Part 22

THE WASHERMAN AND THE LEOPARD

On a certain day, a man having gone to a chena which he had cut, and in which he had sown grain, as he was walking along at the edge of the fence, on this side of the corner of the stick fence a tail was visible, it is said.

Having gone near very quietly, when he looked, a leopard lying at the edge of the fence, having let its tail come inside the chena, was asleep, it is said.

Thereupon, this man on this side of the fence seized the leopard's tail which it had put there. After he seized it he cannot kill it, he cannot let go; should he let go, the leopard will kill the man.

When the man was staying [there] thinking, "How is the expedient for this?" he saw a Washerman going along, taking a bundle of clothes. So this man called him, saying, "Washerman-uncle, come here."

Then the Washerman having come, asked, "What is it?"

He said, "Kill the leopard."

Then the Washerman said thus, "Ane! His face is like our uncle's. Ane! I indeed cannot kill him."

The man who was holding the leopard, said, "If so, I will kill him; you hold the tail."

Then the Washerman having said, "It is good," took hold of the tail. At the time when he was holding it, this man said, "[You] who have become uncle and have become nephew, stay there," and came home.

Thereafter, at the time when that Washerman was letting go the leopard's tail, the leopard killed and ate that Washerman, and went away.

Subsequently, the man who owned this chena having gone [there], taking the bundle of clothes which that Washerman had taken and thrown down, came home.

North-central Province.

In Cinq Cents Contes et Apologues (Chavannes), vol. ii, p. 226, an old woman who was attacked by a bear, turned round a tree to avoid it. When the bear stretched its paws round the tree in trying to reach her, she seized and held them. A man who came up was requested by her to assist her to kill the animal and share the flesh. He accordingly also seized the paws; when he had got well hold the old woman let go and escaped, the man being afterwards mauled by the bear.

NO. 141

THE FRIGHTENED YAKA

In a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said; there is also a boy of those two persons. In front of the house there is also a Murunga tree. A Yaka having come, remained seven years in the Murunga tree in order to "possess" the woman.

While they were in that manner, one day the man and the boy went on a journey somewhere or other. The woman that day having [previously] put away the bill-hook, brought it to the doorway, and while preparing to cut a vegetable, said, "This bill-hook is indeed good [enough] to cut a Yaka."

The Yaka who stayed in the Murunga tree at the doorway, having heard what the woman said, became afraid, and having waited until the time when the woman goes into the house [after] cutting the vegetable, the Yaka slowly descended from the Murunga tree.

When he was going away, the woman's husband and boy, having gone on the journey, are coming back. The Yaka met them. Then the Yaka asked at the hand of those two, "Where did you go? I stayed seven years in the Murunga tree at the doorway of your house, to 'possess' your wife. To-day your wife, sharpening a bill-hook, came to the doorway, and looking in my direction said, 'This bill-hook is indeed good for cutting a Yaka.' Because of it, I am here, going away. Don't you go; that wicked woman will cut you. Come, and go with me; I will give you a means of subsistence. I, having now gone in front, will 'possess' such and such a woman of such and such a village. You two having said that you are Yaksa Vedaralas, [240] and having come [there], when you have told me to go I will go. Then the men having said that you are [really] Yaksa Vedaralas, will give you many things. When you have driven me from that woman, again I will 'possess' still [another] woman. Thus, in that manner, until the time when the articles are sufficient for you, I will 'possess' women. When they have become sufficient do not come [to drive me out]."

Having said [this], the Yaka went in front and "possessed" the woman. After that, the man and the boy went and drove out the Yaka. From that day, news spread in the villages that the two persons were Yaksa Vedaralas. From that place the two persons obtained articles.

The Yaka having gone, "possessed" yet a woman also. Having driven him from there, too, these two persons got articles. The Yaka "possessed" still [another] woman also. Thus, in that manner, until the very time when the things were sufficient for the two persons, the Yaka "possessed" women.

After the articles became sufficient for the two persons, one day the Yaka said to the two, "The articles are sufficient for you, are they not?" The two persons said, "They are sufficient."

