The bonga girl recognised them at once, but they did not know who she was. She brought them water on their arrival, and afterwards set cooked rice before them. Then sitting down near them, she began in wailing tones to upbraid them on account of the treatment she had been subjected to by their wives. She related all that had befallen her, and wound up by saying, “It is probable that you knew it all, and yet you did not interfere to save me.”
After a time she became reconciled to her sisters-in-law, and no longer harboured enmity in her mind against them, for the injury they had done her.
[1] The spirit believed to preside over a certain class of rice land.
[2] Semi-Hinduised aborigines, whose touch is considered polluting.
Gumda, the Hero.
There was once a certain fatherless lad named Gumda. His occupation was to tend the raja’s goats. He, and his mother lived in a small house at the end of the street in which the raja’s palace was situated. The raja’s mahout was in the habit of taking his elephant along that street, and every time it passed, it rubbed itself against the wall of Gumda’s house. One day at noon it so happened that Gumda was at home when the elephant was being taken to the tank to drink, and as usual he rubbed his side against the house as he passed. Gumda was incensed with the elephant for thus destroying his house, and coming out quickly, said to the mahout, “What although it is the raja’s elephant! I could take hold of any person’s elephant by the trunk, and throw it across seven seas.” The elephant understood what Gumda had said, and he refused to go down into the water, and would not even drink. On being brought home he would not eat his grain, nor would he so much as look at water. He continued thus so long that he began to grow lean and weak. The mahout knew that it was Gumda’s curse that had so affected his charge. The raja one day noticing the altered condition of his elephant, said to the mahout, “Why has the elephant become so emaciated?” The mahout replied, “Oh! raja, one day at noon Gumda abused him. He said, ‘If you were not the raja’s elephant, I would take you by the trunk and throw you across seven seas.’ ‘Every day,’ he said, ‘he rubs himself against my house.’ Since then the elephant has refused his food and water.” The raja, on hearing this, commanded that Gumda be brought before him. The messenger found him at home, and brought him into the presence of the raja who asked him, “Is it true, Gumda, that you said you would throw the elephant as you would a stone?” Gumda replied, “Yes, it is quite true that I said so. The elephant every time it passes along the street rubs itself against the wall of my house, and being angry, I said these words. Now, do with me whatsoever you please.” The raja marvelled greatly on hearing Gumda’s reply, and addressing him said, “Now my lad, prove your words, for prove them you must. If you succeed in thus throwing an elephant, I shall present you with a large estate.” The raja appointed the tenth day following as that on which Gumda should wrestle with the elephant; and he, after receiving permission from the raja, returned home.
The raja in the interval caused proclamation to be made to all his subjects, ordering them to be present on the day when Gumda was to meet the elephant in mortal combat. On the morning of the appointed day Gumda was found baking bread. As he did not appear punctually in the arena, the raja sent a messenger to bring him. On arriving at Gumda’s house, he found him baking bread. He said to him, “Come along, the raja has asked for you.” Gumda said, “Wait a little till I partake of some refreshment.” He invited the messenger to be seated, and he also sat down as if to eat, but instead of eating the bread, he began to throw it at the man, and continued doing so until he had buried him under eight maunds of loaves. The poor fellow cried out, “Oh Gumda, come and release me, of a truth I am almost crushed to death under this heap of bread.” He removed the bread from above him, and he immediately returned to the raja. As he was leaving the house he saw 12 maunds of cooked rice, evidently intended for Gumda’s dinner. Coming into the presence of the raja he said, “Oh! raja, I saw in Gumda’s house twelve maunds of cooked rice, and he threw a loaf of bread weighing eight maunds at me, which almost crushed me to death. It is quite possible that he may win.”
At length Gumda came bringing with him a sledge hammer weighing twelve maunds, and a shield of the same weight. The contest was to take place on a plain sufficiently large to accommodate an immense number of spectators.