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212
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JULY, 1895.
“ We will ask you another saying and answer your question," said the boys. "Heroes! What is that fire that is burning on the nea in the countries from which you come P"
Then Channayya growling with rage ran to beat the boys.
"Do not brother; do not ! Let us ask the way and description of the villages," said Koti. " It is not in your herd of cows that the bullock has brought forth a calf and cleans it."
"But is it not a cow that brought forth a calf ?" said the boys.
"Boys! It is not fire that burns on the sea, but it is the sun that rises in the East, and sets in the West," answered they. "Boys, give us a description of the roads and villages."
"If you go by the road to the right, you will reach the chavadi of the Edambûr bidu. If you go by the road to the left, you will arrive at the chávadi of Kemire of Panja. If you go by the road in the middle, you will reach the house of Bannaya of Palli,” said the boys.
The heroes asked for a description of the house of Bannaya of Palli.
“A large cow-shed, a house with an upper storey, a well covered with copper plates ; a seat Yound a red coconnut, another seat round a saroli tree on the northern side. These are the marks. If you want to go there, you had better pass the yard, stand at the small opening made with two posts fastened together, and call the house people," said the boys.
Thus went the heroes there and called “Palli Bannaya ! Palli Bannaya !"
Bannaya's wife heard the second call and answered the third call, and asked who they were?
“No one, but we who are going along the road. Is Palli Bannaya here or not?" said they. "He is, but he went to draw tári in the Sanka Malla Forest," said she. "If he is gone now, when will he return back P" asked they.
" He will return at noon; and if he goes again at midday, he will return back in the evening," said she. “If you are Brâhmaņas, who wear the thread, there is a bench with three legs at the round seat under the red cocoanut. Sit down on the bench. If you are Wakkatas and Baragas, I have spread a mat over the seat at the sampika tree. You can sit down on that. If you are my caste-people, there is a small cottage. Come and sit down there," said she.
They heard it all and went to the seat at the sampika tree, spread a blanket bordered with lace, and sat down, and also put their dagger and a bow across their legs. The elder brother Koti opened his betel-nut bag of the colour of a parrot. Seeing this, the younger brother said that he would open his bag of the colour of the pula bird. Then the baothers chewed betel-nut and the effect was to make Channayya senseless.
“I shall not remain, I shall not live in the world," said he.
" Who is there? O mother, give us a jng of water," said Kôti. "As there is no male here, I cannot come down from the roof of the house, and cannot come down the stairs," said she.
“We are as your brothers, who were born after you," said they.
Having heard this, she went inside, took a jng of silver and went to the seat by the well She bell a pikotta, which was so high as to reach the sky, let it down and drew pure water from the bottom of the well. She washed her face and took the water home. Then she took á mat, the water and a plate of betel-nut.
"If ve must drink water from you, you must tell us your caste, your relations, and the Dames of houses, where you were born and where you were married," said they.
"In the country of Parimal and in a place called Kariya Arad, there is a house called Gejjinanda Yaramang. My mother's name was Deyi, my father's Sayi. I am related to Kirodi Bannal. I am poor and am nicknamed Daru," said she.