Then the Yaka said, "If so, I shall 'possess' the Queen of such and such a King. From there I shall not go. Don't you come to drive me away." Having said it, the Yaka went to that city, and "possessed" the Queen.

The two Yaksa Vedaralas came to their village, taking the articles they had obtained. Then a message came from the King for the Yaksa Vedaralas to go. The two persons not having gone, remained [at home], because of the Yaka's having said that he would not go.

After that, the King sent a message that if they did not come he would behead the Yaksa Vedaralas. After that, the two persons, being unable to escape, went to drive out the Yaka.

Having gone there, they utter and utter spells for the Yaka to go. The Yaka does not go. Anger came to the Yaka. In anger that, putting [out of consideration] his saying, "Don't," the two persons went and uttered spells, the Queen whom the Yaka has "possessed," taking a rice pestle, came turning round the house after him in three circles to kill the Vedarala. [241] When she was raising the rice pestle to strike the Vedarala, the man's boy said, "Look there, Yaka! Our mother!"

Then, because he had been afraid [of her] formerly, when the boy said it, the Yaka, saying, "Where, Bola?" and also rolling the Queen over on the path, face upwards, and saying "Hu," went away. The Queen came to her senses.

The King gave the two persons many articles. The Yaka did not again come to "possess" women. That man and boy having come to their village, and become very wealthy, remained without a deficiency of anything.

North-western Province.

In The Indian Antiquary, vol. xvi, p. 217 (Folklore in Southern India, p. 214), in a Tamil story related by Natesa Sastri, a Brahmana was turned by Siva into a Brahma-Rakshasa for refusing to impart his knowledge of music to others, and he resided in a Pipal or Bo tree. A poor Brahmana of Sengalinirpattu (Chingleput, land of the blue lotus) assisted him to escape from the wretched music of a piper by removing into another tree, and out of gratitude the demon "possessed" the Princess of Maisur, in order that the Brahmana might obtain wealth by driving him out. Afterwards, when the demon "possessed" the Princess of Travancore, intending to remain, the Brahmana frightened him away by a threat that he would bring back the piper.

In Folk-Tales of Hindustan (Shaik Chilli), p. 6, a beggar's wife beat him with a stick for coming home foodless, threw his turban into a tree and struck at it time after time, hitting the tree at each blow. The blows and her abuse frightened away from the tree the ghost or Bhut of a Brahmana of the family who had committed suicide. The ghost and the man travelled along together as friends in misfortune. By their arrangement the man drove the ghost from the Minister's daughter, but refused to officiate when it "possessed" the Sultan's daughter, until ordered to be executed. When the ghost threatened to kill him he told it he had terrible news, his wife would be there in a few minutes. The ghost left at once, and the man married the Princess and succeeded to the throne.

In Indian Nights' Entertainment (Swynnerton), p. 298, a man's termagant wife was thrown into a well, and there married a demon, but in fear of her he soon hid as a man, in a mosque. Becoming friendly with the former husband, who recognised him, he promised to marry the man to the King's daughter, whom he thereupon "possessed." When the man drove him out she was given in marriage to him, together with half the kingdom. The demon, after warning him not to interfere, then "possessed" the Minister's daughter. After at first refusing to act, the man frightened him away by saying his former wife was coming.

In The Enchanted Parrot (Rev. B. H. Wortham), a variant is given in the stories XLVI and XLVII. The woman terrified everyone around, and a goblin who lived in a tree near her house ran away. The husband also left, became friendly with him, and was advised to go and cure the King's daughter. He cured her, married her, and received half the kingdom. Then the goblin carried off this Princess. The man went in search of her, and frightened away the goblin by whispering that his wife was coming.

NO. 142

THE STORY OF THE SEVEN YAKAS

In a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said. One day the man went to plough. The woman placed a ripe pine-apple underneath the bed.

On the very day she put it [there], seven Yakas having joined together and taken a hidden treasure, while six Yakas were dividing the articles one Yaka having come to the house of that man who went to plough, the Yaka remained sitting down under the bed at which is the pine-apple, in order to "possess" the woman.

