Part 5

Then the man says, "Well, then, what shall I do? In my hand also there is not a thing to give for food. There is an Attikka tree [37]; on that Attikka tree the fruit will be ripe. Let us go [for me] to show it to thee."

Causing the Prince to arise, and having come near the Attikka tree, that very man, having plucked Attikka and given it to the Prince, after he ate said to the Prince, "Now then, go you along that path. Well, I'm going;" and the man went away.

After that, as the Prince also was coming along the path he met with a leopard [standing] across the path. The Prince cannot come [on account of it]. Well then, while the Prince is there a man is coming along in the direction in which the Prince is. Then, as the man would drive this leopard to the Prince, he shouted, and said "Hu," and clapped his hands. Then the leopard bounded off and went away.

Afterwards that man having come near the Prince, asked, "Prince, where art thou going?"

The Prince says, "Having gone in this manner to learn letters, I am going to my city."

Then the man says, "Going to the city does not matter to you. Come, to go with me."

The Prince says, "How shall I go in that way? My parents will seek me. Because of it, having gone to the city, and asked at the hand of my parents I will come," he said.

Then the man said, "I will be of the assistance that parents are of. You come with me."

Afterwards the Prince went with the man. Having gone, they went to a city. Staying at a resting-place at the city, and doing hired work in the city, the two persons are getting their living.

When they were there no long time, one day the man said to the Prince, "Child, I cannot work in this manner. You go and seeking [materials] for food, come back."

Afterwards the Prince from the following day went [alone] for hired work, and [after] finding [and doing] it, returned. In that way for not many days he is getting a living.

One day, a King and soldiers came to that city from another country to fight the King of that country, and surrounded the city. After that, the King told the Ministers to go to the battle. The King did not go to the battle. Afterwards the Ministers prepared to go to the battle, taking weapons and implements.

Then this Prince said to that man, "Grandfather, I also must go to the fight."

Then the man says, "Ane! Child, what battle [is there] for us! We poor men, can we go to fight with a King? You remain silent, doing nothing."

Then the Prince said, "No, grandfather, I can fight very well."

The man still said "Don't." Then the Prince says, "Grandfather, however much you should say 'Don't,' I am indeed going." Having said [this] the Prince went when the Ministers were going.

Having gone there and waited for the fight, when on both sides they were making ready, this Prince said at the hand of the Ministers, "Give [38] me a weapon from those which you brought, for me to remain for the fight."

Then the Ministers say, "What fighting dost thou know? Do thou be silent, doing nothing." Having said it, they scolded the Prince. After that, the Prince having bounded to one side, remained doing nothing.

Then, having begun the battle, they were fighting; on this side many Ministers were cut down. [After] cutting them down, this side is coming to lose. The Prince having seen it, taking a weapon of that dead Minister's, fought and cut down the King and army of that side; and this side having conquered, the Ministers and the remaining people and this Prince came to the city.

The Ministers having come to the royal palace, said to the King, "Many of our army died."

Then the King asked, "If so, owing to whom did you win in this battle?"

The Ministers said, "A youngster went with us. It is owing to the youngster, indeed, that we conquered."

Afterwards the King asked, "Where is the boy?" As the Prince was here he went before the King. The King asked, "From what country camest thou?"

The Prince said, "I am a stranger."

Then the King asked, "What dost thou want done?"

The Prince said, "I will take anything I receive." After that the King gave him villages, gave goods.

After that, staying in these villages, that man and the Prince, both of them, were obtaining a livelihood from the goods. At the time when they were [there], the King had become very aged. While he was thus the King died.

For the King there was neither a Prince nor anyone. Because of it, at the time when the Ministers, decorating the tusk elephant, are going in the four streets with the sound of the five musical instruments, the tusk elephant, having gone to the house at which are that Prince and the man, kneeled near that Prince.

Having been [there] at the time when it was kneeling, the Ministers, causing the Prince to bathe in scented water, and placing the Prince on the tusk elephant, came to the royal palace, [and he became King].

