Chapter IX: Part 9

To that the boy, having caused them to raise the ship's flag, says, "Such and such a Hettirala's indeed are these ships," he said.

Then speedily having caused the Hettiya to be brought, when he asked him, the Hettiya says, "These ships are not for me. I bought such and such a rich man's ship for such and such a boy, and loaded rice in it; since I sent it (aeriya haetiye) there is not even news yet," the Hettiya said.

After that, having sent a boat, and caused the principal person of the ships to be brought, when he asked, indeed, thereafter the Hettiya gets to know [the facts]. As soon as he ascertained he caused the ships to be brought, and when the Hettiya asked the boy about these matters the boy gave account of (kiya-dunna) the wonderful things that occurred, it is said.

At the time when he reported them the Hettiya says, "I will not take charge of these ships. Should you ask, 'What is [the reason of] that?' because your merit (pina) is great, when I have taken the things you obtained they will not flourish for me," he said. On account of it, the Hettiya took only the five hundred pounds that the Hettiya gave the boy, and the price of the rice, it is said.

Thereupon the boy, having caused a great palace to be built, and having decorated his mother with great beauty, causing her to ascend a great horse-carriage, published it by beat of tom-toms; and obtaining the office of Treasurer (situ tanataera) he dwelt in that palace. Having established hired persons for the ships, he began to send them to various countries (rata ratawala), it is said.

Western Province.

NO. 234

HOW THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW GOT THE MASURAN

In a certain city there was a nobleman. [214] There had been a great quantity of the nobleman's goods, but the goods in time having become destroyed, he arrived at a very indigent condition. During the time while he was [thus], existing by his son and daughter's continuing to strongly exert themselves as much as possible, at last this nobleman died.

After that, at the time when his son arrived at full age, his mother began to say to the son, "Son, because I am now a person who is approaching old age, you are unable quite alone to provide for me. Because it is so, thou must take in marriage a woman from a suitable family," she said.

Well then, after he had married, the woman does not exert herself for his mother. Her husband having succeeded in ascertaining that she does not exert herself in this manner, and having thought that for [counteracting] this he must make a means of success, collected a quantity of fragments of plates that were at the whole of the places in the village; and taking a large skin, and having caused a purse to be made from the skin, and put in the skin purse the quantity of fragments of plate that he collected, he says to his mother, "Mother, when you have come near that woman, open the box so as to be visible from afar, and having behaved as though there were great wealth in it, and shaken this skin bag, place it in the box [again], and put it away."

When he said thus, his mother, taking [to heart] her son's saying, having made a sound with the skin bag in the manner he said, so as to be noticed by her son's wife, and having treated it carefully, placed it in the box.

From the day on which the son's wife saw it, she began to exert herself for her mother-in-law. During the time when she is exerting herself thus, a leprosy disease attacked her mother-in-law. Thereupon the son spoke to his mother, and said, "Mother, taking that skin bag, and placing it at the spot where you sleep, say in this manner to your relatives and my wife, that is, 'Beginning on the day when I was little (podi dawase patan) until this [time] I gathered together these articles. For not any other reason but in order to give them at the time of my being near death, to a person who has exerted herself for me, I gathered these together. Should any person out of you exert [herself] for me, to that person I will give these.' You say [this]," he said secretly to his mother.

After that, his mother having gathered together her relatives, and having called her daughter-in-law near, while in front of the whole of them she said in the mode which her son taught her, that to the person who exerted herself for her she will give the skin bag of masuran.

Thereupon each one, competing according to the measure of her power, attended on this female leper. That son's mind arrived at [a state of] much delight. [After] in this manner enjoying pleasure, when a little time had gone this female leper died. Thereupon, anybody among the relatives not having hidden it, the son's wife, stealing the masuran bag, concealed it.

Having buried the corpse, after the disturbance was done with the son's wife unfastened the bag of masuran. When she looked [in it], having seen that it had been filled with only the fragments of the plates that were in the village, she arrived at extreme grief.

That woman's mother also having come at this time, very noisily asked, "Did my daughter receive the bag of masuran?"

Thereupon her daughter having told her that she was cheated, when she had shown her the bag of fragments of plates both of them wept; and that woman having become angry with her husband separated from him, and went to her own house.

Western Province.

In The Orientalist, vol. iv, p. 121, Miss S. H. Goonetilleke published nearly the same story without the introductory part, presumably as it is found in Kandy. The son gave his mother a bag containing stones, telling her to pretend that it held valuables. She threatened to leave owing to her daughter-in-law's neglect of her, and to go to her own daughter's house, and she went off while the daughter-in-law was asleep. The son scolded his wife, and told her the bag of gold would now be left to his mother's daughter, so she went off next morning, coaxed her back, and attended to her carefully afterwards, and only learnt about the trick when the woman was dying.

In Folk-Tales of Kashmir (Knowles), 2nd ed., p. 241, an old man who was wealthy, thinking he was about to die, divided his property among his sons, who afterwards neglected and abused him, and treated him with cruelty. A friend to whom he related his troubles afterwards came with four bags of stones, and told him to pretend that he had returned to pay off an old debt of large amount, on no account allowing the sons to get the bags. This had the desired effect; the sons attended carefully to him until he died, and then greedily opening the bags learnt how they had been tricked.

