diff options
Diffstat (limited to '6145.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 6145.txt | 10349 |
1 files changed, 10349 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/6145.txt b/6145.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbe3c5c --- /dev/null +++ b/6145.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10349 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: Tales of the Punjab + +Author: Flora Annie Steel + +Posting Date: October 12, 2014 [EBook #6145] +Release Date: July, 2004 +First Posted: November 19, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +TALES OF THE PUNJAB +FOLKLORE OF INDIA + +BY + +FLORA ANNIE STEEL + + + + +CONTENTS + + + +Preface + +To the Little Reader + +Sir Buzz +The Rat's Wedding +The Faithful Prince +The Bear's Bad Bargain +Prince Lionheart and his Three Friends +The Lambkin +Bopoluchi +Princess Aubergine +Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver +The Son of Seven Mothers +The Sparrow and the Crow +The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal +The King of the Crocodiles +Little Anklebone +The Close Alliance +The Two Brothers +The Jackal and the Iguana +The Death and Burial of Poor Hen-Sparrow +Princess Pepperina +Peasie and Beansir +The Jackal and the Partridge +The Snake-woman and King Ali Mardan +The Wonderful Ring +The Jackal and the Pea-hen +The Grain of Corn +The Farmer and the Money-lender +The Lord of Death +The Wrestlers +The Legend of Gwashbrari, the Glacier-Hearted Queen +The Barber's Clever Wife +The Jackal and the Crocodile +How Raja Rasalu Was Born +How Raja Rasalu Went Out Into the World +How Raja Rasalu's Friends Forsook Him +How Raja Rasalu Killed the Giants +How Raja Rasalu Became a Jogi +How Raja Rasalu Journeyed to the City of King Sarkap +How Raja Rasalu Swung the Seventy Fair Maidens, Daughters of the King +How Raja Rasalu Played Chaupur with King Sarkap +The King Who Was Fried +Prince Half-a-Son +The Mother and Daughter Who Worshipped the Sun +The Ruby Prince + +Notes to the Tales + + + + +PREFACE + + +Many of the tales in this collection appeared either in the _Indian +Antiquary_, the _Calcutta Review_, or the _Legends of the +Punjab_. They were then in the form of literal translations, in +many cases uncouth or even unpresentable to ears polite, in all +scarcely intelligible to the untravelled English reader; for it must +be remembered that, with the exception of the Adventures of Raja +Rasalu, all these stories are strictly folk-tales passing current +among a people who can neither read nor write, and whose diction is +full of colloquialisms, and, if we choose to call them so, +vulgarisms. It would be manifestly unfair, for instance, to compare +the literary standard of such tales with that of the _Arabian +Nights_, the _Tales of a Parrot_, or similar works. The +manner in which these stories were collected is in itself sufficient +to show how misleading it would be, if, with the intention of giving +the conventional Eastern flavour to the text, it were to be +manipulated into a flowery dignity; and as a description of the +procedure will serve the double purpose of credential and excuse, the +authors give it,--premising that all the stories but three have been +collected by Mrs. F. A. Steel during winter tours through the various +districts of which her husband has been Chief Magistrate. + +A carpet is spread under a tree in the vicinity of the spot which the +Magistrate has chosen for his _darbar_, but far enough away from +bureaucracy to let the village idlers approach it should they feel so +inclined. In a very few minutes, as a rule, some of them begin to +edge up to it, and as they are generally small boys, they commence +nudging each other, whispering, and sniggering. The fancied approach +of a _chuprasi_, the 'corrupt lictor' of India, who attends at +every _darbar_, will however cause a sudden stampede; but after a +time these become less and less frequent, the wild beasts, as it were, +becoming tamer. By and by a group of women stop to gaze, and then the +question 'What do you want?' invariably brings the answer 'To see your +honour' (_ap ke darshan ae_). Once the ice is broken, the only +difficulties are, first, to understand your visitors, and secondly, to +get them to go away. When the general conversation is fairly started, +inquiries are made by degrees as to how many witches there are in the +village, or what cures they know for fever and the evil eye, +_etc_. At first these are met by denials expressed in set terms, +but a little patient talk will generally lead to some remarks which +point the villagers' minds in the direction required, till at last, +after many persuasions, some child begins a story, others correct the +details, emulation conquers shyness, and finally the story-teller is +brought to the front with acclamations: for there is always a +story-teller _par excellence_ in every village--generally a boy. + +Then comes the need for patience, since in all probability the first +story is one you have heard a hundred times, or else some pointless +and disconnected jumble. At the conclusion of either, however, the +teller must be profusely complimented, in the hopes of eliciting +something more valuable. But it is possible to waste many hours, and +in the end find yourself possessed of nothing save some feeble variant +of a well-known legend, or, what is worse, a compilation of oddments +which have lingered in a faulty memory from half a dozen distinct +stories. After a time, however, the attentive collector is rewarded +by finding that a coherent whole is growing up in his or her mind out +of the shreds and patches heard here and there, and it is delight +indeed when your own dim suspicion that this part of the puzzle fits +into that is confirmed by finding the two incidents preserved side by +side in the mouth of some perfectly unconscious witness. Some of the +tales in this volume have thus been a year or more on the stocks +before they had been heard sufficiently often to make their form +conclusive. + +And this accounts for what may be called the greater literary sequence +of these tales over those to be found in many similar collections. +They have been selected carefully with the object of securing a good +story in what appears to be its best form; but they have not been +doctored in any way, not even in the language. That is neither a +transliteration--which would have needed a whole dictionary to be +intelligible--nor a version orientalised to suit English tastes. It +is an attempt to translate one colloquialism by another, and thus to +preserve the aroma of rough ready wit existing side by side with that +perfume of pure poesy which every now and again contrasts so strangely +with the other. Nothing would have been easier than to alter the +style; but to do so would, in the collector's opinion, have robbed the +stories of all human value. + +That such has been the deliberate choice may be seen at a glance +through the only story which has a different origin. The Adventures +of Raja Rasalu was translated from the rough manuscript of a village +accountant; and, being current in a more or less classical form, it +approaches more nearly to the conventional standards of an Indian +tale. + +The work has been apportioned between the authors in this way. Mrs. +F. A. Steel is responsible for the text, and Major R. C. Temple for +the annotations. + +It is therefore hoped that the form of the book may fulfil the double +intention with which it was written; namely, that the text should +interest children, and at the same time the notes should render it +valuable to those who study Folklore on its scientific side. + +F. A. _Steel_ +R. C. _Temple_ + + + + +TO THE LITTLE READER + + +Would you like to know how these stories are told? Come with me, and +you shall see. There! take my hand and do not be afraid, for Prince +Hassan's carpet is beneath your feet. So now!--'Hey presto! +Abracadabra!' Here we are in a Punjabi village. + + * * * * * + +It is sunset. Over the limitless plain, vast and unbroken as the +heaven above, the hot cloudless sky cools slowly into shadow. The men +leave their labour amid the fields, which, like an oasis in the +desert, surround the mud-built village, and, plough on shoulder, drive +their bullocks homewards. The women set aside their spinning-wheels, +and prepare the simple evening meal. The little girls troop, basket +on head, from the outskirts of the village, where all day long they +have been at work, kneading, drying, and stacking the fuel-cakes so +necessary in that woodless country. The boys, half hidden in clouds +of dust, drive the herds of gaunt cattle and ponderous buffaloes to +the thorn-hedged yards. The day is over, the day which has been so +hard and toilful even for the children,--and with the night comes rest +and play. The village, so deserted before, is alive with voices; the +elders cluster round the courtyard doors, the little ones whoop +through the narrow alleys. But as the short-lived Indian twilight +dies into darkness, the voices one by one are hushed, and as the stars +come out the children disappear. But not to sleep: it is too hot, +for the sun which has beaten so fiercely all day on the mud walls, and +floors, and roofs, has left a legacy of warmth behind it, and not till +midnight will the cool breeze spring up, bringing with it refreshment +and repose. How then are the long dark hours to be passed? In all +the village not a lamp or candle is to be found; the only light--and +that too used but sparingly and of necessity--being the dim smoky +flame of an oil-fed wick. Yet, in spite of this, the hours, though +dark, are not dreary, for this, in an Indian village, is +_story-telling time_; not only from choice, but from obedience to +the well-known precept which forbids such idle amusement between +sunrise and sunset. Ask little Kaniya, yonder, why it is that he, the +best story-teller in the village, never opens his lips till after +sunset, and he will grin from ear to ear, and with a flash of dark +eyes and white teeth, answer that travellers lose their way when idle +boys and girls tell tales by daylight. And Naraini, the herd-girl, +will hang her head and cover her dusky face with her rag of a veil, if +you put the question to her; or little Ram Jas shake his bald shaven +poll in denial; but not one of the dark-skinned, bare-limbed village +children will yield to your request for a story. + +No, no!--from sunrise to sunset, when even the little ones must +labour, not a word; but from sunset to sunrise, when no man can work, +the tongues chatter glibly enough, for that is story-telling time. +Then, after the scanty meal is over, the bairns drag their +wooden-legged, string-woven bedsteads into the open, and settle +themselves down like young birds in a nest, three or four to a bed, +while others coil up on mats upon the ground, and some, stealing in +for an hour from distant alleys, beg a place here or there. + +The stars twinkle overhead, the mosquito sings through the hot air, +the village dogs bark at imaginary foes, and from one crowded nest +after another rises a childish voice telling some tale, old yet ever +new,--tales that were told in the sunrise of the world, and will be +told in its sunset. The little audience listens, dozes, dreams, and +still the wily Jackal meets his match, or Bopoluchi brave and bold +returns rich and victorious from the robber's den. Hark!--that is +Kaniya's voice, and there is an expectant stir amongst the drowsy +listeners as he begins the old old formula-- + +'Once upon a time--' + + + + +TALES OF THE PUNJAB + +FOLKLORE OF INDIA + + + + +SIR BUZZ + + +Once upon a time a soldier died, leaving a widow and one son. They +were dreadfully poor, and at last matters became so bad that they had +nothing left in the house to eat. + +'Mother,' said the son, 'give me four shillings, and I will go seek my +fortune in the wide world.' + +'Alas!' answered the mother, 'and where am I, who haven't a farthing +wherewith to buy bread, to find four shillings?' + +'There is that old coat of my father's,' returned the lad; 'look in +the pocket--perchance there is something there.' + +So she looked, and behold! there were six shillings hidden away at the +very bottom of the pocket! + +'More than I bargained for,' quoth the lad, laughing.' See, mother, +these two shillings are for you; you can live on that till I return, +the rest will pay my way until I find my fortune.' + +So he set off to find his fortune, and on the way he saw a tigress, +licking her paw, and moaning mournfully. He was just about to run +away from the terrible creature, when she called to him faintly, +saying, 'Good lad, if you will take out this thorn for me, I shall be +for ever grateful.' + +'Not I!' answered the lad. 'Why, if I begin to pull it out, and it +pains you, you will kill me with a pat of your paw.' + +[Illustration: Boy pulling thorn out of a tigress's paw] + +'No, no!' cried the tigress, 'I will turn my face to this tree, and +when the pain comes I will pat _it_.' + +To this the soldier's son agreed; so he pulled out the thorn, and when +the pain came the tigress gave the tree such a blow that the trunk +split all to pieces. Then she turned towards the soldier's son, and +said gratefully, 'Take this box as a reward, my son, but do not open +it until you have travelled nine miles' + +So the soldier's son thanked the tigress, and set off with the box to +find his fortune. Now when he had gone five miles, he felt certain +that the box weighed more than it had at first, and every step he took +it seemed to grow heavier and heavier. He tried to struggle on-- +though it was all he could do to carry the box--until he had gone +about eight miles and a quarter, when his patience gave way. 'I +believe that tigress was a witch, and is playing off her tricks upon +me,' he cried, 'but I will stand this nonsense no longer. Lie there, +you wretched old box!--heaven knows what is in you, and I don't care.' + +So saying, he flung the box down on the ground: it burst open with +the shock, and out stepped a little old man. He was only one span +high, but his beard was a span and a quarter long, and trailed upon +the ground. + +The little mannikin immediately began to stamp about and scold the lad +roundly for letting the box down so violently. + +'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son, scarcely able to restrain a +smile at the ridiculous little figure, 'but you are weighty for your +size, old gentleman! And what may your name be?' + +'Sir Buzz!' snapped the one-span mannikin, still stamping about in a +great rage. + +'Upon my word!' quoth the soldier's son once more, 'if _you_ are +all the box contained, I am glad I didn't trouble to carry it +farther.' + +'That's not polite,' snarled the mannikin; 'perhaps if you had carried +it the full nine miles you might have found something better; but +that's neither here nor there. I'm good enough for you, at any rate, +and will serve you faithfully according to my mistress's orders.' + +'Serve me!--then I wish to goodness you'd serve me with some dinner, +for I am mighty hungry! Here are four shillings to pay for it.' + +No sooner had the soldier's son said this and given the money, than +with a _whiz! boom! bing!_ like a big bee, Sir Buzz flew through +the air to a confectioner's shop in the nearest town. There he stood, +the one-span mannikin, with the span and a quarter beard trailing on +the ground, just by the big preserving pan, and cried in ever so loud +a voice, 'Ho! ho! Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!' + +The confectioner looked round the shop, and out of the door, and down +the street, but could see no one, for tiny Sir Buzz was quite hidden +by the preserving pan. Then the mannikin called out louder still, +'Ho! ho! Sir Confectioner, bring me sweets!' And when the +confectioner looked in vain for his customer, Sir Buzz grew angry, and +ran and pinched him on the legs, and kicked him on the foot, saying, +'Impudent knave! do you mean to say you can't see _me?_ Why, I +was standing by the preserving pan all the time!' + +The confectioner apologised humbly, and hurried away to bring out his +best sweets for his irritable little customer. Then Sir Buzz chose +about a hundredweight of them, and said, 'Quick, tie them up in +something and give them into my hand; I'll carry them home.' + +'They will be a good weight, sir,' smiled the confectioner. + +'What business is that of yours, I should like to know?' snapped Sir +Buzz. 'Just you do as you're told, and here is your money.' So +saying he jingled the four shillings in his pocket. + +'As you please, sir,' replied the man cheerfully, as he tied up the +sweets into a huge bundle and placed it on the little mannikin's +outstretched hand, fully expecting him to sink under the weight; when +lo! with a _boom! bing!_ he whizzed off with the money still in +his pocket. + +He alighted at a corn-chandler's shop, and, standing behind a basket +of flour, called out at the top of his voice, 'Ho! ho! Sir Chandler, +bring me flour!' + +And when the corn-chandler looked round the shop, and out of the +window, and down the street, without seeing anybody, the one-span +mannikin, with his beard trailing on the ground, cried again louder +than before, 'Ho! ho! Sir Chandler, bring me flour!' + +Then on receiving no answer, he flew into a violent rage, and ran and +bit the unfortunate corn-chandler on the leg, pinched him, and kicked +him, saying, 'Impudent varlet! don't pretend you couldn't see +_me!_ Why, I was standing close beside you behind that basket!' + +So the corn-chandler apologised humbly for his mistake, and asked Sir +Buzz how much flour he wanted. + +'Two hundredweight,' replied the mannikin, 'two hundredweight, neither +more nor less. Tie it up in a bundle, and I'll take it with me.' + +'Your honour has a cart or beast of burden with you, doubtless?' said +the chandler, 'for two hundredweight is a heavy load.' + +'What's that to you?' shrieked Sir Buzz, stamping his foot, 'isn't it +enough if I pay for it?' And then he jingled the money in his pocket +again. + +So the corn-chandler tied up the flour in a bundle, and placed it in +the mannikin's outstretched hand, fully expecting it would crush him, +when, with a whiz! Sir Buzz flew off, with the shillings still in his +pocket. _Boom! bing! boom!_ + +The soldier's son was just wondering what had become of his one-span +servant, when, with a whir! the little fellow alighted beside him, and +wiping his face with his handkerchief, as if he were dreadfully hot +and tired, said thoughtfully, 'Now I do hope I've brought enough, but +you men have such terrible appetites!' + +'More than enough, I should say,' laughed the lad, looking at the huge +bundles. + +Then Sir Buzz cooked the girdle-cakes, and the soldier's son ate three +of them and a handful of sweets; but the one-span mannikin gobbled up +all the rest, saying at each mouthful, 'You men have such terrible +appetites--such terrible appetites!' + +After that, the soldier's son and his servant Sir Buzz travelled ever +so far, until they came to the King's city. Now the King had a +daughter called Princess Blossom, who was so lovely, and tender, and +slim, and fair, that she only weighed five flowers. Every morning she +was weighed in golden scales, and the scale always turned when the +fifth flower was put in, neither less nor more. + +Now it so happened that the soldier's son by chance caught a glimpse +of the lovely, tender, slim, and fair Princess Blossom, and, of +course, he fell desperately in love with her. He would neither sleep +nor eat his dinner, and did nothing all day long but say to his +faithful mannikin, 'Oh, dearest Sir Buzz! oh, kind Sir Buzz!--carry me +to the Princess Blossom, that I may see and speak to her.' + +'Carry you!' snapped the little fellow scornfully, 'that's a likely +story! Why, you're ten times as big as I am. You should carry +_me!_' + +Nevertheless, when the soldier's son begged and prayed, growing pale +and pining away with thinking of the Princess Blossom, Sir Buzz, who +had a kind heart, was moved, and bade the lad sit on his hand. Then +with a tremendous _boom! bing! boom!_ they whizzed away and were +in the palace in a second. Being night-time, the Princess was asleep; +nevertheless the booming wakened her and she was quite frightened to +see a handsome young man kneeling beside her. She began of course to +scream, but stopped at once when the soldier's son with the greatest +politeness, and in the most elegant of language, begged her not to be +alarmed. And after that they talked together about everything +delightful, while Sir Buzz stood at the door and did sentry; but he +stood a brick up on end first, so that he might not seem to pry upon +the young people. + +Now when the dawn was just breaking, the soldier's son and Princess +Blossom, wearied of talking, fell asleep; whereupon Sir Buzz, being a +faithful servant, said to himself, 'Now what is to be done? If my +master remains here asleep, some one will discover him, and he will be +killed as sure as my name is Buzz; but if I wake him, ten to one he +will refuse to go.' + +[Illustration: Soldier's son kneeling beside Princess Blossom's bed +as they talk] + +So without more ado he put his hand under the bed, and _bing! +boom!_ carried it into a large garden outside the town. There he +set it down in the shade of the biggest tree, and pulling up the next +biggest one by the roots, threw it over his shoulder, and marched up +and down keeping guard. + +Before long the whole town was in a commotion, because the Princess +Blossom had been carried off, and all the world and his wife turned +out to look for her. By and by the one-eyed Chief Constable came to +the garden gate. + +'What do you want here?' cried valiant Sir Buzz, making passes at him +with the tree. + +The Chief Constable with his one eye could see nothing save the +branches, but he replied sturdily, 'I want the Princess Blossom!' + +'I'll blossom you! Get out of _my_ garden, will you?' shrieked +the one-span mannikin, with his one and quarter span beard trailing on +the ground; and with that he belaboured the Constable's pony so hard +with the tree that it bolted away, nearly throwing its rider. + +The poor man went straight to the King, saying, 'Your Majesty! I am +convinced your Majesty's daughter, the Princess Blossom, is in your +Majesty's garden, just outside the town, as there is a tree there +which fights terribly.' + +Upon this the King summoned all his horses and men, and going to the +garden tried to get in; but Sir Buzz behind the tree routed them all, +for half were killed, and the rest ran away. The noise of the battle, +however, awoke the young couple, and as they were now convinced they +could no longer exist apart, they determined to fly together. So when +the fight was over, the soldier's son, the Princess Blossom, and Sir +Buzz set out to see the world. + +Now the soldier's son was so enchanted with his good luck in winning +the Princess, that he said to Sir Buzz, 'My fortune is made already; +so I shan't want you any more, and you can go back to your mistress.' + +'Pooh!' said Sir Buzz. 'Young people always think so; however, have +it your own way, only take this hair out of my beard, and if you +_should_ get into trouble, just burn it in the fire. I'll come +to your aid.' + +So Sir Buzz boomed off, and the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom +lived and travelled together very happily, until at last they lost +their way in a forest, and wandered about for some time without any +food. When they were nearly starving, a Brahman found them, and +hearing their story said, 'Alas! you poor children!--come home with +me, and I will give you something to eat.' + +Now had he said 'I will eat you,' it would have been much nearer the +mark, for he was no Brahman, but a dreadful vampire, who loved to +devour handsome young men and slender girls. But, knowing nothing of +all this, the couple went home with him quite cheerfully. He was most +polite, and when they arrived at his house, said, 'Please get ready +whatever you want to eat, for I have no cook. Here are my keys; open +all my cupboards save the one with the golden key. Meanwhile I will +go and gather firewood.' + +Then the Princess Blossom began to prepare the food, while the +soldier's son opened all the cupboards. In them he saw lovely jewels, +and dresses, and cups and platters, such bags of gold and silver, that +his curiosity got the better of his discretion, and, regardless of the +Brahman's warning, he said, 'I _will_ see what wonderful thing is +hidden in the cupboard with the golden key.' So he opened it, and lo! +it was full of human skulls, picked quite clean, and beautifully +polished. At this dreadful sight the soldier's son flew back to the +Princess Blossom, and said, 'We are lost! we are lost!--this is no +Brahman, but a horrid vampire!' + +At that moment they heard him at the door, and the Princess, who was +very brave and kept her wits about her, had barely time to thrust the +magic hair into the fire, before the vampire, with sharp teeth and +fierce eyes, appeared. But at the selfsame moment a _boom! boom! +binging_ noise was heard in the air, coming nearer and nearer. +Whereupon the vampire, who knew very well who his enemy was, changed +into a heavy rain pouring down in torrents, hoping thus to drown Sir +Buzz, but _he_ changed into the storm wind beating back the +rain. Then the vampire changed to a dove, but Sir Buzz, pursuing it +as a hawk, pressed it so hard that it had barely time to change into a +rose, and drop into King Indra's lap as he sat in his celestial court +listening to the singing of some dancing girls. Then Sir Buzz, quick +as thought, changed into an old musician, and standing beside the bard +who was thrumming the guitar, said, 'Brother, you are tired; let +_me_ play.' + +And he played so wonderfully, and sang with such piercing sweetness, +that King Indra said, 'What shall I give you as a reward? Name what +you please, and it shall be yours.' + +Then Sir Buzz said, 'I only ask the rose that is in your Majesty's +lap.' + +'I had rather you asked more, or less,' replied King Indra; 'it is but +a rose, yet it fell from heaven; nevertheless it is yours.' + +So saying, he threw the rose towards the musician, and lo! the petals +fell in a shower on the ground. Sir Buzz went down on his knees and +instantly gathered them up; but one petal escaping, changed into a +mouse. Whereupon Sir Buzz, with the speed of lightning, turned into a +cat, which caught and gobbled up the mouse. + +Now all this time the Princess Blossom and the soldier's son, +shivering and shaking, were awaiting the issue of the combat in the +vampire's hut; when suddenly, with a _bing! boom!_ Sir Buzz +arrived victorious, shook his head, and said, 'You two had better go +home, for you are not fit to take care of yourselves.' + +Then he gathered together all the jewels and gold in one hand, placed +the Princess and the soldier's son in the other, and whizzed away +home, to where the poor mother--who all this time had been living on +the two shillings--was delighted to see them. + +Then with a louder _boom! bing! boom!_ than usual, Sir Buzz, +without even waiting for thanks, whizzed out of sight, and was never +seen or heard of again. + +But the soldier's son and the Princess Blossom lived happily ever +after. + + + + +THE RAT'S WEDDING + + +Once upon a time a fat sleek Rat was caught in a shower of rain, and +being far from shelter he set to work and soon dug a nice hole in the +ground, in which he sat as dry as a bone while the raindrops splashed +outside, making little puddles on the road. + +Now in the course of his digging he came upon a fine bit of root, +quite dry and fit for fuel, which he set aside carefully--for the Rat +is an economical creature--in order to take it home with him. So when +the shower was over, he set off with the dry root in his mouth. As he +went along, daintily picking his way through the puddles, he saw a +poor man vainly trying to light a fire, while a little circle of +children stood by, and cried piteously. + +'Goodness gracious!' exclaimed the Rat, who was both soft-hearted and +curious, 'what a dreadful noise to make! What _is_ the matter?' + +'The bairns are hungry,' answered the man; 'they are crying for their +breakfast, but the sticks are damp, the fire won't burn, and so I +can't bake the cakes.' + +'If that is all your trouble, perhaps I can help you,' said the +good-natured Rat; 'you are welcome to this dry root, and I'll warrant +it will soon make a fine blaze.' + +The poor man, with a thousand thanks, took the dry root, and in his +turn presented the Rat with a morsel of dough, as a reward for his +kindness and generosity. + +'What a remarkably lucky fellow I am!' thought the Rat, as he trotted +off gaily with his prize, 'and clever too! Fancy making a bargain +like that--food enough to last me five days in return for a rotten +old stick! _Wah! wah! wah!_ what it is to have brains!' + +Going along, hugging his good fortune in this way, he came presently +to a potter's yard, where the potter, leaving his wheel to spin round +by itself, was trying to pacify his three little children, who were +screaming and crying as if they would burst. + +'My gracious!' cried the Rat, stopping his ears, 'what a noise!--do +tell me what it is all about.' + +'I suppose they are hungry,' replied the potter ruefully; 'their +mother has gone to get flour in the bazaar, for there is none in the +house. In the meantime I can neither work nor rest because of them.' + +'Is that all!' answered the officious Rat; 'then I can help you. Take +this dough, cook it quickly, and stop their mouths with food.' + +The potter overwhelmed the Rat with thanks for his obliging kindness, +and choosing out a nice well-burnt pipkin, insisted on his accepting +it as a remembrance. + +The Rat was delighted at the exchange, and though the pipkin was just +a trifle awkward for him to manage, he succeeded after infinite +trouble in balancing it on his head, and went away gingerly, +_tink-a-tink_, _tink-a-tink,_ down the road, with his tail +over his arm for fear he should trip on it. And all the time he kept +saying to himself, 'What a lucky fellow I am! and clever too! Such a +hand at a bargain!' + +By and by he came to where some neatherds were herding their cattle. +One of them was milking a buffalo, and having no pail he used his +shoes instead. + +'Oh fie! oh fie!' cried the cleanly Rat, quite shocked at the sight. +'What a nasty dirty trick!--why don't you use a pail?' + +'For the best of all reasons--we haven't got one!' growled the +neatherd, who did not see why the Rat should put his finger in the +pie. + +'If that is all,' replied the dainty Rat, 'oblige me by using this +pipkin, for I cannot bear dirt!' + +The neatherd, nothing loath, took the pipkin, and milked away until it +was brimming over; then turning to the Rat, who stood looking on, +said, 'Here, little fellow, you may have a drink, in payment.' + +But if the Rat was good-natured he was also shrewd. 'No, no, my +friend,' said he, 'that will not do! As if I could drink the worth of +my pipkin at a draught! My dear sir, _I couldn't hold it!_ +Besides, I never make a bad bargain, so I expect you at least to give +me the buffalo that gave the milk.' + +'Nonsense!' cried the neatherd; 'a buffalo for a pipkin! Who ever +heard of such a price? And what on earth could _you_ do with a +buffalo when you got it? Why, the pipkin was about as much as you +could manage.' + +At this the Rat drew himself up with dignity, for he did not like +allusions to his size. + +'That is my affair, not yours,' he retorted; 'your business is to hand +over the buffalo.' + +So just for the fun of the thing, and to amuse themselves at the Rat's +expense, the neatherds loosed the buffalo's halter and began to tie it +to the little animal's tail. + +'No! no!' he called, in a great hurry; 'if the beast pulled, the skin +of my tail would come off, and then where should I be? Tie it round +my neck, if you please.' + +So with much laughter the neatherds tied the halter round the Rat's +neck, and he, after a polite leave-taking, set off gaily towards home +with his prize; that is to say, he set off with the _rope_, for +no sooner did he come to the end of the tether than he was brought up +with a round turn; the buffalo, nose down grazing away, would not +budge until it had finished its tuft of grass, and then seeing another +in a different direction marched off towards it, while the Rat, to +avoid being dragged, had to trot humbly behind, willy-nilly. + +He was too proud to confess the truth, of course, and, nodding his +head knowingly to the neatherds, said, 'Ta-ta, good people! I am +going home this way. It may be a little longer, but it's much +shadier.' + +And when the neatherds roared with laughter he took no notice, but +trotted on, looking as dignified as possible. + +'After all,' he reasoned to himself, 'when one keeps a buffalo one has +to look after its grazing. A beast must get a good bellyful of grass +if it is to give any milk, and I have plenty of time at my disposal.' + +So all day long he trotted about after the buffalo, making believe; +but by evening he was dead tired, and felt truly thankful when the +great big beast, having eaten enough, lay down under a tree to chew +the cud. + +Just then a bridal party came by. The bridegroom and his friends had +evidently gone on to the next village, leaving the bride's palanquin +to follow; so the palanquin bearers, being lazy fellows and seeing a +nice shady tree, put down their burden, and began to cook some food. + +'What detestable meanness!' grumbled one;' a grand wedding, and +nothing but plain rice pottage to eat! Not a scrap of meat in it, +neither sweet nor salt! It would serve the skinflints right if we +upset the bride into a ditch!' + +'Dear me!' cried the Rat at once, seeing a way out of his difficulty, +'that _is_ a shame! I sympathise with your feelings so entirely +that if you will allow me I'll give you my buffalo. You can kill it, +and cook it.' + +'_Your_ buffalo!' returned the discontented bearers, 'what +rubbish! Whoever heard of a rat owning a buffalo?' + +'Not often, I admit,' replied the Rat with conscious pride; 'but look +for yourselves. Can you not see that I am leading the beast by a +string?' + +'Oh, never mind the string!' cried a great big hungry bearer; 'master +or no master, I mean to have meat to my dinner!' + +Whereupon they killed the buffalo, and, cooking its flesh, ate their +dinner with relish; then, offering the remains to the Rat, said +carelessly, 'Here, little Rat-skin, that is for you!' + +'Now look here!' cried the Rat hotly; 'I'll have none of your pottage, +nor your sauce either. You don't suppose I am going to give my best +buffalo, that gave quarts and quarts of milk--the buffalo I have been +feeding all day--for a wee bit of rice? No!--I got a loaf for a bit +of stick; I got a pipkin for a little loaf; I got a buffalo for a +pipkin; and now I'll have the bride for my buffalo--the bride, and +nothing else!' + +By this time the servants, having satisfied their hunger, began to +reflect on what they had done, and becoming alarmed at the +consequences, arrived at the conclusion it would be wisest to make +their escape whilst they could. So, leaving the bride in her +palanquin, they took to their heels in various directions. + +The Rat, being as it were left in possession, advanced to the +palanquin, and drawing aside the curtain, with the sweetest of voices +and best of bows begged the bride to descend. She hardly knew whether +to laugh or to cry, but as any company, even a Rat's, was better than +being quite alone in the wilderness, she did as she was bidden, and +followed the lead of her guide, who set off as fast as he could for +his hole. + +As he trotted along beside the lovely young bride, who, by her rich +dress and glittering jewels, seemed to be some king's daughter, he +kept saying to himself, 'How clever I am! What bargains I do make, to +be sure!' + +When they arrived at his hole, the Rat stepped forward with the +greatest politeness, and said, 'Welcome, madam, to my humble abode! +Pray step in, or if you will allow me, and as the passage is somewhat +dark, I will show you the way.' + +[Illustration: The rat at the palanquin] + +Whereupon he ran in first, but after a time, finding the bride did not +follow, he put his nose out again, saying testily, 'Well, madam, why +don't you follow? Don't you know it's rude to keep your husband +waiting?' + +'My good sir,' laughed the handsome young bride, 'I can't squeeze into +that little hole!' + +The Rat coughed; then after a moment's thought he replied, 'There is +some truth in your remark--you _are_ overgrown, and I suppose I +shall have to build you a thatch somewhere. For to-night you can rest +under that wild plum-tree.' + +'But I am so hungry!' said the bride ruefully. + +'Dear, dear! everybody seems hungry to-day!' returned the Rat +pettishly; 'however, that's easily settled--I'll fetch you some supper +in a trice.' + +So he ran into his hole, returning immediately with an ear of millet +and a dry pea. + +'There!' said he, triumphantly, 'isn't that a fine meal?' + +'I can't eat that!' whimpered the bride; 'it isn't a mouthful; and I +want rice pottage, and cakes, and sweet eggs, and sugar-drops. I +shall die if I don't get them!' + +'Oh dear me!' cried the Rat in a rage, 'what a nuisance a bride is, to +be sure! Why don't you eat the wild plums?' + +'I can't live on wild plums!' retorted the weeping bride; 'nobody +could; besides, they are only half ripe, and I can't reach them.' + +'Rubbish!' cried the Rat; 'ripe or unripe, they must do you for +to-night, and to-morrow you can gather a basketful, sell them in the +city, and buy sugar-drops and sweet eggs to your heart's content!' + +So the next morning the Rat climbed up into the plum-tree, and nibbled +away at the stalks till the fruit fell down into the bride's veil. +Then, unripe as they were, she carried them into the city, calling out +through the streets-- + + 'Green plums I sell! green plums I sell! + Princess am I, Rat's bride as well!' + +As she passed by the palace, her mother the Queen heard her voice, +and, running out, recognised her daughter. Great were the rejoicings, +for every one thought the poor bride had been eaten by wild beasts. +In the midst of the feasting and merriment, the Rat, who had followed +the Princess at a distance, and had become alarmed at her long +absence, arrived at the door, against which he beat with a big knobby +stick, calling out fiercely, 'Give me my wife! give me my wife! She +is mine by fair bargain. I gave a stick and I got a loaf; I gave a +loaf and I got a pipkin; I gave a pipkin and I got a buffalo; I gave a +buffalo and I got a bride. Give me my wife! give me my wife!' + +'La! son-in-law! what a fuss you do make!' said the wily old Queen, +through the door, 'and all about nothing! Who wants to run away with +your wife? On the contrary, we are proud to see you, and I only keep +you waiting at the door till we can spread the carpets, and receive +you in style.' + +Hearing this, the Rat was mollified, and waited patiently outside +whilst the cunning old Queen prepared for his reception, which she did +by cutting a hole in the very middle of a stool, putting a red-hot +stone underneath, covering it over with a stew-pan-lid, and then +spreading a beautiful embroidered cloth over all. + +Then she went to the door, and receiving the Rat with the greatest +respect, led him to the stool, praying him to be seated. + +'Dear! dear! how clever I am! What bargains I do make, to be sure!' +said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool. 'Here I am, +son-in-law to a real live Queen! What will the neighbours say?' + +At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was +warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me, +mother-in-law! how hot your house is! Everything I touch seems +burning!' + +'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old +Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel +the breeze and get cooler.' + +But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot, +that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not +until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of +his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and +vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain! + + + + +THE FAITHFUL PRINCE + + +Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince +Bahramgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as +the midnight moon. Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he +hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no +quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing. Then he +turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a +golden deer. Burnished gold were its hoofs and horns, rich gold its +body. Dazzled by the wonderful sight, the astonished Prince bade his +retainers form a circle round the beautiful strange creature, and so +gradually enclose and secure it. + +'Remember,' said the Prince, 'I hold him towards whom the deer may run +to be responsible for its escape, or capture.' + +Closer and closer drew the glittering circle of horsemen, while in the +centre stood the golden deer, until, with marvellous speed, it fled +straight towards the Prince, But he was swifter still, and caught it +by the golden horns. Then the creature found human voice, and cried, +'Let me go, oh! Prince Bahramgor and I will give you countless +treasures!' + +But the Prince laughed, saying, 'Not so! I have gold and jewels +galore, but never a golden deer.' + +'Let me go,' pleaded the deer, 'and I will give you more than +treasures!' + +'And what may that be?' asked the Prince, still laughing. + +'I will give you a ride on my back such as never mortal man rode +before,' replied the deer. + +'Done!' cried the gay Prince, vaulting lightly to the deer's back; and +immediately, like a bird from a thicket, the strange glittering +creature rose through the air till it was lost to sight. For seven +days and seven nights it carried the Prince over all the world, so +that he could see everything like a picture passing below, and on the +evening of the seventh day it touched the earth once more, and +instantly vanished. Prince Bahramgor rubbed his eyes in bewilderment, +for he had never been in such a strange country before. Everything +seemed new and unfamiliar. He wandered about for some time looking +for the trace of a house or a footprint, when suddenly from the ground +at his feet popped a wee old man. + +'How did you come here? and what are you looking for, my son?' quoth +he politely. + +So Prince Bahramgor told him how he had ridden thither on a golden +deer, which had disappeared, and how he was now quite lost and +bewildered in this strange country. + +'Do not be alarmed, my son,' returned the wee old man; 'it is true you +are in Demonsland, but no one shall hurt you, for I am the demon +Jasdrul whose life you saved when I was on the earth in the shape of a +golden deer.' + +Then the demon Jasdrul took Prince Bahramgor to his house, and treated +him right royally, giving him a hundred keys, and saying, 'These are +the keys of my palaces and gardens. Amuse yourself by looking at +them, and mayhap somewhere you may find a treasure worth having.' + +So every day Prince Bahramgor opened a new garden, and examined a new +palace, and in one he found rooms full of gold, and in another jewels, +and in a third rich stuffs, in fact everything the heart could desire, +until he came to the hundredth palace, and that he found was a mere +hovel, full of all poisonous things, herbs, stones, snakes, and +insects. But the garden in which it stood was by far the most +magnificent of all. It was seven miles this way, and seven miles +that, full of tall trees and bright flowers, lakes, streams, +fountains, and summer-houses. Gay butterflies flitted about, and +birds sang in it all day and all night. The Prince, enchanted, +wandered seven miles this way, and seven miles that, until he was so +tired that he lay down to rest in a marble summer-house, where he +found a golden bed, all spread with silken shawls. Now while he +slept, the Fairy Princess Shahpasand, who was taking the air, +fairy-fashion, in the shape of a pigeon, happened to fly over the +garden, and catching sight of the beautiful, splendid, handsome young +Prince, she sank to earth in sheer astonishment at beholding such a +lovely sight, and, resuming her natural shape--as fairies always do +when they touch the ground--she stooped over the young man and gave +him a kiss. + +He woke up in a hurry, and what was his astonishment on seeing the +most beautiful Princess in the world kneeling gracefully beside him! + +'Dearest Prince!' cried the maiden, clasping her hands,'I have been +looking for you everywhere!' + +Now the very same thing befell Prince Bahramgor that had happened to +the Princess Shahpasand--that is to say, no sooner did he set eyes on +her than he fell desperately in love, and so, of course, they agreed +to get married without any delay. Nevertheless, the Prince thought it +best first to consult his host, the demon Jasdrul, seeing how powerful +he was in Demonsland. To the young man's delight, the demon not only +gave his consent, but appeared greatly pleased, rubbing his hands and +saying, 'Now you will remain with me and be so happy that you will +never think of returning to your own country any more.' + +So Prince Bahramgor and the Fairy Princess Shahpasand were married, +and lived ever so happily, for ever so long a time. + +At last the thought of the home he had left came back to the Prince, +and he began to think longingly of his father the King, his mother the +Queen, and of his favourite horse and hound. Then from thinking of +them he fell to speaking of them to the Princess, his wife, and then +from speaking he took to sighing and sighing and refusing his dinner, +until he became quite pale and thin. Now the demon Jasdrul used to +sit every night in a little echoing room below the Prince and +Princess's chamber, and listen to what they said, so as to be sure +they were happy; and when he heard the Prince talking of his far-away +home on the earth, he sighed too, for he was a kindhearted demon, and +loved his handsome young Prince. + +At last he asked Prince Bahramgor what was the cause of his growing so +pale and sighing so often--for so amiable was the young man that he +would rather have died of grief than have committed the rudeness of +telling his host he was longing to get away; but when he was asked he +said piteously, 'Oh, good demon! let me go home and see my father the +King, my mother the Queen, my horse and my hound, for I am very +weary. Let me and my Princess go, or assuredly I shall die!' + +At first the demon refused, but at last he took pity on the Prince, +and said, 'Be it so; nevertheless you will soon repent and long to be +back in Demonsland; for the world has changed since you left it, and +you will have trouble. Take this hair with you, and when you need +help, burn it, then I will come immediately to your assistance.' + +Then the demon Jasdrul said a regretful goodbye, and, Hey presto!-- +Prince Bahramgor found himself standing outside his native city, with +his beautiful bride beside him. + +But, alas! as the good-natured demon had foretold, everything was +changed. His father and mother were both dead, a usurper sat on the +throne, and had put a price on Bahramgor's head should he ever return +from his mysterious journey. Luckily no one recognised the young +Prince (so much had he changed during his residence in Demonsland) +save his old huntsman, who, though overjoyed to see his master once +more, said it was as much as his life was worth to give the Prince +shelter; still, being a faithful servant, he agreed to let the young +couple live in the garret of his house. + +'My old mother, who is blind,' he said, 'will never see you coming and +going; and as you used to be fond of sport, you can help me to hunt, +as I used to help you.' + +So the splendid Prince Bahramgor and his lovely Princess hid in the +garret of the huntsman's house, and no one knew they were there. Now +one fine day, when the Prince had gone out to hunt, as servant to the +huntsman, Princess Shahpasand took the opportunity of washing her +beautiful golden hair, which hung round her ivory neck and down to her +pretty ankles like a shower of sunshine, and when she had washed it +she combed it, and set the window ajar so that the breeze might blow +in and dry her hair. + +Just at this moment the Chief Constable of the town happened to pass +by, and hearing the window open, looked up and saw the lovely +Shahpasand, with her glittering golden hair. He was so overcome at +the sight that he fell right off his horse into the gutter. His +servants, thinking he had a fit, picked him up and carried him back to +his house, where he never ceased raving about a beautiful fairy with +golden hair in the huntsman's garret. This set everybody wondering +whether he had been bewitched, and the story meeting the King's ear, +he sent down some soldiers to make inquiries at the huntsman's house. + +'No one lives here!' said the huntsman's cross old mother, 'no +beautiful lady, nor ugly one either, nor any person at all, save me +and my son. However, go to the garret and look for yourselves.' + +Hearing these words of the old woman, Princess Shahpasand bolted the +door, and, seizing a knife, cut a hole in the wooden roof. Then, +taking the form of a pigeon, she flew out, so that when the soldiers +burst open the door they found no one in the garret. + +The poor Princess was greatly distressed at having to leave her +beautiful young Prince in this hurried way, and as she flew past the +blind old crone she whispered in her ear, 'I go to my father's house +in the Emerald Mountain.' + +In the evening when Prince Bahramgor returned from hunting, great was +his grief at finding the garret empty! Nor could the blind old crone +tell him much of what had occurred; still, when he heard of the +mysterious voice which whispered, 'I go to my father's house in the +Emerald Mountain,' he was at first somewhat comforted. Afterwards, +when he reflected that he had not the remotest idea where the Emerald +Mountain was to be found, he fell into a very sad state, and casting +himself on the ground he sobbed and sighed; he refused his dinner, and +never ceased crying, 'Oh, my dearest Princess! my dearest Princess!' + +At last he remembered the magic hair, and taking it from its +hiding-place threw it into the fire. It had scarcely begun to burn +when, Hey presto!--the demon Jasdrul appeared, and asked him what he +wanted. + +'Show me the way to the Emerald Mountain,' cried the Prince. + +Then the kind-hearted demon shook his head sorrowfully, saying, 'You +would never reach it alive, my son. Be guided by me,--forget all that +has passed, and begin a new life.' + +'I have but one life,' answered the faithful Prince, 'and that is gone +if I lose my dearest Princess! As I must die, let me die seeking +her.' + +Then the demon Jasdrul was touched by the constancy of the splendid +young Prince, and promised to aid him as far as possible. So he +carried the young man back to Demonsland, and giving him a magic wand, +bade him travel over the country until he came to the demon Nanak +Chand's house. + +'You will meet with many dangers by the way,' said his old friend, +'but keep the magic wand in your hand day and night, and nothing will +harm you. That is all I can do for you, but Nanak Chand, who is my +elder brother, can help you farther on your way.' + +So Prince Bahramgor travelled through Demonsland, and because he held +the magic wand in his hand day and night, no harm came to him. At +last he arrived at the demon Nanak Chand's house, just as the demon +had awakened from sleep, which, according to the habit of demons, had +lasted for twelve years. Naturally he was desperately hungry, and on +catching sight of the Prince, thought what a dainty morsel he would be +for breakfast; nevertheless, though his mouth watered, the demon +restrained his appetite when he saw the wand, and asked the Prince +politely what he wanted. But when the demon Nanak Chand had heard the +whole story, he shook his head, saying, 'You will never reach the +Emerald Mountain, my son. Be guided by me,--forget all that has +passed, and begin a new life.' + +Then the splendid young Prince answered as before, 'I have but one +life, and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess! If I must die, +let me die seeking her.' + +This answer touched the demon Nanak Chand, and he gave the faithful +Prince a box of powdered antimony, and bade him travel on through +Demonsland till he came to the house of the great demon Safed. 