Chapter X: Part 10

The Tom-tom Beater having cut the growing rice in the field and trampled it [with buffaloes], got the paddy. The Gamarala obtained hardly anything (tikapitika). So not much time was occupied in eating it.

After that, a daughter of the Gamarala's was taken away by a Rakshasa. Then the Gamarala having come near the Tom-tom Beater, and said, "Let us go on a search for my daughter," both persons went together.

At that time the Gamarala took a bag of money. The Tom-tom Beater, not showing it to the Gamarala, took a bag of fragments of broken plates. The Gamarala tied up a bag of cooked rice; the Tom-tom Beater tied up a bag of rice-dust porridge.

At the time when they were going, being hungry they stopped at the bottom of a tree and made ready to eat the cooked rice. Having made ready, the Tom-tom Beater, taking a small quantity of rice from the Gamarala's leaf [plate] of cooked rice, ate it.

Having eaten it, the Tom-tom Beater says, "Don't you eat the cooked rice which I have polluted by eating; be good enough to eat my bag of cooked rice." Having said it, he gave him the bag of rice-dust porridge. Then when the Gamarala unfastened the bag there was only porridge.

Having said, "Well then, what [else] shall I do?" the Gamarala ate the rice-dust porridge. The Tom-tom Beater ate the package of good cooked rice which the Gamarala brought. Thereupon the Gamarala said at the hand of the Tom-tom Beater, "I ate the rice-dust porridge; don't tell anyone whatever," he said. The Tom-tom Beater said, "It is good."

At the time when they were going away, yet [another] Tom-tom Beater, taking a drum to sell, came up. So this Tom-tom Beater, thinking of taking the drum, spoke to the Gamarala [about it]. Then the Gamarala said, "If there is money in thy hand give it, and take it."

The Tom-tom Beater, having shaken the package of plate fragments said, "There is money by me; I cannot unfasten it. If you have money be good enough to give it." The Gamarala said, "I will not." [219]

Then the Tom-tom Beater said, "If so, I will say that you ate the rice-dust porridge." Then the Gamarala said, "Here is money," and gave it. So the Tom-tom Beater got the drum.

Taking it, at the time when they were going along the path again, a man came taking a deer-hide rope. That, also, the Tom-tom Beater having thought of taking, in the very same way as at first he asked the Gamarala for money. The Gamarala said, "I will not give it."

So the Tom-tom Beater said, "I will say that you ate the rice-dust porridge." Then having said, "Don't say it," the Gamarala gave the money.

After that, the Tom-tom Beater taking the deer-hide rope, at the time when they were going along the road, a man came bringing a pair of elephant tusks.

Then the Tom-tom Beater in the very same way as at first asked the Gamarala for money. The Gamarala said, "I will not [give it]."

So the Tom-tom Beater said, "If so, I will say that you ate the rice-dust porridge." Then the Gamarala, having said, "Don't say it," gave the money.

The Tom-tom Beater taking the pair of elephant tusks, they went to the Rakshasa's house. When they went, the Rakshasa having gone for human flesh food, only the Gamarala's daughter was [there]. The girl quickly having given food to the two persons, the Gamarala's daughter told them to go to the upper story floor. [220] Afterwards the Gamarala and the Tom-tom Beater went to the upper story floor.

In the evening, the Rakshasa having come said, "Smell of fresh human flesh!"

Then the Gamarala's daughter said, "Having come [after] eating fresh human flesh, what smell of human flesh!" After that the Rakshasa without speaking lay down.

Then at the time of dawn the Tom-tom Beater was minded to chant verses, so he spoke to the Gamarala [about it]. The Gamarala said, "Don't speak." Without listening to it he chanted verses softly, softly (hemin hemin).

Thereupon the Rakshasa having arisen, asked, "Who art thou?"

The Tom-tom Beater said, "I myself am the Rakshasis-eating Prakshasa."

Then the Rakshasa said, "If so, show me thy teeth." The Tom-tom Beater showed him the pair of elephant tusks.

Then the Rakshasa, becoming afraid, said, "Show me the hair of thy head." The Tom-tom Beater showed him the deer-hide rope.

Then the Rakshasa said, "If that be so, let us roar." Then having said, "It is good," the Tom-tom Beater began to beat on the drum. The Rakshasa becoming [more] frightened, said that he was going near his preceptor, and ran away. Then the Tom-tom Beater and the Gamarala, in order to get hidden, went into the midst of the forest of Palmira trees.

Then the Rakshasa, placing his preceptor in front, came up to go through the middle of the forest of Palmira trees. At that time, having seen the two Rakshasas, these two persons being afraid prepared to climb two trees. Thereupon the Tom-tom Beater, taking the drum, went up the tree. The Gamarala being unable to go up the tree, having gone to the middle of the tree, slid down [with a] siri siri [noise] to the ground.

Thereupon the two Rakshasas came near the Gamarala. Then the Tom-tom Beater, from the top of the tree, having shaken the leaves and beaten the drum first, said, "After I descend leave the big one for me, and do thou eat the little one." Then the two Rakshasas becoming afraid, ran off.

Then the Tom-tom Beater descended from the tree, and again having gone with the Gamarala to the Rakshasa's house, taking the Gamarala's daughter and the goods that were in the Rakshasa's house they came to their village.

While at the village the Gamarala said, "Take thou the goods; after the girl was there it is sufficient for me." Then the Tom-tom Beater having brought [home] the goods became very wealthy.