NO. 235

THE MONKEY AND THE BEGGAR, OR THE MONKEY APPUSIÑÑO AND THE BEGGAR BABASIÑÑO

A certain Beggar having gone from village to village was earning a subsistence by making a Monkey [215] dance and dance. By it those two collected a very little money. Having changed the small coins they got a pound in gold, and a rupee. During that time the Monkey was well accustomed to [visit] the royal house.

For marrying and giving the Princess of the King of the country, the King began to seek Princes. At that time royal Princes not being anywhere in those countries, he stayed without doing anything (nikan).

At that time the Monkey called Appusiñño asked Babasiñño the Beggar, "Am I to arrange and give you an opportunity [for a marriage]?"

Then Babasiñño said, "What is this you are saying, Appusiñño? For you and for us what [wedding] feast!"

Then Appusiñño said, "It doesn't matter to you. I will arrange and give it from somewhere or other."

Having said thus, Appusiñño went to the royal house. At that time the King having seen Appusiñño, asked, "What have you come for?"

Then Appusiñño said, "The Mudaliyar [216] Babasiñño told me to go and ask for the bushel for measuring golden pounds. On that account I came."

Then the King thinking, "Who is it, Bola, who is a rich man to that degree?" told him to ask a servant for it, and go. So Appusiñño, asking a servant for it, went back [with it].

[Afterwards] taking the golden pound which, having changed [their small coins for it], they were hiding, and having glued it in the bushel so as not to be noticed, he handed over the bushel, with the golden pound also, at the royal house. Thereupon the King, having looked at the bushel, said, "Look here. A golden pound has been overlooked [217] in this. Appusiñño, take it away."

Thereupon Appusiñño said, "Golden pounds like that are swept up into the various corners of the house of our Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño. Because of it, what of that one!"

The King thought, "Maybe this person is a richer man than I!"

The Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño and Appusiñño stay in a hut enclosed with leaves. [218] There are deficiencies of goods for those persons, for cooking and eating; there are only the small cooking pot (muttiya) and the large cooking pot (appalla) [as their goods].

On yet a day Appusiñño went running to the royal house. Having said that the Lord Mudaliyar told him to go and ask for the bushel for measuring rupees, he asked for it.

At that time the King asked Appusiñño, "Whence comes this money?"

Appusiñño said, "All is indeed the revenue which he receives from gardens, and grass fields, and rice fields."

After that, he took away the vessel. At that time taking the rupee which was hidden, having brought it again, he gave it [with the rupee inside].

That day also the King said, "Look here. A rupee has been overlooked; take it away."

Thereupon he says, "If one gather up rupees at home in that way there are many [there]. What of that one!"

Appusiñño having gone, and having walked to the shops in the villages, [after] finding about a hundred old keys, returned. Having brought the keys, and having thoroughly cleaned them, and made them into a bunch of keys, he tied them at his waist. [After] tying them at his waist he went in the direction of the royal house. The King, having seen this bunch of keys, asked, "Whence, Appusiñño, keys to this extent?"

"They are the keys of the cash-boxes in the wardrobes of the Lord Mudaliyar," he said. Having said it, Appusiñño said, "O Lord King, Your Majesty, will you, Sir, be angry at my speaking?"

The King replied, "I am not angry at your speaking, or at your saying anything you want."

Thereupon Appusiñño says, "Our Lord Mudaliyar having walked to every place in this country, there was not an opportunity (idak) [for a marriage] to be found." The Monkey informed the King that although during the little time that had passed he was poor, at present he was a great rich man, and that he was a person born formerly of an extremely important lineage. "Because of it I am speaking," he said.

At that time the King said, "That there are signs of his wealth, I know. His caste and birth [219] I do not know. Hereafter (dewenu) having inquired [about them], I will say."

Thereupon Appusiñño having gone into a multitude of villages, told the men, "The King having sent messages and told you to come, will ask, 'Is Babasiñño a very wealthy person? Is he a person of good lineage?' Then say, 'He is of a very good caste.'"

After that, the King having summoned the Talipat fan men [220] who were in that country, made inquiry, "Is Babasiñño's house (i.e., lineage) good or bad?"

The whole of them began to say, "He is a monied man, an overlord of lineage," [221] they said.

After that, Appusiñño came once to the royal palace. At that time the King said to Appusiñño that he must see the bridegroom.

Thereupon Appusiñño having gone home, and again having gone to the bazaar and bought a piece of soap, caused the Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño to bathe.

Again, the Monkey known as Appusiñño, splitting his head with a stone, went running to the royal house.

Thereupon the King asked Appusiñño, "What has split your head?"

Appusiñño says, "The Lord Mudaliyar sought for the keys to get clothes to go somewhere or other. Out of my hand the keys were lost. On account of it having beaten me with a club and my head having been split, I came running here," he said.

