Part 11

When this Prince went from that city to another city, he saw that on account of a want of money the King was selling a Princess and two Princes of the King of the city; and this Prince having become inclined to take that Princess asked the price for the Princess. The King said, "It is a thousand masuran." Then when the Prince looked at the account of the masuran which he had, except that there were a thousand masuran by account, there was not even one in excess. [96] After that, having been considering and considering it, he gave the thousand masuran, and taking the Princess, went away. That this Prince is a royal Prince no one knows.

Then this Prince, calling the Princess also, went to a house at which washermen stayed. The washermen asked, "Where are ye going?"

Thereupon the Princess and Prince said, "We are going to a place where they give to eat and to wear."

Then the washermen, in order to take [them for] work for them, said, "It is good. If so, remain ye here." Thereupon the two persons stayed there.

When they were [there] not much time, the washermen, thinking, "What are we giving to eat to these two for?" said, "Go ye to any quarter ye want."

At that time, the young Prince and Princess [97] having gone to yet [another] garden, building a stick house [there], this Prince having told that Princess to be in the house went and plucked coconuts during the whole day-time (dawal tisse). Taking the coconuts given as his hire (baelagedi), and having given them at the shop, in the evening procuring two gills of rice and the requisite things for it he comes back.

When he brought them, what does that Princess do? Each day she put away at the rate of half a gill from the rice, and cooked the other things; and having given to the Prince also, and the Princess also having eaten, in this manner, when three or four days had gone, the rice that she put away was collected [sufficient] for eating at still a meal or two.

Then the Princess said to the Prince, "Elder brother, [in exchange] for the things you obtain to-day not getting anything [else], bring a cubit of cloth, and thread, and a needle." Thereupon, having given the coconuts obtained that day he brought a cubit of cloth, and thread, and a needle.

After he brought them, having eaten and drunk in the evening, and spread and given the mat for the Prince to sleep on, what does this Princess do? Having cut the cubit of cloth, and put sewing on it worth millions (koti ganan) of masuran, she sewed a handkerchief. Having sewn it, and finished as it became light, she said to that Prince, "Elder brother, give this, and not stating a price, asking for only what the shopkeeper gave [for such an article] bring that."

Thereupon the Prince, taking the handkerchief, went to three or four shops. The shopkeepers said, "We have no words [to say] regarding taking that handkerchief."

At that time there was still a great shop; to it he took it. The shopkeepers, taking the handkerchief, having seen the marvel of it, asked, "For this handkerchief how much?"

Then this Prince said, "I cannot state a price for that. Please give the price that you give."

Thereupon the shopkeepers having said, "Take as much rice and vegetables as you can," after he got them gave also a hundred thousand masuran.

This Prince taking them and having returned, those two persons remained eating and drinking.

In those days the King who sold the Princess made a proclamation by beat of tom-toms, [98] that is, "If there should be a person who came [after] finding my Princess, having married the Princess to him I will decorate him with the royal crown."

Thereupon the King's Minister having said, "I can come [after] finding her; I want time for three months, and a handkerchief that the Princess sewed," asked for [the handkerchief]. The King gave it.

Then the Minister also having come by sea, landed at the city at which this Princess and Prince stay. Having come there, he showed and showed that handkerchief at the shops, while asking, "Are there handkerchiefs of this kind?"

The shopkeepers who got that handkerchief said, "Here; we have one," and showed it.

Thereupon the Minister asked at the hand of the shopkeepers, "Who gave this handkerchief?"

The shopkeepers said, "Behold. The man who stays at the house in the lower part of that garden brought and gave it."

So having gone near the house, when he looked only the Princess was [there], not the Prince. Having said at the hand of the Princess, "Your father the King said to you [that you are] to go with me," he showed the handkerchief.

Thereupon the Princess said, "No. It is not father who provided subsistence for me for so much time. There is a person who provided my livelihood. Because of it, unless I ask from him and go, without [doing so] I will not go." At that time the Prince came.

