Part 23

Thereupon the King having seen her, becoming much pleased, asked, "Whence didst thou obtain this stone?"

Then the Queen began to tell him everything,--the way in which she made the bet with that King, the way in which she came away, the way in which she bore [a child], the way in which while coming, she stopped the [crying of the] Prince by picking up this stone from the river.

Then the King said, "This is a gem-stone. Putting me [out of consideration], having appointed any person you like, he cannot state the value of this. I have not got even wealth [sufficient] to give for this. Because of it, having given to thee the wealth, too, thou hast not a place to put it in. Therefore stay ye in my palace itself until the Prince, having become big, marries a Princess."

Having made ready and given them a good room, and given them the royal victuals, he made the two remain there.

While they are staying there, having prepared two bracelets for the King's Queen, because there was not a stone more to [match] that stone for fixing in the two bracelets, he asked the Queen who gave the stone, "Canst thou find and bring a stone more, like this stone?"

The Queen said, "I cannot go. If there be still [any] in the river, or what, I do not know."

Then the Queen's Prince said to the King, "I can."

The King asked, "Do you know the path to go on?"

The Prince said, "I will ask mother, and go."

Then the King said, "What is necessary for you?"

The Prince [said], "From those that are in your stable be good enough to give me a horse which goes on hard journeys."

Then the King gave the Prince the horse with the best qualities of all, a sword, and a bundle of cooked rice. The Prince would be about fifteen years of age.

The Prince, having mounted on the horse, asked his mother, "Mother, on which hand is the river in which you picked up the stone?"

The Queen said, "It is this hand," and stretched out her hand. Then driving the horse to that hand he began to go.

Having gone away, and stopped at a river near that [gem] river, when he looked about, at a great rough tree [what was] like a large fire was visible. Then this Prince, in order to look at the conflagration, went near the tree. Having gone [there], when he looked a Devata-daughter endowed with much beauty [246] was there.

Then this Prince asked the Devata-daughter, "Who art thou?"

The woman said, "I am a Yaksani." Then the Yaksani asked the Prince, "Who art thou?"

The Prince said, "I am a royal Prince."

Then this Prince became mentally inclined towards the very beautiful Yaksani; the Yaksani also became mentally inclined towards the Prince.

The Yaksani asked the Prince, "Where are you going, Sir?"

The Prince said, "I came to seek a gem-stone."

Then the Yaksani said, "We indeed remain in charge of this gem river. Should the Devatawa Unnaehae come he will kill you. It is I indeed they call the Gem Goddess. I can give gems. [After] marrying me and placing me on the horse, if you should not go twelve yojanas [247] before half a paeya (of twenty-four minutes) has gone, the Gem Devata Unnaehae [248] will come and behead both of us, and burn us."

The Prince being pleased at it (that is, her proposal), said, "It is good", and placing the Princess on the back of the horse, asked, "Where are the gems?"

The Devata-daughter said, "I will give them; I have them."

Then he drove away the horse twelve yojanas before half a paeya [had passed]. Having driven it, when he went to the city the King asked the Prince, "Have you brought the gems?"

That Yaksani had previously [249] said at the hand of the Prince that when the King asks, "Have you brought the gems?" he is to say, "I have brought [them]." Because of it, the Prince said, "I have brought the gems."

Then the King said, "Where? Let me look at them."

At that time the Devata-daughter said, "They will be outside," and threw down in the open space in front of the palace a gobbet [250] of saliva. When the King looked it was as though a rain of gems had rained.

After that, the King, picking up the gems, went to the palace, and remained lying down without eating and drinking. The Minister having come, asked, "O Lord, what is the matter?"

Then the King said, "The Prince who gave the gem has brought the Gem Princess. If I haven't the Princess what are these Gods for? What is this sovereignty for?"

The Minister said, "Don't you, Sir, be troubled about it; I will tell you a stratagem for it."

The King asked, "What is the stratagem?"

