[2] To spit upon a man in the East is considered the greatest of indignities. [↑]
THE STORY OF PURAN
There was once a shoemaker who had a vegetable garden in which grew a bed of brinjals (or egg plant). Unknown to him, a fairy used sometimes to come and walk there; and one day, while passing the brinjal bushes, a thorn on them caught one of her wings and broke it, so that she was unable to fly, and had to remain where she was.
Next time the shoemaker visited his garden he saw a beautiful woman in it; and, not knowing that she was a fairy, asked her to tell him her name, and how she came there.
Her only reply was: “I am cold: give me a covering, I pray you.”
Then he invited her to take shelter in his hut, and gave her a lowie, or warm covering, saying: “Take this and stay as long as you like, and be my daughter.”
The shoemaker had a kind heart, and was very good to his adopted child, whom he named “Loonar Chumari.”
Now a Rajah, by name Suliman, sometimes visited the shoemaker’s shop; and when he saw the fairy he fell in love with her, and begged for her hand in marriage.