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MARCH, 1897.]
Then the carpenters stripped the bark, and made everything nice. In the meantime the sun set and it became dark. Then all of them went out of the forest and took their way home. After they reached the bulu the Ballâl gave to the carpenters their batta, which consisted of rice, cocoanuts, salt, tamarind, chillies, curry-stuff, and onions, and everything else they needed, and ordered them to come earlier on the next day, and sent them away. And then he entered his house and bathed with warm water, took his meals and went to bed. So it was morning, and the carpenters came. Then the Ballâl went to the forest with the carpenters and searched for trees, but they did not find any straight suitable trees. Then the carpenters said:"Sir, you see this is only the edge of the forest. There will not be many trees here. Because this place is near to all the people, they cut down the trees from this place. Therefore, we cannot find good trees here. Let us go more to the eastward, there we shall find whatever tree we desire."
THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS.
63
To this the Ballal said:"Yes, yes, let us do so."
So saying they went further and further to the eastward and searched for trees; there they found a tree which was very tall and of great girth. Its circumference was so great that four -persons were required to embrace it. Its height was about thirty yards. When the carpenters saw such a big tree, they were frightened and said :-"O Ballal, we have not seen such a tree anywhere; we have built mathas and big houses and also temples and shrines. We have cut down very big trees for such purposes. But we have never seen such a big tree anywhere up to this time. When we look at it our heads become dizzy. You must ask a word from some one before felling this tree. This tree ought not to be felled before asking some one."
At this the Ballal was astonished, and he thought of it, and said:"O carpenters, just now you boasted of your cleverness and said that you had built mathas and temples and houses, and various other buildings. Now you say that this tree is a very big one, and make a great fuss about felling this tree. What is this? People will laugh if they hear that you, sons of earpenters, are afraid of felling down trees. Fell this tree at once. I will take the consequences. Be not afraid, but mind your work."
When the Ballal had said thus, one of the carpenters threw away his axe and began to tremble. At this, the other carpenters were frightened and astonished, and went further and further from him, and said :-"What is this? He is trembling, and his looks frighten us."
At this the Ballâl approached him, and as his name was Karaga, he called him thrice :O Koraga-achari, O Koraga-achari !"
To this he did not make any response. When he was quiet and made no response the carpenters became more frightened than before, and said:"Sir, do not call him now, he is not conscious. Some Bhata has possessed him. There seems to be some miracle about this tree. Now, see, it will speak through this possessed man."
After this the Bhuta, which had possessed the carpenter, manifested his power and broke a stick and struck his breast and his belly and sides, and biting his lips and teeth uttered such a loud cry as if to make the earth open itself. At this the Ballâl and the carpenters were exceedingly frightened and were almost petrified. Then they said :-"This must be some great Bhûta. He has much power, and yet he does not open his mouth. Is he a dumb Bhûta or what? If he had opened his mouth and told us his purpose, we could have done something."
So saying he asked the man possessed with the devil:-"You must tell me who you are. If you are a demon of truth, if you are a demon of sixteen commands, you must tell us truly who you are. Without doing so, if you strike yourself in this manner, who suffers the pain? What is the use of it? Tell us soon, Why do you give so much trouble to the man whom you have possessed? If you bruise his body and his hands in this manner, how can he live by labour? You ought not to do so. Tell us soon who you are."