After a little time had gone by since that, the Gamarala came to the Tom-tom Beater's house to take the debt of paddy. Then what does the Tom-tom Beater do? Before the Gamarala's coming, a very large basket was tied up [by him], shells and chaff having been put in it.

After the Gamarala went, the Tom-tom Beater said, "Because of you, indeed, I have tied up that basket. If you want it, be good enough to take it and go." Then the Gamarala having gone and opened the mouth of the basket, when he looked there were only shells and chaff.

Thereupon, at the time when the Gamarala was asking, "What is this chaff?" the Tom-tom Beater said, "Apoyi! What has happened here? Through your bad luck there were other things, indeed! In that way, indeed, you came down from the Palmira tree that day," the Tom-tom Beater said.

Then the Gamarala, without speaking, went home without the paddy.

North-central Province.

In The Indian Antiquary, vol. xiv, p. 77, in a Tamil story related by Pandit S. M. Natesa Sastri, two men who had previously frightened some bhutas, or evil spirits, were belated at night in a wood they haunted, so they climbed up a tree for safety. The bhutas afterwards came there with torches in search of animals for food, and this so terrified one of the men that he fell down among them. The other man then shouted to him to catch the stoutest of them if he must eat one, on which the bhutas all ran away.

In Indian Fairy Tales (M. Stokes), p. 38, when a barber and fakir had climbed up a tree in order to overhear the talk of a number of tigers who came there at night, and also to collect valuables left by the tigers, the fakir became so alarmed when he heard the tiger King using threatening language against them, that he lost his hold and fell into the midst of the tigers. The barber instantly cried out loudly, "Now cut off their ears," on hearing which the tigers ran away. The fakir, however, received such injuries that he died.

I have omitted two nocturnal incidents due to the Tom-tom Beater's inability to control his bodily functions.

THE RICE-DUST PORRIDGE. (Variant c.)

In a certain country there are a Gamarala and a Tom-tom Beater, it is said. The Gamarala having become very poor had not a thing to eat. That Tom-tom Beater was a very rich man.

While they were thus, one day the two persons having spoken about going on a journey and said, "Let us go to-morrow," made ready. There being not a thing for the Gamarala to eat before going, and being without a thing to take for the road, [after] stirring with a spoon a little rice-dust porridge and taking the porridge to the road, he was ready to go.

The Tom-tom Beater, having amply cooked rice and curry, and eaten, tying up a packet of cooked rice for the road also, went to the Gamarala's house. Having gone there, the two persons went on the journey. The Gamarala took the rice-dust porridge, the Tom-tom Beater took the packet of cooked rice.

Having gone on and on, after it became late in the morning the Tom-tom Beater said, "Ha. Now then, Gamarahami, let us eat the packet of cooked rice."

Afterwards, the Gamarala having said "Ha," and both of them having unfastened the two bags, the Tom-tom Beater, taking the packet of cooked rice, eats it. When the Gamarala was taking the rice-dust porridge the Tom-tom Beater asked, "What, Gamarahami, are those?"

Then the Gamarala said, "In order to cook rice for myself quickly, I came [after] cooking porridge. Don't tell it at the hand of anyone."

The Tom-tom Beater says, "Ane! Gamarahami, I shall not tell it. The gentleman (Rahami) will be good enough to eat it."

The two persons having eaten and finished, when they are going on again, a man is going taking a rice pestle to sell. Then this Tom-tom Beater says to the Gamarala, "Ane! Gamarahami, be good enough to take and give me that rice pestle."

The Gamarala says, "Where, Bolat, [221] have I the money [for it]?"

Then the Tom-tom Beater says, "If so, I will say that the Gamarahami ate rice-dust porridge."

Afterwards the Gamarala,--there is a little money in his hand,--having given from it, taking the rice pestle, gave it to the Tom-tom Beater.

Again, when they had gone a great distance, a man is coming taking a [wooden] rice mortar to sell. So the Tom-tom Beater again says, "Gamarahami, Gamarahami, take that rice mortar, and be good enough to give me it."

Then the Gamarala says, "Ane! Bolat, come thou on without speaking there. Where have I money to that extent, to take and give you those things?"

Thereupon the Tom-tom Beater says, "If so, I will say that the Gamarahami ate rice-dust porridge." Afterwards the Gamarala took and gave him the rice mortar also.

Again, when they had gone a great distance, a man is going taking a millet stone (quern) to sell. The Tom-tom Beater says, "Gamaralahami, you must indeed take and give me that millet stone."

Afterwards, anger having come to the Gamarala, he says, "O Vishnu! [222] Bolat, where have I money to that extent?"

Then the Tom-tom Beater says, "If so, I will say that the Gamarahami ate rice-dust porridge."

Afterwards, the Gamarala having given money to the man who owned the millet stone, taking the millet stone gave it to the Tom-tom Beater.

Taking that also, again when they are going a great distance a Tom-tom Beater is coming, taking a tom-tom. Again that Tom-tom Beater says to the Gamarala, "Gamarahami, be good enough to take and give me that tom-tom."

Then the Gamarala says, "Ando! I having come with this Tom-tom Beater lump, [223] [see] what is happening to me! Where is the money to take and give these things in this way?"

Having said [this], and given money to the man who owned the tom-tom, taking the tom-tom and having given it to the Tom-tom Beater, again they go on.