Thereupon the King says, "You can find the keys some time. Until then, there are the needful clothes. Go and give him any cloth you want out of them," he said.

So having taken a good cloth in which gold work was put, he dressed him, and he having come to the royal house, the King became pleased with the Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño; and having caused the naekat (planetary prognostics) to be looked at, settled to marry [him to his daughter]. Thereupon, having told the men who were in that country, and having decorated the city, he observed the [wedding] festival, having also been surrounded by much sound of the five instruments of music in an extremely agreeable manner.

Well then, while they were going summoning the Princess to Babasiñño's own country, the Monkey through extreme delight ran jumping and jumping in front. While the Monkey was going thus, a party of boys who were causing certain goats to graze, having heard the noise of the five instruments of music, became afraid. At the time when they asked, "What is this?" "They are coming breaking up a country, upsetting a country. If ye are to save these goats, say they are the Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño's," the Monkey said.

When they are going a little further, certain herdsmen who are looking after cattle having become afraid, at the time when they asked [what the noise was], "They are coming breaking up a country, upsetting a country. If ye are to escape say, 'We are causing the Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño's cattle to graze,'" the Monkey said.

When they are going a little further, certain men who are doing rice-field work having become afraid, at the time when they asked, "What is this noise?" he said, "They are coming breaking up a country, upsetting a country. If ye are to escape say, 'We are doing work in the Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño's rice fields.'"

At the whole of the aforesaid places the men observed the method which the Monkey said.

The Monkey saw during the time he was staying in the midst of the forest, a house in which is a Yaksani. As in that house there are riches, silver and gold, like a palace, and because there was nothing in Babasiñño's house, he thought of going there. Having thought it, and having left the bride and bridegroom and the whole of them to come in carts, and having said, "Come on this path," Appusiñño got in front, and having gone to the place where the Yaksani is, said, "Isn't there even news that they are coming breaking up a country, upsetting a country? The King is coming to behead you. Because of it, go to that stone well and get hid."

Thereupon, the Yaksani having gone to the stone well, got hid. While she was hiding [in it], this Appusiñño having thrown stones [into it], and having killed the Yaksani, swept the Yaksani's house, and when the party were coming was there.

The King and the rest having come, when they looked much wealth and corn were there. Having said, "This one is a great rich person, indeed," while the servants and the Princess remained there the King came back to the city.

But however much assistance the Monkey gave, Babasiñño having forgotten the whole of it did not even look whether they gave the Monkey to eat.

Well then, while the party are staying there, one day, to look, "Does the Lord Mudaliyar Babasiñño regard me?" Appusiñño was getting false illness.

At that time Babasiñño said, "What a vile remnant [222] is this! Take it and throw it away into the jungle."

Thereupon the Monkey made visible and showed the absence (naetikama) of Babasiñño's good qualities (guna), bringing forward many circumstances [in proof of it. He said], "Putting [out of consideration] that I was of so much assistance, you said thus!" Having said, "Because of it, staying here is not proper," he went into the midst of the forest.

Western Province.

NO. 236

HOW THE BEGGAR AND THE KING GAMBLED

In a certain country there was a King who having gambled gets the victory. At that time, in that country there was a Beggar.

One day, Senasura, [223] having come near the Beggar, said, "Taking the money that thou hast begged and got, go near the King, and say thou, 'Let us gamble.' Then the King will say, 'I will not.' Then say thou, 'Somehow or other, to the degree in which you, Sir, hold [a wager], I will hold wagers. Because of that you ought to play.' Then the King will say, 'Ha.'"

At that time the Beggar by begging had obtained about a thousand pounds. Having taken that little money he spoke to the King about the gambling. Then the King scolded him: "What gambling with thee, Beggar!"

Then the Beggar says, "Should I hold the wager that you, Sir, hold, that is as much [as matters] to you, isn't it? Why are you saying so? Let us gamble." Then anger having come to the King, and having said "Ha, it is good," he became ready to gamble.

Having made ready the two gambled. While gambling the King began to lose at the wagers they were laying and laying. Having thus lost, he staked (lit., placed) the palace, also, and played. By that [throw] also, he lost. Then having staked Lankawa (Ceylon) also, he played. By that [throw] also, he lost.

After that, going from the palace the King and Queen made an outer palace, and the Beggar stayed in the palace. This King and Queen [afterwards] went away. Being unable to go on, they sat down at a place. While they were sitting the Queen lay down, and placed her head on the foot of the King. During the time while the Queen was asleep, the King taking a ball of straw placed it for the Queen's head; and while the Queen was sleeping there the King went away.

At that time some men came there, bringing laden oxen. Then having heard the noise of the caravan (tavalama), the Queen awoke. When she looked about the King was not there. Then the Queen also having joined the caravan people, went away [with them].

Having gone, while she was lying down at a place, Senasura, having come taking the disguise of a leopard, sprang at the party of caravan cattle. Then all the cattle which were tied up, breaking [loose] bounded off. Having bounded off, while they were running all these men sprang off on that road. This Queen sprang off to one hand (a different direction).

