[1] Mī Paeṭikkī. It might be either a rat or a mouse. [↑]
No. 55
Sīgiris Siññō, the Giant
In a country there was a great person called Sīgiris Siññō. He was a very wealthy person; under him ten hired labourers worked.
During the time while he was in this state, Sīgiris Siññō having thought he would drink arrack (spirit distilled from palm juice), began to drink a very little. In that way he became accustomed to drink very largely. Afterwards having come [home] drunk he went to beat the labourers; also he did not give them their wages properly. When he had acted in this manner for many days, they, after speaking together, gave Sīgiris Siññō a good beating, and on account of their [short] pay took the goods of Sīgiris Siññō, and went away. Then no one would give work to Sīgiris Siññō, so he drank until the goods in his house were finished.
Then, there being nothing for this one to drink or eat, and having become like a madman, at the time when he was walking and walking about he saw a man carrying a young coconut. Begging, “Give me that,” and taking it, he went to a travellers’ resting-shed.
While he was there eating the young coconut after breaking it, a great number of flies began to settle there. After he had struck at the flies with his hand, twenty died. Thereupon this one went to a person who did tin work, and said, “Anē! Friend, do a little work for me and give me it.”
“What is it?” the tin worker asked.