After he came this Princess said to the Prince, "Elder brother, my father the King having said that I am to go, has sent this Minister. What do you say about it?" she asked.

The Prince said, "If you will go, go; if you will be [here], stay. It is [according to] any wish of yours."

Then the Princess spoke, "Don't say so, elder brother. Except that if you told me to stay I will stay, and if you told me to go I will go, for the word of my father the King I will not go. Because of it, let the whole three of us go."

Thereupon the Prince also having said, "It is good," the whole three having embarked began to go. While going thus, except that the Princess and Prince remain on one side, and that Minister on one side, they do not allow him to approach them. The Minister is much annoyed about it.

They went six days on the sea. On the whole six days, having said that the Minister will put into peril and kill the Prince, the Princess without sleeping remains simply looking on when the Prince has gone to sleep. In that way, on the seventh day after they embarked, the Princess being sleepy could not bear up, and said to the Prince, "Elder brother, during the time while I sleep a little you remain awake." Having said [this], the Princess went to sleep.

The Prince having been awake a little time, through the manner of his reclining went to sleep. Thereupon this Minister having awoke, when he looked having perceived that both were asleep, quickly rolled the Prince into the sea.

Just as he was thus rolling him over, that dead man having become a fish and having been [there], came and seized him behind. Having thus seized him, placing him on its back the fish asked at the hand of the Prince, "What will you give me to put you ashore?"

Then the Prince said, "I have not a thing to give now. From the [first] things that I obtain afterwards I will give you a half part." Thereupon the fish brought him and put him ashore. Afterwards the Prince went to the Princess's city.

[Having landed], that Minister said to the Princess, "Let us go to the palace."

Thereupon the Princess said, "I will not go with thee. Tell thou my father to come." So the Minister having gone, told the King to come.

Thereupon the King came. At that time that Prince also stayed near, so that he should be visible to the Princess.

The Princess, having seen the Prince, asked, "Father, in this country how are the laws now regarding journeys?"

The King said, "What, daughter, are you saying that for? They are just like [they were] when you were [here]."

Thereupon the Princess said, "At the time when you were sending letters to me, my elder brother who gave me food and clothing, and I, and the Minister, having embarked came away. My elder brother who provided subsistence for me was lost. You must make inquiry about it in a thorough manner."

Then the King having made inquiry and looked [into the matter], getting to know that the Minister threw him into the sea, [found that] unless he beheads the Minister there was nothing else [to do]. Because of it, he commanded them to behead the Minister. After that they beheaded him.

Then, this Princess first marrying the Prince himself, he appointed the Prince to the sovereignty.

Well then, when they are there no long time, the two persons went to the sea to bathe. At that time that fish having come, seizing the Prince's leg asked, "Where is the charge you undertook for me that day?"

This Princess having heard it, asked, "What does it say?"

Thereupon the Prince said, "When I was falling into the sea that day, this fish, taking me on its back, asked at my hand, 'What will you give [me] to put you on shore?' Then I said, 'From the things that I obtain first I will give a [half] share.' That share it now asks for."

At that time the Princess having given into the Prince's hand the sword that was on the shore, said, "It is I whom you obtained first. Because of it, having split a [half] share off me give it to the fish."

Then the fish said, "No need of it for me. This Prince one day has expended one thousand (sic) four hundred masuran over a dead body. Please say you do not want that debt. [I was that dead body]."

Thereupon the Prince said, "I do not want the debt."

After that, the fish having completely let go went away. The Prince-King and the Princess-Queen, both of them, [after] bathing came to the palace.

Finished.

North-western Province.

