Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 25
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

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Page 345
________________ DECEMBER, 1896). THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS. 333 hartow, he set out from his house. On his way he passed by Buddyanta's fields, and saw that they were dry and that Baddyanta was engaged in scaring away birds from his fields. Koti came to his own fields and rejoiced to see that they presented the appearance of a green lake. Then he went to the edge of his field and made a wide opening in one of its banks; thus the water flowed out very rapidly. Seeing this, Baddyanta called out his servants and ordered them to shut up the opening (made by Koçi) by means of grass. Koţi then said :-"Take care, Buddyanta, the suggi crop is the only means of food for the rains for us as well as for you. If you have emmity against us, revenge yonrself on our persons aud not on the crop that we have cultivated. Let, therefore, the water which has been flowing out according to custom flow on its proper course." Dare you to speak of right and custom, you Billavar lad P said Buddyanta. "It is fortunate for yon that I came alone," replied Kosi; "if my brother had come matters would have borne a serious aspect.” “Did your brother descend from heaven P Or did he spring ont from the earth? Was he born in peacock's plames ? Was he suckled by the wild buffalo? Will he ride to this place on & noseless horse! Ah! if your brother had come, I would have got a bandle of thorny plants ready and struck bim on his face with them," said Buddyanta. In the meantime the younger brother came to Uddanda Botta, And, looking around him, said to himself :- What could possibly have delayed my brother so long ? He is not yet to be seen." Thus the quarrel between Buddyanta and Koti continued. Words on both sides rose to guch a high pitch that the younger brother heard them. Immediately he returned to his house, unsheathed his dagger, proceeded to the place where they were quarrelling, and remonstrated with Buddyanta, and warned him not to interrupt the course of the water which Bowed out according to the custom. At this, Buddyanta got enraged and said :- Dars you speak of the castom, yon Billavar lad ?" At this, Channaya fell apon Buddyanta, and holding him by the head, broke his neck and hurled him to the ground, so that he fell prostrate on his back Then he stabbed him on his throat and breast, and thus killed Mim. The two brothers held the corpse by the hands and feet and bore it to the channel they had dag and placed it there and covered it ap with earth. On their way home they went to Buddyauta's house and culled out to his wife, and said to her :-"Oar lord, your husband, is very thirsty, his body is full of sweat, and his throat is dry; therefore he has ordered that you should take him a cap of milk and a goglet of water, and betel-leaves in a metal plate." "Who effected this union between you and my husband P" asked the woman. "All the people of the upper and lower countries joined and reconciled us to one another," replied the brothers. If you have become friends, I shall still have the good fortuno of enjoying married life," said the woman, and requested them to take their food in her house, but they declined it. She then offered betel-leaf to them and asked them to chew. They took up some of the leaves in their hands and bid her farewell and returned. In the meantime Buddyanta's wife did as she was told, and went with a maid-servant to the place were Buddyanta had been sitting, soaring away the birds. Instead of seeing him, she saw a harrow, decorated so as to assume the appearance of Buddyante, placed on his soat. At the same time she saw blood slowly flowing through a narrow channel. Immediately she oried out :-" Alas! the brothers have committed murder !" So saying, she threw away ber nose ornament, and her neck ornament and earings and bracelets, and began to mourn for the loss of her husband. The brothers standing at a distance rejoiced to see her in this distracted con

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