Having bounded off she entered a city. The mother who makes garlands for the royal house, being without a person [as an assistant], having sought one and walked there, met with this Queen. At the time when she asked at the hand of the Queen [if she would help her], she said, "I can work." Well then, the Queen stayed [there], doing and doing garland-making work.

That King having abandoned the Queen, while he was going away, Senasura, taking the disguise of a polanga [224] (snake), stayed on the path. When the King was going from there the polanga said, "Having swallowed a prey I am here, unable to go. Because of it take hold of my tail, and having drawn me aside and left me, go away."

Thereupon the King having taken hold of the tail of the polanga, while he was drawing it aside it bit him on the hand. Then leprosy having struck the King, the King's eye became foul.

At that time a horse belonging to the King of yet [another] city was born. [The King went there, and was appointed as a horse-keeper under the King who owned the horse.]

That garland-making mother (the ex-Queen) one day having gone taking flowers, placed them on the couches at the palace. When she was coming out, a trader who sold clothes when at that gambling city, having brought clothes to this city and having seen her as that garland-making mother was coming out, this trader made obeisance to this garland-making mother.

Thereupon the Queen of the King of the city having seen it summoned the trader, and asked him, "Why didst thou make an obeisance to our garland-making mother?"

The trader says, "What of that Queen's doing garland-making work! [She is] the Queen of the King of such and such a city. Having seen her before, through being accustomed to it I made obeisance." When she asked the garland-making mother about the circumstances, all was correct.

After that having told the King, when the King, having heard of it, went looking at her she was the King's elder sister. Thereupon he caused the garland-making mother to bathe in sandal-wood water, and robed her.

Having heard the circumstances, in order to find the King (her husband) he made use of an expedient in this manner. Settling to eat a feast, he sent letters to the royal personages of cities successively, to come to this city. Then on the day the whole of the Kings came. Before that, he had told that Queen that should that King come she was to ascertain it.

All these royal parties and their horse-keepers having come, and the royal party having arrived at the palace, that horse-keeper (the former King) went to another quarter, and placed a gill of rice on the hearth [to boil]. Cooking it and having eaten, because he was a King before that he set off to look at this royal party when eating food, and having come, peeped a little and looked. When he looked he saw that that Queen was there.

Thereupon both these persons having seen each other began to weep. Then the whole of the Kings, having hit upon a little about it, inquired, "What is it?" Then the [royal] party said, "It is thus and thus."

Then the King summoned the horse-keeper, and having made him bathe in sandal-wood water, kept the Queen and the King in the palace. Having much thanked that royal party [of guests] and said, "It was for the sake of finding this one, indeed, that I laid this feast," he sent the party [of guests] to those cities. This party (the King and Queen) remained at this royal house.

Western Province.

This story is a variant of the Indian tale of King Nala and Queen Damayanti. The two dice, Kali and Dwapara, personified, as well as several Gods, were in love with Damayanti, but she married Nala, selecting him at a Swayamvara (at which a Princess makes her own choice of a husband). In order to separate them, Kali entered Nala when he had neglected his religious practices one day; and he became a drunkard and a gambler, and thus lost his kingdom, which was won by his brother at dice. He and his wife wandered away, and after showing her the path to her father's kingdom, he abandoned her while she was asleep. He met with Karkotaka, a snake King, and carried him from a fire which scorched him. The snake then bit him on the forehead, causing him to become deformed, and gave him garments which restored his original form when worn; and he entered the service of a King as cook and horse-keeper. Damayanti joined a caravan, and then became a palace attendant of a Queen who proved to be her mother's sister. A Minister of her father's recognised her; and on her story's becoming known her uncle sent her back to her father. She heard of a clever cook and horse-keeper whom she suspected to be Nala; when she got a false notice of a Swayamvara to be sent to the King his employer he made Nala drive him there. Nala was tested in various ways by Damayanti, who at last felt sure of his identity; she then sent for him, and Kali having now left him he told his story, put on his magic garments, and they were re-united. He afterwards recovered his kingdom from his brother.

In the Sinhalese version which has been given, the dice are not mentioned, and the reason why Senasura brought about the misfortunes of the King and Queen,--that is, his jealousy,--is also not explained.

In Folklore of the Santal Parganas (Rev. Dr. Bodding), p. 144, the story is given without any intervention of the deities or personified dice. After being abandoned, the Princess was engaged as a servant at a palace, and the Prince became a groom at the same place. She saw and recognised him, and afterwards the younger brother restored half the kingdom to him.

NO. 237

THE STORY OF THE KING

In a certain country, during the time when a King was exercising sovereignty the King married a Queen, it is said. In the Queen's womb, begotten by the Great King, three Princes were conceived, it is said.

While the three Princes were in the state approaching full age, the eldest Prince of the three Princes improved himself in throwing stones with the stone-bow, it is said. During the time when he was improving himself thus, he became a very skilful and dexterous person at stone-bow throwing. After that, the same Prince having abandoned the stone-bow began the shooting of animals with the bow and arrows. By that means, having shot at animals and killed animals, while eating the flesh with good joy and pleasure he passed the time in happiness with his father the King, and his mother the Queen, and his younger brothers who were the other two Princes.