When the Tom-tom Beater, taking the rice pestle, and the rice mortar, and the millet stone, and the tom-tom, all of them, was going with the Gamarala it became night. After that, they went to a house to ask for a resting-place. The house was a Rakshasa's house. The Rakshasa was not at home; only the Rakshasa's wife was at home. This Gamarala and Tom-tom Beater asked at the hand of the woman for a resting-place.

Then the woman says, "Ane! What have you come here for? This indeed is a Rakshasa's house. The Rakshasa having come and eaten you also, will eat me. Before he comes go away quickly."

Afterwards these two persons say, "Ane! Don't say so. There is no place for us to go to now. Somehow or other you must give us a resting-place."

After that, this woman said, "If so, remain without speaking, having gone to that upper story floor." Thereupon these two persons ascended to the upper floor, and stayed [there].

Then the Rakshasa having come, asked at the hand of the woman, "What, Bola, is this smell of a human body that came, a human body that came?"

The woman says, "What is this thing that you are saying! Every day you are eating fresh human flesh indeed; how should there not be a corpse smell?" After that, the Rakshasa without speaking lay down.

Then to the Gamarala says the Tom-tom Beater, "Gamarahami, I must go out."

The Gamarala says, "Remain without speaking. Now then, after the Rakshasa has come he will eat us both."

Then this Tom-tom Beater says, "If so, I will say you ate rice-dust porridge."

Thereupon the Gamarala says, "Owing to this one, indeed, I shall not be allowed to save my life and go."

The Rakshasa having heard the talk, said, "What, Bola, is that I hear?"

The woman says, "On the upper story floor the coconut leaves are shaking." At that, also, the Rakshasa remained without speaking.

Again that Tom-tom Beater says, "Gamarahami, I must go out."

Then the Gamarala says, "The Gods be witnesses! Endless times, having heard the talk, the Rakshasa asked at the hand of the woman, 'What is that I hear?' Now then, having come on this journey indeed, he will eat us. What shall I do? Let him eat, on account of my foolishness in coming."

Then the Tom-tom Beater says, "If so, I will say you ate rice-dust porridge."

The Rakshasa, having heard that talk also, again asked at the hand of the woman, "What, Bola, is that I hear?"

Then the woman says, "What is it, Ane! Appa! that you are making happen to-day? There is very much wind; owing to it will the coconut leaves stay without waving about?" At that time also, having said, "Aha," the Rakshasa remained without speaking.

Then the Tom-tom Beater again says, "Gamarahami, I have the mind to beat a tom-tom verse."

The Gamarala said, "What is the reason why you (ombaheta) have such a mind to die?"

The Tom-tom Beater says, "So indeed! I will say that you ate rice-dust porridge."

Then the Gamarala said, "Beat very slightly and slowly, so that [the sound] will not come even to the ear."

The Tom-tom Beater having said "Ha," very loudly beat, "Dombitan, Dombitan."

Then when the Rakshasa, without asking the woman [about this noise] was ascending a great distance along the ladder, in order to go to the upper floor, the Tom-tom Beater dropped the rice pestle on the Rakshasa, and dropped the rice mortar. When he dropped the millet stone the Rakshasa died.

The Tom-tom Beater, taking the tom-tom, went to his village. The Gamarala calling the Rakshasa's wife [in marriage] remained at the Rakshasa's village.

North-western Province.

THE EVIDENCE THAT THE APPUHAMI ATE PADDY DUST. (Variant d.)

In a certain country a Padu [224] man, and an Appuhami [225] having joined together, went away on a journey, it is said. Of the two persons, the Padu man tied up for himself a packet of cooked rice, the Appuhami tied up for himself a packet of paddy dust, it is said.

Those two persons having gone taking the two packets, when the time for eating cooked rice in the daytime arrived they halted at one spot, and having become ready to eat cooked rice, unfastened the two packets, it is said. At the time when they unfastened the two packets, the two persons mutually saw the Padu man's cooked rice and curry, and the Appuhami's paddy dust. Having seen them, without having spoken they ate the food in their own packets, and having stayed a little time, set off and went away.

When they are going a considerable distance, a man came, bringing a tom-tom (berayak) to sell.

The Padda having asked the price of the tom-tom from the man who brings the tom-tom to sell, said to the Appuhami, "Please take and give me this tom-tom."

Then anger having gone to the Appuhami [he said], "Be off, dolt! [226] That I should come with thee being insufficient, thou toldest me to take and give thee this tom-tom!"

"It is good, Appuhami. If so, I will mention the evidence that you ate paddy dust," he said.

The Appuhami having become afraid, and having said, "Ane! Bola, I will take and give thee the tom-tom. Don't tell any one about the matter of the dust eating," took and gave the tom-tom to the Padda.

Taking the tom-tom, when they are going a considerable distance, still [another] man brought a devil-dancer's mask (wes-muhuna) to sell. The Padda having asked the price of the mask, said, "Appuhami, please take and give me this mask."

Having said, "Be off, dolt! Having taken and given thee a tom-tom, am I to take and give thee a mask too?" the Appuhami scolded the Padda.

"If so, I will mention the matter of the dust eating," he said. Thereupon the Appuhami having become afraid, took and gave the mask.

Taking also the mask, when they are going a considerable distance, yet [another] man brought a pair of devil-dancer's hawk's bells to sell. The Padda having asked the price of the bells also, and having said, "Appuhami, take and give me this pair of bells," when the Appuhami said he would not, "If so, I shall mention the evidence that you ate the dust," he said.

