it, you may take it; if not, I will sell it to some +one else.” The woman did want some fresh butter, +and the chattee the Jackal carried on his head was carefully +fastened up, as if what it contained was of the +best; and she knew if she opened it, it might spoil +before her husband returned home; besides, she thought, +if the Jackal had intended to deceive her, he would +have been more pressing in asking her to buy it. So +she said, “Very well, give me the chattee; here is +money for you. You are sure it is the best butter?” +“It is the best of its kind,” answered the Jackal; +“only be sure you put it in some cool place, and don’t +open it till it is wanted.” And taking the money, he +ran away.</p> + +<p>A short time afterward the woman discovered how +she had been cheated, and was very angry; but the +Jackal was by that time far away, out of reach of +punishment.</p> + +<p>When his money was spent, the Jackal felt puzzled +as to how to get a living, since no one would give him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>203]</a></span> +food and he could buy none. Fortunately for him, just +then one of the bullocks belonging to the village died. +The Jackal found it lying dead by the road-side, and +he began to eat it, and ate, and ate so much that at last +he had got too far into the animal’s body to be seen by +passers-by. Now the weather was hot and dry. Whilst +the Jackal was in it, the bullock’s skin crinkled up so +tightly with the heat that it became too hard for him +to bite through, and so he could not get out again.</p> + +<p>The Mahars<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> of the village all came out to bury the +dead bullock. The Jackal, who was inside it, feared +that if they caught him they would kill him, and that +if they did not discover him, he would be buried alive; +so on their approach he called out, “People, people, +take care how you touch me, for I am a great saint.” +The poor people were very much frightened when they +heard the dead bullock talking, and thought that some +mighty spirit must indeed possess it.<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> “Who are you, +sir, and what do you want?” they cried. “I,” answered +the Jackal, “am a very holy saint. I am also +the god of your village, and I am very angry with you +because you never worship me nor bring me offerings.” +“O my Lord,” they cried, “what offerings will please +you? Tell us only, and we will bring you whatever +you like.” “Good,” he replied. “Then you must +fetch here plenty of rice, plenty of flowers and a nice +fat chicken; place them as an offering beside me, and +pour a great deal of water over them, as you do at your +most solemn feasts, and I will forgive you your sins.” +The Mahars did as they were commanded. They +placed some rice and flowers, and the best chicken they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>204]</a></span> +could procure, beside the bullock, and poured water +over it and the offering. Then, no sooner did the dry, +hard bullock’s skin get wetted than it split in many +places, and to the surprise of all his worshipers, the +Jackal jumped out, seized the chicken in his mouth, +and ran away with it through the midst of them into +the jungle. The Mahars ran after him over hedges and +ditches for many, many miles, but he got away in spite +of them all.</p> + +<p>On, on he ran—on, on, for a very long way—until +at last he came to a place where a little kid lived under +a little sicakai<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> tree. All her relations and friends +were away, and when she saw him coming she thought +to herself, “Unless I frighten this Jackal, he will eat +me.” So she ran as hard as she could up against the +sicakai tree, which made all the branches shake and +the leaves go rustle, rustle, rustle. And when the +Jackal heard the rustling noise he got frightened, and +thought it was all the little kid’s friends coming to help +her. And she called out to him, “Run away, Jackal, +run away. Thousands and thousands of Jackals have +run away at that sound—run away for your life.” And +the Jackal was so frightened that he ran away. So, he +who had deceived so many was outwitted by a simple +little kid!</p> + +<p>After this the Jackal found his way back to his own +village, where the Barber lived, and there for some +time he used to prowl round the houses every night +and live upon any bones he could find. The villagers +did not like his coming, but did not know how to catch +him, until one night his old friend the Barber (who +had never forgiven him for stealing the fruit from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>205]</a></span> +garden) caught him in a great net, having before made +many unsuccessful attempts to do so. “Aha!” cried +the Barber, “I’ve got you at last, my friend. You +did not escape death from the cucumber-knife for nothing! +you won’t get away this time. Here, wife! wife! +see what a prize I’ve got.” The Barber’s wife came +running to the door, and the Barber gave her the +Jackal (after he had tied all his four legs firmly together +with a strong rope), and said to her, “Take +this animal into the house, and be sure you don’t let +him escape, while I go and get a knife to kill him +with.”</p> + +<p>The Barber’s wife did as she was bid, and taking the +Jackal into the house, laid him down on the floor. +But no sooner had the Barber gone than the Jackal +said to her, “Ah, good woman, your husband will return +directly and put me to death. For the love of +heaven, loosen the rope round my feet before he comes, +for one minute only, and let me drink a little water +from that puddle by the door, for my throat is parched +with thirst.” “No, no, friend Jackal,” answered the +Barber’s wife. “I know well enough what you’ll do. +No sooner shall I have untied your feet than you will +run away, and when my husband returns and finds you +are gone, he will beat me.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, indeed, I will not run away,” he replied. +“Ah, kind mother, have pity on me, only for +one little moment.” Then the Barber’s wife thought, +“Well, it is hard not to grant the poor beast’s last request; +he will not live long enough to have many more +pleasures.” So she untied the Jackal’s legs and held +him by a rope, that he might drink from the puddle. +But quick as possible, he gave a jump and a twist and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>206]</a></span> +a pull, and, jerking the rope out of her hand, escaped +once more into the jungle.</p> + +<p>For some time he roamed up and down, living on +what he could get in this village or that, until he had +wandered very far away from the country where the +Barber lived. At last one day, by chance, he passed a +certain cottage, in which there dwelt a very poor Brahmin, +who had seven daughters.</p> + +<p>As the Jackal passed by, the Brahmin was saying to +himself, “Oh dear me! what can I do for my seven +daughters? I shall have to support them all my life, +for they are much too poor ever to get married. If a +dog or a jackal were to offer to take one off my hands, +he should have her.” Next day the Jackal called on +the Brahmin, and said to him, “You said yesterday, if +a jackal or a dog were to offer to marry one of your +daughters, you would let him have her; will you, +therefore accept me as a son-in-law?”</p> + +<p>The poor Brahmin felt very much embarrassed, but +it was certain he had said the words, and therefore he +felt in honor bound not to retract, although he had little +dreamed of ever being placed in such a predicament. +Just at that moment all the seven daughters +began crying for bread, and the father had no bread to +give them. Observing this, the Jackal continued, +“Let me marry one of your seven daughters and I will +take care of her. It will at least leave you one less to +provide for, and I will see that she never needs food.” +Then the Brahmin’s heart was softened, and he gave +the Jackal his eldest daughter in marriage, and the +Jackal took her home to his den in the high rocks.</p> + +<p>Now you will say there never was a Jackal so clever +as this. Very true, for this was not a common Jackal, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>207]</a></span> +or he could never have done all that I have told you. +This Jackal was, in fact, a great Rajah in disguise, +who, to amuse himself, took the form of a Jackal; for +he was a great magician as well as a great prince.</p> + +<p>The den to which he took the Brahmin’s daughter +looked like quite a common hole in the rocks on the +outside, but inside it was a splendid palace, adorned +with silver, and gold, and ivory and precious stones. +But even his own wife did not know that he was not +always a Jackal, for the Rajah never took his human +form except every morning very early, when he used +to take off the jackal skin and wash it and brush it, +and put it on again.</p> + +<p>After he and his wife, the Brahmin’s daughter, had +lived up in their home in the rocks happily for some +time, who should the Jackal see one day but his father-in-law, +the old Brahmin, climbing up the hill to come +and pay him a visit. The Jackal was vexed to see the +Brahmin, for he knew he was very poor, and thought +he had most likely come to beg; and so it was. The +Brahmin said to him, “Son-in-law, let me come into +your cave and rest a little while. I want to ask you to +help me, for I am very poor and much in need of +help.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t go into my cave,” said the Jackal; “it is but +a poor hole, not fit for you to enter” (for he did not wish +his father-in-law to see his fine palace); “but I will +call my wife, that you may see I have not eaten her up, +and she and you and I will talk over the matter, and +see what we can do for you.”</p> + +<p>So the Brahmin, the Brahmin’s daughter and the +Jackal all sat down on the hill-side together, and the +Brahmin said, “I don’t know what to do to get food +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>208]</a></span> +for myself, my wife and my six daughters. Son-in-law +Jackal, cannot you help me?” “It is a difficult +business,” answered the Jackal, “but I’ll do what I +can for you;” and he ran to his cave and fetched a +large melon, and gave it to the Brahmin, saying, +“Father-in-law, you must take this melon, and plant it +in your garden, and when it grows up sell all the fruit +you find upon it, and that will bring you in some +money.” So the Brahmin took the melon home with +him and planted it in his garden.</p> + +<p>By next day the melon that the Jackal had given +him had grown up in the Brahmin’s garden into a fine +plant, covered with hundreds of beautiful ripe melons. +The Brahmin, his wife and family were overjoyed at +the sight. And all the neighbors were astonished, and +said, “How fast that fine melon plant has grown in +the Brahmin’s garden!”</p> + +<p>Now it chanced that a woman who lived in a house +close by wanted some melons, and seeing what fine ones +these were, she went down at once to the Brahmin’s +house and bought two or three from the Brahmin’s +wife. She took them home with her and cut them +open; but then, lo and behold! marvel of marvels! +what a wonderful sight astonished her! Instead of the +thick white pulp she expected to see, the whole of the +inside of the melon was composed of diamonds, rubies +and emeralds, and all the seeds were enormous pearls. +She immediately locked her door, and taking with her +all the money she had, ran back to the Brahmin’s wife +and said to her, “Those were very good melons you +sold me; I like them so much that I will buy all the +others on your melon plant.” And giving her the +money, she took home all the rest of the melons. Now +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>209]</a></span> +this cunning woman told none of her friends of the +treasure she had found, and the poor, stupid Brahmin +and his family did not know what they had lost, for +they had never thought of opening any of the melons; +so that for all the precious stones they sold they only +got a few pice, which was very hard. Next day, when +they looked out of the window, the melon plant was +again covered with fine ripe melons, and again the +woman who had bought those which had grown the +day before came and bought them all. And this went +on for several days. There were so many melons, and +all the melons were so full of precious stones, that the +woman who bought them had enough to fill the whole +of one room in her house with diamonds, rubies, emeralds +and pearls.</p> + +<p>At last, however, the wonderful melon plant began +to wither, and when the woman came to buy melons +one morning, the Brahmin’s wife was obliged to say to +her, in a sad voice, “Alas! there are no more melons +on our melon plant.” And the woman went back to +her own house very much disappointed.</p> + +<p>That day the Brahmin and his wife and children had +no money in the house to buy food with, and they all +felt very unhappy to think that the fine melon plant had +withered. But the Brahmin’s youngest daughter, who +was a clever girl, thought, “Though there are no more +melons fit to sell on our melon plant, perhaps I may be +able to find one or two shriveled ones, which, if cooked, +will give us something for dinner.” So she went out +to look, and searching carefully amongst the thick leaves, +found two or three withered little melons still remaining. +These she took into the house and began cutting them +up to cook, when—more wonderful than wonderful!—within +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>210]</a></span> +each little melon she found a number of small +emeralds, rubies, diamonds and pearls! The girl called +her father and mother, and her five sisters, crying, “See +what I have found! See these precious stones and +pearls. I dare say inside all the melons we sold there +were as good or better than these. No wonder that +woman was so anxious to buy them all! See, father—see, +mother—see, sisters!”</p> + +<p>Then they were all overjoyed to see the treasure, but +the Brahmin said, “What a pity we have lost all the +benefit of my son-in-law the Jackal’s good gift by not +knowing its worth! I will go at once to that woman, +and try and make her give us back the melons she +took.”</p> + +<p>So he went to the melon-buyer’s house, and said to +her, “Give me back the melons you took from me, who +did not know their worth.” She answered, “I don’t +know what you mean.” He replied, “You were very +deceitful; you bought melons full of precious stones +from us poor people, who did not know what they were +worth, and you only paid for them the price of common +melons: give me some of them back, I pray you.” +But she said, “I bought common melons from your +wife, and made them all into common soup long ago; +therefore talk no further nonsense about jewels, but go +about your business.” And she turned him out of the +house. Yet all this time she had a whole roomful of +the emeralds, diamonds, rubies and pearls that she had +found in the melons the Brahmin’s wife had sold her.</p> + +<p>The Brahmin returned home and said to his wife, “I +cannot make that woman give me back any of the +melons you sold her; but give me the precious stones +our daughter has just found, and I will sell them to a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>211]</a></span> +jeweler and bring home some money.” So he went to +the town, and took the precious stones to a jeweler, and +said to him, “What will you give me for these?” But +no sooner did the jeweler see them than he said, “How +could such a poor man as you become possessed of +such precious stones? You must have stolen them: +you are a thief! You have stolen these from my shop, +and now come to sell them to me!”</p> + +<p>“No, no, sir; indeed no, sir,” cried the Brahmin. +“Thief, thief!” shouted the jeweler. “In truth, no +sir,” said the Brahmin; “my son-in-law, the Jackal, +gave me a melon plant, and in one of the melons I +found these jewels.” “I don’t believe a word you say,” +screamed the jeweler (and he began beating the Brahmin, +whom he held by the arm); “give up those jewels +which you have stolen from my shop.” “No, I won’t,” +roared the Brahmin; “oh! oh-o! oh-o-o! don’t beat +me so; I didn’t steal them.” But the jeweler was +determined to get the jewels; so he beat the Brahmin +and called the police, who came running up to his assistance, +and shouted till a great crowd of people had +collected round his shop. Then he said to the Brahmin, +“Give me up the jewels you stole from me, or I’ll give +you to the police, and you shall be put in jail.” The +Brahmin tried to tell his story about his son-in-law, the +Jackal, but of course nobody believed him; and he was +obliged to give the precious stones to the jeweler in +order to escape the police, and to run home as fast as +he could. And every one thought the jeweler was very +kind to let him off so easily.</p> + +<p>All his family were very unhappy when they heard +what had befallen him. But his wife said, “You had +better go again to our son-in-law, the Jackal, and see +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>212]</a></span> +what he can do for us.” So next day the Brahmin +climbed the hill again, as he had done before, and +went to call upon the Jackal. When the Jackal saw +him coming he was not very well pleased. So he went +to meet him, and said, “Father-in-law, I did not expect +to see you again so soon.” “I merely came to see how +you were,” answered the Brahmin, “and to tell you +how poor we are; and how glad we should be of any +help you can give us.” “What have you done with +all the melons I gave you?” asked the Jackal. “Ah,” +answered the Brahmin, “that is a sad story!” And +beginning at the beginning, he related how they had +sold almost all the melons without knowing their value; +and how the few precious stones they had found had +been taken from him by the jeweler. When the Jackal +heard this he laughed very much, and said, “I see it is +no use giving such unfortunate people as you gold or +jewels, for they will only bring you into trouble. Come, +I’ll give you a more useful present.” So, running into +his cave, he fetched thence a small chattee, and gave it +to the Brahmin, saying, “Take this chattee; whenever +you or any of the family are hungry, you will always +find in it as good a dinner as this.” And putting his +paw into the chattee, he extracted thence currie and +rice, pilau,<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> and all sorts of good things, enough to +feast a hundred men; and the more he took out of the +chattee, the more remained inside.</p> + +<p>When the Brahmin saw the chattee and smelt the +good dinner, his eyes glistened for joy; and he embraced +the Jackal, saying, “Dear son-in-law, you are +the only support of our house.” And he took his new +present carefully home with him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>213]</a></span> +After this, for some time, the whole family led a very happy +life, for they never wanted good food; every +day the Brahmin, his wife and his six daughters found +inside the chattee a most delicious dinner; and every +day, when they had dined, they placed it on a shelf, to +find it replenished when next it was needed.</p> + +<p>But it happened that hard by there lived another +Brahmin, a very great man, who was much in the +Rajah’s confidence; and this man smelt daily the smell +of a very nice dinner, which puzzled him a good deal. +The rich Brahmin thought it smelt even nicer than his +own dinner, for which he paid so much, and yet it +seemed to come from the poor Brahmin’s little cottage. +So one day he determined to find out all about it; and, +going to call on his neighbor, he said to him, “Every +day, at about twelve o’clock, I smell such a very nice +dinner—much nicer than my own; and it seems to +come from your house. You must live on very good +things, I think, although you seem to every one to be +so very poor.”</p> + +<p>Then, in the pride of his heart, the poor Brahmin +invited his rich neighbor to come and dine with him, +and lifting the magic chattee down from the shelf, took +out of it such delicate fare as the other had never before +tasted. And in an evil hour he proceeded to tell his +friend of the wondrous properties of the chattee, which +his son-in-law, the Jackal, had given him, and how it +never was empty. No sooner had the great man learnt +all this than he went to the Rajah, and said to him, +“There is a poor Brahmin in the town who possesses +a wonderful chattee, which is always filled with the +most delicious dinner. I should not feel authorized to +deprive him of it; but if it pleased your Highness to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>214]</a></span> +take it from him, he could not complain.” The Rajah, +hearing this, determined to see and taste for himself. +So he said, “I should very much like to see this chattee +with my own eyes.” And he accompanied the rich +Brahmin to the poor Brahmin’s house. The poor +Brahmin was overjoyed at being noticed by the Rajah +himself, and gladly exhibited the various excellences +of the chattee; but no sooner did the Rajah taste the +dinner it contained than he ordered his guards to seize +it and take it away to the palace, in spite of the Brahmin’s +tears and protestations. Thus, for a second +time, he lost the benefit of his son-in-law’s gift.</p> + +<p>When the Rajah had gone, the Brahmin said to his +wife, “There is nothing to be done but to go again to +the Jackal, and see if he can help us.” “If you don’t +take care, you’ll put him out of all patience at last,” +answered she. “I can’t think why you need have gone +talking about our chattee!”</p> + +<p>When the Jackal heard the Brahmin’s story, he became +very cross, and said, “What a stupid old man +you were to say anything about the chattee! But see, +here is another, which may aid you to get back the +first. Take care of it, for this is the last time I will +help you.” And he gave the Brahmin a chattee, in +which was a stout stick tied to a very strong rope. +“Take this,” he said, “into the presence of those who +deprived you of my other gifts, and when you open the +chattee, command the stick to beat them; this it will +do so effectually that they will gladly return you what +you have lost; only take care not to open the chattee +when you are alone, or the stick that is in it will +punish your rashness.”</p> + +<p>The Brahmin thanked his son-in-law, and took away +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>215]</a></span> +the chattee, but he found it hard to believe all that had +been said. So, going through the jungle on his way +home, he uncovered it, just to peep in and see if the +stick were really there. No sooner had he done this +than out jumped the rope, out jumped the stick; the +rope seized him and bound him to a tree, and the stick +beat him, and beat him, and beat him, until he was +nearly killed. “Oh dear! oh dear!” screamed the +Brahmin; “what an unlucky man I am! Oh dear! +oh dear! stop, please stop! good stick, stop! what a +very good stick this is!” But the stick would not stop, +but beat him so much that he could hardly crawl home +again.</p> + +<p>Then the Brahmin put the rope and stick back again +into the chattee, and sent to his rich neighbor and to +the Rajah, and said to them, “I have a new chattee, +much better than the old one; do come and see what +a fine one it is.” And the rich Brahmin and the Rajah +thought, “This is something good; doubtless there is +a choice dinner in this chattee also, and we will take +it from this foolish man, as we did the other.” So +they went down to meet the Brahmin in the jungle, +taking with them all their followers and attendants. +Then the Brahmin uncovered his chattee, saying, +“Beat, stick, beat! beat them every one!” and the +stick jumped out, and the rope jumped out, and the +rope caught hold of the Rajah and the rich Brahmin +and all their attendants, and tied them fast to the trees +that grew around, and the stick ran from one to another, +beating, beating, beating—beating the Rajah, +beating his courtiers—beating the rich Brahmin, beating +his attendants, and beating all their followers; +while the poor Brahmin cried with all his might, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>216]</a></span> +“Give me back my chattee! give me back my +chattee!”</p> + +<p>At this the Rajah and his people were very much +frightened, and thought they were going to be killed. +And the Rajah said to the Brahmin, “Take away your +stick, only take away your stick, and you shall have +back your chattee.” So the Brahmin put the stick +and rope back into the chattee, and the Rajah returned +him the dinner-making chattee. And all the people +felt very much afraid of the Brahmin, and respected +him very much.</p> + +<p>Then he took the chattee containing the rope and +stick to the house of the woman who had bought the +melons, and the rope caught her and the stick beat her; +and the Brahmin cried, “Return me those melons! return +me those melons!” And the woman said, “Only +make your stick stop beating me and you shall have +back all the melons.” So he ordered the stick back +into the chattee, and she returned him them forthwith—a +whole roomful of melons full of diamonds, pearls, +emeralds and rubies.</p> + +<p>The Brahmin took them home to his wife, and going +into the town, with the help of his good stick, forced +the jeweler who had deprived him of the little emeralds, +rubies, diamonds and pearls he had taken to sell to give +them back to him again, and having accomplished this, +he returned to his family; and from that time they all +lived very happily. Then, one day, the Jackal’s wife +invited her six sisters to come and pay her a visit. +Now the youngest sister was more clever than any of +the others; and it happened that, very early in the +morning, she saw her brother-in-law, the Jackal, take +off the jackal skin and wash it and brush it, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>217]</a></span> +hang it up to dry; and when he had taken off the +jackal-skin coat, he looked the handsomest prince that +ever was seen. Then his little sister-in-law ran, quickly +and quietly, and stole away the jackal-skin coat, and +threw it on the fire and burnt it. And she awoke +her sister, and said, “Sister, sister, your husband +is no longer a jackal; see, that is he standing by +the door.” So the Jackal Rajah’s wife ran to the door +to meet her husband, and because the jackal’s skin was +burnt, and he could wear it no longer, he continued to +be a man for the rest of his life, and gave up playing +all jackal-like pranks; and he and his wife, and his +father and mother and sisters-in-law, lived very happily +all the rest of their days.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> +The lowest caste, employed as scavengers in every village.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> +See <a href="#note07">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> +<i>Acacia concinna.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> +Meat cooked with almonds, raisins and spice.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 180px;"> +<img src="images/oddt10.jpg" width="180" height="186" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>218]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh03.jpg" width="500" height="89" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XIII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>TIT FOR TAT.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE once lived a Camel and a Jackal who +were great friends. One day the Jackal said to +the Camel, “I know that there is a fine field of sugar-cane +on the other side of the river. If you will take me +across, I’ll show you the place. This plan will suit me +as well as you. You will enjoy eating the sugar-cane, +and I am sure to find many crabs, bones and bits of fish +by the river-side, on which to make a good dinner.”</p> + +<p>The Camel consented and swam across the river, +taking the Jackal, who could not swim, on his back. +When they reached the other side, the Camel went to +eating the sugar-cane, and the Jackal ran up and down +the river bank devouring all the crabs, bits of fish and +bones he could find.</p> + +<p>But being so much smaller an animal, he had made +an excellent meal before the Camel had eaten more +than two or three mouthfuls; and no sooner had he +finished his dinner than he ran round and round the +sugar-cane field, yelping and howling with all his +might.</p> + +<p>The villagers heard him, and thought, “There is a +Jackal among the sugar-canes; he will be scratching +holes in the ground and spoiling the roots of the plants.” +And they all went down to the place to drive him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>219]</a></span> +away. But when they got there they found to their +surprise not only a Jackal, but a Camel who was eating +the sugar-canes! This made them very angry, and +they caught the poor Camel and drove him from the field +and beat him and beat him, until he was nearly dead.</p> + +<p>When they had gone, the Jackal said to the Camel, +“We had better go home.” And the Camel said, +“Very well; then jump upon my back, as you did +before.”</p> + +<p>So the Jackal jumped upon the Camel’s back, and +the Camel began to recross the river. When they had +got well into the water, the Camel said, “This is a +pretty way in which you have treated me, friend Jackal. +No sooner had you finished your own dinner than you +must go yelping about the place loud enough to arouse +the whole village, and bring all the villagers down to +beat me black and blue, and turn me out of the field +before I had eaten two mouthfuls! What in the world +did you make such a noise for?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” said the Jackal. “It is a custom +I have. I always like to sing a little after dinner.”</p> + +<p>The Camel waded on through the river. The water +reached up to his knees—then above them—up, up, up, +higher and higher, until he was obliged to swim. Then +turning to the Jackal, he said, “I feel very anxious to +roll.” “Oh, pray don’t; why do you wish to do so?” +asked the Jackal. “I don’t know,” answered the +Camel. “It is a custom I have. I always like to have +a little roll after dinner.” So saying, he rolled over in +the water, shaking the Jackal off as he did so. And +the Jackal was drowned, but the Camel swam safely +ashore.</p> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>220]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh07.jpg" width="500" height="89" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XIV.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE BRAHMIN, THE TIGER AND THE SIX +JUDGES.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time, a Brahmin, who was walking along +the road, came upon an iron cage, in +which a great Tiger had been shut up by the villagers +who caught him.</p> + +<p>As the Brahmin passed by, the Tiger called out and +said to him, “Brother Brahmin, brother Brahmin, have +pity on me, and let me out of this cage for one minute +only to drink a little water, for I am dying of thirst.” +The Brahmin answered, “No, I will not; for if I let +you out of the cage you will eat me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, father of mercy,” answered the Tiger, “in +truth that will I not. I will never be so ungrateful; +only let me out, that I may drink some water and return.” +Then the Brahmin took pity on him and opened +the cage door; but no sooner had he done so than the +Tiger, jumping out, said, “Now, I will eat you first +and drink the water afterward.” But the Brahmin +said, “Only do not kill me hastily. Let us first ask the +opinion of six, and if all of them say it is just and fair +that you should put me to death, then I am willing to +die.” “Very well,” answered the Tiger, “it shall be +as you say; we will first ask the opinion of six.”</p> + +<p>So the Brahmin and the Tiger walked on till they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>221]</a></span> +came to a Banyan tree; and the Brahmin said to it, +“Banyan tree, Banyan tree, hear and give judgment.” +“On what must I give judgment?” asked the Banyan +tree. “This Tiger,” said the Brahmin, “begged me +to let him out of his cage to drink a little water, and he +promised not to hurt me if I did so; but now, that I +have let him out, he wishes to eat me. Is it just that +he should do so or no?”