The Minister said, "The stratagem indeed is in this manner:--You, Sir, be good enough to say to the Prince, 'Dear Prince, our mother and father died. Those persons are staying in the God-world. Canst thou [go there and after] looking [at their condition] come back?' Then the Prince through not understanding will say, 'I can.' Then, having summoned all them of the city and having cut an underground tunnel about a mile (haetaekma) deep (that is, in length), when you have told him to go by that way to the God-world, he will go. Then having put a stone on [the entrance to] it, and brought tusk elephants, and made them trample on it, you can take the Gem Princess."

The King having become pleased at the word, caused the Prince to be brought, and asked, "Dear Prince, canst thou go to the God-world in three weeks' [time, to inquire after our father and mother], and come back?" The Prince said, "I can."

Then the King having collected together the men of the city, and said falsely that he is cutting a path to go to the God-world, began to cause a tunnel to be cut, in order to kill the Prince.

Thereupon the Prince said to the Gem Princess, "In this manner the King asked me: 'Can you go to the God-world and come back?' I said, 'I can.'"

Then, owing to the wisdom of the Gem Princess she perceived that he is making the plan (suttare) to kill this Prince, and said, "Why, through foolishness did you, Sir, say you can? Since you said you can, [you must do as follows]:--Under the gem river an elder sister of ours is rearing rats. Having gone, and given her this ring of mine, be good enough to say, 'In such and such a city your younger sister is living. She said [you are] to send there two or three thousand rats.' Then she will send the rats. You [then] be good enough to come back, Sir."

The Prince went, and having given her the ring, and told her in that very manner, the elder sister of the Gem Princess then said, "It is good; I will send them. You, Sir, be good enough to go." Then he came back.

That day night, having started them off, she sent three thousand rats. The rats having come before the light fell, went to the room in which was the Gem Princess. At the time when they went, she gave food and drink to the rats, and said, "Before a week has gone they will cut the tunnel which the King is cutting, a mile deep. Because of it, you must cut [a path from here leading] into that tunnel at a mile from this room in which we are staying."

So they cut and finished both tunnels on one day. Regarding the tunnel which the rats cut, the King was unable to learn even a little bit. Without making the tunnel which the rats cut break into and become part of [251] the King's tunnel, they turned it a little across [towards it at the end].

After that, having cut the [other] tunnel and finished it, and given the Prince a horse, and given him a sword, the King said, "Look here. We have cleared the path to go to the God-world. Having gone, come back."

Then the Prince said, "It is good." Having said it, and gone near the Gem Princess, at the time when he was saying, "I will go, and come," [252] the Princess said, "Say to the King that you will come in a week; and go," she said.

Then the Prince having told the King, "I shall come in a week," went. Having driven the horse into that tunnel which the King cut, and gone along the tunnel, and come to the other tunnel [excavated by the rats], during the daytime he stays in the tunnel. At night, having come near the Gem Princess, and eaten rice, and been sleeping, again as the light falls he goes to the tunnel and remains [there].

At the time when the Prince sprang into that tunnel, men threw stones into the tunnel, and heaped them up. They do not know the fact that that Prince is staying in the tunnel which the rats cut.

After that, the King came, and spoke to the Princess, "Now then, let us two be married."

Then the Princess said, "I will not. My husband has said that he will come in a week. Because of it, until he comes I will not marry any one whatever. If he come not I will marry," she said.

The King having heard that word [said], "It is good. After a week has gone I will marry [you]." Thinking, "The Prince having been put into the tunnel, and stones trampled down [over it], when will he come again? That Princess, the Prince not [being here], in perplexity at his death is talking nonsense," he went away.

What does the Princess do? Having taken gem-stones to the extent of many millions (in value), she caused to be sewn a diadem-wreath (otunu malawak), and a dress. Having sewn them, at early dawn (rae pandara) of the day following the week, having dressed this Prince, she said, "As the light is falling, having waited behind the King's palace be good enough to come as though returning," and sent him [there].