In the Arabian Nights (Lady Burton's ed., vol. v, p. 304), Princess Miriam, daughter of the King of France, who had been in a vessel that was captured, was offered for sale in Alexandria, and was bought by a youth for a thousand gold dinars (about £500), all the money he had. Each night she knitted a silk girdle, which he sold in the morning for twenty gold dinars. While he was wearing on his head a beautiful silk handkerchief worked by her, the work was recognised by a Minister sent by the French King in search of her. He bought it for a thousand dinars, and gave a feast at which he made the youth drunk and induced him to sell the Princess for ten thousand dinars; she was carried back to France, and married to the Minister. After some adventures while the youth was endeavouring to carry her off, the two lovers escaped to Baghdad, and were formally married by the Khalif. With her own hand she killed the Minister when he came to demand her return to France.

Sir R. F. Burton agreed with Dr. Bacher that this story is based on a legend of Charlemagne's daughter Emma and his secretary Eginhardt (vol. vi, p. 290). Notwithstanding its resemblance to this tale, the Sinhalese story may be an independent one. The account of the Princess who works a jacket or scarf occurs in Nos. 8 and 248, in which, also, the sale led to her abduction. In a variant, robbers carried her off and sold her for a thousand masu.

NO. 105

THE PRINCESS HETTIRALA

In a certain country there are a King and a Queen, it is said. There is also a Prince (son) of those two persons. Having given seven thousand masuran, a Princess was brought, and given to the Prince by the King and Queen.

The Prince that night having spoken to the Princess, told her to warm a little water and give him it. To that having said, "I will not," the Princess went to sleep. On that account, next morning the Prince went and sent away the Princess.

After that, again having given seven thousand masuran, and brought yet [another] Princess, they gave [her to him]. In that very way having told that Princess to warm water, because she did not warm it he went and sent her away. Thus in that manner having brought six Princesses, because they did not warm water in the night he sent away the whole six.

After that, having given ten thousand masuran, and come summoning yet a Princess, they gave [her to him]. That Princess at the time when the Prince told her, having warmed water gave it.

Well then, while he is causing the days to pass with much affection for the Princess, the whole of the men of that country became ready to go to Puttalam. This Prince also having thought of going, when he asked [permission] at the hand of the King, the King and Queen, both of them, said, "Don't go. If you eat the things that are here and stop [here], it will be sufficient for you. They go to Puttalam near the city of the courtesan woman. When they are going away from there the courtesan woman catches and takes them, having said, 'Don't even go.'" They said many things.

But the Prince without hearkening to it went away to Puttalam with the men. Having gone, he went to the city of the courtesan woman. Then certain men having been there, said, "Here, indeed, is the tavalam place [99]; throw down the sacks." Well then, this party threw down the sacks.

Having thrown down the sacks, when they were becoming ready to cook, the courtesan woman having come, said, "Don't you cook; I am preparing food for all." The woman, however many persons should come, gives food to the whole of them.

That night, also, having prepared food for these people, and called them to the house, and apportioned the cooked rice and given it, she said, "Having eaten this cooked rice and eaten betel, should my cat be holding the light at the time when it is becoming finished, this multitude, the cattle, and the sacks are mine. Should it be unable [to do] thus, my city, people, cattle, sacks, and all my goods are yours," she wagered and promised.

This multitude having become pleased at it, began to eat the cooked rice. When they began, the cat came, and sitting down in the midst of the multitude remained holding the light. Having eaten both the cooked rice and the betel, because at the time when they were finishing it remained holding the light, the multitude, the cattle, the sacks, became attached [100] to the courtesan woman (i.e., became her property).

This multitude being unable to go away, a number of years went by. The Princess's parents having ascertained that that Prince's Princess is living alone, without the Prince, the two came to go away with the Princess. That King and Queen (the Prince's parents), having said that on the top of the sorrow at the loss of the Prince they cannot send away the Princess also, were much agitated. But the Princess's parents without listening to it, joining with the Princess went to the Princess's country.

Well then, the Princess, for the purpose of bringing the Prince, spoke to the men of the Princess's country: "Let us go to Puttalam."

The men said, "Having gone away to Puttalam, so many persons were caught at the courtesan woman's city so many years ago; if, again, we also go and should be caught, how shall we come back? We will not."

