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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36171-0.txt b/36171-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fd6fe3 --- /dev/null +++ b/36171-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2330 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Told on the Pagoda, by Mimosa + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Told on the Pagoda + Tales of Burmah + +Author: Mimosa + +Release Date: May 20, 2011 [EBook #36171] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOLD ON THE PAGODA *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Matthew Wheaton, Bill Tozier +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + TOLD ON THE PAGODA + + _TALES OF BURMAH_ + + + [Illustration] + + + + TOLD ON THE PAGODA + + _TALES OF BURMAH_ + + + By Mimosa + + + ILLUSTRATED + + + _LONDON_ + T. FISHER UNWIN + 1895 + + + + _All rights reserved._ + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + THE WOMAN, THE MAN AND THE NĀT 9 + A FABLE 23 + THE STOLEN TREASURE 39 + THE VIGIL OF MAH MAY 63 + THE PETITION TO THE KING 85 + THE PRIEST'S PETITION 99 + THE COMMAND OF THE KING 117 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + 1. A BURMESE VILLAGE GIRL _Frontispiece_ + 2. PART OF THE PALACE OF THE KING, MANDALAY _Facing p. 39_ + 3. THE QUEEN'S MONASTERY _Facing p. 63_ + 4. THE KING'S PALACE _Facing p. 85_ + 5. THE SHWAY DAGONE PAGODA _Facing p. 99_ + + + + +THE WOMAN, THE MAN AND THE NĀT. + + +In every large tree there lives a Nāt, and it is a custom very +strictly adhered to that before any tree can be touched the permission +of the spirit must be asked and obtained. + +Now a woodman cut down a tree one day without giving the Nāt who +resided in it the slightest warning, a proceeding which infuriated the +spirit exceedingly, and he determined to be revenged; so, taking upon +himself without delay the exact form and likeness of the woodman, he +gathered up a bundle of sticks and went in advance of him to his home, +in the brief warm gloom that precedes the fall of night. When he +reached the hut, that was as bare as a hermit's cell, thatched with +dunni leaves, and situated in one of the deepest recesses of the dense +sylvan growth, he placed the wood outside and went within. An oil lamp +stood on the wooden ledge of the entrance and threw a faint light on all +around. The wife of the woodcutter was busy boiling the evening rice, a +baby slept in its box-like cradle slung from a beam in the roof; a +little boy of five or six sat cutting plaintain leaves. + +The Nāt greeted the woman; she answered him cheerily. Then he +squatted down on a piece of matting. + +The rice being ready, the wife put it out on the plaintain leaves, +giving one to her supposed husband, one to the boy, and keeping the +other for herself. They ate together, and when they had finished drank +some water from the chatty standing near. Then they sat and smoked, and +talked together of the many little trifling events which went to make up +their world. The woman cleared away the remains of their meal, and took +out some betel chews and commenced to roll them, while the child slept +behind the purdah. About half an hour passed away thus, when lo! on the +stillness broke the voice of the woodman calling to his wife that he was +coming, saying that he had been delayed. + +The woman heard in bewildered astonishment, then turned to the Nāt, +who apparently had not heeded the call, and asked him if she dreamt. + +Then rising, she peered out into the gloom, just faintly relieved by the +rays of a young moon, and beheld the form of a woodcutter coming between +the trees, identically the same in figure and face as her husband who +was there beside her. The new-comer called her by her name again, +bidding her prepare something for him to eat, as he was tired and +hungry. + +He threw the wood down that he carried, and entered, but staggered back +on seeing his counterpart squatting, quite at home, on the ground. The +woman looked from one to the other, and knew not what to do or think. + +There was silence for a few moments. Then he who had come last asked, +when he had sufficiently recovered himself to speak-- + +"Who is this man who bears so strange a likeness to me?" + +"I am the husband of this woman," answered the Nāt calmly, not even +removing his green-leaf cigar from between his lips. + +"That cannot be," exclaimed the other indignantly, "because I am he." + +The Nāt shook his head, and went on smoking. + +The woodcutter, mad with anger and astonishment, turned excitedly to his +wife, and cried-- + +"Do you not know me, I, your husband, who left you only this morning? Do +you not know me, or do you forget so soon, that you accept a stranger in +my place?" + +The woman looked from one to the other, and examined each carefully, and +was more puzzled than ever. + +"Oh, wife, do you not know me, do you not know me?" moaned the woodman +in a grief-stricken voice. + +The woman wrung her hands as she answered-- + +"I don't know if you are my husband; you are both so much alike that I +cannot tell." Then she broke down and wept. + +And the Nāt hearing, smiled where he sat in the shadows. + +After awhile the woman dried her tears, smoothed back her heavy masses +of black hair, and asked what was to be done. + +They neither of them answered. Then she said, "Let us go and seek Manoo, +and abide by what he says." + +Manoo was a very learned judge, who had been appointed, while still +quite young, Chief Justice of the King's Court, and was renowned for the +wise and prudent judgments that he invariably pronounced. + +The Nāt objected to the proposition. Secretly he feared that Manoo +might perhaps guess his identity; but the woodman assented eagerly to +his wife's idea, and between them they overcame the other's dislike, +and the three started without delay, going through the forest between +the silvered line of palm-trees; the fire-flies danced before them, and +the bats flitted by like ghosts in the warm darkness. All that night and +part of the next they travelled, until they reached the Court of Manoo, +which was a large white building, supported by chunamed pillars, and +with many carved doors. + +The judge himself, magnificently arrayed, sat upon a raised couch, that +was covered with scarlet satin, richly embroidered, and with a heavy +fringe of gold and jewels edging it. + +The woman, the Nāt, and the woodman, leaving their shoes at the +gates, entered, and, seating themselves at a respectful distance on +separate pieces of matting, told their tale. + +The judge listened in silence to the end; then he asked the woman if +her husband had any particular mark on him by which she could +distinguish him. + +Her face lightened as she answered that he had a black mark on his back +and a red scar on his knee. Then Manoo had both men examined carefully, +but found that each had the same marks in the same places. + +The woman became more hopelessly bewildered than ever, and knew not what +to make of the extraordinary circumstance; while the judge found himself +in a position of considerable difficulty. + +He saw that he would have to consider the matter carefully for some +time; so he bade them go, and return on the following day at the same +hour. + +Then he went home to his house, which was a gift from his royal master, +and was situated on a rocky promontory, with the sea rolling up almost +to the entrance. Seating himself alone in his study--the windows of +which looked out over the water to where a rich sunset glowed westward, +edging the waves with freckled lustre, and throwing purple, amber, and +azure lights over the white-crested waves--he became absorbed in deep +thought, as a result of which he came to a solution of the matter. On +the next day, therefore, when his three strange applicants presented +themselves before him, he had a wooden wheel brought into the room and +placed in the middle of the floor, saying at the same time-- + +"The man who shall go through the hole in that wheel will be a wonderful +man, and will be recognised as the real husband of this woman." + +On hearing which the woodman protested, saying that it was impossible +for any human being to go through so small a space, that it was only +large enough to admit of an arm; and he grumbled greatly, saying that +the test was very unfair. + +But Manoo bade him be patient and silent yet awhile. Then he turned to +the Nāt, and asked him what he thought. The Nāt, who was laughing +inwardly, at once replied that he could perform the task that the +woodcutter deemed impossible. The judge smiled a little complacently as +he bade him do it. + +The Nāt immediately went to and fro through the hole with the +greatest ease, the woman looking on in speechless amaze. + +Then said Manoo-- + +"I suspected yesterday that you were no mortal, but a visitor from the +Nāt country, and now I am, of course, convinced of it." + +The Nāt hung his head, and the judge proceeded, saying-- + +"Why have you come from your own world, taking upon yourself this form +and shape, thereby causing so much pain and unhappiness to two innocent +people?" + +The Nāt, seeing that he could no longer carry on his course of +deception, answered-- + +"In the season of the sun, and in that of the rain, for a greater time +than I can count, I have lived in a tree in the forest, where this +woodman comes every day. I troubled no one, and I was content till two +days ago, when he felled my home to the ground with neither warning +given to or permission asked of me. When other woodcutters have come, +they have and do always crave permission of the Nāt residing in the +tree to take from it even one branch. Therefore you must see that I +have had just cause to be angry." + +Manoo then said that the woodman had certainly been wrong in the way he +had acted. Then, turning to the woman, he directed her and her husband +to hang up a dried cocoa-nut on the best side of their hut for the +Nāt to make his home in--an order which they promised to speedily +obey. + +The Nāt said that he was satisfied with that arrangement. + +Then the three, thanking the judge, withdrew and went homewards. + +From that time forth all Burmese people hung, and still hang, dried +cocoa-nut in their houses for the spirits to dwell in. + + + + +A FABLE. + + +Two dogs walked in the jungle together. The day was intensely hot, the +rays of the sun, hardly tempered with any shade, fell through the +towering bamboos and palm-trees down on their tired heads. + +They had come far; the way was very rough, the undergrowth very tangled +and dense. There seemed to be no end to it. Their vision in front was +obscured by the extraordinary wealth of orchids and green foliage that +was gracefully but thickly festooned from branch to branch. + +Snakes glided away in the deep grass. Monkeys, squirrels, and birds of +all kinds contended for the undisputed possession of the different +trees. + +"I am very tired; I don't think I can go much farther," said the lady +dog, who was small and delicate, to her companion. + +"So also am I," was the answer. + +"It was foolish ever to have come," grumbled the first. + +"It was your fault," snapped the second. + +"I did not say it wasn't, did I?" retorted the other, who, female-like, +had the last word. + +Then they went on in silence for awhile. They both felt cross and +hungry; and when you are hungry and a dog bananas are not very +satisfying, and they were the only things near. + +Presently they came to where a small stream flowed; the water was quite +warm, but they drank it and were grateful. + +Then they rested, going on again just when the last rays of the sun +still showed above the dusky palm tops. + +They hoped to reach a village before nightfall; but they were doomed to +be disappointed. There was not a sign of any habitation near when the +darkness began to close around. The stars twinkled brightly in a clear +violet sky of wondrous brilliancy. Close beside them was a tiger's +den--empty. They crept in and sank down, too weary to go further. + +There were signs of its having been recently occupied, but they did not +heed them; and gnawed ravenously at some half-eaten bones that were +strewed about. + +Then they curled themselves up in one corner and slept. After a few +hours the lady dog woke up and looked about her. Through the opening she +saw the moonlight falling on the country outside; everything was +strangely still, save for the distant cry of the jackal, and the healthy +snoring of her spouse, who reposed in the corner. She felt alarmed, she +could not exactly have told why, and awakened her companion, who +grumbled not a little at being thus rudely roused from his slumbers. + +"Supposing," began his companion, not heeding his displeasure, "that the +tiger was to return." + +"What!" cried the listener, sharply jumping up in extreme alarm at the +bare suggestion. + +"Don't make that unearthly noise," said the lady, calmly. "I only said +_supposing_, and I was going to ask you what we should do in such a +case." + +"Do! why, what could we do?--nothing, of course," was the somewhat +contemptuous reply. + +Just then an ominous crackling of the branches outside made them prick +their ears. Creeping close to the opening, they looked out and saw in +the distance a large tiger coming towards them, a white light, clear +almost as the dawn, fell about him, showing his big head and striped +back. The watchers trembled exceedingly, and their teeth rattled. + +"There is no time to be lost," exclaimed the lady in a hoarse whisper. +"We must trust to his never having seen any like us before, and we must +try and frighten him." + +"Humbug and nonsense! Fancy our frightening a tiger," said the gentleman +dog with infinite scorn. + +"Never mind, we'll try; you sit at the door while I remain in here. When +I roar--well, you'll see the effect." + +The dog very unwillingly took up his position at the entrance to the +lair, and waited. In a second almost the great beast came slouching +along; his gleaming eyes glanced hither and thither, and there was blood +upon his mouth. Seeing the dog, he came to an abrupt pause, and stared, +then came a little nearer, but very cautiously. + +Just then there came a cry from within, accompanied by the words, "I am +hungry, very hungry, and so are the little ones, they crave more tiger's +flesh; be quick and bring it." + +The tiger, hearing, waited for no more, but turned and fled into the +night. He knew not what he had seen, but the words that he had heard had +turned him cold with fear. + +He flew on away into the wood, not heeding where he went. Then, just as +the first rose flush of dawn overspread the sky, he sank down exhausted, +with a cold perspiration all over him. He fell into a troubled, weary +doze, from whence he was awakened by a banana dexterously aimed, hitting +him in the eye. Looking up he saw a brown monkey swinging itself on the +branch of a tree opposite, and regarding him with all that gleeful +self-satisfaction which a monkey is alone capable of. + +"Well, my friend," it cried, mockingly, "what has put you out? You look +strangely pale and upset this morning." + +"I have had sufficient cause," answered the tiger, rising and shaking +himself; "for when I went home last night I found it filled by the most +peculiar-looking animals that I have ever seen, who shouted for my +flesh." + +The listener cocked its ugly little head on one side as it munched +bananas, and asked, "What were they like?" + +"Don't ask me," exclaimed the tiger. "I was too frightened to see +anything save that they were white." + +The monkey flung itself up higher among the boughs and laughed loudly +and long. + +"If you don't stop that hideous noise I'll kill you," called out the +tiger very angrily, regardless of the fact that he could not get within +miles of his tormentor. + +"Ha, ha! my friend," shouted the monkey, "the things that you were +frightened of were two poor lean dogs, that went by here yesterday. What +a great coward you are!" + +"Coward or no coward, they would have killed me and eaten me." + +"Eaten you! Oh, you great silly goose! With all your travels you don't +know any more than that dogs can't kill you. You can kill dogs." + +"I don't believe you," protested the tiger stolidly. + +"Don't then," said the monkey, laconically, as he turned a somersault. + +There was silence for a while. The tiger sat down dejectedly while the +monkey watched him through the leaves and chuckled maliciously, +continuing to eat noiselessly as he watched. + +Having once had sufficient himself, he was not indisposed to be a little +generous, so, taking some berries in one brown paw, he climbed down +nearer the ground, and tendered them to his melancholy friend as an +overture, saying as he did so-- + +"Eat and forget for awhile." + +"I can never forget the loss of my dear home," was the melancholy reply. + +"Nonsense," retorted the other one, who was practical, not sentimental, +and who had a hundred homes all equally comfortable in the forest. + +"It's no nonsense," said the tiger, shaking his head. + +"Well," exclaimed the monkey, after a few seconds, "if you really are +afraid to go back, which is ridiculous, I will come with you, for I fear +no dogs." + +"I wouldn't trust you," replied the tiger, ungraciously. "You have +played me a scurvy trick or two before now." + +The monkey became indignant, saying, "It is just like your mean, +suspicious nature to speak so to a friend who, out of pure good nature, +is willing to do you a turn. What motive can I have save generosity?--no +good can accrue to me personally." + +The tiger grunted an unwilling assent, and began to think seriously of +accepting the offer. + +"Well," he said at last, "if you will consent to be tied to my tail, and +to go in first to the den, my back being to you, and face the dog, I am +willing." + +"Agreed," answered the monkey, who was an interfering little creature, +and was longing to have his finger in the pie. + +So they went, the monkey tied to his friend's tail, chattering all the +way. + +"Now," said the tiger, who was sullen and afraid as they came in sight +of his lair, "if you don't behave fairly to me I will murder you, that's +all." + +"Never fear; I won't give you the opportunity of carrying out your +amiable intention, because I shall act only as your true friend," +replied the monkey. + +Then he pushed aside the thick-growing foliage and entered into the +cave, the tiger keeping as far away as possible, his hind-legs inside +and the rest of him out. The dogs were lying down, but roused +themselves on seeing their visitor. + +"Well, monkey," shouted one, "so you have come at last, but that," +looking behind him, "is a very lean tiger that you have brought. Why do +you do so when you know that we like them so sleek and fat, and----" but +the monkey heard no more. He was gone--jerked violently away by the +tiger, who, suspecting his fidelity all along, was convinced of his +perfidy by the words of the dog's greeting. + +Away, away he sped, without turning back, over hill and dale, bump, +bump, bang, bang, went the poor monkey's body, while he vainly protested +his innocence in breathless, terrified shrieks. At last death came and +ended his pain. + +The two dogs sat and watched them till their eyes grew tired. + +They laughed greatly as one said to the other, "See what happened to the +monkey for interfering in other people's business." + +[Illustration: PART OF THE PALACE OF THE KING, MANDALAY.] + + + + +THE STOLEN TREASURE. + + +In a lonely part of a large forest there dwelt four wise men of India +who owned a treasure consisting of gold, silver, and great jewels: like +all property it was a source of great anxiety to its owners, for they +always feared that it would be stolen from them. With that idea they +constantly watched it, counted it, and changed its hiding-place; burying +it sometimes under trees, or in a ruined well that stood not far +distant; at other times with them in the house. + +For many long years they had kept it safely thus, so safely indeed that +gradually they grew a little less zealous in their guardianship: the +confidence born of long and unmolested peace made them somewhat +careless; and so in some inexplicable manner news of its existence +floated to the ears of a young man who dwelt in the town not so many +miles away, and he at once made up his mind that he would become +possessed of it. Being wise he only took counsel of himself, and bided +his time with much patience. + +He made the acquaintance of the four recluses, and watched their +movements and studied their habits with much diligence. He was a +handsome, high-spirited youth, with manners that were frank and +engaging, and the old men liked to see him and talk to him, soon growing +to look forward to his visits. + +Months passed, and he went to see them often. They conversed +unreservedly before him and trusted him as one of themselves. + +As time passed and no opportunity of taking the treasure offered itself, +he began to be impatient, and was indeed almost reduced to despair when +he learnt, to his inexpressible pleasure, that they intended going on a +day's pilgrimage in the near future. + +He laid his plans. + +When the day came he rode to the forest on a pony, and, dismounting, +fastened it near by as was his custom, and went within. The garden, with +its moss-overgrown, decayed walls, was quite still save for the song of +the birds. The sun fell through the leaves of the trees and made +brilliant patches of light on the grass. + +The rooms of the house were dark and cool and empty. There were the +broken remains of a meal and various things belonging to the absent +masters scattered about. The visitor looked round and about him +carefully, peering here and there, then, having quite satisfied himself +that only he and the feathered world shared the stillness, he smiled. + + * * * * * + +Some hours later the pilgrims returned home: they had been far and were +wearied; they rested for awhile, then ate their evening meal and +prepared to make ready for the night. As was customary with them they +went to look at the treasure where they had put it in an upper room, to +find to their unspeakable horror and dismay that it was gone. They +looked on one another in mute amazement and despair; they beat their +breast; there were no words to describe what they felt in that hour when +they bewailed its loss in a helpless, hopeless way. + +After awhile one of them said-- + +"He who has come here so many times of late with fair words and fairer +smiles, it is he who hath done this thing." + +The others agreed that it was only he who could have, for no one else +had ever penetrated to their abode or shared their confidence. Too late +they bitterly rued having ever received the stranger. + +They sat long that night talking. One said-- + +"We have no proof save our own conviction that he whom we met as a +friend and a brother has robbed us; therefore