________________
234
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1904.
mahdgé" means "the large house," and also "the old woman." Hence the order may mean, "cover the large house with straw," or "cover the old woman with straw."
This was sufficient for Hokkâ. As soon as the Gamarâls left home on his daily business, Hokkâ collected a large heap of straw near the house, and carrying thither the Gamarâla's mother, laid her prostrate on the ground and covered her with the whole heap, so that she was suffocated to death. "Now lie there comfortably, you old hag," said he, and went away to attend to his ordinary work. When the Gamarâla returned home in the evening, he found only a heap of straw near the house, and the house itself unthatched. So he said to Hokka, "How is it, you vagabond, that you have not obeyed my orders?" "Not obeyed your orders?" said Hokkâ, "why, what makes you think so? Come and see whether the old lady is not under the straw as snug as ever." So saying he removed the straw, when the Gamarala to his great horror beheld the corpse of his poor mother. On this occasion, too, the Gamarâla forgave the man, for he attributed the mistake to his natural deficiency of intellect, and was, moreover, unwilling to part with so hardworking a servant.
Some time after this sad occurrence, the Gamarâla received the mournful intelligence of the death of his son-in-law, who was living in a village about a day's journey from the Gamarala's house. So he made up his mind to pay his widowed daughter a visit of condolence, and ordered Hokkâ to hold himself ready for the journey. At dawn, the next morning, the Gamarâla and his man left home, after taking a hearty meal, and continued their march till noon, when, finding themselves weary and hungry, they sat down to rest under the shade of a large tree. Having nothing with them in the shape of food, the Gamarâla handed some money to Hokkâ, and bade him go and buy something for them to eat. After going a great distance, Hokkâ found a bunch of ripe plantains exposed for sale in a hut, and bought sixteen plantains with the money. He then reflected thus: "If I take these sixteen plantains to my master he will assuredly give me half the number, contenting himself with the other half. I do not see, therefore, any reason why I should wait until he gives me my share. 1 may as well eat it here at once." So he ate up eight plantains and started afresh with the remainder to get to his master. After proceeding a short distance, he was sure that the Gamarala would give him half of the eight remaining plantains, and he therefore ate four more of the number. After going a little further, he ate two more, and still a little further he swallowed one more, reasoning on each occasion as he had done before. There was only one plantain left for the Gamarûla, which Hokka, on his return, respectfully offered to him. "Is it only one single plantain," said the Gamarâla, "that you have been able to buy for so much money, you big ass" (literally, "you big bullock," ali gono). "No, your honor," answered Hokka. "I bought sixteen plantains with your money." "Where then are the other fifteen?" rejoined the Gamarála. "I ate them" was the innocent reply. "How did you dare eat them, you dog?" (literally, "How did you eat them, you dog?)" said the famished Gamarâla. Upon this Hokkâ held the plantain in his left hand, peeled it with the right, and suiting the action to the words, he said, "This is the way I ate the plantains, your honor," and slipped the plantain down his throat.
The Gamarâla now suspected, and with good reason too, that the man was more a kuave than a fool, although he looked very innocent, but suspended his judgment till further experience would enable him to get at the truth. He was very weary and hungry, and having no more money with him, was altogether in a sad plight. Resolving, therefore, to continue his journey, he went on and found himself towards evening within a few yards of his daughter's house. As customary with the Singhalese, he sent Hokkâ, beforehand to inform his daughter of his arrival. On reaching the house Hokkâ said to her, "Your father is come to pay you a visit of condolence, and is already within a few yards of your house. He is under medical treatment, and the physician has desired him to eat nothing else but seven-years-old kudu" (the dust of the paddy found between the husk and the seed). So saying Hokkâ returned to the place where he had left the Gamarâla, and, in the meantime, the
