Afterwards the Vedarāla called the house person. “Now then, bring betel for me to say sooth.” The man having brought betel gave it to the Vedarāla.
Then the Vedarāla, having taken the betel and looked at it, said, “It is a packet of warāgan that has been lost, isn’t it.”
That man said, “It is that indeed. Should you seek and give what has been lost of mine, I will give you a half share.”
Then the Vedarāla having told him to get a light, becoming “possessed,” went and took and gave him the packet of warāgan that was at the foot of the plantain clump.
Having taken from it a half share, at the time when the party were going on, thieves having broken into the box at the foot of the King’s bed,[6] he made public by beat of tom-toms that many offices would be given by the King to a person who should seek and give it to him.
At that time this party said, “In our party indeed, there is a sooth-sayer. On the night of the day before yesterday he sought out and gave a yoke of cattle. Yesternight he sought out and gave a packet of warāgan.” Thereupon the persons took this Vedarāla near the King. Then the King asks, “Can he catch and give the thief who broke into the box at the foot of my bed?” The party said that he could.
Then the sooth-sayer, having become afraid, thought, “I will tie a cord to my neck and die.” So he said, “After tying white cloths in a house (as a decoration, on the walls and under the roof), and a piece of cord to the cross-beam, and placing a bed, chairs, and table in it, and setting on end a rice mortar, you must give me it in the evening.” The King having prepared them in that very way, gave him them.
Afterwards, the Vedarāla, after it became night, having gone inside the house, told them to shut the door from the outside, and lock it. Then having mounted on the rice mortar, when he tried to put the cord round his neck it was too short. On account of it he said, “Both the cord is too short and the height is insufficient. What shall I do?”[7]
As the Vedarāla was saying this word Kumandāēyi, a citizen, Kumandā, an old thief, was there [listening outside]. Having heard this, he thought, “He is calling out my name”; so becoming afraid he came near and spoke to the Vedarāla, and said, “It is I indeed whom you call Kumandā. It is I indeed who committed the theft. Don’t say anything about it to the King.”
Then the Vedarāla said, “If so, bring the things and put them in this house.”