Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt

“ Rup then went to the malini, and she drove him out, disgusted with his loathsome appearance. But her niece called him back and promised to free him from his disease. She fasted the whole of the next day, and kissed the whole of his body, bringing upon herself the doom foretold by the wise men. And Rup became once more a young man, with his former personal charms. Fortune smiled on him, and his business prospered, making him the master of immense treasure. But the hand that was showering the blessings was unseen. It was that of Kanchan, now in heaven. ”

“ The barber was beside himself with fear at what he heard. He thought that the Brahmin's sloka was an invention of the king's, and that he had used these words to intimate that he knew his thoughts at the moment. The poor man, who was not naturally dead to better feelings but had been gained over by a very large sum of money, quaked in every limb, and ultimately regaining the power of speech, implored his master's pardon in piteous terms. The king was thunderstruck at what he saw and heard, and at length asked the barber the reason of his being thus moved. ”

“ The princes were astonished to find them talking like human beings, but they replied, "Tell us where your mothers are, and we will have them fetched into the Zoo, where they will be well cared for." "My mother is a menial in the king's Zoo," answered Bhootoom. Boodhu also spoke of his mother as a servant whose duty it was to collect cow-dung cakes. At this the princes burst into a laugh, and said, "Is it possible for a monkey or an owl to be the offspring of a human being?" It was no wonder that they said this, for they did not know the sad history of Nau and Chhota Rani. ”

“ At this the giantess laughed and said, "Foolish girl, drive away these gloomy thoughts. None of us will die, save at the hands of him alone who will, in one breath, reach the white column of crystal under yonder tank, take out the large snake hid in it, and placing the animal on his breast, despatch it with one stroke of his sword. But for every drop of the snake's blood that may fall to the ground, there will start into existence seven thousand beings like us." ”

“ Diseases seized upon the king's person and undermined his vitality, until at last he became almost a living skeleton. Chandra had had seven sons, and these died one after another, and a thick cloud enveloped the whole kingdom. The king attributed all this to the unseen influence of the kotál's daughter.
But one day Malancha came near the palace and prayed for its prosperity, and all of a sudden things began to take a brighter turn. Fortune once more seemed to smile upon the kingdom. The prince's seven sons, who had long before been turned into ashes, came to life again. ”

“ They ate at my expense, even the morsels that I rejected were seized by them voraciously, and just as a dog licks the feet of its master, but, when rabid, bites him to death, so have these men flattered me, and when maddened by greed of money, and a desire to enjoy the uninterrupted companionship of the vile woman whom I made my wife, have rushed at me to bite me to death. ”

“ At this the wood-cutter's son burst into a laugh of scorn, and was about to punish the young frog by dismembering it, when it said, "By certain mystical powers I know you to be a wood-cutter's son. Now it does not look well for you to be without an axe. You will get one from a blacksmith yonder, on paying a single cowrie." To which the young man answered, "O brother, I am a child, where shall I get a cowrie? For want of cowries I could not liberate my father. I have nothing in the world, and shall ever remain obliged if you can lend me something." ”

“ While her cries were rending the air, her husband's garland of shells suddenly fell into the sea; and the witch of a midwife, with the wood-cutter's wife, reached the palace where the queen, who had for some time been in labour and given birth to a dead child, was herself dead. The midwife on entering the room of confinement and finding how matters stood, made the wood-cutter's wife put on the Rani's sari, and ordered her to play the august lady's part by taking into her breast Shakti's baby, who was substituted for the still-born child of the king. ”

“ The first was the voice of the woman, speaking thus, "My daughter, unable to bear the sight of your woes, I, Lakshmi, sent one of my servants in the shape of a dog with the cowrie, which was in reality a mánik, and as the money you got on pawning it must be securely kept, I have with my husband, Náráyan, had this place built for you by Vishvakarma, our architect. Live here with your son, in wealth, luxury and peace. All I ask of you in return is to worship me yourself and persuade others to do so too." ”

“ After he had sung for about a minute, the foolish Budhi took his hands off the branch to clap them in approval, whereupon down fell both of them with a tremendous thud, and their souls were carried to the feet of Yama. Some of the blind man's friends in the palace chanced to be passing that way a little after the occurrence, and they removed his body to dispose of it with fitting funeral rites; but the body of the weaver, who was a perfect stranger to them, they left lying where they found it. A fool has no honour even in his death. ”

