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MARCH, 1873.]
THE KULWADI.
67
Harshachandra came out, and, in reply to the and took up his quarters under a tree which beggar, promised to give him whatever he wanted. grew in the burial-ground. The leaves of this The beggar said—“ Give me as much money tree are used by the Brahmans for plates. The as will cover a tall man standing on an Saukar, who had bought the queen and her son, elephant." The king emptied his treasury, but disgusted at getting little or no work out of the to no purpose; the sum was insufficient. He boy, ordered him one day to go and collect leaves sold everything he had, and yet he found himself for the dinner. The lad went into the burialshort of the measure. For Vishvamitra had, by ground, and began picking leaves from the tree; means of rats, undermined the ground, so that as while so doing the snake came out, the lad was fast as the money was piled up, that below went to bitten, and died. The mother, hearing of this, fill up the rat-holes. He now sold his wife rushed to the burial-ground, and, after the first and only son, but this was of no use, for the burst of grief, began busying herself in making money thus realized did not cover the measure. preparations for burning the body. Too poor In despair, the king had it published abroad that to buy wood, she set about collecting what he would hold himself the slave of any person, she could find on the ground. The king, who who, by fulfilling the promise he had made to had from the first recognized his wife and son, the beggar, would extricate him from his dif- would not allow his affections to interfere with ficulties. No one came forward. The king his duty to his master, and sternly demanded was obliged to follow Vishvamitra all over the proper fees. The unhappy mother, who the country. In the course of their wanderings had not recognized her husband, told him she they came across Vir Baraka, the Kulwadi was a slave, and had no funds. Nothing would of the capital, who had amassed a large appease the strict agent, who cut the wife down fortune from the burial-fees. Seeing the king's with his sword. The gods, pleased with the pitiable state, the Kulwadi offered to pay the manner in which Harshachandra had conducted money. After some words, the beggar accepted himself, thought it was time to interfere. They to hold the Kulwadi responsible, and made appeared on the scene, restored to life both over the ex-king to him as a slave. Vîr mother and son, and offered to reinstate the king Baraka (Baraka was the name by which in all his former wealth and power. The king the Kulwadi was called at the capital Kaliyan- declined, and begged he might, with his wife and purapattna), asked what were the terms of the child, be allowed to accompany the gods to their promise; being informed, he filled a bamboo of paradise. To this they agreed, and were just the required height with money, and made this setting out, when every ghost, goblin, demon, sum over to Vishvamitra, who had to be satisfied devil, &c., started up, and, since there was no with getting what the strict letter of the longer a person to look after the f'ecs, threatened promise only entitled him to receive. The
to keep the gods company. The gods would Kulwadi now appointed the ex-king his agent not hear of this; they therefore appointed two for the collection of the fees.
persons to collect the focs. Calling the Kulwadi The following were the fees payable in the into their presence, they ordered him to pay good days of old :
these Siddharu a yearly fee of a fowl, a "hana," 1. Nela haja, the ground-fee.
and one day's rice. 2. Hari haja, a fee for tearing the winding- Vir Baraka, purse-proud and arrogant, sheet.
laughed when he heard the small amount of the 3. One hûn (=Rs. 1-12) placed in the remuneration, and said " What is that for me? mouth of the corpse.
I could give them gold untold, and none the 4. One hana (=1 anna 2 pie) placed on worse would I be." The gods were liighly disthe navel.
pleased, and cursed him in the following lines :5. The winding-sheet.
“ Hale kambale ; lake gudige; 6. A handful of coarse sugar.
Utturmara mane umbo gadige ; 7. 12 cocoa-nuts.
Prapti agale." 8. 12 betel leaves.
Which may be translated :9. A half ser of rice.
" An old kambale for clothing; a stick in your 10. A third of an anna of incense.
hand; Vishvamitra, however, had not yet done with The leavings of betters you'll eat in this land." the king; he was determined to test him further. That the curse has been fulfilled, few who He accordingly transformed himself into a snake, I have seen the Kulwadi will dispute.
