Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume 1 (of 3)

by Unknown

In Folk-Tales of Bengal (Day), pp. 2 and 6, the life of a Prince was in a golden necklace deposited in a wooden box which was in the heart of a fish.

At pp. 85 and 86, the lives of seven hundred Rākshasas were in two bees which were on the top of a crystal pillar, deep in the water of a tank. If a drop of their blood fell on the ground, a thousand Rākshasas would start up from it.

At p. 121, the life of a Rākshasī was in a bird that was in a cage. As its limbs were torn off, a corresponding limb dropped off the Rākshasī who had been made the Queen.

At p. 253, the lives of two Rākshasas (m. and f.) were in two bees that were in a wooden box at the bottom of a tank. If a person who killed them allowed a drop of their blood to fall on the ground, he would be torn into seven hundred pieces by the Rākshasas.

In The Indian Antiquary, vol. i, p. 86, in a Dardu legend (G. W. Leitner), the life of a King of Gilgit was in snow, and he could only die by fire.

At p. 117, in a Bengal story (G. H. Damant), the lives of Rākshasas were in two bees in a gourd which was inside a crystal pillar at the bottom of a tank. If one drop of the bees’ blood fell on the ground, the Rākshasas would be twice as numerous as before. The bees were killed by being squeezed to death.

At p. 171, in a Bengal story (G. H. Damant), the lives of Rākshasas were in a lemon, and a bird. When the lemon was cut in Bengal, the Rākshasas in Ceylon died. As the bird’s wings were broken, the Rākshasī Queen’s arms were broken; when the bird died, she died.

In vol. xvi, p. 191, the life of a giant was in a parrot; when it was killed he died.

In vol. xvii, p. 51, a Prince’s life was in a sword; if it rusted he was sick, and if it broke he died.

In Folk-Tales of Hindustan, Allahabad (Shaik Chilli), p. 51, the life of a Prince was in the brightness of his sword. When it was placed in a furnace and lost the brightness, he died. A giant who was his friend found it, and discovering that a little brightness remained at the tip, rubbed it until it regained its lustre, on which the Prince revived.