At the time when he passed the time thus, his mother reached the other world. Not much time after it the Great King effected the wedding festival for yet [another] Queen from another country. The Queen was a childless proud woman. Because it was so, her happiness was in passing the time in discourtesy.

Furthermore, by this Queen there not being any notice of the three Princes, and as she was passing the time in anger and jealousy, the three Princes spoke together, "When our father the King has gone to war with any city, we three persons, taking three bags of masuran and causing a bag of cooked rice to be made ready, will go to another country."

[After] saying [this], at the time when they are there the King received the message to go to a war. As soon as he received it, [225] having spoken to the Princes and the Queen, "Remain in happiness, looking after the country and the palace," the Great King having been adorned to go went away.

After he went, the three Princes, making ready the bags of masuran and cooked rice, and forsaking the country, having started to go to another country, went off. While they were thus going, a very severe water-thirst [226] seized the elder Prince. While going seeking water, perceiving that there was no water he said to the other young Princes, "Having gone to a high hill or up a large tree, look if there is water near." Then a Prince having gone up a tree, when he looked said that very far away a pool of water is visible.

After that, having gone to the quarter in which is the pool and having met with water, staying there and dividing the bag of cooked rice they ate. Having eaten and drunk, and having finished, they spoke together, "Let us three pluck three [lotus] flowers from this pool. [After] plucking them let us go to three countries. When we have gone there, should there be harm to anyone whatever of us, the flowers of the remaining two will fade." Having said [this], the three Princes [plucked three flowers, and taking them with them] went to three countries.

After they went there, while the eldest Prince was going on the road, a palace of great height was visible. When he went to the palace that was visible, there was a Princess [at it] possessing much beauty. Having seen this Prince's splendour [227] that very Princess fell down unconscious, without sense. Afterwards the Prince having restored the Princess to consciousness, asked, "What happened?"

The Princess having spoken, said, "Having seen your beauty, Sir, it caused a great dizziness to seize me, and I fell down."

After that, the Prince, begging a little water from the Princess, drank. After he drank, "Why is there no one in this palace?" he asked.

The Princess spoke, "My father the King, and mother went for bathing their heads with water. [228] I and the flower-mother alone are [here]," she said.

When the Prince asked on account of it, "Will the party come now?" "They will come now quickly," said the Princess.

Then the King and the Queen, [after] doing the head-bathing, came. The King and the Queen having seen this Prince became greatly afraid. "Of what country are you, Sir? Who and whose?" they asked the Prince.

The Prince says, "I am a son of such and such a King of such and such a city," he said.

Because of it, the Great King asked, "Came you with the thought of perhaps a war, or what?"

Then the Prince said, "No. After my mother died, while I was remaining in great sorrow, when my father the King, marrying another Queen, was there, for me a great shame entered my mind because of the Queen's unseasonable action; and while the King went for a war I having forsaken my country came to this country."

After that, the truth of it went to the Great King, to his mind. As soon as it went there, [229] when a [little] time was going by, having married and given the King's daughter [to him], and made it public by the proclamation tom-tom, and having handed over the country also, he decorated them [with the regal ornaments].

While he was exercising the kingship of that country, the other Princes of the country, having become angry concerning this Prince and having thought of a means of killing him, said, "We will give the flower-mother five hundred masuran to give him this small quantity of poisonous drug, having deceived the Princess by some method or other." [They said to her], "Should you do as we said, we will give you these presents." Should she be unable in that manner they told her to [tell] the Princess to ask where the Prince's life is.

In that way, the flower-mother having prepared a new [sort of] food for the Prince, and having also put [into it] this drug and deceived the Princess, at the time when the Prince is eating food she told her to give him this new food. This having seemed the truth to the Princess, at the time when the Prince was eating food she gave it. The Prince, too, having been much pleased with the food, and having eaten and drunk, finished. Owing to it, anything did not happen.

On the following day the flower-mother says to the Princess, "Where is the Prince's life?" She told her to ask. When she asked the Prince on account of it, "My life is in my breast," he said. When she told it to the flower-mother in the morning, the flower-woman said, "What he said is false." She told her to ask thoroughly.

At night on the following day, when she asked he asked for oaths from the Princess, [of a nature to ensure] the impossibility of escaping from them, that the Princess must not tell it to any person. Afterwards the Princess swore, "I will not tell it." Then the Prince says, "My life is in my sword," he said.

On the following day, when the flower-woman asked, having deceived the Princess, the Princess said, "If you will not tell it to anyone I will tell you. [For me] to tell it, you [must] take an oath with me," she said. When the flower-mother swore to it the Princess said, "The Prince's life is in the Prince's sword."

From the day when she heard the fact for herself, that flower-mother to an extent never [done] before, began to pile up a heap of firewood and coconut husks. When the Princess asked, "What is that for?" she says, "For us to put in the hearth at the time when rain rains," she said.