Thereupon the Princess said, "Without your becoming caught, I will save you; without fear do you become ready to go with me." After that, many persons got ready.

The Princess having cut a long bamboo stick, and cleaned it inside, caught seven mice and put them in it; and having caught a few frogs and put them in it for food for the mice, closed both ends and put a little polish on the outside. The Princess having dressed in Hetti dress, taking that staff made the name [for it], having said that the name was "tavalam staff."

Well then, this Hettirala (the Princess) went away to Puttalam with those many persons. Having gone, when they came to the city of the courtesan woman, certain men having been [there] said, "Here, indeed, is the tavalama place; throw down the sacks."

Well then, having thrown down the sacks, when they were becoming ready to cook, the courtesan woman came and said, "I am preparing food for you also; don't cook;" and in the very manner [in which she behaved] to that first party, gave rice and made the promise.

When this party were eating cooked rice, the cat, sitting in the midst of this party, is holding the lamp. [101] This Princess who was the Hettirala, having opened one side (end) of the tavalama staff, sent two mice to go near the cat's head. The cat, not having even opened its eyes, did not look [at them]. This Princess sent still two mice. At that also it did not awake and look; silently it remained holding the light. Then she sent the other three mice. Instantly the cat, having let go the lamp, sprang to catch the mice.

Well then, the city, the multitude of the city, the cattle, the sacks, and the whole of the goods became the property of the Princess. Well then, the Princess having told about this to the Princess's Prince also, and having started off that party [who accompanied her] to the Princess's country, the Prince and Princess went with the party from the Prince's country.

When they were coming along to the Prince's country, the Prince's mother and the King too, remained weeping and weeping under a tree in the rice field, wearing a sort of ugly clothes, the hair of the head unfastened and hanging down, and mucus trickling down, filthy to the extent that they could not look at them.

The Prince and Princess having seen from very far that these two are [there], dressed themselves. But the two persons were unable to recognise the Prince and Princess. Having come very near they asked the King and Queen, "What are you weeping there for?"

Thereupon, the two say, "There was only a single son of ours. There is news that that son, having gone away to Puttalam, has been caught at the courtesan woman's city. Now then, we have nobody; because of it we are weeping."

Thereupon these two persons said, "Well then, what shall we do about that? Will you give us a resting-place in your kingdom?" they asked.

Then these two persons having said, "We can," and having gone summoning them to the palace, gave them the resting-place. This Princess, taking off the Hetti clothes, and the Prince, having put on other clothes in such a manner that they can recognise them, and having summoned the King and Queen, the Princess told all this account from the top to the root, and having said, "Behold! Your Prince is [here]," she handed him over to them.

Thereupon, this King and Queen having prepared sandal milk, [102] and caused the Prince and Princess to bathe in it, gave charge of the King's kingdom to the Princess; and in that very palace these four persons passed the time in a good manner.

North-western Province.

In Folk-Tales of Kashmir (Knowles), 2nd ed., p. 149, a woman who kept a gambling house was accustomed to win from everyone by the aid of her cat, which brushed against the lamp and extinguished it when the play was going against her. A young woman whose husband had in this way lost everything he possessed, and who had lost his liberty also, went in search of him, bribed the servants to tell her the secret of the gambling woman's success, and then went to play disguised as a man, having a mouse concealed in her sleeve. When the cat approached the lamp she released the mouse, which was chased by the cat. In the meantime she won back all that her husband lost.

In Folklore of the Santal Parganas (collected by Dr. Bodding), p. 115, a Prince while travelling was robbed of all his belongings by a Raja, and became a labourer. His wife, hearing of it, went to the same place, and it was settled that the person towards whom the Raja's cat jumped should possess the wealth taken from the Prince. The Princess had taken a mouse with her, and kept partly uncovering it and covering it again with her shawl. When the cat was released it sprang towards her to seize the mouse, so she regained the property.