'For,' +said he, 'Safed is my eldest brother, and if anybody can do what you +want, he will. If you are in need, rub the powder on your eyes, and +whatever you wish near will be near, but whatever you wish far will be +far.' + +So the constant Prince travelled on through all the dangers and +difficulties of Demonsland, till he reached the demon Safed's house, +to whom he told his story, showing the powder and the magic wand, +which had brought him so far in safety. + +But the great demon Safed shook his head, saying, 'You will never +reach the Emerald Mountain alive, my son. Be guided by me,--forget +all that has passed, and begin a new life.' + +Still the faithful Prince gave the same answer, 'I have but one life, +and that is gone if I lose my dearest Princess! If I must die, let me +die seeking her.' + +Then the great demon nodded his head approvingly, and said, 'You are a +brave lad, and I must do my best for you. Take this _yech_-cap: +whenever you put it on you will become invisible. Journey to the +north, and after a while in the far distance you will see the Emerald +Mountain. Then put the powder on your eyes and wish the mountain +near, for it is an enchanted hill, and the farther you climb the +higher it grows. On the summit lies the Emerald City: enter it by +means of your invisible cap, and find the Princess--if you can.' + +So the Prince journeyed joyfully to the north, until in the far far +distance he saw the glittering Emerald Mountain. Then he rubbed the +powder on his eyes, and behold! what he desired was near, and the +Emerald City lay before him, looking as if it had been cut out of a +single jewel. But the Prince thought of nothing save his dearest +Princess, and wandered up and down the gleaming city protected by his +invisible cap. Still he could not find her. The fact was, the +Princess Shahpasand's father had locked her up inside seven prisons, +for fear she should fly away again, for he doated on her, and was in +terror lest she should escape back to earth and her handsome young +Prince, of whom she never ceased talking. + +'If your husband comes to you, well and good,' said the old man, 'but +you shall never go back to him.' + +So the poor Princess wept all day long inside her seven prisons, for +how could mortal man ever reach the Emerald Mountain? + +Now the Prince, whilst roaming disconsolately about the city, noticed +a servant woman who every day at a certain hour entered a certain door +with a tray of sweet dishes on her head. Being curious, he took +advantage of his invisible cap, and when she opened the door he +slipped in behind her. Nothing was to be seen but a large door, +which, after shutting and locking the outer one, the servant opened. +Again Prince Bahramgor slipped in behind her, and again saw nothing +but a huge door. And so on he went through all the seven doors, till +he came to the seventh prison, and there sat the beautiful Princess +Shahpasand, weeping salt tears. At the sight of her he could scarcely +refrain from flinging himself at her feet, but remembering that he was +invisible, he waited till the servant after putting down the tray +retired, locking all the seven prisons one by one. Then he sat down +by the Princess and began to eat out of the same dish with her. + +She, poor thing, had not the appetite of a sparrow, and scarcely ate +anything, so when she saw the contents of the dish disappearing, she +thought she must be dreaming. But when the whole had vanished, she +became convinced some one was in the room with her, and cried out +faintly, 'Who eats in the same dish with me?' + +Then Prince Bahramgor lifted the _yech_-cap from his forehead, so +that he was no longer quite invisible, but showed like a figure seen +in early dawn. At this the Princess wept bitterly, calling him by +name, thinking she had seen his ghost, but as he lifted the +_yech_-cap more and more, and, growing from a shadow to real +flesh and blood, clasped her in his arms, her tears changed to radiant +smiles. + +Great was the astonishment of the servant next day when she found the +handsome young Prince seated beside his dearest Princess. She ran to +tell the King, who, on hearing the whole story from his daughter's +lips, was very much pleased at the courage and constancy of Prince +Bahramgor, and ordered Princess Shahpasand to be released at once; +'For,' he said, 'now her husband has found his way to her, my daughter +will not want to go to him.' + +Then he appointed the Prince to be his heir, and the faithful Prince +Bahramgor and his beautiful bride lived happily ever afterwards in the +Emerald kingdom. + + + + +THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN + + +[Illustration: The woodman in front of his hut] + +Once upon a time, a very old woodman lived with his very old wife in a +tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,--so close that the +boughs of a pear-tree hung right over the cottage yard. Now it was +agreed between the rich man and the woodman, that if any of the fruit +fell into the yard, the old couple were to be allowed to eat it; so +you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening, +and prayed for a storm of wind, or a flock of flying foxes, or +anything which would cause the fruit to fall. But nothing came, and +the old wife, who was a grumbling, scolding old thing, declared they +would infallibly become beggars. So she took to giving her husband +nothing but dry bread to eat, and insisted on his working harder than +ever, till the poor old soul got quite thin; and all because the pears +would not fall down! At last, the woodman turned round and declared +he would not work any more unless his wife gave him _khichri_ to +his dinner; so with a very bad grace the old woman took some rice and +pulse, some butter and spices, and began to cook a savoury +_khichri_. What an appetising smell it had, to be sure! The +woodman was for gobbling it up as soon as ever it was ready. 'No, +no,' cried the greedy old wife, 'not till you have brought me in +another load of wood; and mind it is a good one. You must work for +your dinner.' + +So the old man set off to the forest and began to hack and to hew with +such a will that he soon had quite a large bundle, and with every +faggot he cut he seemed to smell the savoury _khichri_ and think +of the feast that was coming. + +Just then a bear came swinging by, with its great black nose tilted in +the air, and its little keen eyes peering about; for bears, though +good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive. + +'Peace be with you, friend!' said the bear, 'and what may you be going +to do with that remarkably large bundle of wood?' + +'It is for my wife,' returned the woodman. 'The fact is,' he added +confidentially, smacking his lips, 'she has made _such_ a +_khichri_ for dinner! and if I bring in a good bundle of wood she +is pretty sure to give me a plentiful portion. Oh, my dear fellow, +you should just smell that _khichri_!' + +At this the bear's mouth began to water, for, like all bears, he was a +dreadful glutton. + +[Illustration: The woodman talking to the bear] + +'Do you think your wife would give me some too, if I brought her a +bundle of wood?' he asked anxiously. + +'Perhaps; if it was a very big load,' answered the woodman craftily. + +'Would--would four hundredweight be enough?' asked the bear. + +'I'm afraid not,' returned the woodman, shaking his head; 'you see +_khichri>_ is an expensive dish to make,--there is rice in it, +and plenty of butter, and pulse, and--' + +'Would--would eight hundredweight do?' + +'Say half a ton, and it's a bargain!' quoth the woodman. + +'Half a ton is a large quantity!' sighed the bear. + +'There is saffron in the _khichri_,' remarked the woodman +casually. + +The bear licked his lips, and his little eyes twinkled with greed and +delight. + +'Well, it's a bargain! Go home sharp and tell your wife to keep the +_khichri_ hot; I'll be with you in a trice.' + +Away went the woodman in great glee to tell his wife how the bear had +agreed to bring half a ton of wood in return for a share of the +_khichri_. + +Now the wife could not help allowing that her husband had made a good +bargain, but being by nature a grumbler, she was determined not to be +pleased, so she began to scold the old man for not having settled +exactly the share the bear was to have; 'For,' said she, 'he will +gobble up the potful before we have finished our first helping.' + +On this the woodman became quite pale. 'In that case,' he said, 'we +had better begin now, and have a fair start.' So without more ado +they squatted down on the floor, with the brass pot full of +_khichri_ between them, and began to eat as fast as they could. + +'Remember to leave some for the bear, wife,' said the woodman, +speaking with his mouth crammed full. + +'Certainly, certainly,' she replied, helping herself to another +handful. + +'My dear,' cried the old woman in her turn, with her mouth so full +that she could hardly speak, 'remember the poor bear!' + +'Certainly, certainly, my love!' returned the old man, taking another +mouthful. + +So it went on, till there was not a single grain left in the pot. + +'What's to be done now?' said the woodman; 'it is all your fault, +wife, for eating so much.' + +'My fault!' retorted his wife scornfully, 'why, you ate twice as much +as I did!' + +'No, I didn't!' + +'Yes, you did!--men always eat more than women.' + +'No, they don't!' + +'Yes, they do!' + +'Well, it's no use quarrelling about it now,' said the woodman,' the +_khichri_'s gone, and the bear will be furious.' + +'That wouldn't matter much if we could get the wood,' said the greedy +old woman. 'I'll tell you what we must do,--we must lock up +everything there is to eat in the house, leave the _khichri_ pot +by the fire, and hide in the garret. When the bear comes he will +think we have gone out and left his dinner for him. Then he will +throw down his bundle and come in. Of course he will rampage a little +when he finds the pot is empty, but he can't do much mischief, and I +don't think he will take the trouble of carrying the wood away.' + +So they made haste to lock up all the food and hide themselves in the +garret. + +Meanwhile the bear had been toiling and moiling away at his bundle of +wood, which took him much longer to collect than he expected; however, +at last he arrived quite exhausted at the woodcutter's cottage. +Seeing the brass _khichri_ pot by the fire, he threw down his +load and went in. And then--mercy! wasn't he angry when he found +nothing in it--not even a grain of rice, nor a tiny wee bit of pulse, +but only a smell that was so uncommonly nice that he actually cried +with rage and disappointment. He flew into the most dreadful temper, +but though he turned the house topsy-turvy, he could not find a morsel +of food. Finally, he declared he would take the wood away again, but, +as the crafty old woman had imagined, when he came to the task, he did +not care, even for the sake of revenge, to carry so heavy a burden. + +'I won't go away empty-handed,' said he to himself, seizing the +_khichri_ pot; 'if I can't get the taste I'll have the smell!' + +Now, as he left the cottage, he caught sight of the beautiful golden +pears hanging over into the yard. His mouth began to water at once, +for he was desperately hungry, and the pears were the first of the +season; in a trice he was on the wall, up the tree, and, gathering the +biggest and ripest one he could find, was just putting it into his +mouth, when a thought struck him. + +'If I take these pears home I shall be able to sell them for ever so +much to the other bears, and then with the money I shall be able to +buy some _khichri_. Ha, ha! I shall have the best of the +bargain after all!' + +So saying, he began to gather the ripe pears as fast as he could and +put them into the _khichri_ pot, but whenever he came to an +unripe one he would shake his head and say, 'No one would buy that, +yet it is a pity to waste it' So he would pop it into his mouth and +eat it, making wry faces if it was very sour. + +Now all this time the woodman's wife had been watching the bear +through a crevice, and holding her breath for fear of discovery; but, +at last, what with being asthmatic, and having a cold in her head, she +could hold it no longer, and just as the _khichri_ pot was quite +full of golden ripe pears, out she came with the most tremendous +sneeze you ever heard--'_A-h-chc-u!_' + +The bear, thinking some one had fired a gun at him, dropped the +_khichri_ pot into the cottage yard, and fled into the forest as +fast as his legs would carry him. + +So the woodman and his wife got the _khichri_, the wood, and the +coveted pears, but the poor bear got nothing but a very bad +stomach-ache from eating unripe fruit. + + + + +PRINCE LIONHEART AND HIS THREE FRIENDS + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and Queen who would have been as +happy as the day was long had it not been for this one +circumstance,--they had no children. + +At last an old _fakir_, or devotee, coming to the palace, asked +to see the Queen, and giving her some barleycorns, told her to eat +them and cease weeping, for in nine months she would have a beautiful +little son. The Queen ate the barleycorns, and sure enough after nine +months she bore the most charming, lovely, splendid Prince that ever +was seen, who was called Lionheart, because he was so brave and so +strong. + +Now when he grew up to man's estate, Prince Lionheart grew restless +also, and was for ever begging his father the King to allow him to +travel in the wide world and seek adventures. Then the King would +shake his head, saying _only_ sons were too precious to be turned +adrift; but at last, seeing the young Prince could think of nothing +else, he gave his consent, and Prince Lionheart set off on his +travels, taking no one with him but his three companions, the +Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter. + +Now when these four valiant young men had gone a short distance, they +came upon a magnificent city, lying deserted and desolate in the +wilderness. Passing through it they saw tall houses, broad bazaars, +shops still full of goods, everything pointing to a large and wealthy +population; but neither in street nor house was a human being to be +seen. This astonished them very much, until the Knifegrinder, +clapping his hand to his forehead, said, 'I remember! This must be +the city I have heard about, where a demon lives who will let no one +dwell in peace. We had best be off!' + +'Not a bit of it!' cried Prince Lionheart. 'At any rate not until +I've had my dinner, for I am just desperately hungry!' + +So they went to the shops, and bought all they required, laying the +proper price for each thing on the counters just as if the shopkeepers +had been there. Then going to the palace, which stood in the middle +of the town, Prince Lionheart bade the Knifegrinder prepare the +dinner, while he and his other companions took a further look at the +city. + +No sooner had they set off, than the Knifegrinder, going to the +kitchen, began to cook the food. It sent up a savoury smell, and the +Knifegrinder was just thinking how nice it would taste, when he saw a +little figure beside him, clad in armour, with sword and lance, riding +on a gaily-caparisoned mouse. + +'Give me my dinner!' cried the mannikin, angrily shaking his lance. + +'_Your_ dinner! Come, that is a joke!' quoth the Knifegrinder, +laughing. + +'Give it me at once!' cried the little warrior in a louder voice, 'or +I'll hang you to the nearest _pipal_ tree!' + +'Wah! whipper-snapper!' replied the valiant Knifegrinder, 'come a +little nearer, and let me squash you between finger and thumb!' + +At these words the mannikin suddenly shot up into a terribly tall +demon, whereupon the Knifegrinder's courage disappeared, and, falling +on his knees, he begged for mercy. But his piteous cries were of no +use, for in a trice he was hung to the topmost branch of the +_pipal_ tree. + +'I'll teach 'em to cook in my kitchen!' growled the demon, as he +gobbled up all the cakes and savoury stew. When he had finished every +morsel he disappeared. + +Now the Knifegrinder wriggled so desperately that the _pipal_ +branch broke, and he came crashing through the tree to the ground, +without much hurt beyond a great fright and a few bruises. However, +he was so dreadfully alarmed that he rushed into the sleeping-room, +and rolling himself up in his quilt, shook from head to foot as if he +had the ague. + +By and by in came Prince Lionheart and his companions, all three as +hungry as hunters, crying, 'Well, jolly Knifegrinder! where's the +dinner?' + +Whereupon he groaned out from under his quilt, 'Don't be angry, for +it's nobody's fault; only just as it was ready I got a fit of ague, +and as I lay shivering and shaking a dog came in and walked off with +everything.' + +He was afraid that if he told the truth his companions would think him +a coward for not fighting the demon. + +'What a pity!' cried the Prince, 'but we must just cook some more. +Here! you Blacksmith! do you prepare the dinner, while the Carpenter +and I have another look at the city.' + +Now, no sooner had the Blacksmith begun to sniff the savoury smell, +and think how nice the cakes and stew would taste, than the little +warrior appeared to him also. And he was quite as brave at first as +the Knifegrinder had been, and afterwards he too fell on his knees and +prayed for mercy. In fact everything happened to him as it had +happened to the Knifegrinder, and when he fell from the tree he too +fled into the sleeping-room, and rolling himself in his quilt began to +shiver and shake; so that when Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter came +back, hungry as hunters, there was no dinner. + +Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, but he fared no better than +the two others, so that when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there +were three sick men, shivering and shaking under their quilts, and no +dinner. Whereupon the Prince set to work to cook his food himself. + +No sooner had it begun to give off a savoury smell than the tiny +mouse-warrior appeared, very fierce and valiant. + +'Upon my word, you are really a very pretty little fellow!' said the +Prince in a patronising way; 'and what may you want?' + +'Give me my dinner!' shrieked the mannikin. + +'It is not _your_ dinner, my dear sir, it is _my_ dinner!' +quoth the Prince; 'but to avoid disputes let's fight it out.' + +Upon this the mouse-warrior began to stretch and grow till he became a +terribly tall demon. But instead of falling on his knees and begging +for mercy, the Prince only burst into a fit of laughter, and said, 'My +good sir! there is a medium in all things! Just now you were +ridiculously small, at present you are absurdly big; but, as you seem +to be able to alter your size without much trouble, suppose for once +in a way you show some spirit, and become just my size, neither less +nor more; then we can settle whose dinner it really is.' + +The demon could not withstand the Prince's reasoning, so he shrank to +an ordinary size, and setting to work with a will, began to tilt at +the Prince in fine style. But valiant Lionheart never yielded an +inch, and finally, after a terrific battle, slew the demon with his +sharp sword. + +Then guessing at the truth he roused his three sick friends, saying +with a smile, 'O ye valiant ones! arise, for I have killed the ague!' + +And they got up sheepishly, and fell to praising their leader for his +incomparable valour. + +After this, Prince Lionheart sent messages to all the inhabitants of +the town who had been driven away by the wicked demon, telling them +they could return and dwell in safety, on condition of their taking +the Knifegrinder as their king, and giving him their richest and most +beautiful maiden as a bride. + +This they did with great joy, but when the wedding was over, and +Prince Lionheart prepared to set out once more on his adventures, the +Knifegrinder threw himself before his master, begging to be allowed to +accompany him. Prince Lionheart, however, refused the request, +bidding him remain to govern his kingdom, and at the same time gave +him a barley plant, bidding him tend it very carefully; since so long +as it flourished he might be assured his master was alive and well. +If, on the contrary, it drooped, then he might know that misfortune +was at hand, and set off to help if he chose. + +So the Knifegrinder king remained behind with his bride and his barley +plant, but Prince Lionheart, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter set +forth on their travels. + +By and by they came to another desolate city, lying deserted in the +wilderness, and as before they wandered through it, wondering at the +tall palaces, the empty streets, and the vacant shops where never a +human being was to be seen, until the Blacksmith, suddenly +recollecting, said, 'I remember now! This must be the city where the +dreadful ghost lives which kills every one. We had best be off!' + +'After we have had our dinners!' quoth hungry Lionheart. + +So having bought all they required from a vacant shop, putting the +proper price of everything on the counter, since there was no +shopkeeper, they repaired to the palace, where the Blacksmith was +installed as cook, whilst the others looked through the town. + +No sooner had the dinner begun to give off an appetising smell than +the ghost appeared in the form of an old woman, awful and forbidding, +with black wrinkled skin, and feet turned backwards. + +At this sight the valiant Blacksmith never stopped to parley, but fled +into another room and bolted the door. Whereupon the ghost ate up the +dinner in no time, and disappeared; so that when Prince Lionheart and +the Carpenter returned, as hungry as hunters, there was no dinner to +be found, and no Blacksmith. + +Then the Prince bade the Carpenter do the cooking while he went abroad +to see the town. But the Carpenter fared no better, for the ghost +appeared to him also, so that he fled and locked himself up in another +room. + +'This is really too bad!' quoth Prince Lionheart, when he returned to +find no dinner, no Blacksmith, no Carpenter. So he began to cook the +food himself, and ho sooner had it given out a savoury smell than the +ghost arrived; this time, however, seeing so handsome a young man +before her she would not assume her own hag-like shape, but appeared +instead as a beautiful young woman. + +However, the Prince was not in the least bit deceived, for he looked +down at her feet, and when he saw they were set on hind side before, +he knew at once what she was; so drawing his sharp strong sword, he +said, 'I must trouble you to take your own shape again, as I don't +like killing beautiful young women!' + +At this the ghost shrieked with rage, and changed into her own +loathsome form once more; but at the same moment Prince Lionheart gave +one stroke of his sword, and the horrible, awful thing lay dead at his +feet. + +Then the Blacksmith and the Carpenter crept out of their +hiding-places, and the Prince sent messages to all the townsfolk, +bidding them come back and dwell in peace, on condition of their +making the Blacksmith king, and giving him to wife the prettiest, the +richest, and the best-born maiden in the city. + +To this they consented with one accord, and after the wedding was +over, Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter set forth once more on their +travels. The Blacksmith king was loath to let them go without him, +but his master gave him also a barley plant, saying, 'Water and tend +it carefully; for so long as it flourishes you may rest assured I am +well and happy; but if it droops, know that I am in trouble, and come +to help me.' + +Prince Lionheart and the Carpenter had not journeyed far ere they came +to a big town, where they halted to rest; and as luck would have it +the Carpenter fell in love with the fairest maiden in the city, who +was as beautiful as the moon and all the stars. He began to sigh and +grumble over the good fortune of the Knifegrinder and the Blacksmith, +and wish that he too could find a kingdom and a lovely bride, until +his master took pity on him, and sending for the chief inhabitants, +told them who he was, and ordered them to make the Carpenter king, and +marry him to the maiden of his choice. + +This order they obeyed, for Prince Lionheart's fame had been noised +abroad, and they feared his displeasure; so when the marriage was +over, and the Carpenter duly established as king, Prince Lionheart +went forth on his journey alone, after giving a barley plant, as he +had done before, by which his prosperity or misfortune might be known. + +Having journeyed for a long time, he came at last to a river, and as +he sat resting on the bank, what was his astonishment to see a ruby of +enormous size floating down the stream! Then another, and another +drifted past him, each of huge size and glowing hue! Wonderstruck, he +determined to find out whence they came. So he travelled up stream +for two days and two nights, watching the rubies sweep by in the +current, until he came to a beautiful marble palace built close to the +water's edge. Gay gardens surrounded it, marble steps led down to the +river, where, on a magnificent tree which stretched its branches over +the stream, hung a golden basket. Now if Prince Lionheart had been +wonderstruck before, what was his astonishment when he saw that the +basket contained the head of the most lovely, the most beautiful, the +most perfect young Princess that ever was seen! The eyes were closed, +the golden hair fluttered in the breeze, and every minute from the +slender throat a drop of crimson blood fell into the water, and +changing into a ruby, drifted down the stream! + +Prince Lionheart was overcome with pity at this heartrending sight; +tears rose to his eyes, and he determined to search through the palace +for some explanation of the beautiful mysterious head. + +So he wandered through richly-decorated marble halls, through carved +galleries and spacious corridors, without seeing a living creature, +until he came to a sleeping-room hung with silver tissue, and there, +on a white satin bed, lay the headless body of a young and beautiful +girl! One glance convinced him that it belonged to the exquisite head +he had seen swinging in the golden basket by the river-side, and, +urged by the desire to see the two lovely portions united, he set off +swiftly to the tree, soon returning with the basket in his hand. He +placed the head gently on the severed throat, when, lo and behold! +they joined together in a trice and the beautiful maiden started up to +life once more. The Prince was overjoyed, and, falling on his knees, +begged the lovely girl to tell him who she was, and how she came to be +alone in the mysterious palace. She informed him that she was a +king's daughter, with whom a wicked Jinn had fallen in love, in +consequence of which passion he had carried her off by his magical +arts: and being desperately jealous, never left her without first +cutting off her head, and hanging it up in the golden basket until his +return. + +Prince Lionheart, hearing this cruel story, besought the beautiful +Princess to fly with him without delay, but she assured him they must +first kill the Jinn, or they would never succeed in making their +escape. So she promised to coax the Jinn into telling her the secret +of his life, and in the meantime bade the Prince cut off her head once +more, and replace it in the golden basket, so that her cruel gaoler +might not suspect anything. + +The poor Prince could hardly bring himself to perform so dreadful a +task, but seeing it was absolutely necessary, he shut his eyes from +the heartrending sight, and with one blow of his sharp bright sword +cut off his dear Princess's head, and after returning the golden +basket to its place, hid himself in a closet hard by the +sleeping-room. + +By and by the Jinn arrived, and, putting on the Princess's head once +more, cried angrily, 'Fee! fa! fum! This room smells of man's flesh!' + +Then the Princess pretended to weep, saying, 'Do not be angry with me, +good Jinn, for how can I know aught? Am I not dead whilst you are +away? Eat me if you like, but do not be angry with me!' + +Whereupon the Jinn, who loved her to distraction, swore he would +rather die himself than kill her. + +'That would be worse for me!' answered the girl, 'for if you were to +die while you are away from here, it would be very awkward for me: I +should be neither dead nor alive.' + +'Don't distress yourself!' returned the Jinn; 'I am not likely to be +killed, for my life lies in something very safe.' + +'I hope so, I am sure!' replied the Princess,' but I believe you only +say that to comfort me. I shall never be content until you tell me +where it lies, then I can judge for myself if it is safe.' + +At first the Jinn refused, but the Princess coaxed and wheedled so +prettily, and he began to get so very sleepy, that at last he replied, +'I shall never be killed except by a Prince called Lionheart; nor by +him unless he can find the solitary tree, where a dog and a horse keep +sentinel day and night. Even then he must pass these warders unhurt, +climb the tree, kill the starling which sits singing in a golden cage +on the topmost branch, tear open its crop, and destroy the bumble bee +it contains. So I am safe; for it would need a lion's heart, or great +wisdom, to reach the tree and overcome its guardians.' + +'How are they to be overcome?' pleaded the Princess; 'tell me that, +and I shall be satisfied.' + +The Jinn, who was more than half asleep, and quite tired of being +cross-questioned, answered drowsily, 'In front of the horse lies a +heap of bones, and in front of the dog a heap of grass. Whoever takes +a long stick and changes the heaps, so that the horse has grass, and +the dog bones, will have no difficulty in passing.' + +The Prince, overhearing this, set off at once to find the solitary +tree, and ere long discovered it, with a savage horse and furious dog +keeping watch and ward over it. They, however, became quite mild and +meek when they received their proper food, and the Prince without any +difficulty climbed the tree, seized the starling, and began to twist +its neck. At this moment the Jinn, awakening from sleep, became aware +of what was passing, and flew through the air to do battle for his +life. The Prince, however, seeing him approach, hastily cut open the +bird's crop, seized the bumble bee, and just as the Jinn was alighting +on the tree, tore off the insect's wings. The Jinn instantly fell to +the ground with a crash, but, determined to kill his enemy, began to +climb. Then the Prince twisted off the bee's legs, and lo! the Jinn +became legless also; and when the bee's head was torn off, the Jinn's +life went out entirely. + +So Prince Lionheart returned in triumph to the Princess, who was +overjoyed to hear of her tyrant's death. He would have started at +once with her to his father's kingdom, but she begged for a little +rest, so they stayed in the palace, examining all the riches it +contained. + +Now one day the Princess went down to the river to bathe, and wash her +beautiful golden hair, and as she combed it, one or two long strands +came out in the comb, shining and glittering like burnished gold. She +was proud of her beautiful hair, and said to herself, 'I will not +throw these hairs into the river, to sink in the nasty dirty mud,' so +she made a green cup out of a _pipal_ leaf, coiled the golden +hairs inside, and set it afloat on the stream. + +It so happened that the river, farther down, flowed past a royal city, +and the King was sailing in his pleasure-boat, when he espied +something sparkling like sunlight on the water, and bidding his +boatmen row towards it, found the _pipal_ leaf cup and the +glittering golden hairs. + +He thought he had never before seen anything half so beautiful, and +determined not to rest day or night until he had found the owner. +Therefore he sent for the wisest women in his kingdom, in order to +find out where the owner of the glistening golden hair dwelt. + +The first wise woman said, 'If she is on Earth I promise to find her.' + +The second said, 'If she is in Heaven I will tear open the sky and +bring her to you.' + +But the third laughed, saying, 'Pooh! if you tear open the sky I will +put a patch in it, so that none will be able to tell the new piece +from the old.' + +The King, considering the last wise woman had proved herself to be the +cleverest, engaged her to seek for the beautiful owner of the +glistening golden hair. + +Now as the hairs had been found in the river, the wise woman guessed +they must have floated down stream from some place higher up, so she +set off in a grand royal boat, and the boatmen rowed and rowed until +at last they came in sight of the Jinn's magical marble palace. + +Then the cunning wise woman went alone to the steps of the palace, and +began to weep and to wail. It so happened that as Prince Lionheart +had that day gone out hunting, the Princess was all alone, and having +a tender heart, she no sooner heard the old woman weeping than she +came out to see what was the matter. + +'Mother,' said she kindly, 'why do you weep?' + +'My daughter,' cried the wise woman, 'I weep to think what will become +of you if the handsome Prince is slain by any mischance, and you are +left here in the wilderness alone.' For the witch knew by her arts +all about the Prince. + +'Very true!' replied the Princess, wringing her hands; 'what a +dreadful thing it would be! I never thought of it before!' + +All day long she wept over the idea, and at night, when the Prince +returned, she told him of her fears; but he laughed at them, saying +his life lay in safety, and it was very unlikely any mischance should +befall him. + +Then the Princess was comforted; only she begged him to tell her +wherein it lay, so that she might help to preserve it. + +'It lies,' returned the Prince, 'in my sharp sword, which never +fails. If harm were to come to it I should die; nevertheless, by fair +means naught can prevail against it, so do not fret, sweetheart!' + +'It would be wiser to leave it safe at home when you go hunting,' +pleaded the Princess, and though Prince Lionheart told her again there +was no cause to be alarmed, she made up her mind to have her own way, +and the very next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, she hid his +strong sharp sword, and put another in the scabbard, so that he was +none the wiser. + +Thus when the wise woman came once more and wept on the marble stairs, +the Princess called to her joyfully, 'Don't cry, mother!--the Prince's +life is safe to-day. It lies in his sword, and that is hidden away in +my cupboard.' + +Then the wicked old hag waited until the Princess took her noonday +sleep, and when everything was quiet she stole to the cupboard, took +the sword, made a fierce fire, and placed the sharp shining blade in +the glowing embers. As it grew hotter and hotter, Prince Lionheart +felt a burning fever creep over his body, and knowing the magical +property of his sword, drew it out to see if aught had befallen it, +and lo! it was not his own sword but a changeling! He cried aloud, 'I +am undone! I am undone!' and galloped homewards. But the wise woman +blew up the fire so quickly that the sword became red-hot ere Prince +Lionheart could arrive, and just as he appeared on the other side of +the stream, a rivet came out of the sword hilt, which rolled off, and +so did the Prince's head. + +Then the wise woman, going to the Princess, said, 'Daughter! see how +tangled your beautiful hair is after your sleep! Let me wash and +dress it against your husband's return.' So they went down the marble +steps to the river; but the wise woman said, 'Step into my boat, +sweetheart; the water is clearer on the farther side.' + +And then, whilst the Princess's long golden hair was all over her eyes +like a veil, so that she could not see, the wicked old hag loosed the +boat, which went drifting down stream. + +In vain the Princess wept and wailed; all she could do was to make a +great vow, saying, 'O you shameless old thing! You are taking me away +to some king's palace, I know; but no matter who he may be, I swear +not to look on his face for twelve years!' + +At last they arrived at the royal city, greatly to the King's delight; +but when he found how solemn an oath the Princess had taken, he built +her a high tower, where she lived all alone. No one save the hewers +of wood and drawers of water were allowed even to enter the courtyard +surrounding it, so there she lived and wept over her lost Lionheart. + +Now when the Prince's head had rolled off in that shocking manner, the +barley plant he had given to the Knifegrinder king suddenly snapped +right in two, so that the ear fell to the ground. + +This greatly troubled the faithful Knifegrinder, who immediately +guessed some terrible disaster had overtaken his dear Prince. He +gathered an army without delay, and set off in aid, meeting on the way +with the Blacksmith and the Carpenter kings, who were both on the same +errand. When it became evident that the three barley plants had +fallen at the selfsame moment, the three friends feared the worst, and +were not surprised when, after long journeying, they found the +Prince's body, all burnt and blistered, lying by the river-side, and +his head close to it. Knowing the magical properties of the sword, +they looked for it at once, and when they found a changeling in its +place their hearts sank indeed! They lifted the body, and carried it +to the palace, intending to weep and wail over it, when, lo! they +found the real sword, all blistered and burnt, in a heap of ashes, the +rivet gone, the hilt lying beside it. + +'That is soon mended!' cried the Blacksmith king; so he blew up the +fire, forged a rivet, and fastened the hilt to the blade. No sooner +had he done so than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as +ever. + +'My turn now!' quoth the Knifegrindcr king; and he spun his wheel so +deftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the +sword was soon as bright as ever. And as he spun his wheel, the burns +and scars disappeared likewise from Prince Lionheart's body, until at +last the Prince sat up alive, as handsome as before. + +'Where is my Princess?' he cried, the very first thing, and then told +his friends of all that had passed. + +'It is my turn now!' quoth the Carpenter king gleefully; 'give me your +sword, and I will fetch the Princess back in no time.' + +So he set off with the bright strong sword in his hand to find the +lost Princess. Ere long he came to the royal city, and noticing a +tall new-built tower, inquired who dwelt within. When the townspeople +told him it was a strange Princess, who was kept in such close +imprisonment that no one but hewers of wood and drawers of water were +allowed even to enter the courtyard, he was certain it must be she +whom he sought. However, to make sure, he disguised himself as a +woodman, and going beneath the windows, cried, 'Wood! wood! Fifteen +gold pieces for this bundle of wood!' + +The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, taking the air, bade her +servant ask what sort of wood it was to make it so expensive. + +'It is only firewood,' answered the disguised Carpenter,' but it was +cut with this sharp bright sword!' + +Hearing these words, the Princess, with a beating heart, peered +through the parapet, and recognised Prince Lionheart's sword. So she +bade her servant inquire if the woodman had anything else to sell, and +he replied that he had a wonderful flying palanquin, which he would +show to the Princess, if she wished it, when she walked in the garden +at evening. + +She agreed to the proposal, and the Carpenter spent all the day in +fashioning a marvellous palanquin. This he took with him to the tower +garden, saying, 'Seat yourself in it, my Princess, and try how well it +flies.' + +But the King's sister, who was there, said the Princess must not go +alone, so she got in also, and so did the wicked wise woman. Then the +Carpenter king jumped up outside, and immediately the palanquin began +to fly higher and higher, like a bird. + +'I have had enough!--let us go down,' said the King's sister after a +time. + +Whereupon the Carpenter seized her by the waist, and threw her +overboard, just as they were sailing above the river, so that she was +drowned; but he waited until they were just above the high tower +before he threw down the wicked wise woman, so that she got finely +smashed on the stones. + +Then the palanquin flew straight to the Jinn's magical marble palace, +where Prince Lionheart, who had been awaiting the Carpenter king's +arrival with the greatest impatience, was overjoyed to see his +Princess once more, and set off, escorted by his three companion +kings, to his father's dominions. But when the poor old King, who had +very much aged since his son's departure, saw the three armies coming, +he made sure they were an invading force, so he went out to meet them, +and said, 'Take all my riches, but leave my poor people in peace, for +I am old, and cannot fight. Had my dear brave son Lionheart been with +me, it would have been a different affair, but he left us years ago, +and no one has heard aught of him since.' + +On this, the Prince flung himself on his father's neck, and told him +all that had occurred, and how these were his three old friends--the +Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter. This greatly +delighted the old man; but when he saw the golden-haired bride his son +had brought home, his joy knew no bounds. + +So everybody was pleased, and lived happily ever after. + + + + +THE LAMBIKIN + + +[Illustration: Lambikin surrounded by vicious animals] + +Once upon a time there was a wee wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on +his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly. + +Now one day he set off to visit his Granny, and was jumping with joy +to think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom +should he meet but a Jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and +said--'Lambikin! Lambikin! I'll _eat_ _you_!' + +But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said-- + + 'To Granny's house I go, + Where I shall fatter grow, + Then you can eat me so.' + +The Jackal thought this reasonable, and let +Lambikin pass. + +By and by he met a Vulture, and the Vulture, looking hungrily at the +tender morsel before him, said--'Lambikin! Lambikin! I'll _eat_ +_you_!' + +But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said-- + + 'To Granny's house I go, + Where I shall fatter grow, + Then you can eat me so.' + +The Vulture thought this reasonable, and let +Lambikin pass. + +And by and by he met a Tiger, and then a Wolf, and a Dog, and an +Eagle, and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said-- +'Lambikin! Lambikin! I'll _eat_ _you_!' + +But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk-- + + 'To Granny's house I go, + Where I shall fatter grow, + Then you can eat me so.' + +At last he reached his Granny's house, and said, all in a great hurry, +'Granny, dear, I've promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to +keep their promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once!_ + +So his Granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin, +and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate, +and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his Granny said +he was fat enough for anything, and must go home. But cunning little +Lambikin said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to +eat him on the way back, he was so plump and tender. + +'I'll tell you what you must do,' said Master Lambikin,' you must make +a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and +then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I'm as tight as a +drum myself.' + +So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin, +with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in +the middle, and trundled away gaily. Soon he met with the Eagle, who +called out-- + + 'Drumikin! Drumikin! + Have you seen Lambikin?' + +And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied-- + + 'Lost in the forest, and so are you, + On, little Drumikin! Tum-pa, tum-too!' + +'How very annoying!' sighed the Eagle, thinking regretfully of the +tender morsel he had let slip. + +Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing-- + + 'Tum-pa, tum-too; + Tum-pa, tum-too!' + +Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question-- + + 'Drumikin! Drumikin! + Have you seen Lambikin?' + +And to each of them the little sly-boots replied-- + + 'Lost in the forest, and so are you, + On, little Drumikin! Tum-pa, tum-too; + Tum-pa, turn-too; Tum-pa, tum-too!' + +Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let +slip. + +At last the Jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as +sharp as a needle, and he too called out-- + + 'Drumikin! Drumikin! + Have you seen Lambikin?' + +And Larnbikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily-- + + 'Lost in the forest, and so are you, + On, little Drumikin! Tum-pa--' + +But he never got any further, for the Jackal recognised his voice at +once, and cried, 'Hullo! you've turned yourself inside out, have you? +Just you come out of that!' + +Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin. + + + + +BOPOLUCHI + + +Once upon a time a number of young girls went to draw water at the +village well, and while they were filling their jars, fell a-talking +of their betrothals and weddings. + +Said one--'My uncle will soon be coming with the bridal presents, and +he is to bring the finest clothes imaginable.' + +Said a second--'And my uncle-in-law is coming, I know, bringing the +most delicious sweetmeats you could think of.' + +Said a third--'Oh, my uncle will be here in no time, with the rarest +jewels in the world.' + +But Bopoluchi, the prettiest girl of them all, looked sad, for she was +an orphan, and had no one to arrange a marriage for her. Nevertheless +she was too proud to remain silent, so she said gaily--'And my uncle +is coming also, bringing me fine dresses, fine food, and fine jewels.' + +Now a wandering pedlar, who sold sweet scents and cosmetics of all +sorts to the country women, happened to be sitting near the well, and +heard what Bopoluchi said. Being much struck by her beauty and +spirit, he determined to marry her himself, and the very next day, +disguised as a well-to-do farmer, he came to Bopoluchi's house laden +with trays upon trays full of fine dresses, fine food, and fine +jewels; for he was not a real pedlar, but a wicked robber, ever so +rich. + +Bopoluchi could hardly believe her eyes, for everything was just as +she had foretold, and the robber said he was her father's brother, who +had been away in the world for years, and had now come back to arrange +her marriage with one of his sons, her cousin. + +Hearing this, Bopoluchi of course believed it all, and was ever so +much pleased; so she packed up the few things she possessed in a +bundle, and set off with the robber in high spirits. + +But as they went along the road, a crow sitting on a branch croaked-- + + 'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity! + You have lost your wits, my pretty! + 'Tis no uncle that relieves you, + But a robber who deceives you!' + +'Uncle!' said Bopoluchi, 'that crow croaks funnily. What does it +say?' + +'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all the crows in this country croak like +that.' + +A little farther on they met a peacock, which, as soon as it caught +sight of the pretty little maiden, began to scream-- + + 'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity! + You have lost your wits, my pretty! + 'Tis no uncle that relieves you, + But a robber who deceives you!' + +'Uncle!' said the girl, 'that peacock screams funnily. What does it +say?' + +'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all peacocks scream like that in this +country.' + +By and by a jackal slunk across the road; the moment it saw poor +pretty Bopoluchi it began to howl-- + + 'Bopoluchi, 'tis a pity! + You have lost your wits, my pretty! + 'Tis no uncle that relieves you, + But a robber who deceives you!' + +'Uncle!' said the maiden, 'that jackal howls funnily. What does it +say?' + +'Pooh!' returned the robber, 'all jackals howl like that in this +country.' + +So poor pretty Bopoluchi journeyed on till they reached the robber's +house. Then he told her who he was, and how he intended to marry her +himself. She wept and cried bitterly, but the robber had no pity, and +left her in charge of his old, oh! ever so old mother, while he went +out to make arrangements for the marriage feast. + +Now Bopoluchi had such beautiful hair that it reached right down to +her ankles, but the old mother hadn't a hair on her old bald head. + +'Daughter!' said the old, ever so old. mother, as she was putting the +bridal dress on Bopoluchi, 'how did you manage to get such beautiful +hair?' + +'Well,' replied Bopoluchi, 'my mother made it grow by pounding my head +in the big mortar for husking rice. At every stroke of the pestle my +hair grew longer and longer. I assure you it is a plan that never +fails.' + +'Perhaps it would make _my_ hair grow!' said the old woman +eagerly. + +'Perhaps it would!' quoth cunning Bopoluchi. + +So the old, ever so old mother put her head in the mortar, and +Bopoluchi pounded away with such a will that the old lady died. + +Then Bopoluchi dressed the dead body in the scarlet bridal dress, +seated it on the low bridal chair, drew the veil well over the face, +and put the spinning-wheel in front of it, so that when the robber +came home he might think it was the bride. Then she put on the old +mother's clothes, and seizing her own bundle, stepped out of the house +as quickly as possible. + +On her way home she met the robber, who was returning with a stolen +millstone, to grind the corn for the wedding feast, on his head. She +was dreadfully frightened, and slipped behind the hedge, so as not to +be seen. But the robber, not recognising her in the old mother's +dress, thought she was some strange woman from a neighbouring village, +and so to avoid being seen he slipped behind the other hedge. Thus +Bopoluchi reached home in safety. + +Meanwhile, the robber, having come to his house, saw the figure in +bridal scarlet sitting on the bridal chair, spinning, and of course +thought it was Bopoluchi. So he called to her to help him down with +the millstone, but she didn't answer. He called again, but still she +didn't answer. Then he fell into a rage, and threw the millstone at +her head. The figure toppled over, and lo and behold! it was not +Bopoluchi at all, but his old, ever so old mother! Whereupon the +robber wept, and beat his breast, thinking he had killed her; but when +he discovered pretty Bopoluchi had run away, he became wild with rage, +and determined to bring her back somehow. + +[Illustration: Bopoluchi and the robber] + +Now Bopoluchi was convinced that the robber would try to carry her +off, so every night she begged a new lodging in some friend's house, +leaving her own little bed in her own little house quite empty, but +after a month or so she had come to the end of her friends, and did +not like to ask any of them to give her shelter a second time. So she +determined to brave it out and sleep at home, whatever happened; but +she took a bill-hook to bed with her. Sure enough, in the very middle +of the night four men crept in, and each seizing a leg of the bed, +lifted it up and walked off, the robber himself having hold of the leg +close behind her head. Bopoluchi was wide awake, but pretended to be +fast asleep, until she came to a wild deserted spot, where the thieves +were off their guard; then she whipped out the bill-hook, and in a +twinkling cut off the heads of the two thieves at the foot of the +bed. Turning round quickly, she did the same to the other thief at +the head, but the robber himself ran away in a terrible fright, and +scrambled like a wild cat up a tree close by before she could reach +him. + +'Come down!' cried brave Bopoluchi, brandishing the bill-hook, 'and +fight it out!' + +But the robber would not come down; so Bopoluchi gathered all the +sticks she could find, piled them round the tree, and set fire to +them. Of course the tree caught fire also, and the robber, half +stifled with the smoke, tried to jump down, and was killed. + +After that, Bopoluchi went to the robber's house and carried off all +the gold and silver, jewels and clothes, that were hidden there, +coming back to the village so rich that she could marry any one she +pleased. And that was the end of Bopoluchi's adventures. + + + + +PRINCESS AUBERGINE + + +Once upon a time there lived a poor Brahman and his wife, so poor, +that often they did not know whither to turn for a meal, and were +reduced to wild herbs and roots for their dinner. + +Now one day, as the Brahman was gathering such herbs as he could find +in the wilderness, he came upon an Aubergine, or egg-plant. Thinking +it might prove useful by and by, he dug it up, took it home, and +planted it by his cottage door. Every day he watered and tended it, +so that it grew wonderfully, and at last bore one large fruit as big +as a pear, purple and white and glossy,--such a handsome fruit, that +the good couple thought it a pity to pick it, and let it hang on the +plant day after day, until one fine morning when there was absolutely +nothing to eat in the house. Then the Brahman said to his wife, 'We +must eat the egg-fruit; go and cut it, and prepare it for dinner.' + +So the Brahman's wife took a knife, and cut the beautiful purple and +white fruit off the plant, and as she did so she thought she heard a +low moan. But when she sat down and began to peel the egg-fruit, she +heard a tiny voice say quite distinctly, 'Take care!