Then that man having ploughed came home. Having come there, sitting down on the bed he said to the woman, "Haven't you cooked yet? I have hunger [enough] to eat the Yaka."

Then the woman said, "I am still cooking. If you cannot wait until the time [when I finish] there is [something] under the bed."

The woman said it regarding the pine-apple. What of that! Because she did not explain and say [so] the Yaka thought, "It is regarding me, indeed, she said that;" and the Yaka having become afraid, very quickly having arisen said to the man, "Ane! Don't eat me. Come along (lit., come, to go), for me to show you a place where there is a good hidden treasure."

After that, the man having got up from the bed and called the man's younger brother, the two persons went with the Yaka. Having gone, they went to the place where those six Yakas are dividing the articles.

Then the Yaka said to the two men, "Until the time when I bring and give you the articles, there (onna), go to that tree." After that, the two men went into the tree to which the Yaka told them to go.

Having gone there, while they are looking, six Yakas who had great beards and the Yaka who came summoning the men are apportioning the articles. Then, having seen the bearded youngsters (pollo), the elder became unconscious, and fell from the tree to the ground.

Then the younger brother, being in the tree, said, "Elder brother, after you [have] jumped down seize the great-bearded youngster himself."

Then because there are beards of the whole six, having said to each other, "It is for me, indeed, he said this; it is for me, indeed, he said this," one by one, in the very order (lit., manner) in which they sprang up and went, the whole six Yakas, having thrown down the articles, ran off. [Because] having been in the tree that man said thus after the man's elder brother fell down, those Yakas having said, "He will come and kill us," it was for that indeed the Yakas became afraid.

Well then, [the Yaka] calling the men,--the elder brother and younger brother,--and together with the men the Yaka, the very three persons, having drawn (carried) all the articles--both the Yaka's portion and the six portions of those six who ran off--to that man's house, after they finished the Yaka went away. Those two men shared the articles.

Finished.

North-western Province.

The first part of this story is a variant of part of the tale numbered 17 in vol. i. For the latter part, compare variant (b) of the story No. 137, and the notes after it.

NO. 143

THE YAKA AND THE TOM-TOM BEATER

In a country, at the time when a Tom-tom Beater was going to a devil-dance (kankariya), it became dark. While he was going along to the village in the dark, when he was near the village having the devil-dance, to the extent of two miles (haetaepma) from it, he met with [an adventure] in this manner.

In the adjoining village, a man having died they took his dead body to the burning ground; and having raised a heap of firewood, and upon it having placed the corpse and set fire to it, at the time when his relatives went away in the evening Maha Son Yakshaya [242] came, and remained upon the burning funeral pyre. He said thus to the Tom-tom Beater, it is said, "Where art thou going?"

When he asked it [he replied], "I am going to a devil-dance."

At the time when [the Yaka] said, "Standing there, beat the [airs of] devil-dances, and the new ones that thou knowest," he unfastened the tom-tom, and tying it (i.e., slinging it from his neck), he beat various dances.

The Yakshaya being pleased at it, said thus, "Do thou look every day in the house in which are the looms. [243] Don't tell anyone [about] the things that I give," he said.

Beginning from that day, having gone into the house in which are the looms, at the time when he looked, raw-rice, and pulse (mun), and ash-plantains, and betel, and areka-nuts, and various things were there. Every day those said things were there.

At the time when he is bringing them, his wife said, "Whence are these?" Every day she plagued him, and being unable to escape from it he told the woman.

On the following day after the day on which he told her, at the time when he looked he had filled the looms with excrement.

North-western Province.

In The Indian Antiquary, vol. i, p. 143, Mr. W. C. Benett gave an Oudh story in which Bhawan Misr, a wrestler who had obtained gifts from a demon, lost them by revealing the secret to his wife.

NO. 144

HOW A TOM-TOM BEATER GOT A MARRIAGE FROM A GAMARALA

At a certain time there was a Gamarala. The Gamarala had a daughter. In the same country there was a very rich Tom-tom Beater (Naekatiyek). There was a son of the Tom-tom Beater's. In order to make search for a marriage for him he tramped through many countries. From those countries he did not obtain one.