Thereupon, the Appuhami having become afraid, and having said, "Now then, having taken and given thee anything thou art telling and telling [me to give], my money is done, too," took and gave the pair of bells.

After that, again having gone a considerable distance they descended to a great abandoned village. When they were going a considerable distance in the village they saw that there is a house. These two persons at the time when it was becoming evening went to that house. The house was a Rakshasi's house.

The Rakshasi's daughter having been [there] and having wept says, "Ane! Brothers, [227] our mother is a Rakshasi. She is not at home now; at this time she will be coming. As soon as mother comes, [228] seizing you two she will eat you. Having gone to any possible place, escape," she said.

The Appuhami through fear began to tremble. The Padda says, "Why, younger sister? This night where are we to go? By any possible method get us inside the house," he said.

"If so, you two, not talking, having ascended to this store-loft (atuwa) sit down," she said.

The Appuhami and the Padda having climbed up to the store-loft, stayed [there].

After a little time the Rakshasi came. When she asked, "What is the smell of human flesh?" the daughter says, "Why, mother? Night and day continually having eaten and eaten human flesh and having come, why do you ask me what is the smell of human flesh?" she said.

Thereupon the Rakshasi, not speaking, went to sleep, together with the daughter.

The Padda sitting above in the store-loft says to the Appuhami, "Ane! Appuhami, it was in my mind to dance a little."

Thereupon the Appuhami says, "Cah, Bola! Dolt! You are preparing to dance; I am hiding in fear. Shouldst thou go for thy dancing, the Rakshasi having killed us both will seize and eat us," he said.

"If so, I will mention the fact that the Appuhami ate the dust," he said.

The Appuhami then says, "If so, having taken and placed the tom-tom aside, do thou imagine that thou hast beaten the tom-tom; bringing the devil-dancer's mask near thy face, imagine that thou hast tied it on; and imagining that thou hast tied the pair of bells on thy two legs, having taken and taken all, put them on one side," he said.

And the Padda, having said, "It is good," tying on well the devil-dancer's mask and having made it tight, and tying the pair of bells on his two legs, and tying the tom-tom at his waist, saying "Hu" with great strength, sprang down from the store-loft to the place where the Rakshasi was sleeping; and began to dance.

The Rakshasi having become afraid, asked her daughter, "What is this?"

"Why, mother, isn't that the Rakshasas-eating Prakshasa?" [229] she said.

Then the Rakshasi, having become afraid and having gone running, being unable to escape sprang into a well. The Padda having also gone running just behind her, and having rolled into the well some great stones, killed the Rakshasi.

After that, he took in marriage even the Rakshasi's daughter. The Appuhami went away to his village.

Western Province.

NO. 138

THE STORY OF THE CAKE TREE

In a certain country there are a woman, and a youngster, and a girl, it is said. The woman is a Yaksani.

One day the youngster said, "Mother, let us cook cakes."

Then the Yaksani said, "Son, for us to cook cakes, whence [can we get] the things for them?"

After that, this youngster having gone to the place where they were pounding flour, and having come back [after] placing a little flour under the corner of his finger nail, said, "Mother, mother, hold a pot," he said.

The Yaksani held a pot. Then he struck down the finger nail; then the pot having filled, overflowed.

Again, having gone to a place where they were expressing [oil from] coconuts, and having come [after] placing a little oil under the corner of his finger nail, "Mother, mother, hold a pot," he said.

The Yaksani held a pot. Then the youngster struck down the finger nail; then the pot having filled, overflowed.

After that, the youngster having gone to a place where they were warming [palm] syrup, and having come [after] placing a little syrup under the corner of his finger nail, "Mother, mother, hold a pot," he said.

The Yaksani held a pot. The youngster struck down the finger nail; then the pot having filled, overflowed. [230]

After that, the youngster said, "Mother, now then, cook cakes." Having said it, the youngster went to school.

During the time while he was going and was there, the Yaksani and the girl having cooked cakes, and the Yaksani and the girl having eaten all the cakes, placed for the youngster a cake that fell on the ash-heap while they were cooking; and both of them remained without speaking.

Then the youngster having been at school, came home. Having come, he asked that Yaksani, "Mother, where are the cakes?"

Then the Yaksani said, "Ane! Son, the cooked cakes the flour people took away, the oil people took away, the syrup people took away. The cake which fell on the ash-heap while [we were] cooking is there. There; eat even that."

After that, when the youngster looked on the ash-heap there was a cake on it. Having taken it, and planted it in the chena jungle, he said, "When I come to-morrow, may the Cake tree (kæwun gaha), having sprouted, be [here]." Having said it he came home.

Having gone on the following day, when he looked a Cake tree had sprouted. Afterwards the youngster said, "When I come to-morrow, may flowers having blossomed be [on it]." Having said it he came home.

Afterwards having gone, when he looked flowers had blossomed. After that, the youngster said, "When I come to-morrow, may cakes having fruited be [on it]." Having said it he came home.

Having gone on the following day, when he looked there were cakes. After that, the youngster having ascended the tree, ate the cakes.

Then the Yaksani having gone [there], sitting at the bottom of the tree said, "Son, a cake for me also." The woman having taken a sack also, put it [there].

Afterwards the youngster threw down a cake. Then the Yaksani falsely said, "Ane! Son, it fell into the spittle heap." The youngster again threw one down. Then the Yaksani said, "Ane! Son, it fell into the mucus heap." Afterwards the youngster again threw one down. Then also the Yaksani said, "Ane! Son, it fell into the cow-dung heap."

