[1] Pāmula peṭṭiya. See vol. i, p. 183, footnote. [↑]
[2] See vol. i, p. 10, on the small size of modern windows in the villages. [↑]
[3] A very common exclamation of grief, surprise, or sometimes annoyance. The relative addressed is always either the father, the mother, or the elder brother, in such cases. [↑]
No. 190
The Story of the Four-Fold Trap[1]
In a certain country there was a Gamarāla. The Gamarāla having tried for seven years caught a White Rat-snake. A Dēvatāwā having come by dream told the Gamarāla that when he had eaten the Rat-snake’s head he would obtain the kingship. Having told the Gamarāla’s wife to cook the White Rat-snake the Gamarāla went to wash his head (to purify himself).[2]
After that, a Tom-tom Beater (Naekatiyek), weaving a cloth, came to the Gamarāla’s house [with it]. The Gama-Mahagē (the Gamarāla’s wife) through stinginess [unwilling] to give meat, gave the Tom-tom Beater rice and that White Rat-snake’s head, not knowing [its property].
The Gamarāla having come [after] washing his head, asked the Gama-Mahagē for the White Rat-snake’s head. Then the woman said, “I gave it to eat, to the Tom-tom Beater (Berawāyā) who came [after] weaving the cloth.” Thereupon the Gamarāla said, “Thou gavest it to thy man! Why? When seven years have gone by from this time he will obtain the sovereignty.”