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JULY, 1887.]
FOLKLORE IN WESTERN INDIA.
211
son grew up into a fine boy, made friends with rubies. The boy related to him how he had Beveral of the neighbours' children, and often picked them up from the sea, and the Râjâ went out to play with them. One day as they thereapon bade him go once more into the sea were playing a game of marbles, the little and bring him some more. prince displayed his magnificent rubies, and Overjoyed at being entrusted with such a began to use them in place of ordinary marbles. mission, the young prince forthwith went home
Now a carpenter's son, who was one of his and acquainted his mother with all that had playmates, took a fancy to the rubies, and happened. She too, was glad at the idea of quietly slipped two of them into his pocket, her son having found such an opportunity of and carrying them home showed them to his serving the king of the country, and joyfully father. The father at once knew what they permitted him to go in search of the rubies. were, and forth with went with them to the The young man immediately went to the seaRaja of the country, and offered them to him shore and walked fearlessly into the waters. for sale. The Râjá demanded to know where Again & path was opened up for him, by. he had got them, and was surprised to hear which he proceeded onwards till he was stopped that the poor man's son had obtained them by something that touched his feet. On stooping from & playmate. Struck by the richness of to examine it, he found it to be the roof of a the jewels, the king was curious to know who large sub-marine palace. He soon contrived was the owner of such rare gems, and ordered to find an entrance into it, and was very much the carpenter to bring his son's playmate into struck with its beauty and grandeur. But his presence. He bought the jewels, however, what was his surprise when, as he proceeded at # high price and made a present of them further, he beheld a beautiful damsel lying to his only daughter. The young princess upon a golden bedstead, with her head severed hung them in a ribbon round her neck and in from her body and placed on a pillow by her her joy went to her pet parrot and said : 1 side, while the life-blood that trickled from ber
“Dear Poll! don't I look very pretty throat rolled down the golden bedstead, and princess with my rubies? Do look at them!" each drop, turning immediately into a beauti
“What!" cried the bird disdainfully, "only ful ruby, made its way into the sea ! The lad two rubios why, a princess like you shonld stood amazed at the sight for some time, anhave a string of them long enough to reach certain what to do, when suddenly he heard down to your toes and then my pretty mistress voice loud as thunder in the distance. He would certainly look every inch a queen!" immediately ran out of the room and hid him
This set the princess a-thinking for a while, self under & hay-stack that was near. No And then she said: "But, Polly dear, how am I sooner had he done so than he saw a fierce to obtain any more of these rubies P”
giant enter the room, who sniffed about here “Go to the king, your father," was the bird's and there for a while, and at last exclaimed:reply, “throw these two rubies at him, and "I smell a man! I smell some human being ! leave him in a pet, and then shut yourself up who is it ! come forth I". in your room and refuse to eat or drink. Meeting, however, with no response he took & When he comes to you and inquires into the sword that lay neer the bedstead, and placing cause of your grief, tell him that you want & the head in its proper place upon the body, string of rubies like these long enough to hang passed the sword up and down the neck of the down to your toes, and as sure as I am living lady three times, when lo! the fair maiden your father will procure them for you."
rose and left the bed. The young lady acted upon this advice, and The giant then bade her tell him who had the Rajh, who spared, nothing that conld give entered the palace during his absence, and her pleasure, sent messengers to the carpenter, when she replied that nobody bad done so to and ordered him into his presence, together with her knowledge, he stamped his feet with rage. the boy from whom his son had obtained the At last, however, the soft words and blandishrubies. When the young prince appeared ments of the fair lady soothed him and calmed before him he inquired of him how he had his tempor. The young prince, who had come to be in possession of such precious watched all this from under the bay-stack,