“ No care vexed him till one night when he overheard the male parrot talking thus to his mate:—"A princess, Rupamoti by name, is in want of a lover. But she has vowed to give her hand to none but to him who shall bring her Gajamutty, the pearls that grow in the heads of elephants." The female parrot asked where they could be found, and her mate said in reply, "There is in a certain place a mountain, with its summit perpetually covered with snow; and there is the sea of cream, in so much repute among men, washing its base. ”

“ His old father, anticipating death, thought of settling his son in life, and therefore was on the look out for a wife for him. When the idea of marriage was haunting the young man's thoughts, he one night dreamed of a girl of the colour of gold and with hair as black as a dark cloud. ”

“ He touched no food, took no rest, and shutting himself up in his room, fell prostrate on the ground, calling thus upon his tutelary goddess, "O Mother Juggodamba (a name of Durga) , save me from death, or at best imprisonment. Is it thy intention that I shall be ruined? Juggodamba, put me into the way of finding out the princess's lost necklace." ”

“ Greatly surprised, he said, "Arun, Barun, and Kirunmala, what have I done to be the subject of such a hoax? Is it possible for a man to eat gold mohurs and gems?" The persons addressed also were surprised at what had happened, and unable to read the mystery they kept silent; whereupon the bird from its cage said, "O king, you say it is impossible for a human being to eat gold mohurs and gems; is it not equally impossible for a woman to give birth to a cur, a kitten, and a doll? Here are Arun, Barun, and Kirunmala, your sons and daughter. ”

“ On coming to the palace, Bhootoom and Boodhu were speechless with wonder at what they saw. There were spacious halls, elephants, horses, soldiers, sentinels, and many other astonishing things. They were greatly pleased, and thought thus: "Why do our mothers live in the hut? Why can't they and we live here together?" They then gave expression to their thoughts, and addressing the princes, said, "O princes, our brothers, you have brought us here, but why is it that you do not do the same with our mothers?" ”

“ This was being done when the merchant, seeing a snow-white heron, was led by his evil genius to shoot it dead. No sooner did this happen than a fuller, who was washing clothes near by, ran to the spot and fell to the ground, beating his breast and tearing his hair. He took up the dead heron, kissed it a hundred times, and then furiously abused the merchant for having killed his father, who as a heron had been helping him in washing clothes. The merchant, as was natural, laughed at the idea, and the washerman hastened to the king and filed a petition for damages. ”

“ An accidental death has turned me into an evil spirit, and during the day I have to live in the torments of hell, but during the night I enjoy the bliss of heaven, for then my skull contains the holy water. What you have seen is my nightly court, where, empowered by Yama, I administer Justice to those departed spirits who have been wronged by their fellow spirits. Now, my dear Lochan, do one thing for me and I will make you the master of immense wealth. ”

“ The girl looked back in great excitement, and finding the monkey behind her, fell to the ground, weeping. But knowing that she was decreed by fate to wed him who came to her having safely passed through the red river, the kingdoms of the three witches, and the deep dungeon in her palace, she reconciled herself to her lot, cast the nuptial wreath round the monkey's neck, and swore eternal fealty to him. He asked her to release the princes and follow him to his country. ”

“ THERE is a legend in Bengal, that weavers, as a class, are very stupid people, there being this peculiar element in their composition, that while very expert in matters of weaving and selling the products of their labour, they betray an extraordinary lack of common sense in every other respect.
Padmalochan was a weaver, and from what we have said, it is needless to add that he was a first-class dolt. One day, being at leisure, he was seated on his haunches at his door and regaling himself with the fumes of his hooka, when he beheld the well-known palmist of his village passing by. ”

“ Fasting became habitual to both mother and son, begging being a profession that fails in course of time. One day, the Brahmini, no longer able to bear the pangs of hunger and the sight of her son's sad face, left home to drown herself in an adjacent river. When she had gone about half the distance, a dog asleep on the side of the road rose up at the sound of her steps, and shook a cowrie from its head in front of her. ”

