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$6
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1894.
"My qualifications are only, that I was born before you and that I have grown up speedily, but writing, wit and wisdom are all your part," said Koti.
Then the younger brother knelt down. Was it to dig out the stone ? Or was it to read the writing on it ? He read the writing, and said to his brother thus: -"O my brother! in former times, Edambůr was very powerful, and Pañje paid tribute to Edambar, Now Pañje has become powerful and Ellambur pays tribute to Pañje. Seven feet of land of the village of Edambůr have been annexed to Pañje. Therefore it is now necessary to change the place of this stone."
Having said thus, he dug up the stone, and moved it seven feet back, and thus annexed seven feet of land to Edambur.
The two brothers then proceeded on their way. They saw the coming of tho wind, and Sit down under a banyan-tree. Meanwhile, the story about their imprisonment had reached the Ballal of Edambur, and he had sent one Channayye, surnamed the Young, to make peace with Kêmór Ballal, and release the prisoners. While Channayya of Edambar was going to Paīje on his mission, the two brothers were sitting under a banyan-tree to enjoy the cool wind. He saw them, and from the size of an ordinary man, he shrunk to the size of a span!
"Don't you wecp, and don't you shrink, Channayya. Come here! Where are you going to? Whence did you come ?" asked the brothers.
Channnyyn replied: "The Balla! of Edambûr sent me. He heard that you had been imprisored by the Dalla! of Parije, and so sent me to get you released by making peace with him."
“Who is the dearest friend and the most faithful servant of Balla! of Edambur?" asked the brothers.
"I am the man," replied Channayya. "Then can you introduce us to lim P"
I can,” said Channayya, and he took them to his own house.
"You must stay here to-day, and I will introduce you tomorrow. To-day you must take your meals in my houso; tomorrow I shall introduce you at the noon-day levée. In the morning I shall go and ask his permission," said Clannayya, and went off at once into the Balla!'s verandah.
What kept you away so long, Channayya ?” asked the Balla!.
He replied: - "Heroes that never had visited me up to this time, have this day come to my house. They are the most beautiful men that yet I have seen. They love friendship, and such men never live been born before, and never will be born again. They are able to raise an empire and also to subvert one."
"Fetch the heroes hither. I shall give them an interview at the noon-day levée," said the Balla).
Then Channayya returned home. "What order has the Balla given P” asked the brothers.
Channayya replied: - "He has ordered me to take you to him. I can do it; but look here, my heroes! We shall bave to go through the forest of Kemmule. If you see anything in that forest, do not say to any one that you have seen it. If you hear anything, do not say that you have heard it. If a pregnant cow goes into that forest, it brings forth a dead calf. If a pregnant woman goes there she mis-carries. If a bird able to fly goes there, its wings are torn. If & creeping ant goes there, it can creep no more. Therefore, O you heroes, you should follow me as a child follows its mother; as chickens follow the hen; and as the thread follows the needle."
