Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 395

DECEMBER, 1873.]
LEGENDS FROM DINAJPUR.
359
deposited his touchstone with the disguised robber: go one day she asked him to bring it, and he went to fetch it from the man in whose care he had deposited it; but the robber had taken away the real touchstone from the window and put a small pebble in its place, and when the prince came he said, "The touchstone is in the place where you left it: take it away." The prince went to the window, but found nothing but a small pebble; and, as he was able to do nothing, he went to Pránni sini and told her all about it, and she replied, “Do not trouble yourself: I will take the touchstone from him." So she went into the house and called a shepherd and said, "Take two bags and & bullock and come along with me." So the shepherd made his preparations and went with her to a corner of the village, where he filled the bags with small stones and put them on the bullock's back, and she said to him, "Go opposite the house of the wicked robber and drive the bullook along with you, and when he asks you what it is, tell him the bullock is loaded with touchstones." When she had given these instructions she went back to the prince. Then the shepherd, as he had been ordered by the girl, went near the robber's house, and when he inquired what was in the bags, replied, “This bullock is loaded with touchstones belonging to the prince," and the wicked robber thought that if he gave back the first touchstone he should be able to get the whole bagfuld so he pat the touchstone back in the window and called the prince and said to him, "I was only putting you to the test: I have no need of any more wealth; take your touchstone and go." The prince said, "I have taken my touchstone, and where can I leave these two bags full of touchstones P" The robber replied "You can leave them wherever you like;"
the prince pat down the two bags, and taking his touchstone from the window went to Prannasini and told her about it, and proposed that they should return to his native country. She agreed, and they both of them set out, and after some days' journey he arrived at his own village and said to her, "I think it would be better for you to remain here to-night in the house of this garlandmaker, and to-morrow I will tell my father, and take you to him in proper state." With these words he said to the garland-maker, whom he had known before, "Let this girl remain in your house to-night, and to-morrow I will take her home; and take care she is put to no inconvenience, and whatever expense is incurred I will repay you." The garland-maker agreed, and the prince went to his own house and had an interview with his father, and told him how he bad found the touchstone and would give it the next day. Then he went to his private house and said to his first wife,
"Where can I deposit this touchstone P She told him to put it in the window, and he did so and went to sleep. Now the prince's wife had a great friendship for the Kotwal of the city, and she went to see him; and when she arrived he asked her why she came so late at night, and then she told him all about the touchstone. The kotwal told her to bring it to him, as he wished to see it ; 80 she went and fetched it, and he was very much delighted to get it, and took it to his own home, and she went back to her own house and stopped there all night. In the morning the king called his son and wished to see the touchstone; the prince went to bring it, and when he could not find it, became suddenly mad, and did nothing but repeat the words, “This is where it was; give it me." After a little time the king beard what had befallen his son, and sent for him and tried every kind of medicine to heal him. After ten or twelve days Prännåsint discovered by magical arts that the prince had become mad, and that the touchstone had fallen into the possession of the kotradh, and unless the prince regained the stone he would not be cured: so she determined to recover it and heal him. Accordingly she told the garland-maker what she intended to do, and the garland-maker made her pretend she was her sister, and told her to go and stand on the top of the house. As the kotuodl was going round the city he saw the girl on the roof, and said to the garland-makor, "I will come and see your sister to-night." She said, "My sister has mado a vow that no one shall come and visit her anless he presents her with a touchstone." The kotwal promised to give it, and went away. After this the king's councillor saw the girl, and said to the garland-maker, “I will come and visit your sister to night." By the girl's order the garland-maker agreed, and he said he would come at one watch in the night. After this the prime minister came, and, having made an arrangement that he should come at the second watch in the night, he went away. And at last the king himself came out to enjoy the air, and when he saw the girl on the roof he said he would come at the last watch of the right. When the girl heard they were all comia, she prepared a large pot and mixed in it two Huers of milk and one seer of water, and put it on the fire, and also brought some grass and a jar of water, and placed them ready, and when it was evening she put a stool near the fire for herself, and another stool for the other people to sit on, and proceeded to mix the milk and water. In the meantime the kotrol came, bringing the touchstone with him; so the girl took it and invited him to drink the milk and water which she had prepared, and they talk.