Indian Antiquary Vol 20

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

Page 92

80
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1891.
To the above story, the ingenuity of Southern Indian story-tellers has given a clever additional point, to bring into prominence the king's extreme stupidity.
When the innocent Komatti, who had failed to give the gold in time, was ordered to the stake, no one thought the punishment unjust except two men, for such was the sapreme stupidity that reigned throughout that whole kingdom of Punganûr ! These two were the greatest of rogaes, but for all their bad character they pitied the innocent victim of Panganûr logic, which argued that the fittest person for capital punishment was the most rotund of body ! So they picked up a sham quarrel between themselves, in the hope of averting the evil fate of the innocent Komatti jeweller, and purposely made so much noise as to attract the attention of the king and his officers.
Said the king :- "What are you fools making all this noise for on such an occasion P"
Said the first rogue: - "Most Gracious Majesty! It has been pronounced by eminent astrologers that whoever gives up his life at the stake on this occasion, is destined to be re-born as the king of Punganar! I want to go to the stake, but this wretched fellow won't let me, as he is so anxious to go himself."
Then turning to the second rogue, he continued. "Out upon you, you fool, you shall not forestall me. I am stronger than you!"
Said the second rogue, pretending to disregard the presence of the king :- "If you think that I am weak, there is my sovereign to support me."
Then turning towards the king, he said :-"Most Gracious Majesty! Let me be driven to the stake meant for the Komatti; for then I shall be re-born as a king. What is the use of being for ever poor and miserable ? Better give up life with a cheerful countenance, than bear all the miseries of poverty. Death is troublesome only for a moment, but poverty is tron blesome for the whole term of life. So, I appeal to your graciousness to order this person to be taken a way to prison for assaulting me, and to permit me to proceed to the stake in the place of the Komatti."
Letting the rogues go on fighting with each other, the king deliberated for a while and then broke silence : "None of you wretches shall usurp my kingdom! What! Are you fools, that you attempt sach impossibilities? I will never have my throne occupied by such paupers as you! Let the Komaţti be released! I shall myself proceed to the stake, and be re-born again as the king of my own country.
So saying, the king gladly had himself impaled, while his stupid ministers cheered! Thus the foolish king gave up his life, and the rogues, who by their tricks could bend his subjects to any of their whims, easily got possession of the kingdom, and reigned as king and minister!
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE,
BY GEO. FR. D'PENHA,
No. 6. - The Children of Vows. There was once a baker who used to supply the king of the country with bread and confectionery, and amassed a large fortune. One day the king, who had no children, asked the baker how many children he had. The baker answered :- "Sire, like yourself I have none." +
"Then, what will you do with all the wealth you are accumulating P" said the king. "Come, let us both go to Church, and make a vow in order to obtain children. Should a daughter be born to you, and a son to me, you must give your daughter in marriage to my son; if, again, a daughter is born to me, and a son to you, I will give my daughter in marriage to your son." The baker, of course, did not like to offend the king, and so he gave his assent to the king's proposal.