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SEPTEMBER, 1891.]
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE: No. 10.
333
búpá, diás mánzá zabáb, mii rákhín bápaschi dari ani dischi sari; Yes, father, give them my answer, I will keep up the dignity of the father and the honour of the mother."
The king, thereu pon, sent his own men with another message to the effect that he was willing to enter into the alliance, and that his daughter was willing to fulfill the conditions imposed by the prince. The messengers were also authorized to settle a day for the celebration of the marriage. The messengers reached the prince's dominions, and made all the arrangements necessary, and appointed a day for the auspicious occasion.
Preparations were now made on both sides on a grand scale. Nothing was spared to make the occasion a great event. In due time, on the appointed day, the marriage took place with all possible éclat. The bride was still very young and consequently had to remain at her parents' honse till she should attain puberty.
A year or two after the marriage the prince thought of paying a visit to his wife, and expressed his desire to his father. The king, of course, had no objection, and gave his consent, giving him money for his expenses on the way. The prince, however, disguised himself as & poverty-stricken person, and went to his wife's country. When he had arrived there he cut a bundle of grass, and, carrying it on his head, passed by his father-in-law's house. His wife saw him with the grass and called out to him: -"Eh, mólkid, mõlkaii vikités ká? Hi ! grasscutter, will you sell your grass P"
Our hero answered in the affirmative, upon which the princess struck a bargain and bought the bundle of grass. After this she said to him: -"Molisia, m3lkiá, chakar huis kuni békár háis ? Grasscutter, grasscutter, are you employed or without employment ?”
The pretended grasscatter replied: - "Békár háin; I am without employment."
The princess then said :-“ Mlliá, ámchê ghará chákrila rêtés ? Grasscutter, will yor ta ke employment at our bouse P"
The prince said he was willing to take employment, and was engaged as a servant by his own wife, who, of course, was unaware of the real state of affairs. But the prince knew her, and thought it a fitting opportunity of testing, by observing her behaviour, whether she could fulfl the conditions imposed by him.
This state of things went on for a few years, when one day the parents of the princess called the sapposed servant and said to him :-“ Mallia, amin zátaun benché gántán máini dón máiné, tús ámché sókríchá samal kar; Grasscutter, we are going to a distant country for a month or two, during which time you must take care of our daughter."
The servant having promised to take care of the princess, her parents, the king and queen, left for the distant country, and after they were gone the princess one day said to her servant : - "Molkia, msikia, túzari náun ká? Grasscutter, grasscutter, what is your name?
The prince replied: -“Balûdada," and asked her in return what her name was, and she answered: - "Bayôbâi."
And then she said to him ! " Bálidada, mi kain kám sángên té karsil náhin ? Bâlûdâdâ, would you do anything for me if I were to tell you to?"
Balddådå replied: - "HỐ, Bayóbái, jémi kám sángéil têm karin; Yes, Bayôbâi, I will do whatever work you may want me to do."
And then he said to her :-"Bayoldi, málá rándúnbinh khávdlá désil náhin ? Bayôbai, you will cook and give me to eat, wont you!"
And Bayôbài said : -"Hó, dén; Yes, I will give."
And they lived together like a brother and sister; Baludâdâ doing whatever he was asked to do, and Bayôbai doing the cooking for him.
? From this point the story runs as that of ordinary persons, and not that of a prince and princess, for they are now called Baladada and Bayobai respectively throughout, and the kings and queens are mentioned merely as parents.
