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144
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE, 1895.
"O maid, though we are young to-day, we shall grow old to-morrow," said they. "O maid, do not raise up envy and quarrels among Billavar boys! You had better keep the berries carefully in a heap. Though we are young to-day, we shall grow old to-morrow. There is a proverb: The body is hurt by a Kannadi snake's touch, and poison is increased by a Nagara snake's bite.'"
They went to Erajba, and then they went and sat there.
"What is it, children? and how is it that dust is on your caps," asked their uncle. "It is the dust that we had at first.10 It is not gone yet," said the elder brother.
"O uncle, Buddyanda's wife took away our berries by force and beat us," said Channayya. "You did not listen to my advice," said their uncle.
"As she took the berries away by force, they belong to her now; but, Uncle Sâyina, where is that which the Ballal presented to our mother ?" asked Kôti and Channayya.
"There are two divisions of a kambula at Hanidotti Bail," said Sâyina. "Now you young children! go to the bidu," said he. "The Balla has got his face shaved and looks well; but there is hair on our faces. We will not go as we are to see such a handsome face," said they.
"Children, take pañcholi betel-leaves from a vine on an Areca tree and mundelli from a vine on a Mango tree, dress yourselves with kayeri karpoli cloths, put those betel-leaves into a thick cloth and go to the bdu," said their uncle.
"You had better go there, yourself, uncle, and visit the king," said they. He went to the bidu and saluted the Ballàl, standing on lower ground.
"Come, Sâyina, and sit down," said the Ballal.
"The children are not shaved yet. They say that they will not see your handsome face, while theirs are unshaven," said Sâyina.
"Where are the heroes whom I bred ?"
"Do yon, Sâyina, get the boys shaved immediately," said the Ballal. "Do you get them shaved and get some one to shave their faces well."
"Who is to be barber, and where is he to shave them ?" asked Sâyina.
"There is one Siddu Bandari, an aunt's son, at the town of Karmin Sale in the upper countries on the Ghats, and there is another Pernu Bandari, a grandmother's son. These are barbers. Do you write them a letter, Sâyina! and make them come here. Then I will supply them with what they require," said the Ballal.
Soon after that Sâyina returned to Erajha.
"I want to call all my caste-people, and make them gather at my Erajba," said he.
All of them assembled at Erajha one day and wrote a letter. The letter was sent to th Ghats by one Bagga.
Bagga asked them :- "On what day is the barber to come ?" "To-day is Monday. Next Monday he is to come," said they.
When Bagga went to the Ghâts, Parimâle Ballal sent to Sayina rice, gh, and all the other rticles necessary for the shaving ceremony. Some days after, i. e., on the next Monday, Siddu Bandari, the aunt's son, came there and saluted all his and other caste-pecple, who were collected there.
"Who is that there? Son Bagga! Fan the barber with a fan, and give him a green cocoanut leaf to sit on," said Sârina.
10 I. e., when we came into the world from our mother's womb.