--oh, please take +care! Peel more gently, or I am sure the knife will run into me!' + +The good woman was terribly perplexed, but went on peeling as gently +as she could, wondering all the time what had bewitched the egg-fruit, +until she had cut quite through the rind, when--what do you think +happened? Why, out stepped the most beautiful little maiden +imaginable, dressed in purple and white satin! + +The poor Brahman and his wife were mightily astonished, but still more +delighted; for, having no children of their own, they looked on the +tiny maiden as a godsend, and determined to adopt her. So they took +the greatest care of her, petting and spoiling her, and always calling +her the Princess Aubergine; for, said the worthy couple, if she was +not a Princess _really_, she was dainty and delicate enough to be +any king's daughter. + +Now not far from the Brahman's hut lived a King, who had a beautiful +wife, and seven stalwart young sons. One day, a slave-girl from the +palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for +a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine. She went straight +home to the palace, and told her mistress how in a hovel close by +there lived a Princess so lovely and charming, that were the King once +to set eyes on her, he would straightway forget, not only his Queen, +but every other woman in the world. + +Now the Queen, who was of a very jealous disposition, could not bear +the idea of any one being more beautiful than she was herself, so she +cast about in her mind how she could destroy the lovely Aubergine. If +she could only inveigle the girl into the palace, she could easily do +the rest, for she was a sorceress, and learned in all sorts of magic. +So she sent a message to the Princess Aubergine, to say that the fame +of her great beauty had reached the palace, and the Queen would like +to see with her own eyes if report said true. + +Now lovely Aubergine was vain of her beauty, and fell into the trap. +She went to the palace, and the Queen, pretending to be wonderstruck, +said, 'You were born to live in kings' houses! From this time you +must never leave me; henceforth you are my sister.' + +This flattered Princess Aubergine's vanity, so, nothing loath, she +remained in the palace, and exchanged veils with the Queen, and drank +milk out of the same cup with her, as is the custom when two people +say they will be sisters. + +But the Queen, from the very first moment she set eyes on her, had +seen that Princess Aubergine was no human being, but a fairy, and knew +she must be very careful how she set about her magic. Therefore she +laid strong spells upon her while she slept, and said-- + + 'Beautiful Aubergine! tell me true-- + In what thing does your life lie?' + +And the Princess answered--'In the life of your eldest son. Kill him, +and I will die also.' + +So the very next morning the wicked Queen went to where her eldest son +lay sleeping, and killed him with her own hands. Then she sent the +slave-girl to the Princess's apartments, hoping to hear she was dead +too, but the girl returned saying the Princess was alive and well. + +Then the Queen wept tears of rage, for she knew her spells had not +been strong enough, and she had killed her son for naught. +Nevertheless, the next night she laid stronger spells upon the +Princess Aubergine, saying-- + + 'Princess Aubergine! tell me true-- + In what thing does your life lie?' + +And the sleeping Princess answered--'In the life of your second son. +Kill him, and I too will die.' + +So the wicked Queen killed her second son with her own hands, but when +she sent the slave-girl to see whether Aubergine was dead also, the +girl returned again saying the Princess was alive and well. + +Then the sorceress-queen cried with rage and spite, for she had killed +her second son for naught. Nevertheless, she would not give up her +wicked project, and the next night laid still stronger spells on the +sleeping Princess, asking her-- + + 'Princess Aubergine! tell me true-- + In what thing does your life lie?' + +And the Princess replied--'In the life of your third son. Kill him, +and I must die also!' + +But the same thing happened. Though the young Prince was killed by +his wicked mother, Aubergine remained alive and well; and so it went +on day after day, until all the seven young Princes were slain, and +their cruel mother still wept tears of rage and spite, at having +killed her seven sons for naught. + +Then the sorceress-queen summoned up all her art, and laid such strong +spells on the Princess Aubergine that she could no longer resist them, +and was obliged to answer truly; so when the wicked Queen asked-- + + 'Princess Aubergine! tell me true-- + In what thing does your life lie?' + +the poor Princess was obliged to answer--'In a river far away there +lives a red and green fish. Inside the fish there is a bumble bee, +inside the bee a tiny box, and inside the box is the wonderful +nine-lakh necklace. Put it on, and I shall die.' + +Then the Queen was satisfied, and set about finding the red and green +fish. Therefore, when her husband the King came to see her, she began +to sob and to cry, until he asked her what was the matter. Then she +told him she had set her heart on procuring the wonderful nine-lakh +necklace. + +'But where is it to be found?' asked the King. + +And the Queen answered in the words of the Princess Aubergine,--'In a +river far away there lives a red and green fish. Inside the fish +there is a bumble bee, inside the bee a tiny box, and in the box is +the nine-lakh necklace.' + +Now the King was a very kind man, and had grieved sincerely for the +loss of his seven young sons, who, the Queen said, had died suddenly +of an infectious disease. Seeing his wife so distressed, and being +anxious to comfort her, he gave orders that every fisherman in his +kingdom was to fish all day until the red and green fish was found. +So all the fishermen set to work, and ere long the Queen's desire was +fulfilled--the red and green fish was caught, and when the wicked +sorceress opened it, there was the bumble bee, and inside the bee was +the box, and inside the box the wonderful nine-lakh necklace, which +the Queen put on at once. + +Now no sooner had the Princess Aubergine been forced to tell the +secret of her life by the Queen's magic, than she knew she must die; +so she returned sadly to her foster-parents' hut, and telling them of +her approaching death, begged them neither to burn nor bury her body. +'This is what I wish you to do,' she said; 'dress me in my finest +clothes, lay me on my bed, scatter flowers over me, and carry me to +the wildest wilderness. There you must place the bed on the ground, +and build a high mud wall around it, so that no one will be able to +see over.' + +The poor foster-parents, weeping bitterly, promised to do as she +wished; so when the Princess died (which happened at the very moment +the wicked Queen put on the nine-lakh necklace), they dressed her in +her best clothes, scattered flowers over the bed, and carried her out +to the wildest wilderness. + +Now when the Queen sent the slave-girl to the Brahman's hut to inquire +if the Princess Aubergine was really dead, the girl returned saying, +'She is dead, but neither burnt nor buried; she lies out in the +wilderness to the north, covered with flowers, as beautiful as the +moon!' + +The Queen was not satisfied with this reply, but as she could do no +more, had to be content. + +Now the King grieved bitterly for his seven young sons, and to try to +forget his grief he went out hunting every day; so the Queen, who +feared lest in his wanderings he might find the dead Princess +Aubergine, made him promise never to hunt towards the north, for, she +said, 'some evil will surely befall you it you do.' + +But one day, having hunted to the east, and the south, and the west, +without finding game, he forgot his promise, and hunted towards the +north. In his wanderings he lost his way, and came upon a high +enclosure, with no door; being curious to know what it contained, he +climbed over the wall. He could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw +a lovely Princess lying on a flower-strewn bed, looking as if she had +just fallen asleep. It seemed impossible she could be dead, so, +kneeling down beside her, he spent the whole day praying and +beseeching her to open her eyes. At nightfall he returned to his +palace, but with the dawning he took his bow, and, dismissing all his +attendants on the pretext of hunting alone, flew to his beautiful +Princess. So he passed day after day, kneeling distractedly beside +the lovely Aubergine, beseeching her to rise; but she never stirred. + +Now at the end of a year he, one day, found the most beautiful little +boy imaginable lying beside the Princess. He was greatly astonished, +but taking the child in his arms, cared for it tenderly all day, and +at night laid it down beside its dead mother. After some time the +child learnt to talk, and when the King asked it if its mother was +always dead, it replied, 'No! at night she is alive, and cares for me +as you do during the day.' + +Hearing this, the King bade the boy ask his mother what made her die, +and the next day the boy replied, 'My mother says it is the nine-lakh +necklace your Queen wears. At night, when the Queen takes it off, my +mother becomes alive again, but every morning, when the Queen puts it +on, my mother dies.' + +This greatly puzzled the King, who could not imagine what his Queen +could have to do with the mysterious Princess, so he told the boy to +ask his mother whose son he was. + +The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother bade me say I am your son, +sent to console you for the loss of the seven fair sons your wicked +Queen murdered out of jealousy of my mother, the lovely Princess +Aubergine.' + +Then the King grew very wroth at the thought of his dead sons, and +bade the boy ask his mother how the wicked Queen was to be punished, +and by what means the necklace could be recovered. + +The next morning the boy replied, 'Mother says I am the only person +who can recover the necklace, so to-night, when you return to the +palace, you are to take me with you.' So the King carried the boy +back to the palace, and told all his ministers and courtiers that the +child was his heir. On this, the sorceress-queen, thinking of her own +dead sons, became mad with jealousy, and determined to poison the +boy. To this end she prepared some tempting sweetmeats, and, +caressing the child, gave him a handful, bidding him eat them; but the +child refused, saying he would not do so until she gave him the +glittering necklace she wore round her throat, to play with. + +Determined to poison the boy, and seeing no other way of inducing him +to eat the sweetmeats, the sorceress-queen slipped off the nine-lakh +necklace, and gave it to the child. No sooner had he touched it than +he fled away so fast that none of the servants or guards could stop +him, and never drew breath till he reached the place where the +beautiful Princess Aubergine lay dead. He threw the necklace over her +head, and immediately she rose up lovelier than ever. Then the King +came, and besought her to return to the palace as his bride, but she +replied, 'I will never be your wife till that wicked sorceress is +dead, for she would only murder me and my boy, as she murdered your +seven young sons. If you will dig a deep ditch at the threshold of +the palace, fill it with scorpions and snakes, throw the wicked Queen +into it, and bury her alive, I will walk over her grave to be your +wife.' + +So the King ordered a deep ditch to be dug, and had it filled with +scorpions and snakes. Then he went to the sorceress-queen, and bade +her come to see something very wonderful. But she refused, suspecting +a trick. Then the guards seized her, bound her, flung her into the +ditch amongst the scorpions and snakes, and buried her alive with +them. As for the Princess Aubergine, she and her son walked over the +grave, and lived happily in the palace ever after. + + + + +VALIANT VICKY, THE BRAVE WEAVER + + +Once upon a time there lived a little weaver, by name Victor Prince, +but because his head was big, his legs thin, and he was altogether +small, and weak, and ridiculous, his neighbours called him +Vicky--Little Vicky the Weaver. + +But despite his size, his thin legs, and his ridiculous appearance, +Vicky was very valiant, and loved to _talk_ for hours of his +bravery, and the heroic acts he would perform if Fate gave him an +opportunity. Only Fate did not, and in consequence Vicky remained +little Vicky the valiant weaver, who was laughed at by all for his +boasting. + +Now one day, as Vicky was sitting at his loom, weaving, a mosquito +settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle from his +right hand, and by chance, after gliding swiftly through the warp, the +shuttle came flying into his left hand on the very spot where the +mosquito had settled, and squashed it. Seeing this, Vicky became +desperately excited: 'It is as I have always said,' he cried; 'if I +only had the chance I knew I could show my mettle! Now, I'd like to +know how many people could have done that? Killing a mosquito is +easy, and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a +mighty different affair! It is easy enough to shoot a great hulking +man--there is something to see, something to aim at; then guns and +crossbows are made for shooting; but to shoot a _mosquito_ with a +_shuttle_ is quite another thing. That requires a man!' + +The more he thought over the matter, the more elated he became over +his skill and bravery, until he determined that he would no longer +suffer himself to be called 'Vicky.' No! now that he had shown his +mettle he would be called 'Victor'--'Victor Prince'--or better still, +'Prince Victor'; that was a name worthy his merits. But when he +announced this determination to the neighbours, they roared with +laughter, and though some did call him Prince Victor, it was with such +sniggering and giggling and mock reverence that the little man flew +home in a rage. Here he met with no better reception, for his wife, a +fine handsome young woman, who was tired to death by her ridiculous +little husband's whims and fancies, sharply bade him hold his tongue +and not make a fool of himself. Upon this, beside himself with pride +and mortification, he seized her by the hair, and beat her most +unmercifully. Then, resolving to stay no longer in a town where his +merits were unrecognised, he bade her prepare some bread for a +journey, and set about packing his bundle. + +'I will go into the world!' he said to himself. 'The man who can +shoot a mosquito dead with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under +a bushel' So off he set, with his bundle, his shuttle, and a loaf of +bread tied up in a kerchief. + +Now as he journeyed he came to a city where a dreadful elephant came +daily to make a meal off the inhabitants. Many mighty warriors had +gone against it, but none had returned. On hearing this the valiant +little weaver thought to himself, 'Now is my chance! A great haystack +of an elephant will be a fine mark to a man who has shot a mosquito +with a shuttle!' So he went to the King, and announced that he +proposed single-handed to meet and slay the elephant. At first the +King thought the little man was mad, but as he persisted in his words, +he told him that he was free to try his luck if he chose to run the +risk; adding that many better men than he had failed. + +Nevertheless, our brave weaver was nothing daunted; he even refused to +take either sword or bow, but strutted out to meet the elephant armed +only with his shuttle. + +'It is a weapon I thoroughly understand, good people,' he replied +boastfully to those who urged him to choose some more deadly arm, 'and +it has done its work in its time, I can tell you!' + +It was a beautiful sight to see little Vicky swaggering out to meet +his enemy, while the townsfolk flocked to the walls to witness the +fight. Never was such a valiant weaver till the elephant, descrying +its tiny antagonist, trumpeted fiercely, and charged right at him, and +then, alas! all the little man's courage disappeared, and forgetting +his new name of Prince Victor he dropped his bundle, his shuttle, and +his bread, and bolted away as fast as Vicky's legs could carry him. + +Now it so happened that his wife had made the bread ever so sweet, and +had put all sorts of tasty spices in it, because she wanted to hide +the flavour of the poison she had put in it also; for she was a +wicked, revengeful woman, who wanted to be rid of her tiresome, +whimsical little husband. And so, as the elephant charged past, it +smelt the delicious spices, and catching up the bread with its long +trunk, gobbled it up without stopping an instant. Meanwhile fear lent +speed to Vicky's short legs, but though he ran like a hare, the +elephant soon overtook him. In vain he doubled and doubled, and the +beast's hot breath was on him, when in sheer desperation he turned, +hoping to bolt through the enormous creature's legs; being half blind +with fear, however, he ran full tilt against them instead. Now, as +luck would have it, at that very moment the poison took effect, and +the elephant fell to the ground stone dead. + +When the spectators saw the monster fall they could scarcely believe +their eyes, but their astonishment was greater still when, running up +to the scene of action, they found Valiant Vicky seated in triumph on +the elephant's head, calmly mopping his face with his handkerchief. + +'I had to pretend to run away,' he explained, 'or the coward would +never have engaged me. Then I gave him a little push, and he fell +down, as you see. Elephants are big beasts, but they have no strength +to speak of.' + +The good folks were amazed at the careless way in which Valiant Vicky +spoke of his achievement, and as they had been too far off to see very +distinctly what had occurred, they went and told the King that the +little weaver was just a feaiful wee man, and had knocked over the +elephant like a ninepin. Ihen the King said to himself, 'None of my +warriors and wrestlers, no, not even the heroes of old, could have +done this. I must secure this little man's services if I can.' So he +asked Vicky why he was wandering about the world. + +[Illustration: Vicky descending from the dead elephant] + +'For pleasure, for service, or for conquest!' returned Valiant Vicky, +laying such stress on the last word that the King, in a great hurry, +made him Commander-in-Chief of his whole army, for fear he should take +service elsewhere. + +So there was Valiant Vicky a mighty fine warrior, and as proud as a +peacock of having fulfilled his own predictions. + +'I knew it!' he would say to himself when he was dressed out in full +fig, with shining armour and waving plumes, and spears, swords, and +shields; 'I _felt_ I had it in me!' + +Now after some time a terribly savage tiger came ravaging the country, +and at last the city-folk petitioned that the mighty Prince Victor +might be sent out to destroy it. So out he went at the head of his +army,--for he was a great man now, and had quite forgotten all about +looms and shuttles. But first he made the King promise his daughter +in marriage as a reward. 'Nothing for nothing!' said the astute +little weaver to himself, and when the promise was given he went out +as gay as a lark. + +'Do not distress yourselves, good people,' he said to those who +flocked round him praying for his successful return; 'it is ridiculous +to suppose the tiger will have a chance. Why, I knocked over an +elephant with my little finger! I am really invincible! *' + +But, alas for our Valiant Vicky! No sooner did he see the tiger +lashing its tail and charging down on him, than he ran for the nearest +tree, and scrambled into the branches. There he sat like a monkey, +while the tiger glowered at him from below. Of course when the army +saw their Commander-in-Chief bolt like a mouse, they followed his +example, and never stopped until they reached the city, where they +spread the news that the little hero had fled up a tree. + +'There let him stay!' said the King, secretly relieved, for he was +jealous of the little weaver's prowess, and did not want him for a +son-in-law. + +Meanwhile, Valiant Vicky sat cowering in the tree, while the tiger +occupied itself below with sharpening its teeth and claws, and curling +its whiskers, till poor Vicky nearly tumbled into its jaws with +fright. So one day, two days, three days, six days passed by; on the +seventh the tiger was fiercer, hungrier, and more watchful than ever. +As for the poor little weaver, he was so hungry that his hunger made +him brave, and he determined to try and slip past his enemy during its +mid-day snooze. He crept stealthily down inch by inch, till his foot +was within a yard of the ground, and then? Why then the tiger, which +had had one eye open all the time, jumped up with a roar! + +Valiant Vicky shrieked with fear, and making a tremendous effort, +swung himself into a branch, cocking his little bandy legs over it to +keep them out of reach, for the tiger's red panting mouth and gleaming +white teeth were within half an inch of his toes. In doing so, his +dagger fell out of its sheath, and went pop into the tiger's wide-open +mouth, and thus point foremost down into its stomach, so that it died! + +Valiant Vicky could scarcely believe his good fortune, but, after +prodding at the body with a branch, and finding it did not move, he +concluded the tiger really was dead, and ventured down. Then he cut +off its head, and went home in triumph to the King. + +'You and your warriors are a nice set of cowards!' said he, +wrathfully. 'Here have I been fighting that tiger for seven days and +seven nights, without bite or sup, whilst you have been guzzling and +snoozing at home. Pah! it's disgusting! but I suppose every one is +not a hero as I am!' So Prince Victor married the King's daughter, +and was a greater man than ever. + +But by and by a neighbouring prince, who bore a grudge against the +King, came with a huge army, and encamped outside the city, swearing +to put every man, woman, and child within it to the sword. Hearing +this, the inhabitants of course cried with one accord, 'Prince +Victor! Prince Victor to the rescue!' so the valiant little weaver +was ordered by the King to go out and destroy the invading army, after +which he was to receive half the kingdom as a reward. Now Valiant +Vicky, with all his boasting, was no fool, and he said to himself, +'This is a very different affair from the others. A man may kill a +mosquito, an elephant, and a tiger; yet another man may kill +_him_. And here is not one man, but thousands! No, no!--what is +the use of half a kingdom if you haven't a head on your shoulders? +Under the circumstances I prefer _not_ to be a hero!' + +So in the dead of night he bade his wife rise, pack up her golden +dishes, and follow him--'Not that you will want the golden dishes at +my house,' he explained boastfully, 'for I have heaps and heaps, but +on the journey these will be useful.' Then he crept outside the city, +followed by his wife carrying the bundle, and began to steal through +the enemy's camp. + +Just as they were in the very middle of it, a big cockchafer flew into +Valiant Vicky's face. 'Run! run!' he shrieked to his wife, in a +terrible taking, and setting off as fast as he could, never stopped +till he had reached his room again and hidden under the bed. His wife +set off at a run likewise, dropping her bundle of golden dishes with a +clang. The noise roused the enemy, who, thinking they were attacked, +flew to arms; but being half asleep, and the night being pitch-dark, +they could not distinguish friend from foe, and falling on each other, +fought with such fury that by next morning not one was left alive! +And then, as may be imagined, great were the rejoicings at Prince +Victor's prowess. 'It was a mere trifle!' remarked that valiant +little gentleman modestly; 'when a man can shoot a mosquito with a +shuttle, everything else is child's play.' + +So he received half the kingdom, and ruled it with great dignity, +refusing ever afterwards to fight, saying truly that kings never +fought themselves, but paid others to fight for them. + +Thus he lived in peace, and when he died every one said Valiant Vicky +was the greatest hero the world had ever seen. + + + + +THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who had seven wives, but no +children. This was a great grief to him, especially when he +remembered that on his death there would be no heir to inherit the +kingdom. + +Now, one day, a poor old _fakir_ or religious devotee, came to +the King and said, 'Your prayers are heard, your desire shall be +accomplished, and each of your seven queens shall bear a son.' + +The King's delight at this promise knew no bounds, and he gave orders +for appropriate festivities to be prepared against the coming event +throughout the length and breadth of the land. + +Meanwhile the seven Queens lived luxuriously in a splendid palace, +attended by hundreds of female slaves, and fed to their hearts' +content on sweetmeats and confectionery. + +Now the King was very fond of hunting, and one day, before he started, +the seven Queens sent him a message saying, 'May it please our dearest +lord not to hunt towards the north to-day, for we have dreamt bad +dreams, and fear lest evil should befall you.' + +The King, to allay their anxiety, promised regard for their wishes, +and set out towards the south; but as luck would have it, although he +hunted diligently, he found no game. Nor had he greater success to +the east or west, so that, being a keen sportsman, and determined not +to go home empty-handed, he forgot all about his promise, and turned +to the north. Here also he met at first with no reward, but just as +he had made up his mind to give up for that day, a white hind with +golden horns and silver hoofs flashed past him into a thicket. So +quickly did it pass, that he scarcely saw it; nevertheless a burning +desire to capture and possess the beautiful strange creature filled +his breast. He instantly ordered his attendants to form a ring round +the thicket, and so encircle the hind; then, gradually narrowing the +circle, he pressed forward till he could distinctly see the white hind +panting in the midst. Nearer and nearer he advanced, when, just as he +thought to lay hold of the beautiful strange creature, it gave one +mighty bound, leapt clean over the King's head, and fled towards the +mountains. Forgetful of all else, the King, setting spurs to his +horse, followed at full speed. On, on he galloped, leaving his +retinue far behind, but keeping the white hind in view, and never +drawing bridle, until, finding himself in a narrow ravine with no +outlet, he reined in his steed. Before him stood a miserable hovel, +into which, being tired after his long unsuccessful chase, he entered +to ask for a drink of water. An old woman, seated in the hut at a +spinning-wheel, answered his request by calling to her daughter, and +immediately from an inner room came a maiden so lovely and charming, +so white-skinned and golden-haired, that the King was transfixed by +astonishment at seeing so beautiful a sight in the wretched hovel. + +She held the vessel of water to the King's lips, and as he drank he +looked into her eyes, and then it became clear to him that the girl +was no other than the white hind with the golden horns and silver feet +he had chased so far. + +Her beauty bewitched him completely, and he fell on his knees, begging +her to return with him as his bride; but she only laughed, saying +seven Queens were quite enough even for a King to manage. However, +when he would take no refusal, but implored her to have pity on him, +and promised her everything she could desire, she replied, 'Give me +the eyes of your seven wives, and then perhaps I may believe that you +mean what you say.' + +The King was so carried away by the glamour of the white hind's +magical beauty, that he went home at once, had the eyes of his seven +Queens taken out, and, after throwing the poor blind creatures into a +noisome dungeon whence they could not escape, set off once more for +the hovel in the ravine, bearing with him his loathsome offering. But +the white hind only laughed cruelly when she saw the fourteen eyes, +and threading them as a necklace, flung it round her mother's neck, +saying, 'Wear that, little mother, as a keepsake, whilst I am away in +the King's palace.' + +Then she went back with the bewitched monarch as his bride, and he +gave her the seven Queens' rich clothes and jewels to wear, the seven +Queens' palace to live in, and the seven Queens' slaves to wait upon +her; so that she really had everything even a witch could desire. + +Now, very soon after the seven wretched, hapless Queens were cast into +prison, the first Queen's baby was born. It was a handsome boy, but +the Queens were so desperately hungry that they killed the child at +once, and, dividing it into seven portions, ate it. All except the +youngest Queen, who saved her portion secretly. + +The next day the second Queen's baby was born, and they did the same +with it, and with all the babies in turn, one after the other, until +the seventh and youngest Queen's baby was born on the seventh day. +But when the other six Queens came to the young mother, and wanted to +take it away, saying, 'Give us your child to eat, as you have eaten +ours!' she produced the six pieces of the other babies untouched, and +answered, 'Not so! here are six pieces for you; eat them, and leave my +child alone. You cannot complain, for you have each your fair share, +neither more nor less.' + +Now, though the other Queens were very jealous that the youngest +amongst them should by forethought and self-denial have saved her +baby's life, they could say nothing; for, as the young mother had told +them, they received their full share. And though at first they +disliked the handsome little boy, he soon proved so useful to them, +that ere long they all looked on him as their son. Almost as soon as +he was born he began scraping at the mud wall of their dungeon, and in +an incredibly short space of time had made a hole big enough for him +to crawl through. Through this he disappeared, returning in an hour +or so laden with sweetmeats, which he divided equally amongst the +seven blind Queens. + +As he grew older he enlarged the hole, and slipped out two or three +times every day to play with the little nobles in the town. No one +knew who the tiny boy was, but everybody liked him, and he was so full +of funny tricks and antics, so merry and bright, that he was sure to +be rewarded by some girdle-cakes, a handful of parched grain, or some +sweetmeats. All these things he brought home to his seven mothers, as +he loved to call the seven blind Queens, who by his help lived on in +their dungeon when all the world thought they had starved to death +ages before. + +At last, when he was quite a big lad, he one day took his bow and +arrow, and went out to seek for game. Coming by chance upon the +palace where the white hind lived in wicked splendour and +magnificence, he saw some pigeons fluttering round the white marble +turrets, and, taking good aim, shot one dead. It came tumbling past +the very window where the white Queen was sitting; she rose to see +what was the matter, and looked out. At the first glance at the +handsome young lad standing there bow in hand, she knew by witchcraft +that it was the King's son. + +She nearly died of envy and spite, determining to destroy the lad +without delay; therefore, sending a servant to bring him to her +presence, she asked him if he would sell her the pigeon he had just +shot. + +'No,' replied the sturdy lad, 'the pigeon is for my seven blind +mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did +not bring them food.' + +'Poor souls!' cried the cunning white witch; 'would you not like to +bring them their eyes again? Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I +faithfully promise to show you where to find them.' + +Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the +pigeon at once. Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother +without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace. + +'She will not fail to give them,' said the cruel Queen, 'if you show +her this token on which I have written what I want done.' + +So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these +words inscribed on it--'Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his +blood like water!' + +Now, as the son of seven mothers could not read, he took the fatal +message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother. + +But while he was journeying he passed through a town, where every one +of the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what +was the matter. They told him it was because the King's only daughter +refused to marry; so when her father died there would be no heir to +the throne. They greatly feared she must be out of her mind, for +though every good-looking young man in the kingdom had been shown to +her, she declared she would only marry one who was the son of seven +mothers, and of course no one had ever heard of such a thing. Still +the King, in despair, had ordered every man who entered the city gates +to be led before the Princess in case she might relent. So, much to +the lad's impatience, for he was in an immense hurry to find his +mothers' eyes, he was dragged into the presence-chamber. + +No sooner did the Princess catch sight of him than she blushed, and, +turning to the King, said, 'Dear father, this is my choice!' + +Never were such rejoicings as these few words produced. The +inhabitants nearly went wild with joy, but the son of seven mothers +said he would not marry the Princess unless they first let him recover +his mothers' eyes. Now when the beautiful bride heard his story, she +asked to see the potsherd, for she was very learned and clever; so +much so that on seeing the treacherous words, she said nothing, but +taking another similarly-shaped bit of potsherd, wrote on it these +words--'Take care of this lad, give him all he desires,' and returned +it to the son of seven mothers, who, none the wiser, set off on his +quest. + +Ere long, he arrived at the hovel in the ravine, where the white +witch's mother, a hideous old creature, grumbled dreadfully on reading +the message, especially when the lad asked for the necklace of eyes. +Nevertheless she took it off, and gave it him, saying,' There are only +thirteen of 'em now, for I ate one last week, when I was hungry.' + +The lad, however, was only too glad to get any at all, so he hurried +home as fast as he could to his seven mothers, and gave two eyes +apiece to the six elder Queens; but to the youngest he gave one, +saying, 'Dearest little mother!--I will be your other eye always!' + +After this he set off to marry the Princess, as he had promised, but +when passing by the white Queen's palace he again saw some pigeons on +the roof. Drawing his bow, he shot one, and again it came fluttering +past the window. Then the white hind looked out, and lo! there was +the King's son alive and well. + +She cried with hatred and disgust, but sending for the lad, asked him +how he had returned so soon, and when she heard how he had brought +home the thirteen eyes, and given them to the seven blind Queens, she +could hardly restrain her rage. Nevertheless she pretended to be +charmed with his success, and told him that if he would give her this +pigeon also, she would reward him with the Jogi's wonderful +cow, whose milk flows all day long, and makes a pond as big as a +kingdom. The lad, nothing loath, gave her the pigeon; whereupon, as +before, she bade him go ask her mother for the cow, and gave him a +potsherd whereon was written--'Kill this lad without fail, and +sprinkle his blood like water!' + +But on the way, the son of seven mothers looked in on the Princess, +just to tell her how he came to be delayed, and she, after reading the +message on the potsherd, gave him another in its stead; so that when +the lad reached the old hag's hut and asked her for the Jogi's +cow, she could not refuse, but told the boy how to find it; and, +bidding him of all things not to be afraid of the eighteen thousand +demons who kept watch and ward over the treasure, told him to be off +before she became too angry at her daughter's foolishness in thus +giving away so many good things. + +Then the lad did as he had been told bravely. He journeyed on and on +till he came to a milk-white pond, guarded by the eighteen thousand +demons. They were really frightful to behold, but, plucking up +courage, he whistled a tune as he walked through them, looking neither +to the right nor the left. By and by he came upon the Jogi's cow, +tall, white, and beautiful, while the Jogi himself, who was king of +all the demons, sat milking her day and night, and the milk streamed +from her udder, filling the milk-white tank. + +The Jogi, seeing the lad, called out fiercely, 'What do you want +here?' + +Then the lad answered, according to the old hag's bidding, 'I want +your skin, for King Indra is making a new kettledrum, and says your +skin is nice and tough.' + +Upon this the Jogi began to shiver and shake (for no Jinn or Jogi +dares disobey King Indra's command), and, falling at the lad's feet, +cried, 'If you will spare me I will give you anything I possess, even +my beautiful white cow!' + +To this, the son of seven mothers, after a little pretended +hesitation, agreed, saying that after all it would not be difficult to +find a nice tough skin like the Jogi's elsewhere; so, driving the +wonderful cow before him, he set off homewards. The seven Queens were +delighted to possess so marvellous an animal, and though they toiled +from morning till night making curds and whey, besides selling milk to +the confectioners, they could not use half the cow gave, and became +richer and richer day by day. + +Seeing them so comfortably off, the son of seven mothers started with +a light heart to marry the Princess; but when passing the white hind's +palace he could not resist sending a bolt at some pigeons which were +cooing on the parapet, and for the third time one fell dead just +beneath the window where the white Queen was sitting. Looking out, +she saw the lad hale and hearty standing before her, and grew whiter +than ever with rage and spite. + +[Illustration: The son demanding the Jogi's cow] + +She sent for him to ask how he had returned so soon, and when she +heard how kindly her mother had received him, she very nearly had a +fit; however, she dissembled her feelings as well as she could, and, +smiling sweetly, said she was glad to have been able to fulfil her +promise, and that if he would give her this third pigeon, she would do +yet more for him than she had done before, by giving him the +million-fold rice, which ripens in one night. + +The lad was of course delighted at the very idea, and, giving up the +pigeon, set off on his quest, armed as before with a potsherd, on +which was written, 'Do not fail this time. Kill the lad, and sprinkle +his blood like water!' + +But when he looked in on his Princess, just to prevent her becoming +anxious about him, she asked to see the potsherd as usual, and +substituted another, on which was written, 'Yet again give this lad +all he requires, for his blood shall be as your blood!' + +Now when the old hag saw this, and heard how the lad wanted the +million-fold rice which ripens in a single night, she fell into the +most furious rage, but being terribly afraid of her daughter, she +controlled herself, and bade the boy go and find the field guarded by +eighteen millions of demons, warning him on no account to look back +after having plucked the tallest spike of rice, which grew in the +centre. + +So the son of seven mothers set off, and soon came to the field where, +guarded by eighteen millions of demons, the million-fold rice grew. +He walked on bravely, looking neither to the right nor left, till he +reached the centre and plucked the tallest ear; but as he turned +homewards a thousand sweet voices rose behind him, crying in tenderest +accents, 'Pluck me too! oh, please pluck me too!' He looked back, and +lo! there was nothing left of him but a little heap of ashes! + +Now as time passed by and the lad did not return, the old hag grew +uneasy, remembering the message 'his blood shall be as your blood'; so +she set off to see what had happened. + +Soon she came to the heap of ashes, and knowing by her arts what it +was, she took a little water, and kneading the ashes into a paste, +formed it into the likeness of a man; then, putting a drop of blood +from her little finger into its mouth, she blew on it, and instantly +the son of seven mothers started up as well as ever. + +'Don't you disobey orders again!' grumbled the old hag, 'or next time +I'll leave you alone. Now be off, before I repent of my kindness!' + +So the son of seven mothers returned joyfully to the seven Queens, +who, by the aid of the million-fold rice, soon became the richest +people in the kingdom. Then they celebrated their son's marriage to +the clever Princess with all imaginable pomp; but the bride was so +clever, she would not rest until she had made known her husband to his +father, and punished the wicked white witch. So she made her husband +build a palace exactly like the one in which the seven Queens had +lived, and in which the white witch now dwelt in splendour. Then, +when all was prepared, she bade her husband give a grand feast to the +King. Now the King had heard much of the mysterious son of seven +mothers, and his marvellous wealth, so he gladly accepted the +invitation; but what was his astonishment when on entering the palace +he found it was a facsimile of his own in every particular! And when +his host, richly attired, led him straight to the private hall, where +on royal thrones sat the seven Queens, dressed as he had last seen +them, he was speechless with surprise, until the Princess, coming +forward, threw herself at his feet, and told him the whole story. +Then the King awoke from his enchantment, and his anger rose against +the wicked white hind who had bewitched him so long, until he could +not contain himself. So she was put to death, and her grave ploughed +over, and after that the seven Queens returned to their own splendid +palace, and everybody lived happily. + + + + +THE SPARROW AND THE CROW + + +A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have _khichri_ for dinner. +So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the +Sparrow was cook, and when the _khichri_ was ready, the Crow +stood by to claim his share. + +'Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you +are?' quoth the Sparrow scornfully. 'Your body is quite black, and +your head looks as if it were covered with ashes. For goodness +gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first.' + +The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best +to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow +was; so he went to the Pond, and said-- + + 'Your name, sir, is Pond, + But my name is Crow. + Please give me some water, + For if you do so + I can wash beak and feet + And the nice _khichri_ eat; + Though I really don't know + What the Sparrow can mean, + For I'm sure, as Crows go, + I'm remarkably clean!' + +[Illustration: The crow and those he meets] + +But the Pond said, 'Certainly I will give you water; but first you +must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn. Then with it you +can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh.' + +So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said-- + + 'Your name, sir, is Deer, + But my name is Crow. + Oh, give me a horn, please, + For if you do so + I can dig a clean rill + For the water to fill; + Then I'll wash beak and feet + And the nice _khichri_ eat; + Though I really don't know + What the Sparrow can mean, + For I'm sure, as Crows go, + I'm remarkably clean!' + +But the Deer said, 'Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you +must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to +drink. Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my +horn.' + +So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said-- + + 'Your name, ma'am, is Cow, + But my name is Crow. + Oh, give me some milk, please, + For if you do so + The pain will be borne, + Deer will give me his horn, + And I'll dig a clean rill + For the water to fill; + Then I'll wash beak and feet + And the nice _khichri_ eat; + Though I really don't know + What the Sparrow can mean, + For I'm sure, as Crows go, + I'm remarkably clean!' + +But the Cow said, 'Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must +bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without +grass?' + +So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said-- + + 'Your name, sir, is Grass, + But my name is Crow. + Oh, give me some blades, please, + For if you do so + Madam Cow will give milk + To the Deer sleek as silk; + The pain will be borne, + He will give me his horn, + And I'll dig a clean rill + For the water to fill; + Then I'll wash beak and feet + And the nice _khichri_ eat; + Though I really don't know + What the Sparrow can mean, + For I'm sure, as Crows go, + I'm remarkably clean!' + +But the Grass said, 'Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you +must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle. Then you +can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?' + +So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said-- + + 'Your name, sir, is Smith, + But my name is Crow. + Please give me a sickle, + For if you do so + The Grass I can mow + As food for the Cow; + Madam Cow will give milk + To the Deer sleek as silk; + The pain will be borne, + He will give me his horn, + And I'll dig a clean rill + For the water to fill; + Then I'll wash beak and feet + And the nice _khichri_ eat; + Though I really don't know + What the Sparrow can mean, + For I'm sure, as Crows go, + I'm remarkably clean!' + +'With pleasure,' said the Blacksmith, 'if you will light the fire and +blow the bellows.' + +So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so +doing he fell right in--to--the--very--middle--of--the--_fire_, +and was burnt! + +So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the +_khichri_. + + + + +THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN, AND THE JACKAL + + +Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap. He tried in vain to +get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when +he failed. + +By chance a poor Brahman came by. 'Let me out of this cage, O pious +one!' cried the tiger. + +'Nay, my friend,' replied the Brahman mildly, 'you would probably eat +me if I did.' + +'Not at all!' swore the tiger with many oaths; 'on the contrary, I +should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!' + +Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious +Brahman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of +the cage. Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried, +'What a fool you are! What is to prevent my eating you now, for after +being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!' + +In vain the Brahman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a +promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to +question as to the justice of the tiger's action. + +So the Brahman first asked a _pipal_ tree what it thought of the +matter, but the _pipal_ tree replied coldly, 'What have you to +complain about? Don't I give shade and shelter to every one who +passes by, and don't they in return tear down my blanches to feed +their cattle? Don't whimper--be a man!' + +Then the Brahman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a +buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it +answered, 'You are a fool to expect gratitude! Look at me! While I +gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry +they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!' + +[Illustration: Buffalo turning the well-wheel] + +The Brahman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion. + +'My dear sir,' said the road, 'how foolish you are to expect anything +else! Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great +and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the +ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!' + +On this the Brahman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a +jackal, who called out, 'Why, what's the matter, Mr. Brahman? You +look as miserable as a fish out of water!' + +Then the Brahman told him all that had occurred. 'How very +confusing!' said the jackal, when the recital was ended; 'would you +mind telling me over again? for everything seems so mixed up!' + +The Brahman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a +distracted sort of way, and still could not understand. + +'It's very odd,' said he sadly, 'but it all seems to go in at one ear +and out at the other! I will go to the place where it all happened, +and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.' + +So they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the +Brahman, and sharpening his teeth and claws. + +'You've been away a long time!' growled the savage beast, 'but now let +us begin our dinner.' + +'_Our_ dinner!' thought the wretched Brahman, as his knees +knocked together with fright; 'what a remarkably delicate way of +putting it!' + +'Give me five minutes, my lord!' he pleaded, 'in order that I may +explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.' + +The tiger consented, and the Brahman began the whole story over again, +not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible. + +'Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!' cried the jackal, wringing his +paws. 'Let me see! how did it all begin? You were in the cage, and +the tiger came walking by--' + +'Pooh!' interrupted the tiger,' what a fool you are! _I_ was in +the cage.' + +'Of course!' cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright; +'yes! I was in the cage--no, I wasn't--dear! dear! where are my +wits? Let me see--the tiger was in the Brahman, and the cage came +walking by--no, that's not it either! Well, don't mind me, but begin +your dinner, for I shall never understand!' + +'Yes, you shall!' returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's +stupidity; 'I'll _make_ you understand! Look here--I am the +tiger--' + +'Yes, my lord!' + +'And that is the Brahman--' + +'Yes, my lord!' + +'And that is the cage--' + +'Yes, my lord!' + +'And I was in the cage--do you understand?' + +'Yes--no--Please, my lord--' + +'Well?' cried the tiger, impatiently. + +'Please, my lord!--how did you get in?' + +'How!--why, in the usual way, of course!' + +'Oh dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again! Please don't be +angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?' + +At this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried, +'This way! Now do you understand how it was?' + +'Perfectly!' grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door; 'and +if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they +were!' + + + + +THE KING OF THE CROCODILES + + +[Illustration: Farmer begging the crocodiles not to hurt him] + +Once upon a time a farmer went out to look at his fields by the side +of the river, and found to his dismay that all his young green wheat +had been trodden down, and nearly destroyed, by a number of +crocodiles, which were lying lazily amid the crops like great logs of +wood. He flew into a great rage, bidding them go back to the water, +but they only laughed at him. + +Every day the same thing occurred,--every day the farmer found the +crocodiles lying in his young wheat, until one morning he completely +lost his temper, and, when they refused to budge, began throwing +stones at them. At this they rushed on him fiercely, and he, quaking +with fear, fell on his knees, begging them not to hurt him. + +'We will hurt neither you nor your young wheat,' said the biggest +crocodile, 'if you will give us your daughter in marriage; but if not, +we will eat you for throwing stones at us.' + +The farmer, thinking of nothing but saving his own life, promised what +the crocodiles required of him; but when, on his return home, he told +his wife what he had done, she was very much vexed, for their daughter +was as beautiful as the moon, and her betrothal into a very rich +family had already taken place. So his wife persuaded the farmer to +disregard the promise made to the crocodiles, and proceed with his +daughter's marriage as if nothing had happened; but when the +wedding-day drew near the bridegroom died, and there was an end to +that business. The farmer's daughter, however, was so beautiful that +she was very soon asked in marriage again, but this time her suitor +fell sick of a lingering illness; in short, so many misfortunes +occurred to all concerned, that at last even the farmer's wife +acknowledged the crocodiles must have something to do with the bad +luck. By her advice the farmer went down to the river bank to try to +induce the crocodiles to release him from his promise, but they would +hear of no excuse, threatening fearful punishments if the agreement +were not fulfilled at once. + +So the farmer returned home to his wife very sorrowful; she, however, +was determined to resist to the uttermost, and refused to give up her +daughter. + +The very next day the poor girl fell down and broke her leg. Then the +mother said, 'These demons of crocodiles will certainly kill us +all!--better to marry our daughter to a strange house than see her +die.' + +Accordingly, the farmer went down to the river and informed the +crocodiles they might send the bridal procession to fetch the bride as +soon as they chose. + +The next day a number of female crocodiles came to the bride's house +with trays full of beautiful clothes, and _henna_ for staining +the bride's hands. They behaved with the utmost politeness, and +carried out all the proper ceremonies with the greatest precision. +Nevertheless the beautiful bride wept, saying, 'Oh, mother! are you +marrying me into the river? I shall be drowned!' + +In due course the bridal procession arrived, and all the village was +wonderstruck at the magnificence of the arrangements. Never was there +such a retinue of crocodiles, some playing instruments of music, +others bearing trays upon trays full of sweetmeats, garments, and +jewels, and all dressed in the richest of stuffs. In the middle, a +perfect blaze of gold and gems, sat the King of the Crocodiles. + +The sight of so much magnificence somewhat comforted the beautiful +bride, nevertheless she wept bitterly when she was put into the +gorgeous bride's palanquin and borne off to the river bank. Arrived +at the edge of the stream, the crocodiles dragged the poor girl out, +and forced her into the water, despite her struggles, for, thinking +she was going to be drowned, she screamed with terror; but lo and +behold! no sooner had her feet touched the water than it divided +before her, and, rising up on either side, showed a path leading to +the bottom of the river, down which the bridal party disappeared, +leaving the bride's father, who had accompanied her so far, upon the +bank, very much astonished at the marvellous sight. + +Some months passed by without further news of the crocodiles. The +farmer's wife wept because she had lost her daughter, declaring that +the girl was really drowned, and her husband's fine story about the +stream dividing was a mere invention. + +Now when the King of the Crocodiles was on the point of leaving with +his bride, he had given a piece of brick to her father, with these +words: 'If ever you want to see your daughter, go down to the river, +throw this brick as far as you can into the stream, and you will see +what you will see!' + +Remembering this, the farmer said to his wife, 'Since you are so +distressed, I will go myself and see if my daughter be alive or dead.' + +Then he went to the river bank, taking the brick, and threw it ever so +far into the stream. Immediately the waters rolled back from before +his feet, leaving a dry path to the bottom of the river. It looked so +inviting, spread with clean sand, and bordered by flowers, that the +farmer hastened along it without the least hesitation, until he came +to a magnificent palace, with a golden roof, and shining, glittering +diamond walls. Lofty trees and gay gardens surrounded it, and a +sentry paced up and down before the gateway. + +'Whose palace is this?' asked the farmer of the sentry, who replied +that it belonged to the King of the Crocodiles. + +'My daughter has at least a splendid house to live in!' thought the +farmer; 'I only wish her husband were half as handsome!' + +Then, turning to the sentry, he asked if his daughter were within. + +'Your daughter!' returned the sentry, 'what should she do here?' + +'She married the King of the Crocodiles, and I want to see her.' + +At this the sentry burst out laughing. 'A likely story, indeed!' he +cried; 'what! _my_ master married to _your_ daughter! Ha! +ha! ha!' + +Now the farmer's daughter was sitting beside an open window in the +palace, waiting for her husband to return from hunting. She was as +happy as the day was long, for you must know that in his own +river-kingdom the King of the Crocodiles was the handsomest young +Prince anybody ever set eyes upon; it was only when he went on shore +that he assumed the form of a crocodile. So what with her magnificent +palace and splendid young Prince, the farmer's daughter had been too +happy even to think of her old home; but now, hearing a strange voice +speaking to the sentry, her memory awakened, and she recognised her +father's tones. Looking out, she saw him there, standing in his poor +clothes, in the glittering court; she longed to run and fling her arms +round his neck, but dared not disobey her husband, who had forbidden +her to go out of, or to let any one into the palace without his +permission. So all she could do was to lean out of the window, and +call to him, saying, 'Oh, dearest father! I am here! Only wait till +my husband, the King of the Crocodiles, returns, and I will ask him to +let you in. I dare not without his leave.' + +The father, though overjoyed to find his daughter alive, did not +wonder she was afraid of her terrible husband, so he waited patiently. + +In a short time a troop of horsemen entered the court. Every man was +dressed from head to foot in armour made of glittering silver plates, +but in the centre of all rode a Prince clad in gold--bright burnished +gold, from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet,--the +handsomest, most gallant young Prince that ever was seen. + +Then the poor farmer fell at the gold-clad horseman's feet, and cried, +'O King! cherish me! for I am a poor man whose daughter was carried +off by the dreadful King of the Crocodiles!' + +Then the gold-clad horseman smiled, saying, '_I_ am the King of +the Crocodiles! Your daughter is a good, obedient wife, and will be +very glad to see you.' + +After this there were great rejoicings and merrymakings, but when a +few days had passed away in feasting, the farmer became restless, and +begged to be allowed to take his daughter home with him for a short +visit, in order to convince his wife the girl was well and happy. But +the Crocodile King refused, saying, 'Not so! but if you like I will +give you a house and land here; then you can dwell with us.' + +The farmer said he must first ask his wife, and returned home, taking +several bricks with him, to throw into the river and make the stream +divide. + +His wife would not at first agree to live in the Crocodile Kingdom, +but she consented to go there on a visit, and afterwards became so +fond of the beautiful river country that she was constantly going to +see her daughter the Queen; till at length the old couple never +returned to shore, but lived altogether in Crocodile Kingdom with +their son-in-law, the King of the Crocodiles. + + + + +LITTLE ANKLEBONE + + +Once upon a time there was a little boy who lost his parents; so he +went to live with his Auntie, and she set him to herd sheep. All day +long the little fellow wandered barefoot through the pathless plain, +tending his flock, and playing his tiny shepherd's pipe from morn till +eve. + +But one day came a great big wolf, and looked hungrily at the small +shepherd and his fat sheep, saying, 'Little boy! shall I eat you, or +your sheep?' Then the little boy answered politely, 'I don't know, +Mr. Wolf; I must ask my Auntie.' + +So all day long he piped away on his tiny pipe, and in the evening, +when he brought the flock home, he went to his Auntie and said, +'Auntie dear, a great big wolf asked me to-day if he should eat me, or +your sheep. Which shall it be?' + +Then his Auntie looked at the wee little shepherd, and at the fat +flock, and said sharply, 'Which shall it be?