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120
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1895.
When the panlanquin arrived at Erajha, Dey had untied the hair on the head of Kantanna Baidya, and had his head on her lap, and was killing the lice on his head. When she stood ap, she saw a palanquin coming near the paddy fields at Hantalajys, and called her husband and told him to get up at once.
«Get up soon, and tie up your hair immediately. O servants, put the palanquin in the but, which is on the north side. O my husband, give the servants, who brought the palanquin rice, vegetables and vessels, such as pots of bell-metal," said she.
Then Degi called out: - "Berodi ! Berodi!" When he came, she ordered him to bring twelve handfuls of roots. And she called out: - "Sappodi! Sappodi!" ánd: - “Yellodi! Yellodi!" and ordered them to bring medicine. She prepared a medicine of tender leaves, and tied it ap in a bundle, and put some presents in the palanquin. She placed a ladder against the upper story, took a dried cocoanut, and cut off its outer shell and scooped out inside too. She brought and put into the palanquin cacambers; coloured like a squirrel, and a vegetable called kafichalam of the colour of oil. She called to her husband and asked him whether the bearers of the palanquin had prepared their meal and eaten. He inquired and told Deyi that they had taken their meals, and were now washing the vessels of bell-metal. Having heard this, she tied up some betel-leaves, areca-puts with lime, and another kind preserved in water, and the very best of tobacco. The lime was as bright as the splendour of Rama. All these things wore put on a plate of silver.
“Is it done well, men ? Is it all right?" asked Deyi Baidyati. "Let the umbrella go first. Behind it the palanquin. Yoa, my husband, follow them. I will follow you."
Sayina Baidya, her uncle, followed behind her. In this manner they travelled to the bidu. When the umbrella and palanquin reached the bidu, they were put down. Saying and Kantanna went first and saluted the Balla].
"O Kántanna, where is Deyip" asked the Balla!. In the meanwhile she kept quiet, being ashamed and confused.
"Do not be ashamed and confused, mother Deyi! Let her hold my legs and apply a medicine! Let her sit on my bed !" said the Ballal, and wept bitterly. "I was brought forth and bred by my mother Gindi Giļi Rama Deiyar, but to-day I am to be born again from your womb."
“Who is there in the house P Please bring some leaves and prepare a decoction to wash his legs!" said Deyi, and made (them) prepare a decoction, washed his legs and took ont thorns. She rubbed the wound with leaves and uttered mantras. Then the wound swelled and began to descend. It came descending to his middle first, and then from the middle to his knee, and then from his knee to his foot. At last it fell down on the ground from his foot. Then the Balla! wished to take his food and was better. The wound was closed, while Deyi applied medicine.
"O my mother Deyi, I will give you great gifts, namely, leave to put on the left side the end of the cloth tied round the middle, one pair of ear-rings and also mullukoppu ear-rings. a jewel for your nose; for your hands rings fastened with gold, and balls of gold joined by cord; a dwaria for both hands and a bájiband for hands also; and a cloth of barapatte."
All these were presented; and he said to her :-"I shall present to the children born of you the paddy field in two pieces, known as Kambula at Hanidotti Bail, and, if there is anything else you want, I will give that also. O Deyi! do you hear me! you have come to my palace, therefore you must take your food of pearl-like rice."
Then were curries prepared with cards of five hundred Borts, with tamarind of three hundred sorts, with cocoanuts of a thousand sorts. Pickles of limes known as pottikánche, narniga, and so on, together with tender bamboos, and kavade berries. Yelluri and mapala were prepared, and moreover cakes of five or six kinds, and a cake of oil-colour, too.
