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NOVEMBER, 1887.]
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE.
327
you that day; and I promiso you therefore parents as the wandering vaid that had restored never to see them again."
to them their only son. They were so happy This pacified the prince and he related to to find that the so-called vaid was none other her all the story of his illness, how he had than a princess, who loved their son dearly, that suffered the most intense agony for months they forthwith made preparations to have her together, and how a poor wandering vaid had married to the prince with befitting pomp. succeeded in curing him after the most skilful Many days before the day fixed for the physicians had failed. "I would give almost wedding the old king sent letters to all the anything," he cried rather warmly, “to see neighbouring sovereigns and chiefs inviting that noble deliverer of mine once more, and them to his court to take part in the rejoicings. thank him for what he has done for me, so Amongst those who accepted the invitations was completely has he won my heart by his engaging the father of the young princess, whom the manners. He seemed to have come on pur- king had specially invited at Prince Sabar's pose to cure me, but still he would accept of request. nothing but my ring, my dagger, and my On the day following the wedding, Prince handkerchief."
Sabar's father held a grand darbár, at which he The princess immediately produced the ring, introduced all his royal guests to the married and the dagger, and the bandkerchief and couple. When the turn of the princess's showing them to the prince, said, "Are these father came to be introduced to them, he was the three things you gave the vaid who cured very much surprised on recognizing in the you, my love P"
bride his own daughter, whom he had discarded The prince at once recognized them and put long ago for what he considered her undutiful her question apou question as to how she had conduct towards him. The princess fell at his come by them, and whether it was she who had feet and entreated him to forgive her, now that sent the vaid to him. The princess there- she had proved to him beyond doubt that it upon related to him all her adventures from was her own qismat that had brought about the time she had first started in search of him this happy change in her condition in spite of and ended by showing him the sandals by the all the ill-usage she had received at his hands. help of which she had crossed the river.
The Sultan was so struck with the force of The delight of the prince knew no bounds, her reasoning that he raised her up, and embracwhen he learnt that it was to his own sweet ing her before the assembled court loudly princess that he was indebted for his life. He expressed to her his regret at his inhuman pressed her to his heart and thanked her for conduct towards her, admitting at the same all that she had undergone for his sake.
time that he was now convinced it is to one's A few days after this he took her to his own qismat that one is indebted for everynative country and introduced her to his thing good or bad in this world.
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE.
BY GEO. FR. D'PENHA. No. 1.-Karne da Pequeno João. not advance much. The youngest, who was There once lived a king and a queen who called Pequeno Jodo, owing to his short stature, were blessed with three sons. The king was a prodigy and a youth of great promise. spared no care and trouble to educate them as One day the king, their father, wishing to befitting princes; but the odrárinchi báli," "The learn how his sons were faring at school, sent eldest is the most stupid," proved true in for them and asked them to recite their lessons, their case, for the eldest prince, in spite of all but he was quite disappointed when he heard the efforts of his tutors, could learn nothing. the eldest and the second, though ho had some The second, however, was painstaking, but he satisfaction from Pequeno João. had not the gift of learning, and therefore did Seeing the first two would be of no use to
^ [This is useful variant of the “Story of Prince told in the SAlsótti patois, a dialect not hitherto studied. Babar" in Lal Behari Day's Folk-Tales of Bengal p. 12417. but which is of unusual philological interest. See infra.
Old man's story, i.o. old adage.
p. 332. The story of Little John. This tale was originally Compare ante, p. 229.