--why, _you_, of +course!' + +So next morning the little boy drove his flock out into the pathless +plain, and blew away cheerfully on his shepherd's pipe until the great +big wolf appeared. Then he laid aside his pipe, and, going up to the +savage beast, said, 'Oh, if you please, Mr. Wolf, I asked my Auntie, +and she says you are to eat _me_.' + +Now the wolf, savage as wolves always are, could not help having just +a spark of pity for the tiny barefoot shepherd who played his pipe so +sweetly, therefore he said kindly, 'Could I do anything for you, +little boy, after I've eaten you?' + +'Thank you!' returned the tiny shepherd. 'If you would be so kind, +after you've picked the bones, as to thread my anklebone on a string +and hang it on the tree that weeps over the pond yonder, I shall be +much obliged.' + +So the wolf ate the little shepherd, picked the bones, and afterwards +hung the anklebone by a string to the branches of the tree, where it +danced and swung in the sunlight. + +Now, one day, three robbers, who had just robbed a palace, happening +to pass that way, sat down under the tree and began to divide the +spoil. Just as they had arranged all the golden dishes and precious +jewels and costly stuffs into three heaps, a jackal howled. Now you +must know that thieves always use the jackal's cry as a note of +warning, so that when at the very same moment Little Anklebone's +thread snapped, and he fell plump on the head of the chief robber, the +man imagined some one had thrown a pebble at him, and, shouting 'Run! +run!--we are discovered!' he bolted away as hard as he could, followed +by his companions, leaving all the treasure behind them. + +'Now,' said Little Anklebone to himself, 'I shall lead a fine life!' + +So he gathered the treasure together, and sat under the tree that +drooped over the pond, and played so sweetly on a new shepherd's pipe, +that all the beasts of the forest, and the birds of the air, and the +fishes of the pond came to listen to him. Then Little Anklebone put +marble basins round the pond for the animals to drink out of, and in +the evening the does, and the tigresses, and the she-wolves gathered +round him to be milked, and when he had drunk his fill he milked the +rest into the pond, till at last it became a pond of milk. And Little +Anklebone sat by the milken pond and piped away on his shepherd's +pipe. + +Now, one day, an old woman, passing by with her jar for water, heard +the sweet strains of Little Anklebone's pipe, and following the sound, +came upon the pond of milk, and saw the animals, and the birds, and +the fishes, listening to the music. She was wonderstruck, especially +when Little Anklebone, from his seat under the tree, called out, 'Fill +your jar, mother! All drink who come hither!' + +Then the old woman filled her jar with milk, and went on her way +rejoicing at her good fortune. But as she journeyed she met with the +King of that country, who, having been a-hunting, had lost his way in +the pathless plain. + +'Give me a drink of water, good mother,' he cried, seeing the jar; 'I +am half dead with thirst!' + +'It is milk, my son,' replied the old woman; 'I got it yonder from a +milken pond.' Then she told the King of the wonders she had seen, so +that he resolved to have a peep at them himself. And when he saw the +milken pond, and all the animals and birds and fishes gathered round, +while Little Anklebone played ever so sweetly on his shepherd's pipe, +he said, 'I must have the tiny piper, if I die for it!' + +[Illustration: Old woman finding the pond of milk] + +No sooner did Little Anklebone hear these words than he set off at a +run, and the King after him. Never was there such a chase before or +since, for Little Anklebone hid himself amid the thickest briars and +thorns, and the King was so determined to have the tiny piper, that he +did not care for scratches. At last the King was successful, but no +sooner did he take hold of Little Anklebone than the clouds above +began to thunder and lighten horribly, and from below came the lowing +of many does, and louder than all came the voice of the little piper +himself singing these words-- + + 'O clouds! why should you storm and flare? + Poor Anklebone is forced to roam. + O does! why wait the milker's care? + Poor Anklebone must leave his home.' + +And he sang so piercingly sweet that pity filled the King's heart, +especially when he saw it was nothing but a bone after all. So he let +it go again, and the little piper went back to his seat under the tree +by the pond; and there he sits still, and plays his shepherd's pipe, +while all the beasts of the forest, and birds of the air, and fishes +of the pond, gather round and listen to his music. And sometimes, +people wandering through the pathless plain hear the pipe, and then +they say, 'That is Little Anklebone, who was eaten by a wolf ages +ago!'* + + + + +THE CLOSE ALLIANCE + +A TALE OF WOE + + +One day a farmer went with his bullocks to plough his field. He had +just turned the first furrow, when a tiger walked up to him and said, +'Peace be with you, friend! How are you this fine morning?' + +'The same to you, my lord, and I am pretty well, thank you!' returned +the farmer, quaking with fear, but thinking it wisest to be polite. + +'I am glad to hear it,' replied the tiger cheerfully, 'because +Providence has sent me to eat your two bullocks. You are a +God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.' + +'My friend, are you sure you are not making a mistake?' asked the +farmer, whose courage had returned now that he knew it was merely a +question of gobbling up bullocks; 'because Providence sent me to +plough this field, and, in order to plough, one must have oxen. Had +you not better go and make further inquiries?' + +'There is no occasion for delay, and I should be sorry to keep you +waiting,' returned the tiger. 'If you'll unyoke the bullocks I'll be +ready in a moment.' With that the savage creature fell to sharpening +his teeth and claws in a very significant manner. + +But the farmer begged and prayed that his oxen might not be eaten, and +promised that if the tiger would spare them, he would give in exchange +a fine fat young milch cow, which his wife had tied up in the yard at +home. + +[Illustration: Farmer pleading with the tiger] + +To this the tiger agreed, and, taking the oxen with him, the farmer +went sadly homewards. Seeing him return so early from the fields, his +wife, who was a stirring, busy woman, called out, 'What! lazybones!--back +already, and _my_ work just beginning!' + +Then the farmer explained how he had met the tiger, and how to save +the bullocks he had promised the milch cow in exchange. At this the +wife began to cry, saying, 'A likely story, indeed!--saving your +stupid old bullocks at the expense of my beautiful cow! Where will +the children get milk? and how can I cook my pottage and collops +without butter?' + +'All very fine, wife,' retorted the farmer, 'but how can we make bread +without corn? and how can you have corn without bullocks to plough the +fields? Pottage and collops are very nice, but it is better to do +without milk and butter than without bread, so make haste and untie +the cow.' + +'You great gaby!' wept the wife, 'if you had an ounce of sense in your +brain you'd think of some plan to get out of the scrape!' + +'Think yourself!' cried the husband, in a rage. + +'Very well!' returned the wife; 'but if I do the thinking you must +obey orders; I can't do both. Go back to the tiger, and tell him the +cow wouldn't come along with you, but that your wife is bringing it' + +The farmer, who was a great coward, didn't half like the idea of going +back empty-handed to the tiger, but as he could think of no other plan +he did as he was bid, and found the beast still sharpening his teeth +and claws for very hunger; and when he heard he had to wait still +longer for his dinner, he began to prowl about, and lash his tail, and +curl his whiskers, in a most terrible manner, causing the poor +farmer's knees to knock together with terror. + +Now, when the farmer had left the house, his wife went to the stable +and saddled the pony; then she put on her husband's best clothes, tied +the turban very high, so as to make her look as tall as possible, +bestrode the pony, and set off to the field where the tiger was. + +She rode along, swaggering and blustering, till she came to where the +lane turned into the field, and then she called out, as bold as brass, +'Now, please the powers! I may find a tiger in this place; for I +haven't tasted tiger's meat since yesterday, when, as luck would have +it, I ate three for breakfast.' + +[Illustration: Farmer's wife on a horse] + +Hearing these words, and seeing the speaker ride boldly at him, the +tiger became so alarmed that he turned tail, and bolted into the +forest, going away at such a headlong pace that he nearly overturned +his own jackal; for tigers always have a jackal of their own, who, as +it were, waits at table and clears away the bones. + +'My lord! my lord!' cried the jackal, 'whither away so fast?' + +'Run! run!' panted the tiger; 'there's the very devil of a horseman in +yonder fields, who thinks nothing of eating three tigers for +breakfast!' + +At this the jackal sniggered in his sleeve. 'My dear lord,' said he, +'the sun has dazzled your eyes! That was no horseman, but only the +farmer's wife dressed up as a man!' + +'Are you quite sure?' asked the tiger, pausing. + +'Quite sure, my lord,' repeated the jackal; 'and if your lordship's +eyes had not been dazzled by--ahem!--the sun, your lordship would +have seen her pigtail hanging down behind.' + +'But you may be mistaken!' persisted the cowardly tiger; 'it was the +very devil of a horseman to look at!' + +'Who's afraid?' replied the brave jackal. 'Come! don't give up your +dinner because of a woman!' + +'But you may be bribed to betray me!' argued the tiger, who, like all +cowards, was suspicious. + +'Let us go together, then!' returned the gallant jackal. + +'Nay! but you may take me there and then run away!' insisted the tiger +cunningly. + +'In that case, let us tie our tails together, and then I can't!' The +jackal, you see, was determined not to be done out of his bones. + +To this the tiger agreed, and having tied their tails together in a +reef-knot, the pair set off arm-in-arm. + +Now the farmer and his wife had remained in the field, laughing over +the trick she had played on the tiger, when, lo and behold! what +should they see but the gallant pair coming back ever so bravely, with +their tails tied together. + +'Run!' cried the farmer; 'we are lost! we are lost!' + +'Nothing of the kind, you great gaby!' answered his wife coolly, 'if +you will only stop that noise and be quiet. I can't hear myself +speak!' + +Then she waited till the pair were within hail, when she called out +politely, 'How very kind of you, dear Mr. Jackal, to bring me such a +nice fat tiger! I shan't be a moment finishing my share of him, and +then you can have the bones.' + +At these words the tiger became wild with fright, and, quite +forgetting the jackal, and that reef-knot in their tails, he bolted +away full tilt, dragging the jackal behind him. Bumpety, bump, bump, +over the stones!--crash, scratch, patch, through the briars! + +In vain the poor jackal howled and shrieked to the tiger to stop,--the +noise behind him only frightened the coward more; and away he went, +helter-skelter, hurry-scurry, over hill and dale, till he was +_nearly_ dead with fatigue, and the jackal was _quite_ dead +from bumps and bruises. + +_Moral_--Don't tie your tail to a coward's. + + + + +THE TWO BROTHERS + + +Once upon a time there lived a King who had two young sons; they were +good boys, and sat in school learning all that kings' sons ought to +know. But while they were still learning, the Queen their mother +died, and their father the King shortly after married again. Of +course the new wife was jealous of the two young Princes, and, as +stepmothers usually do, she soon began to ill-use the poor boys. +First she gave them barley-meal instead of wheaten cakes to eat, and +then even these were made without salt. After a time, the meal of +which the cakes were made was sour and full of weevils; so matters +went on from bad to worse, until at last she took to beating the poor +young Princes, and when they cried, she complained to the King of +their disobedience and peevishness, so that he too was angry, and beat +them again. + +At length the lads agreed it was high time to seek some remedy. + +'Let us go into the world,' said the younger, 'and earn our own +living.' + +'Yes,' cried the elder, 'let us go at once, and never again eat bread +under this roof.' + +'Not so, brother,' replied the younger, who was wise beyond his years, +'don't you remember the saying-- + + ''With empty stomachs don't venture away, + Be it December, or be it May'?' + +So they ate their bread, bad as it was, and afterwards, both mounting +on one pony, they set out to seek their fortune. + +Having journeyed for some time through a barren country, they +dismounted under a large tree, and sat down to rest. By chance a +starling and a parrot, flying past, settled on the branches of the +tree, and began to dispute as to who should have the best place. + +'I never heard of such impertinence!' cried the starling, pushing and +striving to get to the topmost branch; 'why, I am so important a bird, +that if any man eats me he will without doubt become Prime Minister!' + +'Make room for your betters!' returned the parrot, hustling the +starling away; 'why, if any man eats _me_ he will without doubt +become a King!' + +Hearing these words, the brothers instantly drew out their crossbows, +and aiming at the same time, both the birds fell dead at the selfsame +moment. Now these two brothers were so fond of each other that +neither would allow he had shot the parrot, for each wanted the other +to be the King, and even when the birds had been cooked and were ready +to eat, the two lads were still disputing over the matter. But at +last the younger said, 'Dearest brother, we are only wasting time. +You are the elder, and must take your right, since it was your fate to +be born first.' + +So the elder Prince ate the parrot, and the younger Prince ate the +starling; then they mounted their pony and rode away. They had gone +but a little way, however, when the elder brother missed his whip, and +thinking he had perhaps left it under the tree, proposed to go back +and find it. + +'Not so,' said the younger Prince, 'you are King, I am only Minister; +therefore it is my place to go and fetch the whip.' + +'Be it as you wish,' replied the elder, 'only take the pony, which +will enable you to return quicker. In the meantime I will go on foot +to yonder town.' + +The younger Prince accordingly rode back to the tree, but the +Snake-demon, to whom it belonged, had returned during the interval, +and no sooner did the poor Prince set foot within its shade than the +horrid serpent flew at him and killed him. + +Meanwhile, the elder Prince, loitering along the road, arrived at last +at the town, which he found in a state of great commotion. The King +had recently died, and though all the inhabitants had marched past the +sacred elephant in file, the animal had not chosen to elect any one of +them to the vacant throne by kneeling down and saluting the favoured +individual as he passed by, for in this manner Kings were elected in +that country. Therefore the people were in great consternation, and +orders had been issued that every stranger entering the gates of the +city was forthwith to be led before the sacred elephant. No sooner, +therefore, had the elder Prince set foot in the town than he was +dragged unceremoniously--for there had been many disappointments--before +the over-particular animal. This time, however, it had found +what it wanted, for the very instant it caught sight of the Prince it +went down on its knees and began in a great hurry to salute him with +its trunk. So the Prince was immediately elected to the throne, amid +general rejoicings. + +[Illustration: The sacred elephant bowing before the prince] + +All this time the younger Prince lay dead under the tree, so that the +King his brother, after waiting and searching for him in vain, gave +him up for lost, and appointed another Prime Minister. + +But it so happened that a magician and his wife, who, being wise folk, +were not afraid of the serpents which dwelt in the tree, came to draw +water at the spring which flowed from the roots; and when the +magician's wife saw the dead Prince lying there, so handsome and +young, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful before, +and, taking pity on him, said to her husband, 'You are for ever +talking of your wisdom and power: prove it by bringing this dead lad +to life!' + +At first the magician refused, but when his wife began to jeer at him, +saying his vaunted power was all pretence, he replied angrily, 'Very +well; you shall see that although I myself have no power to bring the +dead back to life, I can force others to do the deed.' + +Whereupon he bade his wife fill her brass drinking bowl at the spring, +when, lo and behold! every drop of the water flowed into the little +vessel, and the fountain was dry! + +'Now,' said the magician, 'come away home, and you shall see what you +will see.' + +When the serpents found their spring had dried up, they were terribly +put out, for serpents are thirsty creatures, and love water. They +bore the drought for three days, but after that they went in a body to +the magician, and told him they would do whatever he desired if he +would only restore the water of their spring. This he promised to do, +if they in their turn restored the dead Prince to life; and when they +gladly performed this task, the magician emptied the brass bowl, all +the water flowed back into the spring, and the serpents drank and were +happy. + +The young Prince, on coming back to life, fancied he had awakened from +sleep, and fearing lest his brother should be vexed at his delay, +seized the whip, mounted the pony--which all this time had been +quietly grazing beside its master--and rode off. But in his hurry and +confusion he took the wrong road, and so arrived at last at a +different city from the one wherein his brother was king. + +It was growing late in the evening, and having no money in his pocket, +the young Prince was at a loss how to procure anything to eat; but +seeing a good-natured-looking old woman herding goats, he said to her, +'Mother, if you will give me something to eat you may herd this pony +of mine also, for it will be yours.' + +To this the old woman agreed, and the Prince went to live in her +house, finding her very kind and good-natured. But in the course of a +day or two he noticed that his hostess looked very sad, so he asked +her what was the matter. + +'The matter is this, my son,' replied the old woman, tearfully; 'in +this kingdom there lives an ogre, which every day devours a young man, +a goat, and a wheaten cake--in consideration of receiving which meal +punctually, he leaves the other inhabitants in peace. Therefore every +day this meal has to be provided, and it falls to the lot of every +inhabitant in turn to prepare it, under pain of death. It is my turn +to-day. The cake I can make, the goat I have, but where is the young +man?' + +'Why does not some one kill the ogre?' asked the brave young Prince. + +'Many have tried, but all have failed, though the King has gone so far +as to promise his daughter in marriage, and half his kingdom, to a +successful champion. And now it is my turn, and I must die, for where +shall I find a young man?' said the poor old woman, weeping bitterly. + +'Don't cry, Goody,' returned the good-natured Prince; 'you have been +very kind to me, and I will do my best for you by making part of the +ogre's dinner.' + +And though the old woman at first refused flatly to allow so handsome +a young man to sacrifice himself, he laughed at her fears, and cheered +her up so that she gave in. + +'Only one thing I ask of you, Goody,' quoth the Prince; 'make the +wheaten cake as big as you can, and give me the finest and fattest +goat in your flock.' + +This she promised to do, and when everything was prepared, the Prince, +leading the goat and carrying the cake, went to the tree where the +ogre came every evening to receive and devour his accustomed meal. +Having tied the goat to the tree, and laid the cake on the ground, the +Prince stepped outside the trench that was dug round the ogre's +dining-room, and waited. Presently the ogre, a very frightful monster +indeed, appeared. Now he generally ate the young man first, for as a +rule the cakes and goats brought to him were not appetising; but this +evening, seeing the biggest cake and the fattest goat he ever set eyes +upon, he just went straight at them and began to gobble them up. As +he was finishing the last mouthful, and was looking about for his +man's flesh, the Prince sprang at him, sword in hand. Then ensued a +terrible contest. The ogre fought like an ogre, but in consequence of +having eaten the cake and the goat, one the biggest and the other the +fattest that ever was seen, he was not nearly so active as usual, and +after a tremendous battle the brave Prince was victorious, and laid +his enemy at his feet. Rejoicing at his success, the young man cut +off the ogre's head, tied it up in a handkerchief as a trophy, and +then, being quite wearied out by the combat, lay down to rest and fell +fast asleep. + +Now, every morning, a scavenger came to the ogre's dining-room to +clear away the remains of the last night's feast, for the ogre was +mighty fastidious, and could not bear the smell of old bones; and this +particular morning, when the scavenger saw only half the quantity of +bones, he was much astonished, and beginning to search for more, found +the young Prince hard by, fast asleep, with the ogre's head by his +side. + +'Ho! ho!' thought the scavenger, 'this is a fine chance for me!' + +So, lifting the Prince, who, being dead tired, did not awake, he put +him gently into a clay-pit close by, and covered him up with clay. +Then he took the ogre's head, and going to the King, claimed half the +kingdom and the Princess in marriage, as his reward for slaying the +ogre. + +Although the King had his suspicions that all was not fair, he was +obliged to fulfil his promise as far as giving up part of his kingdom +was concerned, but for the present he managed to evade the dreadful +necessity of giving his daughter in marriage to a scavenger, by the +excuse that the Princess was desirous of a year's delay. So the +Scavenger-king reigned over half the kingdom, and made great +preparations for his future marriage. + +Meanwhile, some potters coming to get clay from their pit were +mightily astonished to find a handsome young man, insensible, but +still breathing, hidden away under the clay. Taking him home, they +handed him over to the care of their women, who soon brought him +round. On coming to himself, he learnt with surprise of the +scavenger's victory over the ogre, with which all the town was +ringing. He understood how the wicked wretch had stepped in and +defrauded him, and having no witness but his own word, saw it would be +useless to dispute the point; therefore he gladly accepted the +potters' offer of teaching him their trade. + +Thus the Prince sat at the potters' wheel, and proved so clever, that +ere long they became famous for the beautiful patterns and excellent +workmanship of their wares; so much so, that the story of the handsome +young potter who had been found in a clay-pit soon became noised +abroad; and although the Prince had wisely never breathed a word of +his adventures to any one, yet, when the news of his existence reached +the Scavenger-king's ears, he determined in some way or another to get +rid of the young man, lest the truth should leak out. + +Now, just at this time, the fleet of merchant vessels which annually +came to the city with merchandise and spices was detained in harbour +by calms and contrary winds. So long were they detained that the +merchants feared lest they should be unable to return within the year; +and as this was a serious matter, the auguries were consulted. They +declared that until a human sacrifice was made the vessels would never +leave port. When this was reported to the Scavenger-king he seized +his opportunity, and said, 'Be it so; but do not sacrifice a citizen. +Give the merchants that good-for-nothing potter-lad, who comes no one +knows whence.' + +[Illustration: The prince at the potter's wheel] + +The courtiers of course lauded the kindness of the Scavenger-king to +the skies, and the Prince was handed over to the merchants, who, +taking him on board their ships, prepared to kill him. However, he +begged and prayed them so hard to wait till evening, on the chance of +a breeze coming up, that they consented to wait till sunset. Then, +when none came, the Prince took a knife and made a tiny cut on his +little finger. As the first drop of blood flowed forth, the sails of +the first ship filled with wind, and she glided swiftly out of +harbour; at the second drop, the second ship did likewise, and so on +till the whole fleet were sailing before a strong breeze. + +The merchants were enchanted at having such a valuable possession as +the Prince, who could thus compel the winds, and took the very +greatest care of him; before long he was a great favourite with them +all, for he was really an amiable young man. At length they arrived +at another city, which happened to be the very one where the Prince's +brother had been elected King by the elephant, and while the merchants +went into the town to transact business, they left the Prince to watch +over the vessels. Now, growing weary of watching, the Prince, to +amuse himself, began, with the clay on the shore beside him, to make a +model from memory of his father's palace. Growing interested in his +work, he worked away till he had made the most beautiful thing +imaginable. There was the garden full of flowers, the King on his +throne, the courtiers sitting round,--even the Princes learning in +school, and the pigeons fluttering about the tower. When it was quite +finished, the poor young Prince could not help the tears coming into +his eyes, as he looked at it, and he sighed to think of past days. + +Just at that very moment the Prime Minister's daughter, surrounded by +her women, happened to pass that way. She looked at the beautiful +model, and was wonderstruck, but when she saw the handsome, sad young +man who sat sighing beside it, she went straight home, locked the +doors, and refused to eat anything at all. Her father, fearing she +was ill, sent to inquire what was wrong, whereupon she sent him this +reply: 'Tell my father I will neither eat nor drink until he marries +me to the young man who sits sighing on the sea-shore beside a king's +palace made of clay.' + +At first the Prime Minister was very angry, but seeing his daughter +was determined to starve herself to death if she did not gain her +point, he outwardly gave his consent; privately, however, arranging +with the merchants that immediately after the marriage the bride and +bridegroom were to go on board the ships, which were at once to set +sail, and that on the first opportunity the Prince was to be thrown +overboard, and the Princess brought back to her father. + +So the marriage took place, the ships sailed away, and a day or two +afterwards the merchants pushed the young man overboard as he was +sitting on the prow. But it so happened that a rope was hanging from +the bride's window in the stern, and as the Prince drifted by, he +caught it and climbed up into her cabin unseen. She hid him in her +box, where he lay concealed, and when they brought her food, she +refused to eat, pretending grief, and saying, 'Leave it here; perhaps +I may be hungry by and by.' Then she shared the meal with her +husband. + +The merchants, thinking they had managed everything beautifully, +turned their ships round, and brought the bride and her box back to +her father, who, being much pleased, rewarded them handsomely. + +His daughter also was quite content, and having reached her own +apartments, let her husband out of the box and dressed him as a +woman-servant, so that he could go about the palace quite securely. + +Now the Prince had of course told his wife the whole story of his +life, and when she in return had related how the King of that country +had been elected by the elephant, her husband began to feel sure he +had found his long-lost brother at last. Then he laid a plan to make +sure. Every day a bouquet of flowers was sent to the King from the +Minister's garden, so one evening the Prince, in his disguise, went up +to the gardener's daughter, who was cutting flowers, and said, 'I will +teach you a new fashion of arranging them, if you like.' Then, taking +the flowers, he tied them together just as his father's gardener used +to do. + +The next morning, when the King saw the bouquet, he became quite pale, +and turning to the gardener, asked him who had arranged the flowers. + +'I did, sire,' replied the gardener, trembling with fear. + +'You lie, knave!' cried the King; 'but go, bring me just such another +bouquet to-morrow, or your head shall be the forfeit!' + +That day the gardener's daughter came weeping to the disguised Prince, +and, telling him all, besought him to make her another bouquet to save +her father's life. The Prince willingly consented, for he was now +certain the King was his long-lost brother; and, making a still more +beautiful bouquet, concealed a paper, on which his name was written, +amidst the flowers. + +When the King discovered the paper he turned quite pale, and said to +the gardener, 'I am now convinced you never made this nosegay; but +tell me the truth, and I will forgive you.' + +Whereupon the gardener fell on his knees and confessed that one of the +women-servants in the Prime Minister's palace had made it for his +daughter. This surprised the King immensely, and he determined to +disguise himself and go with the gardener's daughter to cut flowers in +the Minister's garden, which he accordingly did; but no sooner did the +disguised young Prince behold his brother than he recognised him, and +wishing to see if power and wealth had made his brother forget their +youthful affection, he parried all questions as to where he had learnt +to arrange flowers, and replied by telling the story of his +adventures, as far as the eating of the starling and the parrot. Then +he declared he was too tired to proceed further that day, but would +continue his story on the next. The King, though greatly excited, was +accordingly obliged to wait till the next evening, when the Prince +told of his fight with the demon and delivery by the potters. Then +once more he declared he was tired, and the King, who was on pins and +needles to hear more, had to wait yet another day; and so on until the +seventh day, when the Prince concluded his tale by relating his +marriage with the Prime Minister's daughter, and disguise as a woman. + +Then the King fell on his brother's neck and rejoiced greatly; the +Minister also, when he heard what an excellent marriage his daughter +had made, was so pleased that he voluntarily resigned his office in +favour of his son-in-law. So what the parrot and the starling had +said came true, for the one brother was King, and the other Prime +Minister. + +The very first thing the King did was to send ambassadors to the court +of the king who owned the country where the ogre had been killed, +telling him the truth of the story, and saying that his brother, being +quite satisfied as Prime Minister, did not intend to claim half the +kingdom. At this, the king of that country was so delighted that he +begged the Minister Prince to accept of his daughter as a bride, to +which the Prince replied that he was already married, but that his +brother the King would gladly make her his wife. + +So there were immense rejoicings, but the Scavenger-king was put to +death, as he very well deserved. + + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE IGUANA + + +One moonlight night, a miserable, half-starved jackal, skulking +through the village, found a worn-out pair of shoes in the gutter. +They were too tough for him to eat, so, determined to make some use of +them, he strung them to his ears like earrings, and, going down to the +edge of the pond, gathered all the old bones he could find together, +and built a platform with them, plastering it over with mud. + +On this he sat in a dignified attitude, and when any animal came to +the pond to drink, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Hi! stop! You must +not taste a drop till you have done homage to me. So repeat these +verses, which I have composed in honour of the occasion:-- + + 'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold; + In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!' + +Now, as most of the animals were very thirsty, and in a great hurry to +drink, they did not care to dispute the matter, but gabbled off the +words without a second thought. Even the royal tiger, treating it as +a jest, repeated the jackal's rhyme, in consequence of which the +latter became quite cock-a-hoop, and really began to believe he was a +personage of great importance. + +[Illustration: The jackal on the mud-plastered bone platform] + +By and by an iguana, or big lizard, came waddling and wheezing down to +the water, looking for all the world like a baby alligator. + +'Hi! you there!' sang out the jackal; 'you mustn't drink until you +have said-- + +'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold; In his ears are +jewels,--some prince I must behold!' + +'Pouf! pouf! pouf!' gasped the iguana. 'Mercy on us, how dry my +throat is! Mightn't I have just a wee sip of water first? and then I +could do justice to your admirable lines; at present I am as hoarse as +a crow!' + +'By all means!' replied the jackal, with a gratified smirk. 'I +flatter myself the verses _are_ good, especially when well +recited.' + +So the iguana, nose down into the water, drank away, until the jackal +began to think he would never leave off, and was quite taken aback +when he finally came to an end of his draught, and began to move away. + +'Hi! hi!' cried the jackal, recovering his presence of mind;' stop a +bit, and say-- + + 'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold; + In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!' + +'Dear me!' replied the iguana, politely, 'I was very nearly +forgetting! Let me see--I must try my voice first--Do, re, me, fa, +sol, la, si,--that is right! Now, how does it run?' + + 'Silver is his dais, plastered o'er with gold; + In his ears are jewels,--some prince I must behold!' + +repeated the jackal, not observing that the lizard was carefully +edging farther and farther away. + +'Exactly so,' returned the iguana; 'I think I could say that!' +Whereupon he sang out at the top of his voice-- + + 'Bones make up his dais, with mud it's plastered o'er, + Old shoes are his ear-drops: a jackal, nothing more!' + +And turning round, he bolted for his hole as hard as he could. + +The jackal could scarcely believe his ears, and sat dumb with +astonishment. Then, rage lending him wings, he flew after the lizard, +who, despite his short legs and scanty breath, put his best foot +foremost, and scuttled away at a great rate. + +It was a near race, however, for just as he popped into his hole, the +jackal caught him by the tail, and held on. Then it was a case of +'pull butcher, pull baker,' until the lizard made certain his tail +must come off, and the jackal felt as if his front teeth would come +out. Still not an inch did either budge, one way or the other, and +there they might have remained till the present day, had not the +iguana called out, in his sweetest tones, 'Friend, I give in! Just +leave hold of my tail, will you? then I can turn round and come out.' + +Whereupon the jackal let go, and the tail disappeared up the hole in a +twinkling; while all the reward the jackal got for digging away until +his nails were nearly worn out, was hearing the iguana sing softly-- + + 'Bones make up his dais, with mud it's plastered o'er, + Old shoes are his ear-drops: a jackal, nothing more!' + + + + +THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF POOR HEN-SPARROW + + +Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were +both growing old. But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay, +festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was +quite a ladies' man. So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and +determined to marry her, for he was tired of his sober old wife. The +wedding was a mighty grand affair, and everybody as jolly and merry as +could be, except of course the poor old wife, who crept away from all +the noise and fun to sit disconsolately on a quiet branch just under a +crow's nest, where she could be as melancholy as she liked without +anybody poking fun at her. + +Now while she sat there it began to rain, and after a while the drops, +soaking through the crow's nest, came drip-dripping on to her +feathers; she, however, was far too miserable to care, and sat there +all huddled up and peepy till the shower was over. Now it so happened +that the crow had used some scraps of dyed cloth in lining its nest, +and as these became wet the colours ran, and dripping down on to the +poor old hen-sparrow beneath, dyed her feathers until she was as gay +as a peacock. + +Fine feathers make fine birds, we all know, and she really looked +quite spruce; so much so, that when she flew home, the new wife nearly +burst with envy, and asked her at once where she had found such a +lovely dress. + +'Easily enough,' replied the old wife; 'I just went into the dyer's +vat.' + +The bride instantly determined to go there also. She could not endure +the notion of the old thing being better dressed than she was, so she +flew off at once to the dyer's, and being in a great hurry, went pop +into the middle of the vat, without waiting to see if it was hot or +cold. It turned out to be just scalding; consequently the poor thing +was half boiled before she managed to scramble out. Meanwhile, the +gay old cock, not finding his bride at home, flew about distractedly +in search of her, and you may imagine what bitter tears he wept when +he found her, half drowned and half boiled, with her feathers all +awry, lying by the dyer's vat. + +'What has happened?' quoth he. + +But the poor bedraggled thing could only gasp out feebly-- + + 'The old wife was dyed-- + The nasty old cat! + And I, the gay bride, + Fell into the vat!' + +Whereupon the cock-sparrow took her up tenderly in his bill, and flew +away home with his precious burden. Now, just as he was crossing the +big river in front of his house, the old hen-sparrow, in her gay +dress, looked out of the window, and when she saw her old husband +bringing home his young bride in such a sorry plight, she burst out +laughing shrilly, and called aloud, 'That is right! that is right! +Remember what the song says-- + + 'Old wives must scramble through water and mud, + But young wives are carried dry-shod o'er the flood.' + +This allusion so enraged her husband that he could not contain +himself, but cried out,' Hold your tongue, you shameless old cat!' + +Of course, when he opened his mouth to speak, the poor draggled bride +fell out, and going plump into the river, was drowned. Whereupon the +cock-sparrow was so distracted with grief that he picked off all his +feathers until he was as bare as a ploughed field. Then, going to a +_pipal_ tree, he sat all naked and forlorn on the branches, +sobbing and sighing. + +'What has happened?' cried the _pipal_ tree, aghast at the sight. + +'Don't ask me!' wailed the cock-sparrow; 'it isn't manners to ask +questions when a body is in deep mourning.' + +But the _pipal_ would not be satisfied without an answer, so at +last poor bereaved cock-sparrow replied-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair!' + +On hearing this sad tale, the _pipal_ became overwhelmed with +grief, and declaring it must mourn also, shed all its leaves on the +spot. + +By and by a buffalo, coming in the heat of the day to rest in the +shade of the _pipal_ tree, was astonished to find nothing but +bare twigs. + +'What has happened?' cried the buffalo; 'you were as green as possible +yesterday!' + +'Don't ask me!' whimpered the _pipal_. 'Where are your manners? +Don't you know it isn't decent to ask questions when people are in +mourning?' + +But the buffalo insisted on having an answer, so at last, with many +sobs and sighs, the _pipal_ replied-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Bewailing his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves!' + +'Oh dear me!' cried the buffalo, 'how very sad! I really must mourn +too!' So she immediately cast her horns, and began to weep and wail. +After a while, becoming thirsty, she went to drink at the river-side. + +'Goodness gracious!' cried the river, 'what is the matter? and what +have you done with your horns?' + +'How rude you are!' wept the buffalo. 'Can't you see I am in deep +mourning? and it isn't polite to ask questions.' + +But the river persisted, until the buffalo, with many groans, +replied-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns!' + +'Dreadful!' cried the river, and wept so fast that its water became +quite salt. + +By and by a cuckoo, coming to bathe in the stream, called out, 'Why, +river! what has happened? You are as salt as tears!' + +'Don't ask me!' mourned the stream; 'it is too dreadful for words!' + +Nevertheless, when the cuckoo would take no denial, the river +replied-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns; + The stream, weeping fast, + Grows briny at last!' + +'Oh dear! oh dear me!' cried the cuckoo, 'how very very sad! I must +mourn too!' So it plucked out an eye, and going to a corn-merchant's +shop, sat on the doorstep and wept. + +'Why, little cuckoo! what's the matter?' cried Bhagtu the shopkeeper. +'You are generally the pertest of birds, and to-day you are as dull +as ditchwater!' + +'Don't ask me!' snivelled the cuckoo; 'it is such terrible grief! such +dreadful sorrow! such--such horrible pain!' + +However, when Bhagtu persisted, the cuckoo, wiping its one eye on its +wing, replied-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns; + The stream, weeping fast, + Grows briny at last; + The cuckoo with sighs + Blinds one of its eyes!' + +'Bless my heart!' cried Bhagtu,'but that is simply the most +heartrending tale I ever heard in my life! I must really mourn +likewise!' Whereupon he wept, and wailed, and beat his breast, until +he went completely out of his mind; and when the Queen's maidservant +came to buy of him, he gave her pepper instead of turmeric, onion +instead of garlic, and wheat instead of pulse. + +'Dear me, friend Bhagtu!' quoth the maid-* servant, 'your wits are +wool-gathering! What's the matter?' + +'Don't! please don't!' cried Bhagtu; 'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for +I am trying to forget all about it. It is too dreadful--too too +terrible!' + +At last, however, yielding to the maid's entreaties, he replied, with +many sobs and tears-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns; + The stream, weeping fast, + Grows briny at last; + The cuckoo with sighs + Blinds one of its eyes; + Bhagtu's grief so intense is, + He loses his senses!' + +'How very sad!' exclaimed the maidservant. 'I don't wonder at your +distress; but it is always so in this miserable world!--everything +goes wrong!' + +Whereupon she fell to railing at everybody and everything in the +world, until the Queen said to her, 'What is the matter, my child? +What distresses you?' + +'Oh!' replied the maidservant, 'the old story! every one is miserable, +and I most of all! Such dreadful news!-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns; + The stream, weeping fast, + Grows briny at last; + The cuckoo with sighs + Blinds one of its eyes; + Bhagtu's grief so intense is, + He loses his senses; + The maidservant wailing + Has taken to railing!' + +'Too true!' wept the Queen, 'too true! The world is a vale of tears! +There is nothing for it but to try and forget!' Whereupon she set to +work dancing away as hard as she could. + +By and by in came the Prince, who, seeing her twirling about, said, +'Why, mother! what is the matter?' + +The Queen, without stopping, gasped out-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns; + The stream, weeping fast, + Grows briny at last; + The cuckoo with sighs + Blinds one of its eyes; + Bhagtu's grief so intense is, + He loses his senses; + The maidservant wailing + Has taken to railing; + The Queen, joy enhancing, + Takes refuge in dancing!' + +'If that is your mourning, I'll mourn too!' cried the Prince, and +seizing his tambourine, he began to thump on it with a will. Hearing +the noise, the King came in, and asked what was the matter. + +'This is the matter!' cried the Prince, drumming away with all his +might-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Lamenting his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns; + The stream, weeping fast, + Grows briny at last; + The cuckoo with sighs + Blinds one of its eyes; + Bhagtu's grief so intense is, + He loses his senses; + The maidservant wailing + Has taken to railing; + The Queen, joy enhancing, + Takes refuge in dancing; + To aid the mirth coming, + The Prince begins drumming!' + +'Capital! capital!' cried the King, 'that's the way to do it!' so, +seizing his zither, he began to thrum away like one possessed. + +And as they danced, the Queen, the King, the Prince, and the +maidservant sang-- + + 'The ugly hen painted. + By jealousy tainted, + The pretty hen dyed. + Bewailing his bride, + The cock, bald and bare, + Sobs loud in despair; + The _pipal_ tree grieves + By shedding its leaves; + The buffalo mourns + By casting her horns; + The stream, weeping fast, + Grows briny at last; + The cuckoo with sighs + Blinds one of its eyes; + Bhagtu's grief so intense is, + He loses his senses; + The maidservant wailing + Has taken to railing; + The Queen, joy enhancing, + Takes refuge in dancing; + To aid the mirth coming, + The Prince begins drumming; + To join in it with her + The King strums the zither!' + +So they danced and sang till they were tired, and that was how every +one mourned poor cock-sparrow's pretty bride. + +[Illustration] + + + + +PRINCESS PEPPERINA + + +A Bulbul once lived in a forest, and sang all day to her mate, till +one morning she said, 'Oh, dearest husband! you sing beautifully, but +I should so like some nice green pepper to eat!' The obedient bulbul +at once flew off to find some, but though he flew for miles, peeping +into every garden by the way, he could not discover a single green +pepper. Either there was no fruit at all on the bushes, but only tiny +white star-flowers, or the peppers were all ripe, and crimson red. + +At last, right out in the wilderness, he came upon a high-walled +garden. Tall mango-trees shaded it on all sides, shutting out fierce +sunshine and rough winds, and within grew innumerable flowers and +fruits. But there was no sign of life within its walls--no birds, no +butterflies, only silence and a perfume of flowers. + +The bulbul alighted in the middle of the garden, and, lo! there grew a +solitary pepper plant, and amid the polished leaves shone a single +green fruit of immense size, gleaming like an emerald. + +Greatly delighted, the bird flew home to his mate, and telling her he +had found the most beautiful green pepper in the world, brought her +back with him to the garden, where she at once began to eat the +delicious morsel. + +Now the Jinn to whom the garden belonged had all this time been asleep +in a summer-house; and as he generally kept awake for twelve whole +years, and then slept for another twelve years, he was of course very +sound asleep, and knew nothing of the bulbul's coming and going. +Nevertheless, as the time of his awaking was not far off, he had +dreadful nightmares whilst the green pepper was being pecked to +pieces, and, becoming restless, awoke just when the bulbul's wife, +after laying one glittering emerald-green egg beneath the pepper +plant, flew away with her husband. + +As usual, the Jinn, after yawning and stretching, went to see how his +pet pepper was getting on. Great was his sorrow and rage at finding +it pecked to pieces. He could not imagine what had done the mischief, +knowing as he did that neither bird, beast, nor insect lived in the +garden. + +'Some dreadful creeping thing from that horrid world outside must have +stolen in, whilst I slept,' said the Jinn to himself, and immediately +began to search for the intruder. He found nothing, however, but the +glittering green egg, with which he was so much astonished that he +took it to his summer-house, wrapped it up in cotton-wool, and put it +away carefully in a carved niche in the wall. Every day he went and +looked at it, sighing over the thought of his lost pepper, until one +morning, lo and behold! the egg had disappeared, and in its place sat +the loveliest little maiden, dressed from head to foot in +emerald-green, while round her neck hung a single emerald of great +size, shaped just like the green pepper. + +The Jinn, who was a quiet, inoffensive creature, was delighted, for he +loved children, and this one was the daintiest little morsel ever +beheld. So he made it the business of his life to tend Princess +Pepperina, for such the maiden informed him was her name. + +Now, when twelve years had passed by in the flowery garden, it became +time for the good-natured Jinn to go to sleep again; and it puzzled +him very much to think what would become of his Princess when he was +no longer able to take care of her. But it so happened that a great +King and his Minister, while hunting in the forest, came upon the +high-walled garden, and being curious to see what was inside, they +climbed over the wall, and found the lovely Princess Pepperina seated +by the pepper plant. + +The King immediately fell in love with her, and in the most elegant +language begged her to be his wife. But the Princess hung down her +head modestly, saying, 'Not so!--you must ask the Jinn who owns this +garden; only he has an unfortunate habit of eating men sometimes.' + +Nevertheless, when she saw the young King kneeling before her, she +could not help thinking him the handsomest and most splendid young man +in the world, so her heart softened, and when she heard the Jinn's +footstep, she cried, 'Hide yourself in the garden, and I will see if I +can persuade my guardian to listen to you.' + +Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about, +and cry 'Fee! fa! fum! I smell the blood of a man!' + +Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may +eat _me_ if you like, for there is no one else here,' + +And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest +life! I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!' + +After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's +approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone +in the walled garden. At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly +troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to +marry her to some young nobleman, but, he added, a worthy husband was +hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome, +as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst women. Hearing +this, the Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he +would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she +was. The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess +already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when +she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a +thicket. Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in +hand, even the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had +never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage, +which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had +begun to nod and yawn. Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his +dear little Princess, he wept so much that the tears kept him awake, +and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face +once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which +flying after her, fluttered above her head. She seemed quite happy, +talking and whispering to her handsome husband, so he flew home again +to sleep. But the green mantle of his dear little Princess kept +floating before his eyes, so that he could not rest, and changing +himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head. +She was smiling by her husband's side, so the Jinn flew home to his +garden, yawning terribly. But the soft eyes of his dear little +Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he +changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with +his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far +away on the horizon. Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast +asleep. + +Now during the years which followed, the young King remained +passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other women in +the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth +to the most lovely young Prince imaginable. They determined to +compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might kill her, +or lay a snare for her. + +Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and +whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, +but all the world is fast asleep.' + +Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was +a real talisman, and always told the truth; if any one even whispered +a story, it just up and out with the truth _at once_, and shamed +the culprit without remorse. So the emerald on these occasions would +answer, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina is asleep. It is the world +that wakes.' + +Then the wicked women would shrink away, for they knew they had no +power to harm the Princess while the talisman was round her neck. + +At last it so happened that when the young Queen was bathing she took +off the emerald talisman, and left it by mistake in the +bathing-place. So that night, when the jealous women as usual came +whispering round the door, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all +the world sleeps,' the truthful talisman called out from the +bathing-place, 'Not so! the Princess Pepperina sleeps. It is the +world that wakes.' + +Knowing by the sound of the talisman's voice that it was not in its +usual place, these wicked creatures stole into the room gently, killed +the infant Prince, who was peacefully sleeping in his little crib, cut +him into little bits, laid them in his mother's bed, and gently +stained her lips with the blood. + +Early next morning they flew to the King, weeping and wailing, bidding +him come and see the horrible sight. + +'Look!' said they, 'the beautiful wife you loved so much is an +ogress! We warned you against her, and now she has killed her child +in order to eat its flesh!' + +The King was terribly grieved and wroth, for he loved his wife, and +yet could not deny she was an ogress; so he ordered her to be whipped +out of his kingdom and then slain. + +So the lovely tender fair young Queen was scourged out of the land, +and then cruelly murdered, whilst the wicked jealous women rejoiced at +their evil success. + +But when Princess Pepperina died, her body became a high white marble +wall, her eyes turned into liquid pools of water, her green mantle +changed into stretches of verdant grass, her long curling hair into +lovely creepers and tendrils, while her scarlet mouth and white teeth +became a beautiful bed of roses and narcissus. Then her soul took the +form of a sheldrake and its mate,--those loving birds which, like the +turtle-dove, are always constant,--and floating on the liquid pools, +they mourned all day long the sad fate of the Princess Pepperina. + +Now, after many days, the young King, who, despite her supposed crime, +could not help bewailing his beautiful bride, went out a-hunting, and +finding no game, wandered far afield, until he came to the high white +marble wall. Curious to see what it enclosed, he climbed over on to +the verdant grass, where the tendrils waved softly, the roses and +narcissus blossomed, and the loving birds floated on the liquid pools +mourning all day long. + +The King, weary and sad, lay down to rest in the lovely spot, and +listened to the cry of the birds, and as he listened, the meaning +seemed to grow plain, so that he heard them tell the whole story of +the wicked women's treachery. + +Then the one bird said, weeping, to the other, 'Can she never become +alive again?' And the other answered, 'If the King were to catch us, +and hold us close, heart to heart, while he severed our heads from our +bodies with one blow of his sword, so that neither of us should die +before the other, the Princess Pepperina would become alive once +more. But if one dies before the other, she will always remain as she +is!' + +Then the King, with a beating heart, called the birds to him, and they +came quite readily, standing heart to heart while he cut off their +heads with one blow of his sword, so that they fell dead at the +self-same moment. + +At the very same instant the Princess Pepperina appeared, smiling, +more beautiful than ever; but, strange to say, the liquid pools, the +grass, the climbing tendrils, and the flowers remained as they were. + +Then the King besought her to return home with him, vowing he would +never again distrust her, and would put all the wicked traitors to +death; but she refused, saying she would prefer to live always within +the high white marble walls, where no one could molest her. + +'Just so!' cried the Jinn, who, having but that moment awakened from +his twelve years' sleep, had flown straight to his dearest Princess. +'Here you shall live, and I will live with you!' + +Then he built the King and Queen a magnificent palace, where they +lived very happily ever after; and as no one knew anything about it, +no one was jealous of the beautiful Princess Pepperina. + + + + +PEASIE AND BEANSIE + + +Once upon a time there were two sisters, who lived together; but while +the elder, Beansie by name, was a hard quarrelsome creature, apt to +disagree with everybody, Peasie, the younger, was soft and most +agreeable. + +Now, one day, Peasie, who was for ever trying to please somebody, said +to her sister, 'Beansie, my dear! don't you think we ought to pay a +visit to our poor old father? He must be dull now--it is harvest +time, and he is left alone in the house.' + +'I don't care if he is!' replied Beansie. 'Go yourself! I'm not +going to walk about in the heat to please any old man!' + +So kind Peasie set off alone, and on the way she met a plum-tree. +'Oh, Peasie!' cried the tree, 'stop a bit, there's a good soul, and +tidy up my thorns a little; they are scattered about so that I feel +quite uncomfortable!' + +'So they are, I declare!' returned Peasie, and forthwith set to work +with such a will that ere long the tree was as neat as a new pin. + +A little farther on she met a fire, and the fire cried out, 'Oh, sweet +Peasie! tidy up my hearth a bit, for I am half choked in the ashes!' + +'So you are, I declare!' returned good-natured Peasie, setting herself +to clear them away, until the fire crackled and flamed with pleasure. + +Farther on she met a _pipal_ tree, and the _pipal_ called +out, 'Oh, kind Peasie! bind up this broken branch for me, or it will +die, and I shall lose it!' + +'Poor thing! poor thing!' cried soft-hearted Peasie; and tearing a +bandage from her veil, she bound up the wounded limb carefully. + +After a while she met a stream, and the stream cried out, 'Pretty +Peasie! clear away the sand and dead leaves from my mouth, for I +cannot run when I am stifled!' + +'No more you can!' quoth obliging Peasie; and in a trice she made the +channel so clear and clean that the water flowed on swiftly. + +At last she arrived, rather tired, at her old father's house, but his +delight at seeing her was so great that he would scarcely let her away +in the evening, and insisted on giving her a spinning-wheel, a +buffalo, some brass pots, a bed, and all sorts of things, just as if +she had been a bride going to her husband. These she put on the +buffalo's back, and set off homewards. + +Now, as she passed the stream, she saw a web of fine cloth floating +down. + +'Take it, Peasie, take it!' tinkled the stream; 'I have carried it +far, as a reward for your kindness.' + +So she gathered up the cloth, laid it on the buffalo, and went on her +way. + +By and by she passed the _pipal_ tree, and lo! on the branch she +had tied up hung a string of pearls. + +'Take it, Peasie, take it!' rustled the _pipal_; 'I caught it +from a Prince's turban as a reward for your kindness.' + +Then she took the pearls, fastened them round her pretty slender +throat, and went on her way rejoicing. + +[Illustration: Peasie and her buffalo] + +Farther on she came to the fire, burning brightly, and on it was a +girdle with a nice hot sweet-cake. + +'Take it, Peasie, take it!' crackled the fire; 'I have cooked it to a +turn, in reward for your kindness.' + +So lucky Peasie took the nice hot cake, and, dividing it into two +pieces, put one aside for her sister, and ate the other while she went +on her way. + +Now when she reached the plum-tree, the topmost branches were bending +down, covered with ripe yellow fruit. + +'Take some, Peasie, take some!' groaned the laden tree; 'I have +ripened these as a reward for your kindness.' + +So she gathered her veil full, and eating some, set the rest aside for +her sister; but when she arrived at home, instead of being pleased at +her little sister's good fortune and thoughtfulness, disagreeable +Beansie nearly cried with spite and envy, and was so cross, that poor +little sweet Peasie became quite remorseful over her own luck, and +suggested that her sister might be equally fortunate if she also went +to visit her father. + +So, next morning, greedy Beansie set off to see what she could get +from the old man. But when she came to the plum-tree, and it cried +out, 'Oh, Beansie! stop a bit and tidy up my thorns a little, there's +a good soul!' the disobliging Beansie tossed her head, and replied, 'A +likely story! Why, I could travel three miles in the time it would +take me to settle up your stupid old thorns! Do it yourself!' + +And when she met the _pipal_ tree, and it asked her to tie up its +broken branch, she only laughed, saying, 'It doesn't hurt _me_, +and I should have walked three miles in the time it would take to set +it right; so ask somebody else!' + +Then when the fire said to her, 'Oh, sweet Beansie! tidy up my hearth +a bit, for I am half choked by my ashes,' the unkind girl replied, +'The more fool you for having ashes! You don't suppose I am going to +dawdle about helping people who won't help themselves? Not a bit of +it!' + +So when she met the stream, and it asked her to clear away the sand +and the dead leaves which choked it, she replied, 'Do you imagine I'm +going to stop my walk that you may run? No, no!--every one for +himself!' + +At last she reached her father's house, full of determination not to +go away without a heavy load for at least two buffaloes, when, just as +she was entering the courtyard, her brother and his wife fell upon +her, and whacked her most unmercifully, crying, 'So this is your plan, +is it? Yesterday comes Peasie, while we were hard at work, and +wheedles her doting old father out of his best buffalo, and goodness +knows what else besides, and to-day _you_ come to rob us! Out of +the house, you baggage!' + +With that they hounded her away, hot, tired, bruised, and hungry. + +'Never mind!' said she, to console herself, 'I shall get the web of +cloth yet!' + +Sure enough, when she crossed the stream, there was a web, three times +as fine as Peasie's, floating close to the shore, and greedy Beansie +went straight to get it; but, alas! the water was so deep that she was +very nearly drowned, while the beautiful cloth floated past her very +fingers. Thus all she got for her pains was a ducking. + +'Never mind!' thought she, 'I'll have the string of pearls!' + +Yes, there it hung on the broken branch; but when Beansie jumped to +catch it, branch and all fell right on her head, so that she was +stunned. When she came to herself, some one else had walked off with +the pearls, and she had only a bump on her head as big as an egg. + +All these misfortunes had quite wearied her out; she was starving with +hunger, and hurried on to the fire, hoping for a nice hot sweet +girdle-cake. + +Yes, there it was, smelling most deliciously, and Beansie snatched at +it so hastily that she burnt her fingers horribly and the cake rolled +away. Before she had done blowing at her fingers and hopping about in +pain, a crow had carried off the cake, and she was left lamenting. + +'At any rate, I'll have the plums!' cried miserable Beansie, setting +off at a run, her mouth watering at the sight of the luscious yellow +fruit on the topmost branches. First she held on to a lower branch +with her left hand, and reached for the fruit with the right; then, +when that was all scratched and torn by the thorns, she held on with +her right, and tried to get the fruit with the left, but all to no +avail; and when face and hands were all bleeding and full of prickles, +she gave up the useless quest, and went home, bruised, beaten, wet, +sore, hungry, and scratched all over, where I have no doubt her kind +sister Peasie put her to bed, and gave her gruel and posset. + + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE PARTRIDGE + + +A Jackal and a Partridge swore eternal friendship; but the Jackal was +very exacting and jealous. 'You don't do half as much for me as I do +for you,' he used to say, 'and yet you talk a great deal of your +friendship. Now my idea of a friend is one who is able to make me +laugh or cry, give me a good meal, or save my life if need be. You +couldn't do that!' + +'Let us see,' answered the Partridge; 'follow me at a little distance, +and if I don't make you laugh soon you may eat me!' + +So she flew on till she met two travellers trudging along, one behind +the other. They were both footsore and weary, and the first carried +his bundle on a stick over his shoulder, while the second had his +shoes in his hand. + +Lightly as a feather the Partridge settled on the first traveller's +stick. He, none the wiser, trudged on, but the second traveller, +seeing the bird sitting so tamely just in front of his nose, said to +himself, + +'What a chance for a supper!' and immediately flung his shoes at it, +they being ready to hand. Whereupon the Partridge flew away, and the +shoes knocked off the first traveller's turban. + +'What a plague do you mean?' cried he, angrily turning on his +companion. 'Why did you throw your shoes at my head?' + +[Illustration: The second traveler preparing to fling his shoe at the +partridge] + +'Brother!' replied the other mildly, 'do not be vexed. I didn't throw +them at you, but at a Partridge that was sitting on your stick.' + +'On my stick! Do you take me for a fool?' shouted the injured man, in +a great rage. 'Don't tell me such cock-and-bull stories. First you +insult me, and then you lie like a coward; but I'll teach you +manners!' + +Then he fell upon his fellow-traveller without more ado, and they +fought until they could not see out of their eyes, till their noses +were bleeding, their clothes in rags, and the Jackal had nearly died +of laughing. + +'Are you satisfied?' asked the Partridge of her friend. + +'Well,' answered the Jackal, 'you have certainly made me laugh, but I +doubt if you could make me cry. It is easy enough to be a buffoon; it +is more difficult to excite the higher emotions.' + +'Let us see,' retorted the Partridge, somewhat piqued; 'there is a +huntsman with his dogs coming along the road. Just creep into that +hollow tree and watch me: if you don't weep scalding tears, you must +have no feeling in you!' + +The Jackal did as he was bid, and watched the Partridge, who began +fluttering about the bushes till the dogs caught sight of her, when +she flew to the hollow tree where the Jackal was hidden. Of course +the dogs smelt him at once, and set up such a yelping and scratching +that the huntsman came up, and seeing what it was, dragged the Jackal +out by the tail. Whereupon the dogs worried him to their hearts' +content, and finally left him for dead. + +By and by he opened his eyes--for he was only foxing--and saw the +Partridge sitting on a branch above him. + +'Did you cry?' she asked anxiously. 'Did I rouse your higher emo--' + +'Be quiet, will you!' snarled the Jackal; 'I'm half dead with fear!' + +So there the Jackal lay for some time, getting the better of his +bruises, and meanwhile he became hungry. + +'Now is the time for friendship!' said he to the Partridge. 'Get me a +good dinner, and I will acknowledge you are a true friend.' + +'Very well!' replied the Partridge; 'only watch me, and help yourself +when the time comes.' + +Just then a troop of women came by, carrying their husbands' dinners +to the harvest-field. + +The Partridge gave a little plaintive cry, and began fluttering along +from bush to bush as if she were wounded. + +'A wounded bird!--a wounded bird!' cried the women; 'we can easily +catch it!' + +Whereupon they set off in pursuit, but the cunning Partridge played a +thousand tricks, till they became so excited over the chase that they +put their bundles on the ground in order to pursue it more nimbly. +The Jackal, meanwhile, seizing his opportunity, crept up, and made off +with a good dinner. + +'Are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge. + +'Well,' returned the Jackal, 'I confess you have given me a very good +dinner; you have also made me laugh--and cry--ahem! But, after all, +the great test of friendship is beyond you--you couldn't save my +life!' + +'Perhaps not,' acquiesced the Partridge mournfully, 'I am so small and +weak. But it grows late--we should be going home; and as it is a long +way round by the ford, let us go across the river. My friend the +crocodile will carry us over.' + +Accordingly, they set off for the river, and the crocodile kindly +consented to carry them across, so they sat on his broad back and he +ferried them over. But just as they were in the middle of the stream +the Partridge remarked, 'I believe the crocodile intends to play us a +trick. How awkward if he were to drop you into the water!' + +'Awkward for you too!' replied the Jackal, turning pale. + +'Not at all! not at all! I have wings, you haven't.' + +On this the Jackal shivered and shook with fear, and when the +crocodile, in a gruesome growl, remarked that he was hungry and wanted +a good meal, the wretched creature hadn't a word to say. + +'Pooh!' cried the Partridge airily, 'don't try tricks on _us_,--I +should fly away, and as for my friend the Jackal, you couldn't hurt +_him_. He is not such a fool as to take his life with him on +these little excursions; he leaves it at home, locked up in the +cupboard.' + +'Is that a fact?' asked the crocodile, surprised. + +'Certainly!' retorted the Partridge. 'Try to eat him if you like, but +you will only tire yourself to no purpose.' + +'Dear me! how very odd!' gasped the crocodile; and he was so taken +aback that he carried the Jackal safe to shore. + +'Well, are you satisfied now?' asked the Partridge. + +'My dear madam!' quoth the Jackal, 'you have made me laugh, you have +made me cry, you have given me a good dinner, and you have saved my +life; but upon my honour I think you are too clever for a friend; so, +good-bye!' + +And the Jackal never went near the Partridge again. + + + + +THE SNAKE-WOMAN AND KING ALI MARDAN + + +Once upon a time King Ali Mardan went out a-hunting, and as he hunted +in the forest above the beautiful Dal lake, which stretches clear and +placid between the mountains and the royal town of Srinagar, he came +suddenly on a maiden, lovely as a flower, who, seated beneath a tree, +was weeping bitterly. Bidding his followers remain at a distance, he +went up to the damsel, and asked her who she was, and how she came to +be alone in the wild forest. + +'O great King,' she answered, looking up in his face, 'I am the +Emperor of China's handmaiden, and as I wandered about in the +pleasure-grounds of his palace I lost my way. I know not how far I +have come since, but now I must surely die, for I am weary and +hungry!' + +'So fair a maiden must not die while Ali Mardan can deliver her,' +quoth the monarch, gazing ardently on the beautiful girl. So he bade +his servants convey her with the greatest care to his summer palace in +the Shalimar gardens, where the fountains scatter dewdrops over the +beds of flowers, and laden fruit-trees bend over the marble +colonnades. And there, amid the flowers and sunshine, she lived with +the King, who speedily became so enamoured of her that he forgot +everything else in the world. + +So the days passed until it chanced that a Jogi's servant, coming back +from the holy lake Gangabal, which lies on the snowy peak of Haramukh, +whither he went every year to draw water for his master, passed by the +gardens; and over the high garden wall he saw the tops of the +fountains, leaping and splashing like silver sunshine. He was so +astonished at the sight that he put his vessel of water on the ground, +and climbed over the wall, determined to see the wonderful things +inside. Once in the garden amid the fountains and flowers, he +wandered hither and thither, bewildered by beauty, until, wearied out +by excitement, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep. + +Now the King, coming to walk in the garden, found the man lying there, +and noticed that he held something fast in his closed right hand. +Stooping down, Ali Mardan gently loosed the fingers, and discovered a +tiny box filled with a sweet-smelling ointment. While he was +examining this more closely, the sleeper awoke, and missing his box, +began to weep and wail; whereupon the King bade him be comforted, and +showing him the box, promised to return it if he would faithfully tell +why it was so precious to him. + +'O great King,' replied the Jogi's servant, 'the box belongs to my +master, and it contains a holy ointment of many virtues. By its power +I am preserved from all harm, and am able to go to Gangabal and return +with my jar full of water in so short a time that my master is never +without the sacred element.' + +Then the King was astonished, and, looking at the man keenly, said, +'Tell me the truth! Is your master indeed such a holy saint? Is he +indeed such a wonderful man?' + +'O King,' replied the servant, 'he is indeed such a man, and there is +nothing in the world he does not know!' + +This reply aroused the King's curiosity, and putting the box in his +vest, he said to the servant, 'Go home to your master, and tell him +King Ali Mardan has his box, and means to keep it until he comes to +fetch it himself.' In this way he hoped to entice the holy Jogi into +his presence. + +So the servant, seeing there was nothing else to be done, set off to +his master, but he was two years and a half in reaching home, because +he had not the precious box with the magical ointment; and all this +time Ali Mardan lived with the beautiful stranger in the Shalimar +palace, and forgot everything in the wide world except her +loveliness. Yet he was not happy, and a strange look came over his +face, and a stony stare into his eyes. + +Now, when the servant reached home at last, and told his master what +had occurred, the Jogi was very angry, but as he could not get on +without the box which enabled him to procure the water from Gangabal, +he set off at once to the court of King Ali Mardan. On his arrival, +the King treated him with the greatest honour, and faithfully +fulfilled the promise of returning the box. + +Now the Jogi was indeed a learned man, and when he saw the King he +knew at once all was not right, so he said, 'O King, you have been +gracious unto me, and I in my turn desire to do you a kind action; so +tell me truly,--have you always had that white scared face and those +stony eyes?' + +The King hung his head. + +'Tell me truly,' continued the holy Jogi, 'have you any strange woman +in your palace?' + +Then Ali Mardan, feeling a strange relief in speaking, told the Jogi +about the finding of the maiden, so lovely and forlorn, in the forest. + +'She is no handmaiden of the Emperor of China--she is no woman!' +quoth the Jogi fearlessly; 'she is nothing but a Lamia--the dreadful +two-hundred-years-old snake which has the power of taking woman's +shape!' + +Hearing this, King Ali Mardan was at first indignant, for he was madly +in love with the stranger; but when the Jogi insisted, he became +alarmed, and at last promised to obey the holy man's orders, and so +discover the truth or falsehood of his words. + +Therefore, that same evening he ordered two kinds of _khichri_ to +be made ready for supper, and placed in one dish, so that one half was +sweet _khichri_, and the other half salt. + +Now, when as usual the King sat down to eat out of the same dish with +the Snake-woman, he turned the salt side towards her and the sweet +side towards himself. + +She found her portion very salt, but, seeing the King eat his with +relish and without remark, finished hers in silence. But when they +had retired to rest, and the King, obeying the Jogi's orders, had +feigned sleep, the Snake-woman became so dreadfully thirsty, in +consequence of all the salt food she had eaten, that she longed for a +drink of water; and as there was none in the room, she was obliged to +go outside to get some. + +Now, if a Snake-woman goes out at night, she must resume her own +loathsome form; so, as King Ali Mardan lay feigning sleep, he saw the +beautiful form in his arms change to a deadly slimy snake, that slid +from the bed out of the door into the garden. He followed it softly, +watching it drink of every fountain by the way, until it reached the +Dal lake, where it drank and bathed for hours. + +Fully satisfied of the truth of the Jogi's story, King Ali Mardan +begged him for aid in getting rid of the beautiful horror. This the +Jogi promised to do, if the King would faithfully obey orders. So +they made an oven of a hundred different kinds of metal melted +together, and closed by a strong lid and a heavy padlock. This they +placed in a shady corner of the garden, fastening it securely to the +ground by strong chains. When all was ready, the King said to the +Snake-woman, 'My heart's beloved! let us wander in the gardens alone +to-day, and amuse ourselves by cooking our own food,' + +She, nothing loath, consented, and so they wandered about in the +garden; and when dinner-time came, set to work, with laughter and +mirth, to cook their own food. + +The King heated the oven very hot, and kneaded the bread, but being +clumsy at it, he told the Snake-woman he could do no more, and that +she must bake the bread. This she at first refused to do, saying that +she disliked ovens, but when the King pretended to be vexed, averring +she could not love him since she refused to help, she gave in, and set +to work with a very bad grace to tend the baking. + +Then, just as she stooped over the oven's mouth, to turn the loaves, +the King, seizing his opportunity, pushed her in, and clapping down +the cover, locked and double-locked it. + +[Illustration: Snake-woman in the oven] + +Now, when the Snake-woman found herself caught in the scorching oven, +she bounded so, that had it not been for the strong chains, she would +have bounded out of the garden, oven and all! But as it was, all she +could do was to bound up and down, whilst the King and the Jogi piled +fuel on to the fire, and the oven grew hotter and hotter. So it went +on from four o'clock one afternoon to four o'clock the next, when the +Snake-woman ceased to bound, and all was quiet. + +They waited until the oven grew cold, and then opened it, when not a +trace of the Snake-woman was to be seen, only a tiny heap of ashes, +out of which the Jogi took a small round stone, and gave it to the +King, saying, 'This is the real essence of the Snake-woman, and +whatever you touch with it will turn to gold.' + +But King Ali Mardan said such a treasure was more than any man's life +was worth, since it must bring envy and battle and murder to its +possessor; so when he went to Attock he threw the magical Snake-stone +into the river, lest it should bring strife into the world. + + + + +THE WONDERFUL RING + + +_Once_ upon a time there lived a King who had two sons, and when +he died he left them all his treasures; but the younger brother began +to squander it all so lavishly that the elder said, 'Let us divide +what there is, and do you take your own share, and do what you please +with it.' + +So the younger took his poition, and spent every farthing of it in no +time. + +When he had literally nothing left, he asked his wife to give him what +she had. Then she wept, saying, 'I have nothing left but one small +piece of jewellery; however, take that also if you want it.' + +So he took the jewel, sold it for four pounds, and taking the money +with him, set off to make his fortune in the world. + +As he went on his way he met a man with a cat +'How much for your cat?' asked the spendthrift +Prince. + +'Nothing less than a golden pound/ replied the man. + +'A bargain indeed!' cried the spendthrift, and immediately bought the +cat for a golden sovereign. + +By and by he met a man with a dog, and called out as before, 'How much +for your dog?' And when the man said not less than a golden pound, +the Prince again declared it was a bargain indeed, and bought it +cheerfully. + +Then he met a man carrying a parrot, and called out as before, 'How +much for the parrot?' And when he heard it was only a golden +sovereign he was delighted, saying once more that was a bargain +indeed. + +He had only one pound left. Yet even then, when he met a Jogi +carrying a serpent, he cried out at once, 'O Jogi, how much for the +snake?' + +'Not a farthing less than a golden sovereign,' quoth the Jogi. + +'And very little, too!' cried the spendthrift, handing over his last +coin. + +So there he was, possessed of a cat, a dog, a parrot, and a snake, but +not a single penny in his pocket. However, he set to work bravely to +earn his living; but the hard labour wearied him dreadfully, for being +a Prince he was not used to it. Now when his serpent saw this, it +pitied its kind master, and said, 'Prince, if you are not afraid to +come to my father's house, he will perhaps give you something for +saving me from the Jogi.' The spendthrift Prince was not a bit afraid +of anything, so he and the serpent set off together, but when they +arrived at the house, the snake bade the Prince wait outside, while it +went in alone and prepared the snake-father for a visitor. When the +snake-father heard what the serpent had to say, he was much pleased, +declaring he would reward the Prince by giving him anything he +desired. So the serpent went out to fetch the Prince into the +snake-father's presence, and when doing so, it whispered in his ear, +'My father will give you anything you desire. Remember only to ask +for his little ring as a keepsake.' + +This rather astonished the Prince, who naturally thought a ring would +be of little use to a man who was half starving; however, he did as he +was bid, and when the snake-father asked him what he desired, he +replied, 'Thank you; I have everything, and want for nothing.' + +Then the snake-father asked him once more what he would take as a +reward, but again he answered that he wanted nothing, having all that +heart could desire. + +Nevertheless, when the snake-father asked him the third time, he +replied, 'Since you wish me to take something, let it be the ring you +wear on your finger, as a keepsake.' + +Then the snake-father frowned, and looked displeased, saying, 'Were it +not for my promise, I would have turned you into ashes on the spot, +for daring to ask for my greatest treasure. But as I have said, it +must be. Take the ring, and go!' + +So the Prince, taking the ring, set off homewards with his servant the +serpent, to whom he said regretfully, 'This old ring is a mistake; I +have only made the snake-father angry by asking for it, and much good +it will do me! It would have been wiser to say a sack of gold.' + +'Not so, my Prince!' replied the serpent; 'that ring is a wonderful +ring! You have only to make a clean square place on the ground, +plaster it over according to the custom of holy places, put the ring +in the centre, sprinkle it with buttermilk, and then whatever you wish +for will be granted immediately.' + +Vastly delighted at possessing so great a treasure as this magic ring, +the Prince went on his way rejoicing, but by and by, as he trudged +along the road, he began to feel hungry, and thought he would put his +ring to the test. So, making a holy place, he put the ring in the +centre, sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want some +sweetmeats for dinner!' + +No sooner had he uttered the words, than a dishful of most delicious +sweets appeared on the holy place. These he ate, and then set off to +a city he saw in the distance. + +As he entered the gate a proclamation was being made that any one who +would build a palace of gold, with golden stairs, in the middle of the +sea, in the course of one night, should have half the kingdom, and the +King's daughter in marriage; but if he failed, instant death should be +his portion. + +Hearing this, the spendthrift Prince went at once to the Court and +declared his readiness to fulfil the conditions. + +The King was much surprised at his temerity, and bade him consider +well what he was doing, telling him that many princes had tried to +perform the task before, and showing him a necklace of their heads, in +hopes that the dreadful sight might deter him from his purpose. + +But the Prince merely replied that he was not afraid, and that he was +certain he should succeed. + +Whereupon the King ordered him to build the palace that very night, +and setting a guard over him, bade the sentries be careful the young +boaster did not run away. Now when evening came, the Prince lay down +calmly to sleep, whereat the guard whispered amongst themselves that +he must be a madman to fling away his life so uselessly. +Nevertheless, with the first streak of dawn the Prince arose, and +making a holy place, laid the ring in the centre, sprinkled it with +buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, I want a palace of gold, with golden +stairs, in the midst of the sea!' + +And lo! there in the sea it stood, all glittering in the sunshine. +Seeing this, the guard ran to tell the King, who could scarcely +believe his eyes when he and all his Court came to the spot and beheld +the golden palace. + +Nevertheless, as the Prince had fulfilled his promise, the King +performed his, and gave his daughter in marriage, and half his +kingdom, to the spendthrift. + +'I don't want your kingdom, or your daughter either!' said the +Prince. 'I will take the palace I have built in the sea as my +reward.' + +So he went to dwell there, but when they sent the Princess to him, he +relented, seeing her beauty; and so they were married and lived very +happily together. + +Now, when the Prince went out a-hunting he took his dog with him, but +he left the cat and the parrot in the palace, to amuse the Princess; +nevertheless, one day, when he returned, he found her very sad and +sorrowful, and when he begged her to tell him what was the matter, she +said, 'O dear Prince, I wish to be turned into gold by the power of +the magic ring by which you built this glittering golden palace.' + +So, to please her, he made a holy place, put the ring in the centre, +sprinkled it with buttermilk, and cried, 'O ring, turn my wife into +gold!' + +No sooner had he said the words than his wish was accomplished, and +his wife became a golden Princess. + +Now, when the golden Princess was washing her beautiful golden hair +one day, two long glittering hairs came out in the comb. She looked +at them, regretting that there were no poor people near to whom she +might have given the golden strands; then, determining they should not +be lost, she made a cup of green leaves, and curling the hairs inside +it, set it afloat upon the sea. + +As luck would have it, after drifting hither and thither, it reached a +distant shore where a washerman was at work. The poor man, seeing the +wonderful gold hairs, took them to the King, hoping for a reward; and +the King in his turn showed them to his son, who was so much struck by +the sight that he lay down on a dirty old bed, to mark his extreme +grief and despair, and, refusing to eat or drink anything, swore he +must marry the owner of the beautiful golden hair, or die. + +The King, greatly distressed at his son's state, cast about how he +should find the golden-haired Princess, and after calling his +ministers and nobles to help him, came to the conclusion that it would +be best to employ a wise woman. So he called the wisest woman in the +land to him, and she promised to find the Princess, on condition of +the King, in his turn, promising to give her anything she desired as a +reward. + +Then the wise woman caused a golden barge to be made, and in the barge +a silken cradle swinging from silken ropes. When all was ready, she +set off in the direction whence the leafy cup had come, taking with +her four boatmen, whom she trained carefully always to stop rowing +when she put up her finger, and go on as long as she kept it down. + +After a long while they came in sight of the golden palace, which the +wise woman guessed at once must belong to the golden Princess; so, +putting up her finger, the boatmen ceased rowing, and the wise woman, +stepping out of the boat, went swiftly into the palace. There she saw +the golden Princess, sitting on a golden throne; and going up to her, +she laid her hands upon the Princess's head, as is the custom when +relatives visit each other; afterwards she kissed her and petted her, +saying, 'Dearest niece! do you not know me? I am your aunt.' + +But the Princess at first drew back, and said she had never seen or +heard of such an aunt. Then the wise woman explained how she had left +home years before, and made up such a cunning, plausible story that +the Princess, who was only too glad to get a companion, really +believed what she said, and invited her to stop a few days in the +palace. + +Now, as they sat talking together, the wise woman asked the Princess +if she did not find it dull alone in the palace in the midst of the +sea, and inquired how they managed to live there without servants, and +how the Prince her husband came and went. Then the Princess told her +about the wonderful ring the Prince wore day and night, and how by its +help they had everything heart could desire. + +On this, the pretended aunt looked very grave, and suggested the +terrible plight in which the Princess would be left should the Prince +come to harm while away from her. She spoke so earnestly that the +Princess became quite alarmed, and the same evening, when her husband +returned, she said to him, 'Husband, I wish you would give me the ring +to keep while you are away a-hunting, for if you were to come to harm, +what would become of me alone in this sea-girt palace?' + +So, next morning, when the Prince went a-hunting, he left the magical +ring in his wife's keeping. + +As soon as the wicked wise woman knew that the ring was really in the +possession of the Princess, she persuaded her to go down the golden +stairs to the sea, and look at the golden boat with the silken cradle; +so, by coaxing words and cunning arts the golden Princess was +inveigled into the boat, in order to have a tiny sail on the sea; but +no sooner was her prize safe in the silken cradle, than the pretended +aunt turned down her finger, and the boatmen immediately began to row +swiftly away. + +Soon the Princess begged to be taken back, but the wise woman only +laughed, and answered all the poor girl's tears and prayers with slaps +and harsh words. At last they arrived at the royal city, where great +rejoicings arose when the news was noised abroad that the wise woman +had returned with the golden bride for the love-sick Prince. +Nevertheless, despite all entreaties, the Princess refused even to +look at the Prince for six months; if in that time, she said, her +husband did not claim her, she might think of marriage, but until then +she would not hear of it. + +To this the Prince agreed, seeing that six months was not a very long +time to wait; besides, he knew that even should her husband or any +other guardian turn up, nothing was easier than to kill them, and so +get rid both of them and their claims. + +Meanwhile, the spendthrift Prince having returned from hunting, called +out as usual to his wife on reaching the golden stairs, but received +no answer; then, entering the palace, he found no one there save the +parrot, which flew towards him and said, 'O master, the Princess's +aunt came here, and has carried her off in a golden boat.' + +Hearing this, the poor Prince fell to the ground in a fit, and would +not be consoled. At last, however, he recovered a little, when the +parrot, to comfort him, bade him wait there while it flew away over +the sea to gather news of the lost bride. + +So the faithful parrot flew from land to land, from city to city, from +house to house, until it saw the glitter of the Princess's golden +hair. Then it fluttered down beside her and bidding her be of good +courage, for it had come to help her, asked for the magic ring. +Whereupon the golden Princess wept more than ever, for she knew the +wise woman kept the ring in her mouth day and night, and that none +could take it from her. + +However, when the parrot consulted the cat, which had accompanied the +faithful bird, the crafty creature declared nothing could be easier. + +'All the Princess has to do,' said the cat, 'is to ask the wise woman +to give her rice for supper tonight, and instead of eating it all, she +must scatter some in front of the rat-hole in her room. The rest is +my business, and yours.' + +So that night the Princess had rice for supper, and instead of eating +it all, she scattered some before the rat-hole. Then she went to bed, +and slept soundly, and the wise woman snored beside her. By and by, +when all was quiet, the rats came out to eat up the rice, when the +cat, with one bound, pounced on the one which had the longest tail, +and carrying it to where the wise woman lay snoring with her mouth +open, thrust the tail up her nose. She woke with a most terrific +sneeze, and the ring flew out of her mouth on to the floor. Before +she could turn, the parrot seized it in his beak, and, without pausing +a moment, flew back with it to his master the spendthrift Prince, who +had nothing to do but make a holy place, lay the ring in the centre, +sprinkle it with buttermilk, and say, 'O ring, I want my wife!' and +there she was, as beautiful as ever, and overjoyed at seeing the +golden palace and her dear husband once more. + + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN + + +Once upon a time a Jackal and a Pea-hen swore eternal friendship. +Every day they had their meals together, and spent hours in pleasant +conversation. + +Now, one day, the Pea-hen had juicy plums for dinner, and the Jackal, +for his part, had as juicy a young kid; so they enjoyed themselves +immensely. But when the feast was over, the Pea-hen rose gravely, +and, after scratching up the ground, carefully sowed all the +plum-stones in a row. + +'It is my custom to do so when I eat plums,' she said, with quite an +aggravating air of complacent virtue; 'my mother, good creature, +brought me up in excellent habits, and with her dying breath bade me +never be wasteful. Now these stones will grow into trees, the fruit +of which, even if I do not live to see the day, will afford a meal to +many a hungry peacock.' + +These words made the Jackal feel rather mean, so he answered loftily, +'Exactly so! I always plant my bones for the same reason.' And he +carefully dug up a piece of ground, and sowed the bones of the kid at +intervals. + +After this, the pair used to come every day and look at their gardens; +by and by the plum-stones shot into tender green stems, but the bones +made never a sign. + +'Bones do take a long time germinating,' remarked the Jackal, +pretending to be quite at his ease; 'I have known them remain +unchanged in the ground for months.' + +'My dear sir,' answered the Pea-hen, with ill-concealed irony, +'_I_ have known them remain so for _years_!' + +So time passed on, and every day, when they visited the garden, the +self-complacent Pea-hen became more and more sarcastic, the Jackal +more and more savage. + +At last the plum-trees blossomed and bore fruit, and the Pea-hen sat +down to a perfect feast of ripe juicy plums. + +'He! he!' sniggered she to the Jackal, who, having been unsuccessful +in hunting that day, stood by dinnerless, hungry, and in consequence +very cross; 'what a time those old bones of yours do take in coming +up! But when they do, my! what a crop you'll have!' + +The Jackal was bursting with rage, but she wouldn't take warning, and +went on: 'Poor dear! you do look hungry! There seems some chance of +your starving before harvest. What a pity it is you can't eat plums +in the meantime!' + +'If I can't eat plums, I can eat the plum-eater!' quoth the Jackal; +and with that he pounced on the Pea-hen, and gobbled her up. + +_Moral_--It is never safe to be wiser than one's friends. + +[Illustration: It is never safe to be wiser than ones friends. ] + + + + +THE GRAIN OF CORN + + +Once upon a time a farmer's wife was winnowing corn, when a crow, +flying past, swooped off with a grain from the winnowing basket and +perched on a tree close by to eat it. The farmer's wife, greatly +enraged, flung a clod at the bird with so good an aim that the crow +fell to the ground, dropping the grain of corn, which rolled into a +crack in the tree. The farmer's wife, seeing the crow fall, ran up to +it, and seizing it by the tail, cried, 'Give me back my grain of corn, +or I will kill you!' + +The wretched bird, in fear of death, promised to do so, but, lo and +behold! when he came to search for the grain, it had rolled so far +into the crack that neither by beak nor claw could he reach it. + +So he flew off to a woodman, and said-- + + 'Man! man! cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the woodman refused to cut the tree; so the crow flew on to the +King's palace, and said-- + + 'King! king! kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn. + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the King refused to kill the man; so the crow flew on to the +Queen, and said-- + + 'Queen! Queen! coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the Queen refused to coax the King; so the crow flew on till he +met a snake, and said-- + + 'Snake! snake! bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the snake refused to bite the Queen; so the crow flew on till he +met a stick, and said-- + + 'Stick! stick! beat snake; + Snake won't bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the stick refused to beat the snake; so the crow flew on till he +saw a fire, and said-- + + 'Fire! fire! burn stick; + Stick won't beat snake; + Snake won't bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the fire refused to burn the stick; so the crow flew on till he +met some water, and said-- + + 'Water! water! quench fire; + Fire won't burn stick; + Stick won't beat snake; + Snake won't bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the water refused to quench the fire; so the crow flew on till he +met an ox, and said-- + + 'Ox! ox! drink water; + Water won't quench fire; + Fire won't burn stick; + Stick won't beat snake; + Snake won't bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the ox refused to drink the water; so the crow flew on till he met +a rope, and said-- + + 'Rope! rope! bind ox; + Ox won't drink water; + Water won't quench fire; + Fire won't burn stick; + Stick won't beat snake; + Snake won't bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the rope wouldn't bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a +mouse, and said-- + + 'Mouse! mouse! gnaw rope; + Rope won't bind ox; + Ox won't drink water; + Water won't quench fire; + Fire won't burn stick; + Stick won't beat snake; + Snake won't bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +But the mouse wouldn't gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met +a cat, and said-- + + 'Cat! cat! catch mouse; + Mouse won't gnaw rope; + Rope won't bind ox; + Ox won't drink water; + Water won't quench fire; + Fire won't burn stick; + Stick won't beat snake; + Snake won't bite Queen; + Queen won't coax King; + King won't kill man; + Man won't cut tree; + And I can't get the grain of corn + To save my life from the farmer's wife!' + +The moment the cat heard the name of mouse, she was after it; for the +world will come to an end before a cat will leave a mouse alone. + + 'So the cat began to catch the mouse, + The mouse began to gnaw the rope, + The rope began to bind the ox, + The ox began to drink the water, + The water began to quench the fire, + The fire began to burn the stick, + The stick began to beat the snake, + The snake began to bite the Queen, + The Queen began to coax the King, + The King began to kill the man, + The man began to cut the tree; + So the crow got the grain of corn, + And saved his life from the farmer's wife!' + + + + +THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER + + +There was once a farmer who suffered much at the hands of a +money-lender. Good harvests, or bad, the farmer was always poor, the +moneylender rich. At last, when he hadn't a farthing left, the farmer +went to the moneylender's house, and said, 'You can't squeeze water +from a stone, and as you have nothing to get by me now, you might tell +me the secret of becoming rich.' + +'My friend,' returned the money-lender piously, 'riches come from +Ram--ask _him_.' + +'Thank you, I will!' replied the simple farmer; so he prepared three +girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram. + +First he met a Brahman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point +out the road to Ram; but the Brahman only took the cake and went on +his way without a word. Next the farmer met a Jogi or devotee, and to +him he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return. At last, he +came upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was +hungry, the kindly farmer gave him his last cake, and sitting down to +rest beside him, entered into conversation. + +'And where are you going?' asked the poor man at length. + +'Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!' +replied the farmer. 'I don't suppose you could tell me which way to +go?' + +'Perhaps I can,' said the poor man, smiling, 'for _I_ am Ram! +What do you want of me?' + +Then the farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him, +gave him a conch shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular +way, saying, 'Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow +the conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled. Only have a care +of that money-lender, for even magic is not proof against their +wiles!' + +The farmer went back to his village rejoicing. In fact the +money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself, +'Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him +hold his head so jauntily.' Therefore he went over to the simple +farmer's house, and congratulated him on his good fortune, in such +cunning words, pretending to have heard all about it, that before long +the farmer found himself telling the whole story--all except the +secret of blowing the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the farmer +was not quite such a fool as to tell that. + +Nevertheless, the money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or +by crook, and as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he +waited for a favourable opportunity and stole it. + +But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the thing in every +conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job. +However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the farmer, and +said, 'Now, my friend! I've got your conch, but I can't use it; you +haven't got it, so it's clear you can't use it either. The matter is +at a standstill unless we make a bargain. Now, I promise to give you +back your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one +condition, which is this,--whatever you get from it, I am to get +double.' + +'Never!' cried the farmer; 'that would be the old business all over +again!' + +'Not at all!' replied the wily money-lender; 'you will have your +share! Now, don't be a dog in the manger, for if _you_ get all +you want, what can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?' + +At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit +to a money-lender, the farmer was forced to yield, and from that time, +no matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the money-lender +gained double. And the knowledge that this was so preyed upon the +farmer's mind day and night, until he had no satisfaction out of +anything he did get. + +At last there came a very dry season,--so dry that the farmer's crops +withered for want of rain. Then he blew his conch, and wished for a +well to water them, and, lo! there was the well. _But the +money-lender had two!_--two beautiful new wells! This was too much +for any farmer to stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded +over it, till at last a bright idea came into his head. He seized the +conch, blew it loudly, and cried out, 'O Ram, I wish to be blind of +one eye!' And so he was, in a twinkling, but the money-lender, of +course, was blind of both eyes, and in trying to steer his way between +the two new wells, he fell into one and was drowned. + +Now this true story shows that a farmer once got the better of a +money-lender; but only by losing one of his eyes! + + + + +THE LORD OF DEATH + + +Once upon a time there was a road, and every one who travelled along +it died. Some folk said they were killed by a snake, others said by a +scorpion, but certain it is they all died. + +Now a very old man was travelling along the road, and being tired, sat +down on a stone to rest; when suddenly, close beside him, he saw a +scorpion as big as a cock, which, while he looked at it, changed into +a horrible snake. He was wonderstruck, and as the creature glided +away, he determined to follow it at a little distance, and so find out +what it really was. + +So the snake sped on day and night, and behind it followed the old man +like a shadow. Once it went into an inn, and killed several +travellers; another time it slid into the King's house and killed +him. Then it crept up the waterspout to the Queen's palace, and +killed the King's youngest daughter. So it passed on, and wherever it +went the sound of weeping and wailing arose, and the old man followed +it, silent as a shadow. + +Suddenly the road became a broad, deep, swift river, on the banks of +which sat some poor travellers who longed to cross over, but had no +money to pay the ferry. Then the snake changed into a handsome +buffalo, with a brass necklace and bells round its neck, and stood by +the brink of the stream. When the poor travellers saw this, they +said, 'This beast is going to swim to its home across the river; let +us get on its back, and hold on to its tail, so that we too shall get +over the stream.' + +Then they climbed on its back and held by its tail, and the buffalo +swam away with them bravely; but when it reached the middle, it began +to kick, until they tumbled off, or let go, and were all drowned. + +When the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, reached the +other side, the buffalo had disappeared, and in its stead stood a +beautiful ox. Seeing this handsome creature wandering about, a +peasant, struck with covetousness, lured it to his home. It was very +gentle, suffering itself to be tied up with the other cattle; but in +the dead of night it changed into a snake, bit all the flocks and +herds, and then, creeping into the house, killed all the sleeping +folk, and crept away. But behind it the old man still followed, as +silent as a shadow. + +Presently they came to another river, where the snake changed itself +into the likeness of a beautiful young girl, fair to see, and covered +with costly jewels. After a while, two brothers, soldiers, came by, +and as they approached the girl, she began to weep bitterly. + +'What is the matter?' asked the brothers; 'and why do you, so young +and beautiful, sit by the river alone?' + +Then the snake-girl answered, 'My husband was even now taking me home; +and going down to the stream to look for the ferry-boat, fell to +washing his face, when he slipped in, and was drowned. So I have +neither husband nor relations!' + +'Do not fear!' cried the elder of the two brothers, who had become +enamoured of her beauty; 'come with me, and I will marry you.' + +'On one condition,' answered the girl: 'you must never ask me to do +any household work; and no matter for what I ask, you must give it +me.' + +'I will obey you like a slave!' promised the young man. + +'Then go at once to the well, and fetch me a cup of water. Your +brother can stay with me,' quoth the girl. + +But when the elder brother had gone, the snake-girl turned to the +younger, saying, 'Fly with me, for I love you! My promise to your +brother was a trick to get him away!' + +'Not so!' returned the young man; 'you are his promised wife, and I +look on you as my sister.' + +On this the girl became angry, weeping and wailing, until the elder +brother returned, when she called out, 'O husband, what a villain is +here! Your brother asked me to fly with him, and leave you!' + +Then bitter wrath at this treachery arose in the elder brother's +heart, so that he drew his sword and challenged the younger to +battle. Then they fought all day long, until by evening they both lay +dead upon the field, and then the girl took the form of a snake once +more, and behind it followed the old man silent as a shadow. But at +last it changed into the likeness of an old white-bearded man, and +when he who had followed so long saw one like himself, he took +courage, and laying hold of the white beard, asked, 'Who and what are +you?' + +Then the old man smiled and answered, 'Some call me the Lord of Death, +because I go about bringing death to the world.' + +'Give me death!' pleaded the other, 'for I have followed you far, +silent as a shadow, and I am aweary.' + +But the Lord of Death shook his head, saying, 'Not so! I only give to +those whose years are full, and you have sixty years of life to come!' + +Then the old white-bearded man vanished, but whether he really was the +Lord of Death, or a devil, who can tell? + + + + +THE WRESTLERS + +A STORY OF HEROES + + +There was, once upon a time, long ago, a wrestler living in a far +country, who, hearing there was a mighty man in India, determined to +have a fall with him; so, tying up ten thousand pounds weight of flour +in his blanket, he put the bundle on his head and set off jauntily. +Towards evening he came to a little pond in the middle of the desert, +and sat down to eat his dinner. First, he stooped down and took a +good long drink of the water; then, emptying his flour into the +remainder of the pond, stirred it into good thick brose, off which he +made a hearty meal, and lying down under a tree, soon fell fast +asleep. + +Now, for many years an elephant had drunk daily at the pond, and, +coming as usual that evening for its draught, was surprised to find +nothing but a little mud and flour at the bottom. + +'What shall I do?' it said to itself, 'for there is no more water to +be found for twenty miles!' + +Going away disconsolate, it espied the wrestler sleeping placidly +under the tree, and at once made sure he was the author of the +mischief; so, galloping up to the sleeping man, it stamped on his head +in a furious rage, determined to crush him. + +But, to his astonishment, the wrestler only stirred a little, and said +sleepily, 'What is the matter? what is the matter? If you want to +shampoo my head, why the plague don't you do it properly? What's +worth doing at all is worth doing well; so put a little of your weight +into it, my friend!' + +The elephant stared, and left off stamping; but, nothing daunted, +seized the wrestler round the waist with its trunk, intending to heave +him up and dash him to pieces on the ground. 