</p> + +<p>The Banyan tree answered, “Men often come to +take shelter in the cool shade under my boughs from +the scorching rays of the sun; but when they have +rested, they cut and break my pretty branches and +wantonly scatter my leaves. Let the Tiger eat the man, +for men are an ungrateful race.”</p> + +<p>At these words the Tiger would have instantly killed +the Brahmin; but the Brahmin said, “Tiger, Tiger, +you must not kill me yet, for you promised that we +should first hear the judgment of six.” “Very well,” +said the Tiger, and they went on their way. After a +little while they met a Camel. “Sir Camel, Sir +Camel,” cried the Brahmin, “hear and give judgment.” +“On what shall I give judgment?” asked the Camel. +And the Brahmin related how the Tiger had begged +him to open the cage door, and promised not to eat him +if he did so; and how he had afterward determined to +break his word, and asked if that were just or not. +The Camel replied, “When I was young and strong, +and could do much work, my master took care of me +and gave me good food; but now that I am old, and +have lost all my strength in his service, he overloads +me and starves me, and beats me without mercy. Let +the Tiger eat the man, for men are an unjust and cruel +race.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>222]</a></span> +The Tiger would then have killed the Brahmin, but +the latter said, “Stop, Tiger, for we must first hear the +judgment of six.”</p> + +<p>So they both went again on their way. At a little +distance they found a Bullock lying by the road-side. +The Brahmin said to him, “Brother Bullock, brother +Bullock, hear and give judgment.” “On what must I +give judgment?” asked the Bullock. The Brahmin +answered, “I found this Tiger in a cage, and he prayed +me to open the door and let him out to drink a little +water, and promised not to kill me if I did so; but +when I had let him out he resolved to put me to death. +Is it fair he should do so or no?” The Bullock said, +“When I was able to work my master fed me well and +tended me carefully, but now I am old he has forgotten +all I did for him, and left me by the road-side to die. +Let the Tiger eat the man, for men have no pity.”</p> + +<p>Three out of the six had given judgment against the +Brahmin, but still he did not lose all hope, and determined +to ask the other three.</p> + +<p>They next met an Eagle flying through the air, to +whom the Brahmin cried, “O Eagle, great Eagle, hear +and give judgment?” “On what must I give judgment?” +asked the Eagle. The Brahmin stated the +case, but the Eagle answered, “Whenever men see me +they try to shoot me; they climb the rocks and steal +away my little ones. Let the Tiger eat the man, for +men are the persecutors of the earth.”</p> + +<p>Then the Tiger began to roar, and said, “The judgment +of all is against you, O Brahmin.” But the +Brahmin answered, “Stay yet a little longer, for two +others must first be asked.” After this they saw an +Alligator, and the Brahmin related the matter to him, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>223]</a></span> +hoping for a more favorable verdict. But the Alligator +said, “Whenever I put my nose out of the water +men torment me and try to kill me. Let the Tiger eat +the man, for as long as men live we shall have no +rest.”</p> + +<p>The Brahmin gave himself up as lost; but again he +prayed the Tiger to have patience and let him ask the +opinion of the sixth judge. Now the sixth was a +Jackal. The Brahmin told his story, and said to him, +“Mama<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> Jackal, mama Jackal, say what is your judgment?” +The Jackal answered, “It is impossible for +me to decide who is in the right and who in the wrong +unless I see the exact position in which you were when +the dispute began. Show me the place.” So the +Brahmin and the Tiger returned to the place where +they first met, and the Jackal went with them. When +they got there, the Jackal said, “Now, Brahmin, show +me exactly where you stood.” “Here,” said the Brahmin, +standing by the iron tiger-cage. “Exactly there, +was it?” asked the Jackal. “Exactly here,” replied +the Brahmin. “Where was the Tiger, then?” asked +the Jackal. “In the cage,” answered the Tiger. +“How do you mean?” said the Jackal; “how were you +within the cage? which way were you looking?” +“Why, I stood so,” said the Tiger, jumping into the +cage, “and my head was on this side.” “Very good,” +said the Jackal, “but I cannot judge without understanding +the whole matter exactly. Was the cage door +open or shut?” “Shut and bolted,” said the Brahmin. +“Then shut and bolt it,” said the Jackal.</p> + +<p>When the Brahmin had done this, the Jackal said, +“Oh, you wicked and ungrateful Tiger! when the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>224]</a></span> +good Brahmin opened your cage door, is to eat him the +only return you would make? Stay there, then, for +the rest of your days, for no one will ever let you out +again. Proceed on your journey, friend Brahmin. +Your road lies that way and mine this.”</p> + +<p>So saying, the Jackal ran off in one direction, and +the Brahmin went rejoicing on his way in the other.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> +Uncle.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 195px;"> +<img src="images/oddt11.jpg" width="195" height="200" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>225]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh05.jpg" width="500" height="90" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XV.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE SELFISH SPARROW AND THE HOUSELESS +CROWS.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> SPARROW once built a nice little house for +herself, and lined it well with wool and protected +it with sticks, so that it equally resisted the summer sun +and the winter rains. A Crow who lived close by had +also built a house, but it was not such a good one, +being only made of a few sticks laid one above another +on the top of a prickly pear hedge. The consequence +was, that one day, when there was an unusually heavy +shower, the Crow’s nest was washed away, while the +Sparrow’s was not at all injured.</p> + +<p>In this extremity the Crow and her mate went to the +Sparrow, and said, “Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on +us and give us shelter, for the wind blows and the rain +beats, and the prickly pear hedge thorns stick into our +eyes.” But the Sparrow answered, “I’m cooking the +dinner; I cannot let you in now; come again presently.” +In a little while the Crows returned, and +said, “Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us and give us +shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, and the +prickly pear hedge thorns stick into our eyes.” The +Sparrow answered, “I’m eating my dinner; I cannot +let you in now; come again presently.” The Crows +flew away, but in a little while returned, and cried +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>226]</a></span> +once more, “Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us and +give us shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, +and the prickly pear hedge thorns stick into our eyes.” +The Sparrow replied, “I’m washing the dishes; I cannot +let you in now; come again presently.” The +Crows waited a while and then called out, “Sparrow, +Sparrow, have pity on us and give us shelter, for the +wind blows and the rain beats, and the prickly pear +hedge thorns stick into our eyes.” But the Sparrow +would not let them in; she only answered, “I’m sweeping +the floor; I cannot let you in now; come again +presently.” Next time the Crows came and cried, +“Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us and give us +shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, and the +prickly pear hedge thorns stick into our eyes.” She answered, +“I’m making the beds; I cannot let you in +now; come again presently.” So, on one pretence or +another, she refused to help the poor birds. At last, +when she and her children had had their dinner, and +she had prepared and put away the dinner for next day, +and had put all the children to bed and gone to +bed herself, she cried to the Crows, “You may come +in now, and take shelter for the night.” The Crows +came in, but they were much vexed at having been kept +out so long in the wind and the rain, and when the +Sparrow and all her family were asleep, the one said +to the other, “This selfish Sparrow had no pity on us; +she gave us no dinner, and would not let us in till she +and all her children were comfortably in bed; let us +punish her.” So the two Crows took all the nice dinner +the Sparrow had prepared for herself and her children +to eat next day, and flew away with it.</p> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>227]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh09.jpg" width="500" height="87" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XVI.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE VALIANT CHATTEE-MAKER.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time, in a violent storm of thunder, +lightning, wind and rain, a Tiger crept for shelter +close to the wall of an old woman’s hut. This old +woman was very poor, and her hut was but a tumble-down +place, through the roof of which the rain came +drip, drip, drip on more sides than one. This troubled +her much, and she went running about from side to +side, dragging first one thing and then another out of +the way of the leaky places in the roof, and as she did +so she kept saying to herself, “Oh dear! oh dear! +how tiresome this is! I’m sure the roof will come +down! If an elephant, or a lion, or a tiger were to +walk in, he wouldn’t frighten me half so much as this +perpetual dripping.” And then she would begin dragging +the bed and all the other things in the room about +again, to get them out of the way of the wet. The +Tiger, who was crouching down just outside, heard all +that she said, and thought to himself, “This old woman +says she would not be afraid of an elephant, or a lion, +or a tiger, but that this perpetual dripping frightens her +more than all. What can this ‘perpetual dripping’ +be?—it must be something very dreadful.” And hearing +her immediately afterward dragging all the things +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>228]</a></span> +about the room again, he said to himself, “What a terrible +noise! Surely that must be the ‘<em>perpetual dripping</em>.’”</p> + +<p>At this moment a Chattee-maker,<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> who was in +search of his donkey, which had strayed away, came +down the road. The night being very cold, he had, +truth to say, taken a little more toddy than was good +for him, and seeing, by the light of a flash of lightning, +a large animal lying down close to the old woman’s +hut, he mistook it for the donkey he was looking for. +So, running up to the Tiger, he seized hold of it by +one ear, and commenced beating, kicking and abusing +it with all his might and main. “You wretched creature!” +he cried, “is this the way you serve me, obliging +me to come out and look for you in such pouring +rain and on such a dark night as this? Get up instantly, +or I’ll break every bone in your body;” so he +went on scolding and thumping the Tiger with his +utmost power, for he had worked himself up into a +terrible rage. The Tiger did not know what to make +of it all, but he began to feel quite frightened, and said +to himself, “Why, this must be the ‘perpetual dripping;’ +no wonder the old woman said she was more +afraid of it than of an elephant, a lion, or a tiger, for +it gives most dreadfully hard blows.”</p> + +<p>The Chattee-maker, having made the Tiger get up, +got on his back and forced him to carry him home, +kicking and beating him the whole way, for all this +time he fancied he was on his donkey; and then he +tied his fore feet and his head firmly together, and fastened +him to a post in front of his house, and when he +had done this he went to bed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>229]</a></span> +Next morning, when the Chattee-maker’s wife got +up and looked out of the window, what did she see +but a great big Tiger tied up in front of their house, to +the post to which they usually fastened the donkey: +she was very much surprised, and running to her husband, +awoke him, saying, “Do you know what animal +you fetched home last night?” “Yes, the donkey to +be sure,” he answered. “Come and see,” said she, +and she showed him the great Tiger tied to the post. +The Chattee-maker at this was no less astonished than +his wife, and felt himself all over to find if the Tiger +had not wounded him. But, no! there he was safe +and sound, and there was the Tiger tied to the post, +just as he had fastened it up the night before.</p> + +<p>News of the Chattee-maker’s exploit soon spread +through the village, and all the people came to see him +and hear him tell how he had caught the Tiger and +tied it to the post; and this they thought so wonderful +that they sent a deputation to the Rajah, with a letter +to tell him how a man of their village had, alone and +unarmed, caught a great Tiger and tied it to a post.</p> + +<p>When the Rajah read the letter he also was much +surprised, and determined to go in person and see this +astonishing sight. So he sent for his horses and carriages, +his lords and attendants, and they all set off +together to look at the Chattee-maker and the Tiger he +had caught.</p> + +<p>Now the Tiger was a very large one, and had long +been the terror of all the country round, which made +the whole matter still more extraordinary; and all this +being represented to the Rajah, he determined to confer +all possible honor on the valiant Chattee-maker. +So he gave him houses and lands, and as much money +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>230]</a></span> +as would fill a well, made him a lord of his court, and +conferred on him the command of ten thousand horse.</p> + +<p>It came to pass, shortly after this, that a neighboring +Rajah, who had long had a quarrel with this one, sent +to announce his intention of going instantly to war with +him; and tidings were at the same time brought that +the Rajah who sent the challenge had gathered a great +army together on the borders, and was prepared at a +moment’s notice to invade the country.</p> + +<p>In this dilemma no one knew what to do. The Rajah +sent for all his generals, and inquired of them which +would be willing to take command of his forces and +oppose the enemy. They all replied that the country +was so ill-prepared for the emergency, and the case was +apparently so hopeless, that they would rather not take +the responsibility of the chief command. The Rajah +knew not whom to appoint in their stead. Then some of +his people said to him, “You have lately given the command +of ten thousand horse to the valiant Chattee-maker +who caught the Tiger: why not make him +commander-in-chief? A man who could catch a Tiger +and tie him to a post, must surely be more courageous +and clever than most.” “Very well,” said the Rajah, +“I will make him commander-in-chief.” So he sent +for the Chattee-maker and said to him, “In your hands +I place all the power of the kingdom; you must put +our enemies to flight for us.” “So be it,” answered +the Chattee-maker; “but, before I lead the whole army +against the enemy, suffer me to go by myself and examine +their position, and, if possible, find out their +numbers and strength.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah consented, and the Chattee-maker returned +home to his wife, and said: “They have made me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>231]</a></span> +commander-in-chief, which is a very difficult post for +me to fill, because I shall have to ride at the head of +all the army, and you know I never was on a horse in +my life. But I have succeeded in gaining a little delay, +as the Rajah has given me permission to go first alone +and reconnoitre the enemy’s camp. Do you therefore +provide a very quiet pony, for you know I cannot ride, +and I will start to-morrow morning.”</p> + +<p>But, before the Chattee-maker had started, the Rajah +sent over to him a most magnificent charger richly +caparisoned, which he begged he would ride when +going to see the enemy’s camp. The Chattee-maker +was frightened almost out of his life, for the charger +that the Rajah had sent him was very powerful and +spirited, and he felt sure that even if he ever got on it, +he should very soon tumble off; however, he did not +dare to refuse it, for fear of offending the Rajah by not +accepting his present. So he sent back to him a message +of thanks, and said to his wife, “I cannot go on +the pony, now that the Rajah has sent me this fine +horse; but how am I ever to ride it?” “Oh, don’t be +frightened,” she answered; “you’ve only got to get +upon it, and I will tie you firmly on, so that you cannot +tumble off, and if you start at night, no one will see +that you are tied on.” “Very well,” he said. So that +night his wife brought the horse that the Rajah had sent +him to the door. “Indeed,” said the Chattee-maker, +“I can never get into that saddle, it is so high up.” +“You must jump,” said his wife. So he tried to jump +several times, but each time he jumped he tumbled down +again. “I always forget when I am jumping,” said +he, “which way I ought to turn.” “Your face must +be toward the horse’s head,” she answered. “To be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>232]</a></span> +sure, of course,” he cried, and giving one great jump +he jumped into the saddle, but with his face toward the +horse’s tail. “This won’t do at all,” said his wife as +she helped him down again; “try getting on without +jumping.” “I never can remember,” he continued, +“when I have got my left foot in the stirrup, what to +do with my right foot or where to put it.” “That must +go in the other stirrup,” she answered; “let me help +you.” So, after many trials, in which he tumbled down +very often, for the horse was fresh and did not like +standing still, the Chattee-maker got into the saddle; +but no sooner had he got there than he cried, “Oh, +wife, wife! tie me very firmly as quickly as possible, +for I know I shall jump down if I can.” Then she +fetched some strong rope and tied his feet firmly into +the stirrups, and fastened one stirrup to the other, and +put another rope round his waist and another round his +neck, and fastened them to the horse’s body and neck +and tail.</p> + +<p>When the horse felt all these ropes about him he +could not imagine what queer creature had got upon +his back, and he began rearing and kicking and prancing, +and at last set off full gallop, as fast as he could +tear, right across country. “Wife, wife!” cried the +Chattee-maker, “you forgot to tie my hands.” “Never +mind,” said she; “hold on by the mane.” So he +caught hold of the horse’s mane as firmly as he could. +Then away went horse, away went Chattee-maker—away, +away, away, over hedges, over ditches, over +rivers, over plains—away, away, like a flash of lightning—now +this way, now that—on, on, on, gallop, +gallop, gallop—until they came in sight of the enemy’s +camp.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>233]</a></span> +The Chattee-maker did not like his ride at all, and +when he saw where it was leading him he liked it still +less, for he thought the enemy would catch him and +very likely kill him. So he determined to make one +desperate effort to be free, and stretching out his hand +as the horse shot past a young banyan tree, seized hold +of it with all his might, hoping that the resistance it +offered might cause the ropes that tied him to break. +But the horse was going at his utmost speed, and the +soil in which the banyan tree grew was loose, so that +when the Chattee-maker caught hold of it and gave it +such a violent pull, it came up by the roots, and on he +rode as fast as before, with the tree in his hand.</p> + +<p>All the soldiers in the camp saw him coming, and +having heard that an army was to be sent against them, +made sure that the Chattee-maker was one of the vanguard. +“See,” cried they, “here comes a man of +gigantic stature on a mighty horse! He rides at full +speed across the country, tearing up the very trees in +his rage! He is one of the opposing force; the whole +army must be close at hand. If they are such as he, +we are all dead men.” Then, running to their Rajah, +some of them cried again, “Here comes the whole +force of the enemy” (for the story had by this time +become exaggerated); “they are men of gigantic stature, +mounted on mighty horses; as they come they tear +up the very trees in their rage; we can oppose men, +but not monsters such as these.” These were followed +by others, who said, “It is all true,” for by this time +the Chattee-maker had got pretty near the camp; +“they’re coming! they’re coming! let us fly! let us +fly! fly, fly for your lives!” And the whole panic-stricken +multitude fled from the camp (those who had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>234]</a></span> +seen no cause for alarm going because the others did, +or because they did not care to stay by themselves), +after having obliged their Rajah to write a letter to the +one whose country he was about to invade to say that +he would not do so, and propose terms of peace, and +to sign it and seal it with his seal. Scarcely had all +the people fled from the camp when the horse on which +the Chattee-maker was came galloping into it, and on +his back rode the Chattee-maker, almost dead from +fatigue, with the banyan tree in his hand: just as he +reached the camp the ropes by which he was tied broke, +and he fell to the ground. The horse stood still, too +tired with his long run to go farther. On recovering +his senses, the Chattee-maker found, to his surprise, +that the whole camp, full of rich arms, clothes and +trappings, was entirely deserted. In the principal tent, +moreover, he found a letter addressed to his Rajah, +announcing the retreat of the invading army and proposing +terms of peace.</p> + +<p>So he took the letter, and returned home with it as +fast as he could, leading his horse all the way, for he +was afraid to mount him again. It did not take him +long to reach his house by the direct road, for whilst +riding he had gone a more circuitous journey than was +necessary, and he got there just at nightfall. His wife +ran out to meet him, overjoyed at his speedy return. +As soon as he saw her, he said, “Ah, wife, since I saw +you last I’ve been all round the world, and had many +wonderful and terrible adventures. But never mind that +now: send this letter quickly to the Rajah by a messenger, +and send the horse also that he sent for me +to ride. He will then see, by the horse looking so +tired, what a long ride I’ve had; and if he is sent on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>235]</a></span> +beforehand, I shall not be obliged to ride him up to the +palace door to-morrow morning, as I otherwise should, +and that would be very tiresome, for most likely I +should tumble off.” So his wife sent the horse and the +letter to the Rajah, and a message that her husband +would be at the palace early next morning, as it was +then late at night. And next day he went down there, +as he had said he would; and when the people saw +him coming, they said, “This man is as modest as he +is brave; after having put our enemies to flight, he +walks quite simply to the door, instead of riding here +in state, as another man would.” For they did not +know that the Chattee-maker walked because he was +afraid to ride.</p> + +<p>The Rajah came to the palace door to meet him, and +paid him all possible honor. Terms of peace were +agreed upon between the two countries, and the Chattee-maker +was rewarded for all he had done by being +given twice as much rank and wealth as he had before, +and he lived very happily all the rest of his life.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> +Potter.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 155px;"> +<img src="images/oddt12.jpg" width="155" height="105" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>236]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh04.jpg" width="500" height="92" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XVII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE RAKSHAS’ PALACE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there lived a Rajah who was +left a widower with two little daughters. Not +very long after his first wife died he married again, and +his second wife did not care for her step-children, and +was often unkind to them; and the Rajah, their father, +never troubled himself to look after them, but allowed +his wife to treat them as she liked. This made the +poor girls very miserable, and one day one of them +said to the other, “Don’t let us remain any longer +here; come away into the jungle, for nobody here cares +whether we go or stay.” So they both walked off into +the jungle, and lived for many days on the jungle fruits. +At last, after they had wandered on for a long while, +they came to a fine palace which belonged to a Rakshas, +but both the Rakshas and his wife were out when they +got there. Then one of the Princesses said to the +other, “This fine palace, in the midst of the jungle, can +belong to no one but a Rakshas, but the owner has +evidently gone out; let us go in and see if we can find +anything to eat.” So they went into the Rakshas’ +house, and finding some rice, boiled and ate it. Then +they swept the room and arranged all the furniture in +the house tidily. But hardly had they finished doing +so when the Rakshas and his wife returned home. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>237]</a></span> +Then the two Princesses were so frightened that they +ran up to the top of the house and hid themselves on +the flat roof, from whence they could look down on one +side into the inner courtyard of the house, and from +the other could see the open country. The house-top +was a favorite resort of the Rakshas and his wife. Here +they would sit upon the hot summer evenings; here they +winnowed the grain and hung out the clothes to dry; +and the two Princesses found a sufficient shelter behind +some sheaves of corn that were waiting to be threshed. +When the Rakshas came into the house, he looked +round and said to his wife, “Somebody has been +arranging the house, everything in it is so clean and +tidy. Wife, did you do this?” “No,” she said; “I +don’t know who can have done all this.” “Some one +also has been sweeping the courtyard,” continued the +Rakshas. “Wife, did you sweep the courtyard?” +“No,” she answered, “I did not do it. I don’t know +who did.” Then the Rakshas walked round and round +several times with his nose up in the air, saying, +“Some one is here now. I smell flesh and blood! +Where can they be?” “Stuff and nonsense!” cried +his wife. “You smell blood indeed! Why, you have +just been killing and eating a hundred thousand people. +I should wonder if you didn’t still smell flesh +and blood!” They went on quarreling thus until +the Rakshas said, “Well, never mind; I don’t know +how it is, but I’m very thirsty; let’s come and drink +some water.” So both the Rakshas and his wife +went to a well which was close to the house, and +began letting down jars into it, and drawing up the +water and drinking it. And the Princesses, who were +on the top of the house, saw them. Now the youngest +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>238]</a></span> +of the two Princesses was a very wise girl, and when +she saw the Rakshas and his wife by the well, she said +to her sister, “I will do something now that will be +good for us both;” and, running down quickly from +the top of the house, she crept close behind the Rakshas +and his wife as they stood on tip-toe more than +half over the side of the well, and, catching hold of +one of the Rakshas’ heels and one of his wife’s, gave +each a little push, and down they both tumbled into the +well and were drowned—the Rakshas and the Rakshas’ +wife! The Princess then returned to her sister and +said, “I have killed the Rakshas.” “What, both?” +cried her sister. “Yes, both,” she said. “Won’t +they come back?” said her sister. “No, never,” answered +she.</p> + +<p>The Rakshas being thus killed, the two Princesses +took possession of the house, and lived there very happily +for a long time. In it they found heaps and heaps +of rich clothes and jewels, and gold and silver, which +the Rakshas had taken from people he had murdered; +and all round the house were folds for the flocks and +sheds for the herds of cattle which the Rakshas owned. +Every morning the youngest Princess used to drive out +the flocks and herds to pasturage, and return home +with them every night, while the eldest stayed at home, +cooked the dinner and kept the house; and the youngest +Princess, who was the cleverest, would often say to +her sister, on going away for the day, “Take care, if +you see any stranger (be it man, woman or child) +come by the house, to hide, if possible, that nobody +may know of our living here; and if any one should +call out and ask for a drink of water, or any poor +beggar pray for food, before you give it him be sure +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>239]</a></span> +you put on ragged clothes and cover your face with +charcoal, and make yourself look as ugly as possible, +lest, seeing how fair you are, he should steal you +away, and we never meet again.” “Very well,” the +other Princess would answer, “I will do as you advise.”</p> + +<p>But a long time passed, and no one ever came by +that way. At last one day, after the youngest Princess +had gone out, a young Prince, the son of a neighboring +Rajah, who had been hunting with his attendants for +many days in the jungles, came near the place when +searching for water (for he and his people were tired +with hunting, and had been seeking all through the +jungle for a stream of water, but could find none). +When the Prince saw the fine palace standing all by +itself, he was very much astonished, and said, “It is a +strange thing that any one should have built such a +house as this in the depths of the forest. Let us go in; +the owners will doubtless give us a drink of water.” +“No, no, do not go,” cried his attendants; “this is +most likely the house of a Rakshas.” “We can but +see,” answered the Prince. “I should scarcely think +anything very terrible lived here, for there is not a +sound stirring nor a living creature to be seen.” So +he began tapping at the door, which was bolted, and +crying, “Will whoever owns this house give me and +my people some water to drink, for the sake of kind +charity?” But nobody answered, for the Princess, +who heard him, was busy up in her room, blacking her +face with charcoal and covering her rich dress with +rags. Then the Prince got impatient and shook the +door, saying, angrily, “Let me in, whoever you are! +If you don’t, I’ll force the door open.” At this the +poor little Princess got dreadfully frightened; and having +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>240]</a></span> +blacked her face and made herself look as ugly as +possible, she ran down stairs with a pitcher of water, +and unbolting the door, gave the Prince the pitcher to +drink from; but she did not speak, for she was afraid. +Now the Prince was a very clever man, and as he +raised the pitcher to his mouth to drink the water, he +thought to himself, “This is a very strange-looking +creature who has brought me this jug of water. She +would be pretty, but that her face seems to want washing, +and her dress also is very untidy. What can that +black stuff be on her face and hands? it looks very unnatural.” +And so thinking to himself, instead of +drinking the water, he threw it in the Princess’ face! +The Princess started back with a little cry, whilst the +water, trickling down her face, washed off the charcoal, +and showed her delicate features and beautiful, +fair complexion. The Prince caught hold of her hand, +and said, “Now tell me true, who are you? where do +you come from? Who are your father and mother? +and why are you here alone by yourself in the jungle? +Answer me, or I’ll cut your head off.” And he made +as if he would draw his sword. The Princess was so +terrified she could hardly speak, but as best she could +she told how she was the daughter of a Rajah, and had +run away into the jungle because of her cruel step-mother, +and, finding the house, had lived there ever +since; and having finished her story, she began to cry. +Then the Prince said to her, “Pretty lady, forgive me +for my roughness; do not fear; I will take you home +with me, and you shall be my wife.” But the more he +spoke to her the more frightened she got. So frightened +that she did not understand what he said, and +could do nothing but cry. Now she had said nothing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>241]</a></span> +to the Prince about her sister, nor even told him that +she had one, for she thought, “This man says he will +kill me; if he hears that I have a sister, he will kill +her too.” So the Prince, who was really kind-hearted, +and would never have thought of separating the two +little sisters who had been together so long, knew nothing +at all of the matter, and only seeing she was too +much alarmed even to understand gentle words, said +to his servants, “Place this lady in one of the palkees, +and let us set off home.” And they did so. When +the Princess found herself shut up in the palkee, and +being carried she knew not where, she thought how +terrible it would be for her sister to return home and +find her gone, and determined, if possible, to leave +some sign to show her which way she had been taken. +Round her neck were many strings of pearls. She +untied them, and tearing her saree into little bits, tied +one pearl in each piece of the saree, that it might be +heavy enough to fall straight to the ground; and so +she went on, dropping one pearl and then another and +another and another, all the way she went along, until +they reached the palace where the Rajah and Ranee, +the Prince’s father and mother, lived. She threw the +last remaining pearl down just as she reached the +palace gate. The old Rajah and Ranee were delighted +to see the beautiful Princess their son had brought +home; and when they heard her story they said, “Ah, +poor thing! what a sad story! but now she has come +to live with us, we will do all we can to make her +happy.” And they married her to their son with great +pomp and ceremony, and gave her rich dresses and +jewels, and were very kind to her. But the Princess +remained sad and unhappy, for she was always thinking +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>242]</a></span> +about her sister, and yet she could not summon +courage to beg the Prince or his father to send and +fetch her to the palace.