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MARCR, 1891).
FOLKLORE IN WESTERN INDIA; No. 16.
107
FOLKLORE IN WESTERN INDIA.
BY PUTLIBAI D. H. WADIA.
No. 16. - The Charitable Faqir. Once upon a time two men were journeying together to a distant place. One of them, who was a water-carrier by trade, though very poor, was strictly honost. No privations, not even famine, over tempted him to sin. The other traveller, however, was quite the reverse. Though clever enough and strong enough to live by honest labour, he would not put his hand to anything but theft and plunder. He would roam about from place to place and rob unwary travellers for the sake of money.
After travelling several miles together, the two men halted near a well, and having refreshed themselves lay down to rest under a tree, hoping to resume their journey a little later in the day, when another traveller, who was passing by, stopped to drink at the well. He looked cautiously about him, but did not catch sight of the two men under the tree. So he put down & bundle that he carried on his head and stooped to draw water. The robber, who had been watching him all the while, crept stealthily up to him, put his foot upon the bundle, and catching hold of the poor fellow by the legs, was about to hurl him in, head foremost, when his companion, the honest water-carrier, suddenly coming up from behind, drew both the robber and his intended victim away from the well at immense risk to his own life. Thus the poor unoffending travellor was saved from certain death, and went his way rejoicing, after thanking his deliverer warmly, and suitably rewarding him for having saved his life.
The robber, in the meantime, had made himself scarce, and the water-carrier, therefore, regumed his journey alone. After a long time, however, he was again joined by the robber, who foamed with rage and cursed him all the way for having, as he said, obstracted him in following what he called his lawful profession, when all of a sudden he tripped against something, and stooping down to see what it was, found it to be a purge full of gold Asrafis. He picked it up eagerly, and showing it exultingly to his companion, said: -
"Here's luck indeed! I was destined to come by gold in some way or other, and I have ! Dare you now deprive me of this also P"
So saying, he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him, as if afraid that his companion might claim a share of the treasure.
The poor water-carrier was extremely surprised at this, and walked on, thinking how Allah could have seen fit to bestow so much favour opon such an unworthy individual as his late companion, when suddenly he happened to tread on some brambles, and a large sharp thorn pierodd the sole of one of his bare feet.
The poor man whined and groaned with pain, and was, moreover, sorely grieved at heart to think that he, who deserved so much better at the hands of Allah, should be made so very miserable, wbile he, to whom punishment should really be meted out, should be so miraculously favoured.
"Strange ! very strange" ! he cried out with indignation; "they are all false who uphold the justice and impartiality of Allah, for had he been just and impartial he would have shewn more consideration towards one who has never all his life so much as uttered a lie or harmed any living being. However severe have been my trials and privations, I have never once yielded to temptation, and still Allah, though he withholds from me all the good things of this earth, gives me my full share of misery. Surely it is of no use to be good or honest in this world."
While he was giving way to his lamentations in this manner, a tall majestic and hand. some man with a fine long beard came all unperceived and stood suddenly before him, and
