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MAY, 1897.]
MISCELLANEA.
137
The day had dawned. The king was informed of the robbery, and in due course he had the thieves brought before the tribunal. He enquired into the grave charges against them, and finding them guilty, he ordered them to be taken instantly to death.
Now the thief, who said that he could recognize a man after the lapse of twelve years, went to the prince who was sitting to the right of his royal father, and, taking him by the hand, he exclaimed that he was one of them. Greatly surprised, the king asked for an explanation, and the son, taking him aside, rehearsed from the beginning, how his mother's blessing had led him to test the intelligence of thieves. He had indeed been surprised - one thief interpreting the barking of a dog, another telling of a state of the palace coffers, and the third recognizing a face seen only in the dark. He also told, how he had promised them to save their lives. “The time has now come," said the prince in conclusion, " for me to fulfil the promise, but the power lies with you, sire ; so I beg of you to kindly grant the thieves their lives." The king from the kindliness of the heart complied with the request of his ever dutiful son.
MISCELLANE A. . SOME NOTES ON THE FOLK-LORE OF THE took them home, gave them one pagoda, and TELUGUS.
told them to go about their business. As BY G. R. SUBRAMIAK PANTULU.
they thought this a poor recompense for their
trouble, and suspected that the interpreter had (Continued from p. 112.)
deceived ther, they turned to the gentleman, and XXIII.
showing him the pagoda, informed him that his
interpreter had given them only this much. As King Jayasratha of Panchala had a son who
the gentleman was ignorant of their language, he was gifted with much sense from infancy. One
sent for the interpreter and asked him what they day, beholding the king, he asked him what the
were saying. He told him that among the ten bure road to reputation was. The king replied: "When you rule the kingdom, without oppressing
pagodas he had given them, they said that that the people, you must find out who are rich and
pagoda was a bad one and wanted a better one
in exchange for it. The gentleman thereupon who are poor, and protect the latter by giving them food and clothing from time to time. Thus
became very much enraged and ordered them to
be well thrashed and sent away. will you obtain an extended reputation. But, however much you may bestow on the rich, no fame They who are ignorant of the vernaculars will accrue to you. To give you an example, if of the place they inhabit, and believe what rain falls while the crops are withering for want others tell them, must necessarily bo guilty of water, the cloud will obtain fame, but however of injustice. much it rains in the ocean, no reputation can
xxv. result to the cloud." Thus speaking and considering how clever the boy was, the king made
A Brahmap well versed in every branch of over half his kingdom to him. The youth assumed
science, was journeying with his disciples on a the sceptre, confirmed the leases that had been
pilgrimage to Banáras, and about sun-set one evengiven to the people, and finding out the poor
ing, met a young Brahman boy, who was feeding a
herd of cattle near a wood, of whom he asked the caused food and clothing to be given to them, and cherished them much. He thus obtained
distance to the adjacent village, where he proposed
to halt for the night. The boy responded :"Just great celebrity.
look at me, at the cattle I am feeding, the forest, XXIV.
and the sun, and your question will be answered ; At Channapattanam lived an Englishman for if the village was not very near, would such who, as he knew no other language than English, a young boy as I am be feeding so many cattle kept an interpreter thoroughly conversant with near a forest at this time of the day P" From this the vernaculars of the country. One day some sensible reeponse, the Brahman formed a high conjurors came to the gentleman, and, having opinion of the boy's abilities, and, following him fired their bamboo, danced and displayed several home, told his father that the lad was too clever to feats of agility before him. The gentleman was be employed in feeding cows, and requested that he highly gratified, and sending for his interpreter, might be allowed to take him with his other distold him to give them ten pagodas. The latter | ciples to Banaras, where he would educate him.