what can we do?" + +The others answered him-- + +"We will seek the King, to our requests he has always leant a kind and +willing ear." + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile homeward through the sultry night rode a horseman with a +heavy load. + + * * * * * + +When the dawn broke, they who had been robbed set out together to seek +the Court of the King. + +His Majesty, who was revered for his goodness, had one daughter who to a +keen intellect united great beauty, and was renowned throughout her +father's dominions and even in countries beyond the sea. + +Whenever the King or his ministers were perplexed as to how to act in +any particular matter they invariably consulted the Princess, who on +each and all such occasions had guided them aright; while no chicanery +or fraud ever passed her undetected. + +All that was brave, lofty, and good she admired, honoured, and followed. +All that was mean, low, and dishonest she abhorred. + +United to a powerful mind were many womanly, gracious, and charitable +qualities, which made her beloved in humble circles as well as respected +in high ones. + +Therefore when the four petitioners sought the King, it was with the +idea of humbly pleading for the Princess's assistance. + +The King, who knew them, received them at once on their arrival and +listened to all that they had to say, agreeing with them in their +suspicions. He asked them, when he had heard their story, if they could +identify the property if they were to see it anywhere; to which they +answered, "Yes." + +Then, bidding them rest and refresh themselves, he went himself to the +apartments of his daughter and told her the tale that he had heard. She +was very much interested, and gladly promised to do what she could, +telling her father that if the young man could be found and brought to +the palace she fancied that she could restore to them their lost goods. + +Whereupon the King consulted the four, and a messenger was sent to +search and bring the young fellow with as little delay as possible. The +envoy of His Majesty found him whom they desired with but little +difficulty, who received the royal summons with much astonishment and +some fear. Instinctively he felt that it was with regard to the stolen +jewels that he was sent for, and he trembled not a little as he set out. + +Were the theft ever to be discovered he knew full well that his +punishment would not be a light one. Almost he felt inclined to regret +that he had ever embarked on so hazardous a course, but then the memory +of the shining heaps of gold and silver and the glittering stones, and +all that they represented, came to him, and he laughed and shook off all +feelings of fear; for how, after all, he said to himself, could they +prove that it was he who was the thief? + +When he arrived at the palace, therefore, he was quite light-hearted, +and walked through the lines of servants with a haughty, self-confident +air. + +They ushered him through many halls and at last into a large and most +beautifully decorated apartment situated at the end of a long vista of +salons. The four walls had bas-reliefs of graceful figures of women in +coloured marble and uncut jewels. The hangings were of ivory satin, +embroidered with elephants and dragons in dead gold. From the ceiling +were suspended magnificent lamps of many finely blended colours. A large +fountain splashed softly near by; the floor was strewn with tiger +skins; the air was heavy with strong perfume; while the light from +without stole in subdued and cool through green blinds. But what riveted +the visitor's attention beyond all else was a couch of immense +dimensions stretching across the upper end of the room, reclining on +which amongst many cushions was a woman; overhead was a canopy of +fringed cloth supported by delicately chased silver poles inlaid with +turquoises. On a table of mother-of-pearl stood some cheroots and a +glass globe of water. Several attendants, gorgeously attired, lounged +near, and created a breeze with fans made of real roses. + +The lady herself was very handsome, with a clear skin of an almost olive +colour, great eyes of a velvety darkness, and a soft, slow, sweet smile; +pearls clasped her throat, diamonds shone on her fingers, while gold +bracelets glittered on her slender bare ankles. She motioned her +somewhat bewildered visitor to seat himself near, and signed to the +attendants to withdraw. + +He felt terribly nervous in the presence of this royal lady: she watched +him in silence for a few moments, fanning herself languidly the while; +she was uncertain as to how to open the conversation. He was very +handsome, certainly, she thought, as she looked, and with a figure as +lithe and graceful as that of a panther. + +She raised herself a little and leant forward slightly; he started and +looked at her apprehensively. + +"I suppose," she began, "that you are wondering why I sent for you?" + +The tones of her voice were strangely liquid and clear. + +The young man murmured something indistinctly in response. + +She continued, "But for some time past, when the King and myself have +gone abroad, we have seen you often and have desired to know you." + +The listener was trembling so with joy, relief, and surprise at hearing +such words, that he could find naught to say in reply. + +Then she, perceiving his agitation, spoke to him gently and kindly for a +few minutes, in order to give him time to recover his self-possession. +Then, when he was more composed, she asked him many questions about +himself--questions which he gladly answered. Then after a while she bade +him go and to return on the morrow. + +So he went from the seductive presence of the Princess with his head in +a whirl, and feeling as if he dwelt no longer on earth but in Nirvana. + +On the morrow he returned, and for many days following, not a question +was ever asked. He was ushered always into the same room, where he was +greeted most graciously. + +On the occasion of his fourth visit, after the Princess had conversed +with him on many subjects, she asked him somewhat suddenly if he was +betrothed or married. + +And when he answered that he was not it seemed to him that she appeared +pleased. Then a long silence fell between them, which he of course did +not attempt to break. + +"My friend," she said at last, and her manner was somewhat nervous and +embarrassed, "I am glad that your affections are not placed elsewhere, +because I myself, strange as it is for a woman to tell a man, desire to +wed with you. To my father's Court have come many who have sought my +hand in marriage, but in none have I seen those qualities which I admire +and esteem----" she paused. + +The low, thrilling words stole on the listener's ear in sweet, subdued +cadence. Did he hear aright? He doubted it; he feared that he only +dreamt. + +Then he looked at her where she sat, with her shimmering jewels glancing +a thousand hues, and his heart throbbed and his brain reeled, and he was +as if drunk with wine. + +He knew not how to answer this beautiful, gracious lady. + +How she must love him, he thought, when she could so stoop from her high +estate. He dropped on his knees before her. "Ah," he murmured, "where +could I find fitting expressions in which to tell you what I feel? Your +words have lifted me to complete Nirvana, I shall never dwell on earth +again. Speech is but a poor thing often, therefore I will not say much. +Deeds are best; it is by them, O Princess, that you shall read my +heart." + +She smiled, and her eyes were softly tender as they met his. + +"There is but one thing," she said, after a few moments; "my father must +not be told till after we are married; he would not sanction our union, +though he will forgive us afterwards. Therefore you must take me hence, +away from out the kingdom for some time; then, when my father's just +anger shall have faded, as it surely will, we will return together." + +The young man listened in rapt attention, scarcely crediting even yet +his own great fortune. + +"And yet I scarcely see," gravely pursued the Princess, after a short +silence, "how it can be managed." + +She rose as she spoke and advanced to where a box of ivory, inlaid with +opals, stood, touched a spring and opened it. + +"See," she cried, "this is all the money I own," taking in her hands a +few small worthless pieces of silver; "I have never required money till +now, all that I have ever wanted has been always beside me." + +"Do not fear if it is only money that you need," answered the young man; +"for of that I have more than enough." + +"Ah! is that so?" she exclaimed eagerly, turning to him a face of glad +surprise. + +"At home," he continued, "I have much of jewels and gold which I got but +a little while back; sufficient to keep us in that luxury which is due +to your rank, for many a year to come." + +"Go and fetch it," urged the Princess, "and return here at nightfall, +and I will go with thee to another life--a life of happiness such as +this world seldom holds." + +Her great eyes glittered as she spoke. + +He read in her words, her looks, and her gestures only the fond +impatience of a love long, secret, and denied. + +He prostrated himself, and saying, "I will return at nightfall," left +her to hurry on his errand. + + * * * * * + +In the early evening, when the darkness had only just fallen, he drove +in a carriage to the palace; he left it at a little distance from the +great gold entrance, and taking on his person much of his stolen +treasure, he was ushered into the Princess's room; the swinging lamps +were lit and shed a faint radiance on all around. + +She was by herself, and greeted him in a manner that left nothing to be +desired. + +Wishing to assure her of the existence of that money and those jewels +that he had spoken of, and feeling nervously elated, he drew from the +recesses of his turban and sash a handful of great stones, that were as +rivers of light; she gave a woman's delighted cry as she took them in +her hands. + +He smiled, well pleased, and tendered a great ruby of wondrous size and +blood-red fire. + +"These are but a few of what I have," he said. + +"How rich you must be!" she exclaimed, "From whence did all these things +come?" + +"Ah, Princess, what matter whence they came? Sufficient it is that now +they are yours." + +As he spoke she, unseen by him, touched a gong of curious workmanship +that stood near. + +Then she held the stones up to the light, praising their beauty and +worth, and asking many questions. + +A short while passed and then a great door at the end of the room opened +and the King entered, followed by the four fakirs, and advanced to where +his daughter sat. + +The young man's heart beat in alarm at the sight of those whom he had +robbed. And the Princess's first words did not tend to decrease the +feeling. + +"Are these some of the treasures that you have lost?" she asked, handing +to the elder of the four the biggest of the diamonds and the rubies. He +took them in his hand, then passed them to the others, saying, at the +same time-- + +"These are ours." + +"There stands the thief, then," said the Princess, pointing to the now +cowering shaking figure of the culprit, who looked piteously from one to +the other, feeling at the same time very enraged with himself for having +been so easily caught in the trap that had been laid for him. "It is for +you," continued the Princess, addressing herself to the four, "when your +entire treasure has been restored to you, to name his punishment." + +The elder of them answered-- + +"We are so rejoiced to regain that which we had feared was lost for +ever, Princess, that we are willing that he should go forth unchastised; +his conscience, and what it will say to him, will be his punishment." + +"That would be too light a sentence; for I doubt much if he has any +conscience," said the lady, as she seated herself. + +"Then, Princess, will you relieve us by sentencing him yourself, as you +best will?" craved the four. + +"No," she answered, "that I cannot do, I might be too harsh--I have +convicted him; let His Majesty, who is ever lenient, name his +punishment." + +Then they all turned to the King, who said-- + +"I command that he be banished from this land for ever, and any property +that he has, or is likely to have, be confiscated." + +[Illustration: THE QUEEN'S MONASTERY.] + + + + +THE VIGIL OF MAH MAY. + + +Mah May was a little Burmese girl who kept a small stall filled with +cheroots in one of the crowded many-coloured streets of Rangoon. There +she sat all through the sultry, languorous days smoking and waiting, +with philosophical calm, for customers; now and then a great, big, +well-fed looking Indian would stop and handle her goods, and, grumbling +perhaps a little, would eventually buy; or a lean Chinaman, in baggy +blue trousers, would pause and smile and talk awhile; or some little +naked child would come and beg one for nothing; or the black coolies, +their silver belts glittering in the sunlight, would cluster round and +bargain and quarrel among themselves, perhaps, in the end, throwing her +goods back to her with no very complimentary language; or a "Chetty,"[1] +airily attired in scanty white muslin, his shaved head protected by a +big cotton umbrella, would come and haggle over the annas as a poor +Burman would never dream of doing; then, again, a well-to-do woman of +her own race, dressed in silk, and with gold bracelets on her wrists, +would purchase, but they were always, as Mah May used to say with a +shake of her small head, the meanest of all. + + [1] Indian money-lender. + +She was a bright little girl, though very poor; often hungry, and always +wretchedly clad. + +For two years past she had squatted behind her tray, in the hot, hard, +cruel glare, when the sun beat on the flat-roofed white houses +mercilessly; when even the river, with its forests of ships, seemed to +cease to flow; when all things were gasping and weary and the gharry +wallahs slept soundly, and the poor lean ponies tried to flick the flies +off their backs with their tails; when the Indian shopkeepers stretched +themselves on wooden beds just in the shadow of their door-ways and +snored away, dreaming of rupees and curry; while only the pariah dogs +scratched and smelt in the road for something to eat. No one stirred; +the drowsy influence of the heat seemed universal. Or on the dull wet +days, when the sky was clouded and rain poured down, soaking everything +through and through, and the thin coloured dresses clung pitifully round +their owners' dark forms, and nobody had time to think of buying as +they passed on in the warm, damp, oppressive atmosphere. Still Mah May +sat, no matter what the season, rolling her cheroots, cutting betel +chews, and crooning some little song to herself. At mid-day she ate some +rice, and got a draught of water from a pump not far distant. Often some +one was kind, and gave her some fruit or a cake; oftener they were +unkind, but oftener still they were indifferent. + +It was a hard life--very, and she was only seventeen. Yet was she +content. Nature had been her nurse. The sun and the rain had made her +what she was--a hardy, honest, upright little soul, envying and hating +no one. + +When the shadows grew long and the green shutters of the shops closed, +Mah May rolled up her wares and wended her way homewards through the +noisy, many-hued crowds to a miserable wooden hut, which stood in dirty +yellow water, spanned by a rotten plank, and was situated in one of the +poorest and most squalid quarters of the town--a quarter in which +poverty, in its most hideous form, stalked. Half-clothed men, women and +children of all ages, dwelt together there, and kept life in them as +best they could. + +In the huts there was scarce one piece of furniture, save perhaps a bed +or a roll of matting or a ragged purdah. + +The scorpions, the white ants, and the great toads held high revel. +Amidst rows, hard words, evil things, cries of little children, and +growls of half-starved dogs Mah May dwelt, and was happy. + +She did not know of any better life than hers. The day passed in the +fresh air under the changeless azure of the skies and the night curled +up in a corner of the hut, with the purple stars looking down through +some chink in the roof; and knowing of any other, it is doubtful if she +would have cared to exchange. + +Mah Khine, a black-browed woman whom Mah May had lived with as long as +she could remember, was very good and kind to her in her own way; but +she had many children tugging at her skirt, and her life was a very hard +one. She was married to an Indian who had nearly all the faults of his +by no means faultless race; his past had been bad, his present was even +more so. + +He counted the cost of anything, done or undone, as small if it only +brought in pice; pice sufficient to procure "toddy,"[2] the hot, +horrible, poisonous stuff kept in the little shop by a Chinaman in one +of the narrow, tortuous bye-lanes of the native quarter. To him it +mattered nothing that his children had oftentimes not enough to eat, and +that the lines about his wife's patient mouth deepened. + + [2] "Toddy" is composed of the juice of palms, and sold in those + shops when fermented. + +The passion for drink possessed him, to the exclusion of all other +feelings. + +Stretched on a wooden settle in the crowded, dirty shop that abutted on +the still dirtier street, reeking with filth and smells, he passed his +time sunk in a semi-conscious stupor. + +The proprietor looked upon Moulla Khan as one of the best customers he +had. + +For him was his smile the sweetest, to him was he most accommodating in +the matter of money. + +Of a day the frequenters of the place were comparatively few, but when +the night crept on, Pun Lun lit up his place with many sickly oil +lamps, whose light showed up the gaudy signboard with its ill-written +"Toddy Shop" on it, surrounded by a curious design in Chinese, and drew +the human moths round in dozens to smoke, drink, play, and talk. Indian, +Burmese, all countries were represented there in that crowded, noisy, +dirty place. The babel of many tongues broke on the ear afar off. + +The neighbourhood was a notoriously bad one, so that the fighting and +sickening sound of blows that usually ended these gatherings of +convivial spirits excited no comment. + +Even the deep groans from those who, wounded, lay helplessly for many +hours gained no sympathy or succour of any kind. + +Often, but in vain, in the hot, sulphurous nights Mah Khine had found +her way there, and begged of the great coarse brute whom she called +husband to return with her, but for a long time past she had ceased to +plead, realising how useless it was. + +And yet, strangely, with all his drunkenness and cruelty, the faithful +soul refused to desert or even see him as he really was. He had been the +chosen one of her girlhood, when she, young and pretty, had left her +people to wed this stranger out of India. + +They had deemed her disgraced by the union. + +They had been well-to-do people, and would have married her to one of +her own race. + +Her life had held many bitter, unhappy years, but she was proud in her +way, and from her lips no word or moan had ever passed. + +Children had come and multiplied, and though the wants of such people +are very few, often they had not the wherewithal to supply them. + +But of late years things had been better, for Mah Khine, who had a keen +eye for business, had made and saved a little unknown to every one +except Mah May. + +The money was kept buried away in a teak-wood box in a corner of their +damp, worm-eaten house. + +Mah Khine's cherished ambition, trader that she was, was to open a +little shop, as many of her class did. + +A little place filled with miscellaneous articles: pillows, lacquer +boxes, wooden trays, crockery, pewter pans, some sandals, and perhaps, +there was no knowing--that is, if she was lucky--some tameins and silk +potsos for the men. + +There behind it the proud possessor, she dreamt that she would sit and +roll the cheroots and have her children by her, keeping an eye on the +younger as they played. + +This picture Mah Khine often painted to herself; it was her ideal of +earthly bliss. She dreamt of it by day and night, but kept it locked up +in her own heart. + +Anything that she could spare from what she made by washing the clothes +of her richer neighbours she put by so carefully, handling it so fondly, +storing it so cautiously: grimy brown pice, little silver pieces, one or +two soiled, crumpled notes, how often she looked at them and counted +them and took them in her lean brown hands! She would start out of her +sleep, fearing some one had stolen her treasure, that represented the +scraping together of two hard, long years. + +There was some little history attached to every coin. + +She remembered how each one was gained, every circumstance of toil or +sacrifice through which it was put by. + +And not a soul knew, not a soul save Mah May and herself; Mah May she +could trust. Mah May loved her, and was as honest and true as a little +dog. + +Mah Khine never left the box in the house with no one to mind it, for +fear it should be taken, though for two years gone by it had rested +securely and undisturbed in its hiding-place. + +The knowledge of its existence, and what in the end it was to +accomplish, leant a courage to her to bear with the blows, the sickness, +and the abject poverty of her surroundings; it upheld her, it leant a +brightness to her eyes, a lightness to her feet when they would have +been otherwise pitifully weary. When she spoke there was oftentimes a +strange ring of gladness in her voice; for Hope, that wonderful +strengthener, dwelt with her. + +So time went on, and it wanted but three months for the money to be +complete. They had been rarely lucky. + +Mah May had sold well every day. Mah Khine had had much to do. A great +content abode with her. Even the morose, savage manner of her husband +troubled her but little. + +The children flew at his approach, and hid behind the mud hill close by, +or their mother's ragged skirts, or anywhere they could, and she soothed +and comforted the little trembling ones as she best could, and on her +face was a happy smile. + +"At last! at last!" she thought. + + * * * * * + +One warm, clear night, when the sky glittered with stars, and a young +moon showed against it, Mah Khine made ready to take some silks that she +had been washing home. She had promised them, for it was the eve of a +great Buddhist feast. It was a long way for her to go, right across the +town, but she did not mind. So she cleared up the remains of their +evening rice, swept the floor with her straw besom, filled the +water-chatty standing in the corner afresh, bade Mah May to watch +carefully; and Mah May assured her, as she had often done before, that +if any one was ever to find out their secret, the money they should +never have, save they killed