While not much time was going in that way, one day not having shut the door of the palace, at night this flower-mother stole the Prince's sword, put it into that piled up heap of firewood, and set it on fire; but the handle for holding the sword was left outside the flames. That fire fell into the heap. [230] At the time when it was thoroughly burning the Prince's life was becoming ended here. After the sword was burnt the Prince completely died.

Not allowing them to bury the dead body, the Princess having caused a coffin to be made, and placed the dead body inside the coffin, remained in much grief.

While she was thus, the flowers of the Prince's brothers having faded, when they came seeking him ascertaining the truth they went to the palace. At the time when they went, having seen the Princess who was in the palace they asked the Princess, "Why? For what [reason] are you without cause (nikan) in this great trouble?" they asked.

To that the Princess says, "At the time when a Prince of such and such a King of such and such a country came to this country, my father the King having asked the Prince his age, and looked [into his horoscope], married and gave me to him; and having given him charge to rule the country also, that person (her father) died," she said. "After that, while he is exercising the kingship this flower-mother told me to ask where the Prince's life is. When I asked, the Prince's life is in the Prince's sword, he said. After that, whether such and such a thing occurred I do not understand," she said.

When those Princes sought for the sword there was no sword. Afterwards they looked in that heap of ashes on the fire ground. They met with only the piece of that hilt for holding. Having met with it, one person having gone running and having come [after] plucking limes, began to polish that piece of sword. The other having opened that coffin (lit. corpse-box) was near it. While he was there, by an authorisation of the Deity the sword was restored (lit. went right) better than it was [before]. Then life being as though [re-]established for the Prince also, he arose.

After that, having investigated about these matters and looked [into them], perceiving what the flower-mother did he impaled that woman and killed her. Afterwards these three Princes and the Princess sought their father the King, and went to [their own] country.

Western Province.

NO. 238

THE KING WHO LEARNT THE SPEECH OF ANIMALS

In a certain country a King was rearing wild animals. The King had learnt in a thorough manner the speech of animals.

One day at that time the fowls were saying, "Our King assists us very much; he gives us food and drink." They thanked the King very much. The King having heard their talk, the King laughed with pleasure.

The royal Queen having been near, asked, "What did you laugh at?"

"I merely (nikan) laughed," the King said. Should he explain and give the talk to any person the King will die. Because of it he did not explain and give it. That the King knows the speech of animals he does not inform anyone.

The royal Queen says, "There is no one who laughs in that way without a reason. Should you not say the reason I am going away, or having jumped into a well I shall die."

Thereupon the King, because he was unable to be released from [the importunity of] the Queen, thought, "Even if I am to die I must explain and give this."

Thinking thus, he went to give food to the animals. Then it was evident to those animals that this King is going to die. Out of the party of animals first a cock says, "His Majesty our King is going to be lost. We don't want the food. We shall not receive assistance. Unless His Majesty the King perish thus we shall not perish. In submission to me there are many hens. When I have called them the hens come. When I have told them to eat they eat. When I have told them to go they go. The King, having become submissive in that manner to the thing that his wife has said, is going to die." The King having heard it, laughed at it, also.

Then, also, the royal Queen asked, "What did you laugh at?"

Thereupon, not saying the [true] word, the King said, "Thinking of constructing a tank, I laughed."

Then the Queen said, "Having caused the animals that are in this Lankawa (Ceylon) to be brought, let us build a tank."

Then the King having said, "It is good," caused the animals to be brought. The King having gone with the animals, showed them a place [in which] to build a tank; and telling them to build it came away.

The animals, at the King's command being unable to do anything, all together began to struggle on the mound of earth. Those which can take earth in the mouth take it in the mouth. All work in this manner. The Jackal, not doing any work, having bounded away remained looking on.

After three or four days, the King having gone [there] trickishly stayed looking on. The King saw that the other animals are all moving about as though working; the Jackal, only, having bounded off is looking on.

Having seen it he asked the Jackal, "The others are all working; thou, only, art looking upward. Why?"

Thereupon the Jackal said, "No, O Lord; I looked into an account."

Then the King asked, "What account art thou looking at?"

The Jackal says, "I looked whether in this country the females are in excess or the males are in excess."

The King asked, "By the account which thou knowest, are the females in excess or the males in excess?"

The Jackal said, "So far as I can perceive, the females are in excess in this country."

Then the King said that men are in excess. Having said it the King said, "I myself having gone home and looked at the books, if males are in excess I shall give thee a good punishment."

The King having come home and looked at the books, it appeared that the males were in excess. Thereupon the King called the Jackal, and said, "Bola, males are in excess."

Then the Jackal says, "No, O Lord, Your Majesty; they are not as many as the females. Having also put down to the female account the males who hearken to the things that females say, after they counted them the females would be in excess." Then the Jackal said, "Are the animals able to build tanks? How shall they carry the earth?"

Thereupon the King having considered it, and having said, "Wild animals, wild animals, you are to go to the midst of the forest," came home.

At that time, the Queen asked, "Is the tank built and finished?"

