Indian Antiquary Vol 16

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

Page 42

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1887.
acquainted with her story he felt so deeply his companion, was on his way to his father's for her and was so shocked at the inhuman country, returning there after having been conduct of the Raja, that he resolved to give away for several years trading in different away all he had, to take her out of the countries, when chance brought them together; hands of such a monster. Being himself and since he had given away in parchasman of liberal and enlightened ideas, he had ing her the immense wealth he had amassed, disagreed with his father on certain points he had not so much as a copper left, with which and parted from him in anger, so he admired to begin life anew. The lady, too, having the independent spirit displayed by the young parted with all her jewellery, was not in a lady, and sympathized greatly with her. The position to help her noble deliverer in the least, Rivi, too, conceived a liking for him at first and so they sat for a considerable time thinksight, and wished in her heart that he woulding as to what course they should adopt under purchase her. The merchant soon left her, the circumstances, when the young lady haphurried on board the ship in which he had pened to pat her hand to one of her ears, and arrived at the town, and landing all the gold found to her great joy that she had stilla and valuables he had, sold the latter in the small earring left in it. She took it out at market for as much gold as they could fetch, once, and, giving it to her companion, said—"If and threw all the precious metal into the pit. you but knew some art by which we could get But though he had disposed of everything our living, you can purchase enough materials he had, the young merchant found to his dis- by selling this trinket to enable you to pracmay that there was still some gold wanting tise it." to fill the pit before he could take possession This set them both thinking again, till the of the Rini, and was therefore at his wit's man at last recollected that he used to make end to know what to do, when the Rini, who some very beautiful bamboo baskets when he had been watching him all the while, saw was young, and he thought he could make them the predicament in which he way, and know- as well now as before. ing that, for lack of only a small quantity of " Very good indeed," said the lady, "and 1 the precious metal with which the pit was think I, too, can make myself aseful in some
early fall, she would have to go back to way. When I was a girl I used to make the tender mercies of the Rijâ; whom she so some very nice paper flowers, having learnt hated, she called him to her, and thanking him the art from some poor people whom I used for all that he had done for her, offered to to visit, and if my memory does not fail me place at his disposal all the jewellery she wore, the flowers that I made were greatly admired that he might convert it into gold and thus make at that time; so, if you buy some bamboos and. up the deficiency. The young man was very paper, and the other requisities, we shall soon. glad at this expression of the pretty Rani's set to work and earn money sufficient to buy regard for him, and forth with gold all the jewels us enough for our present necessities." she gave him in the market, and to his great The man went to the market with the earjoy they fetched gold enough to fill the pit up ring, and having disposed of it, purchased out to the brim. The Riņi, too, was overjoyed of the money all that they wanted. The at this, and the young man carried the beauti-two then set to work, and the man made some fal young lady triumphantly away from the very pretty baskets, while his fair companion market-place, amidst the cheers of the people quickly prepared some pretty flowers and decowho had assembled there.
rated the baskets with them. The next mornKnowing of no other place where they ing the merchant took the baskets to the bdrar, could go, the pair pat up at a dharamádld, and was glad to find that they fetched a good and after having rested themselves for some deal more than he ever expected they would, time, they began to consider how they could and learnt moreover that such baskets were best manage to live. The young man was in great demand in the city. So the two quite a stranger to the place, and, as he told worked on with a good heart, and their baskets
* A free inn for Hindus, usually Attached to place of worship.