Part 25

On the following day, on seeing the garland-making mother he said, "Your son is a very great clever person. In the midst of the Great Sea there will be a great Blue-Lotus flower. Because of [his cleverness] tell him to bring and give me it," he said.

The garland-making mother having come away weeping and weeping, came home. Thereupon, the Goat Queen asks, "What, mother, (maeniyan wahansa), are you crying for?" she asked.

The mother says, "He said that he is to bring the Blue-Lotus flower that is in the midst of the Great Sea."

"Without fear on that account, eat cooked rice," she said. Having waited a little time, she asked, "Can you bring and give [me] three handfuls of sand from a place they are not trampling on?"

Having said "I can," she brought and gave them.

The daughter-in-law, taking the three handfuls of sand, and having given them into the hand of her husband, says, "Having gone, taking those three handfuls of sand, throw down a handful; white sand will open out. Having gone upon that white sand, throw down the next handful; [the sand will then be extended]. Having thrown down the other handful of sand [the sand-bank will extend to the flower]; then taking the Queen of the Blue-Lotus flower, and plucking the flower, come back," she said.

Having gone in the manner stated by his Queen, taking the Queen and the Blue-Lotus flower he came back. Marrying the Queen, he gave the Blue-Lotus flower into the mother's hand. The garland-making mother having gone to the royal house, and given the Blue-Lotus flower to the King, came back.

Thereupon, the Ministers having come, for the above-mentioned Prince there was one Queen before; at the time when they looked now there are two. "Now then, indeed, the King will not succeed in exercising the sovereignty," they said.

On the following day, the garland-making mother having waited [at the palace] until the time for going, [the King] says, "Your son is a great clever person. Because of it, tell him to break [into] the Royal Bee-hive [278] (Raja-miya) that is in the jungle, and come back [with the honey-combs]," he said.

The garland-making mother having come back, when she was weeping and weeping, the above-mentioned Blue-Lotus-flower Queen asked, "What, mother, are you weeping and weeping for?"

Thereupon the garland-making mother says, "Having brought [the honey-combs of] the Royal Bee-hive that is in the jungle, [the Prince] is to give him them, the King said. Because of it, indeed, I am weeping," she said.

"Without fear on that account, come and eat cooked rice," she said. Then when the garland-making mother is eating cooked rice, the Blue-Lotus Queen says, "Can you bring and give me three handfuls of stones from a place they are not trampling on?" she said.

Having said "I can," she brought and gave them.

Thereupon the Blue-Lotus Queen, having given the three handfuls of stones into the hand of her husband, says, "From these three handfuls of stones taking one handful, go and throw it into the jungle. The bees will stop while you go three gawuwas (twelve miles). Having gone there, throw down the other handful; [they will then not attack you until you go to the bee-hive]. Having gone to the bee-hive they will assemble [to attack you]. Throw the other handful at the bee-hive, the head part of the bee-hive; the bees will go to the head part (the upper part). Then, breaking [into] the bee-hive, come back [with the honey-combs], calling the Queen who is in the bee-hive," she said.

Thereupon, the Prince went, and breaking [into] the bee-hive and calling the Queen, came back, and gave [the honey-combs] into the hand of the garland-making mother. Then the garland-making mother, taking the honey and having gone to the city, gave it to the King.

At that time the King says, "Because your son is a very great clever person he does the things I am saying and saying. Because of it, tell your son to come to the city to-morrow," he said.

Thereupon, the garland-making mother having come weeping and weeping says, "To-morrow, indeed, he is really to kill my son. He says he is to go to the city."

Then the Queen who was in the Royal Bee-hive says, "Without fear on that account, come and eat cooked rice." Thereafter she says [to the Prince], "The King's message indeed I know. Having told them to cut a well, and caused you to descend into the well, it is indeed to kill you he told you to go. For it, I will inform you of a stratagem," she said. When he asked "What is the stratagem?" she said, "Having gone near the well, without crookedness drawing a line from it, go a considerable distance. From there having gone cutting a tunnel, do thou cut it to the well, and come back," she said.

He did in the manner his wife said. Having done the work, and gone to the city, he saw the King, and remained there.

Then the King says, "The well has been [partly] filled up. Because of it, let us go to draw out the small quantity of earth." Having said this, that man and yet more people went.

Having gone there, and put [a ladder of] bamboos into the well, he caused that man to descend. Having waited until the time when he descended to the foot of the well, he [drew up the ladder, and] began to throw down earth. Thereupon the man, ascertaining that he is throwing down earth, breaking down that little that remained at the tunnel that had been cut [by him], went into the tunnel, and having come along it, came to his house.

Well then, the King, having filled the well, and said, "This one will be killed," with pleasure came to the city.

