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MARCH, 1886.]
are my ministers. A portion of my subjects are terribly troubled by a certain fowler, whose tricks and snares they are powerless to resist, and yet they do not wish to leave their country. You will make arrangements for the preservation of these my subjects."
GULLALA SHAH.
The owl was astonished when he received this difficult command; but remembering the parrot's superior knowledge and wisdom, he replied, "O Râjâ, this your order cannot be executed by me, owing to my blindness by day. The parrot, however, with Your Highness's permission will fulfil it."
Then Raja Hams turned to the parrot and commanded him to perform the order which he had just given to the owl. The parrot at once agreed, made his obeisance, and departed. He went to the aggrieved birds, and bade them to be patient and to do nothing of their own counsel, but to be guided by him, and to believe that the Great God would interpose in their behalf. The birds with one accord consented.
When the fowler discovered that there was not a bird left in the country, he became more sorrowful than ever. His case appeared hopeless. How to provide for his wife and family he knew not, because he had never learnt any other trade and had never possessed a special friend. It was a sad sight to see his children gathering round him when he returned in the evening to ask him what sport he had had (for they were very hungry), and then to watch them one after the other going away again, on being told that nothing had come to his hand that day.
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A large number of stories might be quoted, in which the supposition that prosperity or adversity is sometimes dependent on the gismat of another is mentioned.
themselves in different places and promised that he would make provision for their permanent safety. So away they all flew, and were soon out of sight. Then the parrot went and walked straight into the fowler's net and was snared, but no other bird was caught that day, and the fowler was almost frantic with despair. On reaching home his family rushed to him as usual, and inquired what luck he had had. "Nothing," he replied, "because of your bad fortune, but this parrot came into my net to-day."
Saying this he took the bird out of his cloth and made as though to kill it for food, but the parrot, guessing his intention, said, "Why are you going to slay me? Do you not know that my flesh is not fit for food? And even if you could eat me, what satisfaction for your hunger could you get out of such a morsel as I am? Would it not be a wiser plan to sell me to some dealer in the bázár and provide yourself with provisions for many days from the price that you would obtain for me ?"
The fowler acknowledged the wisdom of what the bird advised, and therefore put it into a safe place for the night, intending to rise early on the following morning and go to the bázár with it.
As soon as the sun was up the next day, the fowler was up too, and off to the bazár, proclaiming to the people that he had this par rot for sale. "Who'll buy? Who'll buy ?" he cried; and many people stopped to look at the bird. They all seemed pleased with it, and many wished to have it, but on account of the small sums which they offered, the parrot reThus affairs continued until the birds returned fused to go with them. Of course this beha from the conference; when the fowler, having viour made the fowler very angry. He had heard from one of his children that the birds been walking about in the heat all the day and had again appeared, went forth with net and was very tired and disappointed; and when ho bow to try and catch them. He spread his net reached home, and saw again the hunger and in a most likely place, and looked so fierce and distress of his family, he was exasperated determined that the birds were more afraid beyond bounds. He swore that he would kill than before, and went to the parrot, saying, the parrot there and then. Poor bird! It "In such and such a place the fowler has spread thought that its doom was now most certainly his net. Tell us how we may escape, for we sealed. However, it again begged the fowler are certain that if this man fails to snare us in to have patience with it. "You will perceive his net, he will shoot us with his bow." that I have not any personal interest in this The parrot gave them permission to hide delay," it added. 'In refusing to be sold for
"
Cf. Old Deccan Days, p. 107; also Folk-Tales of Bengal, pp. 209, 210.