In Folk-Tales of Tibet (O'Connor), p. 39, a young man bet a person at whose house he halted that when it became night a cat would not carry a lantern into the room. Each person wagered all his property. The landlord's cat being trained to bring in the lantern, he won the wager, and the man became his servant. His wife came in search of him disguised as a man. She made the usual bet, got her husband to conceal in his bosom a box containing three mice, and to release these in turn when the cat approached. The cat allowed the first two to run off, but dropped the lantern and chased the last one. The man and his wife returned home with all the landlord's goods as well as their own.

NO. 106

THE MAEHIYALLE-GAMA PRINCESS

In a certain city there are seven elder brothers and younger brothers, it is said. Younger than the whole seven there is a young younger brother. Those seven elder brothers said to the younger brother, "Younger brother, you must bring a wife for yourself. In that way having eaten a meal from that house and a meal from this house, you cannot end [your] existence."

Then the younger brother said, "I indeed at any time whatever will not bring a wife."

Thereupon the elder brother said to the younger brother, pushing him, "If so, remain looking out in order to call [in marriage] the Maehiyalle-gama Princess."

After that, the younger brother, having said, "It is so indeed," tied a ladder in order to go to Maehiyalle-gama. When he had gone along the ladder a considerable distance, having fallen from the ladder to the ground the Prince went into dust (kuduwela giya).

After that, having come from the city Awulpura, they picked up the bits into which the Prince was smashed; having come from the great city Handi they joined them together; having come from Upadda city they caused the Prince to be [re]-born. [103]

After that, the Prince went to Maehiyalle-gama. When he went there, the Princess having gone to bathe, only the servants were at the palace. The servants having gone, said to the Princess, "Some one or other has come to our palace." Then the Princess told them to give him a mat at the calf-house. The servants having given him a mat at the calf-house, he did not sit down.

Again the servants went and said at the hand of the Princess, "He did not sit down." After that, the Princess told them to give him a mat at the manduwa (open shed). The servants gave a mat at the shed.

The Prince did not sit down.

Again the servants went and said at the hand of the Princess, "He did not sit down." Then the Princess told them to spread a mat inside the palace and give it. The servants spread a mat inside the palace, and gave it.

The Prince did not sit down.

The servants again having gone, said at the hand of the Princess, "He did not sit down." Then the Princess told them to give him a chair. Afterwards the servants gave a chair.

The Prince did not sit down.

The servants again went and said at the hand of the Princess, "He did not sit down." The Princess told them to give him a couch. Afterwards the servants gave a couch.

The Prince did not sit down.

The servants went and said at the hand of the Princess, "Then, also, he did not sit down."

Afterwards the Princess said, "Give the couch on which I recline, if so." The servants gave the couch on which the Princess reclines.

After that, the Prince sat down.

Then the Princess, also, [after] bathing came to the palace. Having come, the Princess said at the hand of the servants, "To that person who has come give food."

Then the servants asked at the hand of the Princess, "In what shall we give the cooked rice?" Then the Princess told them to give pieces of leaf. Afterwards the servants having put the cooked rice on pieces of leaf gave him it.

The Prince did not eat.

After that, the servants said at the hand of the Princess, "He does not eat." Then the Princess told them to put it on a plate and give it. The servants having put it on a plate gave it.

He did not eat.

The servants said at the hand of the Princess, "He did not eat." Afterwards the Princess said, "If so, put the plate upon the betel tray and give it." The servants having put the plate upon the betel tray, gave it.

The Prince did not eat.

Again the servants said at the hand of the Princess, "Then, also, he did not eat." Afterwards the Princess said, "Put it on my golden dish and give it." The servants, having put it on the Princess's golden dish, gave it.

The Prince ate.

After that, the Princess having come near the Prince, asked, "What is He? [104] A Yaka, or a Deity?"

Then the Prince said, "I am neither a Yaka nor a Deity; a man."