This above-mentioned man having thought, "This King I must kill," made a stratagem. What was that stratagem, indeed? Cooking a box of cakes, and having gone to the city and given them to the King, he says, "Your Majesty (Devayan wahanse), having remained there at the time when you were putting me into the well, when you were closing it with earth I went to that [other] world. Having been there, I brought a box as a present (penum pettiyak) for Your Majesty."

Thereupon the King says, "We also must go to that world. Because of it, put me down a well," he said. Then having put the King into the well they closed it with earth.

In not many days, perceiving that the King was lost, and ascertaining that there was no one for the sovereignty, they decorated the tusk elephant, and went seeking a person for the sovereignty. The tusk elephant went and kneeled to the man whom they put in the well. Thereupon, they having come [to the palace] with that man and with those three Queens, he exercised the sovereignty.

Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.

In the tale numbered 243, in vol. iii, a Prince was induced to go for a lotus flower which grew in a pool guarded by a great crocodile.

In The Story of Madana Kama Raja (Natesa Sastri), p. 73, when a Prince was going to fetch a Golden Lotus flower that was on the far side of the Seven Seas, his wife, who understood magical arts, gave him seven pebbles, and told him that when he threw one into each ocean in turn, and said, "May the sea dry before and swell behind," a dry path would appear, along which he could proceed in safety. When he had crossed the Seven Seas in this manner, a Rakshasa in charge of a sacred pool beyond them sent on a note which the Prince had brought, to the Crocodile King, who forwarded the lotus to the Prince and ordered a crocodile to carry him back to his own country.

In Cinq Cents Contes et Apologues (Chavannes), vol. iii, p. 227, a King of Sravasti, who wished to get possession of the beautiful wife of an upasaka, sent him, by the advice of his Ministers, to bring lotus flowers of five colours from a distant pool. All who were sent on this errand were killed by venomous snakes or demons or savage animals, but a demon whom he encountered saved the upasaka on learning of his piety, and fetched the flowers for him. When the King heard of this he begged his forgiveness.

NO. 147

THE LOSS THAT OCCURRED TO THE NOBLEMAN'S DAUGHTER

In a certain country there is a nobleman (Sitano), it is said. There is a Princess of the nobleman's, it is said. The Princess having become associated with the servant at the house, in secret they went to another country, it is said.

At the time when the two persons had been there a long time, the Princess became pregnant. [279] When the ten months were coming to be fulfilled she said to the Princess's husband, "Dear (sondura), let us go to seek our two parents." At that word her husband was displeased. Afterwards, in not many days the child was born.

When they had been some time thus, a fresh child was conceived. At the time when the ten months were coming to be fulfilled for that child, she said, "Dear, it is very difficult for me. Because of it, let us go to seek our two parents," she said.

After that procuring all [necessary] provisions, afterwards they began to go. Having gone thus, that day it became night. They stayed near a tree in the midst of the forest. Because rain was coming, having said he must construct a leaf [parturition] house (kolasun geyak) he went to cut sticks, creepers, etc. Having gone, at the time when he was cutting them sitting upon an ant-hill, the Naga King who stayed in the ant-hill bit (datta kala) her husband in the leg; the man died there.

At the time when that woman, placing the child near her, was staying [there], pain in the body having seized the woman she bore [a child]. Then rain began to rain. That night, until it became light, how much was her trouble for sleep! After it became light in the morning she went to seek her husband. Having gone, at the time when she was going walking she saw that the man is dead.

From there, weeping and weeping, having walked [back] to the place where the children were, and having descended to the road carrying the two children, while she was going away to the very city of her two parents there was water in the river [that she must cross] on the road.

After that, having gone to that [far] bank carrying the elder child, and having made the child stay there, she came to the middle of the river [in order] to return to this bank. Then, having seen that an eagle striking the child she bore yester-night was taking it, she clapped her hands and shouted. Then the child who was on that [far] bank said, "Mother is calling," and sprang into the river. Then, of both children, one the eagle took away, one having fallen in the water died. The two children were lost, and the man was lost.

Well then, having said, "I myself must still go to seek my two parents," at the time when she was going she met with a man of that city whom she knew. From the man this woman asked, "Is the affliction of my two parents light, or what?" she asked.

The man said, "Thy two parents' mansion (prasada) having broken down and fallen last night on account of the rain, and the two having died, it is the smoke, indeed, of the funeral pyre which burns the two, that is visible there," he said.

After that, the woman lost her senses, and being without goods she began to go on still, quite like a mad person. The Devatawa taking as his dwelling-place the Banyan-tree near the road, thought, "Should this woman go on this path, through that depression of spirits she will jump into the fire that burns those two persons. I must show this woman a different path." Having said [this], he showed [her it].

The woman went on that path. Having gone, she went to a pansala. Having gone to it and become a nun she remained there until she died.

(A variant agrees closely with this.)

North-western Province.

