Then speedily having caused the Heṭṭiyā to be brought, when he asked him, the Heṭṭiyā says, “These ships are not for me. I bought such and such a rich man’s ship for such and such a boy, and loaded rice in it; since I sent it (aeriya haeṭiyē) there is not even news yet,” the Heṭṭiyā said.
After that, having sent a boat, and caused the principal person of the ships to be brought, when he asked, indeed, thereafter the Heṭṭiyā gets to know [the facts]. As soon as he ascertained he caused the ships to be brought, and when the Heṭṭiyā asked the boy about these matters the boy gave account of (kiyā-dunnā) the wonderful things that occurred, it is said.
At the time when he reported them the Heṭṭiyā says, “I will not take charge of these ships. Should you ask, ‘What is [the reason of] that?’ because your merit (pina) is great, when I have taken the things you obtained they will not flourish for me,” he said. On account of it, the Heṭṭiyā took only the five hundred pounds that the Heṭṭiyā gave the boy, and the price of the rice, it is said.
Thereupon the boy, having caused a great palace to be built, and having decorated his mother with great beauty, causing her to ascend a great horse-carriage, published it by beat of tom-toms; and obtaining the office of Treasurer (siṭu tanataera) he dwelt in that palace. Having established hired persons for the ships, he began to send them to various countries (raṭa raṭawala), it is said.
[1] The Sinhalese title is, “The Story of the Ship and the Heṭṭiyā.” [↑]
[2] A quarter of a rupee, which in Ceylon was subdivided into one hundred cents about forty years ago. [↑]
[3] Or, “having been in a great astonishment, speedily having gone,” etc. The text is Mahat pudumayakin in̆da wahama gos. [↑]
[4] In the paintings on the walls or ceilings of Buddhist temples, many Yakshas are represented as having the heads of animals, such as bears, dogs, snakes, and parrots, with bodies like those of human beings. [↑]