Then the King, taking a cane, began to beat the Queen. Thereupon the Queen, having said, "Ane! O Lord, Your Majesty, I will never again say anything, or even ask anything," began to cry aloud.

The King got to know that the Jackal was a wise animal.

Western Province.

Compare vol. ii., Nos. 167 and 168.

In Santal Folk-Tales (Campbell), p. 22, after a King had received from the Snake King the power of understanding the speech of animals, he laughed on hearing a dispute between a fly and an ant over some grains of rice. As the Queen insisted on being told the reason, to disclose which he had been warned would be fatal to him, he was about to tell her and then get her to push him into the Ganges, when he overheard the talk of some goats. A he-goat replied to a she-goat's request that he would bring her some grass from an island in the river, that he would not be made like this foolish King who vainly tried to please a woman and was about to die because of it. The King saw his foolishness, made the Queen kneel to pay obeisance to him in order to be told the secret, and then beheaded her.

NO. 239

THE MAD KING

In a certain country there was a King. Madness seized the King. It having seized him, he caused all the men of the city to be brought, and seized from them their gains; should the party say even a word about it he kills them.

Having killed them in this manner, when the city was diminished a half share, he sent to tell the Treasurer (sitano) to come. He knows thoroughly that in order to kill that person he had been told to come.

The Treasurer asked at the hand of the Treasurer's wife, "What shall I do for this?"

Thereupon the woman said, "You having gone, to the talk which the King says having said nothing [else] in reply, say 'Eheyi' (Yes), [231] to the whole." Having heard her word the Treasurer went to the palace.

The King asked, "Treasurer, is there rain in your quarter?" The Treasurer said "Eheyi, Lord."

"Are you well now?" he asked. The Treasurer, not saying another speech, to that also said, "Eheyi, Lord."

In this manner they talked until the time for eating rice in the day time. To all he said, "Eheyi."

Then the King said to the Treasurer, "Treasurer, now the time for eating rice has come, hasn't it?" The Treasurer said, "Eheyi, Lord."

Thereupon the King said, "Treasurer, let us go to bathe." The Treasurer said, "Eheyi, Lord."

The King said, "Ask for the copper water-pot." The Treasurer said, "Eheyi, Lord." Having said it and gone, he returned [after] asking for [and getting] it.

Then the King said, "Get in front." The Treasurer said, "Eheyi, Lord"; having said it the Treasurer got in front. Having gone to the river, the King took off his clothes, and putting on the bathing cloth, [entered the water, and] asked the Treasurer, "Treasurer, won't you bathe?" The Treasurer, having said, "Eheyi, Lord," remained on the rock.

While the King was talking and going backwards and backwards, he was caught by an eddy in the water, and went to the bottom. Having sunk, when he was rising to the surface he said, "Treasurer, I shall die; draw me out quickly." Thereupon the Treasurer said, "Eheyi, Lord," [but did not move]. When he was going to the bottom the next time the King died.

Then the Treasurer, taking the few royal ornaments, came home. Having come, he said at the hand of the Treasurer's wife, "The King died," [and he gave an account of his death].

Thereupon the woman said, "O fool! I said that indeed. Putting on those royal ornaments, go to the royal palace and say, 'It is I who am King; also I killed the King. If ye do not hearken to the things I say I will kill you also.'"

The Treasurer did in that very way. The whole of the men of the city were afraid. Well then, the Treasurer exercising the sovereignty over the city, the Treasurer's wife became the Queen.

Western Province.

THE KAHAWANA SOWING (Variant)

At a certain city there was a foolish King. At the time when the King says anything he kills the whole of the Ministers who do not give answer, "Yahapati" (It is good), to it. In this way, by not remembering to say Yahapati a great number of Ministers tasted death. [232] By his doing thus, on account of his making this order [in the end] there was not a Minister for the King.

After that, he caused notice to be given by tom-toms in the city for a person to come for the ministership (aemaeptiyakama). Because they were not willing to taste death anybody was unwilling to do it.

At last, a drunken cheat having the name Jobbuwa arrived. "Yahapati; be pleased to give me the office of Minister," he said. The King having said, "Yahapati," gave him the office of Minister.

While time was passing, he spoke to the Minister one day, and said, "Cannot I obtain profit by cultivating kahawanas (coins)?"

"Yahapati; you can get much gain by it," he said.

"If so, for the purpose of sowing them cause a chena to be cut," the King said to the Minister.

The Minister, having said, "Yahapataeyi" (It is good), went away, and firstly having told the Chiefs (pradaninta) of the village to collect and bring Tamarind seeds, told the villagers to put in order a wide, level, open place on the border of a certain river. The villagers having put the Tamarind seeds into sacks and stitched them up, brought them.

Having cut the chena, after it was completed the Minister having gone, asked the King for kahawanas [to sow in it]. The King said, "Take as many as you require for sowing in the chena." The Minister having brought the kahawanas home, caused the Tamarind seeds to be sown in the chena.