her first. So Mah Khine took up her bundle +and went forth into the radiance of the night. + +Mah May looked after her until she was out of sight, and then squatted +down, smoking. + +The hours went by; the lights were put out in the huts. Mah May felt +very sleepy and tired where she sat, but she was good--she remained +awake, staring out into space.... + +A tall, dark figure stood before her. It was Moulla Khan; he had not +been home for two days. His eyes were blood-shot, his turban +disarranged. He stood over her, and looked down at her. She trembled a +little; she feared him greatly. She stirred uneasily, but nevertheless +met his look without flinching. + +He only uttered one word, and that in a voice which drink had rendered +hoarse and thick. + +"Money." He spoke in Hindustani. + +"I have none," she answered him in the same tongue. + +He gave a sort of gurgling laugh. + +"Look you," he muttered, "I know there is money hidden somewhere--pice +and annas and rupees--and I will have it; I know it, I tell you, I know +it." + +"There is none," the girl replied. She had risen; she had her back to +the hole in the wall where the money was. + +"Give it to me," he cried, in a voice of frantic rage. + +"I do not know who has told you this thing," she said, "but it is not +true." + +She felt chilly with fright. She knew that, once his suspicion aroused, +he would search till he found. She would be powerless to protect it. +Tears dimmed the fond eyes of the child. She knew, none better, all the +toil, privations, and hopes that lay in that poor little box. + +Yet what could she do? She was so small and her strength so puny. If he +searched he would find it; its hiding-place was not so secure as to be +proof against those cruel fingers. + +Though all Mah Khine's future lay there, she gave no sign of fear. She +kept her ground boldly. He shook her savagely, when she stood. She was +wondering who could have told him. She watched him with a dull, +throbbing brain move unsteadily round the wretched room, groping by the +light of the moon; feeling, feeling everywhere along the wall for holes; +turning over all the things; then, with a muttered word or two, out he +went on to the rafters, made of mud, behind, into a little piece of +ground; but there was nothing, nothing anywhere. Her breath came a +little quicker, a little more freely. Perhaps, after all--but, with a +bound, he was by her side. He nearly wrenched her slender, childish +wrists off. "It is there!" he cried in triumph. + +She set her strong white teeth in his black arm; but with a brutal +gesture he flung her light weight from him. She fell with a dull, heavy +thud. He did not heed her for awhile, searching eagerly, thirstily, his +eyes glittering with cruel greed. + +At last he drew it forth triumphantly, the poor little shabby +treasure-house, and took the money, letting some drop in his haste, +hiding it with trembling, feverish hands in his white linen jacket. + +Then he put the box back, and turned to Mah May. He looked; she was very +still; he crept nearer and nearer, and his cowardly soul shrank within +him. The moonbeams had found her out and fell upon her thin, upturned +face. He peered round, he held his very breath; no one was stirring, +there was silence everywhere. His dark, acquiline face was as cunning as +that of any fox cub. He paused for a second or two. Then, as if a +sudden thought struck him, he gathered her up hastily in his arms. + +She was a little heavy, but he was strong. + +The river, that was drifting outward to the ocean, and the moon were the +only things that shared the secret of that night with him. + +And they guard their secrets well. + + * * * * * + +"If Mah May wanted the money, I would have given it to her, for I loved +her; she need not have left me," Mah Khine said, with a great sorrow and +sense of desolate despair in her heart, and tears in her honest eyes, +when Moulla Khan told his tale. + +She never learnt different--she never will--unless, indeed, the day +dawns when the sea shall give up its dead. + +[Illustration: THE KING'S PALACE.] + + + + +THE PETITION TO THE KING. + + +In the reign of King Mindoon, who was the father of King Theebaw, a +servant sent a petition to him in which he set forth that he had been +his humble and faithful servitor before his accession to the throne, but +now, although seven long years had gone by since then, he had remained +forgotten and unnoticed. Continuing in this strain for a space, he ended +with the following parable:-- + +In the Zita country there lived a King who had a son named Padoma, whom +he sent to Thakada to be educated, and with him he sent a young +attendant called Thomana. + +For three years they stayed at Thakada, at the end of which period the +Prince, having completed his studies, prepared to return home; on their +way, travelling by easy stages, they paused at a small village situated +in deep-wooded lands, where a great feast was being held. Hundreds of +people had gathered there from all parts. A large tent was erected in +one part, where a banquet was spread, to partake of which they humbly +begged the Prince. + +And he willingly accepted. + +On the ground had been spread matting, on a part of which a gorgeously +embroidered scarlet cloth with a golden fringe was put for the Prince, +and a white one, less magnificently worked and with a silver fringe, for +his friend and attendant Thomana. + +When they had seated themselves, the rest of the company did likewise, +remaining, however, at a distance, and separated by a cord. + +Now Thomana was very learned in astrology, having read and thought +deeply on that subject, and he knew as soon as he saw the Prince seat +himself on the red cloth that he would become King upon that very day. + +It was a brilliant assembly, every one clad in delicate silks of all +hues, and glittering with jewels. The feast lasted long, it seemed, +indeed, as if the constant succession of dishes was to be an endless +one. All were in the best of spirits, and laughed and talked greatly. + +When the Prince had finished his repast, he was shown into an inner +tent, where a couch of the same royal colour had been placed, and in +front was a slightly raised platform of bamboo, draped with violet and +rose-pink satin, richly worked and lighted with lamps, that shed a +subdued radiance round and about the little graceful figures of several +dancing girls who had been bidden to dance for his royal highness. + +Their dresses were so formed as to represent armour, and on their heads +were similar coverings. They performed peculiar, dreamy, kind of +movements, amidst a mist of varying hues. The Prince was much +interested, and postponed retiring until late. + +Thomana, having bidden his royal master good-night, felt disinclined for +sleep, so, strolling into a park-like demesne that was adjacent, he +seated himself under a large tree, whose branches spread for a +considerable way, and became lost in thought. + +It was a glorious night, with not a sound in the air save the soft whirr +of some purpled-eyed or golden-winged insect as it floated by in the +darkness. As he sat there musing on the events of the evening and the +future of the Prince, two large leaves fell from above into his hand: +one was old and withered, the other was fresh and green. "Ah," he +murmured, as he looked at them, "in the same way as an old and a young +leaf drops from the tree, so may a man full of years and one who is in +the morning of life die at the same time." + +In the midst of his meditations, which lasted long, he became a +rahan,[3] and was taken from the garden to the Gandremadana Mountains. +At the same time a chariot of pearl, drawn by four pure white horses +with trappings of gold, was on its way to the Prince to carry him back, +as his father had died that day. Following the chariot came four +ministers and a train of Court officials, accompanied by soldiers. + + [3] "Rahan," _i.e._, one possessed of supernatural powers. + +They awakened the sleeping Prince and acquainted him with their news. +Then, when he was prepared, he stepped into the chariot that was +waiting, and was borne with all speed to the palace, where he was +proclaimed King the following day with the utmost pomp, ceremony, and +rejoicings. + +In his new life, and amidst his many duties and responsibilities, he +entirely forgot the existence of his attendant, who had been his +constant companion for three years; therefore his absence passed +unrecorded and unnoticed; for what the King forgets the courtiers must +never be unwise enough to remember. + +At the end of thirty years, when the King was getting old, he remembered +Thomana, and wondered greatly where he might be. Whereupon he +immediately caused it to be made known throughout his dominions that he +would give a lac of rupees to any one who should give him any news of +his lost servant. + +Now Thomana, owing to his great piety and powers of clairvoyance, became +aware immediately of the fact that his old master had recollected him, +and desired his presence. Therefore he went at once to the garden where +he had been seated before he attained his rahanship so many years +before. Close by the tree, under whose branches he had sat, were four +shepherd boys, their flocks grazing near, while they themselves talked +together of the big reward that the King had offered for news of his old +servant. + +Thomana, coming through the leafy aisles, heard them, and accosted them, +declaring that he was the person whom the King desired. They rose and +glanced at him doubtingly. + +"Let two of you," he said, "go to the palace and tell His Majesty, that +I await him here." To which they assented. + +A short while passed, and then an immense carriage, glittering like gold +and silver in the sun, and followed by others less imposing, could be +seen coming rapidly along the white winding road. Pulling up at the +entrance, the King himself alighted, and came through the gates, that +were all brazen and blazoned, straight towards Thomana, his arms +outstretched to embrace him; but he whom he would have greeted so +cordially stopped him, saying-- + +"I am now a rahan; with men, their feelings, their passions, their brief +triumphs, and sorrows, likes and dislikes, I have no affinity." Then he +folded his arms and stood in silence. + +His face was very cold and still. + +The King, looking at him, saw that he was poorly clad, and bent, and +thin, and pressed him to return to the Court, where he promised him +money and many wives. + +But the rahan answered-- + +"I do not need wealth, nor any of the poor fleeting pleasures that this +world can offer. Let your Majesty come with me instead, and visit my +abode of rest." + +"What is it like, this place," inquired the King in wonder, "that it can +render its inhabitants indifferent to what we esteem the most desirable +of all things in this life?" + +"It is situated far from here," replied Thomana, "and the approach to it +is a broad, long avenue of gorgeous blossoms, such as you have never +dreamed of, that bloom for ever, with a perfume that is at once dreamy, +drowsy, and infinitely sweet; vast sprays of water spring from the +mouths of silver dragons; over head the branches of trees interlace, +showing but a strip of blue sky through their quivering leaves. For +hours can you wander amongst these mazes of roses, this wonder of colour +and beauty. At the end of the grove is situated an immense tree, larger +than aught that you have seen and higher than any eye could reach. It is +surrounded by columns of marble that glow like jewels. Here the nāts +and fairies dwell, with nothing to disturb their seclusion and solitude +save the sound of falling waters and the song of birds. While over all +is cast such a spell as this life does not hold. Ah! beside the +perfection of that world, how poor and valueless are the things of this! +There one talks with the gods and dwells in worlds beyond the sun. There +is no room for regrets or for desires. There every one is beautiful, +therefore we do not covet beauty. There wealth is common to all, +therefore we do not desire it. There all are equal, and love and +goodness are the aim and end of all things. Come and see for yourself," +he added. + +And the King, marvelling greatly at what he had heard, went. And there, +in the midst of those divine surroundings, with naught to disturb the +mind from the good, he wandered, awed and silent, but not afraid. In +those cool, wide halls of bliss, all memories of grosser things and ways +faded into nothingness. He forgot his kingdom, and was by it forgot. + +[Illustration: THE SHWAY DAGONE PAGODA.] + + + + +THE PRIEST'S PETITION. + + +It was the custom for the heir to the throne of the kingdom of Ava to be +placed, while young, in a monastery with the priests, to be instructed +in a manner suitable to the position that he was destined to occupy. +Prince Min Goung, while a boy, was put under the special care of the +Phoongyee Shin Ah Tah Thaya--a prudent and learned man, who gave all his +time and wisdom to his pupil. + +Min Goung was of a proud and wilful nature, and one who would not +willingly bend his haughty head to any yoke, however light and silken. + +One day his reverend teacher punished him, for persistent bad writing, +somewhat severely--an act which he regretted afterwards, thinking, +perhaps, that he had been over harsh. + +Time passed away. The King died, and the young Prince was crowned. Then +the priest began to fear that his former pupil might do him some harm, +for he imagined that he had never forgiven him the liberty he had taken +in chastising him. So he quitted his retreat, and fled to Prome for +safety. Disliking his enforced banishment, he determined to write and +crave for pardon; and in the course of his long appeal, written on palm +leaves, was the following story:-- + +"There was a king of Bayanathee, learned and merciful, who had a hundred +sons, each of whom, when old enough, was given into the hands of a +carefully selected instructor to be taught those subjects for which he +had the greatest taste. When each was grown up and had completed his +education, he was appointed a governor of a portion of the royal +dominions; and so ninety-nine of the Princes had been educated and been +presented to the King and received their appointments. Prince Thanwara +was the youngest of them, and was taken care of by a distinguished +minister, who began and continued his instruction in a way that was very +suitable to the quick natural intelligence of the boy; and when the time +came for Thanwara to go to his father, his teacher accompanied him. + +"When they came before the King--who was seated on a throne of silver +and agate, with golden doors behind him--he asked his son if he had +learnt and completed the same course of studies as his elder brothers, +and the young Prince answered him-- + +"'I am sufficiently qualified, sire, to take upon me the same duties and +responsibilities as those of my brothers who have gone before.' + +"The King was satisfied with the reply; and then, after a while, the +Prince and his tutor returned to their home. + +"Talking to the tutor before he slept, Thanwara said-- + +"'If the King my father offers me the same position as he has bestowed +on my brothers, will it be well with me to accept it?' + +"The teacher made answer thus-- + +"'If a man, O Prince, desires to partake of the Bandaya fruit, which +only grows in Nirvana, can he obtain it from its tree from the distance +of a hundred yujanas (eight hundred miles), or would he rather not stand +under the tree and take the fruit with a hooked bamboo? In the same +way, if you wish to sit on the throne it is best for you not to go from +here, but to remain in the shadow of the palace.' + +"The prince listened, and then, when he had heard to the end, he said-- + +"'Then, my teacher, when to-morrow I go before my father, and he asks me +my desires, what shall I make reply?' + +"'Ask of him to bestow on you the rents of the bazaars and the produce +or the royal gardens within the city gates.' + +"'Of what benefit would such be to me?' + +"'The greatest benefit, my son. For those who have money have power, of +which truth I will give you an illustration:-- + +"'A timid doe in the forest, when it once sees a leopard, will fly, and +hiding carefully, will not venture to stir out again for many days and +nights; but on the other hand, retiring as it is by nature, it will, if +a person constantly feed it, so far lose its timidity as to approach him +and take from his hand. Therefore, my son, if you give presents often to +the favourites and the advisers of the King, you will gain their +confidence and their liking.' + +"On the following day, when the Prince reached the palace, and his +father asked him to name the province that he wished to govern, he +answered thus:-- + +"'My brothers have all gone from you to distant parts of the world to +guard over your vast possessions; let me then remain here to be your +Majesty's attendant, and render you that care and assistance in +sickness, in health, and in trouble, or any other trial, that affection +can alone offer.' + +"The old King was pleased, and granted unhesitatingly what he was +asked. + +"From that day forth Thanwara received the rents and profits of the +bazaars and gardens, and took up his residence near the throne, in the +white palace of his father. + +"Gradually his winning manners, his deference to his elders, his many +thoughtful and beautiful gifts, and, lastly, his own piety and learning, +gained for him the first place in the hearts of those who were about the +Court. + +"So the years fled away, and were counted with the past. + +"But when the tenth year was young, the King's health failed him; he +felt that the sands of his life were nearly run. So about him he +gathered his ministers and advisers. After they had expressed their +sympathy and regret at finding him ill, they inquired which of all his +sons he would best like to wear his crown when he was gone. + +"The dying King raised himself from the low couch on which he was +reclining, and, propped by many cushions, answered their question in +this wise: + +"'A hermit was one day coming from his lonely Himalayan abode through a +forest. Over his head, as a sunshade, he had an enormous flower, called +the kakayu mala, which is found, as you are aware, only in the Nāt +Country, and its fragrance reached to the distance of one yujana (eight +miles). On his way he encountered four fairies, each of whom saw and +coveted the blossom. They all in turn asked him for it, but he said, in +reply to their request, "I can only give it to the most virtuous and the +most excellent of you all." + +"'Whereupon each protested, all contending for the honour. + +"'But the hermit, who was discreet and prudent, said, "How can I, who +have no means to judge, decide? To me you all seem worthy of it, equally +charming, and deserving in all respects, therefore had I four flowers I +would divide them gladly between you; but as there is but one, and that +one incapable of division, we will refer the matter to the King of the +Nāt Country, who has the all-discerning eye." + +"'So they went. + +"'They had not to travel far before they came to his green and gracious +kingdom. + +"'They made straight for the beautiful ivory palace where the King +dwelt, and were ushered into where he sat on his throne, composed +entirely of the very flowers. + +"'He inquired what brought them before him. + +"'They told him. Then he thought for a little time, while they waited at +a distance. When he called them to him and said-- + +"'"There is a rahan residing in the Kisokok Mountains to whom I will +present a golden pineapple; then the four of you shall go and seek him +and ask him for it. The person whom he shall give the golden apple to, +that person shall be the most worthy in every way to be the recipient of +the flower." + +"'They thanked him, withdrew, and started for the Kisokok Mountains. + +"'When they arrived there the rahan requested each fairy to take up her +position according to the four directions of the earth--north, south, +east and west--which they did, while each clamoured for the prize. + +"'Then the rahan asked them their names, to which the eldest replied, +"Thada" ("Charity"); the second, "Thati" ("Peace"); the third, "Hiri" +("Modesty"); the fourth, "Ootoppa" ("Virtue"). + +"'When the rahan heard he gave the golden apple into the hands of +Ootoppa, saying, as her name represented, she was the most deserving. +Then she went to the hermit, who presented her with the beautiful +flower, and from that moment she was esteemed the most virtuous and most +excellent of all women in the Nāt Country. + +"'Therefore,' continued the old King, addressing the ministers around +him, 'you must be the hermit in this case.' + +"Before that day was over he was dead, and was interred with great +honours and many lamentations. + +"Then the advisers, with no delay and no hesitation, elected Prince +Thanwara to succeed his father; but when the news reached the other sons +in their distant territories they were filled with wrath. The second +sent to his elder brother a letter, in which he said that the ministers +of their late father were weak and corrupt, and very wanting in +foresight in allowing themselves to be persuaded into placing the +youngest of all on the throne, thereby disregarding the principle of the +ancient rule of succession; for (continued he) in the Ahrottaya Country +there was a King who had three children, two sons and a daughter, born +of the chief Queen. When the eldest son was sixteen years of age the +Queen died. The second Queen thereupon became chief, by whom the King +had a son, and when that son reached eight years of age the King was +bitten by a snake, a fact which frightened him greatly. The Queen, +however, who was quick to think and very brave, sucked the poison from +the bite. The King, being filled with gratitude, asked her to make any +request that she liked, which he would grant, whereupon she immediately +begged that her son might be selected as the heir to the throne, and to +her inexpressible satisfaction the King gave his consent. + +"A while later his Majesty sent for Narada, a soothsayer, who was asked +to calculate his term of life. Narada told him that he would live twelve +more years. The King then sent for his three children by the dead queen +and acquainted them with the soothsayer's prophecy, telling them at the +same time that they must quit the Court and find a home elsewhere for +twelve years. + +"Sorrowing greatly, they obeyed. After nine years the King died of grief +for the absence of the children that he had sent from him. + +"The Queen lost no time in scheming to put the crown upon her son's +head. But the chief minister opposed her, saying that the eldest boy +still lived and could not be put aside. + +"Then he took the crown and all the insignia of royalty, and with many +attendants and