Until the end of the Prince's life he remained exercising the sovereignty. The man who stayed with the Prince having become the Minister to the King, stayed in the palace itself.

North-western Province.

NO. 85

HOW THE GARDENER BECAME KING

In a certain city there is a King, it is said. The King told them to plant a garden. After that, he said, "Can anyone (kata) plant a garden?"

One man said, "I can." Every day the King gave the things the man wanted. The man, cutting channels and fixing the fence, began to plant the garden; he set various kinds [of plants] in the garden. After that, the King went to look at the garden; he saw that there were various kinds of sugar-cane, sweet oranges, mandarin oranges, in the garden. The King said to the gardener that he must look well after the garden.

In that way, after not many days, the King said to the gardener, "Take bows and arrows; should thieves come, shoot them." Thereupon, by the authority of the King, he was thinking of shooting should they come in from outside.

Not many days after that, the King said to the Adikarama (Minister), "Let us go to the garden [secretly] to look into the examination [of it made] by the gardener."

Then the Adikarama said, "The order made by Your Honour is [that he is] to shoot thieves. It is not good for us to go."

The King said, "That man by this time is asleep."

Afterwards the King and the Adikarama, after the foolish King had taken off the royal ornaments, that very night, taking the disguise of thieves, went to the garden. Having gone, they began to pluck oranges.

Then the gardener awoke. The man, taking his bow, and having come, shot at the King; when he shot him (widapuhama) the King died.

After that, the Adikarama and the gardener spoke together, "What shall we do about this?" Speaking [further] the Adikarama said, "The things that are to happen happened." [39] Having said [this], the Adikarama having told the gardener to cut a hole, when he cut it they buried the King.

After that, the Adikarama said to the gardener, "Come, and go to the palace."

The two persons having gone to the palace, and [the Minister] having decorated the gardener with the royal insignia (abarana), while he was on the Lion throne all the Chiefs make obeisance. [40] The Adikarama does not make obeisance.

Regarding this matter the King thought he must tell him a parable. Having thought so, and having called the Adikarama, he said, "In the midst of the forest there are many kinds of trees. Having cut a tree of good race out of them, and shaved [the bark off] it, and planed it, and done carving work, they take it as a log for a travellers' shed (ambalama). Taking it [there], after they have built the travellers' shed, do both persons possessing lineage and persons of no lineage stay in the travellers' shed?" [41] he asked.

When he asked, the Adikarama said, "All persons stay in the travellers' shed."

After that, the King said, "[There is] service for persons possessing the Adikarama lineage, service for persons of no lineage, service for [all in] the world." [42]

After that, the Adikarama from that day made obeisance to the King.

Well then, the King remained exercising the sovereignty quite virtuously (hondinma), without injustice.

North-western Province.

In The Orientalist, vol. ii, p. 55, a similar story is given, as related to Mr. K. J. Pohath by a Buddhist monk. According to it, the King visited the garden alone, pretending to steal Kaekiri fruits, and was shot by the gardener. When he was dead the gardener reported the matter to the Adikar, who got the King buried secretly, and proclaimed the gardener King. Some poor people whose lands the Adikar had seized complained to the new King, who held an enquiry, and gave judgment in their favour, remarking, "Adikar, even though it should so happen that I might be obliged to go back to the Kaekiri garden, I cannot say that the lands in dispute belong to you."

NO. 86

HOW THE FOOLISH MAN BECAME KING

In a certain country there was a Gamarala, it is said. There was a daughter of the Gamarala's. Bringing a son-in-law for the daughter, when he was there for many days the men of the village spoke of going to Puttalam.

Then this Gamarala's son-in-law said to the Gamarala, "Father-in-law, I also must go to Puttalam." The Gamarala said, "It is good, son-in-law."

After that, the whole of them obtaining occupation in loading sacks, the son-in-law went on the journey, and the Gamarala remained [at home].