After they sprouted, the King said he must go to look at the chena. The Minister inviting the King [to go], having gone in state (peraharin) with him, and caused the army to stay on one side, the King and the Minister went into the chena. Because, when the Tamarind seeds sprouted, many young shoots were of golden colour [233] the King said, "These are very good."

While he was walking there a long time, having arrived at weariness the King went to the river to bathe. In that river the water is very rapid. Because of it, at the time when the King descended into the water he began to be drawn down into the water. Thereupon, at the time when the King says, "Take hold of me," the Minister, having said, "Yahapati," remained looking on.

After the King had been swallowed up in the river and died, the Minister, having put on the royal ornaments and gone away with the army, exercised the sovereignty of that city with renown.

Uva Province.

NO. 240

CONCERNING THE PRINCE WITH HIS LIFE IN HIS SWORD

In a certain country there was a King. There were seven Princes for the King. Having instructed the whole seven, the King tried to fit them [for their position]. The party without wanting to do anything whatever passed the days in amusement.

The King thought when he looked [at their idleness], "From this party of seven persons there is not an advantage," and having punished (dada gahala) the whole seven, "Go to any kingdom you can; don't stay in this country," he said.

The seven persons speaking [together] said, "Our father the King told us to go!" and the whole of them went.

Out of them, the eldest Prince, took six flower seeds. The whole seven having arrived at a kingdom, to the youngest Prince the eldest Prince said, "Getting any livelihood you can, remain in this country. At the place where you stay plant this flower seed for yourself. It having sprouted, when the flower tree has grown, on the tree a flower will blossom. At the time when the flower has faded come seeking me." Having told him thus he made the Prince stay in that country.

In that very way he made the other five stay in five countries. Having given to those persons five flower seeds, he told them [about them] in the very way he told that Prince.

To the last country the eldest Prince went. When he was living in that country doing cultivation work, one day he went to walk in the midst of the forest. In the midst of the forest there is a house. The Prince saw it. Having gone to that rock house (cave), when he looked a Princess was [there].

He asked the Princess, "Are you a human daughter, or a Yaksa-daughter?"

Thereupon the Princess said, "I am a daughter of a King. Having eaten food at night I went to sleep. That Yaka having brought me, I am in this rock house. I also do not know a path for going away; I stay in fear," the Princess said.

Then the Prince asked the Princess, "Will you come to go with me?"

At that time the Princess having said, "It is good," the two together having bounded off, proceeded to the place where the Prince who went there stays. During the time while these persons are staying there obtaining a livelihood, the Prince's life is in his sword. Except that his brothers know that his life is in this sword, no other person knows.

The Princess one day went to the river to bathe. While bathing there, three or four hairs of her head in the Princess's hair knot having become loosened and having floated, went away in the river. When the Prince of the King of that country was bathing lower down in the river, those hairs of her head which went became entangled on the hand of the Prince. When the Prince, having said, "What is this?" was looking, it was a sort of long hairs of the head, hair of the head of gold colour, and about two fathoms' length.

Having seen this hair, and known that these were the very best, like [those of] a royal Princess, he thought, "I must seek this Princess," and went to the palace. Having taken the hairs of the head he showed them to his father the King. Having shown them he told him to do whatever [was necessary], and seek and give him the Princess to whom this hair of the head belongs.

He published by the notification tom-tom that to a person who, having found, gave her, he will give goods [amounting] to a tusk elephant's load. An old woman who stayed near there said, "I can." Having told the old woman to come, the King asked, "What do you want in order to go to seek the Princess?"

"I don't want anything, O Lord; I only want a boat," she said. So he gave her a boat.

Having gone to the river taking the boat, the old woman sat in the boat, saying and saying lamentations, and having floated she went up [234] the river. Having gone in that way, and tied the boat on that side, the old woman went to the place where the Princess possessing that hair, and the Prince, are staying.

When the old woman was going there the Prince was not at home. To the Princess the old woman said, "Ane! Daughter, there is no person to look after me. Assist me for the sake of charity," she said. The Princess becoming grieved at it told the old woman to remain.

After a little, the Prince came home. Having come he asked, "This mother, a person from where is she? What came she here for?"

Thereupon the Princess also [said], "She came and said, 'There is no one to give me to eat!' Because of it, I being alone I said, 'Remain with me,'" she said.

While she was [there] in that way, at the time when the Prince was not [there] the old woman said to the Princess, "You having eaten and drunk, when you are lying down by way of fun ask the Prince, 'Where is your life?'"

So the Princess asked the Prince, "Where is your life?"

At that time the Prince said, "My life is in my sword."

Through the ignorance of the Princess regarding it, she told that old woman that his life is in the sword. Well then, the old woman from that day, having said that it was for putting in the hearth on rainy days, sought for firewood and heaped it up. When the old woman is going to sleep, every day having built a bon-fire she goes to sleep.

One day during the day time, having been [there] at the time when the Prince is not there, she looked where the sword is. Thereupon, at night a rain began. Having said, "To-day there is rain," she strengthened the bon-fire. After the Princess and the Prince went to sleep she brought the sword and put it in the bon-fire.