Thereupon, the Prince in that manner at the time when the King arises in the morning, presented himself for the King's cognizance (indiriyata). Then the King,--after becoming afraid concerning the return of the Prince whom he had put in the tunnel in which he had placed stones, and having employed tusk elephants had trampled them down,--asked, "Prince, whence camest thou?"

Thereupon the Prince said, "O Lord, Your Majesty, your father the King and mother the Queen, also, are staying in happiness in the God-world. I went there. Having said my dress was bad (nakayi) they gave me, for wearing, a dress which, those persons having worn it, had become old," he said.

When the King looked in the direction of his dress [he thought that] except that in the God-world [there might be] such a dress, it is of the kind which is not in this world. Because of it, it seemed to the King to be true.

The Prince said, "The party said that you also, Sir, are to go. They tried not to permit me, also, to come back. Having said, 'I will come back,' for the purpose of what I am saying to you I returned.

"When I went in the tunnel and looked about yet [another] path [leading] there had been cleared. Having gone on that path, when I looked the God-world was quite near."

After that, the King, having collected the citizens, began to remove the earth at that tunnel which he cut to kill the Prince.

Having heard of it, that Prince in order that the tunnel which the rats had cut should be closed, told the rats, and again made them push back the earth.

Having pushed it back, while he is staying [there], on the following day the King alone went, and having said, "[After] looking [at the God-world] I shall return," went off.

When he is descending into the hole to go, what does this Prince do? Having thrown down those stones that had been taken out, and blocked up the tunnel so as not to allow the King to return, the King died in the tunnel.

After that, this Prince, having seized and beheaded the Minister who had told [the King] the stratagem for the purpose of killing him, summoned the whole of the citizens, and said to the people, "For the offence which the King committed against me I put the King into the tunnel, and killed him. From to-day the King of this city is I myself."

[Thereafter] exercising the sovereignty, marrying the Gem Princess, and establishing that King's Queen as a female servant, he remained there.

Siwurala (ex-monk). North-central Province.

In Sagas from the Far East, p. 97, in a Kalmuk story a painter who was jealous of a wood-carver presented to the Khan a pretended note from his dead father, requesting that the carver might be sent to the kingdom of the Gods, and stating that the painter would show the way. The painter explained that the carver must be burnt in a pyre, with much drum beating, and rise to heaven on a horse through the clouds of smoke. The carver escaped by a tunnel which his wife excavated to the centre of the pyre, getting into it while the timber by which he was surrounded was burning. After a month he gave the Khan a letter from his father in heaven, ordering him to reward the carver richly, and to send the painter to decorate the temple which had been built. The painter was thus killed in the way he designed for the carver's death.

There is a variant in the Sierra Leone country, given in Cunnie Rabbit, etc. (Cronise and Ward), p. 254. As advised by a messenger, a King who wished to kill his son told him that he should be King, and that in order to be crowned he must be tied in a mat, thrown into a deep pool, and left there three days. When the party halted on the way and left the bundle on the path for a time, the youth got a child to unfasten the package, and inserted a large stone which was afterwards duly thrown into the water. After three days the youth made his appearance wearing a crown and riding a horse. He was acclaimed as King, and he stated that he had been ordered to send his father's messenger to be crowned in the same way. He was seized, tied up, and drowned.

NO. 146

THE NA, MI, AND BLUE-LOTUS FLOWERS' PRINCESSES

In a certain country there is a King, and the King has three children, males. On the second poya day (the full-moon day), at the time when the moon has risen, having caused these three Princes to be brought, he asked, "Son, what is this moon good for?"

The big son said, "This moon is good for [enabling] poor people to go on journeys; it is good for trampling stacks (threshing by means of buffaloes)." The King accepted this word.

He asked at the hand of the next (ekkama) son; that son replied in that very manner.

He asked at the hand of the next son. That son said, "It is good for [enabling] the Mi-flower [253] Princess, and the Na-flower [254] Princess, and the Blue-Lotus-flower Princess to perambulate on the carriage which they keep."