The son-in-law, setting off for the journey, at the time when he was going along driving thirty [pack] bulls, met with a company of men going [after] placing sacks on twelve horses.

After he met with them this man said, "Ane! Friends, taking my thirty bulls, give me (dilalla) those few horses." Then the men said, "It is good."

This man having given the thirty bulls, at the time when he was going along taking the twelve horses, he met with yet a company of men who were going taking two elephants.

After that, this man said, "Friends, taking my twelve horses, will you give me those two elephants?" The men said, "It is good."

Then this man, having given the twelve horses, at the time when he was going along taking the two elephants, he met with yet some men who were going hunting, taking twelve dogs.

Then this man asked, "Friends, taking my two elephants, will you give me those twelve dogs?" The men said, "It is good."

After that, this man having given the two elephants, at the time when he was going on taking the twelve dogs he met with a company of potters, taking some pingo (carrying-stick) loads of pots.

Then the man asked, "From these twelve dogs taking six, will you give me for cooking in order to eat, a small cooking pot and a large cooking pot?" The men said, "It is good."

After that, the man having given six dogs, taking a small cooking pot and a large cooking pot he went hunting with the other six dogs.

Having gone into the jungle, and prepared a hearth near an ant-hill, in order, after having cooked, to eat cooked rice, at the time when he was breaking fire-wood a cobra that was in that ant-hill came and bit the man. Then the man swooned owing to the poison's having fallen there.

At the time when a Vaedda of another distant place came walking [there] while hunting, he saw that there are six dogs; and having seen that there is a hearth, said, "Why are these six dogs here, and a hearth, without a man?" While he was seeking and looking about, he saw that the man had fallen down. Having seen him, and lifted him up, when he looked [at him] the man was [as though] dead.

After that, the Vaedda having said, "What is this man dead for?" When he looked [after] going near the body, there was a wound, and the Vaedda perceived that a snake had bitten him. Ascertaining it, after he had applied medicine the man got up.

Then the Vaedda asked, "What happened to you?"

This man said, "The journey I came on is thus; the things that happened to me are thus. Having come hunting, and prepared the hearth, in order, after I had cooked here, to eat, when I was breaking firewood a cobra bit me."

The Vaedda said, "Come away, and go with me." This man having said, "Ha," the six dogs and the man went with the Vaedda to the Vaedda's city. Having gone there, that day the Vaedda gave him food.

During the time while the man was there, that very day night the King of the city died. On the following day morning, there being no person for the sovereignty, [after] decorating the tusk elephant the Ministers went [with it] to seek a King.

At the time when they were going, this tusk elephant was going along looking at the Vaedda's house. As it was going, that man whom the cobra bit was lying down in the Vaedda's veranda. The tusk elephant went and knelt near the man.

After that, the Ministers, having told this man to get up, when he arose bathed him with perfumed water, and having decorated him with the royal crown, placing him on the back of the tusk elephant went to the palace.

After he went there, the King caused the Vaedda to be brought, and said, "Owing to you, indeed, I attained to such exalted things." Having said, "Because of it, receive the post of Adikarama (Minister)," he appointed the office of Adikarama to the Vaedda.

Having given him it, he remained up to the end of his life exercising the sovereignty with the ten [royal] virtues.

North-western Province.

NO. 87

THE FOOLISH MAN

In a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said. There are two daughters of the two persons. They gave one daughter [in marriage]. The man at the place where they gave the daughter had suitable things.

A very rich man having come, asked the other daughter [in marriage]. Then the girl's father said, "I will not give her to you; the lineage (wanse) of your people is not good."

After that another man came and asked. The man had nothing; his lineage alone was good. The girl's mind was to go to the man who formerly came and asked, [but she was given to the second one].

Well then, when the girl [after her marriage] is without [sufficient] to eat and to wear, one day the girl's father went to see the girl. Afterwards, having given the man sitting accommodation, [43] and got the fire together, and put a potsherd on the hearth, she put tamarind seeds in the potsherd, and they began to fry, making a sound, "Kas, kas."

