________________
302
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
I could wish that if any thing was to be done, for the Resettlement of a Place of such Consequence to ye Trade of India, that I had an Opportunity personally to Communicate my Opinion; as my residence so long at Cossinbuzar in ye Neighburhood of ye Court gave me some Opportunity to know ye State of ye Country and nature of ye People better than I could have done else were. In case of no Supplies to enable us to resettle, I suppose we shall be able to sail out of ye river about yo 20 of August for your Settlement. What shall become of us Afterwards God knows, most having made their escape, Men and Women, only with their Cloaths on their back, which I believe is all our Fortunes, except such as had resques at Sea. I hope you will Pardon what may appear tedious in this Narrative, and believe me with great Respect,
John Debonnaire.
February 22, 1774.
[NOVEMBER, 1899.
"Nature is dead! the yeomen of the castle.
Sir, Yours &ca,
Alexr Grant.
A FOLKTALE FROM CENTRAL INDIA.
BY M. R. PEDLOW.
The Murder of a King.1
MANY, many centuries ago, in a certain country, there lived in the greatest harmony a king and his minister. The king, one day to enjoy the morning air, ascended the highest turret of the palace, in company with the ladies of his court.
Nature is dead!" cried out the king in a voice louder than that of
Those who heard his words, in immense numbers, instantly flocked to the front of the palace to execute the behests of the king. "There comes the minister," all cried out together, as he appeared.
"My lord is in good humour," thought the minister to himself, when he saw the king not far from him.
"Minister," said the king, "I allot a million molars for the construction of a splendid garden, on the western side of the palace."
No sooner was the order issued than a few men started for distant countries to procure beautiful trees; some to collect tinted marble, granite, porphyry; and others to fetch highly skilled gardeners with all that was needed for the garden. Within a short time the new garden became as it were a terrestrial paradise. But without the knowledge of the king, a similar garden was planted by the minister close to his own mansion.
"Nature is smiling," cried the king in delight. Then he looked to the other side and saw a garden. On enquiring to whom it belonged, the minister replied that it was his.
"To-morrow, I shall come to see your garden, Minister," said the king.
About dusk the king on horse-back, with no attendants, entered the garden, where he saw no one but the minister. Both of them strolled along every road, and finally stopped near the cistern, where the fountain sparkled in the sun.
Attracted by the beauty of a tiny flower, the king stooped down to pluck it for his wife, when be-beheld the ground open, and at the same time appeared a large metal pot filled to the brim with costly ornaments and money of every description.
Narrated by C. Anthony, butler, Baudass's Imperial Boarding-house Nagpur.