</p> + +<p>Meantime the youngest Princess, who had been out +with her flocks and herds when the Prince took her +sister away, had returned home. When she came +back she found the door wide open and no one standing +there. She thought it very odd, for her sister always +came every night to the door to meet her on her +return. She went up stairs; her sister was not there; +the whole house was empty and deserted. There she +must stay all alone, for the evening had closed in, and +it was impossible to go outside and seek her with any +hope of success. So all the night long she waited, crying, +“Some one has been here, and they have stolen +her away; they have stolen my darling away. O sister! +sister!” Next morning, very early, going out to +continue the search, she found one of the pearls belonging +to her sister’s necklace tied up in a small piece +of saree; a little farther on lay another, and yet +another, all along the road the Prince had gone. +Then the Princess understood that her sister had left +this clue to guide her on her way, and she at once set +off to find her again. Very, very far she went—a six +months’ journey through the jungle, for she could not +travel fast, the many days’ walking tired her so much—and +sometimes it took her two or three days to find the +next piece of saree with the pearl. At last she came +near a large town, to which it was evident her sister +had been taken. Now this young Princess was very +beautiful indeed—as beautiful as she was wise—and +when she got near the town she thought to herself, “If +people see me, they may steal me away, as they did my +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>243]</a></span> +sister, and then I shall never find her again. I will +therefore disguise myself.” As she was thus thinking +she saw by the side of the road the corpse of a poor +old beggar woman, who had evidently died from want +and poverty. The body was shriveled up, and nothing +of it remained but the skin and bones. The Princess +took the skin and washed it, and drew it on over her +own lovely face and neck, as one draws a glove on +one’s hand. Then she took a long stick and began +hobbling along, leaning on it, toward the town. The +old woman’s skin was all crumpled and withered, and +people who passed by only thought, “What an ugly +old woman!” and never dreamed of the false skin and +the beautiful, handsome girl inside. So on she went, +picking up the pearls—one here, one there—until she +found the last pearl just in front of the palace gate. +Then she felt certain her sister must be somewhere +near, but where she did not know. She longed to go +into the palace and ask for her, but no guards would +have let such a wretched-looking old woman enter, and +she did not dare offer them any of the pearls she had +with her, lest they should think she was a thief. So +she determined merely to remain as close to the palace +as possible, and wait till fortune favored her with the +means of learning something further about her sister. +Just opposite the palace was a small house belonging +to a farmer, and the Princess went up to it and stood +by the door. The farmer’s wife saw her and said, +“Poor old woman, who are you? what do you want? +why are you here? Have you no friends?” “Alas, +no!” answered the Princess. “I am a poor old +woman, and have neither father nor mother, son nor +daughter, sister nor brother, to take care of me; all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>244]</a></span> +are gone, and I can only beg my bread from door to +door.”</p> + +<p>“Do not grieve, good mother,” answered the farmer’s +wife, kindly. “You may sleep in the shelter of +our porch, and I will give you some food.” So the +Princess stayed there for that night and for many more; +and every day the good farmer’s wife gave her food. +But all this time she could learn nothing of her sister.</p> + +<p>Now there was a large tank near the palace, on +which grew some fine lotus plants, covered with rich +crimson lotuses—the royal flower—and of these the +Rajah was very fond indeed, and prized them very +much. To this tank (because it was the nearest to the +farmer’s house) the Princess used to go every morning, +very early, almost before it was light, at about three +o’clock, and take off the old woman’s skin and wash +it, and hang it out to dry, and wash her face and hands, +and bathe her feet in the cool water, and comb her +beautiful hair. Then she would gather a lotus flower +(such as she had been accustomed to wear in her hair +from a child) and put it on, so as to feel for a few minutes +like herself again! Thus she would amuse herself. +Afterward, as soon as the wind had dried the +old woman’s skin, she put it on again, threw away the +lotus flower, and hobbled back to the farmer’s door before +the sun was up.</p> + +<p>After a time the Rajah discovered that some one had +plucked some of his favorite lotus flowers. People +were set to watch, and all the wise men in the kingdom +put their heads together to try and discover the +thief, but without avail. At last the excitement about +this matter being very great, the Rajah’s second son, a +brave and noble young Prince (brother to him who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>245]</a></span> +had found the eldest Princess in the forest) said, “I +will certainly discover this thief.” It chanced that +several fine trees grew around the tank. Into one of +these the young Prince climbed one evening (having +made a sort of light thatched roof across two of the +boughs, to keep off the heavy dews), and there he +watched all the night through, but with no more success +than his predecessors. There lay the lotus plants, +still in the moonlight, without so much as a thieving +wind coming by to break off one of the flowers. The +Prince began to get very sleepy, and thought the delinquent, +whoever he might be, could not intend to +return, when, in the very early morning, before it was +light, who should come down to the tank but an old +woman he had often seen near the palace gate. +“Aha!” thought the Prince, “this then is the thief; +but what can this queer old woman want with lotus +flowers?” Imagine his astonishment when the old +woman sat down on the steps of the tank and began +pulling the skin off her face and arms, and from underneath +the shriveled yellow skin came the loveliest +face he had ever beheld! So fair, so fresh, so young, +so gloriously beautiful, that, appearing thus suddenly, +it dazzled the Prince’s eyes like a flash of golden +lightning. “Ah,” thought he, “can this be a woman +or a spirit? a devil or an angel in disguise?”</p> + +<p>The Princess twisted up her glossy black hair, and, +plucking a red lotus, placed it in it, and dabbled her +feet in the water, and amused herself by putting round +her neck a string of pearls that had been her sister’s +necklace. Then, as the sun was rising, she threw away +the lotus, and covering her face and arms again with +the withered skin, went hastily away. When the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>246]</a></span> +Prince got home, the first thing he said to his parents +was, “Father, mother! I should like to marry that +old woman who stands all day at the farmer’s gate, just +opposite.” “What!” cried they, “the boy is mad! +Marry that skinny old thing! You cannot—you are a +King’s son. Are there not enough Queens and Princesses +in the world, that you should wish to marry a +wretched old beggar-woman?” But he answered, +“Above all things I should like to marry that old +woman. You know that I have ever been a dutiful +and obedient son. In this matter, I pray you, grant +me my desire.” Then, seeing he was really in earnest +about the matter, and that nothing they could say would +alter his mind, they listened to his urgent entreaties—not, +however, without much grief and vexation—and +sent out the guards, who fetched the old woman (who +was really the Princess in disguise) to the palace, +where she was married to the Prince as privately and +with as little ceremony as possible, for the family were +ashamed of the match.</p> + +<p>As soon as the wedding was over, the Prince said to +his wife, “Gentle wife, tell me how much longer you +intend to wear that old skin? You had better take it +off; do be so kind.” The Princess wondered how he +knew of her disguise, or whether it was only a guess +of his; and she thought, “If I take this ugly skin off, +my husband will think me pretty, and shut me up in +the palace and never let me go away, so that I shall +not be able to find my sister again. No, I had better +not take it off.” So she answered, “I don’t know what +you mean. I am as all these years have made me; +nobody can change their skin.” Then the Prince pretended +to be very angry, and said, “Take off that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>247]</a></span> +hideous disguise this instant, or I’ll kill you.” But she +only bowed her head, saying, “Kill me, then, but nobody +can change their skin.” And all this she mumbled +as if she were a very old woman indeed, and had +lost all her teeth and could not speak plain. At this +the Prince laughed very much to himself, and thought, +“I’ll wait and see how long this freak lasts.” But the +Princess continued to keep on the old woman’s skin; +only every morning, at about three o’clock, before it +was light, she would get up and wash it and put it on +again. Then, some time afterward, the Prince, having +found this out, got up softly one morning early, and +followed her to the next room, where she had washed +the skin and placed it on the floor to dry, and stealing +it, he ran away with it and threw it on the fire. So +the Princess, having no old woman’s skin to put on, +was obliged to appear in her own likeness. As she +walked forth, very sad at missing her disguise, her husband +ran to meet her, smiling and saying, “How do +you do, my dear? Where is your skin now? Can’t +you take it off, dear?” Soon the whole palace had +heard the joyful news of the beautiful young wife that +the Prince had won; and all the people, when they +saw her, cried, “Why she is exactly like the beautiful +Princess our young Rajah married, the jungle lady.” +The old Rajah and Ranee were prouder than all of +their daughter-in-law, and took her to introduce her to +their eldest son’s wife. Then no sooner did the Princess +enter her sister-in-law’s room then she saw that in +her she had found her lost sister, and they ran into each +other’s arms. Great then was the joy of all, but the +happiest of all these happy people were the two Princesses.</p> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>248]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh03.jpg" width="500" height="89" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XVIII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE BLIND MAN, THE DEAF MAN AND THE +DONKEY.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> BLIND Man and a Deaf Man once entered into +partnership. The Deaf Man was to see for the +Blind Man, and the Blind Man was to hear for the +Deaf Man.</p> + +<p>One day both went to a nautch<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> together. The Deaf +Man said, “The dancing is very good, but the music is +not worth listening to;” and the Blind Man said, “On +the contrary, I think the music very good, but the dancing +is not worth looking at.”</p> + +<p>After this they went together for a walk in the jungle, +and there they found a Dhobee’s donkey that had +strayed away from its owner, and a great big chattee +(such as Dhobees boil clothes in), which the donkey was +carrying with him.</p> + +<p>The Deaf Man said to the Blind Man, “Brother, +here are a donkey and a Dhobee’s great big chattee, +with nobody to own them! Let us take them with us—they +may be useful to us some day.” “Very well,” +said the Blind Man, “we will take them with us.” So +the Blind Man and the Deaf Man went on their way, +taking the donkey and the great big chattee with them. +A little farther on they came to an ant’s nest, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>249]</a></span> +Deaf Man said to the Blind Man, “Here are a number +of very fine black ants, much larger than any I ever +saw before. Let us take some of them home to show +our friends.” “Very well,” answered the Blind Man; +“we will take them as a present to our friends.” So +the Deaf Man took a silver snuff-box out of his pocket, +and put four or five of the finest black ants into it; +which done, they continued their journey.</p> + +<p>But before they had gone very far a terrible storm +came on. It thundered and lightened and rained and +blew with such fury that it seemed as if the whole +heavens and earth were at war. “Oh dear! oh dear!” +cried the Deaf Man, “how dreadful this lightning is! +Let us make haste and get to some place of shelter.” +“I don’t see that it’s dreadful at all,” answered the +Blind Man, “but the thunder is very terrible; we had +better certainly seek some place of shelter.”</p> + +<p>Now, not far off was a lofty building, which looked +exactly like a fine temple. The Deaf Man saw it, and +he and the Blind Man resolved to spend the night there; +and having reached the place, they went in and shut the +door, taking the donkey and the great big chattee with +them. But this building, which they mistook for a +temple, was in truth no temple at all, but the house of +a very powerful Rakshas; and hardly had the Blind +Man, the Deaf Man and the donkey got inside and +fastened the door than the Rakshas, who had been +out, returned home. To his surprise, he found the +door fastened and heard people moving about inside +his house. “Ho! ho!” cried he to himself, “some +men have got in here, have they! I’ll soon make +mince-meat of them.” So he began to roar in a voice +louder than the thunder, and he cried, “Let me into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>250]</a></span> +my house this minute, you wretches; let me in, let me +in, I say,” and to kick the door and batter it with his +great fists. But though his voice was very powerful, +his appearance was still more alarming, insomuch that +the Deaf Man, who was peeping at him through a +chink in the wall, felt so frightened that he did not +know what to do. But the Blind Man was very brave +(because he couldn’t see), and went up to the door and +called out, “Who are you? and what do you mean by +coming battering at the door in this way and at this +time of night?”</p> + +<p>“I’m a Rakshas,” answered the Rakshas, angrily, +“and this is my house. Let me in this instant, or I’ll +kill you.” All this time the Deaf Man, who was +watching the Rakshas, was shivering and shaking in +a terrible fright, but the Blind Man was very brave +(because he couldn’t see), and he called out again, +“Oh, you’re a Rakshas, are you! Well, if you’re +Rakshas, I’m Bakshas; and Bakshas is as good as +Rakshas.” “Bakshas!” roared the Rakshas. “Bakshas! +Bakshas! What nonsense is this? There is no +such creature as a Bakshas!” “Go away,” replied +the Blind Man, “and don’t dare to make any further +disturbance, lest I punish you with a vengeance; for +know that I’m Bakshas! and Bakshas is Rakshas’ +father.” “My father?” answered the Rakshas. “Heavens +and earth! Bakshas and my father! I never +heard such an extraordinary thing in my life. You +my father; and in there! I never knew my father was +called Bakshas!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied the Blind Man; “go away instantly, +I command you, for I am your father Bakshas.” “Very +well,” answered the Rakshas (for he began to get +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>251]</a></span> +puzzled and frightened), “but if you are my father, let me +first see your face.” (For he thought, “Perhaps they +are deceiving me.”) The Blind Man and the Deaf Man +didn’t know what to do; but at last they opened the +door a very tiny chink and poked the donkey’s nose +out. When the Rakshas saw it he thought to himself, +“Bless me, what a terribly ugly face my father Bakshas +has!” He then called out, “O father Bakshas, you +have a very big, fierce face; but people have sometimes +very big heads and very little bodies. Pray let me see +your body as well as head before I go away.” Then +the Blind Man and the Deaf Man rolled the great, big +Dhobee’s chattee with a thundering noise past the chink +in the door, and the Rakshas, who was watching attentively, +was very much surprised when he saw this great +black thing rolling along the floor, and he thought, “In +truth, my father Bakshas has a very big body as well +as a big head. He’s big enough to eat me up altogether. +I’d better go away.” But still he could not help being +a little doubtful, so he cried, “O Bakshas, father Bakshas! +you have indeed got a very big head and a very +big body; but do, before I go away, let me hear you +scream” (for all Rakshas scream fearfully). Then the +cunning Deaf Man (who was getting less frightened) +pulled the silver snuff-box out of his pocket, and took +the black ants out of it, and put one black ant in the +donkey’s right ear, and another black ant in the donkey’s +left ear, and another and another. The ants pinched +the poor donkey’s ears dreadfully, and the donkey was +so hurt and frightened he began to bellow as loud as he +could, “Eh augh! eh augh! eh augh! augh! augh!” +and at this terrible noise the Rakshas fled away in a great +fright, saying, “Enough, enough, father Bakshas! the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>252]</a></span> +sound of your voice would make the most refractory +obedient.” And no sooner had he gone than the Deaf +Man took the ants out of the donkey’s ears, and he and +the Blind Man spent the rest of the night in peace and +comfort.</p> + +<p>Next morning the Deaf Man woke the Blind Man +early, saying, “Awake, brother, awake; here we are +indeed in luck! the whole floor is covered with heaps +of gold and silver and precious stones.” And so it was, +for the Rakshas owned a vast amount of treasure, and +the whole house was full of it. “That is a good thing,” +said the Blind Man. “Show me where it is and I will +help you to collect it.” So they collected as much treasure +as possible and made four great bundles of it. The +Blind Man took one great bundle, the Deaf Man took +another, and, putting the other two great bundles on +the donkey, they started off to return home. But the +Rakshas, whom they had frightened away the night +before, had not gone very far off, and was waiting to +see what his father Bakshas might look like by daylight. +He saw the door of his house open and watched attentively, +when out walked—only a Blind Man, a Deaf +Man and a donkey, who were all three laden with +large bundles of his treasure. The Blind Man carried +one bundle, the Deaf Man carried another bundle, and +two bundles were on the donkey.</p> + +<p>The Rakshas was extremely angry, and immediately +called six of his friends to help him kill the Blind Man, +the Deaf Man and the donkey, and recover the treasure.</p> + +<p>The Deaf Man saw them coming (seven great Rakshas, +with hair a yard long and tusks like an elephant’s), +and was dreadfully frightened; but the Blind Man was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>253]</a></span> +very brave (because he couldn’t see), and said, “Brother, +why do you lag behind in that way?” “Oh!” +answered the Deaf Man, “there are seven great Rakshas +with tusks like an elephant’s coming to kill us; +what can we do?” “Let us hide the treasure in the +bushes,” said the Blind Man; “and do you lead me to +a tree; then I will climb up first, and you shall climb +up afterward, and so we shall be out of their way.” +The Deaf Man thought this good advice; so he pushed +the donkey and the bundles of treasure into the bushes, +and led the Blind Man to a high soparee tree that +grew close by; but he was a very cunning man, this +Deaf Man, and instead of letting the Blind Man climb +up first and following him, he got up first and let the +Blind Man clamber after, so that he was farther out of +harm’s way than his friend.</p> + +<p>When the Rakshas arrived at the place and saw +them both perched out of reach in the soparee tree, he +said to his friends, “Let us get on each other’s shoulders; +we shall then be high enough to pull them +down.” So one Rakshas stooped down, and the second +got on his shoulders, and the third on his, and the +fourth on his, and the fifth on his, and the sixth on +his; and the seventh and the last Rakshas (who had +invited all the others) was just climbing up when the +Deaf Man (who was looking over the Blind Man’s +shoulder) got so frightened that in his alarm he caught +hold of his friend’s arm, crying, “They’re coming, +they’re coming!” The Blind Man was not in a very +secure position, and was sitting at his ease, not knowing +how close the Rakshas were. The consequence +was, that when the Deaf Man gave him this unexpected +push, he lost his balance and tumbled down on to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>254]</a></span> +neck of the seventh Rakshas, who was just then climbing +up. The Blind Man had no idea where he was, +but thought he had got on to the branch of some other +tree; and, stretching out his hand for something to +catch hold of, caught hold of the Rakshas’ two great +ears, and pinched them very hard in his surprise and +fright. The Rakshas couldn’t think what it was that +had come tumbling down upon him; and the weight +of the Blind Man upsetting his balance, down he also +fell to the ground, knocking down in their turn the +sixth, fifth, fourth, third, second and first Rakshas, who +all rolled one over another, and lay in a confused heap +at the foot of the tree together. Meanwhile the Blind +Man called out to his friend, “Where am I? what has +happened? Where am I? where am I?” The Deaf +Man (who was safe up in the tree) answered, “Well +done, brother! never fear! never fear! You’re all +right, only hold on tight. I’m coming down to help +you.” But he had not the least intention of leaving +his place of safety. However, he continued to call +out, “Never mind, brother; hold on as tight as you +can. I’m coming, I’m coming,” and the more he +called out, the harder the Blind Man pinched the Rakshas’ +ears, which he mistook for some kind of palm +branches. The six other Rakshas, who had succeeded, +after a good deal of kicking, in extricating themselves +from their unpleasant position, thought they had had +quite enough of helping their friend, and ran away as +fast as they could; and the seventh, thinking from their +going that the danger must be greater than he imagined, +and being moreover very much afraid of the +mysterious creature that sat on his shoulders, put his +hands to the back of his ears and pushed off the Blind +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>255]</a></span> +Man, and then (without staying to see who or what +he was) followed his six companions as fast as he +could.</p> + +<p>As soon as all the Rakshas were out of sight, the +Deaf Man came down from the tree, and, picking up +the Blind Man, embraced him, saying, “I could not +have done better myself. You have frightened away +all our enemies, but you see I came to help you as fast +as possible.” He then dragged the donkey and the +bundles of treasure out of the bushes, gave the Blind +Man one bundle to carry, took the second himself, and +put the remaining two on the donkey, as before. This +done, the whole party set off to return home. But +when they had got nearly out of the jungle the Deaf +Man said to the Blind Man, “We are now close to the +village, but if we take all this treasure home with us, +we shall run great risk of being robbed. I think our +best plan would be to divide it equally; then you shall +take care of your half, and I will take care of mine, +and each one can hide his share here in the jungle, or +wherever pleases him best.” “Very well,” said the +Blind Man; “do you divide what we have in the +bundles into two equal portions, keeping one-half yourself +and giving me the other.” But the cunning Deaf +Man had no intention of giving up half of the treasure +to the Blind Man; so he first took his own bundle of +treasure and hid it in the bushes, and then he took the +two bundles off the donkey and hid them in the bushes; +and he took a good deal of treasure out of the Blind +Man’s bundle, which he also hid. Then, taking the +small quantity that remained, he divided it into two +equal portions, and placing half before the Blind Man +and half in front of himself, said, “There, brother, is +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>256]</a></span> +your share to do what you please with.” The Blind +Man put out his hand, but when he felt what a very +little heap of treasure it was, he got very angry, and +cried, “This is not fair—you are deceiving me; you +have kept almost all the treasure for yourself and only +given me a very little.” “Oh, oh! how can you think +so?” answered the Deaf Man; “but if you will not +believe me, feel for yourself. See, my heap of treasure +is no larger than yours.” The Blind Man put out his +hands again to feel how much his friend had kept; but +in front of the Deaf Man lay only a very small heap, +no larger than what he had himself received. At this +he got very cross, and said, “Come, come, this won’t +do. You think you can cheat me in this way because +I am blind; but I’m not so stupid as all that. I carried +a great bundle of treasure, you carried a great bundle +of treasure, and there were two great bundles on the +donkey. Do you mean to pretend that all that made +no more treasure than these two little heaps! No, indeed; +I know better than that.” “Stuff and nonsense!” +answered the Deaf Man. “Stuff or no stuff,” +continued the other, “you are trying to take me in, +and I won’t be taken in by you.” “No, I’m not,” +said the Deaf Man. “Yes, you are,” said the Blind +Man; and so they went on bickering, scolding, growling, +contradicting, until the Blind Man got so enraged +that he gave the Deaf Man a tremendous box on the +ear. The blow was so violent that it made the Deaf +Man hear! The Deaf Man, very angry, gave his +neighbor in return so hard a blow in the face that it +opened the Blind Man’s eyes!</p> + +<p>So the Deaf Man could hear as well as see! and the +Blind Man could see as well as hear! This astonished +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>257]</a></span> +them both so much that they became good friends at +once. The Deaf Man confessed to having hidden the +bulk of the treasure, which he thereupon dragged forth +from its place of concealment, and, having divided it +equally, they went home and enjoyed themselves.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> +Musical and dancing entertainment.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 230px;"> +<img src="images/oddt13.jpg" width="230" height="136" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>258]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh07.jpg" width="500" height="89" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XIX.<br /> +<br /> +<i>MUCHIE LAL.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a Rajah and Ranee +who had no children. Long had they wished +and prayed that the gods would send them a son, but +it was all in vain—their prayers were not granted. +One day a number of fish were brought into the royal +kitchen to be cooked for the Rajah’s dinner, and +amongst them was one little fish that was not dead, but +all the rest were dead. One of the palace maid-servants +seeing this, took the little fish and put him in a basin +of water. Shortly afterward the Ranee saw him, and +thinking him very pretty, kept him as a pet; and because +she had no children she lavished all her affection +on the fish and loved him as a son; and the people +called him Muchie Rajah (the Fish Prince). In a +little while Muchie Rajah had grown too long to live +in the small basin, so they put him in a larger one, and +then (when he grew too long for that) into a big tub. +In time, however, Muchie Rajah became too large for +even the big tub to hold him; so the Ranee had a tank +made for him in which he lived very happily, and twice +a day she fed him with boiled rice. Now, though the +people fancied Muchie Rajah was only a fish, this was +not the case. He was, in truth, a young Rajah who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>259]</a></span> +had angered the gods, and been by them turned into a +fish and thrown into the river as a punishment.</p> + +<p>One morning, when the Ranee brought him his +daily meal of boiled rice, Muchie Rajah called out to +her and said, “Queen Mother, Queen Mother, I am so +lonely here all by myself! Cannot you get me a wife?” +The Ranee promised to try, and sent messengers to all +the people she knew, to ask if they would allow one +of their children to marry her son, the Fish Prince. +But they all answered, “We cannot give one of our +dear little daughters to be devoured by a great fish, +even though he is the Muchie Rajah and so high in +your Majesty’s favor.”