After that, he went to yet a country on the other side of a river. Having gone there, when he looked about there was a Gamarala at a village [who had a marriageable daughter]. When he asked for the daughter [in marriage], he said he would not give her. Thereupon, thinking and thinking of a scheme he acted accordingly, that is, in this manner.

He caught an egret. He made a bundle of lights, and taking these he went again to the village at which the Gamarala stayed. Having gone [there], at the time when he looked about [he saw that] there was a large betel creeper on a tree in front of the doorway of the Gamarala's house.

After that, having come at night and gone up the tree, and hidden himself so that he would not be seen, [after] lighting the bundle of lights he called the Gamarala: "Village Headman! Village Headman!"

Then the Gamarala having come running, looked upward, and seeing that the bundle of lights were burning the Gamarala became afraid.

Thereupon the Tom-tom Beater says, "I, indeed, the Devatawa of this village, am speaking. Wilt thou hearken to what I am saying?" he asked.

The Gamarala, being afraid, said, "I will hearken."

Then the Tom-tom Beater called the Devatawa, [said],

"They say that thou wilt not give thy daughter to the boy of the Tom-tom Beater of such and such a village. Why?"

The Gamarala said, "Because our pollution rules (indul) are different I said I cannot give her," he said.

Then the Tom-tom Beater Devatawa who was in the tree [said], "Give thou thy daughter to him. On the seventh day from now he will obtain the sovereignty. If thou shouldst not give [her] I will kill thee." Tying the bundle of lights to the leg of the egret, he said, "I am going," and let the egret go.

Thereupon, having seen that the lights were burning on the leg of the egret [as it flew away], the Gamarala thought that the Devatawa said it.

Then the Tom-tom Beater, being invisible to everybody, descended from the tree, and went to his village.

Two or three days afterwards, he came with the wedding party to the Gamarala's house, for the purpose of taking away the daughter. Thereupon, having eaten the [wedding] feast, on the morning of the following day, because the giving of the Gamarala's daughter was demeaning he put her in a sack, and having tied it as a bundle for carrying under a pole, [the Gamarala] gave her, placing [the pole] on the shoulders of two persons, and telling them to go. Then, lifting up the load, the party went away. Having gone thus, it having become night they stayed near a tree.

At yet [another] city, the King of the city, having seized a bear that ate human flesh, and put it in a sack, and tied it as a bundle for carrying under a pole, gave it to two persons, and told them to take it and throw it into the river.

At that time that party also came to the place where that [other] party were staying. Thereupon, without speaking they placed the two bundles in one spot. In the very same way again, without speaking they were sleeping in one place.

On the morning of the following day, at dawn, the wedding party having arisen went to the village, taking the bundle in which the bear was tied.

The people who remained here unfastened the bag in order to put the bear into the river. At that time [they saw that] a Princess was there. So the party having gone taking the Princess gave her to the King. Then the King married that Queen.

The wedding party who went taking the bear bundle having gone to the house, that very day, in order that the faults (dosa) of the bride and bridegroom might go, drove away any evil influence of the planets (baliyak).

At that time, having put the sack and the bridegroom into a house they shut and tied the door. Having tied it they conducted the service [against the evil influence of the planets] in the open.

Thereupon the bridegroom who was inside the house unfastened the sack in order to take out the bride. Then the bear having come out began to bite the man. The bridegroom said, "Don't bite me! Don't bite me!" When he was saying it, the men who were sending away the evil planetary influences said, "Ayibo! Ayibo!" [244] The two who were in the house remained without speaking any words [after that].

Thereupon it became light. These people having gone [there] opened the door. Then the bear that ate men having sprung outside and bitten the [would-be] mother-in-law, went into the midst of the forest. The bridegroom, the bear having bitten him, died.

North-central Province.

