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APRIL, 1891.]
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE; No. 8.
145
and does not know how and where to find the owner in order to marry her; and unless this is accomplished he will not touch any food or drink, bat will kill himself through grief."
Upon this the king said: "Be of good cheer, my son, for what do we lack? I will at once send men in all directions and find the owner; and, in the meanwhile, you must come home, and take food."
The prince then went home with the king and took his food as usual. Meanwhile the king had at once sent messengers in all directions with the slipper to find the owner, and to arrange at once for her marriage with the prince. Now, in order to find the owner, the messengers agreed that the girl in whose foot the slipper fitted must be the owner, and none else. With this idea they went thronghout the country for several days, but with little success. At length they came to the house where Bapkhadi lived with her sisters. They tried the slipper on the feet of the six sisters, but it fitted none of them. The sisters for once thought of Bapkhadi, and told the men to try it on her feet, when lol it fitted exactly! Of course it did, for did it not belong to her ?
So arrangements were then and there made for her marriage with the prince, and a day was appointed for the celebration of the auspicious occasion. Grand preparations were made on both sides for several days, and on the appointed day Bapkhadi was duly married to the king's son with great rejoicings.
The sisters of Bapkhadi were also invited to come and live in the palace, but they were made to wait on her as her maids. This, of course, naturally awoke a spirit of jealousy in them, but they saw no alternative except to submit.
They continued to live in this way for some time, antil Bapkhâdi became pregnant. Meanwhile, her husband made up his mind to go on a distant voyage, and got a ship fitted out for the purpose; but before taking leave of Bâpkhadi, he called the sisters together, and said to them: -
"My wife is pregnant, and I shall soon be gone on a distant voyage. I recommend her to your care. Tend her carefully until she is confined. Should a son be born to me a shower of gold will fall on my ship, but if a daughter is born there will be a shower of silver."7
Thus saying he bid Bapkhadi a loving adieu. In due time Bapkhadt was oonfined of a son, but her sisters bound up her eyes and took the child and buried him alive under & Såyå tree, and substituted in his place an Oronta. Poor Båpkhâdi little knew of the trick her sisters had played, and remained silent.
About this time there foll a shower of gold on the prince's ship, apon which he made sure that a son was born to bim, and in his joy distributed sugar and other presents to the crew; and made all possible haste to return home. When he reached his palace he asked to be shewn the son that was born to him, but was highly disappointed when Bapkhâdi's sisters produced the ôrônga. Grieved to the heart he remained silent.
Two or three years afterwards Båpkhâdi again became pregnant; and again her husband, the prince, set out on a distant voyage. As before he called the six sisters and advised them to take more care this time of Bâpkhadi, and went away saying: - "If a son be born to me there will be a shower of gold, but if a daughter there will be a shower of silver." Her time of pregnancy over, Bâpkhadi was again confined of a second son, and this time too, her sisters bound her eyes, took away the child and buried it alive under an Anka tree, substituting for it a bovatra. The prince witnessed & second shower of gold, and again distributed sugar and other presents, and returned home with all possible speed, only to be disappointed
7 The literal meaning of the words used in the story are 'golden water and silver water." • A round stone used for grinding spices.
broom made out of the reeds of the cocoanut palm-leaf. It is ordinarily known as the " Gos broom."