</p> + +<p>At news of this the Ranee did not know what to do. +She was so foolishly fond of Muchie Rajah, however, +that she resolved to get him a wife at any cost. Again +she sent out messengers, but this time she gave them a +great bag containing a lac of gold mohurs,<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> and said +to them, “Go into every land until you find a wife for +my Muchie Rajah, and to whoever will give you a +child to be the Muchie Ranee<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> you shall give this bag +of gold mohurs.” The messengers started on their +search, but for some time they were unsuccessful: not +even the beggars were to be tempted to sell their children, +fearing the great fish would devour them. At last +one day the messengers came to a village where there +lived a Fakeer, who had lost his first wife and married +again. His first wife had had one little daughter, and his +second wife also had a daughter. As it happened, the +Fakeer’s second wife hated her little step-daughter, +always gave her the hardest work to do and the least +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>260]</a></span> +food to eat, and tried by every means in her power to +get her out of the way, in order that the child might not +rival her own daughter. When she heard of the errand +on which the messengers had come, she sent for them +when the Fakeer was out, and said to them, “Give me +the bag of gold mohurs, and you shall take my little +daughter to marry the Muchie Rajah.” (“For,” she +thought to herself, “the great fish will certainly eat the +girl, and she will thus trouble us no more.”) Then, +turning to her step-daughter, she said, “Go down to +the river and wash your saree, that you may be fit to +go with these people, who will take you to the Ranee’s +court.” At these words the poor girl went down to +the river very sorrowful, for she saw no hope of escape, +as her father was from home. As she knelt by the +river-side, washing her saree and crying bitterly, some +of her tears fell into the hole of an old Seven-headed +Cobra, who lived on the river-bank. This Cobra was +a very wise animal, and seeing the maiden, he put his +head out of his hole, and said to her, “Little girl, why +do you cry?” “Oh, sir,” she answered, “I am very +unhappy, for my father is from home, and my step-mother +has sold me to the Ranee’s people to be the +wife of the Muchie Rajah, that great fish, and I know +he will eat me up.” “Do not be afraid, my daughter,” +said the Cobra; “but take with you these three stones +and tie them up in the corner of your saree;” and so +saying, he gave her three little round pebbles. “The +Muchie Rajah, whose wife you are to be, is not really +a fish, but a Rajah who has been enchanted. Your +home will be a little room which the Ranee has had +built in the tank wall. When you are taken there, wait +and be sure you don’t go to sleep, or the Muchie Rajah +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>261]</a></span> +will certainly come and eat you up. But as you hear +him coming rushing through the water, be prepared, and +as soon as you see him throw this first stone at him; +he will then sink to the bottom of the tank. The +second time he comes, throw the second stone, when +the same thing will happen. The third time he comes, +throw this third stone, and he will immediately resume +his human shape.” So saying, the old Cobra dived +down again into his hole. The Fakeer’s daughter took +the stones and determined to do as the Cobra had told +her, though she hardly believed it would have the +desired effect.</p> + +<p>When she reached the palace the Ranee spoke kindly +to her, and said to the messengers, “You have done +your errand well; this is a dear little girl.” Then she +ordered that she should be let down the side of the tank +in a basket to a little room which had been prepared +for her. When the Fakeer’s daughter got there, she +thought she had never seen such a pretty place in her +life (for the Ranee had caused the little room to be very +nicely decorated for the wife of her favorite); and she +would have felt very happy away from her cruel step-mother +and all the hard work she had been made to do, +had it not been for the dark water that lay black and +unfathomable below the door, and the fear of the terrible +Muchie Rajah.</p> + +<p>After waiting some time she heard a rushing sound, +and little waves came dashing against the threshold; +faster they came and faster, and the noise got louder +and louder, until she saw a great fish’s head above the +water—Muchie Rajah was coming toward her open-mouthed. +The Fakeer’s daughter seized one of the +stones that the Cobra had given her and threw it at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>262]</a></span> +him, and down he sank to the bottom of the tank; a +second time he rose and came toward her, and she +threw the second stone at him, and he again sank +down; a third time he came more fiercely than before, +when, seizing a third stone, she threw it with all her +force. No sooner did it touch him than the spell was +broken, and there, instead of a fish, stood a handsome +young Prince. The poor little Fakeer’s daughter was +so startled that she began to cry. But the Prince said +to her, “Pretty maiden, do not be frightened. You +have rescued me from a horrible thraldom, and I can +never thank you enough; but if you will be the Muchie +Ranee, we will be married to morrow.” Then he sat +down on the door-step, thinking over his strange fate +and watching for the dawn.</p> + +<p>Next morning early several inquisitive people came +to see if the Muchie Rajah had eaten up his poor little +wife, as they feared he would; what was their astonishment, +on looking over the tank wall, to see, not the +Muchie Rajah, but a magnificent Prince! The news +soon spread to the palace. Down came the Rajah, +down came the Ranee, down came all their attendants +and dragged Muchie Rajah and the Fakeer’s daughter +up the side of the tank in a basket; and when they +heard their story there were great and unparalleled +rejoicings. The Ranee said, “So I have indeed found +a son at last!” And the people were so delighted, so +happy and so proud of the new Prince and Princess +that they covered all their path with damask from the +tank to the palace, and cried to their fellows, “Come +and see our new Prince and Princess. Were ever any +so divinely beautiful? Come see a right royal couple—a +pair of mortals like the gods!” And when they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>263]</a></span> +reached the palace the Prince was married to the +Fakeer’s daughter.</p> + +<p>There they lived very happily for some time. The +Muchie Ranee’s step-mother, hearing what had happened, +came often to see her step-daughter, and pretended +to be delighted at her good fortune; and the Ranee +was so good that she quite forgave all her step-mother’s +former cruelty, and always received her very kindly. +At last, one day, the Muchie Ranee said to her husband, +“It is a weary while since I saw my father. If you +will give me leave, I should much like to visit my native +village and see him again.” “Very well,” he replied, +“you may go. But do not stay away long; for there +can be no happiness for me till you return.” So she +went, and her father was delighted to see her; but her +step-mother, though she pretended to be very kind, was, +in reality, only glad to think she had got the Ranee into +her power, and determined, if possible, never to allow +her to return to the palace again. One day, therefore, +she said to her own daughter, “It is hard that your +step-sister should have become Ranee of all the land +instead of being eaten up by the great fish, while we +gained no more than a lac of gold mohurs. Do now +as I bid you, that you may become Ranee in her stead.” +She then went on to instruct her how that she must +invite the Ranee down to the river-bank, and there beg +her to let her try on her jewels, and whilst putting them +on give her a push and drown her in the river.</p> + +<p>The girl consented, and standing by the river-bank, +said to her step-sister, “Sister, may I try on your jewels?—how +pretty they are!” “Yes,” said the Ranee, “and +we shall be able to see in the river how they look.” So, +undoing her necklaces, she clasped them round the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>264]</a></span> +other’s neck. But whilst she was doing so her step-sister +gave her a push, and she fell backward into the +water. The girl watched to see that the body did not +rise, and then, running back, said to her mother, +“Mother, here are all the jewels, and she will trouble us +no more.” But it happened that just when her step-sister +pushed the Ranee into the river her old friend the +Seven-headed Cobra chanced to be swimming across it, +and seeing the little Ranee like to be drowned, he carried +her on his back until he reached his hole, into +which he took her safely. Now this hole, in which the +Cobra and his wife and all his little ones lived, had two +entrances—the one under the water and leading to the +river, and the other above water, leading out into the +open fields. To this upper end of his hole the Cobra +took the Muchie Ranee, where he and his wife took +care of her; and there she lived with them for some time. +Meanwhile, the wicked Fakeer’s wife, having dressed +up her own daughter in all the Ranee’s jewels, took +her to the palace, and said to the Muchie Rajah, “See, +I have brought your wife, my dear daughter, back safe +and well.” The Rajah looked at her, and thought, +“This does not look like my wife.” However, the +room was dark and the girl was cleverly disguised, +and he thought he might be mistaken. Next day he +said again, “My wife must be sadly changed or this +cannot be she, for she was always bright and cheerful. +She had pretty loving ways and merry words, while +this woman never opens her lips.” Still, he did not +like to seem to mistrust his wife, and comforted himself +by saying, “Perhaps she is tired with the long journey.” +On the third day, however, he could bear the uncertainty +no longer, and tearing off her jewels, saw, not the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>265]</a></span> +face of his own little wife, but another woman. Then +he was very angry and turned her out of doors, saying, +“Begone; since you are but the wretched tool of others, +I spare your life.” But of the Fakeer’s wife he said to +his guards, “Fetch that woman here instantly; for +unless she can tell me where my wife is, I will have +her hanged.” It chanced, however, that the Fakeer’s +wife had heard of the Muchie Rajah having turned her +daughter out of doors; so, fearing his anger, she hid +herself, and was not to be found.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the Muchie Ranee, not knowing how to +get home, continued to live in the great Seven-headed +Cobra’s hole, and he and his wife and all his family +were very kind to her, and loved her as if she had been +one of them; and there her little son was born, and +she called him Muchie Lal,<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> after the Muchie Rajah, +his father. Muchie Lal was a lovely child, merry and +brave, and his playmates all day long were the young +Cobras.<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> When he was about three years old a bangle-seller +came by that way, and the Muchie Ranee +bought some bangles from him and put them on her +boy’s wrists and ankles; but by next day, in playing, +he had broken them all. Then, seeing the bangle-seller, +the Ranee called him again and bought some +more, and so on every day until the bangle-seller got +quite rich from selling so many bangles for the Muchie +Lal, for the Cobra’s hole was full of treasure, and he +gave the Muchie Ranee as much money to spend every +day as she liked. There was nothing she wished for +he did not give her, only he would not let her try to +get home to her husband, which she wished more than +all. When she asked him he would say, “No, I will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>266]</a></span> +not let you go. If your husband comes here and +fetches you, it is well; but I will not allow you to +wander in search of him through the land alone.”</p> + +<p>And so she was obliged to stay where she was.</p> + +<p>All this time the poor Muchie Rajah was hunting in +every part of the country for his wife, but he could +learn no tidings of her. For grief and sorrow at losing +her he had gone well-nigh distracted, and did nothing +but wander from place to place, crying, “She is gone! +she is gone!” Then, when he had long inquired without +avail of all the people in her native village about +her, he one day met a bangle-seller and said to him, +“Whence do you come?” The bangle-seller answered, +“I have just been selling bangles to some people who +live in a Cobra’s hole in the river-bank.” “People! +What people?” asked the Rajah. “Why,” answered +the bangle-seller, “a woman and a child: the child is +the most beautiful I ever saw. He is about three years +old, and of course, running about, is always breaking +his bangles, and his mother buys him new ones every +day.” “Do you know what the child’s name is?” said +the Rajah. “Yes,” answered the bangle-seller, carelessly, +“for the lady always calls him her Muchie Lal.” +“Ah,” thought the Muchie Rajah, “this must be my +wife.” Then he said to him again, “Good bangle-seller, +I would see these strange people of whom you +speak; cannot you take me there?” “Not to-night,” +replied the bangle-seller; “daylight has gone, and we +should only frighten them; but I shall be going there +again to-morrow, and then you may come too. Meanwhile, +come and rest at my house for the night, for you +look faint and weary.” The Rajah consented. Next +morning, however, very early, he woke the bangle-seller, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>267]</a></span> +saying, “Pray let us go now and see the people +you spoke about yesterday.” “Stay,” said the bangle-seller; +“it is much too early. I never go till after +breakfast.” So the Rajah had to wait till the bangle-seller +was ready to go. At last they started off, and +when they reached the Cobra’s hole the first thing the +Rajah saw was a fine little boy playing with the young +Cobras.</p> + +<p>As the bangle-seller came along, jingling his bangles, +a gentle voice from inside the hole called out, “Come +here, my Muchie Lal, and try on your bangles.” Then +the Muchie Rajah, kneeling down at the mouth of the +hole, said, “Oh, lady, show your beautiful face to me.” +At the sound of his voice the Ranee ran out, crying, +“Husband, husband! have you found me again.” +And she told him how her sister had tried to drown +her, and how the good Cobra had saved her life and +taken care of her and her child. Then he said, “And +will you now come home with me?” And she told +him how the Cobra would never let her go, and said, +“I will first tell him of your coming; for he has been +as a father to me.” So she called out, “Father Cobra, +father Cobra, my husband has come to fetch me; will +you let me go?” “Yes,” he said, “if your husband +has come to fetch you, you may go.” And his wife +said, “Farewell, dear lady, we are loth to lose you, +for we have loved you as a daughter.” And all the +little Cobras were very sorrowful to think that they +must lose their playfellow, the young Prince. Then +the Cobra gave the Muchie Rajah and the Muchie +Ranee and Muchie Lal all the most costly gifts he +could find in his treasure-house; and so they went +home, where they lived very happy ever after.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> +A lac of gold mohurs is equal to about $750,000.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> +Fish Queen.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> +Little Ruby Fish.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> +See <a href="#note08">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>268]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh01.jpg" width="500" height="95" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XX.<br /> +<br /> +<i>CHUNDUN RAJAH.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time, a Rajah and Ranee died, +leaving seven sons and one daughter. All these +seven sons were married, and the wives of the six eldest +used to be very unkind to their poor little sister-in-law; +but the wife of the seventh brother loved her dearly, +and always took her part against the others. She would +say, “Poor little thing! her life is sad. Her mother +wished so long for a daughter, and then the girl was +born and the mother died, and never saw her poor +child, or was able to ask any one to take care of her.” +At which the wives of the six elder brothers would answer, +“You only take such notice of the girl in order +to vex us.” Then, while their husbands were away, +they made up wicked stories against their sister-in-law, +which they told them on their return home; and their +husbands believed them rather than her, and were very +angry with her and ordered her to be turned out of the +house. But the wife of the seventh brother did not +believe what the six others said, and was very kind to +the little Princess, and sent her secretly as much food +as she could spare from her own dinner. But as they +drove her from their door, the six wives of the elder +brothers cried out, “Go away, wicked girl, go away, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>269]</a></span> +and never let us see your face again until you marry +Chundun Rajah!<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> When you invite us to the wedding, +and give us, the six eldest, six common wooden stools +to sit on, but the seventh sister (who always takes your +part) a fine emerald chair, we will believe you innocent +of all the evil deeds of which you are accused, but not till +then!” This they said scornfully, railing at her; for +Chundun Rajah, of whom they spoke (who was the +great Rajah of a neighboring country), had been dead +many months.</p> + +<p>So, sad at heart, the Princess wandered forth into the +jungle; and when she had gone through it, she came +upon another, still denser than the first. The trees +grew so thickly overhead that she could scarcely see +the sky, and there was no village or house of living +creature near. The food her youngest sister-in-law had +given her was nearly exhausted, and she did not know +where to get more. At last, however, after journeying +on for many days, she came upon a large tank, beside +which was a fine house that belonged to a Rakshas. +Being very tired, she sat down on the edge of the tank +to eat some of the parched rice that remained of her +store of provisions; and as she did so she thought, +“This house belongs doubtless to a Rakshas, who perhaps +will see me and kill and eat me; but since no one +cares for me, and I have neither home nor friends, I +hold life cheap enough.” It happened, however, that +the Rakshas was then out, and there was no one in his +house but a little cat and dog, who were his servants.</p> + +<p>The dog’s duty was to take care of the saffron with +which the Rakshas colored his face on highdays and +holidays, and the cat had charge of the antimony with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>270]</a></span> +which he blackened his eyelids. Before the Princess +had been long by the tank, the little cat spied her out, +and running to her, said, “Oh, sister, sister, I am so +hungry, pray give me some of your dinner.” The +Princess answered, “I have very little rice left; when +it is all gone I shall starve. If I give you some, what +have you to give me in exchange?” The cat said, “I +have charge of the antimony with which my Rakshas +blackens his eyelids—I will give you some of it;” and +running to the house she fetched a nice little potful of +antimony, which she gave to the Princess in exchange +for the rice. When the little dog saw this, he also ran +down to the tank, and said, “Lady, lady, give me some +rice, I pray you, for I, too, am very hungry.” But she +answered, “I have very little rice left, and when it is +all gone I shall starve. If I give you some of my dinner, +what will you give me in exchange?” The dog +said, “I have charge of my Rakshas’ saffron, with +which he colors his face. I will give you some of it.” +So he ran to the house and fetched a quantity of saffron +and gave it to the Princess, and she gave him also some +of the rice. Then, tying the antimony and saffron up +in her saree, she said good-bye to the dog and cat and +went on her way.</p> + +<p>Three or four days after this, she found she had +nearly reached the other side of the jungle. The wood +was not so thick, and in the distance she saw a large +building that looked like a great tomb. The Princess +determined to go and see what it was, and whether she +could find any one there to give her any food, for she +had eaten all the rice and felt very hungry, and it was +getting toward night.</p> + +<p>Now the place toward which the Princess went was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>271]</a></span> +the tomb of the Chundun Rajah, but this she did not +know.</p> + +<p>Chundun Rajah had died many months before, and +his father and mother and sisters, who loved him very +dearly, could not bear the idea of his being buried +under the cold ground; so they had built a beautiful +tomb, and inside it they had placed the body on a bed +under a canopy, and it had never decayed, but continued +as fair and perfect as when first put there. +Every day Chundun Rajah’s mother and sister would +come to the place to weep and lament from sunrise to +sunset, but each evening they returned to their own +homes. Hard by was a shrine and small hut where a +Brahmin lived, who had charge of the place; and from +far and near people used to come to visit the tomb of +their lost Rajah and see the great miracle, how the +body of him who had been dead so many months +remained perfect and undecayed; but none knew why +this was. When the Princess got near the place a +violent storm came on. The rain beat upon her and +wetted her, and it grew so dark she could hardly see +where she was going. She would have been afraid to +go into the tomb had she known about Chundun +Rajah; but as it was, the storm being so violent and +night approaching, she ran in there for shelter as fast +as she could, and sat down shivering in one corner. By +the light of an oil lamp that burnt dimly in a niche in +the wall, she saw in front of her the body of the Rajah +lying under the canopy, with the heavy jeweled coverlid +over him and the rich hangings all round. He +looked as if he were only asleep, and she did not feel +frightened. But at twelve o’clock, to her great surprise, +as she was watching and waiting, the Rajah +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>272]</a></span> +came to life; and when he saw her sitting shivering in +the corner, he fetched a light and came toward her and +said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am a poor +lonely girl. I only came here for shelter from the storm. +I am dying of cold and hunger.” And then she told +him all her story—how that her sisters-in-law had +falsely accused her, and driven her from among them +into the jungle, bidding her see their faces no more +until she married the Chundun Rajah, who had been +dead so many months; and how the youngest had been +kind to her and sent her food, which had prevented +her from starving by the way.</p> + +<p>The Rajah listened to the Princess’ words, and was +certain that they were true and she no common beggar +from the jungles. For, for all her ragged clothes, she +looked a royal lady, and shone like a star in the darkness. +Moreover, her eyelids were darkened with antimony +and her beautiful face painted with saffron, like +the face of a Princess. Then he felt a great pity for +her, and said, “Lady, have no fear, for I will take +care of you,” and dragging the rich coverlid off his bed +he threw it over her to keep her warm, and going to +the Brahmin’s house, which was close by, fetched some +rice, which he gave her to eat. Then he said, “I am +the Chundun Rajah, of whom you have heard. I die +every day, but every night I come to life for a little +while.” She cried, “Do none of your family know of +this? and if so, why do you stay here in a dismal +tomb?” He answered, “None know it but the Brahmin +who has charge of this place. Since my life is +thus maimed, what would it avail to tell my family? +It would but grieve them more than to think me dead. +Therefore, I have forbidden him to let them know; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>273]</a></span> +and since my parents only come here by day, they have +never found it out. Maybe I shall some time wholly +recover, and till then I will be silent about my existence.” +Then he called the Brahmin who had charge +of the tomb and the shrine (and who daily placed an +offering of food upon it for the Rajah to eat when he +came to life), and said to him, “Henceforth, place a +double quantity of food upon the shrine, and take care +of this lady. If I ever recover she shall be my Ranee.” +And having said these words he died again. Then the +Brahmin took the Princess to his little hut, and bade +his wife see that she wanted for nothing, and all the +next day she rested in that place. Very early in the +morning Chundun Rajah’s mother and sisters came to +visit the tomb, but they did not see the Princess; and +in the evening, when the sun was setting, they went +away. That night, when the Chundun Rajah came to +life, he called the Brahmin, and said to him, “Is the +Princess still here?” “Yes,” he answered; “for she +is weary with her journey, and she has no home to go +to.” The Rajah said, “Since she has neither home +nor friends, if she be willing, you shall marry me to +her, and she shall wander no further in search of +shelter.” So the Brahmin fetched his shastra<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> and +called all his family as witnesses, and married the +Rajah to the little Princess, reading prayers over them +and scattering rice and flowers upon their heads. And +there the Chundun Ranee lived for some time. She +was very happy; she wanted nothing, and the Brahmin +and his wife took as much care of her as if she had +been their daughter. Every day she would wait outside +the tomb, but at sunset she always returned to it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>274]</a></span> +and watched for her husband to come to life. One +night she said to him, “Husband, I am happier to be +your wife, and hold your hand and talk to you for two +or three hours every evening, than were I married to +some great living Rajah for a hundred years. But oh +what joy it would be if you could come wholly to life +again! Do you know what is the cause of your daily +death? and what it is that brings you to life each night +at twelve o’clock?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he said, “it is because I have lost my Chundun +Har,<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> the sacred necklace that held my soul. A +Peri stole it. I was in the palace garden one day, +when many of those winged ladies flew over my head, +and one of them, when she saw me, loved me and +asked me to marry her. But I said no, I would not; +and at that she was angry, and tore the Chundun Har +off my neck and flew away with it. That instant I fell +down dead, and my father and mother caused me to +be placed in this tomb; but every night the Peri comes +here and takes my necklace off her neck, and when she +takes it off I come to life again, and she asks me to +come away with her and marry her, and she does not +put on the necklace again for two or three hours, waiting +to see if I will consent. During that time I live. +But when she finds I will not, she puts on the necklace +again and flies away, and as soon as she puts it on, I +die.”<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a></p> + +<p>“Cannot the Peri be caught?” asked the Chundun +Ranee. Her husband answered, “No, I have +often tried to seize back my necklace, for if I could regain +it I should come wholly to life again; but the +Peri can at will render herself invisible and fly away +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>275]</a></span> +with it, so that it is impossible for any mortal man to +get it.” At this news the Chundun Ranee was sad at +heart, for she saw no hope of the Rajah’s being restored +to life; and grieving over this she became so ill and +unhappy that even when she had a little baby boy +born, it did not much cheer her, for she did nothing +but think, “This poor child will grow up in this desolate +place, and have no kind father day by day to teach +him and help him as other children have, but only see +him for a little while by night; and we are all at the +mercy of the Peri, who may any day fly quite away +with the necklace and not return.” The Brahmin, +seeing how ill she was, said to the Chundun Rajah, +“The Ranee will die unless she can be somewhere +where much care will be taken of her, for in my poor +home my wife and I can do but little for her comfort. +Your mother and sister are good and charitable; let +her go to the palace, where they will only need to see +she is ill to take care of her.” Now it happened that +in the palace courtyard there was a great slab of white +marble, on which the Chundun Rajah would often +rest on the hot summer days; and because he used to +be so fond of it, when he died his father and mother +ordered that it should be taken great care of, and no +one was allowed to so much as touch it. Knowing +this, Chundun Rajah said to his wife, “You are ill; I +should like you to go to the palace, where my mother +and sisters will take the greatest care of you. Do this, +therefore: take our child and sit down with him upon +the great slab of marble in the palace courtyard. I +used to be very fond of it; and so now for my sake it +is kept with the greatest care, and no one is allowed +to so much as touch it. They will most likely see you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>276]</a></span> +there and order you to go away; but if you then tell +them you are ill, they will, I know, have pity on you +and befriend you.” The Chundun Ranee did as her +husband told her, placing her little boy on the great +slab of white marble in the palace courtyard and sitting +down herself beside him. Chundun Rajah’s sister, +who was looking out of the window, saw her and cried, +“Mother, there are a woman and her child resting on +my brother’s marble slab; let us tell them to go away.” +So she ran down to the place, but when she saw Chundun +Ranee and the little boy she was quite astonished, +the Chundun Ranee was so fair and lovable-looking, +and the baby was the image of her dead brother. Then +returning to her mother, she said, “Mother, she who +sits upon the marble stone is the prettiest little lady I +ever saw; and do not let us blame the poor thing; she +says she is ill and weary, and the baby (I know not if +it is fancy, or the seeing him on that stone) seems to +me the image of my lost brother.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 436px;"> +<img src="images/odd03.jpg" width="436" height="600" +alt="Chundun Ranee and her son sit on the stone slab" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">CHUNDUN RANEE.—p. <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</p> + +<p>At this the old Ranee and the rest of the family went +out, and when they saw the Chundun Ranee, they all +took such a fancy to her and to the child that they +brought her into the palace, and were very kind to her, +and took great care of her; so that in a while she got +well and strong again, and much less unhappy; and +they all made a great pet of the little boy, for they were +struck with his strange likeness to the dead Rajah; and +after a time they gave his mother a small house to live +in, close to the palace, where they often used to go and +visit her. There also the Chundun Rajah would go +each night when he came to life, to laugh and talk with +his wife and play with his boy, although he still refused +to tell his father and mother of his existence. One day +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>277]</a></span> +it happened, however, that the little child told one of +the Princesses (Chundun Rajah’s sister) how every evening +some one who came to the house used to laugh and +talk with his mother and play with him, and then go +away. The Princess also heard the sound of voices in +Chundun Ranee’s house, and saw lights flickering about +there when they were supposed to be fast asleep. Of +this she told her mother, saying, “Let us go down to-morrow +night and see what this means; perhaps the +woman we thought so poor and befriended thus is +nothing but a cheat, and entertains all her friends every +night at our expense.”</p> + +<p>So the next evening they went down softly, softly to +the place, when they saw, not the strangers they had +expected, but their long-lost Chundun Rajah. Then, +since he could not escape, he told them all—how that +every night for an hour or two he came to life, but was +dead all day. And they rejoiced greatly to see him +again, and reproached him for not letting them know +he ever lived, though for so short a time. He then told +them how he had married the Chundun Ranee, and +thanked them for all their loving care of her.