Then the girl's father says, "What, daughter, are you frying?"

The girl said, "Father, I am frying our lineage, [the only thing we possess]."

After that, anger having come to the man, he got up, and came to his village. Having come there, on the following day, he went to the place where the other daughter is.

When he went there, the daughter, having cooked the sweetmeats called Wellawaehun for the father, gave him to eat. He had not eaten them since he was born.

That day, having eaten, when he was coming to his village saying and saying, "Wellawaehun, Wellawaehun," in order not to forget the name of them, his foot struck a stone that was on the path.

Then the man was caused to exclaim "Hobbancodi" [44]; "Wellawaehun" was forgotten. From there until the time when he comes to his village, having come saying and saying "Hobbancodi, Hobbancodi," he says to his wife, "Bolan, to-day in our girl's quarter I ate Hobbancodi. The taste is very good; you cook them, too."

Thereupon the woman says, "Ane! I have not even heard of them since I was born, so how shall I cook them?"

Then the man, saying and saying, "What, Bola! Strumpet! Do you say you don't know? I ate them now, and came."

While the two old people are quarrelling about this, men of the village having come, a man said, "She indeed is doing all this, bringing her mouth like a Wellawaehun roll."

"There! I [meant to] say those indeed," the man said.

After that, they two, having joined together, cooked five Wellawaehun rolls. Thereupon the man said, "There are three for me, two for you." The woman, too, said, "There are three for me, two for you." They two being unable to divide these, made an agreement, that is, "Let us two remain without speaking. For the person who speaks first there are two," they agreed.

Being satisfied with it, having shut the door, they lay down. While they are lying down thus, perceiving that there was not any sound of them, the men of the village came, and having spoken to the door, finding that there was no sound they said, "These will have died." Having split open the door and gone into the house, at the time when they looked they remained as though dead.

After that, in order to carry them to bury, men tied their hands and feet. The man, while they are tying his feet, having got hurt, said, "Uwah."

Thereupon the woman said, "There are two for you."

Scolding and scolding these two persons for their act, the men went away.

The first part of this story belongs to the North-western Province; the middle part is found in the Western Province also, to which, also, the latter part belongs.

In The Orientalist, vol. i, p. 237, Mr. H. White mentioned that a story about the frying of the family honour is contained in a work called Atita-vakya-dipaniya. In that instance apparently the pan which was placed on the fire was empty.

In the same Journal, vol. i, p. 136, a variant of the latter part of the tale is given by Miss S. J. Goonetilleke. Twenty-five idiots were employed by a Gamarala, and it was their duty to provide plantain leaf plates for the other servants and themselves. One day they decided that they gave themselves unnecessary trouble in doing work which a single person could perform, so it was settled that all should sleep, and that the man who first opened his eyes or uttered a sound should cut all the leaves. When the leaves were not forthcoming at the meal-time the Gamarala and his men went in search of the idiots, and being unable to arouse them, thought they were dead and dug a grave for them. One after another they were thrown into it in silence, but as they were being covered with earth a digging tool struck one on the leg, causing him to utter an involuntary groan. The others instantly arose and told him that henceforth he must provide all the leaf plates.

In the stories appended to the Pantcha-Tantra of the Abbé Dubois, a man at night disputed with his wife as to whether men or women are the greater chatterboxes, and each wagered a betel leaf that the other would speak first. As they did not appear next day, the door of their apartment was broken open, and the two were found sitting up but deprived of speech. It was concluded that they were suffering from some inimical magic, for which a Brahmana recommended the application of heated gold to their bodies. The man was burnt on his sole, above the knees, at both elbows, on the stomach, and on the crown of the head, and bore it in silence; but when the woman was burnt on the sole she cried, "Appa! That is enough," and handed her husband the betel leaf.