great state travelled to where the eldest son resided, +and offered the throne to him. + +"The Prince met him with the argument that the King's commands extended +to twelve years, and that, as only nine had elapsed, his step-brother +must reign for three years. Then he gave the minister a pair of +slippers, worked with wheat, to give to his half-brother, with the +direction that they were to be placed on the judgment-seat, declaring, +as he did so, that if any decision is illegal or contrary to the right, +the slippers would of themselves rise and touch each other as a protest. + +"'Wherefore,' continued the brother's epistle, 'as the ministers have +not paid you the respect of deferring to you in the matter, we should +prepare to go to war with Thanwara.' The elder brother, on receiving the +above, addressed a letter to his youngest brother, in which he requested +him to surrender the crown or to prepare for hostilities. + +"Prince Thanwara sought the advice of his chief minister in his +perplexity, and he told him that, according to religion, he must not +oppose his elder brother. + +"'Then,' asked Thanwara, 'what am I to do?' + +"The chief minister answered: 'Divide all the property in the kingdom +into one hundred shares, and give each equally.' + +"And it was accordingly done, upon which the eldest brother, being quite +content, left the youngest in the possession of the throne, saying that +a hundred kings could not reign in one country, and that, if they tried, +it would be for the woe of the people. + +"So all the brothers went back to their own in peace and amity." + + * * * * * + +When the King of Ava read the priest's letter, he was so well pleased +with the narrative that he sent a messenger to him, and appointed him +head of the ecclesiastical body, with a residence near the palace. + + + + +THE COMMAND OF THE KING. + + +There was a King of Amarapoora, who reigned in a time long past. + +He was young and beloved, and fair of form and face, and his people +lived but to obey his lightest wish. He dwelt in a palace of crystal, +surrounded by gardens, of whose beauty no tongue could tell. He had +money and lands and gems, and beautiful wives and unnumbered treasures, +gathered from all lands. + +He could have whatsoever he willed, and go wheresoever he listed. His +days and nights were one long dream of gladness. + +No enemies plagued him; no troubles of any sort visited him; his coffers +were well filled, and his ministers were faithful and wise; and yet, in +spite of all, he was weary of everything, more weary than he could say. + +He drank from a goblet of gold, rimmed with a band of pearls, and his +clothes were studded with rubies and emeralds; he was flattered and +courted and envied as no monarch had ever been envied before, and he was +more discontented than the poorest subject in his realms. + +Above and around and about him was all that is most conducive to +happiness, but within him were fatigue and desolation. + +All that he had ever wished for had been given unto him; never had the +gods left unanswered his prayers; other and better men's they turned a +deaf ear to, but not so this King's, and now he had nothing more left +to crave for. + +He had supreme power vested in his hands, but he was indifferent to it; +he owned everything that the heart could desire, and those very +possessions were killing him. + +For the trail of the serpent of satiety lay over his garden of Eden. + +Never had his eyes rested on disease or want or poverty, or anything +that could distress his mind. + +All gifts and graces had been showered upon him; his sins were buried +in oblivion, or cited more admiringly than the virtues of others. + +When he went abroad on his white elephant, with its trappings of scarlet +and silver, the very air was perfumed with otto of rose, while the +people bowed and kissed the dust through which he passed. + +Attached to the palace were many hundreds of officials, players, +dancers, jugglers, and clowns; for the King sought only one thing, and +that was--Amusement; of which, in no matter what form it was presented +to him, he soon tired. + +Constantly was the country being searched for some one with a ready wit, +an inventive tongue, or a nimble foot, to pass the hours for the Lord of +the City of Gems. + +Tellers of marvellous stories, more wonderful than the Arabian Nights, +had come, and tried their little best to please. + +There were those who travelled specially to other countries, but to +return and tell him of all that they had seen, and of how inferior all +lands and rulers were when compared with their own. + +Dancing women, with the classic limbs and straight black brows of +Egypt, sought his favour. + +Eyes that were as loadstars in their brilliancy wooed him with a +thousand glances. + +Circassian women, with sun-flecked tresses, were his willing slaves. + +Men of great learning asked nothing better than to gain his ear awhile, +but all fatigued him soon. + +And, like a child, he cried for something new. + +Then one day a stranger from India presented himself at the great gates +of the palace, saying that he brought a game called Chess to teach the +King. They who loitered round the entrance bade him scornfully to +"begone." What would he of the Golden Feet do with red and white figures +like that? they contemptuously asked. + +But the Indian protested, craving humbly to be granted an audience. +Then one, who was more kindly than the rest, led him through the green, +silent gardens, with their aisles of gorgeous roses; by spray-splashing +fountains, fringed with the lotus-flower; up a flight of marble steps on +to a terrace where peacocks strolled; through carved doors, from which +stretched an endless vista of halls and rooms filled with numerous +attendants, who formed a mass of marvellous colour; carpets and rugs of +velvet-like softness were strewn about; ivory of wonderful workmanship; +things of all precious metals, together with stuffs of delicate hues and +lovely texture; to a chamber handsomer than any that had gone before, +where at one end, seated on a couch, clad in an odd, rich fashion, and +shaded by a large umbrella, was the King, his bare feet resting on a +stool; to his right was a golden spittoon, while to his left stood a +slave holding a jewelled betel box and some green cigars. + +The Burmese prostrated himself almost full length, motioning the Indian +to do likewise, explaining at the same time the object of their +presence. + +His royal master received them graciously, inquired into the merits of +the game, finally declaring that he would be taught it there and then. + +From that time forth he devoted himself to play with an eagerness +entirely foreign to his nature. He paused for nothing, never going +without the palace. The days seemed not half long enough. The courtiers +were inclined to congratulate themselves on having at last found +something that seemed likely to continue a favourite with the King, +until they saw how high the Indian was rising in his favour, being +loaded with money and presents, and thereby becoming a cause of bitter +envy and jealousy on the part of the Burmese ministers. + +Nor did his haughty, overbearing manner tend to soften their resentment. +Many were the plans that they made to cause his downfall, but in vain. +Every one of the plots failed, while he whom they conspired against +seemed to grow but dearer to the Lord of the Rising Sun. + +Time passed. + +Then one came called Nicomar from a great distance, who brought painted +cards and dice wherewith to amuse the monarch, the like of which had +never been seen before. And the King, like a spoilt baby, was delighted +with this new toy, and thrust away the chess from his sight with +disdain. + +And those round about were so glad of the change that they hardly +grudged the new-comer the honours that their royal master began to +speedily heap upon him. + +The days went by, and His Majesty did nothing but recline on his crimson +and golden cushions, playing and rattling the dice-box. + +Then, after awhile, he took to enlivening the game by hazarding large +bets with his teacher--bets which generally meant the performance of +impossible feats by Nicomar, with many penalties attached to their +non-accomplishment. + +Often and sorely was Nicomar's subtle mind perplexed to devise means of +circumventing his master's wagers, and of distracting his attention to +other and more entertaining matters. Nicomar lived always in fear of +losing his place at the palace. Inwardly, he hated this unreasoning and +unreasonable monarch, whom nothing pleased for long; outwardly, he was +the most docile, obedient, and fawning of servants. + +Carefully did he veil his night-like eyes, lest the hatred that shone in +them sometimes might be read by those around. + +Prostrate before the King, he seemingly lived but for his smile. + +The burning days and the sultry nights he devoted to his service; while +others slept he sat wakeful, thinking out new forms of amusement, new +ways to distract the King, and enable him to retain that place which to +him, hitherto most poor and friendless, was as the sorcerer's golden +apple. + +For Nicomar there was but one god--and that god was wealth. + +He laboured and strove for and endlessly desired it. + +A year went by, and still he remained the favourite, and he began to +feel a little more secure and at ease.... + +"Nicomar," cried the King one day, as they sat together in the sunset +glow, "I have resolved that you shall put milk where the sea now is. I +have tired of water, and I desire instead an ocean of milk." + +Nicomar stared in dismay. + +"That which your Majesty wishes is impossible," he made answer. + +The King frowned. + +"Impossible is no word between you and me. That which I command must +never be impossible," he exclaimed angrily. "Hitherto you have obeyed my +orders; do so now." + +The Indian trembled, but dared not protest. + +"Fill up the sea with milk in fourteen days from now and your reward +shall be all that even you can desire;--fail to do so and you shall die +by all the tortures possible within an hour. Do as I say and your place +shall be the very highest here: your power shall be well-nigh limitless, +your name shall be on all lips; men shall crouch at your feet; you shall +have a finer palace and greater wealth than any in the land. Save +myself, you shall be great and free, while those whom you love shall be +raised also." + +Nicomar salaamed silently. + +The King continued: + +"You have known what it is to be lowly and despised; you have been +mocked and reviled at,--what greater or sweeter vengeance then to see +those very people bow down before you your slaves? I desire this thing +so much that any price you like to name I am prepared to give." + +The Indian answered never a word. + +He knew of old that once the King commanded it was useless to do aught +but comply. + +This reward, great as it was, could never be his, for to earn it was +beyond anybody's power. + +"Begone, now," continued His Majesty, "and return in fourteen days' time +to claim your prize, or----" and his gesture was more eloquent than +words. + +Nicomar, with sorrowful, halting gait, went from his august presence. + +He sought without delay the quietude of his own rooms. He was well-nigh +distracted. From many difficult predicaments he had with consummate tact +and skill extricated himself, but from this there seemed no escape. + +He beat his breast and tore his hair. He consulted the wise men and the +stars; looked for this sign and for that; prayed long and fervently, and +propitiated the gods in many ways, but all to no purpose. + +He took no food or rest; he dared not think of what awaited him in the +near future. + +So a week went by, and he was no nearer finding a loophole through which +to escape. + +On the seventh day he sought the King, and craved humbly to know if he +had understood him aright, or had he been but jesting with him. + +He lingered but a short while in doubt. + +His Majesty was deeply incensed at being questioned, and let the full +torrent of his displeasure fall upon the head of his luckless servitor. + +Swearing many oaths by the sacred hairs of Buddha that his will should +be obeyed, he had him thrust ignominiously from his presence. + +Then Nicomar went from out the palace and the city far into the lonely +country, seeking he knew not what. For days he wandered wearily through +thick jungle and silent forest ways, stepping but slowly in the long, +dank grass. + +He suffered greatly, and suffered without hope. + +On the fifth day he came to where a broad river flowed and sparkled +between high green banks. + +Some Burmese, driving bullocks, were resting beside it, while in the +distance were a few mud huts. + +Nicomar, who was footsore and faint, sank down at the foot of a banana +tree. + +His garments were torn by branches and brambles, his sight was blinded +by the sun, his mouth parched with thirst. + +Idly he watched the Burmese from where he sat. + +Soon it became apparent that they desired to cross that glittering +expanse of water, but evidently knew not how to accomplish it. + +Nicomar, tired of thinking of his own miseries, grew unconsciously +interested. + +Three of them twisted their silk pasohs up about their waists, and tried +to wade the river; but it was too deep, and they returned, seemingly +much perplexed. + +Then they consulted together; whereupon one among them--evidently +against the desire of his companions, as their gestures betokened--took +the rope of his bullock between his teeth, and diving into the river, +with a good imitation of swimming reached the other side. + +His fellows watched the performance with open-eyed wonder, but could +not be induced to follow his example. + +Nicomar, looking on, thought that the young man must have a mind full of +resource, and so determined to seek him and consult with him. He could +not have told what was exactly the impulse that urged him to this +course, but he rose, and staggering a little because he was faint, made +his way to the river bank. + +The young fellow leant a very interested and attentive ear to the +strange story that Nicomar told to him. When he had finished he took him +to his hut and gave him a meal of rice, then bade him go over the tale +once more in all its details. + +Whereupon he asked at the conclusion-- + +"If I, poor and ignorant, satisfy the King that his command can be +performed, what will you give unto me?" + +Nicomar, trembling with joy and incredulity, promised him one half of +what he had and the hand of his daughter in marriage. + +Then the Burman said-- + +"To-morrow we will seek the King." More he would not say, but sat in the +dusky gloom of the coming evening, smoking. + +Nicomar, with the great weight of his troubles somewhat lightened, slept +heavily. + + * * * * * + +On the morning of the fourteenth day Nicomar prostrated himself before +his master. + +"Well," asked the King, "come you to claim your reward?" + +The Indian bowed his head in grave deferential assent. + +"And so you have obeyed my order?" + +"I but wait for your Majesty to perform your part first, then I will +without delay do my share." + +The King hastened to ask the meaning of such an answer. + +"Your Majesty commanded me," replied the Indian, "to fill up the sea +with milk, which I am quite ready to do; but your Majesty did not +command me to take the water from the ocean, and until that is done it +is impossible to fill it anew. If your Majesty," continued Nicomar, +"will but dispose of the water----." Then he paused timidly, waiting the +King's response. He had done as the Burman had instructed him, and he +feared the result. + +For a long while there was silence, and those round about trembled with +apprehension, for they guessed not in what wise their master would take +such a reply. + +At last he smiled, for although he had many grave faults, he was not +unkindly or averse to owning himself baffled. + +Then he said-- + +"Nicomar, thou art cleverer than I thought." + +At which words hearts that had stood still from fear beat once more. + +"The sea exists," said his Majesty, after a pause, looking round on his +Court, "as it existed before we were, as it will exist when we have all +passed away and our names have been forgotten." + + + UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: + + +Italics shown with underscores, _like this_. + +Small caps capitalized LIKE THIS. + +The following misprints have been corrected: + + p. 69 repeated "in a" corrected. + + p. 85 comma added after "who was the father of King Theebaw" + + p. 100 "seleced" changed to "selected" + + p. 119 "him" appended to last word of "All gifts and graces had been + showered upon;" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Told on the Pagoda, by Mimosa + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOLD ON THE PAGODA *** + +***** This file should be named 36171-0.txt or 36171-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/7/36171/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Matthew Wheaton, Bill Tozier +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Told on the Pagoda + Tales of Burmah + +Author: Mimosa + +Release Date: May 20, 2011 [EBook #36171] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOLD ON THE PAGODA *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Matthew Wheaton, Bill Tozier +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/p147f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p147t.jpg" alt="Cover" /> +</a> +</div> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h1">TOLD ON THE PAGODA</p> + +<p class="h2"><i>TALES OF BURMAH</i></p> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img id="decoration" border="0" src="images/p002.png" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="front" id="front" href="images/p004f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p004t.jpg" alt="Frontispiece" /> +</a> +</div> + +<h1 id="booktitle"><span class="smcap">Told on the Pagoda</span></h1> + +<p class="h2"><i>TALES OF BURMAH</i></p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> +<p class="h3">By Mimosa</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> +<p class="h4">ILLUSTRATED</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> +<p class="h4"><i>LONDON</i><br /> +<big>T. FISHER UNWIN</big><br /> +1895</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> +<p class="h5"><i>All rights reserved.</i></p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h3">CONTENTS</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="90%" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">THE WOMAN, THE MAN AND THE NĀT</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A FABLE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">THE STOLEN TREASURE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">THE VIGIL OF MAH MAY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">THE PETITION TO THE KING</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">THE PRIEST'S PETITION</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">THE COMMAND OF THE KING</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h3">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="90%" summary="List of Illustrations"> +<tr><td align="left">1. A BURMESE VILLAGE GIRL</td><td align="right"><a href="#front"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">2. PART OF THE PALACE OF THE KING, MANDALAY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_38"><i>Facing p. 39</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">3. THE QUEEN'S MONASTERY</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_62"><i>Facing p. 63</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">4. THE KING'S PALACE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_84"><i>Facing p. 85</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">5. THE SHWAY DAGONE PAGODA</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_98"><i>Facing p. 99</i></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE WOMAN, THE MAN AND THE NĀT.</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">IN every large tree there lives a Nāt, +and it is a custom very strictly +adhered to that before any tree can be +touched the permission of the spirit +must be asked and obtained.</p> + +<p>Now a woodman cut down a tree one +day without giving the Nāt who resided +in it the slightest warning, a proceeding +which infuriated the spirit exceedingly, +and he determined to be revenged; +so, taking upon himself without delay +the exact form and likeness of the +woodman, he gathered up a bundle of +sticks and went in advance of him to +his home, in the brief warm gloom<span class="pagenum">[10]</span> +that precedes the fall of night. When +he reached the hut, that was as bare +as a hermit's cell, thatched with dunni +leaves, and situated in one of the +deepest recesses of the dense sylvan +growth, he placed the wood outside and +went within. An oil lamp stood on +the wooden ledge of the entrance and +threw a faint light on all around. The +wife of the woodcutter was busy boiling +the evening rice, a baby slept in its box-like +cradle slung from a beam in the +roof; a little boy of five or six sat +cutting plaintain leaves.</p> + +<p>The Nāt greeted the woman; she +answered him cheerily. Then he +squatted down on a piece of matting.</p> + +<p>The rice being ready, the wife put it +out on the plaintain leaves, giving one to +her supposed husband, one to the boy, +and keeping the other for herself. +They ate together, and when they had<span class="pagenum">[11]</span> +finished drank some water from the +chatty standing near. Then they sat +and smoked, and talked together of +the many little trifling events which +went to make up their world. The +woman cleared away the remains of +their meal, and took out some betel +chews and commenced to roll them, +while the child slept behind the purdah. +About half an hour passed away +thus, when lo! on the stillness broke +the voice of the woodman calling to his +wife that he was coming, saying that he +had been delayed.</p> + +<p>The woman heard in bewildered +astonishment, then turned to the Nāt, +who apparently had not heeded the +call, and asked him if she dreamt.</p> + +<p>Then rising, she peered out into the +gloom, just faintly relieved by the rays +of a young moon, and beheld the form +of a woodcutter coming between the<span class="pagenum">[12]</span> +trees, identically the same in figure and +face as her husband who was there +beside her. The new-comer called her +by her name again, bidding her prepare +something for him to eat, as he +was tired and hungry.</p> + +<p>He threw the wood down that he +carried, and entered, but staggered back +on seeing his counterpart squatting, +quite at home, on the ground. The +woman looked from one to the other, +and knew not what to do or think.