</p> + +<p>After this he used to come every night and sit and +talk with them; but still each day, to their great sorrow, +he died; nor could they divine any means for getting +back his Chundun Har, which the Peri wore round her +neck.</p> + +<p>At last one evening, when they were all laughing +and chatting together, seven Peris flew into the room +unobserved by them, and one of the seven was the very +Peri who had stolen Chundun Rajah’s necklace, and +she held it in her hand.</p> + +<p>All the young Peris were very fond of the Chundun +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>278]</a></span> +Rajah and Chundun Ranee’s boy, and used often to +come and play with him, for he was the image of his +father’s and mother’s loveliness, and as fair as the morning; +and he used to laugh and clap his little hands +when he saw them coming; for though men and women +cannot see Peris, little children can.</p> + +<p>Chundun Rajah was tossing the child up in the air +when the Peris flew into the room, and the little boy +was laughing merrily. The winged ladies fluttered +round the Rajah and the child, and she that had the +necklace hovered over his head. Then the boy, seeing +the glittering necklace which the Peri held, stretched +out his little arms and caught hold of it, and as he seized +it the string broke, and all the beads fell upon the floor. +At this the seven Peris were frightened and flew away, +and the Chundun Ranee, collecting the beads, strung +them and hung them round the Rajah’s neck; and there +was great joy amongst those that loved him, because he +had recovered the sacred necklace, and that the spell +which doomed him to death was broken.</p> + +<p>The glad news was soon known throughout the kingdom, +and all the people were happy and proud to hear +it, crying, “We have lost our young Rajah for such a +long, long time, and now one little child has brought +him back to life.” And the old Rajah and Ranee +(Chundun Rajah’s father and mother) determined that +he should be married again to the Chundun Ranee with +great pomp and splendor, and they sent letters into all +the kingdoms of the world, saying, “Our son the Chundun +Rajah has come to life again, and we pray you +come to his wedding.”</p> + +<p>Then, among those who accepted the invitation, were +the Chundun Ranee’s seven brothers and their seven +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>279]</a></span> +wives; and for her six sisters-in-law, who had been so +cruel to her and caused her to be driven out into the +jungle, the Chundun Ranee prepared six common +wooden stools; but for the seventh, who had been kind +to her, she made ready an emerald throne and a foot-stool +adorned with emeralds.</p> + +<p>When all the Ranees were taken to their places, the +six eldest complained, saying, “How is this? Six of +us are given only common wooden stools to sit upon, +but the seventh has an emerald chair?” Then the Chundun +Ranee stood up, and before the assembled guests +told them her story, reminding her six elder sisters-in-law +of their former taunts, and how they had forbidden +her to see them again until the day of her marriage +with the Chundun Rajah, and she explained how unjustly +they had accused her to her brothers. When the +Ranees heard this they were struck dumb with fear and +shame, and were unable to answer a word; and all +their husbands, being much enraged to learn how they +had conspired to kill their sister-in-law, commanded +that these wicked woman should be instantly hanged, +which was accordingly done. Then, on the same day +that the Chundun Rajah remarried their sister, the six +elder brothers were married to six beautiful ladies of +the court amid great and unheard-of rejoicings, and +from that day they all lived together in perfect peace +and harmony until their lives’ end.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> +King Sandlewood.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> +Sacred books.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> +Sandlewood necklace.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> +See <a href="#note09">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 260px;"> +<img src="images/oddt14.jpg" width="260" height="57" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>280]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh10.jpg" width="500" height="79" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XXI.<br /> +<br /> +<i>SODEWA BAI.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there lived a Rajah and Ranee, +who had only one daughter, and she was the +most beautiful Princess in the world. Her face was as +fair and delicate as the clear moonlight, and they called +her Sodewa Bai.<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> At her birth her father and mother +had sent for all the wise men in the kingdom to tell her +fortune, and they predicted that she would grow up +richer and more fortunate than any other lady; and so +it was, for from her earliest youth she was good and +lovely, and whenever she opened her lips to speak +pearls and precious stones fell upon the ground, and as +she walked along they would scatter on either side of +her path, insomuch that her father soon became the +richest Rajah in all that country, for his daughter could +not go across the room without shaking down jewels +worth a dowry. Moreover, Sodewa Bai was born +with a golden necklace about her neck, concerning +which also her parents consulted astrologers, who said, +“This is no common child; the necklace of gold about +her neck contains your daughter’s soul: let it therefore +be guarded with the utmost care, for if it were taken +off and worn by another person she would die.” So +the Ranee, her mother, caused it to be firmly fastened +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>281]</a></span> +round the child’s neck, and as soon as she was old +enough to understand, instructed her concerning its +value, and bade her on no account ever to allow it to +be taken off.</p> + +<p>At the time my story begins this Princess was fourteen +years old, but she was not married, for her father +and mother had promised that she should not do so +until it pleased herself; and although many great +rajahs and nobles sought her hand, she constantly +refused them all.</p> + +<p>Now Sodewa Bai’s father, on one of her birth-days, +gave her a lovely pair of slippers made of gold and +jewels. Each slipper was worth a hundred thousand +gold mohurs. There were none like them in all the +earth. Sodewa Bai prized these slippers very much, +and always wore them when she went out walking, to +protect her tender feet from the stones; but one day, as +she was wandering with her ladies upon the side of the +mountain on which the palace was built, playing and +picking the wild flowers, her foot slipped and one of the +golden slippers fell down, down, down the steep hill-slope, +over rocks and stones, into the jungle below. +Sodewa Bai sent attendants to search for it, and the +Rajah caused criers to go throughout the town and +proclaim that whoever discovered the Princess’ slipper +should receive a great reward; but though it was +hunted for far and near, high and low, it could not be +found.</p> + +<p>It chanced, however, that not very long after this a +young Prince, the eldest son of a Rajah who lived in +the plains, was out hunting, and in the jungle he picked +up the very little golden slipper which Sodewa Bai had +lost, and which had tumbled all the way from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>282]</a></span> +mountain-side into the depths of the forest. He took +it home with him, and showed it to his mother, saying, +“What a fairy foot must have worn this tiny slipper!” +“Ah, my boy,” she said, “this must have belonged to +a lovely Princess, in truth (if she is but as beautiful as +her slipper); would that you could find such a one to +be your wife!” Then they sent into all the towns +of the kingdom to inquire for the owner of the lost +slipper, but she could not be found. At last, when +many months had gone by, it happened that news was +brought by travelers to the Rajah’s capital, of how, in +a far distant land, very high among the mountains, +there lived a beautiful Princess who had lost her slipper, +and whose father had offered a great reward to +whoever should restore it; and from the description +they gave all were assured it was the one that the +Prince had found.</p> + +<p>Then his mother said to him, “My son, it is certain +that the slipper you found belongs to none other than +the great Mountain Rajah’s daughter; therefore take it +to his palace, and when he offers you the promised +reward, say that you wish for neither silver nor gold, +but ask him to give you his daughter in marriage. +Thus you may gain her for your wife.”</p> + +<p>The Prince did as his mother advised; and when, +after a long, long journey, he reached the court of +Sodewa Bai’s father, he presented the slipper to him, +saying, “I have found your daughter’s slipper, and for +restoring it I claim a great reward.” “What will you +have?” said the Rajah. “Shall I pay you in horses? or +in silver? or in gold?” “No,” answered the Prince, “I +will have none of these things. I am the son of a +Rajah who lives in the plains, and I found this slipper +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>283]</a></span> +in the jungle where I was hunting, and have traveled +for many weary days to bring it you; but the only payment +I care for is the hand of your beautiful daughter; +if it pleases you, let me become your son-in-law.” The +Rajah replied, “This only I cannot promise you; for +I have vowed I will not oblige my daughter to marry +against her will. This matter depends upon her alone. +If she is willing to be your wife, I also am willing; +but it rests with her free choice.” Now it happened that +Sodewa Bai had from her window seen the Prince +coming up to the palace gate, and when she heard his +errand, she said to her father, “I saw that Prince, and +I am willing to marry him.” So they were married +with great pomp and splendor. When all the other +Rajah’s, Sodewa Bai’s suitors, heard of this, they were, +however much astonished as well as vexed, and said, +“What can have made Sodewa Bai take a fancy to that +young Prince? He is not so wonderfully handsome, +and he is very poor. This is a most foolish marriage.” +But they all came to it, and were entertained at the +palace, where the wedding festivities lasted many days. +After Sodewa Bai and her husband had lived there +for some little time, he one day said to his father-in-law, +“I have a great desire to see my own people again and +to return to my own country. Let me take my wife +home with me.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah said, “Very well. I am willing that +you should go. Take care of your wife; guard her as +the apple of your eye; and be sure you never permit +the golden necklace to be taken from her neck and +given to any one else, for in that case she would die.” +The Prince promised, and he returned with Sodewa +Bai to his father’s kingdom. At their departure the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>284]</a></span> +Rajah of the Mountain gave them many elephants, +horses, camels and attendants, besides jewels innumerable +and much money, and many rich hangings, +robes and carpets. The old Rajah and Ranee of the +Plain were delighted to welcome home their son and +his beautiful bride; and there they might all have lived +their lives long in uninterrupted peace and happiness, +had it not been for one unfortunate circumstance. +Rowjee (for that was the Prince’s name) had another +wife, to whom he had been married when a child, long +before he had found Sodewa Bai’s golden slipper; she +therefore was the first Ranee, though Sodewa Bai was +the one he loved the best (for the first Ranee was of a +sullen, morose and jealous disposition.) His father +also, and his mother, preferred Sodewa Bai to their +other daughter-in-law. The first Ranee could not bear +to think of any one being Ranee beside herself; and +more especially of another not only in the same position, +but better loved by all around than she; and +therefore in her wicked heart she hated Sodewa Bai +and longed for her destruction, though outwardly she +pretended to be very fond of her. The old Rajah and +Ranee, knowing of the first Ranee’s jealous and envious +disposition, never liked Sodewa Bai to be much +with her; but as they had only a vague fear, and no +certain ground for alarm, they could do no more than +watch both carefully; and Sodewa Bai, who was +guileless and unsuspicious, would remonstrate with +them when they warned her not to be so intimate with +Rowjee Rajah’s other wife, saying, “I have no fear. +I think she loves me as I love her. Why should we +disagree? Are we not sisters?” One day, Rowjee +Rajah was obliged to go on a journey to a distant part +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>285]</a></span> +of his father’s kingdom, and, being unable to take +Sodewa Bai with him, he left her in his parents’ charge, +promising to return soon, and begging them to watch +over her, and to go every morning and see that she was +well; which they agreed to do.</p> + +<p>A little while after their husband had gone, the first +Ranee went to Sodewa Bai’s room and said to her, +“It is lonely for us both, now Rowjee is away; but +you must come often to see me, and I will come often +to see you and talk to you, and so we will amuse ourselves +as well as we can.” To this Sodewa Bai agreed, +and to amuse the first Ranee she took out all her jewels +and pretty things to show her. As they were looking +over them, the first Ranee said, “I notice you always +wear that row of golden beads round your neck. Why +do you? Have you any reason for always wearing the +same ones?” “Oh, yes,” answered Sodewa Bai, +thoughtlessly. “I was born with these beads round +my neck, and the wise men told my father and mother +that they contain my soul, and that if any one else wore +them I should die. Therefore I always wear them. I +have never once taken them off.” When the first +Ranee heard this news she was very much pleased; +yet she feared to steal the beads herself, both because +she was afraid she might be found out, and because she +did not like with her own hands to commit the crime. +So, returning to her house, she called her most confidential +servant, a negress, whom she knew to be +trustworthy, and said to her, “Go this evening to +Sodewa Bai’s room when she is asleep, and take from +her neck the string of golden beads, and fasten them +round your own neck, and return to me. Those beads +contain her soul, and as soon as you put them on she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>286]</a></span> +will cease to live.” The negress agreed to do as she +was told; for she had long known that her mistress +hated Sodewa Bai and desired nothing so much as her +death. So that night, going softly into the sleeping +Ranee’s room, she stole the golden necklace, and fastening +it round her own neck, crept away without any +one knowing what was done; and when the negress +put on the necklace, Sodewa Bai’s spirit fled.</p> + +<p>Next morning the old Rajah and Ranee went as +usual to see their daughter-in-law, and knocked at the +door of her room. No one answered. They knocked +again and again; still no reply. They then went in, +and found her lying there, cold as marble and quite +dead, though she seemed very well when they had seen +her before. They asked her attendants, who slept just +outside her door, whether she had been ill that night, +or if any one had gone into her room? But they declared +they had heard no sound, and were sure no one +had been near the place. In vain the Rajah and +Ranee sent for the most learned doctors in the kingdom, +to see if there was still any spark of life remaining; +all said that the young Ranee was dead, beyond +reach of hope or help.</p> + +<p>Then the Rajah and Ranee were very much grieved, +and mourned bitterly; and because they desired that, +if possible, Rowjee Rajah should see his wife once +again, instead of burying her underground, they placed +her beneath a canopy in a beautiful tomb near a little +tank, and would go daily to visit the place and look at +her. Then did a wonder take place, such as had never +been known throughout the land before! Sodewa +Bai’s body did not decay nor the color of her face +change; and a month afterward, when her husband +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>287]</a></span> +returned home, she looked as fair and lovely as on the +night on which she died. There was a fresh color in +her cheeks and on her lips; she seemed to be only +asleep. When poor Rowjee Rajah heard of her death +he was so broken-hearted they thought he also would +die. He cursed the evil fate that had obliged him to +go away and deprive him of hearing her last words, or +bidding her farewell, if he could not save her life; and +from morning to evening he would go to her tomb, +and rend the air with his passionate lamentations, and +looking through the grating to where she lay calm and +still under the canopy, say, before he went away, “I +will take one last look at that fair face. To-morrow +Death may have set his seal upon it. Oh, loveliness, +too bright for earth! Oh, lost, lost wife!”</p> + +<p>The Rajah and Ranee feared that he would die or go +mad, and they tried to prevent his going to the tomb; +but all was of no avail; it seemed to be the only thing +he cared for in life.</p> + +<p>Now the negress who had stolen Sodewa Bai’s necklace +used to wear it all day long, but late each night, +on going to bed, she would take it off and put it by till +next morning, and whenever she took it off Sodewa +Bai’s spirit returned to her again, and she lived till day +dawned and the negress put on the necklace, when she +again died. But as the tomb was far from any houses, +and the old Rajah and Ranee and Rowjee Rajah only +went there by day, nobody found this out. When +Sodewa Bai first came to life in this way, she felt very +much frightened to find herself there all alone in the +dark, and thought she was in prison; but afterward +she got more accustomed to it, and determined when +morning came to look about the place and find her way +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>288]</a></span> +back to the palace, and recover the necklace she found +she had lost (for it would have been dangerous to go at +night through the jungles that surrounded the tomb, +where she could hear the wild beasts roaring all night +long); but morning never came, for whenever the +negress awoke and put on the golden beads Sodewa +Bai died. However, each night, when the Ranee came +to life, she would walk to the little tank by the tomb +and drink some of the cool water, and return; but food +she had none. Now, no pearls or precious stones fell +from her lips, because she had no one to talk to; but +each time she walked down to the tank she scattered +jewels on either side of her path; and one day, when +Rowjee Rajah went to the tomb, he noticed all these +jewels, and thinking it very strange (though he never +dreamed that his wife could come to life), determined +to watch and see whence they came. But although he +watched and waited long, he could not find out the +cause, because all day long Sodewa Bai lay still and +dead, and only came to life at night. It was just at this +time, two whole months after she had been buried, and +the night after the very day that Rowjee Rajah had +spent in watching by the tomb, that Sodewa Bai had a +little son; but directly after he was born day dawned, +and the mother died. The little lonely baby began +to cry, but no one was there to hear him; and, as it +chanced, the Rajah did not go the tomb that day, for +he thought, “All yesterday I watched by the tomb and +saw nothing; instead, therefore, of going to-day, I will +wait till the evening, and then see again if I cannot find +out how the jewels came there.”</p> + +<p>So at night he went to the place. When he got there +he heard a faint cry from inside the tomb, but what it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>289]</a></span> +was he knew not; perhaps it might be a Peri or an +evil spirit. As he was wondering the door opened and +Sodewa Bai crossed the courtyard to the tank with a +child in her arms, and as she walked showers of jewels +fell on both sides of her path. Rowjee Rajah thought +he must be in a dream; but when he saw the Ranee +drink some water from the tank and return toward the +tomb, he sprang up and hurried after her. Sodewa +Bai, hearing footsteps follow her, was frightened, and +running into the tomb, fastened the door. Then the +Rajah knocked at it, saying, “Let me in; let me in.” +She answered, “Who are you? Are you a Rakshas or +a spirit?” (For she thought, “Perhaps this is some +cruel creature who will kill me and the child.”) “No, +no,” cried the Rajah, “I am no Rakshas, but your +husband. Let me in, Sodewa Bai, if you are indeed +alive.” No sooner did he name her name than Sodewa +Bai knew his voice, and unbolted the door and let him +in. Then, when he saw her sitting on the tomb with +the baby on her lap, he fell down on his knees before +her, saying, “Tell me, little wife, that this is not a +dream.” “No,” she answered, “I am indeed alive, +and this our child was born last night; but every day I +die, for while you were away some one stole my golden +necklace.”</p> + +<p>Then for the first time Rowjee Rajah noticed that +the beads were no longer round her neck. So he bade +her fear nothing, for that he would assuredly recover +them and return; and going back to the palace, which +he reached in the early morning, he summoned before +him the whole household.</p> + +<p>Then, upon the neck of the negress, servant to the +first Ranee, he saw Sodewa Bai’s missing necklace, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>290]</a></span> +seizing it, ordered the guards to take the woman to +prison. The negress, frightened, confessed all she had +done by order of the first Ranee, and how, at her command, +she had stolen the necklace. And when the +Rajah learnt this he ordered that the first Ranee also +should be imprisoned for life, and he and his father +and mother all went together to the tomb, and placing +the lost beads round Sodewa Bai’s neck, brought her +and the child back in triumph with them to the palace. +Then, at news of how the young Ranee had been restored +to life, there was great joy throughout all that +country, and many days were spent in rejoicings in +honor of that happy event; and for the rest of their +lives the old Rajah and Ranee, and Rowjee Rajah and +Sodewa Bai, and all the family, lived in health and +happiness.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> +The Lady Good Fortune.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 160px;"> +<img src="images/oddt15.jpg" width="160" height="131" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>291]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh06.jpg" width="500" height="90" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XXII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>CHANDRA’S VENGEANCE.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a Sowkar’s<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> wife who had no +children; one day she went crying to her husband +and saying, “What an unhappy woman I am to have +no children! If I had any children to amuse me I +should be quite happy.” He answered, “Why should +you be miserable on that account; though you have no +children, your sister has eight or nine; why not adopt +one of hers?” The Sowkar’s wife agreed, and, adopting +one of her sister’s little boys, who was only six +months old, brought him up as her own son. Some +time afterward, when the child was one day returning +from school, he and one of his schoolfellows quarreled +and began to fight, and the other boy (being much the +older and stronger of the two) gave him a great blow +on the head and knocked him down, and hurt him very +much. The boy ran crying home, and the Sowkar’s +wife bathed his head and bandaged it up, but she did +not send and punish the boy who hurt him, for she +thought, “One can’t keep children shut up always in +the house, and they will be fighting together sometimes +and hurting themselves.” Then the child grumbled to +himself, saying, “This is only my aunt; that is why +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>292]</a></span> +she did not punish the other boy. If she had been my +mother, she would certainly have given him a great +knock on his head to punish him for knocking mine, +but because she is only my aunt, I suppose she doesn’t +care.” The Sowkar’s wife overheard him, and felt very +much grieved, saying, “This little child, whom I have +watched over from his babyhood, does not love me as +if I were his mother. It is of no use; he is not my +own, and he will never care for me as such.” So she +took him home to his own mother, saying, “Sister, I +have brought you back your child.” “How is this?” +asked her sister. “You adopted him as yours for all +his life. Why do you now bring him back?” The +Sowkar’s wife did not tell her sister what she had heard +the boy say, but she answered, “Very well; let him be +yours and mine: he shall live a while with you, and +then come and visit me; we will both take care of +him.” And returning to her husband, she told him +what she had done, saying “All my pains are useless; +you know how kind I have been to my sister’s boy, +yet, after all I have done for him, at the end of seven +years he does not love me as well as he does his mother, +whom he had scarcely seen. Now, therefore, I will +never rest until I have seen Mahdeo<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> and asked him to +grant that I may have a child of my own.”<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p>“What a foolish woman you are!” answered her +husband; “why not be content with your lot? How +do you think you will find Mahdeo? Do you know +the road to heaven?” “Nay,” she replied, “but I +will seek for it until I find it out, and if I never find it, +it cannot be helped, but I will return home no more +unless my prayer is answered.” So she left the house, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>293]</a></span> +and wandered into the jungle, and after she had traveled +through it for many, many days, and left her own +land very far behind, she came to the borders of another +country, even the Madura Tinivelly<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> country, +where a great river rolled down toward the sea. On +the river-bank sat two women—a Ranee named Coplinghee +Ranee and a Nautch woman.</p> + +<p>Now, neither the Ranee, the Nautch woman nor the +Sowkar’s wife had ever seen each other before they met +at the river-side. Then, as she sat down to rest and +drink some of the water, the Ranee turned to the Sowkar’s +wife and said to her, “Who are you, and where +are you going?” She answered, “I am a Sowkar’s wife +from a far country, and because I was very unhappy at +having no children, I am going to find Mahdeo and ask +him to grant that I may have a child of my own.”</p> + +<p>Then, in her turn, she said to the Ranee, “And +pray who are you, and where are you going?” The +Ranee answered, “I am Coplinghee Ranee, queen of +all this country, but neither money nor riches can give +me joy, for I have no children; I therefore am going to +seek Mahdeo and ask him to grant that I may have a +child.” Then Coplinghee Ranee asked the Nautch +woman the same question, saying, “And who may +you be, and where are you going?” The Nautch +woman answered, “I am a dancing woman and I also +have no children, and am going to seek Mahdeo and +pray to him for a child.” At hearing this, the Sowkar’s +wife said, “Since we are all journeying on the same +errand, why should we not go together?” To this +Coplinghee Ranee and the Dancing woman agreed, so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>294]</a></span> +they all three continued their journey together through +the jungle.</p> + +<p>On, on, on they went, every day further and further; +they never stayed to rest nor saw another human being. +Their feet ached dreadfully and their clothes wore out, +and they had nothing to live on but the jungle plants, +wild berries and seeds. So weary and worn did they +become that they looked like three poor old beggar +women. Never had they by night-time sleep nor by +day-time rest; and so, hour after hour, month after +month, year after year, they traveled on.</p> + +<p>At last one day they came to where, in the midst of +the jungle, there rolled a great river of fire. It was +the biggest river they had ever seen, and made of flames +instead of water. There was no one on this side and +no one on that—no way of getting across but by walking +through the fire.</p> + +<p>When Coplinghee Ranee and the Nautch woman +saw this, they said, “Alas! here is the end of all our +pains and trouble. All hope is over, for we can go no +farther.” But the Sowkar’s wife answered, “Shall we +be deterred by this after having come so far? Nay, +rather seek a way across the fire.” And so saying, she +stepped into the fire waves; the others, however, were +afraid, and would not go. When the Sowkar’s wife had +half crossed the river of fire, she turned, and waving her +hands toward them, said, “Come on, come on, do not be +afraid. The fire does not burn me. I go to find Mahdeo; +perhaps he is on the other side.”<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> But they still +refused, saying, “We cannot come, but we will wait +here until your return; and if you find Mahdeo, pray +for us also, that we may have children.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>295]</a></span> +So the Sowkar’s wife went on her way, and the fire-waves +lapped round her feet as if they had been water, +but they did not hurt her.</p> + +<p>When she reached the other side of the river she came +upon a great wilderness, full of wild elephants, and +bison, and lions, and tigers, and bears, that roared and +growled on every side. But she did not turn back for +fear of them, for she said to herself, “I can but die +once, and it is better that they should kill me than that +I should return without finding Mahdeo.” And all the +wild beasts allowed her to pass through the midst of +them and did her no harm.</p> + +<p>Now it came to pass that Mahdeo looked down from +heaven and saw her, and when he saw her he pitied her +greatly, for she had been twelve years wandering upon +the face of the earth to find him. Then he caused a +beautiful mango tree, beside a fair well, to spring up in +the desert to give her rest and refreshment, and he himself, +in the disguise of a Gosain Fakeer, came and stood +by the tree. But the Sowkar’s wife would not stay to +gather the fruit or drink the water; she did not so much +as notice the Fakeer, but walked straight on in her +weary search for Mahdeo. Then he called after her, +“Bai, Bai, where are you going? Come here.” She +answered, scarcely looking at him, “It matters not to +you, Fakeer, where I am going. You tell your prayer-beads +and leave me alone.” “Come here,” he cried; +“come here.” But she would not, so Mahdeo went +and stood in front of her, no longer disguised as a +Fakeer, but shining brightly, the Lord of Kylas<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> in all +his beauty, and at the sight of him the poor Sowkar’s +wife fell down on the ground and kissed his feet, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>296]</a></span> +he said to her, “Tell me, Bai, where are you going?” +She answered, “Sir, I seek Mahdeo, to pray him to +grant that I may have a child, but for twelve years I +have looked for him in vain.” He said, “Seek no +further, for I am Mahdeo; take this mango,” and he +gathered one off the tree that grew by the well, “and +eat it, and it shall come to pass that when you return +home you shall have a child.” Then she said, “Sir, +three women came seeking you, but two stayed by the +river of fire, for they were afraid; may not they also +have children?”</p> + +<p>“If you will,” he answered, “you may give them +some of your mango, and then they also will each have +a child.”