Thereupon anger went to the King. Having caused the executioner to be brought, he started off the youngest Prince and the two elder Princes and the executioner, these four persons. He told him to behead the Prince.

At the time when these four were going in the midst of the jungle, there was a Banyan-tree; the four persons sat down in the shade under the Banyan-tree. The youngest Prince having collected a heap of sand and having been [hidden] [255] in it, both the elder Princes and the executioner, these three persons, [not seeing him], set out to come away. Having come a considerable distance [the executioner], killing a lizard (katussa) and smearing the blood on the sword, came and told the King, "I beheaded him." The King took it for the fact.

The Prince having arisen, when he looked about, his two elder brothers were not [there], and the executioner was not [there]. Because there was not a place to go to he went to sleep again under that very Banyan-tree.

Having arisen in the morning, when he looked there was no water, no food. Having climbed up the tree, he saw that water was pouring down at the margin of a rocky hill. He descended from the Banyan-tree, and went along looking constantly at the hill. Taking a little water [at it], and washing his face, at the time when he was going up the hill a bee came, and turned (flew) round his head; then he struck at the bee. A second time having come it turned round his head; a second time he struck at it. Having come even the third time, when it was turning round his head he thought, "I must look for [the hive of] this."

On the hill there were rocks. Having come [and found the hive], sitting down at them he drew out the comb. Having drawn it out, when he looked in the hive (miya) there was an ash-pumpkin [flower]. He took out the ash-pumpkin [flower], and when he looked in it there was a Princess. [256] Having gone away, taking the Princess also, after sitting down under a Na-tree and looking and looking around, eating and eating the honey he gave to the Princess also. This Princess in a day or two became big.

Beneath that very Na-tree they stayed for three days. While one day sitting below the same Na-tree, when he looked upward in the Na-tree there was a large flower, a kind of ash-pumpkin [flower], in the Na-tree. He went up the tree for that flower also, and plucking the flower descended. After having thrown away the petals, when he looked [inside] there was a Princess. He gave honey to the Princess, and they remained under the same Na-tree.

After four days they set out from beneath the Na-tree. In a day or two these two Princesses were [as big as though their age was] twelve years. Having gone along in the jungle, they came out at a certain country, and went to the house of a widow-Mahage (an old woman of good connections), and stayed there. The widow-Mahage eats by pounding paddy at the King's house and being given the rice-dust. She gave [some] to these three persons also; the two Princesses and the Prince were unable to eat it, they said.

At that time the widow-Mahage having gone near the King says, "O King, Your Majesty, at the place where I live, two Princesses and a Prince having come thus, are staying."

Thereupon the King says, "Widow-Mahage, wilt thou tell the Prince to come to my palace?" he said. The Mahage having come, told him.

At the time when she is telling him, the Princesses say, "Should he tell you any work, don't say, 'Ha' (yes), and don't say, 'I cannot,' [257] and don't say, 'I can.' Having said, 'After having considered I will tell you,' come back," the Princesses say.

To the Mi-flower Princess the chariot of the Gods is visible beyond a kalpa; to the Na-flower Princess the chariot of the Gods is visible beyond two kalpas.

[When he went to the palace], "Prince," the King says to the Prince, "in the morning and in the evening I want seven handkerchiefs of Blue-lotus flowers."

He did not say "Ha"; he did not say "I cannot." After having said, "I will consider and tell you," he came back to the place where he is living at the widow's house.

This Prince having come, says to the two Princesses, "The King says to me, 'In the morning and in the evening I want seven and seven handkerchiefs of [Blue-lotus] flowers. Can you [bring them]?' Thereupon I said, 'After having considered I will tell you.'"

The Princesses say, "Prince, when you have gone to pluck the flowers you would die while in the pool, [but we will save you]. In the pool there is a great Crocodile. Because the King is not clever [enough] to kill you and write (that is, contract) a marriage to us two, it is good to do thus," they said.

Thereupon, the Prince having gone the second time near the King, this Prince says, "I can."