In a variant of No. 59 in vol. i., the Gamarala inquired regarding the naekata at his daughter's reaching marriageable age. The man replied, "Through this little lass (paenci) seven men will die. Ane! O Gamarahami, because of this little lass don't make this country desolate," and advised killing her. When this man was carrying her away tied in a sack, intending in reality to marry her to his son, some people who had a savage bear in a similar sack found the bundle left on the roadside temporarily, and made an exchange. The son was killed by the bear while the father danced outside, beating a tom-tom (udaekkiya).

NO. 145

THE GEM YAKSANI

There were a King and a Queen of a single city. The two one day went for sport in the gardens. Then, sitting on a branch there was a little bird.

At that time the Queen asked the King, "Is that little bird which is there the male or the female?" The King said, "The male."

Then the Queen, having said, "It is not male; it is female," made a wager. What was the wager, indeed? "Let us catch it and look. Should it be the cock I will not stay with you; I will go away somewhere or other. Should it be the hen you must give me the sovereignty," she said. Thereupon the King said, "It is good."

Having caught the bird they looked; when they looked the animal was the male.

Then the Queen said, "I am going now," and she set off.

The King said, "We said it for fun, didn't we? Are you going in that way for that little matter?"

The Queen would not [stay], "I must really go," she said.

Thereupon the King having said, "Are you going for that? We made monkey fun. [245] Owing to it where are you to go?" said much in the way of advice. Without hearkening to it the Queen went. What was [the real reason of] it? [It was] because the royal talk was Large.

When the Queen was going, the [completion of the] ten months of her pregnancy was near; as she was going in a forest she bore a child. Carrying the infant, as she was going along a path there was a river in which the water had dried up. While she was going along the river the Prince began to cry. For the sake of stopping the crying she picked up a stone which was on the ground in the river; and having said, "Look here, son," she stopped the crying, and taking that little stone [with her] came to another city.

Having come [there] and walked to all places, and looked about, and come to a house in which was a widow woman, she asked, "Mother, keeping this Prince for me, will you give me a little space to stay in, until the time when the Prince becomes big?"

Thereupon the old woman said, "It is good, daughter. I also am alone; because of it remain here."

The Queen, having said, "It is good," lived there, pounding paddy [at houses] throughout the streets; and up to the time when the Prince became big stayed there getting a living. By that time, seven years of the Prince's age had passed.

While remaining [there] in this manner, one day the Prince said, "Mother, I am hungry," and cried. When he was crying, the stone which his mother had brought that day from the river in order to stop the Prince's [crying], had been thrown away into the open ground in front of the house (midula).

This woman, having shown him the stone, said falsely, "Look there. Take that stone which is there, and having given it at the bazaar, and eaten rice cakes, come back."

Then the Prince, having gone running, taking that stone, begged throughout the whole of the bazaar, "Ane! Take this stone and give me rice cakes."

The men said to that Prince, "Who gives rice cakes for quartz stones, Bola?" and scolded him at each place to which he went.

After that, the Prince, having asked at every place without [obtaining any cakes], went to the King's palace also, at the time when the King was walking at the Audience Hall, and said, "Ane! Take this stone, and give me rice cakes; I am hungry."

Thereupon the King, having heard the sweet speech of this young Prince, becoming pleased, said, "Where, Bola, is the stone? Bring it here for me to look at it."

The Prince took the stone, and gave it into the King's hand. The King taking the stone in his hand, when he looked at it, it was a gem-stone. Then the King asked, "Bola, whence [came] this stone to thee?"

"This stone was in the open ground at the front of the house. Mother said to me, 'Take it, and having eaten rice cakes, come back.'"

Then the King said, "I will give thee rice cakes. Go and tell thy mother to come."

The Prince having gone running home, said, "Mother, a man said that you are to come, [so that he may] give rice cakes to me. The man, taking the stone, too, put it away."

The Queen, walking with the Prince, said, "Which is the house?"

Having said, "There, that house," the Prince stretched out his hand towards the royal palace.

With the thoughts, "I shall be worn away with fear, I shall be worn away. Ane! The thing that this foolish boy has done! Having said that he gave him a quartz stone, the King, in order to appoint [the punishment for] his fault, told me to come here," she reached the royal palace.