Then the goldsmith says, “In the street I saw an extremely great-bellied Tambi. If in the case of that Tambi, indeed, the tusk elephant gore the belly, no wound will occur to the two tusks,” the goldsmith said.
Thereupon the King having summoned the great-bellied Tambi, caused the tusk elephant to gore him through his belly.
The goldsmith and the whole of the aforesaid [persons] went away in happiness.
Western Province.
In The Indian Antiquary, vol. xx, p. 78, a South-Indian variant was given by Naṭēśa Sāstrī. In order to commit robbery, a thief made a hole through a wall newly built of mud which slipped down on his neck and killed him. His comrade found the body, and reported that the owner of the house had murdered him. The owner blamed the cooly who built the wall; he blamed the cooly who used too much water in mixing the mud; he attributed it to the potter’s making too large a mouth for the water-pot; he blamed a dancing-girl for passing at the time and distracting his attention. She in turn laid the blame on a goldsmith who had not re-set in time a jewel which she gave him; he blamed a merchant who had not supplied it in time, though often demanded. He being unintelligent could offer no excuse, and was therefore impaled for causing the thief’s death.
[1] Moorman, a Muhammadan trader. [↑]