In Folklore in Southern India (Pandit Natesa Sastri), p. 277, (Tales of the Sun, p. 280), a beggar and his wife who had been at a feast at which they ate muffins (tosei), cooked five muffins, and agreed that whoever opened an eye or spoke first should have only two of them. They then bolted the door and lay down. After three days the villagers entered by the roof and saw that the couple were apparently dead. They were carried to the cremation ground, placed on two pyres which were raised, and lights were applied. When the fire reached the man's leg a voice came from his pyre, "I shall be satisfied with two muffins." From the other pyre a voice replied, "I have gained the day; let me have the three." When the villagers heard the story, it was decided that, having apparently died and been on the funeral pyre, they could not return to the village or it would perish, so a separate hut was built for them.

In Indian Nights' Entertainment (Swynnerton), p. 14, a farmer and his wife who disputed regarding the shutting of the door, agreed that it should be closed by the one who spoke first. After a wild dog had eaten their food, the barber called, shaved the man's head and half his beard and moustache, and blackened him with lamp-black. When the wife, who had gone out, returned and asked what he had been doing, she was told that it was she who must close the door.

In Cinq Cents Contes et Apologues (Chavannes), vol. ii, p. 209, a man and his wife made three cakes; each ate one, and they agreed that the first who spoke should allow the other to eat the third cake. Robbers broke in, began to collect all the goods in the house, and at last seized the wife. The man still did not utter a word; when the woman cried out and scolded him, he said, "Wife, it is certainly I who have gained the cake."

NO. 88

THE STORY OF MARIRALA

In a country a man near the [New] Year spoke to the people of the village: "To bring palm sugar let us go to the quarter where there is palm sugar." "It is good," a few people said. Having said "I am going to-morrow," and having plucked fifty coconuts and removed the husks, he placed them in the corner in the house.

On the following day morning, bringing the pingo stick and two sacks outside, and having broken [open] the sacks, and placed them below the raised veranda, when he was going into the house to bring the coconuts [his] wife said, "Stop and eat cooked rice. Be good enough to tie the pingo load."

Having said, "If so, give me the cooked rice at the raised veranda," at the time when he was eating the cooked rice his relatives brought a coconut apiece; when they said, "Bring and give each of us also a packet of palm sugar," he replied, "Put them into those sacks."

Subsequently, having eaten cooked rice and arisen, at the time when, having lifted the two sacks, he looked at them, there were collected together [in them coconuts] to the extent that he can carry. Subsequently, taking from his house, for expenses [on the journey], rice and two coconuts, having put them in a sack he tied up the pingo load. Afterwards, having called up the people who are going [with him], taking the pingo load he set off and went.

Having gone many gawwu (each of four miles) in number, [after] exchanging [the coconuts for] palm sugar, he came back to the village. On the following day morning, having summoned the people of the village who gave the coconuts, and looked at the account according to the manner in which they gave the coconuts, he apportioned and gave [the packets of palm sugar] to them.

Subsequently, at the time when he looked in the sack there was [left] one packet of palm sugar. When he inquired about it and looked, he perceived that it was exchanged for one out of the two coconuts that he carried for expenses.

Afterwards having gone into the house, when he looked [there] having seen that there was [still] in the corner the heap of coconuts which he had husked for carrying, [and that he had taken only his relatives' coconuts, and left his own at home], he said, "Apoyi! What is the thing that has happened to me!" and struck blows on his breast.

Then his wife got to quarrelling with him. Unable [to bear] the worry, having gone running to the pansala that was near he told the Lord (monk) the whole of these matters that occurred.

"A barterer, [45] a fool like you, there is nowhere whatever in this country," the Lord said.

Beginning from that time (taen), until he dies everybody called him Mariya (Barterer).

North-western Province.

NO. 89

THE INVISIBLE SILK ROBE [46]

A Brahmana having told some men to come from a certain city, and having praised the robes which the King of the city is wearing, this Brahmana made seven stanzas, and gave them to those seven men. Those very seven men having taken the seven stanzas and gone, employed yet [another] Brahmana and got them explained. Should you say, "How was the meaning?" it was praise of the copper [coloured] silk robe which the King of that city is wearing.