After he came home taking seven handkerchiefs, both the Princesses, having called the Prince and having combed and tied up his hair (lit., head), uttered spells on his right over a handful of sand, and after giving it, say, "Having gone near the pool, throw down the handful of sand on the right. At that time the human-flesh-eating Crocodile having come will go ashore." Having given [the spells over] a handful on the left also, they said, "Plucking seven handkerchiefs of flowers, come out, and quickly on the left throw down this handful of sand, [or] the Crocodile will come." [He acted accordingly.]

At the time when he was coming [after] plucking the flowers, a large Blue-lotus flower having been there he plucked that flower, and having come back, gave it [to the Princesses] at the house. Then having gone to the royal palace, taking also the seven handkerchiefs of flowers, [he gave them to the King].

Quickly having come back, taking the [Blue-lotus] flower at the house into his hand, and having cast away the petals, when he looked there was a Princess.

At that time the widow-Mahage having gone to the royal house, says, "I don't know if this Prince is a magician; [258] I don't know if he is a person possessed of supernatural powers; [259] I cannot find out what he is. Now he is there, and three Princesses are there."

Then the King thinks, "How [am I] to take these very three beautiful Princesses?" he thinks. Again he thinks, "Should I send this Prince to the Naga world I can take them; without it, indeed, I cannot."

At that time the King says to the widow-Mahage, "Say thou to the Prince that I say he is to come." She accepted that word; having come she told the Prince.

At the time when she is saying it, the Blue-lotus-flower Princess says to the Prince, "Prince, should he tell you any work, don't say, 'Ha'; don't say, 'I cannot'; don't say, 'I can.' Having gone to the royal palace, when he has said it come back, saying, 'After I have considered I will tell you.'"

Having gone and returned, he says to these three Princesses, "The King says thus to me, 'How is it? Canst thou go to the Naga world?' he says. Thereupon I said, 'Having considered I will tell you.' Having said [this] I came back."

Then these three Princesses say, "Prince, when [he thinks] you have died the King will come summoning us three to go [to become his wives]." These Princesses say to the Prince, "You go [to the King]. Having gone, say, 'I can.'"

He having gone, and having returned after saying it, they thereupon summoned the Prince. Sitting near him, the Mi-flower Princess, taking a palmful of oil, after having uttered spells over it rubbed it on his head. The Na-flower Princess also having uttered spells over oil rubbed [it on his head]. The Blue-lotus-flower Princess also having uttered spells over oil rubbed [it on his head].

The Mi-flower Princess next having uttered spells over a handful of sand, gave it into his hand. The Na-flower Princess also having uttered spells [over sand] gave it into his hand, and told him to tie it himself at his waist. The Blue-lotus-flower Princess also having uttered spells over a handful of sand, said, "Having gone near the tunnel [leading to the Naga world], when just going into the hole throw down the sand of the Mi-flower Princess. At the time when you are descending and going down the hole, when going to the middle of the hole throw down the sand of the Na-flower Princess. When going to the foot of the tunnel, throw down the sand of the Blue-lotus-flower Princess."

Having stayed at the house of the widow-Mahage, they cut a tunnel [which met the tunnel opened by the King, so that the Prince might escape by it]. The Prince does not go; the widow-Mahage does not know [about it]. Anyone you like [260] [sees it] not; they do not know [about it].

[On the appointed day] having gone into the tunnel at the King's midula (the open space in front of the palace), at the time when he is coming to this tunnel, the King, having blocked up the King's tunnel and having employed elephants and trampled [the earth down], and having come, says to the three Princesses, "Princesses, go ye to the royal palace."

At that time these three say, "When our Prince has gone three months, and three poyas (at the quarters of the moon), and three days, and three half days, should he not return we will come. You, Sir, be good enough to go." Thereupon the King went back to the palace.

[While he was there, the Prince, who had escaped by the secret tunnel, proceeded to the palace to see him.] Having [stated that he had] gone to the Naga world and come back, the Prince says to the King, "O King, Your Majesty's father, the [late] King, has arrived at old age; he says to you that you also are to go."