When the party returned home, the Rajah’s brother said to him, “Where did you get these magnificent presents?” He replied, “They are gifts from my father and mother-in-law.” At this news the Rajah’s brother went home to his wife very discontented, and asked her why she had never told him of her parents, and taken him to see them, whereby he might have received rich gifts as well as his brother. His wife then went to her sister, and asked how she had managed to get all the things. But the Ranee said, “Go away, you wicked woman. I will not speak to you. You killed the poor dog, our mother.”
But afterward she told her all about it.
The sister then said, “I shall go and see the cobra, and get presents too.” The Ranee then answered,—“You can go if you like.”
So the sister ordered her palanquin, and told her husband she was going to see her parents, and prepare them for a visit from him. When she reached the ants’ nest, she saw the cobra there, and she went and put her finger in his mouth, and the cobra bit her, and she died.
III.
BRAVE SEVENTEE BAI.
SIU RAJAH,[37] who reigned long years ago in the country of Agrabrum, had an only son, to whom he was passionately attached. The Prince, whose name was Logedas, was young and handsome, and had married the beautiful Princess, Parbuttee Bai.
Now it came to pass that Siu Rajah’s Wuzeer[38] had a daughter called Seventee Bai (the Daisy Lady), who was as fair as the morning, and beloved by all for her gentleness and goodness; and when Logedas Rajah saw her, he fell in love with her, and determined to marry her. But when Siu Rajah heard of this he was very angry, and sent for his son, and said: “Of all that is rich and costly in my kingdom I have withheld nothing from you, and in Parbuttee Bai you have a wife as fair as heart could wish; nevertheless, if you are desirous of having a second wife, I freely give you leave to do so; there are daughters of many neighboring kings who would be proud to become your Queen, but it is beneath your dignity to marry a Wuzeer’s daughter; and, if you do, my love for you shall not prevent my expelling you from the kingdom.” Logedas did not heed his father’s threat, and he married Seventee Bai; which the Rajah learning, ordered him immediately to quit the country; but yet, because he loved him much, he gave Logedas many elephants, camels, horses, palanquins and attendants, that he might not need help on the journey, and that his rank might be apparent to all.