</p> + +<p>There was silence for a few moments. +Then he who had come last asked, +when he had sufficiently recovered himself +to speak—</p> + +<p>"Who is this man who bears so +strange a likeness to me?"</p> + +<p>"I am the husband of this woman," +answered the Nāt calmly, not even +removing his green-leaf cigar from +between his lips.<span class="pagenum">[13]</span></p> + +<p>"That cannot be," exclaimed the +other indignantly, "because I am he."</p> + +<p>The Nāt shook his head, and went +on smoking.</p> + +<p>The woodcutter, mad with anger and +astonishment, turned excitedly to his +wife, and cried—</p> + +<p>"Do you not know me, I, your +husband, who left you only this +morning? Do you not know me, or +do you forget so soon, that you accept +a stranger in my place?"</p> + +<p>The woman looked from one to the +other, and examined each carefully, and +was more puzzled than ever.</p> + +<p>"Oh, wife, do you not know me, do +you not know me?" moaned the woodman +in a grief-stricken voice.</p> + +<p>The woman wrung her hands as she +answered—</p> + +<p>"I don't know if you are my husband; +you are both so much alike that<span class="pagenum">[14]</span> +I cannot tell." Then she broke down +and wept.</p> + +<p>And the Nāt hearing, smiled where +he sat in the shadows.</p> + +<p>After awhile the woman dried her +tears, smoothed back her heavy masses +of black hair, and asked what was to +be done.</p> + +<p>They neither of them answered. Then +she said, "Let us go and seek Manoo, +and abide by what he says."</p> + +<p>Manoo was a very learned judge, who +had been appointed, while still quite +young, Chief Justice of the King's +Court, and was renowned for the wise +and prudent judgments that he invariably +pronounced.</p> + +<p>The Nāt objected to the proposition. +Secretly he feared that Manoo might +perhaps guess his identity; but the +woodman assented eagerly to his wife's +idea, and between them they overcame<span class="pagenum">[15]</span> +the other's dislike, and the three started +without delay, going through the forest +between the silvered line of palm-trees; +the fire-flies danced before them, and the +bats flitted by like ghosts in the warm +darkness. All that night and part of +the next they travelled, until they +reached the Court of Manoo, which was +a large white building, supported by +chunamed pillars, and with many carved +doors.</p> + +<p>The judge himself, magnificently +arrayed, sat upon a raised couch, that +was covered with scarlet satin, richly +embroidered, and with a heavy fringe of +gold and jewels edging it.</p> + +<p>The woman, the Nāt, and the woodman, +leaving their shoes at the gates, +entered, and, seating themselves at a +respectful distance on separate pieces of +matting, told their tale.</p> + +<p>The judge listened in silence to the<span class="pagenum">[16]</span> +end; then he asked the woman if her +husband had any particular mark on him +by which she could distinguish him.</p> + +<p>Her face lightened as she answered +that he had a black mark on his back +and a red scar on his knee. Then +Manoo had both men examined carefully, +but found that each had the same +marks in the same places.</p> + +<p>The woman became more hopelessly +bewildered than ever, and knew not +what to make of the extraordinary +circumstance; while the judge found +himself in a position of considerable +difficulty.</p> + +<p>He saw that he would have to consider +the matter carefully for some +time; so he bade them go, and return +on the following day at the same hour.</p> + +<p>Then he went home to his house, +which was a gift from his royal master, +and was situated on a rocky promontory,<span class="pagenum">[17]</span> +with the sea rolling up almost to the +entrance. Seating himself alone in his +study—the windows of which looked out +over the water to where a rich sunset +glowed westward, edging the waves with +freckled lustre, and throwing purple, +amber, and azure lights over the white-crested +waves—he became absorbed in +deep thought, as a result of which he +came to a solution of the matter. On +the next day, therefore, when his three +strange applicants presented themselves +before him, he had a wooden wheel +brought into the room and placed in +the middle of the floor, saying at the +same time—</p> + +<p>"The man who shall go through the +hole in that wheel will be a wonderful +man, and will be recognised as the real +husband of this woman."</p> + +<p>On hearing which the woodman protested, +saying that it was impossible for<span class="pagenum">[18]</span> +any human being to go through so small +a space, that it was only large enough +to admit of an arm; and he grumbled +greatly, saying that the test was very +unfair.</p> + +<p>But Manoo bade him be patient and +silent yet awhile. Then he turned to +the Nāt, and asked him what he thought. +The Nāt, who was laughing inwardly, at +once replied that he could perform the +task that the woodcutter deemed impossible. +The judge smiled a little +complacently as he bade him do it.</p> + +<p>The Nāt immediately went to and fro +through the hole with the greatest ease, +the woman looking on in speechless +amaze.</p> + +<p>Then said Manoo—</p> + +<p>"I suspected yesterday that you were +no mortal, but a visitor from the Nāt +country, and now I am, of course, +convinced of it."<span class="pagenum">[19]</span></p> + +<p>The Nāt hung his head, and the judge +proceeded, saying—</p> + +<p>"Why have you come from your own +world, taking upon yourself this form +and shape, thereby causing so much +pain and unhappiness to two innocent +people?"</p> + +<p>The Nāt, seeing that he could no +longer carry on his course of deception, +answered—</p> + +<p>"In the season of the sun, and in that +of the rain, for a greater time than I +can count, I have lived in a tree in the +forest, where this woodman comes every +day. I troubled no one, and I was +content till two days ago, when he +felled my home to the ground with +neither warning given to or permission +asked of me. When other woodcutters +have come, they have and do always +crave permission of the Nāt residing in +the tree to take from it even one branch.<span class="pagenum">[20]</span> +Therefore you must see that I have had +just cause to be angry."</p> + +<p>Manoo then said that the woodman +had certainly been wrong in the way he +had acted. Then, turning to the woman, +he directed her and her husband to hang +up a dried cocoa-nut on the best side of +their hut for the Nāt to make his home +in—an order which they promised to +speedily obey.</p> + +<p>The Nāt said that he was satisfied +with that arrangement.</p> + +<p>Then the three, thanking the judge, +withdrew and went homewards.</p> + +<p>From that time forth all Burmese +people hung, and still hang, dried cocoa-nut +in their houses for the spirits to +dwell in.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<h2>A FABLE.</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">TWO dogs walked in the jungle +together. The day was intensely +hot, the rays of the sun, hardly tempered +with any shade, fell through the towering +bamboos and palm-trees down on their +tired heads.</p> + +<p>They had come far; the way was +very rough, the undergrowth very +tangled and dense. There seemed to +be no end to it. Their vision in front +was obscured by the extraordinary wealth +of orchids and green foliage that was +gracefully but thickly festooned from +branch to branch.</p> + +<p>Snakes glided away in the deep grass. +Monkeys, squirrels, and birds of all<span class="pagenum">[24]</span> +kinds contended for the undisputed +possession of the different trees.</p> + +<p>"I am very tired; I don't think I +can go much farther," said the lady dog, +who was small and delicate, to her companion.</p> + +<p>"So also am I," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"It was foolish ever to have come," +grumbled the first.</p> + +<p>"It was your fault," snapped the +second.</p> + +<p>"I did not say it wasn't, did I?" +retorted the other, who, female-like, had +the last word.</p> + +<p>Then they went on in silence for +awhile. They both felt cross and +hungry; and when you are hungry and +a dog bananas are not very satisfying, +and they were the only things near.</p> + +<p>Presently they came to where a small +stream flowed; the water was quite +warm, but they drank it and were grateful.<span class="pagenum">[25]</span></p> + +<p>Then they rested, going on again just +when the last rays of the sun still showed +above the dusky palm tops.</p> + +<p>They hoped to reach a village before +nightfall; but they were doomed to be +disappointed. There was not a sign of +any habitation near when the darkness +began to close around. The stars twinkled +brightly in a clear violet sky of wondrous +brilliancy. Close beside them was a +tiger's den—empty. They crept in and +sank down, too weary to go further.</p> + +<p>There were signs of its having been +recently occupied, but they did not heed +them; and gnawed ravenously at some +half-eaten bones that were strewed +about.</p> + +<p>Then they curled themselves up in +one corner and slept. After a few hours +the lady dog woke up and looked about +her. Through the opening she saw the +moonlight falling on the country outside;<span class="pagenum">[26]</span> +everything was strangely still, save +for the distant cry of the jackal, and +the healthy snoring of her spouse, who +reposed in the corner. She felt alarmed, +she could not exactly have told why, and +awakened her companion, who grumbled +not a little at being thus rudely roused +from his slumbers.</p> + +<p>"Supposing," began his companion, +not heeding his displeasure, "that the +tiger was to return."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried the listener, sharply +jumping up in extreme alarm at the bare +suggestion.</p> + +<p>"Don't make that unearthly noise," +said the lady, calmly. "I only said +<i>supposing</i>, and I was going to ask you +what we should do in such a case."</p> + +<p>"Do! why, what could we do?—nothing, +of course," was the somewhat +contemptuous reply.</p> + +<p>Just then an ominous crackling of<span class="pagenum">[27]</span> +the branches outside made them prick +their ears. Creeping close to the opening, +they looked out and saw in the +distance a large tiger coming towards +them, a white light, clear almost as +the dawn, fell about him, showing his +big head and striped back. The watchers +trembled exceedingly, and their teeth +rattled.</p> + +<p>"There is no time to be lost," +exclaimed the lady in a hoarse whisper. +"We must trust to his never having +seen any like us before, and we must +try and frighten him."</p> + +<p>"Humbug and nonsense! Fancy +our frightening a tiger," said the gentleman +dog with infinite scorn.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, we'll try; you sit at +the door while I remain in here. When +I roar—well, you'll see the effect."</p> + +<p>The dog very unwillingly took up +his position at the entrance to the lair,<span class="pagenum">[28]</span> +and waited. In a second almost the +great beast came slouching along; his +gleaming eyes glanced hither and +thither, and there was blood upon his +mouth. Seeing the dog, he came to an +abrupt pause, and stared, then came a +little nearer, but very cautiously.</p> + +<p>Just then there came a cry from +within, accompanied by the words, "I +am hungry, very hungry, and so are +the little ones, they crave more tiger's +flesh; be quick and bring it."</p> + +<p>The tiger, hearing, waited for no +more, but turned and fled into the +night. He knew not what he had +seen, but the words that he had heard +had turned him cold with fear.</p> + +<p>He flew on away into the wood, not +heeding where he went. Then, just as +the first rose flush of dawn overspread +the sky, he sank down exhausted, with +a cold perspiration all over him. He<span class="pagenum">[29]</span> +fell into a troubled, weary doze, from +whence he was awakened by a banana +dexterously aimed, hitting him in the +eye. Looking up he saw a brown +monkey swinging itself on the branch +of a tree opposite, and regarding him +with all that gleeful self-satisfaction +which a monkey is alone capable of.</p> + +<p>"Well, my friend," it cried, mockingly, +"what has put you out? You +look strangely pale and upset this +morning."</p> + +<p>"I have had sufficient cause," answered +the tiger, rising and shaking +himself; "for when I went home last +night I found it filled by the most +peculiar-looking animals that I have +ever seen, who shouted for my flesh."</p> + +<p>The listener cocked its ugly little +head on one side as it munched bananas, +and asked, "What were they like?"</p> + +<p>"Don't ask me," exclaimed the tiger.<span class="pagenum">[30]</span> +"I was too frightened to see anything +save that they were white."</p> + +<p>The monkey flung itself up higher +among the boughs and laughed loudly +and long.</p> + +<p>"If you don't stop that hideous +noise I'll kill you," called out the tiger +very angrily, regardless of the fact that +he could not get within miles of his +tormentor.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha! my friend," shouted the +monkey, "the things that you were +frightened of were two poor lean dogs, +that went by here yesterday. What a +great coward you are!"</p> + +<p>"Coward or no coward, they would +have killed me and eaten me."</p> + +<p>"Eaten you! Oh, you great silly +goose! With all your travels you +don't know any more than that dogs +can't kill you. You can kill dogs."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you," protested the +tiger stolidly.<span class="pagenum">[31]</span></p> + +<p>"Don't then," said the monkey, +laconically, as he turned a somersault.</p> + +<p>There was silence for a while. The +tiger sat down dejectedly while the +monkey watched him through the +leaves and chuckled maliciously, continuing +to eat noiselessly as he watched.</p> + +<p>Having once had sufficient himself, +he was not indisposed to be a little +generous, so, taking some berries in one +brown paw, he climbed down nearer +the ground, and tendered them to his +melancholy friend as an overture, saying +as he did so—</p> + +<p>"Eat and forget for awhile."</p> + +<p>"I can never forget the loss of my +dear home," was the melancholy reply.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," retorted the other one, +who was practical, not sentimental, and +who had a hundred homes all equally +comfortable in the forest.<span class="pagenum">[32]</span></p> + +<p>"It's no nonsense," said the tiger, +shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"Well," exclaimed the monkey, after +a few seconds, "if you really are afraid +to go back, which is ridiculous, I will +come with you, for I fear no dogs."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't trust you," replied the +tiger, ungraciously. "You have played +me a scurvy trick or two before +now."</p> + +<p>The monkey became indignant, saying, +"It is just like your mean, suspicious +nature to speak so to a friend who, out +of pure good nature, is willing to do +you a turn. What motive can I have +save generosity?—no good can accrue +to me personally."</p> + +<p>The tiger grunted an unwilling assent, +and began to think seriously of accepting +the offer.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said at last, "if you will +consent to be tied to my tail, and to go<span class="pagenum">[33]</span> +in first to the den, my back being to +you, and face the dog, I am willing."</p> + +<p>"Agreed," answered the monkey, +who was an interfering little creature, +and was longing to have his finger in +the pie.</p> + +<p>So they went, the monkey tied to his +friend's tail, chattering all the way.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the tiger, who was +sullen and afraid as they came in sight +of his lair, "if you don't behave fairly +to me I will murder you, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Never fear; I won't give you the +opportunity of carrying out your +amiable intention, because I shall act +only as your true friend," replied the +monkey.</p> + +<p>Then he pushed aside the thick-growing +foliage and entered into the +cave, the tiger keeping as far away as +possible, his hind-legs inside and the +rest of him out. The dogs were lying<span class="pagenum">[34]</span> +down, but roused themselves on seeing +their visitor.</p> + +<p>"Well, monkey," shouted one, "so +you have come at last, but that," looking +behind him, "is a very lean tiger that +you have brought. Why do you do so +when you know that we like them so +sleek and fat, and——" but the monkey +heard no more. He was gone—jerked +violently away by the tiger, who, suspecting +his fidelity all along, was convinced +of his perfidy by the words of +the dog's greeting.</p> + +<p>Away, away he sped, without turning +back, over hill and dale, bump, bump, +bang, bang, went the poor monkey's +body, while he vainly protested his +innocence in breathless, terrified shrieks. +At last death came and ended his +pain.</p> + +<p>The two dogs sat and watched them +till their eyes grew tired.<span class="pagenum">[35]</span></p> + +<p>They laughed greatly as one said to +the other, "See what happened to the +monkey for interfering in other people's +business."</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a> +<a href="images/p042f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p042t.jpg" alt="Palace" /> +</a> +</div> + +<p class="h4">PART OF THE PALACE OF THE KING, MANDALAY.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE STOLEN TREASURE.</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">IN a lonely part of a large forest there +dwelt four wise men of India who +owned a treasure consisting of gold, +silver, and great jewels: like all property +it was a source of great anxiety +to its owners, for they always feared +that it would be stolen from them. +With that idea they constantly watched +it, counted it, and changed its hiding-place; +burying it sometimes under +trees, or in a ruined well that stood not +far distant; at other times with them in +the house.</p> + +<p>For many long years they had kept +it safely thus, so safely indeed that<span class="pagenum">[40]</span> +gradually they grew a little less zealous +in their guardianship: the confidence +born of long and unmolested peace +made them somewhat careless; and so +in some inexplicable manner news of its +existence floated to the ears of a young +man who dwelt in the town not so many +miles away, and he at once made up +his mind that he would become possessed +of it. Being wise he only took counsel +of himself, and bided his time with much +patience.</p> + +<p>He made the acquaintance of the four +recluses, and watched their movements +and studied their habits with much +diligence. He was a handsome, high-spirited +youth, with manners that were +frank and engaging, and the old men +liked to see him and talk to him, soon +growing to look forward to his visits.</p> + +<p>Months passed, and he went to see +them often. They conversed unreservedly<span class="pagenum">[41]</span> +before him and trusted him as +one of themselves.</p> + +<p>As time passed and no opportunity +of taking the treasure offered itself, he +began to be impatient, and was indeed +almost reduced to despair when he +learnt, to his inexpressible pleasure, that +they intended going on a day's pilgrimage +in the near future.</p> + +<p>He laid his plans.</p> + +<p>When the day came he rode to the +forest on a pony, and, dismounting, +fastened it near by as was his custom, +and went within. The garden, with its +moss-overgrown, decayed walls, was +quite still save for the song of the birds. +The sun fell through the leaves of the +trees and made brilliant patches of light +on the grass.</p> + +<p>The rooms of the house were dark +and cool and empty. There were the +broken remains of a meal and various<span class="pagenum">[42]</span> +things belonging to the absent masters +scattered about. The visitor looked +round and about him carefully, peering +here and there, then, having quite satisfied +himself that only he and the feathered +world shared the stillness, he smiled.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Some hours later the pilgrims returned +home: they had been far and were +wearied; they rested for awhile, then +ate their evening meal and prepared +to make ready for the night. As was +customary with them they went to look +at the treasure where they had put it in +an upper room, to find to their unspeakable +horror and dismay that it was gone. +They looked on one another in mute +amazement and despair; they beat their +breast; there were no words to describe +what they felt in that hour when they +bewailed its loss in a helpless, hopeless +way.<span class="pagenum">[43]</span></p> + +<p>After awhile one of them said—</p> + +<p>"He who has come here so many +times of late with fair words and fairer +smiles, it is he who hath done this +thing."</p> + +<p>The others agreed that it was only +he who could have, for no one else had +ever penetrated to their abode or shared +their confidence. Too late they bitterly +rued having ever received the stranger.</p> + +<p>They sat long that night talking. +One said—</p> + +<p>"We have no proof save our own +conviction that he whom we met as +a friend and a brother has robbed us; +therefore what can we do?"</p> + +<p>The others answered him—</p> + +<p>"We will seek the King, to our +requests he has always leant a kind +and willing ear."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Meanwhile homeward through the<span class="pagenum">[44]</span> +sultry night rode a horseman with a +heavy load.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>When the dawn broke, they who had +been robbed set out together to seek +the Court of the King.</p> + +<p>His Majesty, who was revered for his +goodness, had one daughter who to a +keen intellect united great beauty, and +was renowned throughout her father's +dominions and even in countries beyond +the sea.</p> + +<p>Whenever the King or his ministers +were perplexed as to how to act in any +particular matter they invariably consulted +the Princess, who on each and all +such occasions had guided them aright; +while no chicanery or fraud ever passed +her undetected.</p> + +<p>All that was brave, lofty, and good +she admired, honoured, and followed. +All that was mean, low, and dishonest +she abhorred.<span class="pagenum">[45]</span></p> + +<p>United to a powerful mind were +many womanly, gracious, and charitable +qualities, which made her beloved in +humble circles as well as respected in +high ones.</p> + +<p>Therefore when the four petitioners +sought the King, it was with the idea +of humbly pleading for the Princess's +assistance.</p> + +<p>The King, who knew them, received +them at once on their arrival and listened +to all that they had to say, agreeing with +them in their suspicions. He asked +them, when he had heard their story, +if they could identify the property if +they were to see it anywhere; to which +they answered, "Yes."