This is part of the story of the misfortunes of Krisa Gautami, one of the chief Buddhist nuns, as they are related in the Tibetan Kah-gyur (A. von Schiefner's Tibetan Tales, Ralston, p. 216). Her father was a rich householder of Benares, by whom she was married to a young merchant. For her first confinement she returned home, afterwards rejoining her husband. For the second, she and her husband went off in a waggon in which she was confined when they had gone about half way. Her husband sat down under a tree to await the event, fell asleep, a snake bit him, and he died on the spot. When the woman got down she found he was dead. In the meantime a thief stole the oxen. She then walked on with the children till she came to a river, flooded by a sudden rain. She carried the infant across, and while returning in the water for the other saw a jackal carry off the baby. When she waved her hands to frighten the animal, the elder child, thinking she was calling him, sprang down a high bank into the river, and was killed. The mother pursued the jackal, which dropped the infant, but it was then dead. At about the same time her parents and all their household but one man were destroyed by a hurricane. She met the survivor and heard his sad story, after which she wandered to a hill village, and lived with an old woman, spinning cotton yarn. After other unfortunate experiences she became a Buddhist nun.

NO. 148

THE RATEMAHATMAYA'S PRESENTS

A certain cultivator having gone to his Kaekiri garden, and having seen, when he looked [through it], that a very beautiful long Kaekiri fruit was ripe, presented it to the Chief of that country.

The Ratemahatmaya, being pleased regarding it, presented to him a very valuable young bull.

A man who lives in that country, ascertaining this, thought, "Should I also bring some present I shall receive a present [in return] in this manner" (that is, one of much higher value); and he presented to him a valuable heifer from his herd.

Thereupon the Ratemahatmaya, this time being acquainted with the stratagem, presented to the man the Kaekiri fruit which the cultivator gave.

North-western Province.

My friend Mr. C. Tucker, of Harrogate, has been good enough to show me a variant of this story in a work called Lessons of Thrift, by a member of the Save-all Club, published in 1820. It is related of King Louis XI. of France.

A peasant who had ingratiated himself by his services, when the King succeeded to the throne brought him a turnip of extraordinary size as the only present within his power. The King gave him one thousand livres in return. His landlord, a country squire, hearing of it, thought he must profit by this weakness of the King's, and said to himself, "If this madman give a thousand livres for a turnip, what will he give me for that beautiful horse in my best stable!" He took the horse to the Court. The King was delighted, and said, "Your noble disinterested present shall be richly rewarded." Then the King produced the turnip, with this sarcasm, "This, you know, cost me a thousand livres, and I give it you in return for your horse."

In Keightley's Tales and Popular Fictions, pp. 253 ff., there are two Italian variants in which a cat was bestowed by a King as a gift in return for presents of great value.

NO. 149

THE PRINCE AND THE MINISTER

At a certain city there were a King and a Queen; the Queen had a Prince and a Princess. While they were thus, the King and Queen reached a very great age. Afterwards the King says to the Minister, "When the Prince has become big give him the kingship;" having said it, he gave the [temporary] kingship to the Minister. After that, the King and Queen died.

After that, while the Minister and Prince and Princess, these three persons, are living thus, the Minister becomes changed towards the Prince. The men of that country perceived it. After that, men say to the Prince, "Should you, Sir, stay, the Minister will behead you; you go to another country," they said.

After that, the Prince, taking the painting (portrait) of the Princess, said, "Don't you descend from the floor of the upper story until the time when I come back." Saying it, the Prince went to another city. The Prince went near a widow woman of that city.

The widow woman asks, "Of what village are you?" she asked.

The Prince says, "I don't know either my village or country," he said.

After that, the widow woman says, "You stay near me." When she said it, the Prince having said, "It is good, mother," remained no long time.

Afterwards, when the King of the city, having been at the palace, is going near the widow woman's house, the King having seen that the Prince is in the open space in front of the house, the King came back to the palace laughing with pleasure, and called the Minister. After the Minister came running, the King says, "To-day a pleasure has gone to me," he said.

The Minister says, "Who is the man whom you, Sir, saw to-day in the morning? If you, Sir, see that man every day in the morning it will be good," he said.

After that, the King says to the Minister, "Calling the widow woman and the boy, come back," he said. Afterwards the Minister, summoning them, came.

The King says to the widow woman, "Give me the boy; I will give him food, drink, and clothing," he said. The widow woman gave him the boy.

After that, the King having built a house for the boy, and given him food, drink, and clothing, said, "Show yourself to me in the morning at six," he said. The Prince on the following day went at six, and stayed [there]. After that, the Prince on the following day came at seven.

Then the King says, "Why are you such a time?" he asked. The Prince says, "I went to sleep," he said. After that, the Prince on the following day at eight went near the King.

Afterwards the King says to the Prince, "Should you not come at six to-morrow I shall behead you," and scolded him. On the day after that the Prince did not go at all.

