Indian Antiquary Vol 15

SR No.: 032507
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 446
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 122

102
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
he threw into the pond in the midst of Pañj Phûl's garden. No sooner was this done than Panj Phûl became herself again and stepped out from the pond. They both kissed one another and cried," -so glad were they to meet again. They told each other all they had experienced since they last met, and Panj Phûl declared that now she could go with him wherever he wished, and advised him to wait there till she had been to her room (which had remained untouched since she last left it), and had taken such jewels and dresses, etc., as might prove of service to them on the way. Gullâlâ Shah agreed, and Pañj Phûl went and quickly returned with jewels and dresses of great worth.
Then they both turned their backs on the fairy city, and started on their journey. They walked fast and long before resting, until they arrived by a pond of water, clear as crystal. Here they tarried awhile and ate some food. While talking together Gullâlà Shah told Pañj Phûl of his great desire to get some of the beautiful flowers which grew in a certain garden on the sea-shore. This garden, he explained, contained twelve thousand flowering trees; each tree had been planted by a fairy-princess, and was worth twelve thousand rupees. On hearing this Pañj Phûl said that she could obtain this desire for him, and any other desire that he might choose to prefer. But only she could get these flowers for him, for the princess of the fairy-country, where they grew, had never shown herself to man, and therefore would not see him.
In a few days their wanderings brought them to the sea-shore, close by this wonderful garden. Here they hired a certain vessel which was anchored near, and as they sat on board that night Panj Phôl gave Gullâlâ Shah a beautiful pearl necklace, and told him to go immediately and hang it before the light of a lamp in, a secluded room in the side of the vessel. She also told him to remain in that room. The good of this was that several other beautiful pearl necklaces would be obtained by these means. Gullâlâ Shâh did as she had advised.
Meanwhile Panj Phûl disguised herself in man's clothes, and pretended to be the servant of her husband. She then ordered the ship to
Cf. Grimm's Household Stories, p. 84; "Faithful John," the which story en passant compare with that of
[APRIL, 1886.
be taken close to the garden of the fairy princess. On its arrival thither the princess's attendants came and ordered them to take the vessel away, because the princess wished the place to be kept strictly quiet and private, it being her wont to walk along just that part of the sea-shore. But the master of the vessel, Gullila Shah, and his sham servant, persisted in remaining, saying that they had many great and precious things on board; and so from fear of thieves had anchored the vessel in that place. They would not remove unless the king promised to refund them whatever losses they might suffer from thieves and such-like, who would surely come and beset them in any other place. When the king heard this he gave them permission to tarry there for the night.
The following morning Pañj Phâl took some of the pearl necklaces, which had been made as has just been explained, and displayed them to view near to the princess's garden. Presently the princess's female attendants came down to the water to bathe. As soon as they saw Panj Phul, they asked her who she was. She told them that she was the servant of a very wealthy trader, who was on board the ship. He was exceedingly good and had some very great treasures, especially some pearl necklaces, the most costly and beautiful in the whole world. When the attendants heard this they naturally desired to see these great treasures and Pañj Phûl was only too ready to show them. At the sight of the beautiful pearls they were very much astonished, and entreated Panj Phul to allow them to be carried to their royal mistress. This also was readily granted. The princess admired them so much that she would not part with them; but told her attendants to inquire the price, and to get several more like them-as many as the merchant could spare. When these others arrived a great pile altogether, the princess determined to go and see the merchant; "for," thought she, "he must be a very great man to possess all these costly things." Accordingly closely veiled she went to the ship, and arriving there asked Panj Phul, the supposed servant, where his master's room was, as she herself wished to bargain with him for the pearls that she had selected." Pañj "Phakir Chand," Folk-tales of Bengal, pp. 17-52,