</p> + +<p>So saying, he faded from her sight, and the Sowkar’s +wife returned glad and joyful, through the wilderness and +the river of fire, to where the Ranee and the Dancing +woman were waiting for her on the other side. When +they saw her, they said, “Well, Sowkar’s wife, what +news?” She answered, “I have found Mahdeo, and +he has given me this mango, of which if we eat we +shall each have a child.” And she took the mango, +and squeezing it gave the juice to the Ranee, and the +skin she gave to the Nautch woman, and the pulp and +the stone she ate herself.</p> + +<p>Then these three women returned to their own homes; +Coplinghee Ranee and the Dancing woman to the Madura +Tinivelly country, and the Sowkar’s wife to very, +very far beyond that, even the land where her husband +lived, and whence she had first started on her journey.</p> + +<p>But on their return all their friends only laughed at +them, and the Sowkar said to his wife, “I cannot see +much good in your mad twelve-years’ journey; you only +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>297]</a></span> +come back looking like a beggar, and all the world +laughs at you.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care,” she answered; “I have seen Mahdeo +and eaten of the mango, and I shall have a child.”</p> + +<p>And within a little while it came to pass that there +was born to the Sowkar and his wife a little son, and +on the very same day Coplinghee Ranee had a daughter +and the Nautch woman had a daughter.</p> + +<p>Then were they all very happy, and sent everywhere +to tell their friends the good news; and each gave, +according to her power, a great feast to the poor as a +thank-offering to Mahdeo, who had been merciful to +them. And the Sowkar’s wife called her son “Koila,”<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> +in memory of the mango stone; and the Nautch woman +called her daughter “Moulee;”<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> and the little Princess +was named Chandra Bai,<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> for she was as fair and beautiful +as the white moon.</p> + +<p>Chandra Ranee was very beautiful, the most beautiful +child in all that country, so pretty and delicately made +that everybody, when they saw her, loved her. She +was born, moreover, with, on her ankles, two of the +most costly anklets that ever were seen. They were +made of gold and very precious stones, dazzling to look +at, like the sun. No one had ever seen any like them +before. Every day, as the baby grew, these bangles +grew, and round them were little bells, which tinkled +when any one came near. Chandra’s parents were very +happy and proud, and sent for all the wise men in the +kingdom to tell her fortune. But the most learned +Brahmin of them all, when he saw her, said, “This +child must be sent out of the country at once, for if she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>298]</a></span> +stays in it she will destroy all the land with fire, and +burn it utterly.”</p> + +<p>The Rajah, at hearing these words, was very angry, +and said to the Brahmin, “I will cut off your head, for +you tell lies and not the truth.” The Brahmin answered, +“Cut off my head if you will, but it is the truth I speak, +and no lie. If you do not believe me, let a little wool +be fetched, and put it upon the child, that you may know +my words are true.”</p> + +<p>So they fetched some wool and laid it upon the baby, +and no sooner had they done so than it all blazed up +and burnt till not a bit was left, and it scorched the +hands of the attendants.</p> + +<p>Then the Brahmin said, “As this fire has burnt the +wool, so will this Princess one day, if she comes here, +burn this whole land.” And they were all very much +frightened, and the Rajah said to the Ranee, “This +being so, the child must be sent out of the country +instantly.” The poor Ranee thereat was very sad, and +she did all in her power to save her little baby, but the +Rajah would not hear of it, and commanded that the +Princess should be placed in a large box, and taken to +the borders of his land, where a great river rolled down +to the sea, and there thrown into the stream, that it +might carry her far, far away, each minute farther from +her native land.<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a> Then the Ranee caused a beautiful +golden box to be made, and put her little baby in it with +many tears (since all her efforts to save it were of no +avail), and it was taken away and thrown into the river.</p> + +<p>The box floated on, and on, and on, until at last it +reached the country where the Sowkar and the Sowkar’s +wife lived. Now it chanced that, just as the box +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>299]</a></span> +was floating by, the Sowkar, who had gone down to the +river to wash his face, caught sight of it, and seeing a +Fisherman not far off prepared to throw his net into the +water, he cried, “Run, Fisherman, run, run; do not +stop to fish, but cast your net over that glittering box and +bring it here to me.”</p> + +<p>“I will not, unless you promise me that the box +shall be mine,” said the Fisherman. “Very well,” +answered the Sowkar, “the box shall be yours, and +whatever it contains shall belong to me.”</p> + +<p>So the Fisherman cast his net in that part of the +river and dragged the box ashore.</p> + +<p>I don’t know which was most astonished—the Merchant +or the Fisherman—when they saw what a prize +they had found. For the box was composed entirely +of gold and precious stones, and within it lay the most +lovely little child that ever was seen.</p> + +<p>She seemed a little Princess, for her dress was all +made of cloth of gold, and on her feet were two +anklets that shone like the sun.</p> + +<p>When the Sowkar opened the box, she smiled; and +stretched out her little arms toward him. Then he +was pleased, and said, “Fisherman, the box is yours, +but this child must belong to me.” The Fisherman was +content that it should be so, for he had many children +of his own at home, and wanted no more, but was +glad to have the golden box; while the Sowkar, who +had only his one little son and was rich, did not care +for the box, but was well pleased to have the baby.</p> + +<p>He took her home to his wife, and said, “See, wife, +here is a pretty little daughter-in-law for us. Here is +a wife for your little son.” And when the Sowkar’s +wife saw the child looking so beautiful and smiling so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>300]</a></span> +sweetly, her heart was glad and she loved her, and +from that day took the greatest care of her, just as if +the baby girl had been her own daughter. And when +Chandra Ranee was a year old they married her to +their son, Koila.</p> + +<p>Years wore on, and the Sowkar and his wife were in +a good old age gathered to their fathers. Meantime, +Koila and Chandra had grown up the handsomest +couple in all the country: Koila tall and straight, with +a face like a young lion, and Chandra as lithe and +graceful as a palm tree, with a face calm and beautiful +like the silver moonlight.</p> + +<p>Meantime Moulee, the Nautch woman’s daughter +(and third of the mango children), had likewise grown +up in the Madura Tinivelly country, and was also very +fair—fairer than any one in all the land around. Moreover, +she danced and sang more beautifully than any +of the other Nautch girls. Her voice was clear as the +voice of a quail, and it rang through the air with +such power that the sound could be heard a twelve-days’ +journey off. The Nautch people used to travel +about from place to place, staying one day in one town +and the next in another, and so it happened that in +their wanderings they reached the borders of the land +where Koila and Chandra lived.</p> + +<p>One morning Koila heard the sound of singing in the +distance, and it pleased him so well that he determined +to try and discover who it was that possessed such an +exquisite voice. For twelve days he journeyed on +through the jungle, each day hearing the singing repeated +louder and louder, yet still without reaching the +place whence it came. At last, on the twelfth day, he +got close to the Nautch people’s encampment, not far +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>301]</a></span> +from a large town, and there saw the singer (who was +none other than Moulee), singing and dancing in the +midst of a great crowd of people who had collected +around her. In her hand she held a garland of flowers, +which she waved over her head as she danced.</p> + +<p>Koila was so charmed with the sound of her voice that +he felt spell-bound, and stood where he was, far off on +the outskirts of the jungle, listening, without going any +nearer.</p> + +<p>When the entertainment was over, all the people +crowded round Moulee, saying, “Why should you, +who have such a beautiful voice, go away and leave +our city? Marry one of us, and then you will stay here +always.” Then, the number of her suitors being so +great that she did not know whom to choose, she said, +“Very well; he on whose neck this garland falls shall +be my husband.” And waving the flowers she held +two or three times round her head, she threw them +from her with her utmost force.</p> + +<p>The impetus given to the garland was so great that +it swung through the air beyond the crowd and fell +upon the neck of Koila as he stood by the borders of +the jungle. And the people ran to see who was the +fortunate possessor, and when they saw Koila they +were astonished, for he looked more beautiful than +any of the sons of men: it was as if an immortal had +suddenly come among them. And the Nautch people +dragged him back to their camp, crying, “You have +won the garland; you must be Moulee’s husband.” +He answered, “I only came here to look on; I cannot +stay. This is not my country; I have a wife of my +own at home.” “That is nothing to us,” they said; +“it is your destiny to marry Moulee—Moulee the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>302]</a></span> +beautiful one—Moulee, whose voice you heard and who +dances so well. You must marry her, for the garland +fell on you.”</p> + +<p>Now so it was, that though Koila was very kind to +his wife, he did not love her as well as she loved him +(perhaps it was that, having been accustomed to her +from a child, Chandra’s goodness and beauty struck +him less than it did other people); and instead of thinking +how unhappy she would be if he did not return, +and going back at once, he stopped and hesitated and +debated what to do. And the Nautch people gave him +a drink that was a very powerful spell, insomuch that +he soon totally forgot about his own home, and was +married to Moulee, the Nautch girl, and lived among +the Nautch people for many months. At last, one day, +Moulee’s mother (the very Nautch woman who had +gone with Coplinghee Ranee and the Sowkar’s wife to +find Mahdeo) said to Koila, “Son-in-law, you are a +lazy fellow; you have been here now for a long time, +but you do nothing for your support; it is we who +have to pay for your food, we who have to provide your +clothes. Go now and fetch us some money, or I will +turn you out of the house, and you shall never see +your wife Moulee again.” Koila had no money to give +his mother-in-law: then, for the first time he bethought +him of his own country and of Chandra, and he said +“My first wife, who lives in my own country, has on +her feet two bangles of very great value; let me return +home and fetch one of them to sell, which will more +than pay whatever I owe you.” The Nautch people +consented. So Koila returned to his own home, and +told Chandra what he wanted the money for, and asked +her to let him have one of her bangles; but she refused, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>303]</a></span> +saying, “You have been away a long, long time, and +left me all alone, and chosen for your second wife one +of the Nautch people, and become one of them; +and now you want to take one of my bangles—the +bangles that I had when a little child, that have +grown with my growth, and never been taken off—and +to give it to your other wife. This shall not be; go +back, if you will, to your new friends, but I will not +give you my bangle.”</p> + +<p>He answered, “They gave me an enchanted drink +which made me forget you for a time, but I am weary +of them all; let me but go and pay my mother-in-law +the money I owe her for food and clothes, and I will +return and live in my own land, for you are my first +wife.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” she said, “you may take the bangle and +sell it, and give the money to your second wife’s mother, +but take me also with you when you go; do not leave +me here all alone again.” Koila agreed, and they both +set off together toward the Madura Tinivelly country.</p> + +<p>As they journeyed, Krishnaswami,<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> who was playing +at cards with his three wives, saw them, and when he +saw them he laughed. Then his wives said to him, +“Why do you laugh? You have not laughed for such +a long time: what amuses you so much now?” He +answered, “I am laughing to see Koila and his wife +Chandra Ranee journeying toward the Madura Tinivelly +country. He is going to sell his wife’s bangle, +and he will only be killed, and then she in anger will +burn up all the country. O foolish people!” The +goddesses answered, “This is a very dreadful thing; let +us go in disguise and warn him not to enter the country.” +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>304]</a></span> +“It would be useless,” said Krishnaswami; “if you do, +he will only laugh at you and get angry with you.” +But the goddesses determined to do their best to avert +the threatened calamity. So they disguised themselves +as old fortune-tellers, and went out with little lamps +and their sacred books to meet Koila as he came along +the road, followed by his wife. Then they said to him, +“Come not into the Madura Tinivelly country, for if +you come you will be killed, and your wife in her fury +will burn all the land with fire.” At first, Koila would +not listen to them; then he bade them go away; and +lastly, when they continued warning him, got angry and +beat them out of his path, saying, “Do you think I am +to be frightened out of the country by a parcel of old +crones like you?”</p> + +<p>Then Krishnaswami’s three wives returned to him, +much enraged at the treatment they had received; but +he only said to them, “Did not I tell you not to go, +warning you that it would be useless?”</p> + +<p>On getting near the Rajah’s capital, Koila and Chandra +came to the house of an old milk-seller, who was +very kind to them and gave them food and shelter for +the night. Next morning Koila said to his wife, “You +had better stay here; this good old woman will take +care of you while I go into the town to sell your bangle.” +Chandra agreed, and remained at the old woman’s house +while her husband went into the town. Of course he +did not know that the Rajah and his wife (the Coplinghee +Ranee) were Chandra’s father and mother, any +more than they, or Chandra herself, knew it, or than +the three mango children knew the story of their mothers’ +journey in search of Mahdeo.</p> + +<p>Now a short time before Koila and Chandra reached +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>305]</a></span> +the Madura Tinivelly country, Coplinghee Ranee had +sent a very handsome pair of bangles to a Jeweler in +the town to be cleaned. It chanced that in a high tree +close to the Jeweler’s house two eagles had built their +nest, and the young eagles, who were very noisy birds, +used to scream all day long and greatly disturb the +Jeweler’s family. So one day, when the old birds were +away, the Jeweler’s son climbed up the tree and pulled +down the nest, and put the young eagles to death. +When the old birds returned home and saw what was +done, it grieved them very much, and they said, “These +cruel people have killed our children; let us punish +them.” And seeing in the porch one of Coplinghee +Ranee’s beautiful bangles, which the Jeweler had just +been cleaning, they swooped down and flew away with +it.<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a></p> + +<p>The Jeweler did not know what to do: he said to his +wife, “To buy such a bangle as that would cost more +than all our fortune, and to make one like it would take +many, many years; I dare not say I have lost it, or they +would think I had stolen it and put me to death. The +only thing I can do is to delay returning the other as +long as possible, and try somehow to get one like it.” +So next day, when the Ranee sent to inquire if her +bangles were ready, he answered, “They are not ready +yet; they will be ready to-morrow.” And the next day +and the next he said the same thing. At last the Ranee’s +messengers got very angry at the continued delays; then, +seeing he could no longer make excuses, the Jeweler sent +the one bangle by them to the palace, beautifully cleaned, +with a message that the other also would shortly be +ready; but all this time he was hunting for a bangle +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>306]</a></span> +costly enough to take the Ranee as a substitute for the +one the eagles had carried away. Such a bangle, however, +he could not find.</p> + +<p>When Koila reached the town, he spread out a sheet +in the corner of a street near the market-place, and, +placing the bangle upon it, sat down close by, waiting +for customers. Now he was very, very handsome. +Although dressed so plainly, he looked like a Prince, +and the bangle he had to sell flashed in the morning +light like seven suns. Such a handsome youth and +such a beautiful bangle the people had never seen +before; and many passers-by, with chattees on their +heads, for watching him, let the chattees tumble down +and break, they were so much astonished; and several +men and women, who were looking out of the windows +of their houses, leant too far forward and fell into the +street, so giddy did they become from wonder and +amazement!</p> + +<p>But no one could be found to buy the bangle, for they +all said, “We could not afford to buy such jewels; this +bangle is fit only for a Ranee to wear.” At last, when +the day had nearly gone, who should come by but the +Jeweler who had been employed to clean Coplinghee +Ranee’s bangles, and was in search of one to replace +that which the eagles had stolen. No sooner did he +see the one belonging to Chandra, which Koila was +trying to sell, than he said to himself, “That is the very +thing I want, if I can only get it.” So he called his +wife, and said to her, “Go to that bangle-seller and +speak kindly to him; say that the day is nearly gone, +and invite him to come and lodge at our house for the +night. For if we can make friends with him and get +him to trust us, I shall be able to take the bangle from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>307]</a></span> +him and say he stole it from me. And as he is a +stranger here, every one will believe my word rather +than his. This bangle is exactly the very thing for me +to take Coplinghee Ranee, for it is very like her own, +only more beautiful.”</p> + +<p>The Jeweler’s wife did as she was told, and then the +Jeweler himself went up to Koila and said to him, +“You are a bangle-seller, and I am a bangle-seller; +therefore I look upon you as a brother. Come home, +I pray you, with us, as my wife begs you to do, and we +will give you food and shelter for the night, since you +are a stranger in this country.” So these cunning people +coaxed Koila to go home with them to their home, +and pretended to be very kind to him, and gave him +supper, and a bed to rest on for the night; but next +morning early the Jeweler raised a hue and cry and +sent for the police, and bade them take Koila before +the Rajah instantly, since he had stolen and tried to +sell one of Coplinghee Ranee’s bangles, which he (the +Jeweler) had been given to clean. It was in vain that +Koila protested his innocence, and declared that the +bangle he had belonged to his wife; he was a stranger—nobody +would believe him. They dragged him +to the palace, and the Jeweler accused him to the +Rajah, saying, “This man tried to steal the Ranee’s +bangle (which I had been given to clean) and to sell it. +If he had done so, you would have thought I had +stolen it, and killed me; I demand, therefore, that he +in punishment shall be put to death.”</p> + +<p>Then they sent for the Ranee to show her the bangle, +but as soon as she saw it she recognized it as one of the +bangles which had belonged to Chandra, and burst into +tears, crying, “This is not my bangle. Oh, my lord, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>308]</a></span> +no jeweler on earth made this bangle! See, it is different +to mine; and when any one comes near it, it tinkles +and all the little bells begin to ring. Have you +forgotten it? This was my beauty’s bangle! My diamond’s! +My little darling’s! My lost child’s! Where +did it come from? How did it come here? How into +this land, and into this town and bazaar, among these +wicked people? For this Jeweler must have kept my +bangle and brought this one in its place. No human +goldsmith’s hands made this, for it is none other than +Chandra’s.” Then she begged the Rajah to inquire +further about it.</p> + +<p>But they all thought her mad; and the Jeweler said, +“It is the Ranee’s fancy, for this is the same bangle +she gave me to clean.” The other people also agreed +that both the bangles were almost exactly alike, and +must be a pair; and it being certain that Koila had had +the bangle when he was seized by the police, the Rajah +ordered him to be instantly executed. But the Ranee +took Chandra’s bangle and locked it away in a strong +cupboard, apart from all her other jewels.</p> + +<p>Then they took Koila out into the jungle and would +have cut off his head, but he said to his guards, “If I +must die, let me die by my own hands,” and drawing +his sword he fell upon it, and as the sword was very +sharp it cut his body in two—one half fell on one side +of the sword, and the other half on the other side—and +they left his body where it fell.</p> + +<p>When the news of what had taken place came to the +town, many people who had seen Koila selling his bangle +the day before began to murmur, saying, “There +must be some injustice here—the Rajah has been over-hasty. +Most likely the poor man did not steal the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>309]</a></span> +bangle. It is not likely that he would have tried to sell +it openly before us all in the bazaar if it had been +stolen property. How cruel of the Rajah to put such +a handsome, gentle, noble-looking youth to death!—and +he was a stranger, too!” And many wept at +thought of his hard fate. When the Rajah heard of +this he was very angry, and sent and commanded that +the matter should be no further discussed in the town, +saying, “If any one speaks another word of what has +been done, or laments or sheds tears for the dead, he +shall be instantly hanged.” Then the people all felt +very frightened, and not a soul dared to speak of Koila, +though every one thought about him much.</p> + +<p>Early the very morning that this happened the old +milk-seller (at whose house, which was a little out of +the town, Chandra had been sleeping) took her guest +a bowl full of milk to drink; but no sooner had Chandra +tasted it than she began to cry, saying, “Good +mother, what have you done? my mouth is full of +blood!” “No, no, my daughter,” answered the old +woman; “you must have been dreaming some bad +dream. See, this is pure, fresh, warm milk I have +brought you; drink again.” But when Chandra tasted +it for the second time, she answered, “Oh no! oh no! +it is not milk that I taste, but blood. All last night I +had a dreadful dream, and this morning when I woke +I found that my marriage necklace had snapped in two; +and now this milk tastes to me as blood. Let me go! +let me go! for I know my husband is dead.”</p> + +<p>The old woman tried to comfort her, saying, “Why +should you fancy he is dead? he was quite well yesterday, +when he went to sell your bangle; and he said he +would come back to you soon; in a little while, very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>310]</a></span> +likely, he will be here.” But she answered, “No, no; +I feel sure that he is dead! Oh, let me go! for I must +find him before I die.” Then the old woman said, +“You must not go; you are too beautiful to run about +through the streets of this strange town alone, and +your husband would be very angry if he saw you +doing so; and who knows but that you might lose +your way, and get carried off as a slave; remember, he +told you to stay here till he returned. Be patient; remain +where you are, and I will go quickly into the +town and seek your husband. If he is alive, I will +bring him back to you, and if he is dead I will bring +you word.” So, taking a chattee full of milk on her +head, as if to sell, she went to the town to find Koila, +while every minute seemed an hour to Chandra until +her return.</p> + +<p>When the old milk-seller reached the town, she went +up and down all the streets looking for Koila, or expecting +to hear some one mention the handsome +stranger who had gone to sell such a wonderful bangle +the day before. But she could not find him, nor did +she hear him spoken of, for all were afraid to say a +word about him on account of the Rajah’s decree. +Being unable to trace him, the old woman got suspicious, +and began to search, more carefully than before, +down all the streets near the market-place, where she +thought he was most likely to have gone; but, lest +people should wonder at her errand, she called out +each time as if she had some different thing to sell. +First, “Buy some milk—who’ll buy milk—who’ll +buy?” Then, on going for a second time down the +same street, “Buy butter—butter! very fine butter!” +and so on. At last one woman, who had been watching +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>311]</a></span> +her with some curiosity, said, “Old woman, what +nonsense you talk! you have been half-a-dozen times +up and down this same street, as if you had half-a-dozen +different things to sell in that one chattee. Any +one would think you had as little sense as that pretty +young bangle-seller yesterday, who spent all the day +trying to sell a bangle, and got put to death for his +pains.”</p> + +<p>“Of whom do you speak?” asked the old woman. +“Oh,” said the other, “I suppose, as you’re a milk-seller +from the country, you know nothing about it. +But that’s not to be talked about, for the Rajah has said +that whoever speaks of him or mourns him shall be +instantly hanged. Ah! he was very handsome.”</p> + +<p>“Where is he now?” whispered the old woman. +“There,” answered the other; “you can see the place +where that crowd of people has collected. The Rajah’s +Jeweler accused him of having stolen the bangle; so +he was executed, many thought unjustly; but do not +say I said it.” And so saying, she pointed toward the +jungle some way off. The old woman ran to the +place, but when she there saw two halves of Koila’s +body lying side by side, stiff and cold, she threw her +earthen chattee down on the ground and fell on her +knees, crying bitterly. The noise attracted the attention +of the Rajah’s guards, some of whom immediately +seized her, saying, “Old woman, it is against the law +to lament that dead man or murmur at the Rajah’s decree; +you deserve to be put to death.” But she +answered quickly, “The dead man! I do not cry for +the dead man: can you not see that my chattee is +broken and all the milk spilt? Is it not enough to +make one weep?” And she began to cry again. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>312]</a></span> +“Hush! hush!” they answered; “don’t cry; come, +the chattee wasn’t worth much; it was only an earthen +thing. Stop your tears, and maybe we’ll give you a +chattee of gold.”</p> + +<p>“I neither care for your golden chattees nor for +silver,” she said, angrily. “Go away; go away! my +earthen chattee was worth them all. My grandfather’s +grandfather and my grandmother’s grandmother used +this chattee; and to think that it should now be broken +and all the milk spilt!” And picking up the broken +pieces, she went home sobbing, as if the loss of her +chattee was all her grief. But when she got to her own +house, she ran into where Chandra was, crying, “Alas! +my pretty child! alas, my daughter! your fears are +true!” and as gently as she could she told her what +had happened.</p> + +<p>No sooner did Chandra hear it than she ran away +straight to the Rajah’s palace in the midst of the town, +and rushing into the room where he was, said, “How +did you dare to kill my husband?”</p> + +<p>Now, at the sound of her voice, her bangle, which +the Ranee had locked up in the cupboard, broke +through all the intervening doors and rolled to Chandra’s +feet.</p> + +<p>The Rajah was unable to answer her a word. Then +she fell on her knees and rent her clothes and tore her +hair; and when she tore it all the land began to burn +and all her hair burned too.</p> + +<p>Then the old milk-seller, who had followed her, ran +and put a lump of butter on her head, thinking to cool +it; and two other woman, who were by, fetched water +to pour upon her hair, but by this time nineteen lines +of houses were in flames. Then the old woman cried, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>313]</a></span> +“Oh! spare the Purwari<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> lines; don’t burn them down, +for I did all I could for you.” So Chandra did not +burn that part of the town near which the old woman +and her friends lived. But the fire burnt on and on in +the other direction; and it killed the Rajah and the +Ranee and all the people in the palace, and the wicked +Jeweler and his wife; and as he was dying Chandra +tore out his heart and gave it to the eagles who hovered +overhead, saying, “Here is vengeance for the death of +your little ones.” And the Nautch girl, Moulee, and +her mother, who were watching the fire from far off, +were smothered in the flames.<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a></p> + +<p>Then Chandra went to where Koila’s dead body lay +and wept over it bitterly; and as she was weeping, +there fell down to her from heaven a needle and +thread; and she took them, saying, “Oh, that I could +by any means restore you!” and, placing the two halves +of his body side by side, she sewed them together.</p> + +<p>And when she had done this, she cried to Mahdeo, +saying, “Sire, I have done the best I can; I have +joined the body; give it life.” And as she said these +words Mahdeo had pity on her, and he sent Koila’s +spirit back and it returned to his body again. Then +Chandra was glad, and they returned and lived in their +own land.</p> + +<p>But to this day in the Madura Tinivelly country you +can trace where all the land was burnt.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> +Merchant’s.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> +The Creator.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> +See <a href="#note10">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> +Two provinces of the Madras Presidency, on the mainland +opposite Ceylon. They are famous in Hindoo mythology.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> +See <a href="#note10">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> +The Hindoo heaven.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> +He of the mango stone.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> +From the sweet mango pulp.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> +The Moon Lady.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> +See <a href="#note10">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> +The Hindoo god Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> +See <a href="#note10">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> +Or outcasts’; literally, “the extra-muralists’,” <i>i.e.</i>, the +houses of the lowest classes, not permitted to live within the +city walls.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> +See <a href="#note10">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>314]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh02.jpg" width="500" height="91" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XXIII.