</p> + +<p>Then, bidding them rest and refresh +themselves, he went himself to the +apartments of his daughter and told +her the tale that he had heard. She +was very much interested, and gladly<span class="pagenum">[46]</span> +promised to do what she could, telling +her father that if the young man could +be found and brought to the palace she +fancied that she could restore to them +their lost goods.</p> + +<p>Whereupon the King consulted the +four, and a messenger was sent to search +and bring the young fellow with as little +delay as possible. The envoy of His +Majesty found him whom they desired +with but little difficulty, who received +the royal summons with much astonishment +and some fear. Instinctively he +felt that it was with regard to the stolen +jewels that he was sent for, and he +trembled not a little as he set out.</p> + +<p>Were the theft ever to be discovered +he knew full well that his punishment +would not be a light one. Almost he +felt inclined to regret that he had ever +embarked on so hazardous a course, but +then the memory of the shining heaps<span class="pagenum">[47]</span> +of gold and silver and the glittering +stones, and all that they represented, +came to him, and he laughed and shook +off all feelings of fear; for how, after all, +he said to himself, could they prove that +it was he who was the thief?</p> + +<p>When he arrived at the palace, therefore, +he was quite light-hearted, and +walked through the lines of servants +with a haughty, self-confident air.</p> + +<p>They ushered him through many +halls and at last into a large and most +beautifully decorated apartment situated +at the end of a long vista of salons. +The four walls had bas-reliefs of graceful +figures of women in coloured marble +and uncut jewels. The hangings were +of ivory satin, embroidered with +elephants and dragons in dead gold. +From the ceiling were suspended magnificent +lamps of many finely blended +colours. A large fountain splashed<span class="pagenum">[48]</span> +softly near by; the floor was strewn +with tiger skins; the air was heavy with +strong perfume; while the light from +without stole in subdued and cool +through green blinds. But what +riveted the visitor's attention beyond +all else was a couch of immense dimensions +stretching across the upper end of +the room, reclining on which amongst +many cushions was a woman; overhead +was a canopy of fringed cloth supported +by delicately chased silver poles inlaid +with turquoises. On a table of mother-of-pearl +stood some cheroots and a glass +globe of water. Several attendants, +gorgeously attired, lounged near, and +created a breeze with fans made of +real roses.</p> + +<p>The lady herself was very handsome, +with a clear skin of an almost olive +colour, great eyes of a velvety darkness, +and a soft, slow, sweet smile; pearls<span class="pagenum">[49]</span> +clasped her throat, diamonds shone on +her fingers, while gold bracelets glittered +on her slender bare ankles. She +motioned her somewhat bewildered +visitor to seat himself near, and signed +to the attendants to withdraw.</p> + +<p>He felt terribly nervous in the presence +of this royal lady: she watched +him in silence for a few moments, +fanning herself languidly the while; +she was uncertain as to how to open +the conversation. He was very handsome, +certainly, she thought, as she +looked, and with a figure as lithe and +graceful as that of a panther.</p> + +<p>She raised herself a little and leant +forward slightly; he started and looked +at her apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," she began, "that you +are wondering why I sent for you?"</p> + +<p>The tones of her voice were strangely +liquid and clear.<span class="pagenum">[50]</span></p> + +<p>The young man murmured something +indistinctly in response.</p> + +<p>She continued, "But for some time +past, when the King and myself have +gone abroad, we have seen you often +and have desired to know you."</p> + +<p>The listener was trembling so with joy, +relief, and surprise at hearing such words, +that he could find naught to say in reply.</p> + +<p>Then she, perceiving his agitation, +spoke to him gently and kindly for a +few minutes, in order to give him time +to recover his self-possession. Then, +when he was more composed, she asked +him many questions about himself—questions +which he gladly answered. +Then after a while she bade him go +and to return on the morrow.</p> + +<p>So he went from the seductive +presence of the Princess with his head +in a whirl, and feeling as if he dwelt no +longer on earth but in Nirvana.<span class="pagenum">[51]</span></p> + +<p>On the morrow he returned, and for +many days following, not a question was +ever asked. He was ushered always into +the same room, where he was greeted +most graciously.</p> + +<p>On the occasion of his fourth visit, +after the Princess had conversed with +him on many subjects, she asked him +somewhat suddenly if he was betrothed +or married.</p> + +<p>And when he answered that he was +not it seemed to him that she appeared +pleased. Then a long silence fell between +them, which he of course did not +attempt to break.</p> + +<p>"My friend," she said at last, and +her manner was somewhat nervous and +embarrassed, "I am glad that your +affections are not placed elsewhere, +because I myself, strange as it is for a +woman to tell a man, desire to wed +with you. To my father's Court have<span class="pagenum">[52]</span> +come many who have sought my hand +in marriage, but in none have I seen +those qualities which I admire and +esteem——" she paused.</p> + +<p>The low, thrilling words stole on the +listener's ear in sweet, subdued cadence. +Did he hear aright? He doubted it; he +feared that he only dreamt.</p> + +<p>Then he looked at her where she sat, +with her shimmering jewels glancing a +thousand hues, and his heart throbbed +and his brain reeled, and he was as if +drunk with wine.</p> + +<p>He knew not how to answer this +beautiful, gracious lady.</p> + +<p>How she must love him, he thought, +when she could so stoop from her high +estate. He dropped on his knees before +her. "Ah," he murmured, "where +could I find fitting expressions in +which to tell you what I feel? Your +words have lifted me to complete<span class="pagenum">[53]</span> +Nirvana, I shall never dwell on earth +again. Speech is but a poor thing often, +therefore I will not say much. Deeds +are best; it is by them, O Princess, that +you shall read my heart."</p> + +<p>She smiled, and her eyes were softly +tender as they met his.</p> + +<p>"There is but one thing," she said, +after a few moments; "my father must +not be told till after we are married; he +would not sanction our union, though +he will forgive us afterwards. Therefore +you must take me hence, away from out +the kingdom for some time; then, when +my father's just anger shall have faded, +as it surely will, we will return together."</p> + +<p>The young man listened in rapt +attention, scarcely crediting even yet his +own great fortune.</p> + +<p>"And yet I scarcely see," gravely +pursued the Princess, after a short +silence, "how it can be managed."<span class="pagenum">[54]</span></p> + +<p>She rose as she spoke and advanced +to where a box of ivory, inlaid with +opals, stood, touched a spring and +opened it.</p> + +<p>"See," she cried, "this is all the +money I own," taking in her hands a +few small worthless pieces of silver; "I +have never required money till now, +all that I have ever wanted has been +always beside me."</p> + +<p>"Do not fear if it is only money that +you need," answered the young man; +"for of that I have more than enough."</p> + +<p>"Ah! is that so?" she exclaimed +eagerly, turning to him a face of glad +surprise.</p> + +<p>"At home," he continued, "I have +much of jewels and gold which I got +but a little while back; sufficient to +keep us in that luxury which is due +to your rank, for many a year to come."</p> + +<p>"Go and fetch it," urged the Princess,<span class="pagenum">[55]</span> +"and return here at nightfall, and I will +go with thee to another life—a life of +happiness such as this world seldom +holds."</p> + +<p>Her great eyes glittered as she spoke.</p> + +<p>He read in her words, her looks, and +her gestures only the fond impatience of +a love long, secret, and denied.</p> + +<p>He prostrated himself, and saying, "I +will return at nightfall," left her to +hurry on his errand.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In the early evening, when the darkness +had only just fallen, he drove in a +carriage to the palace; he left it at a +little distance from the great gold +entrance, and taking on his person +much of his stolen treasure, he was +ushered into the Princess's room; the +swinging lamps were lit and shed a faint +radiance on all around.</p> + +<p>She was by herself, and greeted him<span class="pagenum">[56]</span> +in a manner that left nothing to be +desired.</p> + +<p>Wishing to assure her of the existence +of that money and those jewels +that he had spoken of, and feeling +nervously elated, he drew from the +recesses of his turban and sash a handful +of great stones, that were as rivers of +light; she gave a woman's delighted +cry as she took them in her hands.</p> + +<p>He smiled, well pleased, and tendered +a great ruby of wondrous size and +blood-red fire.</p> + +<p>"These are but a few of what I have," +he said.</p> + +<p>"How rich you must be!" she exclaimed, +"From whence did all these +things come?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Princess, what matter whence +they came? Sufficient it is that now +they are yours."</p> + +<p>As he spoke she, unseen by him,<span class="pagenum">[57]</span> +touched a gong of curious workmanship +that stood near.</p> + +<p>Then she held the stones up to the +light, praising their beauty and worth, +and asking many questions.</p> + +<p>A short while passed and then a great +door at the end of the room opened +and the King entered, followed by the +four fakirs, and advanced to where his +daughter sat.</p> + +<p>The young man's heart beat in alarm +at the sight of those whom he had +robbed. And the Princess's first words +did not tend to decrease the feeling.</p> + +<p>"Are these some of the treasures that +you have lost?" she asked, handing to +the elder of the four the biggest of the +diamonds and the rubies. He took +them in his hand, then passed them to +the others, saying, at the same time—</p> + +<p>"These are ours."</p> + +<p>"There stands the thief, then," said<span class="pagenum">[58]</span> +the Princess, pointing to the now cowering +shaking figure of the culprit, who +looked piteously from one to the other, +feeling at the same time very enraged +with himself for having been so easily +caught in the trap that had been laid +for him. "It is for you," continued +the Princess, addressing herself to the +four, "when your entire treasure has +been restored to you, to name his +punishment."</p> + +<p>The elder of them answered—</p> + +<p>"We are so rejoiced to regain that +which we had feared was lost for ever, +Princess, that we are willing that he +should go forth unchastised; his conscience, +and what it will say to him, will +be his punishment."</p> + +<p>"That would be too light a sentence; +for I doubt much if he has any conscience," +said the lady, as she seated +herself.<span class="pagenum">[59]</span></p> + +<p>"Then, Princess, will you relieve us +by sentencing him yourself, as you best +will?" craved the four.</p> + +<p>"No," she answered, "that I cannot +do, I might be too harsh—I have +convicted him; let His Majesty, who is +ever lenient, name his punishment."</p> + +<p>Then they all turned to the King, +who said—</p> + +<p>"I command that he be banished +from this land for ever, and any property +that he has, or is likely to have, be +confiscated."</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a> +<a href="images/p068f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p068t.jpg" alt="Monastery" /> +</a> +</div> + +<p class="h4">THE QUEEN'S MONASTERY.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE VIGIL OF MAH MAY.</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">MAH MAY was a little Burmese +girl who kept a small stall filled +with cheroots in one of the crowded +many-coloured streets of Rangoon. +There she sat all through the sultry, +languorous days smoking and waiting, +with philosophical calm, for customers; +now and then a great, big, well-fed looking +Indian would stop and handle her +goods, and, grumbling perhaps a little, +would eventually buy; or a lean Chinaman, +in baggy blue trousers, would +pause and smile and talk awhile; or some +little naked child would come and beg<span class="pagenum">[64]</span> +one for nothing; or the black coolies, +their silver belts glittering in the sunlight, +would cluster round and bargain and +quarrel among themselves, perhaps, in +the end, throwing her goods back to her +with no very complimentary language; +or a "Chetty,"<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> airily attired in scanty +white muslin, his shaved head protected +by a big cotton umbrella, would come +and haggle over the annas as a poor +Burman would never dream of doing; +then, again, a well-to-do woman of her +own race, dressed in silk, and with gold +bracelets on her wrists, would purchase, +but they were always, as Mah May used +to say with a shake of her small head, +the meanest of all.</p> + +<p>She was a bright little girl, though +very poor; often hungry, and always +wretchedly clad.</p> + +<p>For two years past she had squatted<span class="pagenum">[65]</span> +behind her tray, in the hot, hard, cruel +glare, when the sun beat on the flat-roofed +white houses mercilessly; when +even the river, with its forests of ships, +seemed to cease to flow; when all things +were gasping and weary and the gharry +wallahs slept soundly, and the poor lean +ponies tried to flick the flies off their +backs with their tails; when the Indian +shopkeepers stretched themselves on +wooden beds just in the shadow of their +door-ways and snored away, dreaming of +rupees and curry; while only the pariah +dogs scratched and smelt in the road +for something to eat. No one stirred; +the drowsy influence of the heat seemed +universal. Or on the dull wet days, +when the sky was clouded and rain +poured down, soaking everything through +and through, and the thin coloured +dresses clung pitifully round their +owners' dark forms, and nobody had<span class="pagenum">[66]</span> +time to think of buying as they passed +on in the warm, damp, oppressive atmosphere. +Still Mah May sat, no +matter what the season, rolling her +cheroots, cutting betel chews, and +crooning some little song to herself. +At mid-day she ate some rice, and +got a draught of water from a pump +not far distant. Often some one was +kind, and gave her some fruit or a +cake; oftener they were unkind, but +oftener still they were indifferent.</p> + +<p>It was a hard life—very, and she was +only seventeen. Yet was she content. +Nature had been her nurse. The sun +and the rain had made her what she was—a +hardy, honest, upright little soul, +envying and hating no one.</p> + +<p>When the shadows grew long and +the green shutters of the shops closed, +Mah May rolled up her wares and +wended her way homewards through<span class="pagenum">[67]</span> +the noisy, many-hued crowds to a miserable +wooden hut, which stood in dirty +yellow water, spanned by a rotten plank, +and was situated in one of the poorest +and most squalid quarters of the town—a +quarter in which poverty, in its most +hideous form, stalked. Half-clothed +men, women and children of all ages, +dwelt together there, and kept life in +them as best they could.</p> + +<p>In the huts there was scarce one +piece of furniture, save perhaps a bed +or a roll of matting or a ragged purdah.</p> + +<p>The scorpions, the white ants, and +the great toads held high revel. Amidst +rows, hard words, evil things, cries of +little children, and growls of half-starved +dogs Mah May dwelt, and was happy.</p> + +<p>She did not know of any better life +than hers. The day passed in the fresh +air under the changeless azure of the +skies and the night curled up in a<span class="pagenum">[68]</span> +corner of the hut, with the purple stars +looking down through some chink in +the roof; and knowing of any other, +it is doubtful if she would have cared +to exchange.</p> + +<p>Mah Khine, a black-browed woman +whom Mah May had lived with as long +as she could remember, was very good +and kind to her in her own way; but +she had many children tugging at her +skirt, and her life was a very hard one. +She was married to an Indian who had +nearly all the faults of his by no means +faultless race; his past had been bad, +his present was even more so.</p> + +<p>He counted the cost of anything, +done or undone, as small if it only +brought in pice; pice sufficient to +procure "toddy,"<a name="FNanchor_1_2" id="FNanchor_1_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> the hot, horrible, +poisonous stuff kept in the little shop +<span class="pagenum">[69]</span> +by a Chinaman in one of the narrow, +tortuous bye-lanes of the native quarter. +To him it mattered nothing that his +children had oftentimes not enough to +eat, and that the lines about his wife's +patient mouth deepened.</p> + +<p>The passion for drink possessed him, +to the exclusion of all other feelings.</p> + +<p>Stretched on a wooden settle in the +crowded, dirty shop that abutted on +the still dirtier street, reeking with filth +and smells, he passed his time sunk +in a semi-conscious stupor.</p> + +<p>The proprietor looked upon Moulla +Khan as one of the best customers he +had.</p> + +<p>For him was his smile the sweetest, +to him was he most accommodating in +the matter of money.</p> + +<p>Of a day the frequenters of the place +were comparatively few, but when the +night crept on, Pun Lun lit up his place<span class="pagenum">[70]</span> +with many sickly oil lamps, whose light +showed up the gaudy signboard with +its ill-written "Toddy Shop" on it, +surrounded by a curious design in +Chinese, and drew the human moths +round in dozens to smoke, drink, play, +and talk. Indian, Burmese, all countries +were represented there in that crowded, +noisy, dirty place. The babel of many +tongues broke on the ear afar off.</p> + +<p>The neighbourhood was a notoriously +bad one, so that the fighting and sickening +sound of blows that usually ended +these gatherings of convivial spirits +excited no comment.</p> + +<p>Even the deep groans from those who, +wounded, lay helplessly for many hours +gained no sympathy or succour of any +kind.</p> + +<p>Often, but in vain, in the hot, sulphurous +nights Mah Khine had found +her way there, and begged of the great<span class="pagenum">[71]</span> +coarse brute whom she called husband +to return with her, but for a long time +past she had ceased to plead, realising +how useless it was.</p> + +<p>And yet, strangely, with all his +drunkenness and cruelty, the faithful +soul refused to desert or even see him +as he really was. He had been the +chosen one of her girlhood, when she, +young and pretty, had left her people to +wed this stranger out of India.</p> + +<p>They had deemed her disgraced by +the union.</p> + +<p>They had been well-to-do people, and +would have married her to one of her +own race.</p> + +<p>Her life had held many bitter, unhappy +years, but she was proud in her +way, and from her lips no word or moan +had ever passed.</p> + +<p>Children had come and multiplied, +and though the wants of such people<span class="pagenum">[72]</span> +are very few, often they had not the +wherewithal to supply them.</p> + +<p>But of late years things had been +better, for Mah Khine, who had a keen +eye for business, had made and saved +a little unknown to every one except +Mah May.</p> + +<p>The money was kept buried away in +a teak-wood box in a corner of their +damp, worm-eaten house.</p> + +<p>Mah Khine's cherished ambition, +trader that she was, was to open a +little shop, as many of her class did.</p> + +<p>A little place filled with miscellaneous +articles: pillows, lacquer boxes, +wooden trays, crockery, pewter pans, +some sandals, and perhaps, there was +no knowing—that is, if she was +lucky—some tameins and silk potsos +for the men.</p> + +<p>There behind it the proud possessor, +she dreamt that she would sit and roll<span class="pagenum">[73]</span> +the cheroots and have her children by +her, keeping an eye on the younger as +they played.</p> + +<p>This picture Mah Khine often +painted to herself; it was her ideal of +earthly bliss. She dreamt of it by day +and night, but kept it locked up in +her own heart.</p> + +<p>Anything that she could spare from +what she made by washing the clothes +of her richer neighbours she put by so +carefully, handling it so fondly, storing +it so cautiously: grimy brown pice, +little silver pieces, one or two soiled, +crumpled notes, how often she looked +at them and counted them and took +them in her lean brown hands! She +would start out of her sleep, fearing +some one had stolen her treasure, that +represented the scraping together of +two hard, long years.<span class="pagenum">[74]</span></p> + +<p>There was some little history attached +to every coin.</p> + +<p>She remembered how each one was +gained, every circumstance of toil or +sacrifice through which it was put by.</p> + +<p>And not a soul knew, not a soul +save Mah May and herself; Mah May +she could trust. Mah May loved her, +and was as honest and true as a little +dog.</p> + +<p>Mah Khine never left the box in the +house with no one to mind it, for fear +it should be taken, though for two +years gone by it had rested securely +and undisturbed in its hiding-place.</p> + +<p>The knowledge of its existence, and +what in the end it was to accomplish, +leant a courage to her to bear with +the blows, the sickness, and the abject +poverty of her surroundings; it upheld +her, it leant a brightness to her eyes, +a lightness to her feet when they would<span class="pagenum">[75]</span> +have been otherwise pitifully weary. +When she spoke there was oftentimes +a strange ring of gladness in her voice; +for Hope, that wonderful strengthener, +dwelt with her.</p> + +<p>So time went on, and it wanted but +three months for the money to be complete. +They had been rarely lucky.</p> + +<p>Mah May had sold well every day. +Mah Khine had had much to do. A +great content abode with her. Even the +morose, savage manner of her husband +troubled her but little.</p> + +<p>The children flew at his approach, +and hid behind the mud hill close by, or +their mother's ragged skirts, or anywhere +they could, and she soothed and +comforted the little trembling ones as +she best could, and on her face was a +happy smile.</p> + +<p>"At last! at last!" she thought.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[76]</span>One warm, clear night, when the sky +glittered with stars, and a young moon +showed against it, Mah Khine made +ready to take some silks that she had +been washing home. She had promised +them, for it was the eve of a great +Buddhist feast. It was a long way for +her to go, right across the town, but she +did not mind. So she cleared up the +remains of their evening rice, swept the +floor with her straw besom, filled the +water-chatty standing in the corner +afresh, bade Mah May to watch carefully; +and Mah May assured her, as +she had often done before, that if any +one was ever to find out their secret, +the money they should never have, save +they killed her first. So Mah Khine +took up her bundle and went forth into +the radiance of the night.</p> + +<p>Mah May looked after her until she +was out of sight, and then squatted +down, smoking.<span class="pagenum">[77]</span></p> + +<p>The hours went by; the lights were +put out in the huts. Mah May felt +very sleepy and tired where she sat, but +she was good—she remained awake, +staring out into space....</p> + +<p>A tall, dark figure stood before her. +It was Moulla Khan; he had not been +home for two days. His eyes were +blood-shot, his turban disarranged. He +stood over her, and looked down at her. +She trembled a little; she feared him +greatly. She stirred uneasily, but nevertheless +met his look without flinching.</p> + +<p>He only uttered one word, and that +in a voice which drink had rendered +hoarse and thick.</p> + +<p>"Money." He spoke in Hindustani.</p> + +<p>"I have none," she answered him in +the same tongue.</p> + +<p>He gave a sort of gurgling laugh.</p> + +<p>"Look you," he muttered, "I know +there is money hidden somewhere—pice<span class="pagenum">[78]</span> +and annas and rupees—and I will have +it; I know it, I tell you, I know it."</p> + +<p>"There is none," the girl replied. +She had risen; she had her back to the +hole in the wall where the money was.</p> + +<p>"Give it to me," he cried, in a voice +of frantic rage.</p> + +<p>"I do not know who has told you this +thing," she said, "but it is not true."</p> + +<p>She felt chilly with fright. She +knew that, once his suspicion aroused, +he would search till he found. She +would be powerless to protect it. Tears +dimmed the fond eyes of the child. +She knew, none better, all the toil, +privations, and hopes that lay in that +poor little box.</p> + +<p>Yet what could she do? She was so +small and her strength so puny. If he +searched he would find it; its hiding-place +was not so secure as to be proof +against those cruel fingers.<span class="pagenum">[79]</span></p> + +<p>Though all Mah Khine's future lay +there, she gave no sign of fear. She +kept her ground boldly. He shook her +savagely, when she stood. She was +wondering who could have told him. +She watched him with a dull, throbbing +brain move unsteadily round the +wretched room, groping by the light +of the moon; feeling, feeling everywhere +along the wall for holes; turning +over all the things; then, with a +muttered word or two, out he went on +to the rafters, made of mud, behind, +into a little piece of ground; but there +was nothing, nothing anywhere. Her +breath came a little quicker, a little +more freely. Perhaps, after all—but, +with a bound, he was by her side. He +nearly wrenched her slender, childish +wrists off. "It is there!" he cried in +triumph.</p> + +<p>She set her strong white teeth in his<span class="pagenum">[80]</span> +black arm; but with a brutal gesture +he flung her light weight from him. +She fell with a dull, heavy thud. He +did not heed her for awhile, searching +eagerly, thirstily, his eyes glittering with +cruel greed.</p> + +<p>At last he drew it forth triumphantly, +the poor little shabby treasure-house, +and took the money, letting some drop +in his haste, hiding it with trembling, +feverish hands in his white linen jacket.</p> + +<p>Then he put the box back, and +turned to Mah May. He looked; she +was very still; he crept nearer and +nearer, and his cowardly soul shrank +within him. The moonbeams had found +her out and fell upon her thin, upturned +face. He peered round, he held his very +breath; no one was stirring, there was +silence everywhere. His dark, acquiline +face was as cunning as that of any fox +cub. He paused for a second or two.<span class="pagenum">[81]</span> +Then, as if a sudden thought struck +him, he gathered her up hastily in his +arms.</p> + +<p>She was a little heavy, but he was +strong.</p> + +<p>The river, that was drifting outward +to the ocean, and the moon were the +only things that shared the secret of +that night with him.</p> + +<p>And they guard their secrets well.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>"If Mah May wanted the money, +I would have given it to her, for I loved +her; she need not have left me," Mah +Khine said, with a great sorrow and +sense of desolate despair in her heart, +and tears in her honest eyes, when +Moulla Khan told his tale.</p> + +<p>She never learnt different—she never +will—unless, indeed, the day dawns +when the sea shall give up its dead.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a> +<a href="images/p092f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p092t.jpg" alt="Palace" /> +</a> +</div> + +<p class="h4">THE KING'S PALACE.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE PETITION TO THE KING.</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">IN the reign of King Mindoon, who +was the father of King Theebaw, +a servant sent a petition to him in which +he set forth that he had been his humble +and faithful servitor before his accession +to the throne, but now, although seven +long years had gone by since then, he +had remained forgotten and unnoticed. +Continuing in this strain for a space, he +ended with the following parable:—</p> + +<p>In the Zita country there lived a King +who had a son named Padoma, whom he +sent to Thakada to be educated, and +with him he sent a young attendant +called Thomana.<span class="pagenum">[86]</span></p> + +<p>For three years they stayed at Thakada, +at the end of which period the +Prince, having completed his studies, +prepared to return home; on their way, +travelling by easy stages, they paused +at a small village situated in deep-wooded +lands, where a great feast was being +held. Hundreds of people had gathered +there from all parts. A large tent was +erected in one part, where a banquet was +spread, to partake of which they humbly +begged the Prince.</p> + +<p>And he willingly accepted.</p> + +<p>On the ground had been spread matting, +on a part of which a gorgeously +embroidered scarlet cloth with a golden +fringe was put for the Prince, and a +white one, less magnificently worked and +with a silver fringe, for his friend and +attendant Thomana.</p> + +<p>When they had seated themselves, +the rest of the company did likewise,<span class="pagenum">[87]</span> +remaining, however, at a distance, and +separated by a cord.</p> + +<p>Now Thomana was very learned in +astrology, having read and thought +deeply on that subject, and he knew as +soon as he saw the Prince seat himself +on the red cloth that he would become +King upon that very day.</p> + +<p>It was a brilliant assembly, every one +clad in delicate silks of all hues, and +glittering with jewels. The feast lasted +long, it seemed, indeed, as if the constant +succession of dishes was to be an +endless one. All were in the best of +spirits, and laughed and talked greatly.</p> + +<p>When the Prince had finished his repast, +he was shown into an inner tent, +where a couch of the same royal colour +had been placed, and in front was a +slightly raised platform of bamboo, +draped with violet and rose-pink satin, +richly worked and lighted with lamps,<span class="pagenum">[88]</span> +that shed a subdued radiance round and +about the little graceful figures of several +dancing girls who had been bidden to +dance for his royal highness.</p> + +<p>Their dresses were so formed as to +represent armour, and on their heads +were similar coverings. They performed +peculiar, dreamy, kind of movements, +amidst a mist of varying hues. The +Prince was much interested, and postponed +retiring until late.</p> + +<p>Thomana, having bidden his royal +master good-night, felt disinclined for +sleep, so, strolling into a park-like demesne +that was adjacent, he seated himself +under a large tree, whose branches +spread for a considerable way, and became +lost in thought.</p> + +<p>It was a glorious night, with not a +sound in the air save the soft whirr of +some purpled-eyed or golden-winged +insect as it floated by in the darkness.<span class="pagenum">[89]</span> +As he sat there musing on the events +of the evening and the future of the +Prince, two large leaves fell from above +into his hand: one was old and withered, +the other was fresh and green. "Ah," +he murmured, as he looked at them, +"in the same way as an old and a young +leaf drops from the tree, so may a man +full of years and one who is in the +morning of life die at the same time."</p> + +<p>In the midst of his meditations, which +lasted long, he became a rahan,<a name="FNanchor_1_3" id="FNanchor_1_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> and was +taken from the garden to the Gandremadana +Mountains. At the same time a +chariot of pearl, drawn by four pure +white horses with trappings of gold, was +on its way to the Prince to carry him +back, as his father had died that day. +Following the chariot came four ministers +and a train of Court officials, accompanied +by soldiers.</p> + +<p>[90]They awakened the sleeping Prince and +acquainted him with their news. Then, +when he was prepared, he stepped into +the chariot that was waiting, and was +borne with all speed to the palace, where +he was proclaimed King the following +day with the utmost pomp, ceremony, +and rejoicings.</p> + +<p>In his new life, and amidst his many +duties and responsibilities, he entirely +forgot the existence of his attendant, who +had been his constant companion for +three years; therefore his absence passed +unrecorded and unnoticed; for what the +King forgets the courtiers must never be +unwise enough to remember.</p> + +<p>At the end of thirty years, when the +King was getting old, he remembered +Thomana, and wondered greatly where +he might be. Whereupon he immediately +caused it to be made known +throughout his dominions that he would<span class="pagenum">[91]</span> +give a lac of rupees to any one who +should give him any news of his lost +servant.</p> + +<p>Now Thomana, owing to his great +piety and powers of clairvoyance, became +aware immediately of the fact that his +old master had recollected him, and +desired his presence. Therefore he went +at once to the garden where he had +been seated before he attained his rahanship +so many years before. Close by +the tree, under whose branches he had +sat, were four shepherd boys, their flocks +grazing near, while they themselves +talked together of the big reward that +the King had offered for news of his old +servant.</p> + +<p>Thomana, coming through the leafy +aisles, heard them, and accosted them, +declaring that he was the person whom +the King desired. They rose and +glanced at him doubtingly.<span class="pagenum">[92]</span></p> + +<p>"Let two of you," he said, "go to the +palace and tell His Majesty, that I await +him here." To which they assented.</p> + +<p>A short while passed, and then an +immense carriage, glittering like gold +and silver in the sun, and followed by +others less imposing, could be seen +coming rapidly along the white winding +road. Pulling up at the entrance, the +King himself alighted, and came through +the gates, that were all brazen and +blazoned, straight towards Thomana, his +arms outstretched to embrace him; but +he whom he would have greeted so +cordially stopped him, saying—</p> + +<p>"I am now a rahan; with men, +their feelings, their passions, their brief +triumphs, and sorrows, likes and dislikes, +I have no affinity." Then he +folded his arms and stood in silence.</p> + +<p>His face was very cold and still.</p> + +<p>The King, looking at him, saw that<span class="pagenum">[93]</span> +he was poorly clad, and bent, and thin, +and pressed him to return to the Court, +where he promised him money and many +wives.</p> + +<p>But the rahan answered—</p> + +<p>"I do not need wealth, nor any of +the poor fleeting pleasures that this +world can offer. Let your Majesty +come with me instead, and visit my +abode of rest."</p> + +<p>"What is it like, this place," +inquired the King in wonder, "that it +can render its inhabitants indifferent to +what we esteem the most desirable of +all things in this life?"</p> + +<p>"It is situated far from here," replied +Thomana, "and the approach to it is a +broad, long avenue of gorgeous blossoms, +such as you have never dreamed of, that +bloom for ever, with a perfume that is +at once dreamy, drowsy, and infinitely +sweet; vast sprays of water spring from<span class="pagenum">[94]</span> +the mouths of silver dragons; over +head the branches of trees interlace, +showing but a strip of blue sky +through their quivering leaves. For +hours can you wander amongst these +mazes of roses, this wonder of colour +and beauty. At the end of the grove +is situated an immense tree, larger than +aught that you have seen and higher +than any eye could reach. It is surrounded +by columns of marble that glow +like jewels. Here the nāts and fairies +dwell, with nothing to disturb their +seclusion and solitude save the sound +of falling waters and the song of +birds. While over all is cast such a +spell as this life does not hold. Ah! +beside the perfection of that world, how +poor and valueless are the things of +this! There one talks with the gods +and dwells in worlds beyond the sun. +There is no room for regrets or for<span class="pagenum">[95]</span> +desires. There every one is beautiful, +therefore we do not covet beauty. There +wealth is common to all, therefore we do +not desire it. There all are equal, and +love and goodness are the aim and end of +all things. Come and see for yourself," +he added.</p> + +<p>And the King, marvelling greatly at +what he had heard, went. And there, +in the midst of those divine surroundings, +with naught to disturb the mind +from the good, he wandered, awed and +silent, but not afraid. In those cool, +wide halls of bliss, all memories of +grosser things and ways faded into +nothingness. He forgot his kingdom, +and was by it forgot.</p> + + +<hr class="chapter" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a> +<a href="images/p108f.jpg"> + <img border="0" src="images/p108t.jpg" alt="Pagoda" /> +</a> +</div> + +<p class="h4">THE SHWAY DAGONE PAGODA.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE PRIEST'S PETITION.</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">IT was the custom for the heir to the +throne of the kingdom of Ava to be +placed, while young, in a monastery with +the priests, to be instructed in a manner +suitable to the position that he was +destined to occupy. Prince Min +Goung, while a boy, was put under +the special care of the Phoongyee Shin +Ah Tah Thaya—a prudent and learned +man, who gave all his time and wisdom +to his pupil.</p> + +<p>Min Goung was of a proud and +wilful nature, and one who would not +willingly bend his haughty head to any +yoke, however light and silken.</p> + +<p>One day his reverend teacher punished<span class="pagenum">[100]</span> +him, for persistent bad writing, somewhat +severely—an act which he regretted +afterwards, thinking, perhaps, that he +had been over harsh.</p> + +<p>Time passed away. The King died, +and the young Prince was crowned. +Then the priest began to fear that his +former pupil might do him some harm, +for he imagined that he had never forgiven +him the liberty he had taken in +chastising him. So he quitted his +retreat, and fled to Prome for safety. +Disliking his enforced banishment, he +determined to write and crave for +pardon; and in the course of his long +appeal, written on palm leaves, was the +following story:—</p> + +<p>"There was a king of Bayanathee, +learned and merciful, who had a hundred +sons, each of whom, when old enough, +was given into the hands of a carefully +selected instructor to be taught those<span class="pagenum">[101]</span> +subjects for which he had the greatest +taste. When each was grown up and +had completed his education, he was +appointed a governor of a portion of +the royal dominions; and so ninety-nine +of the Princes had been educated and +been presented to the King and received +their appointments. Prince Thanwara +was the youngest of them, and was taken +care of by a distinguished minister, who +began and continued his instruction in a +way that was very suitable to the quick +natural intelligence of the boy; and +when the time came for Thanwara to go to +his father, his teacher accompanied him.</p> + +<p>"When they came before the King—who +was seated on a throne of silver +and agate, with golden doors behind +him—he asked his son if he had learnt +and completed the same course of studies +as his elder brothers, and the young +Prince answered him<span class="pagenum">[102]</span>—</p> + +<p>"'I am sufficiently qualified, sire, to +take upon me the same duties and +responsibilities as those of my brothers +who have gone before.'</p> + +<p>"The King was satisfied with the +reply; and then, after a while, the +Prince and his tutor returned to their +home.</p> + +<p>"Talking to the tutor before he slept, +Thanwara said—</p> + +<p>"'If the King my father offers me +the same position as he has bestowed +on my brothers, will it be well with me +to accept it?'</p> + +<p>"The teacher made answer thus—</p> + +<p>"'If a man, O Prince, desires to +partake of the Bandaya fruit, which only +grows in Nirvana, can he obtain it from +its tree from the distance of a hundred +yujanas (eight hundred miles), or would +he rather not stand under the tree and +take the fruit with a hooked bamboo?<span class="pagenum">[103]</span> +In the same way, if you wish to sit on +the throne it is best for you not to go +from here, but to remain in the shadow +of the palace.'</p> + +<p>"The prince listened, and then, when +he had heard to the end, he said—</p> + +<p>"'Then, my teacher, when to-morrow +I go before my father, and he asks me +my desires, what shall I make reply?'</p> + +<p>"'Ask of him to bestow on you the +rents of the bazaars and the produce or +the royal gardens within the city gates.'</p> + +<p>"'Of what benefit would such be to +me?'</p> + +<p>"'The greatest benefit, my son. For +those who have money have power, of +which truth I will give you an illustration:—</p> + +<p>"'A timid doe in the forest, when it +once sees a leopard, will fly, and hiding +carefully, will not venture to stir out +again for many days and nights; but<span class="pagenum">[104]</span> +on the other hand, retiring as it is by +nature, it will, if a person constantly feed +it, so far lose its timidity as to approach +him and take from his hand. Therefore, +my son, if you give presents often to +the favourites and the advisers of the +King, you will gain their confidence and +their liking.'</p> + +<p>"On the following day, when the +Prince reached the palace, and his father +asked him to name the province that +he wished to govern, he answered +thus:—</p> + +<p>"'My brothers have all gone from +you to distant parts of the world to +guard over your vast possessions; let +me then remain here to be your +Majesty's attendant, and render you +that care and assistance in sickness, in +health, and in trouble, or any other trial, +that affection can alone offer.'</p> + +<p>"The old King was pleased, and<span class="pagenum">[105]</span> +granted unhesitatingly what he was +asked.</p> + +<p>"From that day forth Thanwara +received the rents and profits of the +bazaars and gardens, and took up his +residence near the throne, in the white +palace of his father.</p> + +<p>"Gradually his winning manners, his +deference to his elders, his many +thoughtful and beautiful gifts, and, +lastly, his own piety and learning, +gained for him the first place in the +hearts of those who were about the +Court.</p> + +<p>"So the years fled away, and were +counted with the past.</p> + +<p>"But when the tenth year was young, +the King's health failed him; he felt +that the sands of his life were nearly +run. So about him he gathered his +ministers and advisers. After they +had expressed their sympathy and regret<span class="pagenum">[106]</span> +at finding him ill, they inquired which +of all his sons he would best like to +wear his crown when he was gone.</p> + +<p>"The dying King raised himself from +the low couch on which he was reclining, +and, propped by many cushions, +answered their question in this wise:</p> + +<p>"'A hermit was one day coming +from his lonely Himalayan abode +through a forest. Over his head, as +a sunshade, he had an enormous flower, +called the kakayu mala, which is found, +as you are aware, only in the Nāt +Country, and its fragrance reached to +the distance of one yujana (eight miles). +On his way he encountered four fairies, +each of whom saw and coveted the +blossom. They all in turn asked him +for it, but he said, in reply to their +request, "I can only give it to the +most virtuous and the most excellent +of you all."<span class="pagenum">[107]</span></p> + +<p>"'Whereupon each protested, all +contending for the honour.</p> + +<p>"'But the hermit, who was discreet +and prudent, said, "How can I, who +have no means to judge, decide? To +me you all seem worthy of it, equally +charming, and deserving in all respects, +therefore had I four flowers I would +divide them gladly between you; but +as there is but one, and that one incapable +of division, we will refer the +matter to the King of the Nāt Country, +who has the all-discerning eye."</p> + +<p>"'So they went.</p> + +<p>"'They had not to travel far before +they came to his green and gracious +kingdom.</p> + +<p>"'They made straight for the beautiful +ivory palace where the King dwelt, +and were ushered into where he sat on +his throne, composed entirely of the +very flowers.<span class="pagenum">[108]</span></p> + +<p>"'He inquired what brought them +before him.</p> + +<p>"'They told him. Then he thought +for a little time, while they waited at a +distance. When he called them to him +and said—</p> + +<p>"'"There is a rahan residing in the +Kisokok Mountains to whom I will +present a golden pineapple; then the +four of you shall go and seek him and +ask him for it. The person whom he +shall give the golden apple to, that +person shall be the most worthy in every +way to be the recipient of the flower."</p> + +<p>"'They thanked him, withdrew, and +started for the Kisokok Mountains.</p> + +<p>"'When they arrived there the rahan +requested each fairy to take up her +position according to the four directions +of the earth—north, south, east and +west—which they did, while each +clamoured for the prize.