'Ho! ho! my little +friend!--that is your plan, is it?' quoth the wrestler, with a yawn; +and catching hold of the elephant's tail, and swinging the monster +over his shoulder, he continued his journey jauntily. + +By and by he reached his destination, and, standing outside the Indian +wrestler's house, cried out, 'Ho! my friend! Come out and try a +fall!' + +'My husband's not at home to-day,' answered the wrestler's wife from +inside; 'he has gone into the wood to cut pea-sticks.' + +'Well, well! when he returns give him this, with my compliments, and +tell him the owner has come from far to challenge him.' + +So saying, he chucked the elephant clean over the courtyard wall. + +'Oh, mamma! mamma!' cried a treble voice from within, 'I declare that +nasty man has thrown a mouse over the wall into my lap! What shall I +do to him?' + +'Never mind, little daughter!' answered the wrestler's wife; 'papa +will teach him better manners. Take the grass broom and sweep the +mouse away.' + +Then there was a sound of sweeping, and immediately the dead elephant +came flying over the wall. + +'Ahem!' thought the wrestler outside, 'if the little daughter can do +this, the father will be a worthy foe!' + +So he set off to the wood to meet the Indian wrestler, whom he soon +saw coming along the road, dragging a hundred and sixty carts laden +with brushwood. + +'Now we shall see!' quoth the stranger, with a wink; and stealing +behind the carts, he laid hold of the last, and began to pull. + +'That's a deep rut!' thought the Indian wrestler, and pulled a little +harder. So it went on for an hour, but not an inch one way or the +other did the carts budge. + +'I believe there is some one hanging on behind!' quoth the Indian +wrestler at last, and walked back to see who it was. Whereupon the +stranger, coming to meet him, said, 'We seem pretty well matched; let +us have a fall together.' + +'With all my heart!' answered the other, 'but not here alone in the +wilds; it is no fun fighting without applause.' + +'But I haven't time to wait!' said the stranger; 'I have to be off at +once, so it must be here or nowhere.' + +Just then an old woman came hurrying by with big strides. + +'Here's an audience!' cried the wrestler, and called aloud, 'Mother! +mother! stop and see fair play!' + +'I can't, my sons, I can't!' she replied, 'for my daughter is going to +steal my camels, and I am off to stop her; but if you like, you can +jump on to the palm of my hand, and wrestle there as I go along.' + +So the wrestlers jumped on to the old woman's palm, and wrestled away +as she strode over hill and dale. + +Now when the old woman's daughter saw her mother, with the wrestlers +wrestling on her hand, she said to herself, 'Here she comes, with the +soldiers she spoke about! It is time for me to be off!' + +So she picked up the hundred and sixty camels, tied them in her +blanket, and swinging it over her shoulder, set off at a run. + +But one of the camels put its head out of the blanket and began +groaning and hubble-bubble-ubbling, after the manner of camels; so, to +quiet it, the girl tore down a tree or two, and stuffed them into the +bundle also. On this, the farmer to whom the trees belonged came +running up, and calling, 'Stop thief! stop thief!' + +'Thief, indeed!' quoth the girl angrily; and with that she bundled +farmer, fields, crops, oxen, house, and all into the blanket. + +Soon she came to a town, and being hungry, asked a pastry-cook to give +her some sweets; but he refused, so she caught up the town bodily; and +so on with everything she met, until her blanket was quite full. + +At last she came to a big water-melon, and being thirsty, she sat down +to eat it; and afterwards, feeling sleepy, she determined to rest a +while. But the camels in her bundle made such a hubble-bubble-ubbling +that they disturbed her, so she just packed everything into the lower +half of the water-melon rind, and popping on the upper half as a lid, +she rolled herself in the blanket and used the melon as a pillow. + +Now, while she slept, a big flood arose, and carried off the +water-melon, which, after floating down stream ever so far, stuck on a +mud-bank. The top fell off, and out hopped the camels, the trees, the +farmer, the oxen, the house, the town, and all the other things, until +there was quite a new world on the mud-bank in the middle of the +river. + + + + +THE LEGEND OF GWASHBRARI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN + + +Once upon a time, ever so long ago, when this old world was young, and +everything was very different from what it is nowadays, the mighty +Westarwan was King of all the mountains. High above all other hills +he reared his lofty head, so lofty, that when the summer clouds closed +in upon his broad shoulders he was alone under the blue sky. And +thus, being so far above the world, and so lonely in his dignity, he +became proud, and even when the mists cleared away, leaving the fair +new world stretched smiling at his feet, he never turned his eyes upon +it, but gazed day and night upon the sun and stars. + +Now Haramukh, and Nanga Parbat, and all the other hills that stood in +a vast circle round great Westarwan, as courtiers waiting on their +king, grew vexed because he treated them as nought; and when the +summer cloud that soared above their heads hung on his shoulders like +a royal robe, they would say bitter, wrathful words of spite and envy. + +Only the beautiful Gwashbrari, cold and glistening amid her glaciers, +would keep silence. Self-satisfied, serene, her beauty was enough for +her; others might rise farther through the mists, but there was none +so fair as she in all the land. + +Yet once, when the cloud-veil wrapped Westarwan from sight, and the +wrath rose loud and fierce, she flashed a contemptuous smile upon the +rest, bidding them hold their peace. + +'What need to wrangle?' she said, in calm superiority;' great +Westarwan is proud; but though the stars seem to crown his head, his +feet are of the earth, earthy. He is made of the same stuff as we +are; there is more of it, that is all.' + +'The more reason to resent his pride!' retorted the grumblers. 'Who +made him a King over us?' + +Gwashbrari smiled an evil smile. 'O fools! poor fools and blind! +giving him a majesty he has not in my sight. I tell you mighty +Westarwan, for all his star-crowned loftiness, is no King to me. Tis +I who am his Queen!' + +Then the mighty hills laughed aloud, for Gwashbrari was the lowliest +of them all. + +'Wait and see!' answered the cold passionless voice. 'Before +to-morrow's sunrise great Westarwan shall be my slave!' + +Once more the mighty hills echoed with scornful laughter, yet the +icy-hearted beauty took no heed. Lovely, serene, she smiled on all +through the long summer's day; only once or twice from her snowy sides +would rise a white puff of smoke, showing where some avalanche had +swept the sure-footed ibex to destruction. + +But with the setting sun a rosy radiance fell over the whole world. +Then Gwashbrari's pale face flushed into life, her chill beauty glowed +into passion. Trans-* figured, glorified, she shone on the +fast-darkening horizon like a star. + +And mighty Westarwan, noting the rosy radiance in the east, turned his +proud eyes towards it; and, lo! the perfection of her beauty smote +upon his senses with a sharp, wistful wonder that such loveliness +could be--that such worthiness could exist in the world which he +despised. The setting sun sank lower, reflecting a ruddier glow on +Gwashbrari's face; it seemed as if she blushed beneath the great +King's gaze. A mighty longing filled his soul, bursting from his lips +in one passionate cry--'O Gwashbrari! kiss me, or I die!' + +The sound echoed through the valleys, while the startled peaks stood +round expectant. + +Beneath her borrowed blush Gwashbrari smiled triumphant, as she +answered back, 'How can that be, great King, and I so lowly? Even if +I _would_, how could I reach your star-crowned head?--I who on +tip-toe cannot touch your cloud-robed shoulder?' + +Yet again the passionate cry rang out--'I love you! kiss me, or I +die!' + +Then the glacier-hearted beauty whispered soft and low, the sweet +music of her voice weaving a magical spell round the great +Westarwan--You love me? Know you not that those who love must +stoop? Bend your proud head to my lips, and seek the kiss I cannot +choose but give!' + +Slowly, surely, as one under a charm, the monarch of the mountains +stooped-nearer and nearer to her radiant beauty, forgetful of all else +in earth or sky. + +The sun set. The rosy blush faded from Gwashbrari's fair false face, +leaving it cold as ice, pitiless as death. The stars began to gleam +in the pale heavens, but the King lay at Gwashbrari's feet, discrowned +for ever! + +And that is why great Westarwan stretches his long length across the +valley of Kashmir, resting his once lofty head upon the glacier heart +of Queen Gwashbrari. + +And every night the star crown hangs in the heavens as of yore. + + + + +THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE + + +Once upon a time there lived a barber, who was such a poor silly +creature that he couldn't even ply his trade decently, but snipped off +his customers' ears instead of their hair, and cut their throats +instead of shaving them. So of course he grew poorer every day, till +at last he found himself with nothing left in his house but his wife +and his razor, both of whom were as sharp as sharp could be. + +For his wife was an exceedingly clever person, who was continually +rating her husband for his stupidity; and when she saw they hadn't a +farthing left, she fell as usual to scolding. + +But the barber took it very calmly. 'What is the use of making such a +fuss, my dear?' said he; 'you've told me all this before, and I quite +agree with you. I never _did_ work, I never _could_ work, +and I never _will_ work. That is the fact!' + +'Then you must beg!' returned his wife, 'for _I_ will not starve +to please you! Go to the palace, and beg something of the King. +There is a wedding feast going on, and he is sure to give alms to the +poor.' + +'Very well, my dear!' said the barber submissively. He was rather +afraid of his clever wife, so he did as he was bid, and going to the +palace, begged of the King to give him something. + +'Something?' asked the King; 'what thing?' + +Now the barber's wife had not mentioned anything in particular, and +the barber was far too addle-pated to think of anything by himself, so +he answered cautiously, 'Oh, something!' + +'Will a piece of land do?' said the King. + +Whereupon the lazy barber, glad to be helped out of the difficulty, +remarked that perhaps a piece of land would do as well as anything +else. + +Then the King ordered a piece of waste, outside the city, should be +given to the barber, who went home quite satisfied. + +'Well! what did you get?' asked the clever wife, who was waiting +impatiently for his return. 'Give it me quick, that I may go and buy +bread!' + +And you may imagine how she scolded when she found he had only got a +piece of waste land. + +'But land is land!' remonstrated the barber; 'it can't run away, so we +must always have something now!' + +'Was there ever such a dunderhead?' raged the clever wife.' What good +is ground unless we can till it? and where are we to get bullocks and +ploughs?' + +But being, as we have said, an exceedingly clever person, she set her +wits to work, and soon thought of a plan whereby to make the best of a +bad bargain. + +She took her husband with her, and set off to the piece of waste land; +then, bidding her husband imitate her, she began walking about the +field, and peering anxiously into the ground. But when any-* body +came that way, she would sit down, and pretend to be doing nothing at +all. + +Now it so happened that seven thieves were hiding in a thicket hard +by, and they watched the barber and his wife all day, until they +became convinced something mysterious was going on. So at sunset they +sent one of their number to try and find out what it was. + +'Well, the fact is,' said the barber's wife, after beating about the +bush for some-time, and with many injunctions to strict secrecy, 'this +field belonged to my grandfather, who buried five pots full of gold in +it, and we were just trying to discover the exact spot before +beginning to dig. You won't tell any one, will you?' + +The thief promised he wouldn't, of course, but the moment the barber +and his wife went home, he called his companions, and telling them of +the hidden treasure, set them to work. All night long they dug and +delved, till the field looked as if it had been ploughed seven times +over, and they were as tired as tired could be; but never a gold +piece, nor a silver piece, nor a farthing did they find, so when dawn +came they went away disgusted. + +The barber's wife, when she found the field so beautifully ploughed, +laughed heartily at the success of her stratagem, and going to the +corn-dealer's shop, borrowed some rice to sow in the field. This the +corn-dealer willingly gave her, for he reckoned he would get it back +threefold at harvest time. And so he did, for never was there such a +crop!--the barber's wife paid her debts, kept enough for the house, +and sold the rest for a great crock of gold pieces. + +Now, when the thieves saw this, they were very angry indeed, and going +to the barber's house, said, 'Give us our share of the harvest, for we +tilled the ground, as you very well know.' + +'I told you there was gold in the ground,' laughed the barber's wife, +'but you didn't find it. I have, and there's a crock full of it in +the house, only you rascals shall never have a farthing of it!' + +'Very well!' said the thieves; 'look out for yourself to-night. If +you won't give us our share we'll take it!' + +So that night one of the thieves hid himself in the house, intending +to open the door to his comrades when the housefolk were asleep; but +the barber's wife saw him with the corner of her eye, and determined +to lead him a dance. Therefore, when her husband, who was in a +dreadful state of alarm, asked her what she had done with the gold +pieces, she replied, 'Put them where no one will find them,--under +the sweetmeats, in the crock that stands in the niche by the door.' + +The thief chuckled at hearing this, and after waiting till all was +quiet, he crept out, and feeling about for the crock, made off with +it, whispering to his comrades that he had got the prize. Fearing +pursuit, they fled to a thicket, where they sat down to divide the +spoil. + +'She said there were sweetmeats on the top,' said the thief; 'I will +divide them first, and then we can eat them, for it is hungry work, +this waiting and watching.' + +So he divided what he thought were the sweetmeats as well as he could +in the dark. Now in reality the crock was full of all sorts of +horrible things that the barber's wife had put there on purpose, and +so when the thieves crammed its contents into their mouths, you may +imagine what faces they made and how they vowed revenge. + +But when they returned next day to threaten and repeat their claim to +a share of the crop, the barber's wife only laughed at them. + +'Have a care!' they cried; 'twice you have fooled us--once by making +us dig all night, and next by feeding us on filth and breaking our +caste. It will be our turn to-night!' + +Then another thief hid himself in the house, but the barber's wife saw +him with half an eye, and when her husband asked, 'What have you done +with the gold, my dear? I hope you haven't put it under the pillow?' +she answered, 'Don't be alarmed; it is out of the house. I have hung +it in the branches of the _nim_ tree outside. No one will think +of looking for it there!' + +The hidden thief chuckled, and when the house-folk were asleep he +slipped out and told his companions. + +'Sure enough, there it is!' cried the captain of the band, peering up +into the branches. 'One of you go up and fetch it down.' Now what he +saw was really a hornets' nest, full of great big brown and yellow +hornets. + +So one of the thieves climbed up the tree; but when he came close to +the nest, and was just reaching up to take hold of it, a hornet flew +out and stung him on the thigh. He immediately clapped his hand to +the spot. + +'Oh, you thief!' cried out the rest from below, 'you're pocketing the +gold pieces, are you? Oh! shabby! shabby!'--For you see it was very +dark, and when the poor man clapped his hand to the place where he had +been stung, they thought he was putting his hand in his pocket. + +'I assure you I'm not doing anything of the kind!' retorted the thief; +'but there is something that bites in this tree!' + +Just at that moment another hornet stung him on the breast, and he +clapped his hand there. + +'Fie! fie for shame! We saw you do it that time!' cried the rest. +'Just you stop that at once, or we will make you!' + +So they sent up another thief, but he fared no better, for by this +time the hornets were thoroughly roused, and they stung the poor man +all over, so that he kept clapping his hands here, there, and +everywhere. + +'Shame! Shabby! Ssh-sh!' bawled the rest; and then one after another +they climbed into the tree, determined to share the booty, and one +after another began clapping their hands about their bodies, till it +came to the captain's turn. Then he, intent on having the prize, +seized hold of the hornets' nest, and as the branch on which they were +all standing broke at the selfsame moment, they all came tumbling down +with the hornets' nest on top of them. And then, in spite of bumps +and bruises, you can imagine what a stampede there was! + +After this the barber's wife had some peace, for every one of the +seven thieves was in hospital. In fact, they were laid up for so long +a time that she began to think that they were never coming back again, +and ceased to be on the look-out. But she was wrong, for one night, +when she had left the window open, she was awakened by whisperings +outside, and at once recognised the thieves' voices. She gave herself +up for lost; but, determined not to yield without a struggle, she +seized her husband's razor, crept to the side of the window, and stood +quite still. By and by the first thief began to creep through +cautiously. She just waited till the tip of his nose was visible, and +then, flash!--she sliced it off with the razor as clean as a whistle. + +'Confound it!' yelled the thief, drawing back mighty quick; 'I've cut +my nose on something!' + +'Hush-sh-sh-sh!' whispered the others, 'you'll wake some one. Go on!' + +'Not I!' said the thief; 'I'm bleeding like a pig!' + +'Pooh!--knocked your nose against the shutter, I suppose,' returned +the second thief. 'I'll go!' + +But, swish!--off went the tip of his nose too. + +'Dear me!' said he ruefully, 'there certainly is something sharp +inside!' + +'A bit of bamboo in the lattice, most likely,' remarked the third +thief. 'I'll go!' + +And, flick!--off went his nose too. + +'It is most extraordinary!' he exclaimed, hurriedly retiring; 'I feel +exactly as if some one had cut the tip of my nose off!' + +'Rubbish!' said the fourth thief. 'What cowards you all are! Let +_me_ go!' + +But he fared no better, nor the fifth thief, nor the sixth. + +'My friends!'. said the captain, when it came to his turn, 'you are +all disabled. One man must remain unhurt to protect the wounded. Let +us return another night.'--He was a cautious man, you see, and valued +his nose. + +So they crept away sulkily, and the barber's wife lit a lamp, and +gathering up all the nose tips, put them away safely in a little box. + +Now before the robbers' noses were healed over, the hot weather set +in, and the barber and his wife, finding it warm sleeping in the +house, put their beds outside; for they made sure the thieves would +not return. But they did, and seizing such a good opportunity for +revenge, they lifted up the wife's bed, and carried her off fast +asleep. She woke to find herself borne along on the heads of four of +the thieves, whilst the other three ran beside her. She gave herself +up for lost, and though she thought, and thought, and thought, she +could find no way of escape; till, as luck would have it, the robbers +paused to take breath under a banyan tree. Quick as lightning, she +seized hold of a branch that was within reach, and swung herself into +the tree, leaving her quilt on the bed just as if she were still in +it. + +'Let us rest a bit here,' said the thieves who were carrying the bed; +'there is plenty of time, and we are tired. She is dreadfully heavy!' + +The barber's wife could hardly help laughing, but she had to keep very +still, for it was a bright moonlight night; and the robbers, after +setting down their burden, began to squabble as to who should take +first watch. At last they determined that it should be the captain, +for the others had really barely recovered from the shock of having +their noses sliced off; so they lay down to sleep, while the captain +walked up and down, watching the bed, and the barber's wife sat +perched up in the tree like a great bird. + +Suddenly an idea came into her head, and drawing her white veil +becomingly over her face, she began to sing softly. The robber +captain looked up, and saw the veiled figure of a woman in the tree. +Of course he was a little surprised, but being a goodlooking young +fellow, and rather vain of his appearance, he jumped at once to the +conclusion that it was a fairy who had fallen in love with his +handsome face. For fairies do such things sometimes, especially on +moonlight nights. So he twirled his moustaches, and strutted about, +waiting for her to speak. But when she went on singing, and took no +notice of him, he stopped and called out, 'Come down, my beauty! I +won't hurt you!' + +But still she went on singing; so he climbed up into the tree, +determined to attract her attention. When he came quite close, she +turned away her head and sighed. + +'What is the matter, my beauty?' he asked tenderly. 'Of course you +are a fairy, and have fallen in love with me, but there is nothing to +sigh at in that, surely?' + +'Ah--ah--ah!' said the barber's wife, with another sigh, 'I believe +you're fickle! Men with long-pointed noses always are!' + +But the robber captain swore he was the most constant of men; yet +still the fairy sighed and sighed, until he almost wished his nose had +been shortened too. + +'You are telling stories, I am sure!' said the pre* tended fairy. +'Just let me touch your tongue with the tip of mine, and then I shall +be able to taste if there are fibs about!' + +So the robber captain put out his tongue, and, snip!--the barber's +wife bit the tip off clean! + +What with the fright and the pain, he tumbled off the branch, and fell +bump on the ground, where he sat with his legs very wide apart, +looking as if he had come from the skies. + +'What is the matter?' cried his comrades, awakened by the noise of his +fall. + +'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' answered he, pointing up into the tree; +for of course he could not speak plainly without the tip of his +tongue. + +'What--is--the--matter?' they bawled in his ear, as if that would do +any good. + +'_Bul-ul-a-bul-ul-ul!_' said he, still pointing upwards. + +'The man is bewitched!' cried one; 'there must be a ghost in the +tree!' + +Just then the barber's wife began flapping her veil and howling; +whereupon, without waiting to look, the thieves in a terrible fright +set off at a run, dragging their leader with them; and the barber's +wife, coming down from the tree, put her bed on her head, and walked +quietly home. + +After this, the thieves came to the conclusion that it was no use +trying to gain their point by force, so they went to law to claim +their share. But the barber's wife pleaded her own cause so well, +bringing out the nose and tongue tips as witnesses, that the King made +the barber his Wazir, saying, 'He will never do a foolish thing as +long as his wife is alive!' + + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE + + +Once upon a time, Mr. Jackal was trotting along gaily, when he caught +sight of a wild plum-tree laden with fruit on the other side of a +broad deep stream. He could not get across anyhow, so he just sat +down on the bank, and looked at the ripe luscious fruit until his +mouth watered with desire. + +Now it so happened that, just then, Miss Crocodile came floating down +stream with her nose in the air. 'Good morning, my dear!' said Mr. +Jackal politely; 'how beautiful you look to-day, and how charmingly +you swim! Now, if I could only swim too, what a fine feast of plums +we two friends might have over there together!' And Mr. Jackal laid +his paw on his heart, and sighed. + +Now Miss Crocodile had a very inflammable heart, and when Mr. Jackal +looked at her so admiringly, and spoke so sentimentally, she simpered +and blushed, saying, 'Oh! Mr. Jackal! how can you talk so? I could +never dream of going out to dinner with you, unless--unless--' + +'Unless what?' asked the Jackal persuasively. + +'Unless we were going to be married!' simpered +Miss Crocodile. + +'And why shouldn't we be married, my charmer?' returned the Jackal +eagerly. 'I would go and fetch the barber to begin the betrothals at +once, but I am so faint with hunger just at present that I should +never reach the village. Now, if the most adorable of her sex would +only take pity on her slave, and carry me over the stream, I might +refresh myself with those plums, and so gain strength to accomplish +the ardent desire of my heart!' + +Here the Jackal sighed so piteously, and cast such sheep's-eyes at +Miss Crocodile, that she was unable to withstand him. So she carried +him across to the plum-tree, and then sat on the water's edge to think +over her wedding dress, while Mr. Jackal feasted on the plums, and +enjoyed himself. + +'Now for the barber, my beauty!' cried the gay Jackal, when he had +eaten as much as he could. Then the blushing Miss Crocodile carried +him back again, and bade him be quick about his business, like a dear +good creature, for really she felt so flustered at the very idea that +she didn't know what mightn't happen. + +'Now, don't distress yourself, my dear!' quoth the deceitful Mr. +Jackal, springing to the bank, 'because it's not impossible that I may +not find the barber, and then, you know, you may have to wait some +time, a considerable time in fact, before I return. So don't injure +your health for my sake, if you please.' + +With that he blew her a kiss, and trotted away with his tail up. + +Of course he never came back, though trusting Miss Crocodile waited +patiently for him; at last she understood what a gay deceitful fellow +he was, and determined to have her revenge on him one way or another. + +So she hid herself in the water, under the roots of a tree, close to a +ford where Mr. Jackal always came to drink. By and by, sure enough, +he came lilting along in a self-satisfied way, and went right into the +water for a good long draught. Whereupon Miss Crocodile seized him by +the right leg, and held on. He guessed at once what had happened, and +called out, 'Oh! my heart's adored! I'm drowning! I'm drowning! If +you love me, leave hold of that old root and get a good grip of my +leg--it is just next door!' + +Hearing this, Miss Crocodile thought she must have made a mistake, +and, letting go the Jackal's leg in a hurry, seized an old root close +by, and held on. Whereupon Mr. Jackal jumped nimbly to shore, and ran +off with his tail up, calling out, 'Have a little patience, my +beauty! The barber will come some day!' + +But this time Miss Crocodile knew better than to wait, and being now +dreadfully angry, she crawled away to the Jackal's hole, and slipping +inside, lay quiet. + +By and by Mr. Jackal came lilting along with his tail up. + +'Ho! ho! That is your game, is it?' said he to himself, when he saw +the trail of the crocodile in the sandy soil. So he stood outside, +and said aloud, 'Bless my stars! what has happened? I don't half like +to go in, for whenever I come home my wife always calls out, + + '"Oh, dearest hubby hub! + What have you brought for grub + To me and the darling cub?" + +and to-day she doesn't say anything!' + +Hearing this, Miss Crocodile sang out from inside, + + 'Oh, dearest hubby hub! + What have you brought for grub + To me and the darling cub?' + +The Jackal winked a very big wink, and stealing in softly, stood at +the doorway. Meanwhile Miss Crocodile, hearing him coming, held her +breath, and lay, shamming dead, like a big log. + +'Bless my stars!' cried Mr. Jackal, taking out his +pocket-handkerchief, 'how very very sad! Here's poor Miss Crocodile +stone dead, and all for love of me! Dear! dear! Yet it is very odd, +and I don't think she can be quite dead, you know--for dead folks +always wag their tails!' + +On this, Miss Crocodile began to wag her tail very gently, and Mr. +Jackal ran off, roaring with laughter, and saying, 'Oho!--oho! so dead +folk always wag their tails!' + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU WAS BORN + + +Once there lived a great Raja, whose name was Salbahan, and he had two +Queens. Now the elder, by name Queen Achhra, had a fair young son +called Prince Puran; but the younger, by name Lona, though she wept +and prayed at many a shrine, had never a child to gladden her eyes. +So, being a bad, deceitful woman, envy and rage took possession of her +heart, and she so poisoned Raja Salbahan's mind against his son, young +Puran, that just as the Prince was growing to manhood, his father +became madly jealous of him, and in a fit of anger ordered his hands +and feet to be cut off. Not content even with this cruelty, Raja +Salbahan had the poor young man thrown into a deep well. +Nevertheless, Puran did not die, as no doubt the enraged father hoped +and expected; for God preserved the innocent Prince, so that he lived +on, miraculously, at the bottom of the well, until, years after, the +great and holy Guru Goraknath came to the place, and finding Prince +Puran still alive, not only released him from his dreadful prison, +but, by the power of magic, restored his hands and feet. Then Puran, +in gratitude for this great boon, became a _faqir_, and placing +the sacred earrings in his ears, followed Goraknath as a disciple, and +was called Puran Bhagat. + +But as time went by, his heart yearned to see his mother's face, so +Guru Goraknath gave him leave to visit his native town, and Puran +Bhagat journeyed thither and took up his abode in a large walled +garden, where he had often played as a child. And, lo! he found it +neglected and barren, so that his heart became sad when he saw the +broken watercourses and the withered trees. Then he sprinkled the dry +ground with water from his drinking vessel, and prayed that all might +become green again. And, lo! even as he prayed, the trees shot forth +leaves, the grass grew, the flowers bloomed, and all was as it had +once been. + +The news of this marvellous thing spread fast through the city, and +all the world went out to see the holy man who had performed the +wonder. Even the Raja Salbahan and his two Queens heard of it in the +palace, and they too went to the garden to see it with their own +eyes. But Puran Bhagat's mother, Queen Achhra, had wept so long for +her darling, that the tears had blinded her eyes, and so she went, not +to see, but to ask the wonder-working _faqir_ to restore her +sight. Therefore, little knowing from whom she asked the boon, she +fell on the ground before Puran Bhagat, begging him to cure her; and, +lo! almost before she asked, it was done, and she saw plainly. + +Then deceitful Queen Lona, who all these years had been longing vainly +for a son, when she saw what mighty power the unknown _faqir_ +possessed, fell on the ground also, and begged for an heir to gladden +the heart of Raja Salbahan. + +Then Puran Bhagat spoke, and his voice was stern,--'Raja Salbahan +already has a son. Where is he? What have you done with him? Speak +truth, Queen Lona, if you would find favour with God!' + +Then the woman's great longing for a son conquered her pride, and +though her husband stood by, she humbled herself before the +_faqir_ and told the truth,--how she had deceived the father and +destroyed the son. + +Then Puran Bhagat rose to his feet, stretched out his hands towards +her, and a smile was on his face, as he said softly, 'Even so, Queen +Lona! even so! And behold! _I_ am Prince Puran, whom you +destroyed and God delivered! I have a message for you. Your fault is +forgiven, but not forgotten; you shall indeed bear a son, who shall be +brave and good, yet will he cause you to weep tears as bitter as those +my mother wept for me. So! take this grain of rice; eat it, and you +shall bear a son that will be no son to you, for even as I was reft +from my mother's eyes, so will he be reft from yours. Go in peace; +your fault is forgiven, but not forgotten!' + +Queen Lona returned to the palace, and when the time for the birth of +the promised son drew nigh, she inquired of three Jogis who came +begging to her gate, what the child's fate would be, and the youngest +of them answered and said, 'O Queen, the child will be a boy, and he +will live to be a great man. But for twelve years you must not look +upon his face, for if either you or his father see it before the +twelve years are past, you will surely die! This is what you must +do,--as soon as the child is born you must send him away to a cellar +underneath the ground, and never let him see the light of day for +twelve years. After they are over, he may come forth, bathe in the +river, put on new clothes, and visit you. His name shall be Raja +Rasalu, and he shall be known far and wide.' + +So, when a fair young Prince was in due time born into the world, his +parents hid him away in an underground palace, with nurses, and +servants, and everything else a King's son might desire. And with him +they sent a young colt, born the same day, and a sword, a spear, and a +shield, against the day when Raja Rasalu should go forth into the +world. + +So there the child lived, playing with his colt, and talking to his +parrot, while the nurses taught him all things needful for a King's +son to know. + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD + + +Young Rasalu lived on, far from the light of day, for eleven long +years, growing tall and strong, yet contented to remain playing with +his colt and talking to his parrot; but when the twelfth year began, +the lad's heart leapt up with desire for change, and he loved to +listen to the sounds of life which came to him in his palace-prison +from the outside world. + +'I must go and see where the voices come from!' he said; and when his +nurses told him he must not go for one year more, he only laughed +aloud, saying, 'Nay! I stay no longer here for any man!' + +Then he saddled his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, put on his shining armour, and +rode forth into the world; but--mindful of what his nurses had often +told him--when he came to the river, he dismounted, and going into +the water, washed himself and his clothes. + +Then, clean of raiment, fair of face, and brave of heart, he rode on +his way until he reached his father's city. There he sat down to rest +a while by a well, where the women were drawing water in earthen +pitchers. Now, as they passed him, their full pitchers poised upon +their heads, the gay young Prince flung stones at the earthen vessels, +and broke them all. Then the women, drenched with water, went weeping +and wailing to the palace, complaining to the King that a mighty young +Prince in shining armour, with a parrot on his wrist and a gallant +steed beside him, sat by the well, and broke their pitchers. + +Now, as soon as Raja Salbahan heard this, he guessed at once that it +was Prince Rasalu come forth before the time, and, mindful of the +Jogis' words that he would die if he looked on his son's face before +twelve years were past, he did not dare to send his guards to seize +the offender and bring him to be judged. So he bade the women be +comforted, and for the future take pitchers of iron and brass, and +gave new ones from his treasury to those who did not possess any of +their own. + +But when Prince Rasalu saw the women returning to the well with +pitchers of iron and brass, he laughed to himself, and drew his mighty +bow till the sharp-pointed arrows pierced the metal vessels as though +they had been clay. + +Yet still the King did not send for him, and so he mounted his steed +and set off in the pride of his youth and strength to the palace. He +strode into the audience hall, where his father sat trembling, and +saluted him with all reverence; but Raja Salbahan, in fear of his +life, turned his back hastily and said never a word in reply. + +Then Prince Rasalu called scornfully to him across the hall-- + + 'I came to greet thee, King, and not to harm thee! + What have I done that thou shouldst turn away? + Sceptre and empire have no power to charm me-- + I go to seek a worthier prize than they!' + +Then he strode out of the hall, full of bitterness and anger; but, as +he passed under the palace windows, he heard his mother weeping, and +the sound softened his heart, so that his wrath died down, and a great +loneliness fell upon him, because he was spurned by both father and +mother. So he cried sorrowfully-- + + 'O heart crown'd with grief, hast thou naught + But tears for thy son? + Art mother of mine? Give one thought + To my life just begun!' + +And Queen Lona answered through her tears-- + + 'Yea! mother am I, though I weep, + So hold this word sure,-- + Go, reign king of all men, but keep + Thy heart good and pure!' + +So Raja Rasalu was comforted, and began to make ready for fortune. He +took with him his horse Bhaunr Iraqi, and his parrot, both of whom had +lived with him since he was born; and besides these tried and trusted +friends he had two others--a carpenter lad, and a goldsmith lad, who +were determined to follow the Prince till death. + +So they made a goodly company, and Queen Lona, when she saw them +going, watched them from her window till she saw nothing but a cloud +of dust on the horizon; then she bowed her head on her hands and wept, +saying-- + + 'O son who ne'er gladdened mine eyes, + Let the cloud of thy going arise, + Dim the sunlight and darken the day; + For the mother whose son is away + Is as dust!' + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM + + +Now, on the first day, Raja Rasalu journeyed far, until he came to a +lonely forest, where he halted for the night. And seeing it was a +desolate place, and the night dark, he determined to set a watch. So +he divided the time into three watches, and the carpenter took the +first, the goldsmith the second, and Raja Rasalu the third. + +Then the goldsmith lad spread a couch of clean grass for his master, +and fearing lest the Prince's heart should sink at the change from his +former luxurious life, he said these words of encouragement-- + + 'Cradled till now on softest down, + Grass is thy couch to-night; + Yet grieve not thou if Fortune frown-- + Brave hearts heed not her slight!' + +Now, when Raja Rasalu and the goldsmith's son slept, a snake came out +of a thicket hard by, and crept towards the sleepers. + +'Who are you?' quoth the carpenter lad, 'and why do you come hither?' + +'I have destroyed all things within twelve miles!' returned the +serpent. 'Who are _you_ that have dared to come hither? + +Then the snake attacked the carpenter, and they fought until the snake +was killed, when the carpenter hid the dead body under his shield, and +said nothing of the adventure to his comrades, lest he should alarm +them, for, like the goldsmith, he thought the Prince might be +discouraged. + +Now, when it came to Raja Rasalu's turn to keep watch, a dreadful +unspeakable horror came out of the thicket. Nevertheless, Rasalu went +up to it boldly, and cried aloud, 'Who are you? and what brings you +here?' + +Then the awful unspeakable horror replied, 'I have killed everything +for thrice twelve miles around! Who are _you_ that dare come +hither?' + +Whereupon Rasalu drew his mighty bow, and pierced the horror with an +arrow, so that it fled into a cave, whither the Prince followed it. +And they fought long and fiercely, till at last the horror died, and +Rasalu returned to watch in peace. + +Now, when morning broke, Raja Rasalu called his sleeping servants, and +the carpenter showed with pride the body of the serpent he had killed. + +'Tis but a small snake!' quoth the Raja. 'Come and see what I killed +in the cave!' + +And, behold! when the goldsmith lad and the carpenter lad saw the +awful, dreadful, unspeakable horror Raja Rasalu had slain, they were +exceedingly afraid, and falling on their knees, begged to be allowed +to return to the city, saying, 'O mighty Rasalu, you are a Raja and a +hero! You can fight such horrors; we are but ordinary folk, and if we +follow you we shall surely be killed. Such things are nought to you, +but they are death to us. Let us go!' + +Then Rasalu looked at them sorrowfully, and bade them do as they +wished, saying-- + + 'Aloes linger long before they flower: + Gracious rain too soon is overpast: + Youth and strength are with us but an hour: + All glad life must end in death at last! + + But king reigns king without consent of courtier; + Rulers may rule, though none heed their command. + Heaven-crown'd heads stoop not, but rise the haughtier, + Alone and houseless in a stranger's land!' + +So his friends forsook him, and Rasalu journeyed on alone. + + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU KILLED THE GIANTS + + +[Illustration: Old woman making unleavened bread] + +Now, after a time, Raja Rasalu arrived at Nila city, and as he entered +the town he saw an old woman making unleavened bread, and as she made +it she sometimes wept, and sometimes laughed; so Rasalu asked her why +she wept and laughed, but she answered sadly, as she kneaded her +cakes, 'Why do you ask? What will you gain by it?' + +'Nay, mother!' replied Rasalu, 'if you tell me the truth, one of us +must benefit by it.' + +And when the old woman looked in Rasalu's face she saw that it was +kind, so she opened her heart to him, saying, with tears, 'O stranger, +I had seven fair sons, and now I have but one left, for six of them +have been killed by a dreadful giant who comes every day to this city +to receive tribute from us,--every day a fair young man, a buffalo, +and a basket of cakes! Six of my sons have gone, and now to-day it +has once more fallen to my lot to provide the tribute; and my boy, my +darling, my youngest, must meet the fate of his brothers. Therefore I +weep!' + +Then Rasalu was moved to pity, and said-- + + 'Fond, foolish mother! cease these tears-- + Keep thou thy son. I fear nor death nor life, + Seeking my fortune everywhere in strife. + My head for his I give!--so calm your fears.' + +Still the old woman shook her head doubtfully, saying, 'Fair words, +fair words! but who will really risk his life for another?' + +Then Rasalu smiled at her, and dismounting from his gallant steed, +Bhaunr Iraqi, he sat down carelessly to rest, as if indeed he were a +son of the house, and said, 'Fear not, mother! I give you my word of +honour that I will risk my life to save your son.' + +Just then the high officials of the city, whose duty it was to claim +the giant's tribute, appeared in sight, and the old woman fell +a-weeping once more, saying-- + + 'O Prince, with the gallant gray steed and the + turban bound high + O'er thy fair bearded face; keep thy word, my + oppressor draws nigh!' + +Then Raja Rasalu rose in his shining armour, and haughtily bade the +guards stand aside. + +'Fair words!' replied the chief officer; 'but if this woman does not +send the tribute at once, the giants will come and disturb the whole +city. Her son must go!' + +'I go in his stead!' quoth Rasalu more haughtily still. 'Stand back, +and let me pass!' + +Then, despite their denials, he mounted his horse, and taking the +basket of cakes and the buffalo, he set off to find the giant, bidding +the buffalo show him the shortest road. + +Now, as he came near the giants' house, he met one of them carrying a +huge skinful of water. No sooner did the water-carrier giant see Raja +Rasalu riding along on his horse Bhaunr Iraqi and leading the buffalo, +than he said to himself, 'Oho! we have a horse extra to-day! I think +I will eat it myself, before my brothers see it!' + +Then he reached out his hand, but Rasalu drew his sharp sword and +smote the giant's hand off at a blow, so that he fled from him in +great fear. + +Now, as he fled, he met his sister the giantess, who called out to +him, 'Brother, whither away so fast?' + +And the giant answered in haste, 'Raja Rasalu has come at last, and +see!--he has cut off my hand with one blow of his sword!' + +Then the giantess, overcome with fear, fled with her brother, and as +they fled they called aloud-- + + 'Fly! brethren, fly! + Take the path that is nearest; + The fire burns high + That will scorch up our dearest! + + Life's joys we have seen: + East and west we must wander! + What has been, has been; + Quick! some remedy ponder.' + +Then all the giants turned and fled to their astrologer brother, and +bade him look in his books to see if Raja Rasalu were really born into +the world. And when they heard that he was, they prepared to fly east +and west; but even as they turned, Raja Rasalu rode up on Bhaunr +Iraqi, and challenged them to fight, saying, 'Come forth, for I am +Rasalu, son of Raja Salbahan, and born enemy of the giants!' + +Then one of the giants tried to brazen it out, saying, 'I have eaten +many Rasalus like you! When the real man comes, his horse's +heel-ropes will bind us and his sword cut us up of their own accord!' + +Then Raja Rasalu loosed his heel-ropes, and dropped his sword upon the +ground, and, lo! the heel-ropes bound the giants, and the sword cut +them in pieces. + +Still, seven giants who were left tried to brazen it out, saying, +'Aha! We have eaten many Rasalus like you! When the real man comes, +his arrow will pierce seven girdles placed one behind the other.' + +So they took seven iron girdles for baking bread, and placed them one +behind the other, as a shield, and behind them stood the seven giants, +who were own brothers, and, lo! when Raja Rasalu twanged his mighty +bow, the arrow pierced through the seven girdles, and spitted the +seven giants in a row! + +But the giantess, their sister, escaped, and fled to a cave in the +Gandgari mountains. Then Raja Rasalu had a statue made in his +likeness, and clad it in shining armour, with sword and spear and +shield. And he placed it as a sentinel at the entrance of the cave, +so that the giantess dared not come forth, but starved to death +inside. + +So this is how he killed the giants. + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU BECAME A JOGI + + +Then, after a time, Rasalu went to Hodinagari. And when he reached +the house of the beautiful far-famed Queen Sundran, he saw an old Jogi +sitting at the gate, by the side of his sacred fire. + +'Wherefore do you sit there, father?' asked Raja Rasalu. + +'My son,' returned the Jogi, 'for two-and-twenty years have I waited +thus to see the beautiful Sundran, yet have I never seen her!' + +'Make me your pupil,' quoth Rasalu, 'and I will wait too.' + +'You work miracles already, my son,' said the Jogi; 'so where is the +use of your becoming one of us?' + +Nevertheless, Raja Rasalu would not be denied, so the Jogi bored his +ears and put in the sacred earrings. Then the new disciple put aside +his shining armour, and sat by the fire in a Jogi's loin-cloth, +waiting to see Queen Sundran. + +Then, at night, the old Jogi went and begged alms from four houses, +and half of what he got he gave to Rasalu and half he ate himself. +Now Raja Rasalu, being a very holy man, and a hero besides, did not +care for food, and was well content with his half share, but the Jogi +felt starved. + +The next day the same thing happened, and still Rasalu sat by the fire +waiting to see the beautiful Queen Sundran. + +Then the Jogi lost patience, and said, 'O my disciple, I made you a +pupil in order that you might beg, and feed me, and behold, it is I +who have to starve to feed you!' + +'You gave no orders!' quoth Rasalu, laughing. 'How can a disciple beg +without his master's leave?' + +'I order you now!' returned the Jogi. 'Go and beg enough for you and +for me.' + +So Raja Rasalu rose up, and stood at the gate of Queen Sundran's +palace, in his Jogi's dress, and sang, + + '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand, + Drawn from far by the name of thy charms; + Fair Sundran, with generous hand, + Give the earring-decked Jogi an alms!' + +Now when Queen Sundran, from within, heard Rasalu's voice, its +sweetness pierced her heart, so that she immediately sent out alms by +the hand of her maid-servant. But when the maiden came to the gate, +and saw the exceeding beauty of Rasalu, standing outside, fair in face +and form, she fainted away, dropping the alms upon the ground. + +Then once more Rasalu sang, and again his voice fell sweetly on Queen +Sundran's ears, so that she sent out more alms by the hand of another +maiden. But she also fainted away at the sight of Rasalu's marvellous +beauty. + +Then Queen Sundran rose, and came forth herself, fair and stately. +She chid the maidens, gathered up the broken alms, and setting the +food aside, filled the plate with jewels and put it herself into +Rasalu's hands, saying proudly-- + + 'Since when have the earrings been thine? + Since when wert thou made a _faqir_? + What arrow from Love's bow has struck thee? + What seekest thou here? + Do you beg of all women you see, + Or only, fair Jogi, of me?' + +And Rasalu, in his Jogi's habit, bent his head towards her, saying +softly-- + + 'A day since the earrings were mine, + A day since I turned a _faqir_; + But yesterday Love's arrow struck me; + I seek nothing here! + I beg nought of others I see, + But only, fair Sundran, of thee!' + +Now, when Rasalu returned to his master with the plate full of jewels, +the old Jogi was sorely astonished, and bade him take them back, and +ask for food instead. So Rasalu returned to the gate, and sang-- + + '_Alakh!_ at thy threshold I stand, + Drawn from far by the fame of thy charms; + Fair Sundran, with generous hand, + Give the earring-decked beggar an alms!' + +Then Queen Sundran rose up, proud and beautiful, and coming to the +gate, said softly-- + + 'No beggar thou! The quiver of thy mouth + Is set with pearly shafts; its bow is red + As rubies rare. Though ashes hide thy youth, + Thine eyes, thy colour, herald it instead! + Deceive me not--pretend no false desire-- + But ask the secret alms thou dost require.' + +But Rasalu smiled a scornful smile, saying-- + + 'Fair Queen! what though the quiver of my mouth + Be set with glistening pearls and rubies red? + I trade not jewels, east, west, north, or south; + Take back thy gems, and give me food instead. + Thy gifts are rich and rare, but costly charms + Scarce find fit placing in a Jogi's alms!' + +Then Queen Sundran took back the jewels, and bade the beautiful Jogi +wait an hour till the food was cooked. Nevertheless, she learnt no +more of him, for he sat by the gate and said never a word. Only when +Queen Sundran gave him a plate piled up with sweets, and looked at him +sadly, saying-- + + 'What King's son art thou? and whence dost thou come? + What name hast thou, Jogi, and where is thy home?' + +then Raja Rasalu, taking the alms, replied-- + + 'I am fair Lona's son; my father's name + Great Salbahan, who reigns at Sialkot. + I am Rasalu; for thy beauty's fame + These ashes, and the Jogi's begging note, + To see if thou wert fair as all men say; + Lo! I have seen it, and I go my way!' + +Then Rasalu returned to his master with the sweets, and after that he +went away from the place, for he feared lest the Queen, knowing who he +was, might try to keep him prisoner. + +And beautiful Sundran waited for the Jogi's cry, and when none came, +she went forth, proud and stately, to ask the old Jogi whither his +pupil had gone. + +Now he, vexed that she should come forth to ask for a stranger, when +he had sat at her gates for two-and-twenty years with never a word or +sign, answered back, 'My pupil? I was hungry, and I ate him, because +he did not bring me alms enough.' + +'Oh, monster!' cried Queen Sundran. 'Did I not send thee jewels and +sweets? Did not these satisfy thee, that thou must feast on beauty +also?' + +'I know not,' quoth the Jogi; 'only this I know--I put the youth on a +spit, roasted him, and ate him up. He tasted well!' + +'Then roast and eat me too!' cried poor Queen Sundran; and with the +words she threw herself into the sacred fire and became _sati_ +for the love of the beautiful Jogi Rasalu. + +And he, going thence, thought not of her, but fancying he would like +to be king a while, he snatched the throne from Raja Hari Chand, and +reigned in his stead. + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP + + +Now, after he had reigned a while in Hodinagari, Rasalu gave up his +kingdom, and started off to play _chaupur_ with King Sarkap. And +as he journeyed there came a fierce storm of thunder and lightning, so +that he sought shelter, and found none save an old graveyard, where a +headless corpse lay upon the ground. So lonesome was it that even the +corpse seemed company, and Rasalu, sitting down beside it, said-- + + 'There is no one here, nor far nor near, + Save this breathless corpse so cold and grim; + Would God he might come to life again, + 'Twould be less lonely to talk to him.' + +And immediately the headless corpse arose and sat beside Raja Rasalu. +And he, nothing astonished, said to it-- + + 'The storm beats fierce and loud, + The clouds rise thick in the west; + What ails thy grave and thy shroud, + O corpse, that thou canst not rest?' + +Then the headless corpse replied-- + + 'On earth I was even as thou, + My turban awry like a king, + My head with the highest, I trow, + Having my fun and my fling, + Fighting my foes like a brave, + Living my life with a swing. + And, now I am dead, + Sins, heavy as lead, + Will give me no rest in my grave!' + +So the night passed on, dark and dreary, while Rasalu sat in the +graveyard and talked to the headless corpse. Now when morning broke +and Rasalu said he must continue his journey, the headless corpse +asked him whither he was going; and when he said. 