Indian Antiquary Vol 54

SR No.: 032546
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1985
Total Pages: 376
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 353

May, 1925 ]
FOLK-TALES FROM NORTHERN INDIA
save his money and buy at Kahnpur. So he went there and asked the Banis the price “Half an anna each," he answered. “And whence and at what rate do you get them?” “They come," he replied, "from Calcutta and the price is a pice apiece." So the Chamar went to Calcutta, and when he asked the merchant the price, he said, “ The price is a pice apiece, but if you go out to the forest close by, you can pluck as many as you like for no. thing." The Chamår went to the forest and saw the cocoanuts growing on the trees, but they were so high from the ground that his wits were bewildered. At last he took courage and climbed to the top of one of the trees and tried to break off the nuts; but the stems were very strong, and as he used his strength to break them, he slipped, but was lucky enough to cling to a branch lower down. Then he looked out for someone to help him down; and by and by a camelman came up, and the Chamår offered him a reward if he would help him. So the camelman brought his camel to the foot of the tree, hoping to jump down on its back. But as he climbed up, the camel ran away and was lost in the forest. So the two remained clinging to the branch until a horseman passed that way. They implored him to help them down. Seeing them in this strait, he made them promise him all they possessed. So he drew up his horse to the foot of the tree, hoping to jump down on his back. But when the horseman climbed up, the horse ran away and was lost, and the three remained hanging to the branch. But it was too weak to bear the weight of all of them, and it broke, and they all fell down and were killed. Such is the fate of the covetous.
55. How the Raja suffered Misfortune. (Told by Ajal Bihari Lal and recorded by Sayyid Imdad Husain, Kunwarpur, Fatehpur District.)
There was once a Raja who was famed for his glory and piety. He had a Rani whom he loved dearly, and she bore him two sons. One day the Raja was hunting in the forest, when Ill Fortune in the guise of a man met him. When the Raja asked who he was, he said, "I am Il Fortune. Many a Raja have I reduced to poverty and now I am come upon thy head." When the Raja heard this, he was sore grieved and thought to himself, "It is well that I Fortune has come upon me while I am still young and able to work for my living." So he said, “Thou art welcome.” Just then a tiger rushed out and fell upon him. He was.sore wounded. His horse was killed, but he escaped with his life. When he re. covered, he went to his capital, and on the way met a faithful servant of his house, who said, " Venture not into thy city. In thy absence the Diwan has seized the kingdom and turned thy Rani and sons out of the palace. It were well that thou shouldest not enter the city, where a reward is set upon thy head. Wait in this garden, and if it be possible, I will bring thy wife and sons to thee."
The Raja waited in the garden in sore plight, and the servant went and found the Rani and her sons in a miserable hovel in the most extreme distress. He told her of the arrival of the Raja, and she said, "If it be possible, bring me to him, and when the days of sorrow have passed I will reward thee." The servant brought the Rani and her children to her husband, and she found him lamenting his changed condition. She said, "What is the use of mourning when Paramesvár is displeased with us ? Let us go to another land and work for our living."
They wandered long and far, and at last were exhausted with hunger. They came to a river, where a kindly fisherman gave them a couple of hooks, and the princes went to the bank to catch fish. As they were fishing, & crocodile came out of the water and devoured them. Their parents searched for the boys but could not find them, and went their way sorrowing. So they came to a city, where a grain-parcher took them into his service, and for many days they worked, stoking his furnace,