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DECEMBER, 1896.] THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS.
In the meantime Deyi Beidyadi, the mother of the lads, happened to come out and seeing a crowd asked what was the matter. They told her that they had come to take her sons to Buddhivanta's house. Full of fear she went in and called her sons to her and asked them :
"What have you done, my children? Tell me the truth, my children."
Then the boys, Koți and Chennaya, told their mother how the grandsons of Baddhivanta came and abused them, and forcibly took from them their bag of pichis, and thus began the quarrel; and how they tried to regain their own bag, and, in trying to do so, how the grandsons of Buddhivanta beat them with their fists, and how they returned their blows, and so on. So they told everything to their mother. Afterwards Koți and Chennaya came out and stood in the verandah. Then the messengers of Buddhivanta said: "Well, now, come along with us, lads!"
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"Where?" replied they.
"Before Buddhivanta : you are to appear," replied the men. "He has sent us to take you before him."
"We will not go to Buddhivanta's house. Go and tell him so," said the brothers.
Then the messengers said :-"You see, in this matter you will be ruined. We tell you plainly if you are obstinate and refuse to come, you will be rained. Do not blame us afterwards that we did not warn you."
They still refused to go with them. Then the messengers returned to their master.
The brothers now said to one another :-" You see brother, they will now go and complain of us, and Buddhivanta will be still more incensed at us. So we must not sit idle here. We must take some present to the royal Ballal, and represent the truth of our cause before him. Otherwise we shall be proved to be the transgressers "
"Yes," said the other, " let us go at once. Before they reach Buddhivanta's house, we must reach the budu and represent our cause before the king."
Their father, Sayana Beidya, hearing this conversation of the brothers, approved of it and wont at once to the garden of plantain-trees, and finding a very large bunch of excellent plantains, he cut it and brought it hanging on a pole carried by two men. He then said to his sons :-"Now, children, go to the Ballal with this present. He will be very much pleased with this large bunch; it is so large and excellent. Represent your case to him, and he will do justice to you."
So saying he sent his sons with two men carrying the bunch of plantains hanging on a stout pole. So they went quickly and reached the Ballal's budu. They found the Balla! sitting on his throne. They went and prostrated themselves before the Ballal. He told them to rise up, and then they brought the bunch of plantains and placed it before him. Then the Ballal asked them: "O ye Beidyas, have you brought this bunch of plantains as a present to me? Where did you get such a large and fine bunch ?"
They said: "O Ballal, this is a small present. We came to tell you a secret. You must listen to us. Buddhivanta, your minister, hates us very much. We have done him no wrong. Therefore, you must be pleased to inquire into the matter."
At this, the Ballâl said:-"Well, I will inquire into the matter afterwards. But, first of all, you must pay your respects to Buddhivants, who is my right-hand man, and you must give him a present."
At this, the Beidyas said :-"O king, in this kingdom you alone are king. Only one is entitled to receive homage. One present, one palace, one regal umbrella, one thione, one