'to play +_chaupur_ with King Sarkap,' the corpse begged him to give up the +idea, saying, 'I am King Sarkap's brother, and I know his ways. Every +day, before breakfast, he cuts off the heads of two or three men, just +to amuse himself. One day no one else was at hand, so he cut off +mine, and he will surely cut off yours on some pretence or another. +However, if you are determined to go and play _chaupur_ with him, +take some of the bones from this graveyard, and make your dice out of +them, and then the enchanted dice with which my brother plays will +lose their virtue. Otherwise he will always win.' + +So Rasalu took some of the bones lying about, and fashioned them into +dice, and these he put into his pocket. Then, bidding adieu to the +headless corpse, he went on his way to play _chaupur_ with the +King. + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING + + +Now, as Raja Rasalu, tender-hearted and strong, journeyed along to +play _chaupur_ with the King, he came to a burning forest, and a +voice rose from the fire saying, 'O traveller, for God's sake save me +from the fire!' + +Then the Prince turned towards the burning forest, and, lo! the voice +was the voice of a tiny cricket. Nevertheless, Rasalu, tender-hearted +and strong, snatched it from the fire and set it at liberty. Then the +little creature, full of gratitude, pulled out one of its feelers, and +giving it to its preserver, said, 'Keep this, and should you ever be +in trouble, put it into the fire, and instantly I will come to your +aid.' + +The Prince smiled, saying, 'What help could _you_ give +_me_?' Nevertheless, he kept the hair and went on his way. + +Now, when he reached the city of King Sarkap, seventy maidens, +daughters of the King, came out to meet him--seventy fair maidens, +merry and careless, full of smiles and laughter; but one, the youngest +of them all, when she saw the gallant young Prince riding on Bhaunr +Iraqi, going gaily to his doom, was filled with pity, and called to +him, saying-- + + 'Fair Prince, on the charger so gray, + Turn thee back! turn thee back! + Or lower thy lance for the fray; + Thy head will be forfeit to-day! + Dost love life? then, stranger, I pray, + Turn thee back! turn thee back!' + +But he, smiling at the maiden, answered lightly-- + + 'Fair maiden, I come from afar, + Sworn conqueror in love and in war! + King Sarkap my coming will rue, + His head in four pieces I'll hew; + Then forth as a bridegroom I'll ride, + With you, little maid, as my bride!' + +Now when Rasalu replied so gallantly, the maiden looked in his face, +and seeing how fair he was, and how brave and strong, she straightway +fell in love with him, and would gladly have followed him through the +world. + +But the other sixty-nine maidens, being jealous, laughed scornfully at +her, saying, 'Not so fast, O gallant warrior! If you would marry our +sister you must first do our bidding, for you will be our younger +brother.' + +'Fair sisters!' quoth Rasalu gaily, 'give me my task and I will +perform it.' + +So the sixty-nine maidens mixed a hundredweight of millet seed with a +hundredweight of sand, and giving it to Rasalu, bade him separate the +seed from the sand. + +Then he bethought him of the cricket, and drawing the feeler from his +pocket, thrust it into the fire. And immediately there was a whirring +noise in the air, and a great flight of crickets alighted beside him, +and among them the cricket whose life he had saved. + +Then Rasalu said, 'Separate the millet seed from the sand.' + +'Is that all?' quoth the cricket; 'had I known how small a job you +wanted me to do, I would not have assembled so many of my brethren.' + +With that the flight of crickets set to work, and in one night they +separated the seed from the sand. + +Now when the sixty-nine fair maidens, daughters of the King, saw that +Rasalu had performed his task, they set him another, bidding him swing +them all, one by one, in their swings, until they were tired. + +Whereupon he laughed, saying, 'There are seventy of you, counting my +little bride yonder, and I am not going to spend my life in swinging +girls; yet, by the time I have given each of you a swing, the first +will be wanting another! No! if you want to swing, get in, all +seventy of you, into one swing, and then I will see what I can +compass.' + +So the seventy maidens, merry and careless, full of smiles and +laughter, climbed into the one swing, and Raja Rasalu, standing in his +shining armour, fastened the ropes to his mighty bow, and drew it up +to its fullest bent. Then he let go, and like an arrow the swing shot +into the air, with its burden of seventy fair maidens, merry and +careless, full of smiles and laughter. + +But as it swung back again, Rasalu, standing there in his shining +armour, drew his sharp sword and severed the ropes. Then the seventy +fair maidens fell to the ground headlong; and some were bruised and +some broken, but the only one who escaped unhurt was the maiden who +loved Rasalu, for she fell out last, on the top of the others, and so +came to no harm. + +After this, Rasalu strode on fifteen paces, till he came to the +seventy drums, that every one who came to play _chaupur_ with the +King had to beat in turn; and he beat them so loudly that he broke +them all. Then he came to the seventy gongs, all in a row, and he +hammered them so hard that they cracked to pieces. + +Seeing this, the youngest Princess, who was the only one who could +run, fled to her father the King in a great fright, saying-- + + 'A mighty Prince, Sarkap! making havoc, rides along, + He swung us, seventy maidens fair, and threw us out headlong; + He broke the drums you placed there and the gongs too in his pride, + Sure, he will kill thee, father mine, and take me for his bride!' + +But King Sarkap replied scornfully-- + + 'Silly maiden, thy words make a lot + Of a very small matter; + For fear of my valour, I wot, + His armour will clatter. + As soon as I've eaten my bread + I'll go forth and cut off his head!' + +Notwithstanding these brave and boastful words, he was in reality very +much afraid, having heard of Rasalu's renown. And learning that he +was stopping at the house of an old woman in the city, till the hour +for playing _chaupur_ arrived, Sarkap sent slaves to him with +trays of sweetmeats and fruit, as to an honoured guest. But the food +was poisoned. + +Now when the slaves brought the trays to Raja Rasalu, he rose up +haughtily, saying, 'Go, tell your master I have nought to do with him +in friendship. I am his sworn enemy, and I eat not of his salt!' + +So saying, he threw the sweetmeats to Raja Sarkap's dog, which had +followed the slaves, and lo! the dog died. + +Then Rasalu was very wroth, and said bitterly, 'Go back to Sarkap, +slaves! and tell him that Rasalu deems it no act of bravery to kill +even an enemy by treachery.' + + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU PLAYED CHAUPUR WITH KING SARKAP + + +Now, when evening came, Raja Rasalu went forth to play _chaupur_ +with King Sarkap, and as he passed some potters' kilns he saw a cat +wandering about restlessly; so he asked what ailed her that she never +stood still, and she replied, 'My kittens are in an unbaked pot in the +kiln yonder. It has just been set alight, and my children will be +baked alive; therefore I cannot rest!' + +Her words moved the heart of Raja Rasalu, and, going to the potter, he +asked him to sell the kiln as it was; but the potter replied that he +could not settle a fair price till the pots were burnt, as he could +not tell how many would come out whole. Nevertheless, after some +bargaining, he consented at last to sell the kiln, and Rasalu, having +searched through all the pots, restored the kittens to their mother, +and she, in gratitude for his mercy, gave him one of them, saying, +'Put it in your pocket, for it will help you when you are in +difficulties.' + +So Raja Rasalu put the kitten in his pocket, and went to play +_chaupur_ with the King. + +Now, before they sat down to play, Raja Sarkap fixed his stakes. On +the first game, his kingdom; on the second, the wealth of the whole +world; and on the third, his own head. So, likewise, Raja Rasalu +fixed his stakes. On the first game, his arms; on the second, his +horse; and on the third, his own head. + +Then they began to play, and it fell to Rasalu's lot to make the first +move. Now he, forgetful of the dead man's warning, played with the +dice given him by Raja Sarkap; then, in addition, Sarkap let loose his +famous rat, Dhol Raja, and it ran about the board, upsetting the +_chaupur_ pieces on the sly, so that Rasalu lost the first game, +and gave up his shining armour. + +So the second game began, and once more Dhol Raja, the rat, upset the +pieces; and Rasalu, losing the game, gave up his faithful steed. Then +Bhaunr Iraqi, who stood by, found voice, and cried to his master-- + + 'I am born of the sea and of gold; + Dear Prince! trust me now as of old. + I'll carry you far from these wiles-- + My flight, all unspurr'd, will be swift as a bird, + For thousands and thousands of miles! + Or if needs you must stay; ere the next game you play, + Place hand in your pocket, I pray!' + +Hearing this, Raja Sarkap frowned, and bade his slaves remove Bhaunr +Iraqi, since he gave his master advice in the game. Now when the +slaves came to lead the faithful steed away, Rasalu could not refrain +from tears, thinking over the long years during which Bhaunr Iraqi had +been his companion. But the horse cried out again-- + + 'Weep not, dear Prince! I shall not eat my bread + Of stranger hands, nor to strange stall be led. + Take thy right hand, and place it as I said.' + +These words roused some recollection in Rasalu's mind, and when, just +at this moment, the kitten in his pocket began to struggle, he +remembered the warning which the corpse had given him about the dice +made from dead men's bones. Then his heart rose up once more, and he +called boldly to Raja Sarkap, 'Leave my horse and arms here for the +present. Time enough to take them away when you have won my head!' + +Now, Raja Sarkap, seeing Rasalu's confident bearing, began to be +afraid, and ordered all the women of his palace to come forth in their +gayest attire and stand before Rasalu, so as to distract his attention +from the game. But he never even looked at them; and drawing the dice +from his pocket, said to Sarkap, 'We have played with your dice all +this time; now we will play with mine.' + +Then the kitten went and sat at the window through which the rat Dhol +Raja used to come, and the game began. + +After a while, Sarkap, seeing Raja Rasalu was winning, called to his +rat, but when Dhol Raja saw the kitten he was afraid, and would not go +farther. So Rasalu won, and took back his arms. Next he played for +his horse, and once more Raja Sarkap called for his rat; but Dhol +Raja, seeing the kitten keeping watch, was afraid. So Rasalu won the +second stake, and took back Bhaunr Iraqi. + +Then Sarkap brought all his skill to bear on the third and last game, +saying-- + + 'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day! + For sooth this is a man with whom I play. + No paltry risk--but life and death at stake; + As Sarkap does, so do, for Sarkap's sake!' + +But Rasalu answered back-- + + 'O moulded pieces, favour me to-day! + For sooth it is a man with whom I play. + No paltry risk--but life and death at stake; + As Heaven does, so do, for Heaven's sake!' + +So they began to play, whilst the women stood round in a circle, and +the kitten watched Dhol Raja from the window. Then Sarkap lost, first +his kingdom, then the wealth of the whole world, and lastly his head. + +Just then, a servant came in to announce the birth of a daughter to +Raja Sarkap, and he, overcome by misfortunes, said, 'Kill her at once! +for she has been born in an evil moment, and has brought her father +ill luck!' + +But Rasalu rose up in his shining armour, tenderhearted and strong, +saying, 'Not so, O king! She has done no evil. Give me this child to +wife; and if you will vow, by all you hold sacred, never again to play +_chaupur_ for another's head, I will spare yours now!' + +Then Sarkap vowed a solemn vow never to play for another's head; and +after that he took a fresh mango branch, and the new-born babe, and +placing them on a golden dish, gave them to the Prince. + +Now, as Rasalu left the palace, carrying with him the new-born babe +and the mango branch, he met a band of prisoners, and they called out +to him-- + + 'A royal hawk art thou, O King! the rest + But timid wild-fowl. Grant us our request-- + Unloose these chains, and live for ever blest!' + +And Raja Rasalu hearkened to them, and bade +King Sarkap set them at liberty. + +Then he went to the Murti Hills, and placed the new-born babe, +Kokilan, in an underground palace, and planted the mango branch at the +door, saying, 'In twelve years the mango tree will blossom; then will +I return and marry Kokilan.' + +And after twelve years, the mango tree began to flower, and Raja +Rasalu married the Princess Kokilan, whom he won from Sarkap when he +played _chaupur_ with the King. + + + + +THE KING WHO WAS FRIED + + +Once upon a time, a very long time ago indeed, there lived a King who +had made a vow never to eat bread or break his fast until he had given +away a hundredweight of gold in charity. + +So, every day, before King Karan--for that was his name--had his +breakfast, the palace servants would come out with baskets and baskets +of gold pieces to scatter amongst the crowds of poor folk, who, you +may be sure, never forgot to be there to receive the alms. + +How they used to hustle and bustle and struggle and scramble! Then, +when the last golden piece had been fought for, King Karan would sit +down to his breakfast, and enjoy it as a man who has kept his word +should do. + +Now, when people saw the King lavishing his gold in this fashion, they +naturally thought that sooner or later the royal treasuries must give +out, the gold come to an end, and the King--who was evidently a man of +his word--die of starvation. But, though months and years passed by, +every day, just a quarter of an hour before breakfast-time, the +servants came out of the palace with baskets and baskets of gold; and +as the crowds dispersed they could see the King sitting down to his +breakfast in the royal banqueting hall, as jolly, and fat, and hungry, +as could be. + +Now, of course, there was some secret in all this, and this secret I +shall now tell you. King Karan had made a compact with a holy and +very hungry old _faqir_ who lived at the top of the hill; and the +compact was this: on condition of King Karan allowing himself to be +fried and eaten for breakfast every day, the _faqir_ gave him a +hundredweight of pure gold. + +Of course, had the _faqir_ been an ordinary sort of person, the +compact would not have lasted long, for once King Karan had been fried +and eaten, there would have been an end of the matter. But the +_faqir_ was a very remarkable _faqir_ indeed, and when he +had eaten the King, and picked the bones quite quite clean, he just +put them together, said a charm or two, and, hey presto! there was +King Karan as fat and jolly as ever, ready for the next morning's +breakfast. In fact, the _faqir_ made _no bones at all_ over +the affair, which, it must be confessed, was very convenient both for +the breakfast and the breakfast eater. Nevertheless, it was of course +not pleasant to be popped alive every morning into a great frying-pan +of boiling oil; and for my part I think King Karan earned his +hundredweight of gold handsomely. But after a time he got accustomed +to the process, and would go up quite cheerfully to the holy and +hungry one's house, where the biggest frying-pan was spitting and +sputtering over the sacred fire. Then he would just pass the time of +day to the _faqir_ to make sure he was punctual, and step +gracefully into his hot oil bath. My goodness! how he sizzled and +fizzled! When he was crisp and brown, the _faqir_ ate him, +picked the bones, set them together, sang a charm, and finished the +business by bringing out his dirty, old ragged coat, which he shook +and shook, while the bright golden pieces came tumbling out of the +pockets on to the floor. + +So that was the way King Karan got his gold, and if you think it very +extraordinary, so do I! + +Now, in the great Mansarobar Lake, where, as of course you know, all +the wild swans live when they leave us, and feed upon seed pearls, +there was a great famine. Pearls were so scarce that one pair of +swans determined to go out into the world and seek for food. So they +flew into King Bikramajit's garden, at Ujjayin. Now, when the +gardener saw the beautiful birds, he was delighted, and, hoping to +induce them to stay, he threw them grain to eat. But they would not +touch it, nor any other food he offered them; so he went to his +master, and told him there were a pair of swans in the garden who +refused to eat anything. + +Then King Bikramajit went out, and asked them in birds' language (for, +as every one knows, Bikramajit understood both beasts and birds) why +it was that they ate nothing. + +'We don't eat grain!' said they, 'nor fruit, nor anything but fresh +unpierced pearls!' + +Whereupon King Bikramajit, being very kind-hearted, sent for a basket +of pearls; and every day, when he came into the garden, he fed the +swans with his own hand. + +But one day, when he was feeding them as usual, one of the pearls +happened to be pierced. The dainty swans found it out at once, and +coming to the conclusion that King Bikramajit's supply of pearls was +running short, they made up their minds to go farther afield. So, +despite his entreaties, they spread their broad white wings, and flew +up into the blue sky, their outstretched necks pointing straight +towards home on the great Mansarobar Lake. Yet they were not +ungrateful, for as they flew they sang the praises of Bikramajit. + +Now, King Karan was watching his servants bring out the baskets of +gold, when the wild swans came flying over his head; and when he heard +them singing, 'Glory to Bikramajit! Glory to Bikramajit!' he said to +himself, 'Who is this whom even the birds praise? I let myself be +fried and eaten every day in order that I may be able to give away a +hundredweight of gold in charity, yet no swan sings _my_ song!' + +So, being jealous, he sent for a bird-catcher, who snared the poor +swans with lime, and put them in a cage. + +Then Karan hung the cage in the palace, and ordered his servants to +bring every kind of birds' food; but the proud swans only curved their +white necks in scorn, saying, 'Glory to Bikramajit!--he gave us pearls +to eat!' + +Then King Karan, determined not to be outdone, sent for pearls; but +still the scornful swans would not touch anything. + +'Why will ye not eat?' quoth King Karan wrathfully; 'am I not as +generous as Bikramajit?' + +Then the swan's wife answered, and said, 'Kings do not imprison the +innocent. Kings do not war against women. If Bikramajit were here, +he would at any rate let me go!' + +So Karan, not to be outdone in generosity, let the swan's wife go, and +she spread her broad white wings and flew southwards to Bikramajit, +and told him how her husband lay a prisoner at the court of King +Karan. + +Of course Bikramajit, who was, as every one knows, the most generous +of kings, determined to* release the poor captive; and bidding the +swan fly back and rejoin her mate, he put on the garb of a servant, +and taking the name of Bikru, journeyed northwards till he came to +King Karan's kingdom. Then he took service with the King, and helped +every day to carry out the baskets of golden pieces. He soon saw +there was some secret in King Karan's endless wealth, and never rested +until he had found it out. So, one day, hidden close by, he saw King +Karan enter the _faqir's_ house and pop into the boiling oil. He +saw him frizzle and sizzle, he saw him come out crisp and brown, he +saw the hungry and holy _faqir_ pick the bones, and, finally, he +saw King Karan, fat and jolly as ever, go down the mountain side with +his hundredweight of gold! + +Then Bikru knew what to do! So the very next day he rose very early, +and taking a carving-knife, he slashed himself all over. Next he took +some pepper and salt, spices, pounded pomegranate seeds, and +pea-flour; these he mixed together into a beautiful curry-stuff, and +rubbed himself all over with it--right into the cuts in spite of the +smarting. When he thought he was quite ready for cooking, he just +went up the hill to the _faqir_'s house, and popped into the +frying-pan. The _faqir_ was still asleep, but he soon awoke with +the sizzling and the fizzling, and said to himself, 'Dear me! how +uncommonly nice the King smells this morning!' + +Indeed, so appetising was the smell, that he could hardly wait until +the King was crisp and brown, but then--oh, my goodness! how he +gobbled him up! + +You see, he had been eating plain fried so long that a devilled king +was quite a change. He picked the bones ever so clean, and it is my +belief would have eaten them too, if he had not been afraid of killing +the goose that laid the golden eggs. + +Then, when it was all over, he put the King together again, and said, +with tears in his eyes, 'What a breakfast that was, to be sure! Tell +me how you managed to taste so nice, and I'll give you anything you +ask.' + +Whereupon Bikru told him the way it was done, and promised to devil +himself every morning, if he might have the old coat in return. +'For,' said he, 'it is not pleasant to be fried! and I don't see why I +should in addition have the trouble of carrying a hundredweight of +gold to the palace every day. Now, if _I_ keep the coat, I can +shake it down there.' + +To this the _faqir_ agreed, and off went Bikru with the coat. + +Meanwhile, King Karan came toiling up the hill, and was surprised, +when he entered the _faqir_'s house, to find the fire out, the +frying-pan put away, and the _faqir_ himself as holy as ever, but +not in the least hungry. + +'Why, what is the matter?' faltered the King. + +'Who are you?' asked the _faqir_, who, to begin with, was +somewhat short-sighted, and in addition felt drowsy after his heavy +meal. + +'Who! Why, I'm King Karan, come to be fried! Don't you want your +breakfast?' + +'I've had my breakfast!' sighed the _faqir_ regretfully. 'You +tasted very nice when you were devilled, I can assure you!' + +'I never was devilled in my life!' shouted the King; 'you must have +eaten somebody else!' + +'That's just what I was saying to myself!' returned the _faqir_ +sleepily; 'I thought--it couldn't--be only--the spices--that-- +'--Snore, snore, snore! + +'Look here!' cried King Karan, in a rage, shaking the +_faqir_,'you must eat me too!' + +'Couldn't!' nodded the holy but satisfied _faqir_, 'really--not +another morsel--no, thanks!' + +'Then give me my gold!' shrieked King Karan; 'you're bound to do that, +for I'm ready to fulfil my part of the contract!' + +'Sorry I can't oblige, but the devil--I mean the other person--went +off with the coat!' nodded the _faqir_. + +Hearing this, King Karan returned home in despair and ordered the +royal treasurer to send him gold; so that day he ate his breakfast in +peace. + +And the next day also, by ransacking all the private treasuries, a +hundredweight of gold was forthcoming; so King Karan ate his breakfast +as usual, though his heart was gloomy. + +But the third day, the royal treasurer arrived with empty hands, and, +casting himself on the ground, exclaimed, 'May it please your majesty! +there is not any more gold in your majesty's domains!' + +Then King Karan went solemnly to bed, without any breakfast, and the +crowd, after waiting for hours expecting to see the palace doors open +and the servants come out with the baskets of gold, melted away, +saying it was a great shame to deceive poor folk in that way! + +By dinner-time poor King Karan was visibly thinner; but he was a man +of his word, and though the wily Bikru came and tried to persuade him +to eat, by saying he could not possibly be blamed, he shook his head, +and turned his face to the wall. + +Then Bikru, or Bikramajit, took the _faqir's_ old coat, and +shaking it before the King, said, 'Take the money, my friend; and what +is more, if you will set the wild swans you have in that cage at +liberty, I will give you the coat into the bargain!' + +So King Karan set the wild swans at liberty, and as the pair of them +flew away to the great Mansarobar Lake, they sang as they went, 'Glory +to Bikramajit! the generous Bikramajit!' + +Then King Karan hung his head, and said to himself, 'The swans' song +is true!--Bikramajit is more generous than I; for if I was fried for +the sake of a hundredweight of gold and my breakfast, he was devilled +in order to set a bird at liberty!' + + + + +PRINCE HALF-A-SON + + +Once upon a time there was a King who had no children, and this +disappointment preyed so dreadfully upon his mind that he chose the +dirtiest and most broken-down old bed he could find, and lay down on +it in the beautiful palace gardens. There he lay, amid the flowers +and the fruit trees, the butterflies and the birds, quite regardless +of the beauties around him;--that was his way of showing grief. + +Now, as he lay thus, a holy _faqir_ passed through the garden, +and seeing the King in this pitiful plight, asked him what the sorrow +was which drove him to such a very dirty old bed. + +'What is the use of asking?' returned the King; but when the +_faqir_ asked for the third time what the sorrow was, the King +took heart of grace, and answered gloomily, 'I have no children!' + +'Is that all?' said the _faqir_; 'that is easily remedied. Here! +take this stick of mine, and throw it twice into yonder mango tree. +At the first throw five mangoes will fall, at the second two. So many +sons you shall have, if you give each of your seven Queens a mango +apiece.' + +Then the King, greatly delighted, took the _faqir's_ stick and +went off to the mango tree. Sure enough, at the first throw five +mangoes fell, at the second, two. Still the King was not satisfied, +and, determining to make the most of the opportunity, he threw the +stick into the tree a third time, hoping to get more children But, to +his surprise and consternation, the stick remained in the tree, and +the seven fallen mangoes flew back to their places, where they hung +temptingly just out of reach. + +[Illustration: The king and the faqir] + +There was nothing to be done but to go back to the _faqir_, and +tell him what had happened. + +'That comes of being greedy!' retorted the _faqir_; 'surely seven +sons are enough for anybody, and yet you were not content! However, I +will give you one more chance. Go back to the tree; you will find the +stick upon the ground; throw it as I bade you, and beware of +disobedience, for if you do not heed me this time, you may lie on your +dirty old bed till doomsday for all I care!' + +Then the King returned to the mango tree, and when the seven mangoes +had fallen--the first time five, the second time two--he carried them +straight into the palace, and gave them to his Queens, so as to be out +of the way of temptation. + +Now, as luck would have it, the youngest Queen was not in the house, +so the King put her mango away in a tiny cupboard in the wall, against +her return, and while it lay there a greedy little mouse came and +nibbled away one half of it. Shortly afterwards, the seventh Queen +came in, and seeing the other Queens just wiping their mouths, asked +them what they had been eating. + +'The King gave us each a mango,' they replied, 'and he put yours in +the cupboard yonder.' + +But, lo! when the youngest Queen ran in haste to find her mango, half +of it was gone; nevertheless she ate the remaining half with great +relish. + +Now the result of this was, that when, some months afterwards, the six +elder Queens each bore a son, the youngest Queen had only +half-a-son--and that was what they called him at once,--just +half-a-son, nothing more: he had one eye, one ear, one arm, one leg; +in fact, looked at sideways, he was as handsome a young prince as you +would wish to see, but frontways it was as plain as a pikestaff that +he was only half-a-prince. Still he throve and grew strong, so that +when his brothers went out shooting he begged to be allowed to go out +also. + +'How can _you_ go a-shooting?' wept his mother, who did nothing +but fret because her son was but half-a-son; 'you are only half-a-boy; +how can you hold your crossbow?' + +'Then let me go and play at shooting,' replied +the prince, nothing daunted. 'Only give me some sweets to take with +me, dear mother, as the other boys have, and I shall get on well +enough.' + +[Illustration: The youngest queen and her half-a-son] + +'How can I make sweets for half-a-son?' wept his mother; 'go and ask +the other Queens to give you some,' + +So he asked the other Queens, and they, to make fun of the poor lad, +who was the butt of the palace, gave him sweets full of ashes. + +Then the six whole princes, and little Half-a-son, set off a-shooting, +and when they grew tired and hungry, they sat down to eat the sweets +they had brought with them. Now when Prince Half-a-son put his into +his half-a-mouth, lo and behold! though they were sweet enough +outside, there was nothing but ashes and grit inside. He was a +simple-hearted young prince, and imagining it must be a mistake, he +went to his brothers and asked for some of theirs; but they jeered and +laughed at him. + +By and by they came to a field of melons, so carefully fenced in with +thorns that only one tiny gap remained in one corner, and that was too +small for any one to creep through, except half-a-boy; so while the +six whole princes remained outside, little Half-a-son was feasting on +the delicious melons inside, and though they begged and prayed him to +throw a few over the hedge, he only laughed, saying, 'Remember the +sweets!--it is my turn now!' + +When they became very importunate, he threw over a few of the unripe +and sour melons; whereupon his brothers became so enraged that they +ran to the owner of the field and told him that half-a-boy was making +sad havoc amongst his fruit. Then they watched him catch poor Prince +Half-a-son, who of course could not run very fast, and tie him to a +tree, after which they went away laughing. + +But Prince Half-a-son had some compensation for being only half-a-boy, +in that he possessed the magical power of making a rope do anything he +bade it. Therefore, when he saw his brothers leaving him in the +lurch, he called out, 'Break, rope, break! my companions have gone +on,' and the rope obeyed at once, leaving him free to join his +brothers. + +By and by they came to a plum tree, where the fruit grew far out on +slender branches that would only bear the weight of half-a-boy. + +'Throw us down some!' cried the whole brothers, as they saw Half-a-son +with his half-mouth full. + +'Remember the sweets!' retorted the prince. + +This made his brothers so angry that they ran off to the owner of the +tree, and telling him how half-a-boy was feasting on his plums, +watched while he caught the offender and tied him to the tree. Then +they ran away laughing; but Prince Half-a-son called out, 'Break, +rope, break! my companions have gone on,' and before they had gone out +of sight he rejoined his brothers, who could not understand how this +miserable half-a-boy outwitted them. + +Being determined to be revenged on him, they waited until he began to +draw water from a well, where they stopped to drink, and then they +pushed him in. + +'That is an end of little Half-a-son!' they said to themselves, and +ran away laughing. + +Now in the well there lived a one-eyed demon, a pigeon, and a serpent, +and when it was dark these three returned home and began to talk +amongst themselves, while Prince Half-a-son, who clung to the wall +like a limpet, and took up no room at all, listened and held his +breath. + +'What is your power, my friend?' asked the demon of the serpent. +Whereupon the serpent replied, 'I have the treasures of seven kings +underneath me! What is yours, my friend?' + +Then the demon said conceitedly, 'The King's daughter is possessed of +me. She is always ill; some day I shall kill her.' + +'Ah!' said the pigeon, 'I could cure her, for no matter what the +disease is, any one who eats my droppings will become well instantly.' + +When dawn came, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon each went off +to his own haunt without noticing Prince Half-a-son. + +Soon afterwards, a camel-driver came to draw water from the well, and +let down the bucket; whereupon Prince Half-a-son caught hold of the +rope and held on. + +The camel-driver, feeling a heavy weight, looked down to see what it +was, and when he beheld half-a-boy clinging to the rope he was so +frightened that he ran clean away. But all Half-a-son had to do was +to say, 'Pull, rope, pull!' and the rope wound itself up immediately. + +No sooner had he reached the surface once more than he set off to the +neighbouring city, and proclaimed that he was a physician come to heal +the King's daughter of her dreadful disease. + +'Have a care! have a care!' cried the watchmen at the gate. 'If you +fail, your head will be the forfeit. Many men have tried, and what +can _you_ do that are but half-a-man?' + +Nevertheless, Prince Half-a-son, who had some of the pigeon's +droppings in his pocket, was not in the least afraid, but boldly +proclaimed he was ready to accept the terms; that is to say, if he +failed to cure the princess his head was to be cut off, but if he +succeeded, then her hand in marriage and half the kingdom should be +his reward. + +'Half the kingdom will just suit me,' he said,' seeing that I am but +half-a-man!' + +And, sure enough, no sooner had the princess taken her first dose, +than she immediately became quite well--her cheeks grew rosy, her eyes +bright; and the King was so delighted that he gave immediate orders +for the marriage. Now amongst the wedding guests were Prince +Half-a-son's wicked brothers, who were ready to die of spite and envy +when they discovered that the happy bridegroom was none other than +their despised half-a-boy. So they went to the King, and said, 'We +know this lad: he is a sweeper's son, and quite unfit to be the +husband of so charming a princess!' + +The king at first believed this wicked story, and ordered the poor +prince to be turned out of the kingdom; but Half-a-son asked for a +train of mules, and one day's respite, in order to prove who and what +he was. Then he went to the well, dug up the treasures of seven kings +during the serpent's absence, loaded the mules, and came back +glittering with gold and jewels. He laid the treasures at the King's +feet, and told the whole story,--how, through no fault of his own, he +was only half-a-son, and how unkindly his brothers had behaved to him. + +Then the marriage festivities went on, and the wicked brothers crept +away in disgrace. + +They went to the well, full of envy and covetousness. 'Half-a-son got +rich by falling in,' they said; 'let us try if we too cannot find some +treasure,' So they threw themselves into the well. + +As soon as it was dark, the demon, the serpent, and the pigeon came +home together. 'Some thief has been here!' cried the pigeon, 'for my +droppings are gone! Let us feel round, and see if he is here still.' + +So they felt round, and when they came upon the six brothers, the +demon ate them up one after another. + +So that was an end of them, and Prince Half-a-son had the best of it, +in spite of his only being half-a-boy. + + + + +THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHO WORSHIPPED THE SUN + + +Once upon a time there lived a mother and a daughter who worshipped +the Sun. Though they were very poor they never forgot to honour the +Sun, giving everything they earned to it except two meal cakes, one of +which the mother ate, while the other was the daughter's share, every +day one cake apiece; that was all. + +Now it so happened that one day, when the mother was out at work, the +daughter grew hungry, and ate her cake before dinner-time. Just as +she had finished it a priest came by, and begged for some bread, but +there was none in the house save the mother's cake. So the daughter +broke off half of it and gave it to the priest in the name of the Sun. + +By and by the mother returned, very hungry, to dinner, and, lo and +behold! there was only half a cake in the house. + +'Where is the remainder of the bread?' she asked. + +'I ate my share, because I was hungry,' said the daughter, 'and just +as I finished, a priest came a-begging, so I was obliged to give him +half your cake.' + +'A pretty story!' quoth the mother, in a rage. 'It is easy to be +pious with other people's property! How am I to know you had eaten +your cake first? I believe you gave mine in order to save your own!' + +In vain the daughter protested that she really had finished her cake +before the priest came a-begging,--in vain she promised to give the +mother half her share on the morrow,--in vain she pleaded for +forgiveness for the sake of the Sun, in whose honour she had given +alms. Words were of no avail; the mother sternly bade her go about +her business, saying, 'I will have no gluttons, who grudge their own +meal to the great Sun, in my house!' + +So the daughter wandered away homeless into the wilds, sobbing +bitterly. When she had travelled a long long way, she became so tired +that she could walk no longer; therefore she climbed into a big +_pipal_ tree, in order to be secure from wild beasts, and rested +amongst the branches. + +After a time a handsome young prince, who had been chasing deer in the +forest, came to the big _pipal_ tree, and, allured by its +tempting shade, lay down to sleep away his fatigues. Now, as he lay +there, with his face turned to the sky, he looked so beautiful that +the daughter could not choose but keep her eyes upon him, and so the +tears which flowed from them like a summer shower dropped soft and +warm upon the young man's face, waking him with a start. Thinking it +was raining, he rose to look at the sky, and see whence this sudden +storm had come; but far and near not a cloud was to be seen. Still, +when he returned to his place, the drops fell faster than before, and +one of them upon his lip tasted salt as tears. So he swung himself +into the tree, to see whence the salt rain came, and, lo and behold! a +beauteous maiden sat in the tree, weeping. + +'Whence come you, fair stranger?' said he; and she, with tears, told +him she was homeless, houseless, motherless. Then he fell in love +with her sweet face and soft words; so he asked her to be his bride, +and she went with him to the palace, her heart full of gratitude to +the Sun, who had sent her such good luck. + +Everything she could desire was hers; only when the other women talked +of their homes and their mothers she held her tongue, for she was +ashamed of hers. + +Every one thought she must be some great princess, she was so lovely +and magnificent, but in her heart of hearts she knew she was nothing +of the kind; so every day she prayed to the Sun that her mother might +not find her out. + +But one day, when she was sitting alone in her beautiful palace, her +mother appeared, ragged and poor as ever. She had heard of her +daughter's good fortune, and had come to share it. + +'And you _shall_ share it,' pleaded her daughter; 'I will give +you back far more than I ever took from you, if only you will go away +and not disgrace me before my prince.' + +'Ungrateful creature!' stormed the mother, 'do you forget how it was +through my act that your good fortune came to you? If I had not sent +you into the world, where would you have found so fine a husband?' + +'I might have starved!' wept the daughter; 'and now you come to +destroy me again. O great Sun, help me now!' + +Just then the prince came to the door, and the poor daughter was ready +to die of shame and vexation; but when she turned to where her mother +had sat, there was nothing to be seen but a golden stool, the like of +which had never been seen on earth before. + +'My princess,' asked the prince, astonished, 'whence comes that golden +stool?' + +'From my mother's house,' replied the daughter, full of gratitude to +the great Sun, who had saved her from disgrace. + +'Nay! if there are such wondrous things to be seen in your mother's +house,' quoth the prince gaily, 'I must needs go and see it. +To-morrow we will set out on our journey, and you shall show me all it +contains.' + +In vain the daughter put forward one pretext and another: the +prince's curiosity had been aroused by the sight of the marvellous +golden stool, and he was not to be gainsaid. + +Then the daughter cried once more to the Sun, in her distress, saying, +'O gracious Sun, help me now!' + +But no answer came, and with a heavy heart she set out next day to +show the prince her mother's house. A goodly procession they made, +with horsemen and footmen clothed in royal liveries surrounding the +bride's palanquin, where sat the daughter, her heart sinking at every +step. + +And when they came within sight of where her mother's hut used to +stand, lo! on the horizon showed a shining, flaming golden palace, +that glittered and glanced like solid sunshine. Within and without +all was gold,--golden servants and a golden mother! + +There they stopped, admiring the countless marvels of the Sun palace, +for three days, and when the third was completed, the prince, more +enamoured of his bride than ever, set his face homewards; but when he +came to the spot where he had first seen the glittering golden palace +from afar, he thought he would just take one look more at the wondrous +sight, and, lo! there was nothing to be seen save a low thatched +hovel! + +Then he turned to his bride, full of wrath, and said, 'You are a +witch, and have deceived me by your detestable arts! Confess, if you +would not have me strike you dead!' + +But the daughter fell on her knees, saying, 'My gracious prince, I +have done nothing! I am but a poor homeless girl. It was the Sun +that did it.' + +Then she told the whole story from beginning to end, and the prince +was so well satisfied that from that day he too worshipped the Sun. + + + + +THE RUBY PRINCE + + +Once upon a time a poor Brahman was walking along a dusty road, when +he saw something sparkling on the ground. On picking it up, it turned +out to be a small red stone, so, thinking it somewhat curious, the +Brahman put it into his pocket and went on his way. By and by he came +to a corn-merchant's shop, at the side of the road, and being hungry +he bethought himself of the red stone, and taking it out, offered it +to the corn-dealer in exchange for a bite and sup, as he had no money +in his pocket. + +Now, for a wonder, the shopkeeper was an honest man, so, after looking +at the stone, he bade the Brahman take it to the king, for, said he, +'all the goods in my shop are not its equal in value!' + +Then the Brahman carried the stone to the king's palace, and asked to +be shown into his presence. But the prime minister refused at first +to admit him; nevertheless, when the Brahman persisted that he had +something beyond price to show, he was allowed to see the king. + +Now the snake-stone was just like a ruby, red and fiery; therefore, +when the king saw it he said, 'What dost thou want for this ruby, O +Brahman?' + +Then the Brahman replied, 'Only a pound of meal to make a girdle cake, +for I am hungry!' + +'Nay,' said the king, 'it is worth more than that!' + +So he sent for a _lakh_ of rupees from his treasury, and counted +it over to the Brahman, who went on his way rejoicing. + +Then the king called his queen, and gave the jewel into her custody, +with many instructions for its safe keeping, for, said he, there was +not its like in the whole world. The queen, determined to be careful, +wrapped it in cotton-wool, and put it away in an empty chest, locking +the chest with double locks. + +So there the ruby snake-stone lay for twelve long years. At the end +of that time the king sent for his queen, and said,' Bring me the +ruby; I wish to satisfy myself that it is safe,' + +The queen took her keys, and going to her room, opened the chest, and, +lo! the ruby was gone, and in its place was a handsome stripling! She +shut down the box again in a great hurry, and thought and thought what +she had better do to break the news to the king. + +Now as she thought, the king became impatient, and sent a servant to +ask what the delay was. Then the queen bade the servant carry the box +to the audience chamber, and going thither with her keys, she unlocked +the chest before the king. + +Out stepped the handsome stripling, to everybody's astonishment. + +'Who are you?' quoth the king, 'and where is my jewel?' + +'I am Ruby Prince' returned the boy; 'more than that you cannot know.' + +Then the king was angry, and drove him from the palace, but, being a +just man, he first gave the boy a horse and arms, so that he might +fight his way in the world. + +Now, as Prince Ruby journeyed on his steed, he came to the outskirts +of the town, and saw an old woman making bread, and as she mixed the +flour she laughed, and as she kneaded it she cried. + +'Why do you laugh and cry, mother?' quoth Prince Ruby. + +'Because my son must die to-day.' returned the woman.' There is an +ogre in this town, which every day eats a young man. It is my son's +turn to provide the dinner, and that is why I weep.' + +Then Prince Ruby laughed at her fears, and said he would kill the ogre +and set the town free; only the old woman must let him sleep a while +in her house, and promise to wake him when the time came to go forth +and meet the ogre. + +'What good will that do to me?' quoth the old woman; 'you will only be +killed, and then my son will have to go to-morrow. Sleep on, +stranger, if you will, but I will not wake you!' + +Then Prince Ruby laughed again. 'It is of no use, mother!' he said, +'fight the ogre I will; and as you will not wake me I must even go to +the place of meeting and sleep there.' + +So he rode off on his steed beyond the gates of the city, and, tying +his horse to a tree he lay down to sleep peacefully. By and by the +ogre came for its dinner, but hearing no noise, and seeing no one, it +thought the townspeople had failed in their bargain, and prepared to +revenge itself. But Ruby Prince jumped up, refreshed by slumber, and +falling on the ogre, cut off its head and hands in a trice. These he +stuck on the gate of the town, and returning to the old woman's house, +told her he had killed the ogre, and lay down to sleep again. + +Now when the townspeople saw the ogre's head and hands peering over +the city gate, they thought the dreadful creature had come to revenge +itself for some slight. Therefore they ran to the king in a great +fright, and he, thinking the old woman, whose son was to have formed +the ogre's dinner, must have played some trick, went with his officers +to the place where she lived, and found her laughing and singing. + +'Why do you laugh?' he asked sternly. + +'I laugh because the ogre is killed!' she replied, 'and because the +prince who killed it is sleeping in my house.' + +Great was the astonishment at these words, yet, sure enough, when they +came to examine more closely, they saw that the ogre's head and hands +were those of a dead thing. + +Then the king said, 'Show me this valiant prince who sleeps so +soundly.' + +And when he saw the handsome young stripling, he recognised him as the +lad whom he had driven from the palace. Then he turned to his prime +minister, and said, 'What reward should this youth have?' + +And the prime minister answered at once, 'Your daughter in marriage, +and half your kingdom, is not too high a reward for the service he has +rendered!' + +So Ruby Prince was married in great state to the king's fair daughter, +and half the kingdom was given him to rule. + +But the young bride, much as she loved her gallant husband, was vexed +because she knew not who he was, and because the other women in the +palace twitted her with having married a stranger, a man come from +No-man's-land, whom none called brother. + +So, day after day, she would ask her husband to tell her who he was +and whence he came, and every day Ruby Prince would reply, 'Dear +heart, ask me anything but that; for that you must not know!' + +Yet still the princess begged, and prayed, and wept, and coaxed, until +one day, when they were standing by the river side, she whispered, 'If +you love me, tell me of what race you are!' + +Now Ruby Prince's foot touched the water as he replied, 'Dear heart, +anything but that; for that you must not know!' + +Still the princess, imagining she saw signs of yielding in his face, +said again, 'If you love me, tell me of what race you are!' + +Then Ruby Prince stood knee-deep in the water, and his face was sad as +he replied, 'Dear heart, anything but that; for that you must not +know!' + +Once again the wilful bride put her question, and Ruby Prince was +waist-deep in the stream. + +'Dear heart, anything but that!' + +'Tell me! tell me!' cried the princess, and, lo! as she spoke, a +jewelled snake with a golden crown and ruby star reared itself from +the water, and with a sorrowful look towards her, disappeared beneath +the wave. + +Then the princess went home and wept bitterly, cursing her own +curiosity, which had driven away her handsome, gallant young husband. +She offered a reward of a bushel of gold to any one who would bring +her any information about him; yet day after day passed, and still no +news came, so that the princess grew pale with weeping salt tears. At +last a dancing-woman, one of those who attend the women's festivals, +came to the princess, and said, 'Last night I saw a strange thing. +When I was out gathering sticks, I lay down to rest under a tree, and +fell asleep. When I awoke it was light, neither daylight nor +moonlight; and while I wondered, a sweeper came out from a snake-hole +at the foot of the tree, and swept the ground with his broom; then +followed a water-carrier, who sprinkled the ground with water; and +after that two carpet-bearers, who spread costly rugs, and then +disappeared. Even as I wondered what these preparations meant, a +noise of music fell upon my ear, and from the snake-hole came forth a +goodly procession of young men, glittering with jewels, and one in the +midst, who seemed to be the king. Then, while the musicians played, +one by one the young men rose and danced before the king. But one, +who wore a red star on his forehead, danced but ill, and looked pale +and wan. That is all I have to say.' + +So the next night the princess went with the dancing-girl to the tree, +where, hiding themselves behind the trunk, they waited to see what +might happen. + +Sure enough, after a while it became light that was neither sunlight +nor moonlight; then the sweeper came forth and swept the ground, the +water-carrier sprinkled it, the carpet-bearers placed the rugs, and +last of all, to the sound of music the glittering procession swept +out. How the princess's heart beat when, in the young prince with the +red star, she recognised her dearest husband; and how it ached when +she saw how pale he was, and how little he seemed to care to dance. + +Then, when all had performed before the king, the light went out, and +the princess crept home. Every night she would go to the tree and +watch; but all day she would weep, because she seemed no nearer +getting back her lover. + +At last, one day, the dancing-girl said to her, 'O princess, I have +hit upon a plan. The Snake-king is passionately fond of dancing, and +yet it is only men who dance before him. Now, if a woman were to do +so, who knows but he might be so pleased that he would grant her +anything she asked? Let me try!' + +'Nay,' replied the princess, 'I will learn of you and try myself.' + +So the princess learnt to dance, and in an incredibly short time she +far surpassed her teacher. Never before or since was such a graceful, +charming, elegant dancer seen. Everything about her was perfection. +Then she dressed herself in finest muslins and silver brocades, with +diamonds on her veil, till she shone and sparkled like a star. + +With beating heart she hid behind the tree and waited. The sweeper, +the water-carrier, the carpet-bearers, came forth in turn, and then +the glittering procession. Ruby Prince looked paler and sadder than +ever, and when his turn came to dance, he hesitated, as if sick at +heart; but from behind the tree stepped a veiled woman, clad in white, +with jewels flashing, and danced before the king. Never was there +such a dance!--everybody held their breath till it was done, and then +the king cried aloud, 'O unknown dancer, ask what you will, and it +shall be yours!' + +'Give me the man for whom I danced!' replied the princess. + +The Snake-king looked very fierce, and his eyes glittered, as he said, +'You have asked something you had no right to ask, and I should kill +you were it not for my promise. Take him, and begone!' + +Quick as thought, the princess seized Ruby Prince by the hand, dragged +him beyond the circle, and fled. + +After that they lived very happily, and though the women still taunted +her, the princess held her tongue, and never again asked her husband +of what race he came. + +[Illustration: The snake king] + + + + +NOTES TO TALES + + + +SIR BUZZ + +_Sir Buzz_.--In the vernacular Miyan Bhunga, which is Panjabi for +Sir Beetle or Sir Bee. The word is clearly connected with the common +Aryan roots _frem_, _bhran_, _bhah_, _bhin_, to +buzz as a bee or beetle. + +_Tigress_.--Not otherwise described by the narrators than as a +_bhut_, which is usually a malignant ghost, but here she is rather +a benevolent fairy. + +_Span_.--The word in the vernacular was _hath_, the arm +below the elbow, or conventionally half-a-yard, or 18 inches. + +_Hundredweight_.--The word here is _man_, an Indian weight +of about 80 Ibs. + +_Princess Blossom_.--Badshahzadi Phuli, Princess Flower, or +Phulazadi, Born-of-a-flower. + +_One-eyed Chief Constable_.--_Kotwal_ is the word used in +the original; he is a very familiar figure in all oriental tales of +Musalman origin, and must have been one in actual mediaeval oriental +life, as he was the chief police (if such a term can be used with +propriety) officer in all cities. The expression 'one-eyed' is +introduced to show his evil nature, according to the well-known saying +and universal belief-- + + _Kana, kachra, hoch-gardana: yeh tinon kamsat! + Jablag has apna chale, to koi na puchhe but. _ + + Wall-eyed, blear-eyed, wry-necked: these three are evil. + While his own resources last none asketh them for help. + +_Vampire_.