Having said, "Not so; holding them with your hand and mouth jump into the sack," she held the sack, through wanting to eat the youngster. Then the youngster, holding them with the hand and mouth, jumped into the sack.

After that, the Yaksani, tying the sack, came away. In a rice field certain men were ploughing. Having placed the sack very near there, the Yaksani went seven gawwas (twenty-eight miles) away [for necessary reasons].

Thereupon that youngster says, "Ane! Unfasten this sack, some one who is in this rice field." Then the men who were very near having heard it, unfastened the sack. After that, the youngster having come out, put a great many ploughed-up clods from a plot of the field into the sack, and again having tied the sack in the very way in which it was [before], and placed it there, the youngster again went to the Cake tree and ate.

Then the Yaksani having come, and taken the sack, and gone home, and placed it [there], said to the girl, "Daughter, this one is in the sack. Unfasten this, and having cut up this one, and placed the bowl of [his] blood beneath the stile, place the flesh on the hearth [to cook]." Having said it the Yaksani went away.

After that, the girl having unfastened the sack, when she looked the youngster was not in it; there were a great many ploughed-up clods. Afterwards the girl having thrown aside the ploughed-up clods, put the sack in the house.

The Yaksani came back. Having come, when she looked beneath the stile there was no bowl of blood. Having gone near the hearth, when she looked there was no flesh. After that, she asked at the hand of the girl, "Daughter, why didn't you cut up that one?"

The girl [said], "Mother, there was a sort of ploughed-up clods in the sack; having thrown them aside I put the sack in the house."

Then the Yaksani said, "If so, daughter, give me the sack;" and asking for the sack, and having gone near the Cake tree, when she looked the youngster was eating cakes in the tree.

Sitting down near the tree she said, "Son, a cake for me also." Afterwards the youngster threw down a cake. Then the Yaksani said, "Son, it fell here, into the spittle heap." The youngster again threw one down. Then the Yaksani [said], "Son, it fell into the mucus heap." The youngster again threw one down. Then the Yaksani said, "Ane, Son, it fell into the cow-dung heap. Not so, son. Holding them with the hand and mouth jump into the sack." After that, the youngster, holding them with the hand and mouth, jumped into the sack.

Thereupon, the Yaksani, in that very manner tying the sack and taking it, went away; and again having placed it in that rice field, went to the very quarter to which she went at first.

Then the youngster said, "Unfasten this sack, some one who is in this rice field." Having heard it, those men unfastened the sack. Then the youngster having come out, caught a great number of rat snakes; and having put them in the sack, and tied it in that very way, and placed it there, the youngster again went to the Cake tree and ate cakes.

Then the Yaksani having come, and taken the bag also, and gone home, told the girl, "Daughter, cut up this one, and having placed the bowl of [his] blood beneath the stile, put the flesh on the hearth." Having said it she went away.

After that, the girl having unfastened the sack, when she looked there were a great many rat snakes [in it]. The girl having waited until the time when the rat snakes went off, put the sack in the house.

Then the Yaksani having come, when she looked if the bowl of blood was beneath the stile, it was not [there]; when she looked if the flesh was on the hearth, that also was not [there]. After that she asked at the hand of the girl, "Daughter, didn't you cut up that one?"

Then the girl says, "Mother, in it there were a great many rat snakes. Having waited there until the time when they went off, I put the sack in the house."

After that, the Yaksani [said], "If so, daughter, give me that sack;" and asking for the sack, and having gone near the Cake tree, when she looked this youngster was eating cakes.

Afterwards the Yaksani, sitting down, said, "Son, a cake for me also." The youngster threw down a cake. Then the Yaksani said, "Ane! Son, it fell into the spittle heap." Afterwards the youngster again threw one down. Then the Yaksani said, "Ane! Son, it fell into the mucus heap." The youngster again threw one down. Then the Yaksani [said], "Ane! Son, it fell into the cow-dung heap. Not so, son. Holding them with the hand and mouth jump into the sack." Afterwards the youngster, holding them with the hand and mouth, jumped into the sack.

After that, the Yaksani tied the sack, and placing it on her head and having come quite home, and placed the sack in the veranda, said to the girl, "Daughter, to-day indeed that one is [here]. Cut up that one, and having placed the bowl of [his] blood beneath the stile, place the flesh on the hearth." Having said it she went away.

Afterwards this girl having unfastened the sack, when she looked the youngster was [in it]. Having brought the bill-hook, when she was about (lit., making) to cut up the youngster, the youngster said, "Elder sister, don't cut me up just now. Lie down here for me to comb your head." After that, the girl lay down.

As he was combing and combing the head, this girl went to sleep. Afterwards, this youngster having cut the girl's throat (lit., neck), placed the bowl of [her] blood beneath the stile, and having put the flesh on the hearth, the youngster, taking a rice mortar, and a pestle, and a millet [grinding] stone,--at the doorway there was a Palmira [palm] tree--ascended the Palmira tree.

While he was there the Yaksani came, and having drunk the bowl of blood that was beneath the stile, and come near the hearth and taken the flesh that was on the hearth, began to eat.

While she was eating it, the youngster, being in the Palmira tree, says thus:--

"They themselves eat their own children.
The Palmira tree [is] at the doorway;
Jen kitak kita." [231]

The Yaksani having heard it and said, "Ade! Where is this one?" and having looked around, again eats that flesh.

