Part 20

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.