After that, the King, having called the servants, says, "Look ye for what [reason] that Prince did not come."

The servants having gone, when they are peeping through the door, the Prince lying down and taking a painting, kisses it, weeps, places it on the ground, takes it again. These servants having seen it, told the King. "If so, seizing the Prince come [with him]," he said. The Minister, seizing him, came.

The King asks, "Why did you not come?" Then the Prince said, "I went to sleep." Then the King said, "Give me your painting."

Afterwards the Prince brought and gave it. As soon as the King looked at the painting he asked, "What [relative] of yours [280] is this Princess?" The Prince said, "My younger sister." Then the King says, "Bring the Princess for me to marry her."

Then the Minister says, "Having been keeping that woman three months, because she is a courtesan I sent her away," he says.

The Prince said, "This Minister neither saw my younger sister, and nor was keeping her. If you were keeping her, mention the Princess's marks."

The Minister says to the King, "Please put this Prince in prison until the time when I come," he said to the King. He put the Prince in prison.

Afterwards, the Minister, asking the King for the Princess's portrait, and taking a good entertainment, having embarked, went to the city in which is the Princess. Having gone [there] he exhibits the entertainment.

The old woman who is with (lit., near) the Princess having seen it, [said] to the Princess, "There is an entertainment which was never at our city. Let us go to look at it," she said.

After that, the Princess says, "Elder brother said, 'Until the time when I come don't descend from the floor of the upper story.' Because of it I will not. You look and come back," she said.

Afterwards, having seen the old woman the Minister asks, "Is there a Princess [here] like this picture?" Then the old woman said, "There is," she said. The Minister said to the old woman, "[After] calling her come back," he said.

After that, the old woman says, "The Princess's elder brother said, 'Until the time when I come back don't descend from the floor of the upper story,' he said; because of it she will not descend," she said.

Then the Minister says, "Tell me a mark of the Princess's."

Then the old woman said, "There is not another mark of the Princess's to tell you; on the right thigh there is the birth-mark (upan-lakuna)," she said to the Minister.

After the Minister went back to the palace he said to the King, "Please tell that Prince to come," he said. The King caused the Prince to be brought. Afterwards the Minister said to the Prince, "On the right thigh of your younger sister there is the birth-mark only; no other mark," he said. The Prince said, "Yes, [it is so]."

After that, the King commanded them to hang this Prince. The Prince says to the King, "I must [first] look at younger sister, and come." After that, the King sent the Prince with two men. The Prince having gone to the floor of the upper story, and beaten the Princess [and told her what the Minister said], the Prince came again to the city in which is the King. The Princess having been weeping and weeping went to sleep.

Afterwards the King, [in order] to hang the Prince, took him upon the scaffold. That Princess learnt that he is hanging the Prince. After that, the Princess having mounted on a horse, the King saw her come driving it along. The King [said], "Don't hang the Prince just now."

Afterwards, the Princess having come, and descended from the back of the horse, and tied the horse at a tree, the Princess sat on a chair near the King. The Princess asks at the hand of the King, "Why are these people [here] in this manner?"

The King says, "To-day I am hanging a Prince; because of it the people have come."

After that, the Princess says to the King, "The Minister having been keeping me three months, taking my slipper came away. Be good enough to ask for it, and give me it."

The King said, "Minister, if you brought it give her it."

The Minister says, "That Princess I neither kept nor know," the Minister said.

Afterwards, having caused the Prince to descend from the scaffold, the King [said], "Who is this of yours?" The Prince said, "My younger sister."

Afterwards the King having caused the Minister to be brought, [told him who she was, and asked], "Why did you tell lies?"

After that the Minister says, "You, Sir, will marry the Princess; you will give the Minister's work to the Prince. Because of that."

After that, the King ordered them to hang the Minister.

The King married that Princess. [The Prince] having gone to the Prince's [own] palace, took the kingship from the Minister [who had been ruling temporarily]. To the Minister he gave the Minister's work [again].

Finished.

North-western Province.

With regard to the order to hang the Prince, and the subsequent hanging of the Minister, there is a reference to this punishment in the next story, in which a Minister recommends that a turtle which had frightened some Princesses should be hanged. In vol. i, p. 368, a jackal remarked that a leopard which had been caught in a noose had been "hanged," as though this were a well-known punishment. I think there is no other clear instance in these stories; but in vol. i, p. 189, a Prince found a Yaksani trying to eat a dead body which was hanging in a tree; if this had been a case of suicide the relatives might have removed the body. Hanging the body at the four gates of the city after quartering it is mentioned in two of these tales (vol. i, pp. 86 and 89, and in No. 80, p. 20 of the present volume). Hanging is not referred to in the stories of the Low-Country Sinhalese, where one might expect to meet with it.