<br /> +<br /> +<i>HOW THE THREE CLEVER MEN OUTWITTED +THE DEMONS.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once upon a time a very rich man who +had a very beautiful wife, and this man’s chief +amusement used to be shooting with a bow and arrow, +at which he was so clever that every morning he would +shoot through one of the pearls in his wife’s nose-ring +without hurting her at all.<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> One fine day, that was a +holiday, the Pearl-shooter’s brother-in-law came to take +his sister to their father and mother’s house to pay her +own family a little visit; and when he saw her, he said, +“Why do you look so pale and thin and miserable? is +your husband unkind to you, or what is the matter?” +“No,” she answered; “my husband is very kind to me, +and I have plenty of money and jewels, and as nice a +house as I could wish; my only grief is that every +morning he amuses himself by shooting one of the +pearls from my nose-ring, and that frightens me; for I +think perhaps some day he may miss his aim and the +arrow run into my face and kill me. So I am in constant +terror of my life; yet I do not like to ask him not +to do it, because it gives him so much pleasure; but if +he left off of his own accord, I should be very glad.” +“What does he say to you himself about it?” asked +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>315]</a></span> +the brother. “Every day,” she replied, “when he has +shot the pearl, he comes to me quite happy and proud, +and says, ‘Was there ever a man as clever as I am?’ +and I answer him, ‘No, I do not think there ever was +any as clever as you.’” “Do not say so again,” said +the brother; “but next time he asks you the question, +answer, ‘Yes, there are many men in the world more +clever than you.’” The Pearl-shooter’s wife promised +to take her brother’s advice. So, next time her husband +shot the pearl from her nose-ring, and said to her, “Was +there ever a man as clever as I am?” she answered, +“Yes, there are many men in the world more clever +than you.”</p> + +<p>Then he said, “If so be that there are, I will not +rest until I have found them.” And he left her, and +went a far journey into the jungle in order to find, if +possible, a cleverer man than himself. On, on, on he +journeyed a very long way, until at last he came to a +large river, and on the river-bank sat a traveler eating +his dinner. The Pearl-shooter sat down beside +him and the two began conversing together. At last, +the Pearl-shooter said to his friend, “What is the reason +of your journey, and where are you going?” The +stranger answered, “I am a Wrestler, and the strongest +man in all this country; I can do many wonderful +things in the way of wrestling and carrying heavy +weights, and I began to think that in all this world +there was no one so clever as I; but I have lately heard +of a still more wonderful man who lives in a distant +country, and who is so clever that every morning he +shoots one of the pearls from his wife’s nose-ring without +hurting her. So I go to find him, and learn if this +is true.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>316]</a></span> +The Pearl-shooter answered, “Then you need travel +no further, for I am that man of whom you heard.” +“Why are you traveling about, then, and where are you +going?” asked the Wrestler. “I,” replied the other, +“am also traveling to see if in all the world I can find +a cleverer man than myself; therefore, as we have both +the same object in view, let us be as brothers and go +about together; perhaps there is still in the world a +better man than we.” The Wrestler agreed; so they +both started on their way together. They had not gone +very far before they came to a place where three roads +met, and there sat another man, whom neither of them +had ever seen before. He accosted the Wrestler and +the Pearl-shooter and said to them, “Who are you, +friends, and where are you going?” “We,” answered +they, “are two clever men, who are traveling through +the world to see if we can find a cleverer man than we; +but who may you be, and where are you going?” “I,” +replied the third man, “am a Pundit,<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> a man of memory, +renowned for my good head, a great thinker; and +verily I thought there was not in the world a more +wonderful man than I; but having heard of two men +in distant lands of very great cleverness, the one of +whom is a Wrestler, and the other a shooter of pearls +from his wife’s nose-ring, I go to find them and learn +if the things I heard are true.” “They are true,” said +the others; “for we, O Pundit, are the very two men +of whom you speak.”</p> + +<p>At this news the Pundit was overjoyed, and cried, +“Then let us be as brothers; since your homes are far +distant, return with me to my house, which is close by; +there you can rest a while, and each of us put our +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>317]</a></span> +various powers to the proof.” This proposal pleased +the Wrestler and the Pearl-shooter, who accompanied +the Pundit to his house.</p> + +<p>Now, in the kitchen there was an enormous cauldron +of iron, so heavy that five-and-twenty men could hardly +move it; and in the dead of night the Wrestler, to prove +his power, got up from the veranda where he was sleeping, +and as quietly as possible lifted this great cauldron +on his shoulders and carried it down to the river, where +he waded with it into the deepest part of the water, and +there buried it. After having accomplished this feat, +he returned to the Pundit’s house as quietly as he had +left it, and, rolling himself up in his blanket, fell fast +asleep. But though he had come never so softly, the +Pundit’s wife heard him, and waking her husband, she +said, “I hear footsteps as of people creeping quietly +about and not wishing to be heard, and but a little while +ago I noticed the same thing; perhaps there are thieves +in the house; let us go and see: it is strange they should +choose such a bright moonlight night.” And they both +got up quickly and walked round the house. They +found nothing, however, out of order, nor any signs of +anything having been touched or disarranged, until they +came to the kitchen. And, indeed, at first they thought +all was as they left it there, when, just as they were +going away, the Pundit’s wife cried out to him, “Why, +what has become of the great cauldron? I never +thought of looking to see if that was safe; for it did not +seem possible that it could have been moved.” And +they both looked inside the house and outside, but the +cauldron was nowhere to be seen. At last, however, +they discovered deep footprints in the sand close to the +kitchen door, as of some one who had been carrying a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>318]</a></span> +very heavy weight, and these they traced down to the +river-side.</p> + +<p>Then the Pundit said, “Some one immensely strong +has evidently done this, for here are the footprints of +one man only; and he must have buried the cauldron +in the water, for, see, there is no continuation of the +footprints on the other side. I wonder who can have +done it? Let us go and see that our two guests are +asleep; perhaps the Wrestler played us this trick to +prove his great strength.” And with his wife he went +into the veranda, where the Pearl-shooter and the +Wrestler lay rolled up in their blankets, fast asleep. +First, they looked at the Pearl-shooter; but on seeing +him the Pundit shook his head, saying, “No, he certainly +has not done this thing.” They then looked at +the Wrestler, and the cunning Pundit licked the skin +of the sleeping man, and, turning to his wife, whispered, +“This is assuredly the man who stole the cauldron and +put it in the river, for he must have been but lately up +to his neck in fresh water, since there is no taste of salt +on his skin from his foot even to his shoulders. To-morrow +I will surprise him by showing him I know +this.” And so saying, the Pundit crept back into the +house, followed by his wife.</p> + +<p>Next morning early, as soon as it was light, the +Pearl-shooter and the Wrestler were accosted by their +host, who said to them, “Let us go down to the river +and have a wash, for I cannot offer you a bath, since +the great cauldron, in which we generally bathe, has +been mysteriously carried away this very night.” +“Where can it have gone?” said the Wrestler. “Ah, +where indeed?” answered the Pundit; and he led them +down to where the cauldron had been put into the river +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>319]</a></span> +by the Wrestler the night before, and wading about in +the water until he found it, pointed it out to him, saying, +“See, friend, how far this cauldron traveled!” +The Wrestler was much surprised to find that the Pundit +knew where the cauldron was hidden, and said, +“Who can have put it there?” “I will tell you,” +answered the Pundit; “why, I think it was you!” +And then he related how his wife had heard footsteps, +and, being afraid of thieves, had awakened him the +night before, and how they had discovered that the +cauldron was missing, and traced it down to the river-side; +and then how he had found out that the Wrestler +had just before been into the water up to his neck. +The Wrestler and the Pearl-shooter were both much +astonished at the Pundit’s wisdom in having found this +out; and the Pearl-shooter said to himself, “Both +these men are certainly more clever than I.” Then +the three clever men returned to the house, and were +very happy and joyful, and amused themselves laughing +and talking all the rest of the day; and when evening +came, the Pundit said to the Wrestler, “Let us to-night +forego all meagre fare and have a royal feast; +friend Strongman, pray you go and catch the fattest of +those goats that we see upon the hills yonder, and we +will cook it for our dinner.” The Wrestler assented, +and ran on and on until he reached the flock of goats +browsing upon the hill-side. Now, just at that moment +a wicked little Demon came by that way, and on +seeing the Wrestler looking at the goats (to see which +seemed the finest to take home to dinner), he thought +to himself, “If I can make him choose me, and take +me home with him for his dinner, I shall be able to +play him and his friends some fine tricks.” So, quick +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>320]</a></span> +as thought, he changed himself into a very handsome +goat, and when the Wrestler saw this one goat, so +much taller and finer and fatter than all the rest, he ran +and caught hold of him and tucked him under his arm, +to carry him home for dinner. The goat kicked and +kicked and jumped about, and tried to butt more +fiercely than the Wrestler had ever known any mortal +goat do before, but still he held him tight and brought +him in triumph to the Pundit’s door. The Pundit +heard him coming and ran out to meet him; but when +he saw the goat, he started back quite frightened, for +the Wrestler was holding it so tight that its eyes were +almost starting out of its head, and they were fiery and +evil-looking and burning like two living coals, and the +Pundit saw at once that it was a Demon, and no goat, +that his friend held; then he thought quickly, “If I +appear to be frightened, this cruel Demon will get into +the house and devour us all; I must endeavor to intimidate +him.” So, in a bold voice, he cried, “O Wrestler! +Wrestler! foolish friend! what have you done? +We asked you to fetch a fat goat for our dinner, and +here you have only brought one wretched little Demon. +If you could not find goats, while you were about it +you might as well have brought more Demons, for we +are hungry people. My children are each accustomed +to eat one Demon a day, and my wife eats three, and I +myself eat twelve, and here you have only brought one +between us all! What are we to do?” At hearing +these reproaches, the Wrestler was so much astonished +that he dropped the Demon-goat, who, for his +part, was so frightened at the Pundit’s words, that he +came crawling along quite humbly upon his knees, +saying, “Oh, sir, do not eat me, do not eat me, and I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>321]</a></span> +will give you anything you like in the world. Only +let me go, and I will fetch you mountains of treasure, +rubies and diamonds, and gold and precious stones beyond +all count. Do not eat me; only let me go!” +“No, no,” said the Pundit; “I know what you’ll do; +you’ll just go away and never return: we are very hungry; +we do not want gold and precious stones, but we +want a good dinner; we must certainly eat you.” +The Demon thought all that the Pundit said must be +true, he spoke so fearlessly and naturally. So he only +repeated more earnestly, “Only let me go; I promise +you to return and bring you all the riches that you +could desire.”</p> + +<p>The Pundit was too wise to seem glad; but he said +sternly, “Very well, you may go; but unless you return +quickly and bring the treasure you promise, be you +in the uttermost part of the earth, we will find you +and eat you, for we are more powerful than you and +all your fellows.”</p> + +<p>The Demon, who had just experienced how much +stronger the Wrestler was than ordinary men, and then +heard from the Pundit’s own lips of his love for eating +Demons, thought himself exceedingly lucky to have +escaped their clutches so easily; and returning to his +own land, he fetched from the Demons’ storehouse a +vast amount of precious things, with which he was +flying away with all speed (in order to pay his debt +and avoid being afterward hunted and eaten), when +several of his comrades caught hold of him, and in angry +tones asked where he was carrying away so much +of their treasure. The Demon answered, “I take it +to save my life; for whilst wandering round the world +I was caught by terrible creatures, more dreadful than +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>322]</a></span> +the sons of men, and they threaten to eat me unless I +bring the treasure.”</p> + +<p>“We should like to see these dreadful creatures,” +answered they, “for we never before heard of mortals +who devoured Demons.” To which he replied, “These +are not ordinary mortals; I tell you they are the +fiercest creatures I ever saw, and would devour our +Rajah, himself, did they get the chance; one of them +said that he daily ate twelve Demons, that his wife ate +three, and each of his children one.” At hearing this +they consented to let him go for the time; but the +Demon Rajah commanded him to return with all speed +next day, that the matter might be further discussed +in solemn council.</p> + +<p>When, after three days’ absence, the Demon returned +to the Pundit’s house with the treasure, the Pundit +angrily said to him, “Why have you been so long +away? You promised to return as soon as possible.” +He answered, “All my fellow-Demons detained me, +and would hardly let me go, they were so angry at my +bringing you so much treasure; and though I told them +how great and powerful you are, they would not believe +me, but will, as soon as I return, judge me in +solemn council for serving you.” “Where is your +solemn council held?” asked the Pundit. “Oh, very +far, far away,” answered the Demon, “in the depths +of the jungle, where our Rajah daily holds his court.” +“I and my friends should like to see that place, and +your Rajah and all his court,” said the Pundit; “you +must take us with you when you go, for we have absolute +mastery over all Demons, even over their Rajah +himself, and unless you do as we command we shall be +very angry.” “Very well,” answered the Demon, for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>323]</a></span> +he felt quite frightened at the Pundit’s fierce words; +“mount on my back and I’ll take you there.” So the +Pundit, the Wrestler and the Pearl-shooter all mounted +the Demon, and he flew away with them, on, on, on, +as fast as wings could cut the air, till they reached the +great jungle where the durbar<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> was to be held, and +there he placed them all on the top of a high tree just +over the Demon Rajah’s throne. In a few minutes the +Pearl-shooter, the Wrestler and the Pundit heard a +rushing noise, and thousands and thousands of Demons +filled the place, covering the ground as far as the eye +could reach, and thronging chiefly round the Rajah’s +throne; but they did not notice the men in the tree +above them. Then the Rajah ordered that the Demon +who had taken of their treasure to give to mortals +should be brought to judgment; and when they had +dragged the culprit into the midst of them, they accused +him, and having proved him guilty, would have +punished him; but he defended himself stoutly, saying, +“Noble Rajah, those who forced me to fetch them +treasure were no ordinary mortals, but great and terrible; +they said they ate many Demons; the man ate +twelve a day, his wife ate three, and each of his children +one. He said, moreover, that he and his friends +were more powerful than us all, and ruled your +majesty as absolutely as we are ruled by you.” The +Demon Rajah answered, “Let us see these great people +of whom you speak, and we will believe you; but——” +At this moment the tree upon which the Pundit, +the Pearl-shooter and the Wrestler were, broke, +and down they all tumbled—first, the Wrestler, then +the Pearl-shooter, and lastly the Pundit—upon the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>324]</a></span> +head of the Demon Rajah as he sat in judgment. +They seemed to have come down from the sky, so suddenly +did they appear, and, being very much alarmed +at their awkward position determined to take the +aggressive. So the Wrestler kicked and hugged and +beat the Rajah with all his might and main, and the +Pearl-shooter did likewise, while the Pundit, who was +perched up a little higher than either of the others, +cried, “So be it, so be it. We will eat him first for +dinner, and afterward we will eat all the other Demons.” +The Demons hearing this, one and all flew +away from the confusion and left their Rajah to his +fate; while he cried, “Oh spare me! spare me! I see +it is all true; only let me go, and I will give you as +much treasure as you like.” “No, no,” said the Pundit; +“don’t listen to him, friends; we will eat him for dinner.” +And the Wrestler and the Pearl-shooter kicked +and beat him harder than before. Then the Demon +cried again, “Let me go! let me go!” “No, no,” +they answered; and they chastised him vigorously for +the space of an hour, until, at last, fearing they should +get tired, the Pundit said, “The treasure would be no +use to us here in the jungle; but if you brought us a +very great deal to our own house, we might give up +eating you for dinner to-day; you must, however, give +us great compensation, for we are all very hungry.” +To this the Demon Rajah gladly agreed, and, calling +together his scattered subjects, ordered them to take +the three valiant men home again and convey the +treasure to the Pundit’s house. The little Demons +obeyed his orders with much fear and trembling, but +they were very willing to do their best to get the Pundit, +the Pearl-shooter and the Wrestler out of Demon-land, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>325]</a></span> +and they, for their parts, were no less anxious to go. +When they got home, the Pundit said, “You shall not +go until the engagement is fulfilled.” Instantly Demons +without number filled the house with riches, and when +they had accomplished their task, they all flew away, +fearing greatly the terrible Pundit and his friends, who +talked of eating Demons as men would eat almonds +and raisins. So, by never showing that he was afraid, +this brave Pundit saved his family from being eaten by +these Demons, and also got a vast amount of treasure. +Then he divided it into three equal portions: a third +he gave to the Wrestler, a third he gave to the Pearl-shooter, +and a third he kept himself; after which he +sent his friends, with many kindly words, back to their +own homes. So the Pearl-shooter returned to his +house laden with gold and jewels of priceless worth; +and when he got there, he called his wife and gave +them to her, saying, “I have been a far journey and +brought back all these treasures for you, and I have +learnt that your words were true, since in the world +there are cleverer men than I; for mine is a cleverness +that profits not, and but for a Pundit and a Wrestler, I +should not have gained these riches. I will shoot +the pearl from your nose-ring no more.” And he +never did.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> +See <a href="#note11">Notes</a> at the end.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> +Wise man.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> +Council.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 260px;"> +<img src="images/oddt16.jpg" width="260" height="60" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>326]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/oddh07.jpg" width="500" height="89" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>XXIV.<br /> +<br /> +<i>THE ALLIGATOR AND THE JACKAL.</i></h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> HUNGRY JACKAL once went down to the +river-side in search of little crabs, bits of fish +and whatever else he could find for his dinner. Now +it chanced that in this river there lived a great big Alligator, +who, being also very hungry, would have been +extremely glad to eat the Jackal.</p> + +<p>The Jackal ran up and down, here and there, but for +a long time could find nothing to eat. At last, close +to where the Alligator was lying among some tall bulrushes +under the clear, shallow water, he saw a little +crab sidling along as fast as his legs could carry him. +The Jackal was so hungry that when he saw this he +poked his paw into the water to try and catch the crab, +when snap! the old Alligator caught hold of him. +“Oh dear!” thought the Jackal to himself, “what can I +do? This great big Alligator has caught my paw in his +mouth, and in another minute he will drag me down +by it under the water and kill me. My only chance is +to make him think he has made a mistake.” So he +called out in a cheerful voice, “Clever Alligator, clever +Alligator, to catch hold of a bulrush root instead of my +paw! I hope you find it very tender.” The Alligator, +who was so buried among the bulrushes that he could +hardly see, thought, on hearing this, “Dear me, how +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>327]</a></span> +tiresome! I fancied I had caught hold of the Jackal’s +paw; but there he is, calling out in a cheerful voice. +I suppose I must have seized a bulrush root instead, +as he says;” and he let the Jackal go.</p> + +<p>The Jackal ran away as fast as he could, crying, +“O wise Alligator, wise Alligator! So you let me go +again!” Then the Alligator was very much vexed, +but the Jackal had run away too far to be caught. +Next day the Jackal returned to the river-side to get his +dinner, as before; but because he was very much afraid +of the Alligator he called out, “Whenever I go to look +for my dinner, I see the nice little crabs peeping up +through the mud; then I catch them and eat them. I +wish I could see one now.”</p> + +<p>The Alligator, who was buried in the mud at the +bottom of the river, heard every word. So he popped +the little point of his snout above it, thinking, “If I do +but just show the tip of my nose, the Jackal will take +me for a crab and put in his paw to catch me, and as +soon as ever he does I’ll gobble him up.”</p> + +<p>But no sooner did the Jackal see the little tip of the +Alligator’s nose than he called out, “Aha, my friend! +there you are. No dinner for me in this part of the +river, then, I think.” And so saying he ran farther +on and fished for his dinner a long way from that +place. The Alligator was very angry at missing his +prey a second time, and determined not to let him +escape again.</p> + +<p>So on the following day, when his little tormentor +returned to the water-side, the Alligator hid himself +close to the bank, in order to catch him if he could. +Now the Jackal was rather afraid going near the river, +for he thought, “Perhaps this Alligator will catch me +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>328]</a></span> +to-day.” But yet, being hungry, he did not wish to go +without his dinner; so to make all as safe as he could, +he cried, “Where are all the little crabs gone? There +is not one here and I am so hungry; and generally, +even when they are under water, one can see them +going bubble, bubble, bubble, and all the little bubbles +go pop! pop! pop!” On hearing this the Alligator, +who was buried in the mud under the river-bank, +thought, “I will pretend to be a little crab.” And he +began to blow, “Puff, puff, puff! Bubble, bubble, bubble!” +and all the great big bubbles rushed to the +surface of the river and burst there, and the waters +eddied round and round like a whirlpool; and there +was such a commotion when the huge monster began +to blow bubbles in this way that the Jackal saw very +well who must be there, and he ran away as fast as he +could, saying, “Thank you, kind Alligator, thank you; +thank you! Indeed I would not have come here had I +known you were so close.”</p> + +<p>This enraged the Alligator extremely; it made him +quite cross to think of being so often deceived by a +little Jackal, and he said to himself, “I will be taken +in no more. Next time I will be very cunning.” So +for a long time he waited and waited for the Jackal to +return to the river-side; but the Jackal did not come, +for he had thought to himself, “If matters go on in this +way, I shall some day be caught and eaten by the +wicked old Alligator. I had better content myself +with living on wild figs,” and he went no more near +the river, but stayed in the jungles and ate wild figs, +and roots which he dug up with his paws.</p> + +<p>When the Alligator found this out, he determined to +try and catch the Jackal on land; so, going under the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>329]</a></span> +largest of wild fig trees, where the ground was covered +with the fallen fruit, he collected a quantity of it together, +and, burying himself under the great heap, +waited for the Jackal to appear. But no sooner did +the cunning little animal see this great heap of wild figs +all collected together, than he thought, “That looks +very like my friend the Alligator.” And to discover if +it was so or not, he called out, “The juicy little wild +figs I love to eat always tumble down from the tree, +and roll here and there as the wind drives them; but +this great heap of figs is quite still; these cannot be +good figs; I will not eat any of them.” “Ho, ho!” +thought the Alligator, “is that all? How suspicious +this Jackal is! I will make the figs roll about a little +then, and when he sees that he will doubtless come +and eat them.”</p> + +<p>So the great beast shook himself, and all the heap of +little figs went roll, roll, roll—some a mile this way, +some a mile that, farther than they had ever rolled before +or than the most blustering wind could have driven +them.</p> + +<p>Seeing this, the Jackal scampered away, saying, “I +am so much obliged to you, Alligator, for letting me +know you are there, for indeed I should hardly have +guessed it. You were so buried under that heap of +figs.” The Alligator, hearing this, was so angry that +he ran after the Jackal, but the latter ran very, very fast +away, too quickly to be caught.</p> + +<p>Then the Alligator said to himself, “I will not allow +that little wretch to make fun of me another time and +then run away out of reach; I will show him that I +can be more cunning than he fancies.” And early the +next morning he crawled as fast as he could to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>330]</a></span> +Jackal’s den (which was a hole in the side of a hill) +and crept into it, and hid himself, waiting for the Jackal, +who was out, to return home. But when the Jackal got +near the place, he looked about him and thought, “Dear +me! the ground looks as if some heavy creature had +been walking over it, and here are great clods of earth +knocked down from each side of the door of my den, +as if a very big animal had been trying to squeeze himself +through it. I certainly will not go inside until I +know that all is safe there.” So he called out, “Little +house, pretty house, my sweet little house, why do you +not give an answer when I call? If I come, and all is +safe and right, you always call out to me. Is anything +wrong, that you do not speak?”</p> + +<p>Then the Alligator, who was inside, thought, “If that +is the case I had better call out, that he may fancy all +is right in his house.” And in as gentle a voice as he +could, he said, “Sweet little Jackal.”</p> + +<p>At hearing these words the Jackal felt quite frightened, +and thought to himself, “So the dreadful old Alligator +is there. I must try to kill him if I can, for if I do not +he will certainly catch and kill me some day.” He +therefore answered, “Thank you, my dear little house. +I like to hear your pretty voice. I am coming in in a +minute, but first I must collect firewood to cook my +dinner.” And he ran as fast as he could, and dragged +all the dry branches and bits of stick he could find +close up to the mouth of the den. Meantime, the +Alligator inside kept as quiet as a mouse, but he could +not help laughing a little to himself, as he thought, “So +I have deceived this tiresome little Jackal at last. In a +few minutes he will run in here, and then won’t I snap +him up!” When the Jackal had gathered together all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>331]</a></span> +the sticks he could find and put them round the mouth +of his den, he set them on fire and pushed them as far +into it as possible. There was such a quantity of them +that they soon blazed up into a great fire, and the smoke +and flames filled the den and smothered the wicked old +Alligator and burnt him to death, while the little Jackal +ran up and down outside, dancing for joy and singing—</p> + +<p>“How do you like my house, my friend? Is it nice +and warm? Ding-dong! ding-dong! The Alligator +is dying! ding-dong, ding-dong! He will trouble me +no more. I have defeated my enemy! Ring-a-ting! +ding-a-ting! ding-ding-dong!”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 260px;"> +<img src="images/oddt04.jpg" width="260" height="142" alt="Decoration" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>333]</a></span></p> + +<h2>NOTES ON THE NARRATOR’S NARRATIVE.</h2> + + +<h3><a name="notea" id="notea"></a>NOTE A.</h3> + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HE battle of Kirkee was the turning-point in the last Mahratta +war, which sealed the fate of the Peishwa’s dynasty and transferred +the Deccan to British rule, and is naturally, in that part of +India, still regarded, by all whose recollections go back to those +days, as the one great event of modern history.</p> + +<p>When the collector of these tales was in India, the house temporarily +occupied by the Governor of Bombay overlooked the field of +battle, and among those who came to see the Governor on business +or pleasure were some—natives as well as Europeans—to whom the +events of half a century ago were matters of living memory.</p> + +<p>Old soldiers would tell how the fidelity of the native Sepoys resisted +all the bribes and threats of Bajee Row Peishwa, the absolute +Brahmin ruler of Poona, and thus, while the Peishwa hoped to effect +his purpose by treachery, enabled Mr. Mountstuart Elphinstone to +defer open hostilities—a matter of vital importance to the operations +of Lord Hastings on the other side of India, in preparing for his +great campaign against the Pindarees.