________________
OCTOBER, 1893.)
FOLKLORE OF THE SGAW-KARENS.
287
Now the Karen was fast asleep by the side of a liquor jar. After God had called him many times, he partialiy woke up and said, “I cannot go with you. Return in my old sow's trough. I have neither boat nor paddle, only this trough. Do you please go in it, my father, and he dragged the trough down to the water."
God then went and called the Burman. The latter replied, “How can I possibly go with you P Please go and call my elder brother, the Karen."
God replied, "Your elder brother also is not able to go. He only gave me a pig's trough."
The Burman replied, "You could only get the pig's trough, I will give you my paddle, to paddle it with."
So God went to the Kuld and said to him, "My nephew,' please come and accompany your father."
The Kulâ replied, "My father, have nothing in which to come and accompany you."
God replied, "You can come. The Karen has given me his pig's trough and the Burman his paddle. Come along with your father."
The Kula got up quickly and followed behind God to the sea. There God grasped the paddle and got into the trough, whereupon the trough became a great ship and the paddle became its masts and sails. Then the ship started forthwith and God came to his own country.
IV.-How the writing of the Karens came to them. God wrote Karen writing on a piece of leather, Burmese writing on a palm-leaf, and the Kula's (Foreigner's) writing on a piece of cloth.
And God commanded the Kula and said to him :-"You, my nephew, have indeed approached near to your Lord. Your father has written for you writing on cloth. But the Karen's writing is on leather, and the Burman's on a palm-leaf. Do you without fail learn your writing carefully until you understand it. Take back also the writing for the Karen and the Barman, and instract them to learn carefully the writings, which their father has sent them."
And the Kula answered, “O Lord God, my father, I will do faithfully what you have commanded me."
Then he asked, "How shall I return ? "
God replied, "Go into the sow's trough again and remain there. Your father will send you away."
The Kula went into the trough again and returned quickly. He came first to the Karen, and producing the leather scroll, gave it to him at once.
And he said to the Karen, “Our father, God, has commanded me to tell you to learn your writing carefully. Also please take back your old sow's trough." And the Karen went near to the sea, and seeing that the trough was not as before, said to the Kula, "My youngest brother, the trough is not as before. Your elder brother no longer cares for it. If you care for it, take it back with you."
The Kuld turned and went back to the Barman. He produced the palm-leaf with the Burmese writing on it and giving it to the Burman, commanded him, saying, “Our father has directed that you must certainly learn your writing, which is on this palm-leaf. Take back also your paddle."
1 PS-da. Obnorve the altered form of addrese.
