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314
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1890.
The very sight of it frightened away our hero; but the Brâhman never stirred a step, and employed himself in heaping up the fall.
"Are you a magician or sorcerer, that these scorpions do not injure you ?" cried our hero, from a respectful distance. "No, my master!" replied our Brâhman; "these are all coins and not scorpions."
Then the owner found out that what appeared to him as scorpions, were mohars to the Brahman, and calling him to his side, said with much respect:-" Holy Brahman, you are indeed fortunate. Take this house and reap the benefit of your good luck. If you give me anything after getting it, I shall be happy to receive it. As for myself, all these coins appear to me as scorpions." Thus said the rich landlord, and made the Brahman master of the mansion, and the latter, being a good man, freely shared whatever he got from the house with the owner of it.
The moral as drawn by the Tamil people is, that he who is fortunate will get a thing, while unfortunate will never get it.
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE.
BY GEO. FR. D'PENHA.
No. 4.
The Snake and the Girl.
There once lived a peasant with his wife. After several years of married life the wife became pregnant, and longed for some kaula,' and expressed her desire to her husband, who promised to fetch some for her, whatever the risk! So he set out the very next morning in search of the kaula, and walked and walked for many miles. After several hours' search he came upon a solitary kaula-bush, but as he stooped down to pluck its leaves, a seven-hooded nag stopped him and asked him who he was, and what right he had to pluck the leaves. The poor man was terribly frightened, and told him who he was and why he wanted the kaula. leaves, but the nag would on no account allow him to pluck any. However, after much entreaty, the nag agreed to let him have the leaves on the condition that should a daughter be born to him, he would, after twelve years, give the girl up to the nag in marriage; but that if a son was born, the nag was to have nothing to do with him. The poor man was at a loss to know what to do. If he agreed he would have to keep his promise, and if he did not agree there would be no chance of his getting any kauld, which would mean some misfortune to his wife. So at last he agreed, took the kaula-leaves and went home with sorrow weighing heavily on his heart. As soon as he reached his house, he gave the kaula-leaves to his wife, who eagerly took them and cooked and ate them to her great satisfaction, little recking of the manner in which her husband had obtained them, for he had told his wife nothing of what had occurred, or of his encounter with the nag.
In due time the wife was delivered of a daughter, to the great grief of her husband. He, however, consoled himself with the thought that she would be with him for at least twelve years. The girl was the pride of her parents, and during the twelve years, grew up to be strong and beautiful; but when they had elapsed, her father remembered his agreement with the nag, and thought that if he did not give her up to him, he would be visited with some trouble or other, and he therefore resolved on keeping his promise. So one day he got her dressed in a new sari, put on her what jewels he could, and without informing
1 A herb thriving in the months of July, August and September. The leaves resemble those of tamarind and taste sour. It is much liked by the Salsette Christians.
2 It is a general belief that a woman when pregnant conceives a peculiar desire for certain things, and that her desires must, in this respect, be satisfied at any cost; otherwise some misfortune or other is sure to befal her at the time of child-birth.
3 It grows to only two or three feet high.
4i. e. the cobra.
