Part 21

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then that youngster again says,

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

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

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

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

North-western Province.

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

THE LAD AND THE RAKSHASI. (Variant a.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bintaenna, Uva Province.

THE CAKE TREE. (Variant b.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Western Province.

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

NO. 139

THE GIRL, THE MONK, AND THE LEOPARD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

North-western Province.

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

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

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

In the Kathakoça (Tawney), p. 132, an ascetic informed a merchant that the bad luck of his two daughters would bring about his destruction, and advised him to set them afloat in the Ganges in a wooden box, and cause a ceremony to be performed for averting calamity. The ascetic performed the ceremony for him, and sent his pupils to bring the box. The King of that city got the box ashore, took the girls, and put two apes in their place. When the ascetic opened the box at his monastery he was killed by the apes and became a Rakshasa.

In Folk-Tales of Kashmir (Knowles), 2nd ed., pp. 398, 399, 410, the incident occurs of newly-born infants being placed in boxes, set afloat in a river, and rescued by a person lower down. [239] At p. 445, a girl who had been married to a King was set afloat in a box, and rescued by a washerman.

In Sagas from the Far East, p. 120, there is a Kalmuk variant in which a man who desired to take the wealth of an old couple, got inside a statue of Buddha, and instructed them to give their daughter to the man who knocked at their gate in the morning. The man himself came and knocked, and married her, and he and his new wife left with all their gold and precious stones. A Khan's son who was out hunting, taking a tiger with him, fired an arrow into a mound of sand; it struck something hard which proved to be a box which the man had placed there, containing the girl and jewels. The tiger was put in her place, and when the man carried off and opened the box in an inner room of his house it killed and ate him, and walked away next morning when the door was opened. The Prince married the girl.

In the Sinhalese history, the Mahavansa, p. 147 (Dr. Geiger's translation), it is stated that in order to appease the sea-gods who had caused the sea to overflow the land on the western coast of Ceylon in the first half of the second century B.C., the King of Kaelaniya "with all speed caused his pious and beautiful daughter named Devi to be placed in a golden vessel whereon was written 'a king's daughter,' and to be launched upon that same sea." She was brought ashore at the extreme south-east of Ceylon, and married by the King of Ruhuna or Southern Ceylon.

The original Indian story of the child who was consigned to the water in a basket or box appears to be that which is given in the Maha Bharata (Vana Parva). According to it, an unmarried Princess, Kunti, who bore a supernatural son to the deity Suriya, the Sun, placed the infant in a water-tight wicker basket, and set it afloat in the adjoining river, from which it passed down to the Ganges, and then drifted down that river until it arrived near Campa, the capital of the Anga kingdom. The basket was brought ashore and opened by a car-driver who had gone to the river bank with his wife. These two, being childless, adopted the infant, who afterwards became famous as Karna, the leading Kuru warrior in the great battle against the Pandava Princes and their allies.

The story extends backward to the legend or history of Sargon I, of Akkad (about 2,650 B.C. according to the revised chronology), who stated in an inscription that his mother, a Princess, launched him on the Euphrates in a basket of rushes made water-tight with bitumen. He was rescued and reared by a cultivator, who placed him in charge of his garden. Through the affection of the Goddess Istar he acquired the sovereignty.

NO. 140