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SEPTEMBER, 1884.)
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
257
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The tiger reached the top of the well and felt calling again to mind the Samudratiné marahimself on safe ground. True to his word he nam-death on the seashore-lifted him up. did no harm to Gangadhara. On the other He, like the tiger-king, circumambulated him hand, he went round his patron three times, thrice, and prostrating himself before him spoke and standing before him, humbly spoke the thus :-"Oh, my life-giver, my father, for so following words :-"My life-giver, my bene- I must call you, as you have given me another factor! I shall never forget this day, when birth, I have already told you that I am I regained my life through your kind hands. Adibêsha's son, and that I am the king of serIn return for this kind assistance I pledge my pents. I was three days ago basking myself oath to stand by you in all calamities. When in the morning sun, when I saw a rat running ever you are in any difficulty just think of me. before me. I chased it. He fell into this well. I am there with you ready to oblige you by | I followed him, but instead of falling on the all the means that I can. To tell you briefly third storey where he is now lying, I fell into how I came in here :-Three days ago I was the second. It was on the same evening that roaming in yonder forest, when I saw a gold- the goldsmith also fell down on the fourth smith passing through it. I chased him. He, storey, and the tiger whom you released just finding it impossible to escape my claws, jump- before me fell down into the first. What I ed into this well, and is living to this moment have to tell you now is-do not relieve the goldin the very bottom of it. I also jamped, but smith, though you may release the rat. As a found myself in the first storey; he is on the rule, goldsmiths are never to be trusted. I am last and fourth storey. In the second storey going away now to see my fathor. Whenever lives & serpent half-famished with hunger. you are in any difficulty just think of me. In the third storey lies a rat, similarly half
I will be there by your side to assist you by famished, and when you again begin to draw all possible means. If, notwithstanding my water these may request you first to release repeated advice, you happen to release the them. In the same way the goldsmith also goldsmith, you shall suffer for it severely." may request. I tell you, as your bosom So saying, the Nagarkja (serpent-king) glided friend, never assist that wretched man, away in zigzag movements, and was out of though he is your relation as a human being. sight in a moment. Goldsmiths are never to be trusted. You | The poor son of the Soothsayer who can place more faith in me, a tiger, though now almost dying of thirst, and was even led to I feast sometimes upon men, in a serpent think that the messengers of death were near whose sting makes your blood cold the very him, notwithstanding his firm belief in the next moment, or in a rat, which does a thou. words of his father, let down his vessel for a sand mischiefs in your house. But never trust third time. The rat caught hold of it, and with& goldsmith. Do not release him; and if you out discussing, he lifted up the poor animal at do, you shall surely repent of it one day or once. But it would not go without showing its other." Thus advising, the hungry tiger went eloquence—"Oh life of my life, my benefactor: away without waiting for an answer.
I am the king of rats. Whenever you are in any Gangadhara thought several times of the calamity just think of me. I will come to you, eloquent way in which the tiger addressed and assist you. My keen ears overheard all him, and admired his fluency of speech. His that the tiger-king and serpent-king told you thirst was not quenched. So he let down his about the Svarṇataskara (gold-smith), who is vessel again which was now caught hold of in the fourth storey. It is nothing but a sad by the serpent, who addressed him thus : truth that goldsmiths ought never to be trusted. "Oh my protector ! lift me up. I am the Therefore never assist him as you have done king of serpents, and the son of Adiádsha, to us all. And if you do you shall feel it. I who is now pining away in agony for my dis- am hungry; let me go for the present." appearance. Release me now. I shall ever Thus taking leave of his benefactor, the rat, remain your servant, remember your assistance, too, ran away. and help you throughout life in all possible Gangadhara for a while thought upon the reways. Oblige me: I am dying.". Gangadhara, peated advice given by the three animals about
