After that, Mātalānā, again arranging a stratagem to steal clothes from the washerman, and preparing a very tasty sort of cakes, hung the cakes on the trees in the jungle, in the district where the washerman washes. Mātalānā, taking in his hand two or three cakes and having gone eating and eating one, asked the washerman for a little water.
Thereupon the washerman asked Mātalānā, “What is that you are eating?”
“Why, friend, haven’t you eaten the Kaeppiṭiyā[2] cakes that are on the trees near this, where you wash?” he asked.
Thereupon the washerman says, “Anē! Friend, although I washed so many days I have not eaten cakes of trees of the style you mention that are in this district,” he said.
“If so, please eat one from these, to look [what they are like].”
When he gave it to the washerman, the washerman having eaten the cake and having found much flavour in it,[3] says, “Anē! Ōyi! Until the time when I have gone [there] and come [after] plucking a few of these cakes, you please remain here.”
When he said it, having said, “It is good. Because of the heat of the sun I will stay beneath this tree,” Mātalānā, having sent the washerman to pluck the Kaeppiṭiyā cakes and return, [after] tying in a bundle as many of the King’s clothes as there were, went away [with them].
When the washerman comes [after] plucking the cakes, either the clothes or the man he had set for their protection, not being visible, he went speedily and gave information to the King. The King having become more angry than he was before, again employed the notification tom-tom [to proclaim] that to a person who, having seized, gives him this Mātalānā who steals the things belonging to the King, he will give goods [amounting] to a tusk elephant’s load, and a share from the kingdom.
Mātalānā, ascertaining that he sent the notification tom-tom, having stayed on the path and made the notification tom-tom halt, promised: “I know Mātalānā. Within still three months I will seize and give that Mātalānā while in a courtesan’s house.” The notification tom-tom beater, accepting this word, went, and when he gave information to the King, the King, because of the anger there was [in him] with this thief, having become much pleased told him to summon the man to come.
Thereupon, after Mātalānā came to the royal house, when he asked, “In about how many days can you seize and give Mātalānā?” he said, “In about three months I can.”