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JULY, 1887.]
THE THREE PRINCES.
219
his hand to thrash the Brahman with, and fell at his feet, saying :
"Brother Brahman, I will never even look back, but run away at once, if you will only never bring that piper to me again!"
"Agreed," said our hero, and Ganapriya disappeared.
Of course, our hero was greatly rewarded for his success and became doubly famous throughout the world as a master-magician!
him.
THE THREE PRINCES. BY THE REV. J. HINTON KNOWLES, F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S., &o. A KASMIRI STORY.
| One day, while he was meditating what he Once upon a time there lived a king, who should do with his money, a gôsdin' came and was celebrated for his learning, power and stayed with him for three days. The holy prowess. This king had three song, who were man was so pleased with the respect and atall in every way worthy of such a father, fortention shown to him, that he determined to they were brave, and clever, and handsome, and reward the prince. wise, and good.
"I am very grateful for your piety and One day the king, wishing to arrange for a goodness," he said. “Tell me your name, successor to his throne, summoned the wazirs whence you came, and whither you are and bade them to help him in the matter. going." The prince explained everything to
“Take the princes," he said; "and examine them thoroughly, and the one whom you ap- "I understand," said the gosdir. “You must prove of I will appoint to sit on the throne i stay here. Do not go any further, but remain after me."
here till your brothers return. Send your In the course of a few days the wasirs waited servants into the city to buy as much corn as on His Majesty with their answer. The chief possible, and when they bring it throw some wasir was spokesman, and said:
of it into the sea every day, till it is all gone. "Concerning the appointment of a successor Then wait and you shall reap an abundant let the king not be angry, and we will speak. harvest.” Saying this the holy man blessed Our counsel is to send the princes out into him and departed. the world and bid them trade; and then The prince acted according to the advice of decide that whichever of them amasses the the goedin. He bought an immense quantity of greatest fortune shall be king."
corn and had it piled up near his encampment. Upon this all the wazirs bowed their heads Every day for about six months be threw in token of their unanimous approval of the certain measure of it into the sea, till the whole plan.
was spent. “Now," thought he, “I shall have "Be it so," said the king, and he immediately, my reward." He waited in great expectation told his pleasure to the princes.
for several days, but nothing appeared. "The When everything was ready the three princes gôsáin has deceived me," he said to himself. started. They all travelled together to the sea "I am a ruined man! Why was I so foolish and there took ship for some foreign country. as to listen to his wicked advice? What will As soon as they reached their destination they my father and my brothers say to me when parted; one went in this direction, another in they hear that I have thrown all my money into that, and the third in another, but before they the sea P How they will laugh at me! I shall separated they each bound themselves to return never be able to show my face to them again! by a certain time to the spot whence they Ah me! Ah me! I will now go to another had parted.
country. The day after to-morrow I will leave The two elder brothers went and traded this cursed place." But these words were with their money and gained immense wealth, hastily spoken. When all was ready and the but the youngest brother wandered along prince and his retinne were about to start, the sea-coast, encamping here and there as it something happened. The corn that the prince pleased him.
had thrown into the river had been eaten by a 1 Told me by a Pandit living at Shupiyan.
A Hindu saint ; holy person.