“ Link after link fell to the ground, till Chandra, free from the chain, took Malancha by the hand, and strong with the tigress's milk he had drunk while young, burst open the door of the dungeon.
The tiger and the tigress meanwhile entered the palace, and made a feast of the men and the animals they came across. The seven princes were devoured, and the princess Kanchi would have met the same fate if Malancha had not burst in, and overcome with grief cried, "Oh, uncle and aunt! have you destroyed every one here? ”

“ The Jogi was no other than the prince of the foreign kingdom, bent on practising his ruse, and on he sped, until entering the palace, he hastened to the queen and talked to her so cleverly that no suspicion as to his identity entered her mind. He pretended a great deal of apprehension, and induced her to deliver into his hands all the most precious gems and jewels in her custody. This done, he rode away, though not to the place where he had left the king, but to his lodgings. ”

“ Surely you disgraced yourself and your family, and sought shelter in my palace. Be off." But Pushpa replied, "O king, the father of the fatherless and the helper of the helpless, listen to me before I leave your presence. In the house of the gardener before you, there are a goat and heaps of bones of a thousand and one goats. Let me have them, I beseech you." The king asked the gardener if what the girl said was true; but the gardener denied every word. ”

“ Yet still the smell of human flesh bewildered the Rakkhashis. They passed it over, however, and the time went by in friendly entertainment. One day when their hosts had gone out in search of food, Lalkamal with his brother went to a well at the back of the house, dived under it, and brought up with him a casket containing two hornets, in one of which the lives of all the Rakkhashis were lodged. The other had in it the life of the Rakkhashi who was Lalkamal's mother. When each of the brothers took out a hornet, the giants, who had gone out, felt themselves uneasy and hastened home ”

“ The son was no less clever than his father, and to show his cleverness he opened a school in the forest in which he lived. Grasshoppers, centipedes, woolly-bears, cockroaches, white beetles, frogs, crabs, and spiders were his pupils. An alligator, living in a marsh close by, was seized with the desire of putting his offspring, seven in number, into the school; so taking them one morning to the jackal, he informed him of his desire and left them with him as boarders, the master promising that it would take them only seven days to grow into giants of learning. ”

“ The king, however, only grew more angry. "Forget her kindness. She will kill you," he cried and then turning to the kotál's daughter, he rudely drove her away. "Be off, you evil witch. You shall lose your head if in the future you ever again thrust your presence upon my son." No repetition of the order was necessary, for Malancha, greatly alarmed, quietly slipped out. Nothing was heard of her for the next twelve years. But during that time, calamities in quick succession fell upon the king and his house. Earthquakes, recurring time after time, destroyed the greater part of the palace. ”

“ The latter asked her mate to tell her the young merchant's fortune, and Bangoma said that though he knew it in full he would reveal only one circumstance, and that was that Shankha would soon get a godlike male child.
"What are you talking about?" said Bangami.
"The man is far away from home and there is no knowing after how long he will return, and yet you foretell the speedy birth of his son."
"There is a gigantic swan close by, called Manik," replied Bangoma, "and he, if asked, will take the man hence to his house in a few minutes; and thus he may remain with his wife for a time." ”

“ They were disconsolate, and courted death as the only termination of their great grief The whole kingdom was overcast with sadness, which was, however, ultimately removed when one day the long-lost prince appeared with his bride. Joyous acclamations rent the air; and the royal couple, being informed of the return of their dear son, hastened out to the gate and embraced him and the princess. At the touch of the stick of gold the king regained his sight, and the queen her health, and they lived for years in the enjoyment of great happiness. ”

“ The whole house was in dismay: women tore their hair in anguish and the men were paralysed. At length Budhi's wife, aroused from her heavy sleep, left her room, and joined them with the report that her husband was not in their room. This increased the uneasiness of her people, for they thought that he had been spirited away; and not only the women, but the men even cried aloud at the mishap.
The friend, Juggo, was awake all the while, but he remained silent. ”

“ The forest in which Dalimkumar had fallen from his horse was situated on the borders of a kingdom ruled by a young queen of extraordinary beauty, who seemed doomed by fate to widowhood. Unfettered by any law prohibiting the remarriage of widows in her kingdom, she had married several young men worthy of her, one after another, each one of whom had mysteriously died during the night following the day of marriage. ”