-The word used was the Arabic _ghul_ (in English +usually ghowl or ghoul), the vampire, man-devouring demon, which +corresponds to the _bhut_ and _pret_, the malignant ghosts +of the Hindus. It may be noted here that the Persian _ghol_ is +the _loup-garou_ of Europe, the man-devouring demon of the woods. + +_King Indar or Indra_--Was originally the beneficent god of +heaven, giver of rain, _etc_., but in the later Hindu mythology +he took only second rank as ruler of the celestial beings who form the +Court of Indra (_Indar ka akhara_ or _Indrasan Sabha_), +synonymous with gaiety of life and licentiousness. + + + +THE RAT'S WEDDING + +_Pipkin_--_Ghara_, the common round earthen pot of India, +known to Anglo-Indians as 'chatty' (_chati_). + +_Quarts of milk_--The vernacular word was _ser_, a weight of +2 lbs.; natives always measure liquids by weight, not by capacity. + +_Wild plum-tree_--_Ber_, several trees go by this name, but +the species usually meant are (1) the _Zizyphus jujuba_, which is +generally a garden tree bearing large plum-like fruit: this is the +_Pomum adami_ of Marco Polo; (2) the _Zizyphus nummularia_, +often confounded with the camel-thorn, a valuable bush used for +hedges, bearing a small edible fruit. The former is probably meant +here.--See Stewart's _Punjab Plants_, pp. 43-44. + +_Millet_--_Pennisetum italicum_, a very small grain. + +_Green plums I sell_, _etc_.--The words are-- + + _Gaderi gader! gaderi gader! + Raja di beti chuha le gia gher._ + + Green fruit! green fruit! + The rat has encompassed the Raja's daughter. + +_Stool_--Pirhi, a small, low, square stool with a straight +upright back, used by native women. + +_Stewpan-lid_--_Sarposh_, usually the iron or copper cover +used to cover _degchis_ or cooking-pots. + + + +THE FAITHFUL PRINCE + +_Bahramgor_--This tale is a variant in a way of a popular story +published in the Panjab in various forms in the vernacular, under the +title of the _Story of Bahramgor and the Fairy Hasan Bano_. The +person meant is no doubt Bahramgor, the Sassanian King of Persia, +known to the Greeks as Varanes V., who reigned 420-438 A.D. The +modern stories, highly coloured with local folklore, represent the +well-known tale in India--through the Persian--of _Bahramgor and +Dilaram_. Bahramgor was said to have been killed while hunting the +wild ass (_gor_), by jumping into a pool after it, when both +quarry and huntsman disappeared for ever. He is said to be the father +of Persian poetry. + +_Demons: Demonsland_.--The words used are _deo_ or _dev_ +and _deostan_; here the _deo_ is a malicious spirit by +nature. + +_Jasdrul_.--It is difficult to say who this can be, unless the +name be a corruption of Jasrat Rai, through Rawal (_rul_) = Rao += Rai; thus Jasrat Rai = Jasrat Rawal = Jasad Rawal = Jasadrul. If +this be the case, it stands for Dasaratha, the father of Rama Chandra, +and so vicariously a great personage in Hindu story. It is obvious +that in giving names to demons or fairies the name of any legendary +or fabulous personage of fame will be brought under contribution. + +_Shahpasand_.--This is obviously a fancy name, like its prototype +Dilaram (Heart's Ease), and means King's Delight. The variant Hasan +Bano means the Lady of Beauty. In the Pushto version of probably the +original story the name is Gulandama = Rosa, a variant probably of the +Flower Princess. See Plowden's _Translation of the Kalid-i-Afghani_, +p. 209 ff. + +_Chief Constable_.--See note to Sir Buzz, _ante_. + +_Emerald Mountain_.--Koh-i-Zamurrad in the original. The whole +story of Bahramgor is mixed up with the 'King of China,' and so it is +possible that the legendary fame of the celebrated Green Mount in the +Winter Palace at Pekin is referred to here (see Yule's _Marco Polo_, +vol. i. pp. 326-327 and 330). It is much more probable, however, that +the legends which are echoed here are local variants or memories of +the tale of the Old Man of the Mountain and the Assassins, so famous +in many a story in Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages, _e.g. The +Romans of Bauduin de Sebourg_, where the lovely Ivorine is the +heroine of the Red Mountain, and which has a general family likeness +to this tale worth observing (see on this point generally Yule's +_Marco Polo_, vol. i. pp. cxliv-cli and 132-140, and the notes to +_Ind. Ant._ vol. xi. p. 285 ff.; which last, though treated as +superseded here, may serve to throw light on the subject). It is +evident that we are here treading on very interesting ground, alive +with many memories of the East, which it would be well worth while to +investigate. + +_Nunak Chand_.--Judging by the analogy of the name Nanaksa (_sic_) +in _Indian Fairy Tales_, pp. 114 ff. and 276, where Nanaksa, +obviously Nanak Shah or Baba Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, +_ob_. 1538 A.D., is turned into a wonder-working _faqir_ of the +ordinary sort, it is a fair guess to say that this name is meant for him +too. + +_Safed_.--On the whole it is worth while hazarding that this name +is a corruption, or rather, an adaptation to a common word--_safed_, +white--of the name Saifur for the demon in the older legends of +Bahramgor. If so, it occurs there in connection with the universal +oriental name Faghfur, for the Emperor of China. Yule, _Marco Polo_, +vol. ii. p. 110, points out that Faghfur = Baghbur = Bagh Pur, a Persian +translation of the Chinese title Tien-tse, Son of Heaven, just as the +name or title Shah Pur = the Son of the King. Perhaps this Saifur in the +same way = Shah Pur. But see note in _Ind. Ant._ vol. xi. p. 288. + +_Antimony_.--Black sulphuret of antimony, used for pencilling the +eyes and beautifying them. There are two preparations for darkening the +eyes--_surma_ and _kajal_. _Kajal_ is fine lamp-black, but +the difference between its use and that of _surma_ is that the former +is used for making a blot to avoid the evil eye (_na*ar_) and the +latter merely as a beautifier. + +_Yech-cap_.--For a detailed account of the _yech_ or _yach_ +of Kashmir see _Ind. Ant._ vol. xi. pp. 260-261 and footnotes. +Shortly, it is a humorous though powerful sprite in the shape of an +animal smaller than a cat, of a dark colour, with a white cap on its +head. The feet are so small as to be almost invisible. When in this +shape it has a peculiar cry--_chot, chot, chu-u-ot, chot_. All this +probably refers to some night animal of the squirrel (? civet cat) tribe. +It can assume any shape, and, if its white cap can be got possession of, +it becomes the servant of the possessor. The cap renders the human wearer +invisible. Mythologically speaking, the _yech_ is the descendant of +the classical Hindu _yaksha_, usually described as an inoffensive, +harmless sprite, but also as a malignant imp. + +_The farther you climb the higher it grows_.--This is evidently +borrowed from the common phenomenon of ridge beyond ridge, each in turn +deceiving the climber into the belief that he has reached the top. + + + +THE BEAR'S BAD BARGAIN + +_Khichri_.--A dish of rice and pulse (_dal_). + +_The weights the bear carries._--These are palpable +exaggerations; thus in India the regulation camel-load is under 3 +cwts., but they will carry up to 5 cwts. A strong hill-man in the +Himalayas will carry 1/2 cwt., and on occasion almost a whole cwt. up +the hill. + + + +PRINCE LIONHEART + +_Lionheart_.--The full vernacular title of this Prince was Sherdil +Shahryar Shahrabad, Lionheart, the Friend and Restorer of the City. +All these names are common titles of oriental monarchs. + +_Knifegrinder_, _Blacksmith_, _Carpenter_.--In the +vernacular _sanwala_, _lohar_, _tarkhan_. The first in +the East, like his brother in the West, is an itinerant journeyman, who +wanders about with a wheel for grinding. + +_Demon_.--Here _bhut_, a malignant ghost or vampire, but as +his doings in the tale correspond more to those of a _deo_, demon, +than of a _bhut_, the word has been translated by 'demon.' + +_Pipal_.--Constantly occurring in folk-tales, is the _Ficus +religiosa_ of botanists, and a large fig-tree much valued for its +shade. It is sacred to Hindus, and never cut by them. One reason +perhaps may be that its shade is very valuable and its wood valueless. +Its leaves are used in divination to find out witches, thieves, liars, +_etc_., and it is the chosen haunt of ghosts and hobgoblins of all +sorts--hence its frequent appearance in folk-lore. + +_Mannikin_.--The word used was the ordinary expression _maddhra_, +Panjabi for a dwarf or pigmy. + +_Ghost_.--_Churel_, properly the ghost of a woman who dies in +childbirth. The belief in these malignant spirits is universal, and a +source of much terror to natives by night. Their personal appearance is +fairly described in the text: very ugly and black, breastless, +protruding in stomach and navel, and feet turned back. This last is the +real test of a _churel_, even in her beautiful transformation. A +detailed account of the _churel_ and beliefs in her and the methods +of exorcism will be found in the _Calcutta Review_, No. cliii. p. +180 ff. + +_Jinn_.--A Muhammadan spirit, properly neither man, angel, nor +devil, but superhuman. According to correct Muhammadan tradition, there +are five classes of _Jinns_ worth noting here for information--Jann, +Jinn, Shaitan, 'Ifrit, and Marid. They are all mentioned in Musalman +folk-tales, and but seldom distinguished in annotations. In genuine +Indian folk-tales, however, the character ascribed to the Jinn, as here, +has been borrowed from the Rakshasa, which is Hindu in origin, and an +ogre in every sense of the European word. + +_Smell of a man_.--The expression used is always in the vernacular +_manushgandh_, _i.e._ man-smell. The direct Sanskrit descent +of the compound is worthy of remark. + +_Starling_.--_Maina_: the _Gracula religiosa_, a talking +bird, much valued, and held sacred. It very frequently appears in +folk-tales, like the parrot, probably from being so often domesticated by +people of means and position for its talking qualities. + +_Cup_.--_Dona_, a cup made of leaves, used by the very poor as +a receptacle for food. + +_Wise woman_.--_Kutni_ and _paphe-kutni_ were the words +used, of which perhaps 'wise woman' is the best rendering. _Kutni_ +is always a term of abuse and reproach, and is used in the sense of witch +or wise woman, but the bearers do not seem to possess, as a rule, any +supernatural powers. Hag, harridan, or any similar term will usually +correctly render the word. + +_Flying palanquin_.--The words used for this were indifferently +_dola_, a bridal palanquin, and _burj_, a common word for a +balloon. + + + +THE LAMBIKIN + +_Lambikin_.--The words used were Panjabi, _lela_, _lera_, +_lekra_, and _lelkara_, a small or young lamb. + +_Lambikin's Songs_.--Of the first the words were Panjabi-- + + _Nani kol jawangu: + Mota taja awanga + Pher tun main nun khawanga._ + +Of the second song-- + + _Wan pia lelkara: wan pi tu. + Chal dhamkiria! Dham! Ka! Dhu!_ + +These the rhymes render exactly. The words _dham_, _ka_, +_dhu_ are pronounced sharply, so as to imitate the beats on a +drum. + +_Drumikin_.--The _dhamkiria_ or _dhamkiri_ in Panjabi is +a small drum made by stretching leather across a wide-mouthed earthen cup +(_piyala_). The Jatts make it of a piece of hollow wood, 6 inches +by 3 inches, with its ends covered with leather. + + + +BOPOLUCHI + +_Bopoluchi_.--Means Trickster. + +_Uncle: uncle-in-law_.--The words used were _mamu_, mother's +brother, and _patiauhra_, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger +brother. + +_Pedlar_.--_Wanjara_ or _banjara_ (from _wanaj_ or +_banaj_, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices, +_etc_. + +_Robber_.--The word used was _thag_, _lit._ a deceiver. +The _Thags_ are a class but too well known in India as those who +make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows +Taylor's somewhat sensational book, _The Confessions of a Thug_, has +made their doings familiar enough, too, in England. In the Indian Penal +Code a _thag_ is defined as a person habitually associated with +others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means +of murder. + +_Crow's, etc., verses,_.--The original words were-- + + _Bopo Luchi! + Aqlon ghuthi, + Thag nal thagi gai._ + + Bopo Luchi! + You have lost your wits, + And have been deceived by a _thag_. + +_Bridal scarlet_.--Every Panjabi bride, however poor, wears a +dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years. + + + +PRINCESS AUBERGINE + +_Princess Aubergine,_--The vernacular name for the story is +_Baingan Badshahzadi._ The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhanta is +the _Solanum melongena,_ _i.e_. the egg-plant, or +_aubergine._ Europeans in India know it by the name of +_brinjal;_ it is a very common and popular vegetable in the +rains. + +_Exchanging veils,_--To exchange veils among women, and to +exchange turbans among men, is a common way of swearing friendship +among Panjabis. The women also drink milk out of the same cup on such +occasions. + +_Nine-lakh necklace_,--The introduction of the _Nau-lakkha +har,_ or nine-_lakh_ necklace, is a favourite incident in +Indian folk-tales. _Nau-lakkha_ means worth nine lakhs, or nine +hundred thousand rupees. Frequently magic powers are ascribed to this +necklace, but the term _nau-lakkha_ has come also to be often +used conventionally for 'very valuable,' and so is applied to gardens, +palaces, _etc_. Probably all rich Rajas have a hankering to +really possess such a necklace, and the last Maharaja of Patiala, +about fifteen years ago, bought a real one of huge diamonds, including +the Sansy, for Rupees 900,000. It is on show always at the palace in +the fort at Patiala. + + + +VALIANT VICKY + +_Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver,_--In the original the title is +'Fatteh Khan, the valiant weaver.' Victor Prince is a very fair +translation of the name Fatteh Khan. The original says his nickname +or familiar name was Fattu, which would answer exactly to Vicky for +Victor. Fattu is a familiar (diminutive form) of the full name Fatteh +Khan. See _Proper Names of Panjabis, passim,_ for the +explanation of this. + + + +THE SON OF SEVEN MOTHERS + +For a long and interesting variant of this tale see _Indian +Antiquary,_ vol. x. p. 151 ff. + +_Fakir,_--Properly _faqir_, is a Muhammadan devotee, but in +modern India the term is used for any kind of holy man, whatever be +his religion. For instance, the 'Salvation Army' were styled at +Lahore, at a meeting of natives, by a Sikh gentleman of standing, as +_Vilayati_ _fuqra_, European _faqirs_. The power of +granting children to barren women is ascribed in story to all saints +and holy personages of fame. + +_Witch_--The word used was _dayan_. In the Panjab a woman +with the evil eye (which by the way is not necessarily in India +possessed by the wicked only, see _Panjab Notes and Queries_, +1883-84, _passim_), who knows the _dayan ka mantar_, or +charm for destroying life by taking out the heart. The word in its +various modern forms is derived from the classical _dakini_, the +female demon attendant on Kali, the goddess of destruction. + +_Jogi's wonderful cow_--The _jogi_ is a Hindu ascetic, but +like the word _faqir_, _jogi_ is often used for any kind of +holy man, as here. Supernatural powers are very commonly ascribed to +them, as well as the universal attribute of granting sons. +Classically the _yogi_ is the devotee seeking _yoga_, the +union of the living with the sublime soul. The wonderful cow is the +modern fabulously productive cow _Kamdhain_, representing the +classical _Kamdhenu_, the cow of Indra that granted all desires. +Hence, probably, the dragging in here of Indra for the master of the +_jogi_ of the tale. _Kamdhain_ and _Kamdhenu_ are both +common terms to the present day for cows that give a large quantity of +milk. + +_Eighteen thousand demons_--No doubt the modern +representatives--the specific number given being, as is often the +case, merely conventionally--of the guards of Indra, who were in +ancient days the _Maruts_ or Winds, and are in modern times his +Court. See note. + + + +THE SPARROW AND THE CROW + +_The Song_.--The form of words in the original is important. The +following gives the variants and the strict translation-- + + _Tu Chhappar Das, Main Kang Das, Deo paneriya, Dhoven + chucheriya, Khawen khijeriya, Dekh chiriya ka chuchla, Main + kang sapariya._ + + You are Mr. Tank, + I am Mr. Crow, + Give me water, + That I may wash my beak, + And eat my _khichri_, + See the bird's playfulness, + I am a clean crow. + + _Tu Lohar Das, Main Kang Das, Tu deo pharwa, Main khodun + ghasarwa, Khilawen bhainsarwa, Chowen dudharwa, Pilawen + hirnarwa, Toren singarwa, Khoden chalarwa, Nikalen panarwa, + Dhoven chunjarwa, Khawen khijarwa, Dehk chiriya ka chuchla, + Main kang saparwa._ + + You are Mr. Blacksmith, + I am Mr. Crow, + You give me a spade, + And I will dig the grass, + That I may give it the buffalo to eat, + And take her milk, + And give it the deer to drink, + And break his horn, + And dig the hole, + And take out the water, + And wash my beak, + And eat my _khichri_, + See the bird's playfulness, + I am a clean crow. + + + +THE BRAHMAN AND THE TIGER + +_The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal_. A very common and +popular Indian tale. Under various forms it is to be found in most +collections. Variants exist in the _Bhagavata Purana_ and the +_Gul Bakaola_, and in the _Amvar-i-Suheli_. A variant is +also given in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xii. p. 177. + +_Buffalo's complaint_.--The work of the buffalo in the oil-press +is the synonym all India over--and with good reason--for hard and +thankless toil for another's benefit. + +_As miserable as a fish out of water_.--In the original the +allusion is to a well-known proverb--_manda hal wang Jatt jhari +de_--as miserable as a Jatt in a shower. Any one who has seen the +appearance of the Panjabi cultivator attempting to go to his fields on +a wet, bleak February morning, with his scant clothing sticking to his +limp and shivering figure, while the biting wind blows through him, +will well understand the force of the proverb. + + + +THE KING OF THE CROCODILES + +_King of the Crocodiles_--In the original the title is Badshah +Gharial. + +_Lying amid the crops_--It is commonly said in the Panjab that +crocodiles do so. + +_Demons of crocodiles_.--The word used for _demon_ here was +_jinn_, which is remarkable in this connection. + +_Henna_--_Mehndi_ or _hina_ is the _Lawsonia +alba_, used for staining the finger and toe nails of the bride +red. The ceremony of _sanchit_, or conveying the _henna_ to +the bride by a party of the bride's friends, is the one alluded to. + + + +LITTLE ANKLEBONE + +_Little Anklebone_--This tale appears to be unique among Indian +folk-tales, and is comparable with Grimm's Singing Bone. It is +current in the _Bar_ or wilds of the Gujranwala District, among +the cattle-drovers' children. Wolves are very common there, and the +story seems to point to a belief in some invisible shepherd, a sort of +Spirit of the Bar, whose pipe may be heard. The word used for 'Little +Ankle-bone' was _Giri_, a diminutive form of the common word +_gitta_. In the course of the story in the original, Little +Anklebone calls himself Giteta Ram, an interesting instance of the +process of the formation of Panjabi proper names. + +_Auntie_--Masi, maternal aunt. + +_Tree that weeps over yonder pond_--_Ban_, _i.e. +Salvadora oleoides_, a common tree of the Panjab forests. + +_Jackal howled_--A common evil omen. + +_Marble basins_--The word used was _daura_, a wide-mouthed +earthen vessel, and also in palaces a marble drinking-trough for +animals. + +_The verses_,--The original and literal translation are as +follows-- + + _Kyun garjae badala garkanae? + Gaj karak sare des; + Ohnan hirnian de than pasmae: + Giteta Ram gia pardes!_ + + Why echo, O thundering clouds? + Roar and echo through all the land; + The teats of the does yonder are full of milk: + Giteta Ram has gone abroad! + + + +THE CLOSE ALLIANCE + +_Providence_--_Khuda_ and _Allah_ were the words for +Providence or God in this tale, it being a Muhammadan one. + +_Kababs_--Small pieces of meat roasted or fried on skewers with +onions and eggs: a favourite Muhammadan dish throughout the East. + +_His own jackal_--From time immemorial the tiger has been +supposed to be accompanied by a jackal who shows him his game and gets +the leavings as his wages. Hence the Sanskrit title of +_vyaghra-nayaka_ or tiger-leader for the jackal. + +_Pigtail_--The Kashmiri woman's hair is drawn to the back of the +head and finely braided. The braids are then gathered together and, +being mixed with coarse woollen thread, are worked into a very long +plait terminated by a thick tassel, which reaches almost down to the +ankles. It is highly suggestive of the Chinese pigtail, but it is far +more graceful. + + + +THE TWO BROTHERS + +_Barley meal instead of wheaten cakes_--_Jau ki roti_, +barley bread, is the poor man's food, as opposed to _gihun ki +roti_, wheaten bread, the rich man's food. Barley bread is apt to +produce flatulence. + +_With empty stomachs, etc._--The saying is well known and runs +thus-- + + _Kahin mat jao khali pet. + Hove magh ya hove jeth._ + + Go nowhere on an empty stomach, + Be it winter or be it summer. + +Very necessary and salutary advice in a feverish country like India. + +_If any man eats me, etc._--Apparent allusion to the saying +rendered in the following verse-- + + _Jo nar tota markar khave per ke heth, Kuchh sansa man na + dhare, woh hoga raja jeth. Jo maina ko mar kha, man men rakhe + dhir; Kuchh chinta man na kare, woh sada rahega wazir._ + + Who kills a parrot and eats him under a tree, + Should have no doubt in his mind, he will be a great king. + Who kills and eats a starling, let him be patient: + Let him not be troubled in his mind, he will be minister for life. + +_Snake-demon_--The word was _isdar_, which represents the +Persian _izhdaha_, _izhdar_, or _izhdar_, a large +serpent, python. + +_Sacred elephant_.--The reference here is to the legend of the +_safed hathi_ or _dhaula gaj_, the white elephant. He is the +elephant-headed God Ganesa, and as such is, or rather was formerly, +kept by Rajas as a pet, and fed to surfeit every Tuesday (_Mangalwar_) +with sweet cakes (_churis_). After which he was taught to go down +on his knees to the Raja and swing his trunk to and fro, and this was +taken as sign that he acknowledged his royalty. He was never ridden +except occasionally by the Raja himself. Two sayings, common to the +present day, illustrate these ideas--'_Woh to Maharaja hai, dhaule gaj +par sowar_: he is indeed king, for he rides the white elephant.' +And '_Maharaja dhaula gajpati kidohai_: (I claim the) protection +of the great king, the lord of the white elephant.' The idea appears to +be a very old one, for AElian (_Hist. Anim._ vol. iii. p. 46), +quoting Megasthenes, mentions the white elephant. See M'Crindle, +_India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian_, pp. 118, 119; +_Indian Antiquary_, vol. vi. p. 333 and footnote. + +_Brass drinking bowl_.--The _lota_, universal throughout India. + +_Ogre_.--In the original _rakhas_ = the Sanskrit _rakhasa_, +translated ogre advisedly for the following reasons:--The _rakhasa_ +(_rakhas_, an injury) is universal in Hindu mythology as a +superhuman malignant fiend inimical to man, on whom he preys, and that +is his character, too, throughout Indian folk-tales. He is elaborately +described in many an orthodox legend, but very little reading between +the lines in these shows him to have been an alien enemy on the borders +of Aryan tribes. The really human character of the _rakhasa_ is +abundantly evident from the stories about him and his doings. He +occupies almost exactly the position in Indian tales that the ogre does +in European story, and for the same reason, as he represents the memory +of the savage tribes along the old Aryan borders. The ogre, no doubt, is +the Uighur Tatar magnified by fear into a malignant demon. For the +_rakhasa_ see the _Dictionaries_ of Dowson, Garrett, and Monier +Williams, _in verbo_; Muir's _Sanskrit Texts_, vol. ii. p. +420, _etc_.: and for the ogre see _Panjab Notes and Queries_, +vol. i., in verbo. + +_Goat_.--The ogre's eating a goat is curious: _cf_. the +Sanskrit name _ajagara_, goat-eater, for the python (nowadays +_ajgar_), which corresponds to the _izhdaha_ or serpent-demon +on p. 131. + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE LIZARD. + +_The verses_.--In the original they are-- + + Chandi da mera chauntra, koi sona lipai! + Kane men mera gukru, shahzada baitha hai! + + My platform is of silver, plastered with gold! + Jewels are in my ears, I sit here a prince! + +_The verses_.--In the original they are-- + + _Hadi da tera chauntra, koi gobar lipai! + Kane men teri juti; koi gidar baitha hai!_ + + Thy platform is of bones, plastered with cow-dung! + Shoes are in thy ears; some jackal sits there! + + + +THE SPARROW'S MISFORTUNE + +_Verses_.--In the original these are-- + + _Saukan rangan men charhi, + Main bhi rangan men pari,_ + + My co-wife got dyed, + I too fell into the vat. + +_Verses_.--In the original-- + + _Ik sari, ik bali; + Ik hinak mode charhi,_ + + One is vexed and one grieved; + And one is carried laughing on the shoulder. + +The allusion here is to a common tale. The story goes that a man who +had two wives wanted to cross a river. Both wives wanted to go across +first with him, so in the end, leaving the elder to walk, he took the +younger on his shoulder, who mocked the elder with the words-- + + _Ik sari, dui bali; + Dui jai munde charhi._ + + First she was vexed, next she grieved; + While the other went across on the shoulder. + +Hence the sting of the old sparrow's taunt. + +_Verses_.--In the original-- + + _Ik chamkhat hui; + Chiri rangan charhi; + Chira bedan kari; + Pipal patte jhari; + Mahin sing jhari; + Nain bahi khari; + Koil hui kani; + Bhagtu diwani; + Bandi padni; + Rani nachni; + Putr dholki bajani; + Raja sargi bajani;_ + + One hen painted, + And the other was dyed, + And the cock loved her, + So the _pipal_ shed its leaves, + And the buffalo her horns, + So the river became salt, + And the cuckoo lost an eye, + So Bhagtu went mad, + And the maid took to swearing, + So the Queen took to dancing, + And the Prince took to drumming, + And the King took to thrumming. + + + +THE PRINCESS PEPPERINA + +_Princess Pepperina_.--In the original _Shahzadi Mircha_ or +_Filfil Shahzadi: mirch_ is the _Capsicum annuum_ or common +chilli, green and red. + +_Sheldrakes_.--The _chakwa_, male, and _chakwi_, female, +is the ruddy goose or sheldrake, known to Europeans as the Brahmani +duck, _Anas casarca_ or _Casarca rutila_. It is found all over +India in the winter, and its plaintive night cry has given rise to a +very pretty legend. Two lovers are said to have been for some +indiscretion turned into Brahmani ducks, and condemned to pass the +night apart from each other, on the opposite sides of a river. All +night long each asks the other in turn if it shall join its mate, +and the answer is always 'no.' The words supposed to be said are-- + + _Chakwa, main awan? Na, Chakwi!_ + _Chakwi, main awan? Na, Chakwa!_ + + Chakwa, shall I come? No, Chakwi! + Chakwi, shall I come? No, Chakwa! + + + +PEASIE AND BEANSIE + +_Peasie and Beansie_, p. 167.--In the original Motho and Mungo. +_Motho_ is a vetch, _Phaseolus aconitifolius_; and +_mung_ is a variety of pulse, _Phaseolus mungo_. Peasie and +Beansie are very fair translations of the above. + +_Plum-tree_, p. 167.--_Ber, Zizyphus jujuba._ + + + +THE SNAKE-WOMAN + +_King 'Ali Mardan_--'Ali Mardan Khan belongs to modern history, +having been Governor (not King, as the tale has it) of Kashmir, under +the Emperor Shah Jahan, about A.D. 1650, and very famous in India in +many ways. He was one of the most magnificent governors Kashmir ever +had, and is now the best-remembered. + +_Snake-Woman_--In the original _Lamia_, said in Kashmir to +be a snake 200 years old, and to possess the power of becoming a +woman. In India, especially in the hill districts, it is called +_Yahawwa_. In this tale the _Lamia_ is described as being a +_Wasdeo_, a mythical serpent. _Wasdeo_ is the same as +Vasudeva, a descendant of Vasudeva. Vasudeva was the earthly father +of Krishna and of his elder brother Balarama, so Balarama was a +Vasudeva. Balarama in the classics is constantly mixed up with Sesha +(now Sesh Nag), a king of serpents, and with Vasuki (Basak Nag), also +a king of serpents; while Ananta, the infinite, the serpent whose +legend combines that of Vasuki and Sesha, is mixed not only with +Balarama, but also with Krishna. Hence the name Wasdeo for a +serpent. The Lamia is not only known in India from ancient times to +the present day, but also in Tibet and Central Asia generally, and in +Europe from ancient to mediaeval times, and always as a malignant +supernatural being. For discussions on her, see notes to the above in +the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. xi. pp. 230-232, and the discussion +following, entitled 'Lamia or [Greek] Lamia' pp. 232-235. Also +_Comparetti's Researches into the Book of Sindibad_, Folklore +Society's ed., _passim_. + +_Dal Lake_--The celebrated lake at Srinagar in Kashmir. + +_Emperor of China's Handmaiden_--A common way of explaining the +origin of unknown girls in Musalman tales. Kashmir is essentially a +Musalman country._ + +_Shalimar gardens_.--At Srinagar, made by the Emperor Jahangir, +who preceded 'Ali Mardan Khan by a generation, for Nur Mahal. Moore, +_Lalla Rookh_, transcribes in describing them the well-known +Persian verses in the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) at Delhi +and elsewhere-- + + 'And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth, + It is this, it is this.' + +The verses run really thus-- + + _Agar firdus ba ru-e-zamin ast, + Hamin ast o hamin ast o hamin ast!_ + + If there be an Elysium on the face of the earth, + It is here, and it is here, and it is here! + +Shah Jahan built the Shalimar gardens at Lahor, in imitation of those +at Srinagar, and afterwards Ranjit Singh restored them. They are on +the Amritsar Road. + +_Gangabal_.--A holy lake on the top of Mount Haramukh, 16,905 feet, +in the north of Kashmir. It is one of the sources of the Jhelam River, +and the scene of an annual fair about 20th August. + +_Khichri_.--Sweet khichri consists of rice, sugar, cocoa-nut, +raisins, cardamoms, and aniseed; salt khichri of pulse and rice. + +_The stone in the ashes_.--The _paras_, in Sanskrit +_sparsamani_, the stone that turns what it touches into gold. + +_Attock_.--In the original it is the Atak River (the Indus) near +Hoti Mardan, which place is near Atak or Attock. The similarity in +the names 'Ali Mardan and Hoti Mardan probably gave rise to this +statement. They have no connection whatever. + + + +THE WONDERFUL RING + +_The Wonderful Ring_.--In the vernacular _'ajab mundra_: a +variant of the inexhaustible box. + +_Holy place_.--_Chaunka_, a square place plastered with +cow-dung, used by Hindus when cooking or worshipping. The cow-dung +sanctifies and purifies it. + +_Aunt_.--_Masi_, maternal aunt. + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE PEA-HEN + +_Plums_, p. 195.--_Ber, Zyziphus jujuba_. + + + +THE GRAIN OF CORN + +_The verses_.--In the original they were-- + + _Phir gia billi ke pas, + 'Billi, ri billi, musa khaogi' + Khati khund par na! + Khund chana de na! + Raja khati dande na! + Raja rani russe na! + Sapna rani dase na! + Lathi sapna mare na! + Ag lathi jalave na! + Samundar ag bujhave na! + Hathi samundar sukhe na! + Nare hathi bandhe na! + Musa nare kate na! + Lunga phir chorun? na!' + + He then went to the cat (saying), + 'Cat, cat, eat mouse. + Woodman won't cut tree! + Tree won't give peas! + King won't beat woodman! + Queen won't storm at king! + Snake won't bite queen! + Stick won't beat snake! + Fire won't burn stick! + Sea won't quench fire! + Elephant won't drink up sea! + Thong won't bind elephant! + Mouse won't nip thong! + I'll take (the pea) yet, I won't let it go!'_ + +It will be seen that in the text the order has been transposed for +obvious literary convenience. + +_Verses_.--In the original these are-- + + _Usne kaha, 'Lap, lap, khaungi!' + Phir gia musa ke pas, 'Musa, re musa, ab kha jaoge?' 'Ham bhi + nare katenge.' + Phir gia nare ke pas, 'Nare, re nare, ab kate jaoge?' 'Ham bhi + hathi bandhenge.' + Phir gia hathi ke pas, 'Hathi, re hathi, ab bandhe jaoge?' 'Ham + bhi samundar sukhenge.' + Phir gia samundar ke pas, 'Samundar, re samundar, ab sukhe + jaoge?' 'Ham bhi ag bujhaenge.' + Phir gia ag ke pas, 'Ag, ri ag, ab bujhai jaogi?' 'Ham bhi lathi + jalavenge.' + Phir gia lathi ke pas, 'Lathi, re lathi, ab jal jaoge?' 'Ham bhi + samp marenge.' + Phir gia samp ke pas, 'Samp, re samp, ab mare jaoge?' 'Ham bhi + rani dasenge?' + Phir gia rani ke pas, 'Rani, ri rani, ab dasi jaoge?' 'Ham bhi + raja rusenge.' + Phir gia raja ke pas, 'Raja, re raja, ab rani rus jaoge?' 'Ham + bhi khati dandenge.' + Phir gia khati ke pas, 'Khati, re khati, ab dande jaoge?' 'Ham + bhi khund katenge.' + Phir gia khund ke pas, 'Khund, re khund, ab kate jaoge?' 'Ham + bhi chana denge.' + Phir woh chana lekar chala gia?_ + + The cat said, 'I will eat him up at once!' + (So) he went to the mouse, 'Mouse, mouse, will you be eaten?' 'I + will gnaw the thong.' + He went to the thong, 'Thong, thong, will you be gnawed?' 'I + will bind the elephant.' + He went to the elephant, 'Elephant, elephant, will you be bound?' + 'I will drink up the ocean.' + He went to the ocean, 'Ocean, ocean, will you be drunk up?' 'I + will quench the fire.' + He went to the fire, 'Fire, fire, will you be quenched?' 'I will + burn the stick.' + He went to the stick, 'Stick, stick, will you be burnt?' 'I will + beat the snake.' + He went to the snake, 'Snake, snake, will you be beaten?' 'I will + bite the queen.' + He went to the queen, 'Queen, queen, will you be bitten?' 'I will + storm at the king.' + He went to the king, 'King, king, will you be stormed at by the + queen?' 'I will beat the woodman.' + He went to the woodman, 'Woodman, woodman, will you be + beaten?' 'I will cut down the trunk.' + He went to the trunk, 'Trunk, trunk, will you be cut down?' 'I + will give you the pea.' + So he got the pea and went away. + + + +THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER + +_Money-lender_--_Lidu_, a disreputable tradesman, a sharp +practitioner. + +_Ram_--Rama Chandra, now 'God' _par excellence_. + +_Conch_--_Sankh_, the shell used in Hindu worship for +blowing upon. + + + +THE LORD OF DEATH + +_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of +the name, _Kal_ is the Hindu form. The belief is that every +living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.' He is represented +in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by +a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a +'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand. The idea +is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to +kill is safe. The notion is probably of Hindu origin. For a note on +the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290. + + + +THE WRESTLERS + +_The Wrestlers_.--The story seems to be common all over India. In +the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. p. 230, it is suggested that it +represents some aboriginal account of the creation. + +_Ten thousand pounds weight_.--In the original 160 _mans_, +which weigh over 13,000 lbs._ + + + +GWASHBRARI + +_Gwashbrari, etc_.--The Westarwan range is the longest spur into +the valley of Kashmir. The remarkably clear tilt of the strata +probably suggested this fanciful and poetical legend. All the +mountains mentioned in the tale are prominent peaks in Kashmir, and +belong to what Cunningham (_Ladak_, 1854, ch. iii.) calls the Pir +Panjal and Mid-Himalayan Range. Nanga Parbat, 26,829 ft., is to the +N.W.; Hara Mukh, 16,905 ft., to the N.; Gwashbrari or Kolahoi, 17,839 +ft., to the N.E. Westarwan is a long ridge running N.W. to S.E., +between Khru and Sotur, right into the Kashmir valley. Khru is not +far from Srinagar, to the S.E. + +_Lay at Gwashbrari's feet, his head upon her heart_.--As a matter +of fact, Westarwan does not lay his head anywhere near Gwashbrari's +feet, though he would appear to do so from Khru, at which place the +legend probably arose. An excellent account of the country between +Khru and Sesh Nag, traversing most of that lying between Westarwan and +Gwashbrari, by the late Colonel Cuppage, is to be found at pp. 206-221 +of Ince's _Kashmir Handbook_, 3rd ed., 1876. + + + +THE BARBER'S CLEVER WIFE + +_Hornets' nest_.--Properly speaking, bees. This species makes a +so-called nest, _i.e._ a honey-comb hanging from the branch of a +tree, usually a _pipal_, over which the insects crawl and jostle +each other in myriads in the open air. When roused, and any accident +may do this, they become dangerous enemies, and will attack and sting +to death any animal near. They form a real danger in the Central +Indian jungles, and authentic cases in which they have killed horses +and men, even Europeans, are numerous. + +_Fairy_.--_Pari_, fairy, peri: the story indicates a very +common notion. + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE CROCODILE + +_Verses_.--In the original they are-- + + _Gadar, ghar kya laya? + Kya chiz kamaya? + Ki mera khatir paya._ + + Jackal, what hast thou brought home? + What thing hast thou earned? + That I may obtain my wants. + +The story has a parallel in most Indian collections, and two in +_Uncle Remus_, in the stories of 'The Rabbit and the Wolf' and of +'The Terrapin and the Rabbit.' + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU WAS BORN + +_Raja Rasalu_--The chief legendary hero of the Panjab, and +probably a Scythian or non-Aryan king of great mark who fought both +the Aryans to the east and the invading tribes (? Arabs) to the +west. Popularly he is the son of the great Scythian hero Salivahana, +who established the Saka or Scythian era in 78 A.D. Really he, +however, probably lived much later, and his date should be looked for +at any period between A.D. 300 and A.D. 900. He most probably +represented the typical Indian kings known to the Arab historians as +flourishing between 697 and 870 A.D. by the synonymous names Zentil, +Zenbil, Zenbyl, Zambil, Zantil, Ranbal, Ratbyl, Reteil, Retpeil, +Rantal, Ratpil, Ratteil, Ratbal, Ratbil, Ratsal, Rusal, Rasal, Rasil. +These are all meant for the same word, having arisen from the +uncertainty of the Arabic character and the ignorance of +transcribers. The particular king meant is most likely the opponent +of Hajjaj and Muhammad Qasim between 697 and 713 A.D. The whole +subject is involved in the greatest obscurity, and in the Panjab his +story is almost hopelessly involved in pure folklore. It has often +been discussed in learned journals. See _Indian Antiquary_, vol. +xi. pp. 299 ff. 346-349, vol. xii. p. 303 ff., vol. xiii. p. 155 ff.; +_Journal Asiatic Society of Bengal_ for 1854, pp. 123-163, +_etc_.; Elliot's _History of India_, vol. i. pp. 167, 168, +vol. ii. pp. 178, 403-427. + +_Lonan_--For a story of Lonan, see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. +ix. p. 290. + +_Thrown into a deep well_--Still shown on the road between +Sialkot and Kallowal. + +_Guru Gorakhnath_--The ordinary _deux ex machina_ of modern +folk-tales. He is now supposed to be the reliever of all troubles, +and possessed of most miraculous powers, especially over snakes. In +life he seems to have been the Brahmanical opponent of the mediaeval +reformers of the fifteenth century A.D. By any computation Puran +Bhagat must have lived centuries before him. + +_Puran Bhagat_.--Is in story Raja Rasalu's elder brother. There +are numerous poems written about his story, which is essentially that +of Potiphar's wife. The parallel between the tales of Raja Rasalu and +Puran Bhagat and those of the Southern Aryan conqueror Vikramaditya +and his (in legend) elder brother Bhatrihari, the saint and philosopher, +is worthy of remark. + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD + +_Bhaunr' Iraqi_.--The name of Rasalu's horse; but the name +probably should be Bhaunri Rakhi, kept in the underground cellar. +'Iraqi means Arabian. + +_Verses_.--In the original these are-- + + _Main aia tha salam nun, tun baitha pith maror! + Main nahin tera raj wandanunda; main nun nahin raj te lor._ + + I came to salute thee, and thou hast turned thy back on me! + I have no wish to share thy kingdom! I have no desire for empire. + + _Mahlan de vich baithie, tun ro ro na suna! Je tun meri mata + hain, koi mat batla! Matte dendi hai man tain nun, putar: gin + gin jholi ghat! Chare Khuntan tun raj kare, par changa rakhin + sat!_ + + O sitting in the palace, let me not hear thee weeping! + If thou be my mother give me some advice! + Thy mother doth advise thee, son: stow it carefully away in thy + wallet! + Thou wilt reign in the Four Quarters, but keep thyself good and + pure. + +_Verses_.--In the original these are-- + + _Thora thora, beta, tun disin, aur bahoti disi dhur: + Putr jinan de tur chale, aur mawan chikna chur._ + + It is little I see of thee, my son, but I see much dust. + The mother, whose son goes away on a journey, becomes as a powder + (reduced to great misery). + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU'S FRIENDS FORSOOK HIM + +_Verses_.--Originals are-- + + _Agge sowen lef nihalian, ajj suta suthra ghas! + Sukh wasse yeh des, jahan aeajj di rat!_ + + Before thou didst sleep on quilts, to-day thou has slept on clean + grass! + Mayest thou live happy in this land whither thou hast come this + night! + +_Snake_--Most probably represents a man of the 'Serpent Race' a +Naga, Taka, or Takshak. + +_Unspeakable horror_--The undefined word _afat_, horror, +terror, was used throughout. + +_Verses_--Originals are-- + + _Sada na phulan torian, nafra: sada na Sawan hoe: + Sada na joban thir rahe: sada na jive koe: + Sada na rajian hakimi: sada na rajian des: + Sada na hove ghar apna, nafra, bhath pia pardes_. + + _Tcris_ (a mustard plant) do not always flower, my servant: it + is not always the rainy season (time of joy). + Youth does not always last: no one lives for ever: + Kings are not always rulers: kings have not always lands: + They have not always homes, my servant: they fall into great + troubles in strange lands. + +These verses of rustic philosophy are universal favourites, and have +been thus rendered in the _Calcutta Review_, No. clvi. pp. 281, +282-- + + Youth will not always stay with us: + We shall not always live: + Rain doth not always fall for us: + Nor flowers blossoms give. + + Great kings not always rulers are: + They have not always lands: + Nor have they always homes, but know + Sharp grief at strangers' hands. + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU KILLED THE GIANTS + +_Giants_--_Rakshasa_, for which see previous notes. + +_Nila city_--Most probably Bagh Nilab on the Indus to the south +of Atak. + +_Verses_--In the original these are-- + + _Na ro, mata bholie: na aswan dhalkae: Tere bete ki 'ivaz main + sir desan chae. Nile-ghorewalid Raja, munh dhari, sir pag, Woh + jo dekhte aunde, jin khaia sara jag_. + + Weep not, foolish mother, drop no tears: + I will give my head for thy son. + Gray-horsed Raja: bearded face and turban on head, + He whom you see coming is he who has destroyed my life! + +_Verses_--In original-- + + _Nasso, bhajo, bhaio! Dekho koi gali! Tehri agg dhonkai, so + sir te an bali! Sujhanhari sujh gae; hun laihndi charhdi jae! + Jithe sanun sukh mile, so jhatpat kare upae! + + Fly, fly, brethren! look out for some road! + Such a fire is burning that it will come and burn our heads! + Our fate has come, we shall now be destroyed! + Make some plan at once for our relief._ + +_Gandgari Mountains_--Gandgarh Hills, to the north of Atak; for a +detailed account of this legend see _Journal Asiatic Society of +Bengal_ for 1854, p. 150 ff. + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU BECAME A JOGI + +_Hodinagari_--A veritable will-o'-the-wisp in the ancient Panjab +geography: Hodinagari, Udenagar, Udaynagar, is the name of +innumerable ruins all over the northern Panjab, from Sialkot to +Jalalabad in Afghanistan beyond the Khaibar Pass. Here it is more +than probably some place in the Rawal Pindi or Hazara Districts along +the Indus. + +_Rani Sundran_--The daughter of Hari Chand. + +_Alakh_--'In the Imperishable Name,' the cry of religious +mendicants when begging. + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + _Jae buhe te kilkia: lia nam Khuda: + Duron chalke, Rani Sundran, tera na: + Je, Rani, tu sakhi hain, khari faqiran pa:_ + + Coming to the threshold I called out: I took the name of God: + Coming from afar, Rani Sundran, on account of thy name. + If thou art generous, Rani, the beggar will obtain alms. + +The _Musalman_ word _Khuda_, God, here is noticeable, as +Rasalu was personating a _Hindu jogi_. + +_Verses_. + + _Kab ki pai mundran? Kab ka hua faqir? Kis ghata manion? Kis + ka laga tir! Kete maen mangia? Mere ghar ki mangi bhikh? Kal + ki pai mundran! Kal ka hua faqir! Na ghat, maian, manian: kal + ka laga tir. Kuchh nahin munh mangi: Kewal tere ghar ke + bhikh._ + + When didst thou get thy earring? When wast thou made a _faqir?_ + What is thy pretence? Whose arrow of love hath struck thee? + From how many women hast thou begged? What alms dost thou beg from me? + Yesterday I got my earring: yesterday I became a _faqir_. + I make no pretence, mother: yesterday the arrow struck me. + I begged nothing: only from thy house do I beg. + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + _Tarqas jaria tir motian; lalan jari kuman; Pinde bhasham + lagaia: yeh mainan aur rang; Jis bhikhia ka labhi hain tu wohi + bhikhia mang. Tarqas jaria mera motian: lalan jari kuman. Lal + na jana bechke, moti be-watti. Moti apne phir lai; sanun pakka + tam diwa._ + + Thy quiver is full of pearly arrows: thy bow is set with rubies: + Thy body is covered with ashes: thy eyes and thy colour thus: + Ask for the alms thou dost desire. + My quiver is set with pearls: my bow is set with rubies. + I know not how to sell pearls and rubies without loss. + Take back thy pearls: give me some cooked food. + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + _Kahan tumhari nagari? kahan tumhara thaon? Kis raja ka betra + jogi? kya tumhara naon? Sialkot hamari nagari; wohi hamara + thaon. Raja Salivahan ka main betra: Lona pari mera maon. + Pinde bhasam lagae, dekhan teri jaon. Tainun dekhke chalia: Raja + Rasalu mera naon._ + + Where is thy city? Where is thy home? + What king's son art thou, _jogi?_ What is thy name? + Sialkot is my city: that is my home. + I am Raja Salivahan's son: the fairy Lona is my mother. + Ashes are on my body: (my desire was) to see thy abode. + Having seen thee I go away: Raja Rasalu is my name. + +_Sati_.--The rite by which widows burn themselves with their +husbands. + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU JOURNEYED TO THE CITY OF KING SARKAP + +_Raja Sarkap_.--_Lit_. King Beheader is a universal hero of +fable, who has left many places behind him connected with his memory, +but who he was has not yet been ascertained. + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + _Bare andar pia karangla, na is sas, na pas. Je Maulla is nun + zinda kare, do batan kare hamare sath. Laihndion charhi badali, + hathan paia zor: Kehe 'amal kamaio, je jhaldi nahin ghor?_ + + The corpse has fallen under the hedge, no breath in him, nor any one + near. + If God grant him life he may talk a little with me. + The clouds rose in the west and the storm was very fierce; + What hast thou done that the grave doth not hold thee? + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + Asin bhi kadin duniyan te inhan the; + Raja nal degrian pagan banhde, + Turde pabhan bhar. + Aunde tara, nachaunde tara, + Hanke sawar. + Zara na mitthi jhaldi Raja + Hun sau manan da bhar. + + I, too, was once on the earth thus; + Fastening my turban like a king, + Walking erect. + Coming proudly, taunting proudly, + I drove off the horsemen. + The grave does not hold me at all, Raja: + Now I am a great sinner. + +_Chaupur_, p. 256.--_Chaupur_ is a game played by two +players with 8 men each on a board in the shape of a cross, 4 men to +each cross covered with squares. The moves of the men are decided by +the throws of a long form of dice. The object of the game is to see +which of the players can move all his men into the black centre square +of the cross first. A detailed description of the game is given in +_The Legends of the Panjab_, vol. i. pp. 243, 245. + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU SWUNG THE SEVENTY FAIR MAIDENS, DAUGHTERS OF THE KING + + +_The daughters of Raja Sarkap_.--The scene of this and the +following legend is probably meant to be Kot Bithaur on the Indus +near Atak. + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + _Nile-ghorewalia Raja, niven neze ah! + Agge Raja Sarkap hai, sir laisi ulah! + Bhala chahen jo apna, tan pichhe hi mur jah! + Duron bira chukia ithe pahuta ah: + Sarkap da sir katke tote kassan char. + Tainun banasan wohtri, main bansan mihraj!_ + + Grey-horsed Raja, come with lowered lance! + Before thee is Raja Sarkap, he will take thy head! + If thou seek thy own good, then turn thee back! + I have come from afar under a vow of victory: + I will cut off Sarkap's head and cut it into four pieces. + I will make thee my little bride, and will become thy bridegroom! + +_Hundredweight_--_Man_ in the original, or a little over 80 +lbs. + +_Verses_--In original-- + + _Ik jo aia Rajput katda maromar, Paske larhan kapian sittia + sine bhar. Dharin dharin bheren bhanian aur bhane gharial! Tain + nun, Raja, marsi ate sanun kharsi hal._ + + A prince has come and is making havoc; + He cut the long strings and threw us out headlong. + The drums placed are broken and broken are the gongs. + He will kill thee, Raja, and take me with him! + +_Verses_--In original-- + + _Chhoti nagari da waskin, Rani wadi kari pukar. + Jan main niklan bahar, tan meri tan nachave dhal. + Fajre roti tan khasan, sir laisan utar._ + + Princess, thou hast brought a great complaint about a dweller in a + small city. + When I come out his shield will dance for fear of my valour. + In the morning I will eat my bread and cut off their heads. + + + +HOW RAJA RASALU PLAYED _CHAUPUR_ WITH RAJA SARKAP + +_Dhol Raja_--It is not known why the rat was so called. The hero +of a well-known popular love-tale bears the same name. Dhol or Dhaul +(from Sanskrit _dhavala_, white) is in popular story the +_cow_ that supports the earth on its horns. + +_Verses_--In original-- + + _Sakhi samundar jamian, Raja lio rud gar thae: Ao to charho + meri pith te, kot tudh kharan tarpae. Urde pankhi main na desan, + jo dauran lakh karor. Je tudh, Raja, para khelsia, jeb hath to + pae._ + + O my beloved, I was born in the ocean, and the Raja + bought me with much gold. + Come and jump on my back and I will take thee off + with thousands of bounds. + Wings of birds shall not catch me, though they go + thousands of miles. + If thou wouldst gamble, Raja, keep thy hand on thy pocket. + +_Verses_--In original-- + + _Na ro, Rajia bholia; na main charsan ghah, + Na main tursan rah. + Dahna dast uthaeke jeb de vich pah!_ + + Weep not, foolish Raja, I shall not eat their grass, + Nor shall I go away. + Take thy right hand and put it in thy pocket! + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + _Dhal, we pasa dhalwin ithe basante lok! Saran dharan han + bazian, jehri Sarkap kare so ho! Dhal, we pasa dhalwen, ithe + basanla lok! Saran dharan te bazian! Jehri Allah kare so ho!_ + + O moulded pieces, favour me: a man is here! + Heads and bodies are at stake! as Sarkap does so let it be. + O moulded pieces, favour me: a man is here! + Heads and bodies are at stake! as God does so let it be! + +_Verses_.--In original-- + + _Hor raje murghabian, tu raja shahbaz! + Bandi banan ae band khalas kar! umar teri draz._ + + Other kings are wild-fowl, thou art a royal hawk! + Unbind the chains of the chain-bound and live for ever! + +_Murti Hills_.--Near Rawal Pindi to the south-west. + +_Kokilan_.--Means 'a darling': she was unfaithful and most +dreadfully punished by being made to eat her lover's heart. + + + +THE KING WHO WAS FRIED + +_The king who was fried_.--The story is told of the hill temple +(_marhi_) on the top of Pindi Point at the Murree (_Marhi_) +Hill Sanitarium. Full details of the surroundings are given in the +_Calcutta Review_, No. cl. p. 270 ff. + +_King Karan,_.--This is for Karna, the half-brother of Pandu, and +a great hero in the _Mahabharata_ legends. Usually he appears in +the very different character of a typical tyrant, like Herod among +Christians, and for the same reason, _viz_. the slaughter of +innocents. + +_Hundredweight_.--A man and a quarter in the original, or about +100 lbs. + +_Mansarobar Lake_.--The Manasasarovara Lake (=Tsho-Maphan) in the +Kailasa Range of the Himalayas, for ages a centre of Indian fable. +For descriptions see Cunningham's _Ladak_, pp. 128-136. + +_Swan_.--_Hansa_ in the original: a fabulous bird that lives +on pearls only. Swan translates it better than any other word. + +_King Bikramajit_.--The great Vikramaditya of Ujjayini, +popularly the founder of the present Sarhvat era in B.C. 57. Bikru is +a legitimately-formed diminutive of the name. Vikramaditya figures +constantly in folklore as Bikram, Vikram, and Vichram, and also by a +false analogy as Bik Ram and Vich Ram. He also goes by the name of +Bir Bikramajit or Vir Vikram, i.e. Vikramaditya, the warrior. In +some tales, probably by the error of the translator, he then becomes +two brothers, Vir and Vikram. See Postans' _Cutch_, p. 18 ff. + + + +PRINCE HALF-A-SON + +_Half-a-son_--_Adhia_ in the original form; _adha_, a +half. The natives, however, give the tale the title of '_Sat +Bachian dian Mawan,_' _i.e_. the Mothers of Seven Sons. + + + +THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SONS + +_Broken-down old bed_.--This, with scratching the ground with the +fore-finger, is a recognised form of expressing grief in the Panjab. +The object is to attract _faqirs_ to help the sufferer. + + + +THE RUBY PRINCE + +_Prince Ruby_.--_La'lji_, Mr. Ruby, a common name: it can +also mean 'beloved son' or 'cherished son.' + +_Snake-stone_.--_Mani_ the fabulous jewel in the +cobra's hood, according to folklore all over India. See _Panjab +Notes and Queries_, vol. i. for 1883-84. + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tales of the Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF THE PUNJAB *** + +***** This file should be named 6145.txt or 6145.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/4/6145/ + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive +specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this +eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given +away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks +not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the +trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country outside the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the + United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you + are located before using this ebook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain +Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The +Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the +mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its +volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous +locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt +Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to +date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and +official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |