Indian Antiquary Vol 15

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 93

MAROR, 1888.]
GULLALA SHAH.
77
one day! With what great joy he returned to his and their sweet songs filled the air all the day house, and how joyfully his family received long. him, when they heard the glad news. After Out of gratitude to the king the parrot dinner,--such a dinner as they had not eaten decided to remain in the palace. He made for a long time,--they began to discuss plans for himself so very agreeable, that every member the future.
of the Royal household fell in love with him, "What shall be done with these eighteen and especially the princess, whose whole time thousand rupees P" asked the fowler. "Shall and thoughts the bird monopolised ; so that she we leave the country, the scene of 80 cared not to go to the king, her father, 18 much sorrow and distress to us, and go to a aforetime, but was always talking and playing fairer and better land ? Or shall we remain with the parrot, and saying, "O what should here and spend our money in trading? In- I do if my pretty parrot died or flew away creasing in wealth and in honour we should from me? Polly, you do love me, don't you? forget our past troubles. Say, O my wife and and you will never go away, will you PO children ; what shall we do pa
promise me truly that you will never leave Thus were they engaged in conversation, me!" when a great -noise was suddenly heard in the Matters continging thus the king naturally yard; and loud above all sounded the voice of felt annoyed, for be loved his daughter somebody shrieking out the fowler's name. A exceedingly, and did not like her whole time company of soldiers had arrived, who said to be spent with the parrot. One afternoon that they had been sent by the king to sum. he consulted some of his friends as to the mon the fowler to the palace. The poor man right course to pursue. He did not wish, or was terror-stricken. “My name, my name;" rather he was afraid, to have the bird Blain,he cried. “The king sent for me! What does but what was he to do? They advised him to His Majesty require of me at this hour of the order the bird to be brought to the Court, or night? Perhaps he repents of his purchase, to the garden, or wherever the king wished and wishes to take the money back again. Or his daughter to come, for His Highness knew it may be that the parrot has maligned my that wherever the parrot went, there the character. Ah me! Ah me!"
princess would go too. The king was pleased But all his suspicions turned out to be with this advice, and at once sent a servant to wrong, for the king had summoned him in bring the parrot to the Court. Now the consequence of a conversation, which His parrot, "as has been already mentioned," had Majesty had just had with the parrot, wherein the faculty of knowing all that was happening he had been informed of the bird's mission. in the world, and used to tell his mistress He wished to order him,-now that he had any special news Accordingly he now ex. plenty of money,--to abandon the cruel calling plained to her the king's plan for getting his of a fowler, and to apply himself to trade and daughter to visit him again. “You had better merchandise. The fowler readily consented, go," continued the parrot. "Go immediately, saying, that this was his intention and that he and leave me here." would send his net and other things to the | The princess did so. Half-way to the Court, palace in testimony that he would not she met the king's messenger, and asked him break his word. He then left, and as soon as what his errand was. He replied that he had he had gone, the king issued a proclamation been sent by the king to bring the parrot to the to the effect that no person should catch palace. “Never mind," she said, "you need not or kill birds throughout the whole of that go. I will make it all right with the king. kingdom, and that whosoever was discovered Return with me. I am now going to His disobeying the Royal mandate should be Majesty." As soon as the princess had left severely punished. Henceforth there was to go to her father, the parrot remembered its peace and contentment in the bird community native place and old friends, and determined of that kingdom. They flourished exceedingly to see them once more, thinking it could
of. Folk Tales of Bengal, p 211.