In Totā Kahānī (Small), p. 43, when a man was about to leave his wife, she gave him a nosegay of flowers which would retain their freshness if she were faithful to him, and fade if she misconducted herself.
In The Indian Antiquary, vol. xvii, p. 54, a plant was given to each of two persons, as a Prince’s life index. He said, “If this plant should fade, know that I am sick or in danger; if it should die know that I also am dead.”
The notion that a person’s life may be concealed in some external object, usually a bird or a bee, is one of the commonest features of folk-tales.
In the story numbered 24 in this volume, the King’s life was in a golden parrot.
In Wide-Awake Stories, p. 59—Tales of the Punjab, p. 52—a Jinni’s life was in a bee, which was in a golden cage inside the crop (?) of a Maina [bird].
At pp. 62, 63, Tales of the Punjab, p. 55, a Prince’s life was in his sword. When this was placed in the fire he felt a burning fever, and when it was made red-hot and a rivet came out of the hilt, his head came off. Afterwards, when the sword was repaired and repolished, the Prince was restored to life.
At p. 83, Tales of the Punjab, p. 75, the life of a Princess was in a nine-lakh necklace, which was in a box inside a bee that lived in the body of a fish. When asked about it, she first said that her life was in each of the seven sons of the wicked Queen who wanted to kill her, all of whom were murdered by the Queen.
In Folk-Tales of Kashmir (Knowles), 2nd ed., p. 49, the lives of Rākshasas were in seven cocks, a spinning-wheel, a pigeon, and a starling.
At p. 134, the life of one was in a veranda pillar at his house; when it was broken he died.
At p. 383, the life of one was in a queen-bee in a honey-comb hanging on a tree.