Then that youngster again says,

"They themselves eat their own children.
The Palmira tree [is] at the doorway;
Jen kitak kita."

Then the Yaksani having come into the open ground in front of the house, when she looked up the tree the youngster was there. Afterwards the Yaksani said, "Ade! Stop there. [I am going] to eat this one."

As she was setting off to go up the tree that youngster let go the pestle. The Yaksani, saying and saying, "Thou art unable to kill me," goes upward.

After that, that youngster let go the rice mortar; then the Yaksani fell to the ground. Then that youngster let go the millet stone; then the Yaksani died. Only the youngster remained.

North-western Province.

In the Kolhan tales (Bompas) appended to Folklore of the Santal Parganas (Rev. Dr. Bodding), p. 464, occurs an Indian version of this peculiar story. A boy whose mother gave him two pieces of bread daily, one day left one on a rock and found next morning that a tree which bore bread as fruit had grown from it. When he was in the tree eating the fruit one day, a woman who was really a Rakshasi came up and asked for a loaf, and saying that if it fell on the ground it would become dirty, induced him to descend with it. She then put him in her bag and went off. While she was getting a drink at a pool some travellers let the boy out. He filled the bag with stones. On reaching her home the woman told her daughter she had brought a fine dinner, but the daughter found only stones in the bag. Next day the woman returned to the tree, secured the boy in the same way, brought him to her daughter, and went to collect firewood. In reply to the boy, the girl said he was to be killed by being pounded in a mortar; while she showed him how it was to be done he killed her with the pestle, put on her clothes, and cut her up. The ogress returned, cooked and ate her, and went to sleep, on which the boy struck her on the head with a large stone, killed her, and took all her property.

THE LAD AND THE RAKSHASI. (Variant a.)

In a certain country there are a female Crow and a male Crow. While they were thus, the female Crow having thought of eating cakes, went with the male Crow to break firewood. Having gone, [after] breaking firewood the male Crow took a bundle of firewood [and came away with it].

When the female Crow was there unable to lift up her bundle of firewood, she saw that a lad who looks after cattle was going by, and having called to him, when she said, "Son, lift up the bundle of firewood and go; I will give you cakes," the lad lifted it up and gave her it, and went away.

After that, the lad having come to eat cakes, when he asked for cakes the female Crow gave him cakes.

The lad, having gone away taking the cakes, and ascended a tree, when he was eating them a Rakshasi came. When she looked up the tree, having seen a lad eating cakes, she said, "Ane! Son, throw down cakes for me also." So the lad threw down a cake. Having said, "It is in the dung-heap," she told him to throw down one more. Thereupon the lad threw down one more. "That also is in the dung-heap," she said. After all were finished in that way, the Rakshasi says to the lad, "Now then, son, tying both legs and both hands jump into this bag," she said. Then the lad jumped.

The Rakshasi having put the lad in the bag, and [after] tying it having gone home, gave it to the Rakshasi's daughter, and said, "Fry this, and put it away until the time when I come." Having said [this], the Rakshasi went away somewhere or other.

After that, the Rakshasi's daughter opened the bag, and taking out the lad, told the lad to blow up the fire on the hearth. Thereupon the lad says, "I don't know [how]," he said.

Then when the Rakshasi's daughter descends to the hearth to show him, the lad pushed the Rakshasi's daughter into the oil cooking-pot that was on the hearth.

After she was fried, having taken it off and put it away, taking the chillies [grinding] stone he climbed up the Palmira tree which was at the doorway.

While he is [there] the Rakshasi, having come back, says, "Wherever went my daughter? Can she have gone for firewood? Can she have gone for water?" [232]

Having said and said it, when she is eating, the lad sitting in the tree says,

"Of the heifer's flesh "Naembige malu
The heifer herself [is] the eater. Naembima kanna.
The Palmira tree at the doorway. Dorakada tal gaha.
Dan, dun." Dan, dun."

While he is saying it, when the Rakshasi had looked up and seen that the lad is in the tree, as she is going to climb the tree the lad threw down the chillies [grinding] stone on the Rakshasi's body. Thereupon the Rakshasi died.

After that, the lad having descended from the tree, put the Rakshasi into a well, and went away.

Bintaenna, Uva Province.

THE CAKE TREE. (Variant b.)

In a certain country there was a house of a Gamarala, it is said. At that house there were seven children. Out of the seven, the elder six persons having arisen on all days just at daybreak, go to do work in the rice field. The young person for the purpose of learning goes to school.

Having joined with yet [other] children (lamo), the party of children began to go near a house at which a certain Rakshasi dwells at that village. During the time when they are going thus, the Rakshasi who saw these children, from the day on which she saw the children made ready to seize and eat them.

Although she made ready in that manner, through fear because men dwelt in the neighbourhood she did not seize the children. But the Rakshasi being unable to remain without eating the children, thought, "Seizing the children by a certain device, I must employ my daughter, and [after] boiling I must eat them." Having broken off all the leaves of a tree that was on the road on which the children go to school, and having wrapped strips of white cloth at all places on the tree, and hung cakes and plantains, etc., at all places on the tree, the Rakshasi got into the jungle and waited.

At the time when she is staying thus, the party of children who are going to school, when they approached the root of that tree having seen the tree on which the cakes and plantains had been hung, said, "Look here, Bola; a Cake Tree;" and the whole of them having ascended the tree, plucked the cakes and plantains to the extent to which they had been hung on the tree, and ate them.