<span class="pagenum">[109]</span></p> + +<p>"'Then the rahan asked them their +names, to which the eldest replied, +"Thada" ("Charity"); the second, +"Thati" ("Peace"); the third, +"Hiri" ("Modesty"); the fourth, +"Ootoppa" ("Virtue").</p> + +<p>"'When the rahan heard he gave +the golden apple into the hands of +Ootoppa, saying, as her name represented, +she was the most deserving. +Then she went to the hermit, who presented +her with the beautiful flower, +and from that moment she was esteemed +the most virtuous and most excellent of +all women in the Nāt Country.</p> + +<p>"'Therefore,' continued the old +King, addressing the ministers around +him, 'you must be the hermit in this case.'</p> + +<p>"Before that day was over he was +dead, and was interred with great +honours and many lamentations.</p> + +<p>"Then the advisers, with no delay<span class="pagenum">[110]</span> +and no hesitation, elected Prince Thanwara +to succeed his father; but when +the news reached the other sons in their +distant territories they were filled with +wrath. The second sent to his elder +brother a letter, in which he said that +the ministers of their late father were +weak and corrupt, and very wanting in +foresight in allowing themselves to be +persuaded into placing the youngest +of all on the throne, thereby disregarding +the principle of the ancient +rule of succession; for (continued he) +in the Ahrottaya Country there was +a King who had three children, two +sons and a daughter, born of the chief +Queen. When the eldest son was sixteen +years of age the Queen died. The +second Queen thereupon became chief, +by whom the King had a son, and when +that son reached eight years of age the +King was bitten by a snake, a fact<span class="pagenum">[111]</span> +which frightened him greatly. The +Queen, however, who was quick to +think and very brave, sucked the poison +from the bite. The King, being filled +with gratitude, asked her to make any +request that she liked, which he would +grant, whereupon she immediately +begged that her son might be selected +as the heir to the throne, and to her +inexpressible satisfaction the King gave +his consent.</p> + +<p>"A while later his Majesty sent for +Narada, a soothsayer, who was asked +to calculate his term of life. Narada +told him that he would live twelve +more years. The King then sent for +his three children by the dead queen +and acquainted them with the soothsayer's +prophecy, telling them at the +same time that they must quit the +Court and find a home elsewhere for +twelve years.<span class="pagenum">[112]</span></p> + +<p>"Sorrowing greatly, they obeyed. +After nine years the King died of +grief for the absence of the children +that he had sent from him.</p> + +<p>"The Queen lost no time in scheming +to put the crown upon her son's +head. But the chief minister opposed +her, saying that the eldest boy still +lived and could not be put aside.</p> + +<p>"Then he took the crown and all the +insignia of royalty, and with many attendants +and great state travelled to +where the eldest son resided, and offered +the throne to him.</p> + +<p>"The Prince met him with the argument +that the King's commands extended +to twelve years, and that, as only nine +had elapsed, his step-brother must reign +for three years. Then he gave the +minister a pair of slippers, worked +with wheat, to give to his half-brother, +with the direction that they were to be<span class="pagenum">[113]</span> +placed on the judgment-seat, declaring, +as he did so, that if any decision is +illegal or contrary to the right, the +slippers would of themselves rise and +touch each other as a protest.</p> + +<p>"'Wherefore,' continued the brother's +epistle, 'as the ministers have not paid +you the respect of deferring to you in +the matter, we should prepare to go to +war with Thanwara.' The elder brother, +on receiving the above, addressed a letter +to his youngest brother, in which he +requested him to surrender the crown +or to prepare for hostilities.</p> + +<p>"Prince Thanwara sought the advice +of his chief minister in his perplexity, +and he told him that, according to religion, +he must not oppose his elder +brother.</p> + +<p>"'Then,' asked Thanwara, 'what am +I to do?'</p> + +<p>"The chief minister answered: 'Divide<span class="pagenum">[114]</span> +all the property in the kingdom into +one hundred shares, and give each +equally.'</p> + +<p>"And it was accordingly done, upon +which the eldest brother, being quite +content, left the youngest in the possession +of the throne, saying that a hundred +kings could not reign in one country, +and that, if they tried, it would be for +the woe of the people.</p> + +<p>"So all the brothers went back to +their own in peace and amity."</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>When the King of Ava read the +priest's letter, he was so well pleased +with the narrative that he sent a messenger +to him, and appointed him head +of the ecclesiastical body, with a residence +near the palace.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE COMMAND OF THE KING.</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a King of Amarapoora, +who reigned in a time +long past.</p> + +<p>He was young and beloved, and fair +of form and face, and his people lived +but to obey his lightest wish. He dwelt +in a palace of crystal, surrounded by +gardens, of whose beauty no tongue +could tell. He had money and lands +and gems, and beautiful wives and unnumbered +treasures, gathered from all +lands.</p> + +<p>He could have whatsoever he willed, +and go wheresoever he listed. His +days and nights were one long dream +of gladness.<span class="pagenum">[118]</span></p> + +<p>No enemies plagued him; no troubles +of any sort visited him; his coffers were +well filled, and his ministers were faithful +and wise; and yet, in spite of all, +he was weary of everything, more weary +than he could say.</p> + +<p>He drank from a goblet of gold, +rimmed with a band of pearls, and his +clothes were studded with rubies and +emeralds; he was flattered and courted +and envied as no monarch had ever +been envied before, and he was more +discontented than the poorest subject +in his realms.</p> + +<p>Above and around and about him was +all that is most conducive to happiness, +but within him were fatigue and desolation.</p> + +<p>All that he had ever wished for had +been given unto him; never had the +gods left unanswered his prayers; other +and better men's they turned a deaf ear<span class="pagenum">[119]</span> +to, but not so this King's, and now he +had nothing more left to crave for.</p> + +<p>He had supreme power vested in his +hands, but he was indifferent to it; he +owned everything that the heart could +desire, and those very possessions were +killing him.</p> + +<p>For the trail of the serpent of satiety +lay over his garden of Eden.</p> + +<p>Never had his eyes rested on disease +or want or poverty, or anything that +could distress his mind.</p> + +<p>All gifts and graces had been showered +upon him; his sins were buried in oblivion, +or cited more admiringly than the virtues +of others.</p> + +<p>When he went abroad on his white +elephant, with its trappings of scarlet +and silver, the very air was perfumed +with otto of rose, while the people +bowed and kissed the dust through +which he passed.<span class="pagenum">[120]</span></p> + +<p>Attached to the palace were many +hundreds of officials, players, dancers, +jugglers, and clowns; for the King sought +only one thing, and that was—Amusement; +of which, in no matter what form +it was presented to him, he soon tired.</p> + +<p>Constantly was the country being +searched for some one with a ready wit, +an inventive tongue, or a nimble foot, to +pass the hours for the Lord of the City +of Gems.</p> + +<p>Tellers of marvellous stories, more +wonderful than the Arabian Nights, had +come, and tried their little best to +please.</p> + +<p>There were those who travelled +specially to other countries, but to return +and tell him of all that they had +seen, and of how inferior all lands and +rulers were when compared with their +own.</p> + +<p>Dancing women, with the classic<span class="pagenum">[121]</span> +limbs and straight black brows of +Egypt, sought his favour.</p> + +<p>Eyes that were as loadstars in their +brilliancy wooed him with a thousand +glances.</p> + +<p>Circassian women, with sun-flecked +tresses, were his willing slaves.</p> + +<p>Men of great learning asked nothing +better than to gain his ear awhile, but +all fatigued him soon.</p> + +<p>And, like a child, he cried for something +new.</p> + +<p>Then one day a stranger from India +presented himself at the great gates of +the palace, saying that he brought a +game called Chess to teach the King. +They who loitered round the entrance +bade him scornfully to "begone." +What would he of the Golden Feet +do with red and white figures like that? +they contemptuously asked.</p> + +<p>But the Indian protested, craving<span class="pagenum">[122]</span> +humbly to be granted an audience. +Then one, who was more kindly than +the rest, led him through the green, +silent gardens, with their aisles of +gorgeous roses; by spray-splashing fountains, +fringed with the lotus-flower; up +a flight of marble steps on to a terrace +where peacocks strolled; through carved +doors, from which stretched an endless +vista of halls and rooms filled with +numerous attendants, who formed a +mass of marvellous colour; carpets and +rugs of velvet-like softness were strewn +about; ivory of wonderful workmanship; +things of all precious metals, together +with stuffs of delicate hues and +lovely texture; to a chamber handsomer +than any that had gone before, where +at one end, seated on a couch, clad in +an odd, rich fashion, and shaded by a +large umbrella, was the King, his bare +feet resting on a stool; to his right was<span class="pagenum">[123]</span> +a golden spittoon, while to his left stood +a slave holding a jewelled betel box +and some green cigars.</p> + +<p>The Burmese prostrated himself almost +full length, motioning the Indian +to do likewise, explaining at the same +time the object of their presence.</p> + +<p>His royal master received them +graciously, inquired into the merits +of the game, finally declaring that +he would be taught it there and +then.</p> + +<p>From that time forth he devoted +himself to play with an eagerness +entirely foreign to his nature. He +paused for nothing, never going without +the palace. The days seemed not +half long enough. The courtiers were +inclined to congratulate themselves on +having at last found something that +seemed likely to continue a favourite +with the King, until they saw how high<span class="pagenum">[124]</span> +the Indian was rising in his favour, +being loaded with money and presents, +and thereby becoming a cause of bitter +envy and jealousy on the part of the +Burmese ministers.</p> + +<p>Nor did his haughty, overbearing +manner tend to soften their resentment. +Many were the plans that they made to +cause his downfall, but in vain. Every +one of the plots failed, while he whom +they conspired against seemed to grow +but dearer to the Lord of the Rising +Sun.</p> + +<p>Time passed.</p> + +<p>Then one came called Nicomar +from a great distance, who brought +painted cards and dice wherewith to +amuse the monarch, the like of which +had never been seen before. And the +King, like a spoilt baby, was delighted +with this new toy, and thrust away the +chess from his sight with disdain.<span class="pagenum">[125]</span></p> + +<p>And those round about were so glad +of the change that they hardly grudged +the new-comer the honours that their +royal master began to speedily heap +upon him.</p> + +<p>The days went by, and His Majesty +did nothing but recline on his crimson +and golden cushions, playing and rattling +the dice-box.</p> + +<p>Then, after awhile, he took to enlivening +the game by hazarding large bets +with his teacher—bets which generally +meant the performance of impossible +feats by Nicomar, with many penalties +attached to their non-accomplishment.</p> + +<p>Often and sorely was Nicomar's +subtle mind perplexed to devise means +of circumventing his master's wagers, +and of distracting his attention to other +and more entertaining matters. Nicomar +lived always in fear of losing his +place at the palace. Inwardly, he hated<span class="pagenum">[126]</span> +this unreasoning and unreasonable +monarch, whom nothing pleased for +long; outwardly, he was the most docile, +obedient, and fawning of servants.</p> + +<p>Carefully did he veil his night-like +eyes, lest the hatred that shone in them +sometimes might be read by those +around.</p> + +<p>Prostrate before the King, he seemingly +lived but for his smile.</p> + +<p>The burning days and the sultry +nights he devoted to his service; while +others slept he sat wakeful, thinking +out new forms of amusement, new ways +to distract the King, and enable him to +retain that place which to him, hitherto +most poor and friendless, was as the +sorcerer's golden apple.</p> + +<p>For Nicomar there was but one god—and +that god was wealth.</p> + +<p>He laboured and strove for and +endlessly desired it.<span class="pagenum">[127]</span></p> + +<p>A year went by, and still he remained +the favourite, and he began to feel a +little more secure and at ease....</p> + +<p>"Nicomar," cried the King one day, +as they sat together in the sunset glow, +"I have resolved that you shall put milk +where the sea now is. I have tired of +water, and I desire instead an ocean of +milk."</p> + +<p>Nicomar stared in dismay.</p> + +<p>"That which your Majesty wishes is +impossible," he made answer.</p> + +<p>The King frowned.</p> + +<p>"Impossible is no word between you +and me. That which I command +must never be impossible," he exclaimed +angrily. "Hitherto you have obeyed my +orders; do so now."</p> + +<p>The Indian trembled, but dared not +protest.</p> + +<p>"Fill up the sea with milk in fourteen +days from now and your reward<span class="pagenum">[128]</span> +shall be all that even you can desire;—fail +to do so and you shall die by all the +tortures possible within an hour. Do +as I say and your place shall be the very +highest here: your power shall be well-nigh +limitless, your name shall be on all +lips; men shall crouch at your feet; +you shall have a finer palace and greater +wealth than any in the land. Save +myself, you shall be great and free, +while those whom you love shall be +raised also."</p> + +<p>Nicomar salaamed silently.</p> + +<p>The King continued:</p> + +<p>"You have known what it is to be +lowly and despised; you have been +mocked and reviled at,—what greater +or sweeter vengeance then to see those +very people bow down before you your +slaves? I desire this thing so much that +any price you like to name I am prepared +to give."<span class="pagenum">[129]</span></p> + +<p>The Indian answered never a word.</p> + +<p>He knew of old that once the King +commanded it was useless to do aught +but comply.</p> + +<p>This reward, great as it was, could +never be his, for to earn it was beyond +anybody's power.</p> + +<p>"Begone, now," continued His Majesty, +"and return in fourteen days' +time to claim your prize, or——" and +his gesture was more eloquent than +words.</p> + +<p>Nicomar, with sorrowful, halting gait, +went from his august presence.</p> + +<p>He sought without delay the quietude +of his own rooms. He was well-nigh +distracted. From many difficult predicaments +he had with consummate tact +and skill extricated himself, but from +this there seemed no escape.</p> + +<p>He beat his breast and tore his hair. +He consulted the wise men and the<span class="pagenum">[130]</span> +stars; looked for this sign and for +that; prayed long and fervently, and +propitiated the gods in many ways, but +all to no purpose.</p> + +<p>He took no food or rest; he dared +not think of what awaited him in the +near future.</p> + +<p>So a week went by, and he was no +nearer finding a loophole through which +to escape.</p> + +<p>On the seventh day he sought the +King, and craved humbly to know if +he had understood him aright, or had +he been but jesting with him.</p> + +<p>He lingered but a short while in +doubt.</p> + +<p>His Majesty was deeply incensed at +being questioned, and let the full torrent +of his displeasure fall upon the head of +his luckless servitor.</p> + +<p>Swearing many oaths by the sacred +hairs of Buddha that his will should be<span class="pagenum">[131]</span> +obeyed, he had him thrust ignominiously +from his presence.</p> + +<p>Then Nicomar went from out the +palace and the city far into the lonely +country, seeking he knew not what. +For days he wandered wearily through +thick jungle and silent forest ways, +stepping but slowly in the long, dank +grass.</p> + +<p>He suffered greatly, and suffered +without hope.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day he came to where a +broad river flowed and sparkled between +high green banks.</p> + +<p>Some Burmese, driving bullocks, were +resting beside it, while in the distance +were a few mud huts.</p> + +<p>Nicomar, who was footsore and faint, +sank down at the foot of a banana tree.</p> + +<p>His garments were torn by branches +and brambles, his sight was blinded by +the sun, his mouth parched with thirst.<span class="pagenum">[132]</span></p> + +<p>Idly he watched the Burmese from +where he sat.</p> + +<p>Soon it became apparent that they +desired to cross that glittering expanse +of water, but evidently knew not how +to accomplish it.</p> + +<p>Nicomar, tired of thinking of his +own miseries, grew unconsciously interested.</p> + +<p>Three of them twisted their silk +pasohs up about their waists, and tried +to wade the river; but it was too deep, +and they returned, seemingly much +perplexed.</p> + +<p>Then they consulted together; whereupon +one among them—evidently against +the desire of his companions, as their +gestures betokened—took the rope of +his bullock between his teeth, and diving +into the river, with a good imitation of +swimming reached the other side.</p> + +<p>His fellows watched the performance<span class="pagenum">[133]</span> +with open-eyed wonder, but could not +be induced to follow his example.</p> + +<p>Nicomar, looking on, thought that the +young man must have a mind full of +resource, and so determined to seek him +and consult with him. He could not +have told what was exactly the impulse +that urged him to this course, but he rose, +and staggering a little because he was +faint, made his way to the river bank.</p> + +<p>The young fellow leant a very interested +and attentive ear to the strange +story that Nicomar told to him. When +he had finished he took him to his hut +and gave him a meal of rice, then bade +him go over the tale once more in all +its details.</p> + +<p>Whereupon he asked at the conclusion—</p> + +<p>"If I, poor and ignorant, satisfy the +King that his command can be performed, +what will you give unto me?"<span class="pagenum">[134]</span></p> + +<p>Nicomar, trembling with joy and +incredulity, promised him one half of +what he had and the hand of his +daughter in marriage.</p> + +<p>Then the Burman said—</p> + +<p>"To-morrow we will seek the King." +More he would not say, but sat in the +dusky gloom of the coming evening, +smoking.</p> + +<p>Nicomar, with the great weight of +his troubles somewhat lightened, slept +heavily.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>On the morning of the fourteenth +day Nicomar prostrated himself before +his master.</p> + +<p>"Well," asked the King, "come you +to claim your reward?"</p> + +<p>The Indian bowed his head in grave +deferential assent.</p> + +<p>"And so you have obeyed my +order?"<span class="pagenum">[135]</span></p> + +<p>"I but wait for your Majesty to +perform your part first, then I will without +delay do my share."</p> + +<p>The King hastened to ask the +meaning of such an answer.</p> + +<p>"Your Majesty commanded me," +replied the Indian, "to fill up the sea +with milk, which I am quite ready to +do; but your Majesty did not command +me to take the water from the ocean, +and until that is done it is impossible to +fill it anew. If your Majesty," continued +Nicomar, "will but dispose of +the water——." Then he paused +timidly, waiting the King's response. +He had done as the Burman had instructed +him, and he feared the result.</p> + +<p>For a long while there was silence, +and those round about trembled with +apprehension, for they guessed not in +what wise their master would take such +a reply.<span class="pagenum">[136]</span></p> + +<p>At last he smiled, for although he +had many grave faults, he was not unkindly +or averse to owning himself +baffled.</p> + +<p>Then he said—</p> + +<p>"Nicomar, thou art cleverer than I +thought."</p> + +<p>At which words hearts that had stood +still from fear beat once more.</p> + +<p>"The sea exists," said his Majesty, +after a pause, looking round on his +Court, "as it existed before we were, +as it will exist when we have all passed +away and our names have been forgotten."</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h6">UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON.</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<div class="trnote"> + +<p class="cen">Footnotes:</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p class="noin"> + <a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_1_1"> + <span class="label">[1]</span> + </a> + Indian money-lender. + </p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p class="noin"> + <a name="Footnote_1_2" id="Footnote_1_2"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_1_2"> + <span class="label">[2]</span> + </a> + "Toddy" is composed of the juice of palms, + and sold in those shops when fermented. + </p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p class="noin"> + <a name="Footnote_1_3" id="Footnote_1_3"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_1_3"> + <span class="label">[3]</span> + </a> + "Rahan," <i>i.e.</i>, one possessed of supernatural + powers. + </p> +</div> + +</div> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<div class="trnote"> + +<p class="cen">Typographical Errors Corrected in Text:</p> + +<p>p. 69: repeated "in a" corrected.</p> + +<p>p. 85: comma added after "who was the father of King Theebaw"</p> + +<p>p. 100: "seleced" changed to "selected"</p> + +<p>p. 119: "him" appended to last word of "All gifts and graces had been showered upon;"</p> + +</div> + + +</div> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Told on the Pagoda, by Mimosa + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOLD ON THE PAGODA *** + +***** This file should be named 36171-h.htm or 36171-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/7/36171/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Matthew Wheaton, Bill Tozier +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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