________________
MARCH, 1894.]
FOLKTALES OF HINDUSTAN; No. 9.
"If you refuse to marry her, I will kill you."
In that case I must consent." So they were married, and all the ceremonies were finished in a single day.
"I have some urgent business," said the Bhuiya, “but I will come back by and by and take my wife lome."
So the Bhuisa rodo off, and by and by lenched the palnce of Balwanti Bani' which was in the depths of the Jharkhand forest. This hnd seven gates, ono within the other. The first Was bruaried by a demon, 10 whose upper lips stretched to leaven and the lower to Påtala. The Bhuiyi saw him and thought to himself :
« This monster's mouth will engulph me and my horso. I had buttor mako friends with Lim."
So he went up to him, and said :"I salute you, O maternal uncle!” The demon said :
"I have had no food for twelve years, and when prey comes, it is hard that it should turu out to bo my sister's sou. However, sit down, and tell me what you want."
The Bhuiya angwered :"I am come to enquire about the licalth of Balwanti Rang."
“Do not ask about her," replied the demon. "She sleeps for twelve years and remains usrake for twelve years. Just now she is asleep, and all her warders are dying of hunger. When she wakes, she will give us all food."
“How can I manage to see her, Uncle P” asked the Bhuiya.
“This is very difficult," he answered. "She has seven guards. The first is I myself, whom you tee. Next is a tiger guard : then a leopard guard, then a bear guard. Next come guards of demons and witches. You cannot see the Rani unless you escape from all of these."
“Happen what may, I must see her, and you must tell me how to evade the guards." Said the demon :
"Take a he-goat for the tiger and the leopard : some bér fruit for the bear : 11 some parched rice for the demon and witches. They are very hungry, and if you feed them they may let you in. But beware on your return, as they will all attack you."
The Bhuiya took these things with him, and as he passed in none of the guards noticed him. Then he came into a chamber where Balwanti Rani lay asleep on a couch of gold. Under her bed was a betel box.12 The Bhuiya took a packet of betel, chewed it, and with the red spittle he made a mark on the cloth which covered her breast. Then he went back. All the guards rushed at him, but he threw rice before the demons and witches, a he-goat before the tigers and leopards, a handful of bér fruit before the bears, and so he escaped to where his uncle the demon was on watch. Then he mounted his horse, and, saluting the demon, rode away. In the morning Balwanti Rani woke, and washed her hands and face. But when she saw the mark on the robe she was wrath. First she went to the demon watch, and beat him soundly, and all the guards she beat with her magic wand. Then she set out in search of the man who had dared to mark her robe. She mounted on her flying couch,13 and after many
* The powerful queen.
The jungle of brambles. Sanskrit Jhafakhanda. Locally it is said to be at Vaidyanath in the Shihabad District. 10 Deo.
11 This is the fruit of the Zixyphus jujuba, of which bears are very fond. 12 Pindan.
13 Uran khatolna.