That day, except that the Rakshasi had gone into the jungle, she did not come to the place where the children are eating the cakes and plantains. Why? It was through fear that many children having come to the place where she is, at the time when she is seizing them the children having become afraid, and run to that and this hand, when they have told the men they will kill her.

Having thought thus, that day after the whole of the children, plucking the cakes and plantains, went away, the Rakshasi having come from the jungle into the open, arrived at her house, and stayed [there]. On the following day also, as on the former day, at daybreak having gone taking cakes and plantains, and hung them on the tree, she got hid, and remained looking out.

That day, when she is thus, out of that troop of children going to school, the Gamarala's child having arisen more towards daybreak than on other days, and hurried, and eaten food, and drunk, and gone in front of the other boys, with the thought that he must pluck the cakes very quickly went that day quite alone. Having gone in that way, he ascended the Cake Tree and began to pluck them. At the time when he is thus plucking them, the Rakshasi having sprung out, quickly taking the bag also, and having come to the bottom of the tree, spoke to the Gamarala's boy, and says, "Ade! Son, pluck and give me one cake," she said.

When the Rakshasi said thus, he plucked one and gave it. The Rakshasi having thrown on the ground that bit of cake says, "Ane! Son, the cake fell on the ground. Sand being rubbed on it, I cannot eat it. Give me still one," she said.

At the time when she said thus, he plucked one more and gave it. Having dropped that also on the ground, she says, "Ane! Having struck my hand that also fell on the ground. I cannot catch the cakes that you are plucking and giving me. I will tell you a very easy work; you do it. Plucking as many cakes as you can, jump into my bag. Jumping in that way is easier than descending [by climbing down] the tree," she said.

When the Rakshasi told him in that manner, this foolish child, thinking, "It is an easy work the Rakshasi is telling me," and plucking as many as possible for both hands and waist-pocket, jumped into the Rakshasi's bag.

The Rakshasi, tying the mouth of the bag and having gone taking him without being visible to the men, arrived at her house, and having spoken to the Rakshasi's daughter, says, "Daughter, to-day I must eat a good flavour. In the bag that I brought, placing it on my shoulder, there is a tasty meat. Boil the meat for me and give me it." Having given it to her daughter, the Rakshasi went about another thing that should be done.

When the Rakshasi's daughter is unfastening the bag to prepare the meat, there is a boy [in it]. When the Rakshasi's daughter having unfastened the bag is going to take the child out, having spoken he says, "Ane! Elder sister, there are lice on your head."

Thereupon the Rakshasi's daughter says, "Ane! Younger brother, if so, catch them." Having said [this] she sat down.

The Gamarala's son, having been for a little time turning and turning over the hairs of her head to that and this side in the manner when looking at the head, taking the axe that had been brought to kill the boy, and at once having struck the head of the Rakshasi's daughter and killed her, and having put her in the cauldron of water which was there, and placed her on the hearth, and boiled her, and made her ready and placed her to eat when the Rakshasi is coming, collecting the rice mortar, pestle, and a great many knives that were at the house, and having gone and placed them in a Palmira tree that is at the doorway,--at the time when the Rakshasi comes this one having also ascended the tree stayed [there]. [233]

When the Rakshasi came [after] bathing, at the time when she is coming she says, "Daughter, even to-day has tasty food been prepared? Don't do that work for the men of the village to get news of it; if so, the men of the village will kill us." Saying this, she came into the house.

Well then, except that having boiled the meat it is there to eat, the daughter is not to be seen. While calling her on that and this hand, at the time when she is seeking her that youth, sitting on the Palmira tree, says, "Their own flesh they themselves will eat. On the Palmira tree at the doorway; tan, tun." Saying [this] he began to beat a tom-tom (rambana).

Then the Rakshasi having looked up when coming running to seize this one, this one threw at the Rakshasi the rice mortar and pestle that he had taken to the top of the tree, and struck her. The Rakshasi died at the bottom of the tree.

This one having descended from the tree, and gone home, and given information to the other brothers of this circumstance, came with them, and took away the goods of the Rakshasi's that there were. Having gone away they lived in happiness.

Western Province.

In Kaffir Folk-Lore (Theal), p. 120, a cannibal placed in a bag a girl whom he intended to eat. When he went for water her brother took her out and put a swarm of bees in her place. These stung the cannibal when he opened the bag, and he fell into a pool, where he became a block of wood.

NO. 139

THE GIRL, THE MONK, AND THE LEOPARD

In a certain country there were a Gamarala and a Gama-Mahage (his wife). There was a female child of the Gamarala's.

After the child became suitable [for marriage] he went near the Lord or monk of the pansala [234] to look at her naekata. [235] The Gamarala said to the monk, "Ane! Lord, there is a female child of mine; the child became suitable [for marriage]. You must look at the naekata," he said to the Lord.

Thereafter, when the monk looked at the naekata, besides that it is very good for both the parents, it was said in the naekata that the man who calls her [in marriage] on that very day is to obtain a kingdom. Because of it, the monk after having placed the Gamarala in subjection (i.e., made him promise obedience), said, "The naekata is very angry. For the two parents, and for the man who calls her [in marriage], there is anger to the degree [that they are] to die," he said to the Gamarala. This lie the monk said to the Gamarala in order for the monk to call the female [in marriage] for himself.

At that time the Gamarala, having become much troubled, asked the Lord, "What shall I do for this?"