</p> + +<p>The veterans would recount all the romantic incidents of the struggle +which followed—how the “old Toughs” (now H. M.’s 103d +Regiment), the only European corps within reach, when at last +slipped from the leash at Panwell, marched seventy-two miles +straight up over the ghauts to Poona, with only a single three-hours’ +halt en route; how they closed up their ranks of travel-soiled warriors +and entered the British lines with band playing and colors +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>334]</a></span> +flying; and how not a straggler dropped behind, “for all knew that +there must be a battle soon.” Their arrival was the signal for the +Peishwa to throw off the mask, and, as the British Residency was +untenable, the English troops moved out to take up a safer position +at Kirkee, about three miles from the city of Poona; and as they +marched they saw all the houses of the Resident and his suite fired +by the enemy, who swarmed out of the city. As they formed in line +of battle, they anxiously watched the native regiments coming up on +their flank from Dapoorie, for that was the moment for successful +treachery if the native soldiers were untrue! Not a Sepoy, however, +in the British ranks wavered, though before the junction was +complete a cloud of Mahratta cavalry poured down upon them, +dashed through the opening left between the two lines, enveloped +either flank of the little army, and attacked the European regiment +in the rear. Then, as a last resource, the European regiment faced +about their second rank, and kept up such a steady rolling fire to +front and rear at the same time that but few of the eager horsemen +ever came within spear’s length of the British bayonets.</p> + +<p>One of the most touching recollections of those times attracted our +notice almost the last day we spent at Kirkee. An old chief, Jadowrow +of Malagaom, had come to take leave of the departing Governor. +He was head of one of the oldest Mahratta families, for his ancestors +were famous as a very ancient royal house before the Mohammedans +invaded the Deccan. The old man had borne arms as a youthful +commander of horse when the great Duke was at Poona in 1802, just +before the battle of Assaye, had been greatly distinguished for his +gallantry in the battle of Kirkee, so fatal to his race, and had followed +the fortunes of the Peishwa to the last. Disdaining to make +separate terms for himself with the English conqueror, he remained +one of the few thoroughly faithful to his sovereign—not from love, +for he loved not Bajee Row, but “because he had eaten his salt”—and +only after the Peishwa’s surrender returned to his old castle near +Poona. There for many years he lived, hunting and hawking over +his diminished acres, and greatly respected as a model of a gallant +and honorable old chief; but he could never be persuaded to revisit +the capital of the Mahrattas after its occupation by the English. +“He had no child,” he said, “and his race would die with him.” +At last, as years rolled on, an only son was born to him; and then, +touched by some unexpected act of liberality on the part of the +British government which would secure his ancestral estate to this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>335]</a></span> +child of his old age, he resolved to go to Poona, and visited the +Governor, whose temporary residence happened to overlook the +battle-field of Kirkee. He gazed long and wistfully from the drawing-room +windows and said, “This place is much changed since I +was here last, fifty years ago. It was here the battle was fought, and +it was from near this very spot that we charged down that slope on +the English line as it formed beyond that brook. I never thought to +have seen this place again.”</p> + +<p>Almost every hill, fort, and every large village round Poona, has +some tradition, not only of the days of Alumgeer, Sivajee and of +early Mahratta history, but of the campaigns of Wellesley in 1802 +and of the last great struggle in 1817-18.</p> + +<p class="center link"><a href="#backnote01">Go back</a></p> + + +<h3><a name="noteb" id="noteb"></a>NOTE B.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Anna’s</span> remarks on the contrast between the present dearth and +the “good old times” of cheap bread, when the rupee went so much +further than it does now, are very characteristic. The complaint, +too, is very universal, and is to be heard in the household of public +functionaries, the highest as well as the lowest, in every grade of +native society, and more or less in all parts of India.</p> + +<p>The Narrator’s notion, that “The English fixed the rupee at sixteen +annas,” is another specimen of a very widespread Indian popular +delusion. The rupee always consisted of sixteen annas, for the anna +means only the sixteenth part of anything, but to the poor the great +matter for consideration in all questions of currency is the quantity +of small change they can get for the coin in which their wages are +paid. Formerly this used to fluctuate with the price of copper, and +the quantity of copper change which a silver rupee would fetch varied +as copper was cheap or dear, and was always greatest when the +copper currency was most debased. The English introduced all +over India a uniform currency of copper as well as of silver, and none +of course were greater gainers in the long run by this uniformity than +the very poor.</p> + +<p class="center link"><a href="#backnote02">Go back</a></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>336]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="notec" id="notec"></a>NOTE C.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">I am</span> unable, at present, to give either the native words or music +for this curious little Calicut song. The second part is probably of +Portuguese origin, or it may have been derived from the Syrian +Christians, who have been settled on that coast since the earliest +ages.</p> + +<p>The English translation of the words, as explained to me by Anna, +is as follows:</p> + + +<h4>PART I.<br /> +<br /> +THE SONG FROM THE SHIP.</h4> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be sung by one or more voices.</i>)</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="hang">1. Very far went the ship, in the dark, up and down, up and down. +There was very little sky; the sailors couldn’t see anything; +rain was coming.</p> + +<p class="hang">2. Now darkness, lightning and very little rain; but big flashes, +two yards long, that looked as if they fell into the sea.</p> + +<p class="hang">3. On the third day the captain looks out for land, shading his eyes +with his hand. There may be land. The sailors say to him, +“What do you see?” He answers, “Far off is the jungle, +and, swinging in a tree, is an old monkey, with two little +monkeys in her arms. We must be nearing land.”</p> + +<p class="hang">4. Again the captain looks out; the sailors say to him, “What +do you see?” He answers, “On the shore there walks a +pretty little maiden, with a chattee on her head; she skips +and runs, and dances as she goes. We must be nearing +land.”</p> + +<p class="hang">5. The storm begins to rage again, and hides the land: at last it +clears a little. The sailors say to the captain, “What do +you see?” He answers, “I see a man ploughing; two bullocks +draw the plough. We must be nearing land.”</p> + +<p>It is all true; they have gained the shore.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>337]</a></span></p> + +<h4>PART II.<br /> +<br /> +SONG FROM THE SHORE.</h4> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be sung by one or more voices.</i>)</p> + +<div class="cpoem"> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">1. The ship’s on the sea—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Which way is it coming?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Right home to land.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">What cargo has it?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The ship brings the sacrament and praying beads.<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">2. The ship’s on the sea—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Which way is it coming?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Right home to land.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">What cargo has it?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The ship brings white paper and the Twelve Apostles.<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">3. The ship comes home to land—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">What cargo does it bring?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Silver money, prophets and holy people.<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">4. The ship comes home to land—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">What does it bring?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">All the saints and holy people, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth.<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">5. The ship comes to our doors—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Who brings it home?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Our Saviour.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Our Saviour bless the ship, and bring it safely home.<br /></span> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The second song, “The Little Wife Watching for her Husband’s +Return,” Anna had almost entirely forgotten.</p> + +<p>It was, she said, very pretty, being the song of the little wife as she +decks herself in her jewels to please her husband when he comes +home. She laments his absence, fears he has forgotten her and bemoans +her loneliness.</p> + +<p class="sig">M. F.</p> + +<p class="center link"><a href="#backnote03">Go back</a></p> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>338]</a></span></p> + +<h2>NOTES ON THE FAIRY LEGENDS.</h2> + + +<h3><a name="note01" id="note01"></a>PUNCHKIN.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.—The Rajah’s seven daughters, taking it by turns to cook +their father’s dinner, would be nothing unusual in the household of a +Rajah. To a chief or great man in India, it is still the most natural +precaution he can take against poison to eat nothing but what has +been prepared by his wife or daughter, or under their eye in his own +zenana; and there are few accomplishments on which an Indian +princess prides herself more than on her skill in cookery.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note02" id="note02"></a>RAMA AND LUXMAN.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_107">107</a>.—The little black and white owls, which fly out at dusk +and sit always in pairs, chattering to each other in a singularly conversational +version of owl language, are among the most widely-spread +of Indian birds, and in every province where they are found +are regarded as the most accomplished of soothsayers. Unlike other +ominous creatures, they are anxious to do good to mankind, for they +always tell each other what the traveler ought to do, and, if mankind +were not so dull in understanding their language, would save the +hearer from all risk of misfortune.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note03" id="note03"></a>LITTLE SURYA BAI.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.—The sangfroid with which the first Ranee, here and in +the story of Panch-Phul Ranee, page 164, receives the second and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>339]</a></span> +more favored wife to share her throne, however difficult to understand +in the West, is very characteristic of Oriental life. In Indian +households of the highest rank it would not be difficult to find examples +of several wives living amicably together, as described in some +of these stories; but the contrary result, as depicted in this story of +Surya Bai and others, is far more common, for as a general rule +human nature is too strong for custom, and under an external serenity +bitter jealousies exist between the several wives of a royal +Hindoo household, which are a constant source of misery and crime. +Among the curious changes of opinion which are observable of late +years in the Indian empire, none is more remarkable than the conviction, +now frequently expressed by the warmest supporters of native +governments at native courts, that the toleration of polygamy is one +of their most serious dangers, the removal of which is of vital importance +to the safety of any Indian dynasty, and indeed to the permanence +of any Indian family of rank.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note04" id="note04"></a>THE WANDERINGS OF VICRAM MAHARAJAH.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.—The Dipmal, or Tower of Lights, is an essential feature +in every large Hindoo temple. It is often of great height, and +furnished with niches or brackets, each of which holds a lamp on +festivals, especially on that of the Dewali, the feast of lamps celebrated +in the autumn in honor of the Hindoo goddess Bowani or +Kali, who was formerly propitiated on that occasion by human +sacrifices.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.—The story of Vicram’s act of devotion is thoroughly +Hindoo. It is difficult to understand the universal prevalence and +strength of the conviction among Hindoos that the particular god of +their adoration can be prevailed on, by importunity or self-devotion, +to reveal to his worshiper some act, generally ascetic or sacrificial, +the performance of which will insure to the devotee the realization +of the object of his wishes. The act of devotion and the object of +the devotee are both often very trivial; but occasionally we are +startled by hearing of some deed of horror, a human sacrifice or deliberate +act of self-immolation, which is quite unaccountable to those +who are not aware that it is only a somewhat extreme manifestation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>340]</a></span> +of a belief which still influences the daily conduct of the great majority +of the Hindoos.</p> + +<p>And even those who have known the Hindoos long and intimately +frequently fail to recognize the extent to which this belief influences +the ethics of common life and action in India. To quote an instance +from well-known history, there are few acts regarding which a European +traveler would expect the verdict of all mankind to be more +generally condemnatory than the murder of Afzul Khan, the general +of the Imperial Delhi army, by Sivajee, the founder of the Mahratta +empire. Sivajee, according to the well-known story, had invited his +victim to an amicable conference, and there stabbed him with a wag +nuck<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> as they embraced at their first meeting. It was a deed of such +deliberate and cruel treachery that it could find few defenders in +Europe, even among the wildest advocates of political assassination. +A European is consequently little prepared to find it regarded by +Mahrattas generally as a most commendable act of devotion. The +Hindoo conscience condemns murder and treachery as emphatically +as the European; but this act, as viewed by the old-fashioned Mahratta, +was a sacrifice prescribed by direct revelation of the terrible +goddess Bowani to her faithful devotee. It was therefore highly +meritorious, and the beautiful Genoese blade which Sivajee always +wore, and with which his victim was finally despatched, was, down to +our own days, provided with a little temple of its own in the palace +of his descendants, and annually worshiped by them and their household—not +as a mere act of veneration for their ancestor’s trusty +sword, but because it was the chosen instrument of a great sacrifice, +and “no doubt,” as the attendant who watched it used to say, “some +of the spirit of Bowani,” whose name it bore, “must still reside +in it.”</p> + +<p>An attentive observer will notice in the daily life of those around +him in India constant instances of this belief in the efficacy of acts of +devotion and sacrifice to alter even the decrees of Fate. It is one of +the many incentives to the long pilgrimages which form such a universal +feature in Hindoo life, and the records of the courts of justice +and the Indian newspapers constantly afford traces of its prevalence +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>341]</a></span> +in cases of attempted suttee and other acts of self-immolation, or even +of human sacrifice, such as are above alluded to. It must be remembered +that Hindoo sacrifice has nothing but the name in common +with the sacrifices which are a distinctive part of the religion of every +Semitic race. Many a difficulty which besets the Hindoo inquirer +after truth would be avoided if this essential distinction were always +known or remembered.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.—This belief in the omnipotence of “Muntrs,” or certain +verbal formulas, properly pronounced by one to whom they have been +authoritatively communicated, is closely allied to, and quite as universal +as, the belief in the efficacy of sacrificial acts of devotion. In +every nation throughout India, whatever may be the variations of +creed or caste usage, it is a general article of belief, accepted by the +vast majority of every class and caste of Hindoos, that there is a form +of words (or Muntr) which, to be efficacious, can be only orally transmitted, +but which, when so communicated by one of the “twice-born,” +has absolutely unlimited power over all things visible or +invisible, extending even to compelling the obedience of the gods +and of Fate itself. Of course it is rather dangerous, even for the +wisest, to meddle with such potent influences, and the attempt is +usually confined to the affairs of common life; but of the absolute +omnipotence of “Muntrs” few ordinary un-Europeanized Hindoos +entertain any doubt, and there is hardly any part of their belief which +exercises such an all-pervading and potent influence in their daily +life, though that influence is often but little understood by Europeans.</p> + +<p>The classical reader will remember many allusions to a similar +belief as a part of the creeds imported from the East, which were +fashionable under the Empire at Rome. There is much curious information +on the subject of the earliest-known Hindoo Muntrs in the +<i>Aitareya Brahmana</i> of the learned Dr. Haug, the only European who +ever witnessed the whole process of a Hindoo sacrifice. The reader +who is curious on such matters will do well to consult the recently-published +work of Professor Max Müller, which might, without exaggeration, +be described as a storehouse of new facts connected with +the religion and literature of the East, rather than by its modest title +of <i>Chips from a German Workshop</i>.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>342]</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="note05" id="note05"></a>HOW THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE WIND WENT +OUT TO DINNER.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.—I have not ventured to alter the traditional mode of the +Moon’s conveyance of dinner to her mother the Star, though it must, +I fear, seriously impair the value of the story as a moral lesson in the +eyes of all instructors of youth.</p> + +<p class="sig">M. F.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note06" id="note06"></a>SINGH RAJAH AND THE CUNNING LITTLE JACKALS.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.—This story is substantially the same as one well-known +to readers of Pilpai’s <i>Fables</i>. The chorus of the Jackals’ song of +triumph is an imitation of their nocturnal howl.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note07" id="note07"></a>THE JACKAL, THE BARBER AND THE BRAHMIN.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.—The touch of the poor outcast Mahars would be pollution +to a Hindoo of any but the lowest caste; hence their ready obedience +to the Jackal’s exhortation not to touch him.</p> + +<p>The offerings of rice, flowers, a chicken, &c., and the pouring water +over the idol, are parts of the regular daily observance in every village +temple.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note08" id="note08"></a>MUCHIE LAL.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.—The popular belief in stories of this kind, where the +Cobra becomes the companion of human beings, is greatly strengthened +by the instances which occasionally occur when particular persons, +sometimes children or idiots, possess the power to handle the +deadly reptiles without receiving any injury from them. How much +is due merely to gentleness of touch and fearlessness, and how much +to any personal peculiarity which pleases the senses of the snake, it +is difficult to say, for the instances, though not few and perfectly well +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>343]</a></span> +authenticated, are sufficiently rare to be popularly regarded as miraculous.</p> + +<p>In one case, which occurred in the country west of Poona not long +after our conquest of the Deccan, a Brahmin boy could, without the +aid of music or anything but his own voice, attract to himself and +handle with impunity all the snakes which might be within hearing +in any thicket or dry stone wall, such as in that country is their favorite +refuge. So great was the popular excitement regarding him, +under the belief that he was an incarnation of some divinity, that the +magistrate of Poona took note of his proceedings, and becoming uneasy +as to the political turn the excitement regarding the boy might +take, reported regularly to government the growth of the crowds who +pressed to see the marvel and to offer gifts to the child and his +parents! The poor boy, however, was at last bitten by one of the +reptiles and died, and the wonder ceased.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note09" id="note09"></a>CHUNDUN RAJAH.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.—There are innumerable popular superstitions regarding +the powers which can be conveyed in a charmed necklace; and it is +a common belief that good and bad fortune, and life itself, can be +made to depend on its not being removed from the wearer’s neck.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note10" id="note10"></a>CHANDRA’S VENGEANCE.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.—The picture of the childless wife setting forth to seek +Mahdeo, and resolving not to return till she has seen him, is one +which would find a parallel in some of the persons composing almost +every group of pilgrims who resort to the great shrines of Hindostan. +Any one who has an opportunity of quietly questioning the members +of such an assemblage will find that, besides the miscellaneous crowd +of idlers, there are usually specimens of two classes of very earnest +devotees. The one class is intent on the performance of some act +of ascetic devotion, the object of which is to win the favor of the +divinity, or to fulfill a vow for a favor already granted. The other +class is seeking “to see the divinity,” and expecting the revelation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>344]</a></span> +under one or other of the terrible forms of the Hindoo Pantheon. +There are few things more pathetic than to hear one of this class recount +the wanderings and sufferings of his past search, or the journeys +he has before him, which are too often prolonged till death puts +an end to the wanderer and his pilgrimage.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.—The “fire which does not burn” is everywhere in +India one of the attributes of Mahdeo.</p> + +<p>In many parts of the Deccan are to be found shrines consecrated +to one of the local gods, who has been Brahminically recognized as a +local manifestation of Mahdeo, where the annual festival of the +divinity was, within the last few years, kept by lighting huge fires, +through which devotees ran or jumped, attributing their escape from +burning to the interposition of Mahdeo. Except in a few remote +villages, this custom, which sometimes led to serious accidents, has +in British territory been stopped by the police.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.—This story of the wonderful child who was found floating +in a box on a river is to be heard, with more or less picturesque +local variations, on the banks of every large river in India. Almost +every old village in Sind has a local tradition of this kind.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_305">305</a>.—Most households in Calcutta can furnish recollections +of depredations by birds, at their nest-building season, similar to that +of the Ranee’s bangles by the Eagles in this story. But the object +of the theft is generally more prosaic. I have known gold rings so +taken, but the plunder is more frequently a lady’s cuff or collar, or a +piece of lace; and the plunderers are crows, and sometimes, but very +rarely, a kite.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.—Purwaris, or outcasts, who are not suffered to live +within the quarter inhabited by the higher castes, are very numerous +in Southern India, and a legend similar to this one is a frequent +popular explanation of their being in excess as compared with other +classes of the population.</p> + + +<h3><a name="note11" id="note11"></a>HOW THE THREE CLEVER MEN OUTWITTED THE +DEMONS.</h3> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.—Old residents at Surat may remember an ancient local +celebrity named Tom the Barber, among whose recollections of +former days was a chronicle of a renowned duelist, who used to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>345]</a></span> +amuse himself by shooting with his pistol, somewhat after the fashion +of the Pearl-shooter. The little tin can of hot water which Tom carried, +slung from his forefinger as he went his morning rounds, was a +favorite mark. So were the water-jars on the heads of the women as +they passed the duelist’s house coming from the well; and great was +Tom’s relief when an old woman, who could not be pacified by the +usual douceur for the loss of her jar and the shock of finding the +water stream down her back, appealed to the authorities and had +the duelist bound over to abstain in future from his dangerous +amusement.</p> + +<p>So vivid were Tom’s recollections of his own terrors that, after the +lapse of half a century, he could ill conceal his sense of the poetical +justice finally inflicted on his tormentor, who was killed in a duel +to which he provoked a young officer who had never before fired a +pistol.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> +An instrument so called from its similarity to a tiger’s claw. It consists of sharp +curved steel blades set on a bar, which fits by means of finger-rings to the inside of +the hand, so as to be concealed when the hand is closed, while the blades project at +right angles to the cross bar and palm when the hand is opened. It is struck as in +slapping or tearing with the claws.</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<div class="figcenter ipadbase" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/odd01.jpg" width="300" height="178" alt="Two owls" /> +</div> + + +<div class="bbox"> +<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p> + +<p>Archaic and variable spelling is preserved as printed where there was +no prevalence of one form over another, e.g. Gazeteer, loth and loath. +Where there was a prevalence, amendments have been made for consistency:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_157">157</a>—tormenter amended to tormentor—"... was that Vicram should +have such a hideous tormentor ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_335">335</a>—Sivagee amended to Sivajee—"... not only of the days of +Alumgeer, Sivajee and of early Mahratta history, ..."</p> +</div> + +<p>Both Pilpay and Pilpai are used as references to the fable writer. They +are preserved as printed, as the author in each case is different.</p> + +<p>Punctuation errors have been repaired. Hyphenation has been made +consistent.</p> + +<p>The following typographic errors have been repaired:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_8">8</a>—observe amended to observed—"... gravely observed that the +footmark looked as if the foot which made it ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_49">49</a>—it amended to if—"The Rajah returned to see if he could help +anybody to escape, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_58">58</a>—repeated 'it' deleted—"... but when the Princess heard how wild it was ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_82">82</a>—chidren amended to children—"... in charge of this garden will +have a hundred and one children ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_89">89</a>—the amended to they—"Then, by order of the twelve wicked +Ranees, they sacrilegiously destroyed the little temple."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_103">103</a>—come amended to came—"... to their joy one day they came +upon a dense grove of Cocoa-nut trees, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_106">106</a>—reach amended to reached—"On the first evening of their +march the travelers reached the borders of the Cocoa-nut grove, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_115">115</a>—Rahshas amended to Rakshas—"Then she ground the corn, +but still the young Rakshas came not; ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_137">137</a>—pomegrantes amended to pomegranates—"... three pomegranates +(in which were Anar Ranee and her two ladies), ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_140">140</a>—petty amended to pretty—"... where there were a thousand +other pretty pollies, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_150">150</a>—eat amended to ate—"... and she ate it, little bit by little +bit, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_153">153</a>—repeated 'the' deleted—"How was the latter to be expelled +to make way ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_160">160</a>—it amended to in—"So that it became a proverb in +that country, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_189">189</a>—strengh amended to strength—"... he regained his health +and strength also, and looked almost as well as ever."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_198">198</a>—Jackal amended to Jackals—"And the little Jackals +threw stones down upon him from above, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_221">221</a>—run amended to sun—"... under my boughs from the scorching +rays of the sun; ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_235">235</a>—Chatte-maker amended to Chattee-maker—"... and the +Chattee-maker was rewarded for all he had done ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_262">262</a>—so amended to to—"The poor little Fakeer’s daughter was +so startled that she began to cry."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_280">280</a>—one only amended to only one—"Once upon a time there +lived a Rajah and Ranee, who had only one daughter, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_307">307</a>—hut amended to but—"... but as soon as she saw it she +recognized it."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, first footnote—permited amended to permitted—"... not +permitted to live within the city walls."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_316">316</a>—other amended to others—"“They are true,” said the +others; “for we, O Pundit, ...”"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_318">318</a>—omitted word 'to' added following 'turning'—"... and, +turning to his wife, whispered, ..."</p> +</div> + +<p>The following were noted as possible errors, but, as they could potentially be +read as deliberate phrasing on the part of the author, they are all preserved as printed.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_8">8</a>—"... the Rakshas seems giving way to the “Bhoot” ..." +It is likely that 'to be' is missing following 'seems.'</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_82">82</a>—"... and cause it be announced that you have left the +place." It is possible that 'to' is omitted following 'it.'</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_269">269</a>—"... and there was no village or house of living +creature near." This should probably read 'of a living creature' or 'of living creatures.'</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_325">325</a>—"... I have been a far journey ..." This may +have been intended to read, 'I have been on a far journey.'</p> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Deccan Days, by M. 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