The monk said, "Don't kill the child outright, [236] and don't [merely] turn her out of the house. You go home and make a box. After having made it, and made ready for the box [various] sorts of food and drink, put this child in the box, and having put into it the kinds of food and drink, after having closed it go to the river, and put it in."

Thereupon, the Gamarala having done in the manner the monk said, and having informed the monk that on such and such a day he will put the box in the river, went to the river and put the box in it. [237]

The monk told the pupils who were at the pansala to wait [for it]. He said, "You go and wait near the river. At the time when you are there a box will come floating down. Taking it ashore, bring it to the pansala;" the pupils went on the journey. The monk that day, for the purpose of eating the [wedding] feast amply preparing [various] sorts of food and drink, remained ready.

Two boys of that country, or two young men, had set a trap at the bank [of the river]. At the time when these two persons went to look at it, a leopard was caught in the trap. These two having become afraid, having said, "What shall we do about this?" at the time when they were talking and talking on the river bank, they saw that a box is coming floating [down the river], and the two persons spoke together [about it]. Both having agreed that the things inside the box [should be] for one person, and the box for one person, they got the box ashore.

Having opened the mouth of the box, when they looked [in it] there were a woman, and [various] kinds of food and drink. Taking them aside, they seized the leopard, and having put it in the box and shut it, they took it to the river and put it in.

Out of the two persons, one took the woman, the effects one took. The person who took the woman that very day obtained the kingdom, it has been said.

Thereafter, that box floated down to the place where the monk's pupils stayed. Getting the box ashore, and tying [it as] a load (tadak) for a carrying pole, they took it to the pansala. The monk, taking the box, quickly placed it inside the house. The monk told the pupils to stay: "To-day I must say Bana [238] from a different treatise (sutra); to-day you must respond, 'Sadhu,' loudly."

After it became night the monk told the pupils, "You also lie down," and having lit the lamp in the house, [after] shutting the door he opened the mouth of the box. Just as he was opening it, the leopard having sprung out, began to bite (lit., eat) the monk. Thereupon the monk cried out, "Apoyi! The leopard is biting me!"

The pupils began to respond, "Sadhu!" louder than on other days. At the time when the monk is shouting and shouting, the pupils loudly, loudly, began to respond, "Sadhu!" When he had been crying and crying out no long time, the monk died.

In the morning, having cooked rice gruel for the obligatory donation (hil daneta), when they were waiting, looking out for the time when the monk arose, he did not get up. Until the time when it became well into the day (bohoma dawal), they remained looking out. Still he did not [come out].

An upasaka (lay devotee) of that village comes every day to the wihara to offer flowers. He, too, remained looking out near the wihara until the time when the monk comes. Thereafter the upasakarala having gone to the pansala, asked at the hand of the pupils, "What is the reason the Lord has not yet arisen?"

Then the pupils said, "During last night it was not the Bana which he says on other days that he said; from another sutra he said Bana. He told us, also, to respond 'Sadhu' more loudly than on other days."

At that time the upasakarala tapped at the door to awake the monk; he did not speak. Having struck the door loudly [the upasakarala] spoke to him. At that also there was not any sound.

Thereafter, the upasakarala having mounted on the roof and put aside the tiles, when he looked [down] the leopard sprang at him, growling. The upasakarala having become afraid, fell from the roof and died.

Thereafter, many men having joined together and broken down the door, and killed the leopard, when they looked for the monk he was killed. So having put the leopard and the monk into one grave, they covered [them with] earth.

North-western Province.

In The Orientalist, vol. ii, p. 145, Mr. N. Visuvanathapillai, Mudaliyar, relates this as a Tamil story. The girl was Princess Devalli; to save the country she was condemned to death, but her mother bribed the executioners to set her afloat in the river, in a box. A hunter who had trapped a tiger on the river bank secured the box, released the Princess, and put in the tiger. The Guru (teacher) had heard of the Queen's stratagem, and sent a dozen of his pupils in a boat in search of the box. They brought it into a room in a deserted building, and remained in an adjoining one, being instructed to clap their hands and shout, "Hail! Long life to our Master!" when they heard the box opened. Amid this applause of the boys the tiger killed the Guru. (In The Orientalist, vol. iii, p. 269, Mr. J. P. Lewis noted that this story is from the Katha sintamani).

In Old Deccan Days (M. Frere), p. 280, a Brahmana foretold that unless a baby Princess should be sent out of the country she would destroy it utterly. The Raja her father caused her to be placed in a box, which was launched on a river, and floated down. A merchant saw it, and got a fisherman to bring it ashore, the box to go to him and the contents to belong to the merchant. He got the Princess, reared her, and married her to his son. The rest of the tale is the legend of the Goddess Pattini, who caused Madura to be burnt in revenge for the execution of her husband on a false charge of stealing the Queen's bangle.

In the Katha Sarit Sagara (Tawney), vol. i, p. 102, an ascetic told a merchant that when his daughter got married all the family would die, and he advised him to set her adrift in a basket on the Ganges. Her father having promised to do this, the ascetic ordered his pupils to intercept the basket and bring it secretly to his monastery. A Prince who had gone to bathe found and opened the basket, married the girl by the Gandharva rite (in which a garland of flowers is thrown round the neck), put a fierce monkey in her place, and set the basket afloat again. The boys brought it, and the ascetic placed it in a room to perform incantations alone, he said. When he opened it the monkey flew at him and tore off his nose and ears, and he became the laughing-stock of the place.